The first node in the network is a telecommunications satellite that was launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. It will use a laser to gather pictures of the planet taken by other spacecraft and then relay them to the ground. One benefit will be to put information on natural disasters, such as flooding and earthquakes, into the hands of emergency responders far faster than has previously been possible. Currently, it can take hours to get the pictures taken by Earth observation satellites down on the ground. Part of the reason is that spacecraft can only transmit their images when they pass over a receiving dish, and they will have visibility of this antenna for just 10 minutes in most cases during every 90-minute tour around the globe. The European Space Agency's (Esa) answer is to fire the pictures upwards instead, via laser, to another satellite much higher in the sky that has a constant view of the ground station. The agency recently put up two Earth observers that are equipped with optical transmission equipment. These will now be able to offload their data through the new relay satellite, which is to be positioned 36,000km above the equator at 9 degrees East. Testing by Esa's industrial partner, Airbus Defence and Space, shows it should be possible for the system to put pictures on the desks of the people who need them within 20 minutes of those images being acquired. For some applications - such as the monitoring of pollution incidents, or illegal fishing or ocean piracy - the time saved could be critical to achieving an effective response. "Some important shipping routes go through the North Pole region, where thick ice flows can cause damage to vessels and even threaten human life," explained Magali Vaissiere, Esa's director of telecoms. "It's also an environment in constant motion which means that data that is two days old is not only unhelpful - it could even be unsafe. "We have already demonstrated quasi real-time performance of below 20 minutes for bringing monitoring information from the coast of Brazil to the user's desk. And with this capability, the European Data Relay System (EDRS) may open up a new horizon to what I would call quasi real time Earth observation." EDRS has been in development for more than 10 years. Getting satellites to talk to each other via a narrow laser beam is no easy task, says Esa project manager Michael Witting. "The difficulty is basically that you have to hit another satellite with your laser beam over a distance of over 40,000km, which is akin to hitting a two-euro coin over the distance of the Atlantic," he told BBC News. With a successful connection, data will move at a rate of up to 1.8Gbps. EDRS will debut with the European Commission as its anchor customer. Brussels is establishing a series of satellites called Sentinels that will systematically map the Earth, to help inform and enforce EU policies. Prodigious volumes of data are expected from these satellites in the coming years and the traditional downlink solutions are no longer regarded

Summary: Europe has begun to roll out a data superhighway in orbit above the Earth.


Oscars 2017: Full coverage Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: The full list of winners at the 89th Academy Awards.


Jung won aboard Sam, who was a late replacement when Fischertakinou contracted an infection in July. France's Astier Nicolas took silver and American Phillip Dutton won bronze as GB's William Fox-Pitt finished 12th. Fox-Pitt, 47, was competing just 10 months after being placed in an induced coma following a fall. The three-time Olympic medallist, aboard Chilli Morning, produced a faultless performance in Tuesday's final show-jumping phase. But the former world number one's medal bid had already been ruined by a disappointing performance in the cross-country phase on Monday. He led after the dressage phase, but dropped to 21st after incurring several time penalties in the cross country. Ireland's Jonty Evans finished ninth on Cooley Rorkes Drift. Why not come along, meet and ride Henry the mechanical horse at some of the Official Team GB fan parks during the Rio Olympics? Find out how to get into equestrian with our special guide. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Germany's Michael Jung retained his Olympic individual eventing title by winning gold at Rio 2016 on his second-choice horse.


So far troops have rescued 150 people from the worst-hit site in central Kegalle district, but hopes are fading for another 134 still unaccounted for. No more people were found overnight, dead or alive - on Wednesday 14 bodies were pulled from the mud. Five more bodies were found at the site of another mudslide in the district, bringing the death toll there to 10. Landslides and flooding caused by days of torrential rain have hit many parts of the country, killing at least 43 people in total, according to official figures. Nearly 350,000 people have been displaced. In the worst-hit area, Aranayake district, three villages were buried after a huge section of hillside sheared away in the rain on Tuesday. Bad weather is hampering the army's efforts to reach possible survivors. "I fear the missing 134 could be dead at this point," Maj Gen Sudantha Ranasinghe, the officer in charge, told BBC Sinhala. "But we will continue our operation to recover the bodies to give families some peace." We started to climb up to the disaster site with troops who were going back on Thursday morning to continue to search for survivors. However they suspended their mission and evacuated the area along with us and some villagers who had returned. Rain was beating down on the collapsed mountain again, creating a risk of further landslides. We had to take shelter in a tiny schoolroom on higher ground. Villagers we spoke to were losing hope of finding any more survivors. We waded through mud and silt to reach the foot of the mountain where most of the devastation has taken place. Army units have identified several places where people may have been buried in the landslide. In one of the villages, Pallebage, local resident PG Sekara said: "The army keeps going up the mountain, but they're not going to find anything. To find survivors they will have to dig about 40 feet now." Prema Adikari said she feared she had lost her brother and his family. "My brother's house is completely destroyed. They were inside when the mudslide started. His 15-year-old daughter and his wife were also in the house," she told BBC Sinhala. "When it rains, the canal waters nearby get so loud - they had not heard the neighbours warning. Only one member of the family remains, my nephew, who had gone to the shops nearby when the landslide struck. At least we want to see their bodies." At Bulathkohupitiya, the site of the second, smaller landslide in Kegalle district, six people are still reported missing. Sri Lanka's monsoon rains often bring floods but officials say these are the worst for several years. Many displaced people have moved to shelters, and officials have appealed for water, dry food rations and sanitary items. Low-lying coastal areas have also been hit. In southern India the authorities are on alert as the rains move up the country's east coast. At least 280 people died in a month of heavy rains and floods in the city of Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu

Summary: Sri Lankan teams searching for scores of people missing after a landslide fear there may be no more survivors.


It hit crowds watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City district early on Saturday evening. One person was in custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, police said, and terrorism was not suspected. The driver of the pick-up truck seemed unaware of what he had done, one eyewitness told local media. "He was just kind of out of it,'' Kourtney McKinnis told the New Orleans Advocate. Police Chief Michael Harrison said 21 people were taken to hospital, five in serious condition, with another seven also injured. A police officer was among the injured, he said. Social clubs, known as Krewes, organise different parades in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

Summary: A vehicle has driven into a crowd at a Mardi Gras parade in the US city of New Orleans, leaving 28 people injured, some seriously.


The 29-year-old spent the majority of last season on loan with Wolves, making 19 appearances in all competitions. He previously played 211 league games for the Molineux side between 2008 and 2015 before moving to Craven Cottage. "Richard was our number one target throughout the summer and I'm delighted he has signed," boss Chris Wilder told the club website. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Sheffield United have signed Fulham defender Richard Stearman for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.


A special unit was waiting for the man inside the shop Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona's biggest shopping street. Interpol believes the gang carried out at least 380 armed robberies jewellery shops between 1999 and 2015. Most of those arrested are from eastern Europe. One of the men robbing the shop was armed, police said. German and Serbian authorities were involved in the build-up to the raid. In February 2014, Pink Panther gang member Borko Ilincic was arrested in Madrid. He was accused of being involved in the spectacular robbery of a jewellery store in Dubai's al-Wafi Mall in 2007. He appeared in court in Dubai for the first time in June after his extradition to the United Arab Emirates. Many of the gang's members hail from the Balkans and have also hit Tokyo and London. Interpol estimates they have stolen close to â‚¬334m ($371m; Â£283m) of jewellery. The Pink Panthers were given their name when police in London made an arrest in 2003, and found a diamond ring hidden in a jar of face cream - a ploy used in the original Pink Panther comedies starring Peter Sellers.

Summary: Police in Barcelona have arrested five suspected members of the so-called "Pink Panthers" gang as they tried to rob a jewellery shop.


Colin Green, a professor of water economics, says Thames Water will make at least £100m a year if it goes ahead. The utility firm says the tunnel is the best way to stop sewage dumping in the River Thames. A Thames Water spokesman said it was the most economical way to deal with the problem and no decision on financing the project had been made. Prof Green, from Middlesex University, claims under current water industry regulations Thames Water would receive 4.5% every year on the super sewer investment. But he claims the utility firm could borrow the money required to build the tunnel for around 2% a year. The professor said: "If you want to change this we are going to have to change the price incentives." Prof Green said the regulatory regime - run by Ofwat - has created an incentive to invest money rather than to operate more efficiently. A spokesman for Thames Water said: "Detailed and independently-chaired studies have identified the Thames Tunnel as the most economical way to deal with the 39m tonnes of sewage that overflows to the Thames in a typical year. "We do not yet know who will finance and build the tunnel, but it is by no means certain that it will be Thames Water." "The rate of return for investors will be set independently by Ofwat," he added. Prof Green also claimed Thames Water would also see a rise in returns once the loan to build the tunnel was paid off - although this may not happen for 30 to 40 years. "Even when the loans have been paid off for the tunnel we (the consumer) will have to go on paying for the full capital value of that asset. "The way the price system works Thames Water will then be getting a return of about 14% upon their share value, just because of the tunnel." Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here An Ofwat spokesperson said: "We are working with Thames Water, Defra and other stakeholders to support the development and financing of the Thames Tunnel and to ensure that any incurred costs are efficient and continue to represent best value to customers." Hammersmith and Fulham Council has been campaigning for a cheaper solution to London's sewage problem - such as a shorter tunnel. Councillor Harry Phibbs said: "It is quite within the rules, but what is happening is that within the rules they will be able to charge customers a much higher rate for the money they are borrowing than they are actually paying themselves. "This means that they have got a huge financial interest in the scheme going ahead on the most expensive gold-plated basis possible." He called on the government to "call in the scheme" and look seriously at the alternatives.

Summary: An expert has claimed controversial plans to build a £3.6bn 'super sewer' in London are motivated by profit.


While music fans around the world mourned the loss of artists like David Bowie, Prince and Leonard Cohen, two important local voices were also silenced. After a career playing alongside figures like Joe Cocker, Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix, legendary guitarist Henry McCullough died in June. Meanwhile, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits and Van Morrison were among those to pay tribute to Belfast singer-songwriter Bap Kennedy, who succumbed to cancer aged only 54 in November. Artist Basil Blackshaw also passed away this year and, in December, poet John Montague died in his adopted home of France. Both had reputations in their respective arts which spread far beyond Northern Ireland. It was also announced this year that a permanent memorial to another local legend, Rory Gallagher, was planned. A statue of the great guitarist is to be put up in 2017 outside the Ulster Hall, where Gallagher played regularly throughout the Troubles in Northern Ireland. There were also a number of notable musical birthdays in 2016. BBC Radio Ulster's Across the Line, which has always championed local music, celebrated its 30th, while The Undertones marked 40 years together with a special BBC gig. Despite recent doubts over its future, the Ulster Orchestra celebrated its half century with a special day of 50 concerts across Belfast in September. After putting it on a more stable financial footing, Sir George Bain stepped down as chair late in the year, replaced by Stephen Peover. Money worries elsewhere in the arts did not disappear, however. With the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) abolished, the arts became the responsibility of the Department for Communities (DfC) under a new minister, the DUP's Paul Givan. The new department subsequently cut their grant to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland by Â£500,000 in July. As the Arts Council is the main funding body for many arts organisations, this led to more concerns over sustainability for some. One major artist also announced she would be leaving Northern Ireland early in 2017. Former Belfast poet laureate Sinead Morrissey announced she was departing the city for a new post at Newcastle University. She is one of Britain's leading poets having won the world-renowned TS Eliot prize in 2014 for her collection, Parallax, following in the footsteps of both Seamus Heaney and Paul Muldoon. There were, however, some notable successes on the big and small screen for Northern Ireland linked productions. In September, Game of Thrones broke the record for the highest number of Emmy Awards won by any fictional series with a total of 38. However, in August, US broadcaster HBO confirmed that the series would end after its eighth season in 2018. As it is mainly filmed in Northern Ireland it will leave a big gap, although NI Screen also said it would leave a strong legacy of local expertise in the industry. Elsewhere, Belfast production company Sixteen South won a children's Bafta, while World War Two drama, My Mother and Other Strangers, which was set and shot locally, was broadcast on a prime Sunday night slot on BBC 1. At

Summary: In the arts, 2016 has been a year of farewells, in Northern Ireland as across the globe.


Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak was handed over to a delegation of tribal leaders. He was meant to be released last week as part of a deal agreed with President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to end a violent stand-off in the capital, Sanaa. Mr Hadi and his government have since offered their resignations, saying they could not continue in their posts under such pressure from the rebels. Their decision came after the Houthis seized the presidential palace complex and shelled the president's private home. In a televised speech following the release of Mr Hadi's chief of staff, rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi dismissed the president's resignation as a "manoeuvre". He said Yemeni political parties, with UN support, had been holding consultations. "We are seeking a peaceful transfer of power on the basis of partnership," he was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying. The resolutions of the National Dialogue Conference (NDC), held after an uprising forced longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, and the peace deal signed by Mr Hadi after the rebels overran Sanaa in September, would be the basis for any agreement, he added. "Let everyone go towards co-operation instead of clashing, arguing and wrestling." A week ago, Mr Houthi accused the president and those around him of failing to implement political deals which he said should have ushered in a new era in Yemen. He listed as his main demand the shake-up of the commission tasked with writing a review of a new constitution to ensure more representation for his group. The rebels have rejected a draft of the charter that would create a federal state of six regions, even though the plan was a recommendation of the NDC, which they backed. They seized Mr Bin Mubarak on 17 January to stop him attending a meeting to discuss the draft, saying they had become aware of "irregularities" in the text.

Summary: Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen have freed a senior presidential aide who they abducted 10 days ago.


For weeks he has come under pressure to step down as investigations continue into allegations that his wife was paid large sums of public money for a job she did not do. But having won a battle with his centre-right party, what now are Mr Fillon's chances in the fight for the Elysee Palace? He will have his work cut out if he is to claw back the lead he once held in France's presidential race. The latest opinion poll on Tuesday placed him third, on 19%, several points behind centrist Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front. Mr Fillon has stuck fast to his hard-core base for the past six weeks, as an investigation into his wife's employment whipped up a storm around his campaign. As centrist supporters deserted him in droves, he barely blinked. When his campaign manager and senior spokesman quit, Mr Fillon brushed it aside. When dozens of MPs deserted him, he retorted that he would do without them all. When polls suggested that he would struggle to reach the second round run-off, Mr Fillon ploughed on, determined to show that he retained the support of his most loyal followers. In that sense, his management of the scandal seems to have been a success. Tens of thousands of people turned out in the rain to rally around him on Sunday. But his handling of the allegations against him, and the media attention surrounding them, have also marked a sharp change in tone for France's most establishment presidential candidate, with new tactics borrowed from the populist playbook. Sunday's rally was initially described by Mr Fillon as a protest against political interference in the judiciary. He has complained of an "institutional coup d'etat", suggesting that the Socialist government is behind the allegations currently being investigated. At press conferences recently he has presented himself as the victim a "political assassination", of a "lynching" by the media, and he has accused investigators of leaking only one side of the evidence in his case. Mr Fillon has said he will leave it up to the voters to judge him, not a "biased [judicial] process". But attacking the nation's institutions while running for office has not gone down well with some party colleagues. Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, on French radio, called it "dangerous" and "irresponsible". The man Mr Fillon beat to become Republican candidate, Alain Juppe, accused him of leading the campaign into an impasse. "He had a wide open road before him," he said. "What a waste." There was a sceptical response, too, to the claim by Mr Fillon's team that Sunday's rally had drawn 200,000 people to the Trocadero in Paris. Several journalists remarked that the plaza only held around 35,000 people when full. The claim of 200,000 is still prominently featured on Mr Fillon's campaign website. There is now talk of a "Trumpisation" of the centre-right candidate, with several commentators and news outlets comparing him to the US president. It is a very different side of a politician many saw as calm, unruffled and rather

Summary: French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has avoided an abrupt end to his campaign by securing the support of his divided Republican Party.


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Summary: You can find details of how you can get in touch with anyone at BBC in Newcastle below.


The exercise was overseen by North leader Kim Jong-un, said the KCNA state news agency, who called on the military to be ready to "ruthlessly" destroy the government in South. It is the latest in a series of angry gestures by Pyongyang. The South's President Park Geun-Hye has ordered the army to be on alert. But she said on Thursday that "reckless provocations will only become a path to self-destruction for the North Korean regime". North Korea has been reacting after the UN imposed some of its toughest sanctions following its nuclear and long-range rocket tests. Pyongyang has also been angered, as it is annually, by joint US-South Korean military exercises taking place south of the border. Already known for vitriolic language, the KCNA report threatened to turn the South's presidential residence, known as the Blue House, into a "sea of flames and ashes". "Artillery shells flew like lightning and intensely and fiercely struck targets simulating Cheong Wa Dae and rebel governing bodies in Seoul," it said of the latest drill, using the Korean name for the Blue House. It was not clear when the drill was carried out, but the report warned of a "miserable end" for President Park. The Blue House was attacked by North Korean commandos in 1968. The attempt to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee was unsuccessful, but seven South Koreans and most of the 31 North Koreans attackers were killed.

Summary: North Korea says its has carried out a live-fire artillery drill simulating an attack on the official residence of the South Korean president.


Officers were called to Lowe Street in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton at 17:00 GMT on Thursday when a 17-year-old boy was found with stab wounds. Several minutes later a second call was made to police when a shotgun was fired twice in nearby Deveron Close. West Midlands Police believe the men, who have now been bailed, were linked to both incidents. The teenager remains in hospital in a stable condition, police said. DCI Chris Hanson said: "We believe both of these offences were linked and were the result of a dispute between two groups. "The shooting happened following an argument between a group and a lone man with a gun."

Summary: Ten men were arrested after a teenager was stabbed and gun shots were fired, police said.


A message on Luton councillor Aysegul Gurbuz's Twitter feed claimed Hitler was the "greatest man in history". Another tweet on Ms Gurbaz's account suggested Iran could develop a nuclear weapon to "wipe Israel off the map". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said anyone who makes anti-Semitic remarks is "auto-excluded from the party" pending an inquiry. The BBC has contacted the councillor for comment. The Labour Party has confirmed she has been suspended pending an investigation. Speaking to the Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn said: "Anti-Semitism is absolutely abhorrent and wrong. "We have suspended, we will suspend, any member that behaves in that way." The tweets in question were made before Ms Gurbuz was elected to Luton Borough Council in May 2015. A spokesman for the council said: "While these comments appear to pre-date her time as a councillor, the council is shocked by these comments. "This matter will be referred as a matter of urgency to the council's independent standards committee to allow a full investigation to take place." On Thursday, Mr Corbyn was criticised by a Jewish leader for not taking anti-Semitism seriously enough.

Summary: A Labour councillor has been suspended from the party over anti-Semitic comments on her Twitter account.


From Thursday, payments for some benefits will be limited to the first two children in a family. The Child Poverty Action Group and Institute for Public Policy Research say some families will be almost Â£3,000 a year worse off under the new rules. Ministers say they are determined to tackle the root causes of disadvantage and make work pay. The changes affect families who claim tax credits and Universal Credit - which is in the process of being rolled out and is due to replace tax credits completely by 2022. The new rules mean that children born after Thursday 6 April into families where there are already two or more children will no longer be counted in benefit payments to their parents, under either tax credits or Universal Credit. And from autumn 2018, families making new claims under Universal Credit will only receive payments for their first two children even if they were born before Thursday. However, children already receiving Universal Credit or tax credit payments will not lose them for as long as their family's existing claim continues. And Child Benefit, which is separate, will be unaffected. The latest official figures show that 872,000 families with more than two children were claiming tax credits in 2014-15. And a similar number of families are likely to lose out under the changes, the researchers suggest. In 2014-15, two thirds (65%) were working families and 68% had no more than three children, say the researchers. Based on those figures, the researchers calculate that once the new policy is fully implemented an additional 100,000 adults and 200,000 children could face poverty. Among those affected will be families with more than two children who are not currently on benefits but who might need to claim in future because of unforeseen redundancy, illness, separation or death, the researchers warn. They also suggest that the policy could: "It may also leave women who become pregnant with a third child, for example through contraception failure, with a difficult choice between moving into poverty and having an abortion," they add. The researchers also criticise a lack of advance publicity about the change on the main Universal Credit website, particularly if the policy was intended "to inform parents' choices about having children". Child Poverty Action Group's chief executive Alison Garnham called it a "particularly pernicious cut because it suggests some children matter more than others". "It's also illogical because no parent has a crystal ball," she added. "Families that can comfortably support a third child today could struggle tomorrow and have to claim Universal Credit because, sadly, health, jobs and relationships can fail. "Surely children should not have their life chances damaged because of the number of siblings they have." A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman called the current benefits structure "unsustainable and not fair to the taxpayer and families who support themselves solely through work". "Work is the best route out of poverty, which is why our welfare reforms are designed to support people into employment," said the spokeswoman.

Summary: Changes to benefit rules coming into force this week could push 200,000 more children into poverty, say campaigners.


Fergus Ewing said it meant 16,521 farmers had now received their Common Agricultural Policy payments. The government has been facing pressure to deal with "failures" in the subsidies payment system. It emerged on Friday that any fine may be waived and an extension to the deadline no longer required if a 90% target was met. Mr Ewing said: "As of close of business last night, and subject to final confirmation, we have made BPS, Greener and Young Farmer payments to 16,521 farmers and crofters, valued at Â£343m. This represents around 90.4% of expected total payments for those schemes. "We are awaiting a final determination from the European Commission regarding an extension to the payment deadline to 15 October, if necessary, on the grounds of the acutely challenging delivery and implementation issues we face in Scotland. "Our payments made to date, along with the national loan scheme mean that the majority of farmers and crofters have received their money." He added: "Over the coming weeks we will be working hard to ensure that we complete the remaining payments due to farmers and crofters as quickly as possible." The government has accelerated payments in recent weeks amid political pressure from opposition parties, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised to farmers for "failures" with the system. An extension was granted in 2016, after problems arose with a new Â£178m IT system for delivering the payments. Audit Scotland has estimated that fines for missing the deadlines could run to Â£60m, and have warned there are still "significant costs and risks for the Scottish government" over the IT problems. The latest deadline pressure has sparked a political row at Holyrood, with Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson accusing Mr Ewing and Ms Sturgeon of "not being straight" with MSPs and farmers. The first minister said "rapid daily progress" was being made in getting payments through, and insisted she and her ministers had been clear with parliament. Mr Ewing described criticism as "fanciful".

Summary: Scotland's rural affairs secretary has said 90.4% of EU farm payments were made before the midnight deadline.


The 62-year-old, who scored almost 15,000 runs for Derbyshire between 1977 and 1988, will rejoin the team in June, a month before the T20 Blast begins. Director of cricket Kim Barnett said: "We could not have anybody with higher pedigree than John for this new role. "He won the IPL with the Mumbai Indians and has been an international coach." Wright, the talent scout for the Mumbai Indians, will also work closely with Barnett but his main focus will be the shortest form of the game. "He was a great player at Derbyshire," former team-mate Barnett added. "I could not be more pleased to get him back on board here and work with him. He is a fantastic strategist and will give us a lot of expertise technically and tactically."

Summary: Former India and New Zealand head coach John Wright has returned to Derbyshire as a specialist coach for the 2017 T20 Blast campaign.


Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) that firearm officers needed greater public support. He also revealed that despite a push for more armed officers, there were not enough people willing to do the role. Sir Bernard is retiring after more than five and a half years in the post. During the speech, the Met's commissioner said public pressure on firearm officers had meant "we simply don't have enough people now wanting to do these jobs". "This a dangerous place to be... we can't afford to have officers think twice because they fear the consequences of shooting someone". "That's how they get shot or the public gets hurt or a criminal gets away with a gun," he said. Sir Bernard also stated that armed officers did not fire a shot at a suspect in more than 3,300 incidents involving firearms in 2016. "It's an urban myth that officers are trigger-happy," he said. The Met has said it will increase firearm officer numbers by 600, with more than 400 extra staff trained or selected to date. According to a staff survey, nearly half of Met Police officers believe more officers should carry guns.

Summary: Britain's most senior police chief has called for "less suspicion and more trust" in officers who carry guns, in his final speech before retirement.


It was always going to be a highly charged farewell, after 112 years, to this football bastion of east London and the one consolation was that at least no-one was seriously injured. This was a hugely significant fixture for the visitors too, Louis van Gaal and his players arriving with their fate in their own hands but little margin for error. They knew victory here, amid a heady mix of nostalgia and fierce hostility, would leave them needing only to beat Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday to secure Champions League football. Instead, a 3-2 loss leaves them still needing that win against the Cherries - but now requiring that neighbours Manchester City lose at Swansea. Media playback is not supported on this device As a fleet of London taxis brought a succession of West Ham greats on to the Boleyn Ground turf for the big finish to the farewell party, several cynics suggested one cab was on order to ferry Van Gaal away from Manchester United. It has been obvious since Christmas that there has been no great appetite inside Old Trafford to replace Van Gaal - if United were certain he was not the man for the job, former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho could have already been occupying his office or at least officially lined up. Even in the hours before this loss at West Ham, Van Gaal's position appeared to be gaining strength with the supposed loss of 18-year-old transfer target Renato Sanches to Bayern Munich in a £27.6m deal. It was later suggested United had not missed out but that Van Gaal had actually vetoed the deal - and why would the club let him do that if he was not going to be in charge next season? The fact that Sanches' agent is Jorge Mendes, who would love to see his client Mourinho installed at Old Trafford, only added to the perceived political intrigue. Media playback is not supported on this device One way Van Gaal could have strengthened his position even further would have been a win at West Ham that would have made United firm favourites to beat City to fourth place in the Premier League, with the potential bonus of an FA Cup final victory over Crystal Palace in May. Indeed, so buoyed was Van Gaal by the sudden upturn in his position that he was even able to point out to the media that they were finally posing tactical questions before a game rather than asking about his possible sacking. And for four tantalising second-half minutes it all seemed on for Van Gaal. Antony Martial's brilliance had turned the game, undeservedly on its balance, in United's favour with two goals. At 2-1 up, they were 14 minutes from a win that could have offered the opportunity to put a different spin on their season. It was not to be. Old vulnerabilities quickly returned and saw United beaten by two headed goals from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid - leaving Van Gaal back on the rack. The players dragged their manager out of a

Summary: Manchester United's coach arrived late at Upton Park amid a hail of bottles from West Ham fans that recalled scenes from football's desperate days of 1970s hooliganism.


Police said the 14-year-old reported feeling unwell and required hospital treatment. He was later discharged from hospital and is recovering at home. The incident happened in Holywood, County Down, on Saturday. The PSNI said the tablets were "as yet unidentified" but warned of the "potential dangers" they posed. The 17-year-old, has been charged with possessing a Class A controlled drug with intent to supply; possessing a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply; possession of a Class A controlled drug; possession of a Class B controlled drug and supplying a Class A controlled drug. He is due to appear at Newtownards Youth Court on 14 February.

Summary: A 17-year-old boy has been charged with drugs offences after a 14-year-old boy was treated in hospital after taking half of a 'Darth Vader' tablet.


Prof Colin Riordan, the chair of Universities Wales and vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, said the policy of paying the majority of Welsh students' tuition fees has to change. He wants it replaced with a means tested grant to help poorer students. The Welsh government said its tuition fee policy has been a "huge success". Prof Riordan told BBC Wales' The Wales Report TV programme: "If you took the same approach to the tuition fee grant, as you do with maintenance grants, you could free up considerable funding to allow Welsh universities to compete in the same way as other universities in the UK and that's really critical to the future of our country. "There is no limit to the number of students that can go to university which means there is no limit to the money that is needed to fund the tuition fee policy and that means there is not enough money to fund Welsh universities." Yesterday, First Minister Carwyn Jones defended the Welsh government's university tuition fees subsidy and rejected the idea that tuition fee support should be limited to Welsh students who study at universities in Wales rather than anywhere they study in the UK. He was responding to Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood who said the current policy meant too much Welsh public money ended up going to English universities. On Sunday, outgoing Education Minister Huw Lewis told BBC Wales tuition fee grants would remain in place after May's assembly election if Labour retained power. Universities in Wales get the majority of their funding through the tuition fees paid by students. They also get an amount from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), around Â£90m a year, which has been cut this year by the Welsh government. Prof Riordan said it had seen a 40% cut to funding which would result in job losses and would affect students. "The critical part is that the government needs to make sure than enough money is still available to fund all the areas that the tuition fee grant can't fund and that means making sure that funding is available to ensure that Welsh universities can continue to be the great success they've been over recent years," he said. "The future prosperity of the people of Wales is in the knowledge economy and the universities are the building blocks of that economy". A Welsh government spokesperson said: "There is no doubt that we have had to make some tough decisions within this budget and we recognise that the cut to HEFCW will present challenges. "We stand by our tuition fee grant policy which has been a huge success, has supported our learners to study a course and at an institution that is right for them, and has meant that Welsh graduates have left university with debts that are on average Â£22,000 lower than graduates from England." The Wales Report is on BBC1 Wales at 22:40 GMT

Summary: The Welsh government's tuition fee policy is threatening the future of higher education in Wales, according to the body representing its universities.


The business was owned by John and Karen Blisard and began operating in 2007. It now has five branches: two in Belfast, two in Dublin and one in Galway. The firm's last set of abbreviated accounts suggest it made a profit of around Â£300,000 in 2014. It has been taken over by Belfast brothers David and Andrew Maxwell. They are backed by the Dublin-based investment firm Renatus Capital Partners Andrew Maxwell is a former professional rugby player with Ulster. David has previously run restaurants in Arizona where he said he "fell in love with Mexican food and culture". He said they planned to expand the chain. "The management and crew at Boojum provide exceptional service which has been pivotal to the success of the business," they said. "Our aim, in partnership with Renatus, is to preserve that success and build on it. "We expect to create many new jobs as we bring the Boojum experience to new communities." The deal was initiated by the Belfast-based corporate advisors HNH Group. Matt McCullough from HNH played rugby at Ulster with Andrew Maxwell. He said: "Knowing the Maxwells, who are high quality operators with a passion for Mexican food, we felt they would be capable of maintaining everything that is good about the Boojum brand, whilst moving the business forward. "These aspects were key to making this deal happen." The sale does not include the Blisard's barbecue restaurant, Bubbacue.

Summary: Boojum, the Belfast-based chain of burrito restaurants, has been sold.


Media playback is not supported on this device Sunderland's Rachael Laws, 25, has been called up to replace the 32-year-old Liverpool keeper, who has a knee injury. England face Belgium in Rotherham on Friday, before travelling to Zenica to play Bosnia on Tuesday. The Lionesses have won both their qualifying games so far. Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Rachael Laws (Sunderland), Carly Telford (Notts County) Defenders: Laura Bassett (Notts County), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Gilly Flaherty (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Liverpool), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Casey Stoney (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Amy Turner (Notts County) Midfielders: Katie Chapman (Chelsea), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jo Potter (Birmingham City), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Arsenal) Forwards: Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Karen Carney (Chelsea), Gemma Davison (Chelsea), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Ellen White (Notts County).

Summary: Injured goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain has withdrawn from the England women's squad for their Euro 2017 qualifiers against Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina.


Gary Neville, from Cupar Way, Belfast, raised Â£930 at a charity fundraising music night he organised last year. He was prosecuted for failing to give the cash to the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer charity. Oscar Knox, a five-year-old boy from Glengormley, County Antrim, died from the rare and aggressive cancer in May. The child's story captured the attention of the Northern Ireland public as each step of his cancer battle was followed on social networking sites. Neville's solicitor told the court his 33-year-old client was "utterly ashamed" of his actions. The lawyer said he had got into financial difficulty and was under threat of eviction from his home. He added that Neville had written a letter of apology to the the Knox family. Sentencing him to eight months in prison, the judge said it was absolutely shocking he would use circumstances such as a child's death for financial gain. Neville, who is currently in prison for other offences, was told his term will run concurrently with his sentence. The Knox family set up the Oscar Knox Appeal and still use the networking sites to raise awareness and funds for organisations helping children with Neuroblastoma.

Summary: A disc jockey has been jailed for eight months for stealing money from a children's cancer charity linked to the Oscar Knox appeal.


The 26-year-old will join Wednesday on a permanent transfer in the summer for a fee believed to be £10m. The Owls had to wait until Wednesday for the English Football League to decide if the deal had been completed by Tuesday's 23:00 GMT deadline. Rhodes scored six goals in 24 league appearances for Boro after joining from Blackburn for £9m in January 2016. However, the Scotland international, featured just six times this season and failed to score. He started his career with Ipswich and had loan spells with Oxford, Rochdale and Brentford before joining Huddersfield in July 2009. Rhodes scored 73 goals in 124 league appearances for the Terriers and helped them to promotion from League One in 2012. Blackburn paid the Terriers £8m for him in August 2012 following their relegation from the Premier League. He moved on to Boro last January after scoring 83 goals in 159 league games for Rovers and helped Aitor Karanka's side win promotion to the Premier League. Rhodes' father, Andy, is the goalkeeping coach at Hillsborough. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here.

Summary: Sheffield Wednesday have signed Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes on loan until the end of the season.


It is a talent that helped him move from being bankrupt, aged 32, to becoming a multimillionaire by the time he was 48. Along the way he created and sold best-selling upmarket crisps brand Tyrrells, and won a high-profile battle against supermarket giant Tesco. Now 56, and the founder and owner of Chase Vodka, a luxury version of the spirit made from potatoes grown on his farm, the serial entrepreneur says: "People love stories, the real stories behind things. "And the media was very important to me from the first days of Tyrrells. "I was a guy who had been beaten up by the supermarkets, and people love to support the underdog." The son of potato farmers who lived near the Herefordshire town of Leominster, Mr Chase bought the family farm from his dad when he was 20 after he "managed to find a bank manager brave enough to lend me £200,000". As the cost of potatoes can rise and fall sharply, business was up and down for the next 12 years, until torrential rain in 1992 meant he couldn't harvest his crop, which he had to leave to rot in the fields. Overextended financially, the business collapsed, and Mr Chase had to file for bankruptcy. He says: "I was very ashamed and embarrassed." After "running away to Australia" for a few months, he returned to Herefordshire, and was able to borrow funds to buy back the farm from the receivers, and start up in business again. This time, to make extra money, he became a potato trader, buying spuds from a number of farms, and then selling them on to supermarkets. Yet while he got himself back on his feet financially, Mr Chase says he became increasingly frustrated that supermarkets would reject potatoes that weren't "cosmetically perfect". He adds: "I'd send off 10 loads of spuds every day, and I'd be getting five back. It was very painful how the supermarkets were treating us farmers." Mr Chase's life-changing moment came in 2002 when he found out that rejected potatoes were being bought up by the UK operation of US crisp-maker Kettle. At the time Kettle was one of new companies making so-called "posh crisps", potato crisps which were cut a little thicker than the mass-market brands, and fried by hand. Despite having no crisp-making experience or knowledge, Mr Chase was convinced he could set up his own upmarket crisps brand. So he phoned a few UK crisp-makers to ask if he could see how they did things, and all said "no". Undeterred, he flew out to the US and visited facilities in Pennsylvania and Colorado. Returning to the UK, he built a crisp-making facility at the family farm, and Tyrrells [taking its name from the property] was up and running six months later. Quick to tell his story to local newspapers to build up publicity, Mr Chase hit the road to spend two weeks visiting independent food shops across the UK with samples of his crisps. He says: "Tyrrells grew and grew very quickly, and it was a brilliant cash cow.

Summary: For a Herefordshire potato farmer, William Chase is impressively savvy about the need for positive publicity, and the importance of telling a good story.


The warning has been made by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in its weekly update of A&E performance. It showed nine in 10 hospitals are increasing bed numbers - but despite this they have problems seeing patients quickly enough and discharging them. The RCEM weekly report provides a snapshot of performance. It covers more than 40 hospital trusts - one in five of the total. Special report page: For the latest news, analysis and video Nick Triggle: The lost beds problem Hugh Pym: The Northern Ireland challenge Winter across the UK: A guide to how the NHS is coping Video: Why hospitals are under so much pressure Video: How a hospital can grind to a halt The update suggested that just over 86% of patients were seen and dealt with in four hours - below the 95% target. It also highlighted problems with delayed discharges - this is when hospitals cannot release patients because services or care are not available in the community. It said in some places a fifth of beds were being taken up by these patients. And it concluded that despite the best efforts of hospitals, winter was proving difficult and there was "insufficient capacity and capability" to respond to rising demand. Meanwhile, official data from NHS England, which also covers last week but does not include how hospitals are performing against the four-hour target, revealed visits to A&E were increasing. There were nearly 340,000 attendances last week, up from just under 328,000 the week before. But Dr Barbara Hakin, of NHS England, said despite the increasing pressures staff continued to "deliver a first-class service". "We are working hard to make sure all parts of the NHS are well prepared for the busy winter period," she added. Scotland is also providing weekly figures for its major A&E departments. It showed that up to the start of December just over 95% of patients were being seen in four hours. The latest data available in Wales covers October and in Northern Ireland, November. Both nations are missing the four-hour A&E target. Read more from Nick Follow Nick on Twitter

Summary: A&E units across the UK are not equipped to cope with the rising demands being seen this winter, emergency care doctors say.


Terence Brannigan, chair of the Maze/Long Kesh development Corporation, was speaking after roads around the former prison site were congested on the first day of the event. Mr Brannigan said rural roads were "not designed for that kind of traffic" But he said work was under way to put the new infrastructure in place. "In 12 months time it won't be the same," he said. "But let's not pretend that in 12 months time we are going to have two roads linking up to the motorway network. "The work is going on now, as we speak, in respect of putting two links into the motorway, one from the east and one from the west. "We are doing environmental studies now in order to get clearance. We will then have to go to planning and from that we will then be able to build the two roads." Up to 80,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event, which has moved from its previous home at the King's Hall in Belfast. On Wednesday, First Minister Peter Robinson said he hoped any problems with access would be overcome. Mr Brannigan said getting the infrastructure sorted had been a priority for the corporation, but acknowledged there was a "rigorous process" to complete. "If people have to sit in queues for a long period of time, it can spoil what is a magnificent show, a fantastic event and the showcase for Northern Ireland," he said. "The money has been ring-fenced so we can't complain that we haven't got the money, we can't complain that we are not getting the support. "But there is a due process we have to go through. It is frustrating, nonetheless it is a process we must go through." Visitors to this year's show have been urged to use public transport. The Balmoral Show website contains details of how to get to the show by car or by public transport.

Summary: About £20m has been pledged to construct two major roads linking the new site of Balmoral Show to the motorway network, it has been claimed.


Jemma Beale, 25, claimed she was raped by nine men and sexually assaulted by six, all strangers, in four encounters spanning three years. One allegation led to the conviction of a man who was jailed for seven years. Beale from Hounslow was found guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice at Southwark Crown Court. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith told Beale, who was in a relationship with a woman: "This trial has revealed, what was then not obvious, that you are a very, very convincing liar and you enjoy being seen as a victim. "The prosecution described your life as a 'construct of bogus victimhood'. "These offences usually began as a drunken attempt to get your partner's sympathy or perhaps to arouse her jealousy. "They each began impulsively, but what is particularly chilling is the manner in which you persisted in making allegations which you knew were untrue even to the extent of committing and repeating perjury." Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe told the court police spent 6,400 hours investigating Beale's lies at a cost of at least £250,000, and the trial cost at least £109,000. "Cases such as this bring a real risk that a woman who has been raped or sexually assaulted does not complain to the police for fear of not being believed", the judge added. "False allegations are likely to have the perverse impact of increasing the likelihood of guilty men going free." In a victim impact statement, Mahad Cassim, who was wrongly convicted of raping Beale in 2010, told the court he had been hugely affected by the false claim. "One of my goals is to be a successful businessman, to have a nice family and be happy," he said. "I am working on the happiness - I have a long way to go." Beale had also falsely claimed she was groped by a stranger, Noam Shahzad, in a pub in July 2012. She alleged she was then gang-raped by him and other men, and even self-inflicted injuries to back up her claims she was assaulted with barbed wire. The following year Beale fabricated similar allegations against six other men. She claimed two strangers sexually assaulted her and said she was gang raped again, by four others, two months later.

Summary: A "serial liar" who made a series of bogus sexual assault allegations against 15 men has been jailed for 10 years.


Jamie Robinson, a medical researcher, told the BBC's World Have Your Say programme that passengers were abandoned by the staff, who ran and locked themselves away in a service room. His experience tallies with that of French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, who described being backed up against the metal door, and getting no response to passengers' desperate calls for help. The drama unfolded on board a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday. Mr Robinson realised something was wrong shortly after the Thalys train went through Brussels. He saw three members of the train's staff run through his coach, carriage 11, which was the next compartment along from carriage 12, where the gunman emerged. "They said nothing. They were a man followed by two women," he says. "They looked scared, they didn't alert us to anything, they ran to the end of my carriage and used their key to open a service door. Then they locked the door after them." Carriage 11 was in the front half of the train and the locked door allowed staff access to a service area, which was off limits to passengers. Then other people started running through from carriage 12. Some were covered in blood, others said they had seen a man with a gun shooting people. "There we were, with nowhere to go. There were probably 20 to 30 of of us, including the French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade and his family. We didn't know anything." Anglade, who injured his hand as he tried to activate the train's alarm, has also spoken about members of train staff locking themselves in a private cabin, complaining that they could have led passengers to a luggage area in another part of the train. He told Paris Match (in French) "We shouted for the staff to let us in, we yelled 'open!' There was no response." Agnes Ogier, the boss of Thalys, has said there will be an internal investigation and the staff involved will be asked to "explain their behaviour during this dramatic event". Jamie Robinson says after 10 terrifying minutes a man entered their carriage and explained there had been a man with a gun but the situation was now under control. Afterwards he learned this was Anthony Sadler, one of the American passengers who helped overpower the attacker. "The relief just exploded. We were all in such painful shock," he recalls. After learning they were safe Jamie Robinson and other passengers in his coach remained where they were, in numb silence, until they reached Arras station where the suspect, Ayoub El-Khazzani, a 25-year-old Moroccan, was arrested. Four days on from the traumatic events, Mr Robinson still can't understand why the train staff did nothing to help the passengers. He even believes the three staff may have jumped off the train as it slowly moved into Arras station. "They must have some responsibility, not to attack the attacker but some training to alert passengers. There was nothing. They got out, they saved themselves. They locked us in that compartment." He says he will never be able to

Summary: A British man caught up in the foiled train attack near Arras in northern France has criticised the actions of the train's staff.


Team Brewster beat the Olympic silver medallists skipped by David Murdoch 7-2 9-5 at Perth's Dewars Centre on Sunday to clinch the men's spot. Playing third for Brewster is Glen Muirhead, brother of winning skip Eve. Her rink claimed the women's place with three wins in a best-of-five tournament decider against Hannah Fleming's team. "I thought it would go to three finals," said Brewster, who will be competing in his first European Championships at the event from 19-26 November. "Dave's team were throwing the stones really well but we got off to a great start and a three in the third end gave us the lead and we managed to keep it. "It hasn't really sunk in yet and it will be great to compete in a home event. We have trained really hard, the ice has been good this week and the guys have played great. Now we need to do more of the same at Braehead." For Eve Muirhead, there is the excitement of playing in a European Championships in her home country. "I think that makes a massive difference," she said. "To get the chance to represent your country in your country is something quite special. "Any team that's there has earned the right to be there so it will be tough as usual and I guess you've got to go there on form. Our new coach Glenn Howard's going to be there with us and he's brought a lot to this team so far." Meanwhile, Glen Muirhead's long-term girlfriend Anna Sloan, who plays third for Team Muirhead, makes her return from injury this week. Glen said: "It's going to be exciting for us both. We're going to be motivated to push each other on and likewise with my sister. "It's just that extra little couple of per cent and, home soil at Braehead, so there's even more to look forward to. I'm excited and it should be fun."

Summary: Scotland will be represented at next month's European Curling Championships in Braehead by rinks led by Tom Brewster and Eve Muirhead.


Arlene Foster added her voice to the campaign after meeting a group of people affected by the drug at Stormont on Monday. The drug was developed in Germany as a sedative, but it was also used to ease morning sickness in pregnant women. It was linked to thousands of birth defects and was withdrawn in 1961. The Stormont delegation included Kim Fenton, a former mayor of Castlereagh, who was born with shorter arms and legs because of Thalidomide. She told BBC News NI that she believes survivors of the drug scandal are close to a breakthrough in securing compensation from Germany. Ms Fenton, who is in her 50s, said that life is more of a struggle now, as her body has been so weakened by the strain of using her arms to walk. "As a child, I didn't feel there were huge challenges. Before my mid-30s, the only time I kind of struggled was in pregnancy," she said. "But since then, things have changed quite drastically. Because I've been using my arms as legs, the wear and tear over the decades has been severe. "All the bones in my shoulder have disintegrated. Wearing my artificial legs has dislocated my hip and they can't operate because my bone structure is so complex." On Monday, Kim and other people affected by Thalidomide asked Mrs Foster to add her voice to those appealing to the German government to recognise its responsibilities towards victims. In 2012, German-based pharmaceutical company Gruenenthal issued its first apology over the drug in 50 years. However, it said Thalidomide's possible side-effects "could not be detected" before it was marketed. In March, a debate in the European Parliament centred on claims that the German government prematurely ended court action in the 1970s which would have helped those affected in the UK. Kim and other campaigners want the German government to explain whether it protected Grunenthal directors and staff from prosecution and to properly compensate survivors. An EU resolution that is expected to be passed in January next year could force the country's government to recognise its responsibilities towards victims. "All eyes will be on Germany when this resolution is passed," Ms Fenton said. "They're already embarrassed by this and it will be difficult for them not to respect the authority of the European Parliament. "But we need our own politicians to take a stand and support our campaign." Kim's increasingly complex medical needs are a strain on her financially - as well as regular physiotherapy, she has to travel to London to see specialists. "Health insurance doesn't cover existing illnesses, so it would be pointless. This compensation would give me back my independence, which I have lost so much of since my health really began to deteriorate," she said. "I came to terms with how I am a long time ago. There is nothing I can do to change it, but I want to continue to make the most of what I am and do everything I'm capable of, and to do that, I need support. "It wouldn't be just a monetary

Summary: Northern Ireland's first minister is to write to the German chancellor to seek support for a new compensation package for victims of the Thalidomide scandal.


The vessel, thought to be just 20m (70ft) long, capsized at midnight local time in Libyan waters south of the Italian island of Lampedusa. So far only 28 people have been rescued and 24 bodies retrieved. Italy's PM said it was a European tragedy and called for an extraordinary EU summit on the migrants issue. Matteo Renzi said he could not verify the number of deaths, but that it would be a "dramatic amount". Live: Follow the latest developments The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the latest sinking could amount to the largest loss of life during a migrant crossing to Europe. At least another 900 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean this year. Italian naval and coastguard ships, the Maltese Navy and cargo vessels, along with three helicopters, are involved in the rescue operation, 130 miles (210km) off the coast of Lampedusa and 17 miles from the Libyan coast. The Italian coastguard's spokesman told the BBC the operation was still focused on search and rescue, "but in time it will be a search [for bodies] only". 13,500 Migrants rescued 10-17 April 900 Migrants died attempting the crossing between 1 Jan and 15 April 31,500 Migrants have arrived from North Africa so far this year 218,000 Estimated to have crossed the Mediterranean in 2014 3,500 Migrants died attempting the crossing last year The migrants reportedly fell overboard when they rushed to draw the attention of the passing Portuguese merchant ship King Jacob, causing their ship to capsize. The Italian coastguard says the 28 survivors and 24 bodies are now on its vessel the Gregoretti. At the scene: Richard Bilton, BBC News, Lampedusa Lampedusa is scrambling to react to the latest horror in the seas off its coastline. Much of the harbour has emptied. Coastguard, customs and fishing boats all left before dawn to help with the rescue. Marta Bernardini works for the charity Mediterranean Hope, which is based on the island and works with migrants. She told the BBC: "We are very sad. It's so difficult for us who live and work in Lampedusa every day, to know that a lot of people die in this way, in the Mediterranean Sea." Lampedusa is the most southerly point of Italy - nearer Africa than the Italian mainland. Locals say that since January - when the EU took control of patrolling Europe's maritime borders - between 9,000 and 10,000 migrants have arrived on the island. Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said rescuers were "literally trying to find people alive among the dead floating in the water". Mr Muscat told the BBC: "What is happening now is of epic proportions. If Europe, if the global community continues to turn a blind eye... we will all be judged in the same way that history has judged Europe when it turned a blind eye to the genocide of this century and last century." Urging the EU summit, Mr Renzi said: "It is unthinkable that in the face of such a tragedy, there isn't the feeling of solidarity which Europe has shown in other instances." He added: "We

Summary: Hundreds of people are feared to have drowned after a boat carrying up to 700 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian coastguard says.


Media playback is not supported on this device Parling, 31, has won 21 international caps, and played all three Tests for the British & Irish Lions in 2013. Woodburn, 23, has scored 11 tries since making his Bath debut four years ago. "We've slowly looked to add quality and experience to the squad since coming into the Premiership and that's what Geoff does," said coach Rob Baxter. "There's no secret that this season we have looked a bit light in the second-row department and Geoff is a proven international performer." Parling started his career with Newcastle Falcons before joining Leicester in 2009. He has been part of a Tigers squad that won the Premiership in 2010 and 2013, as well as the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2012. "He adds great experience in running things like the line-out, has good leadership experience and all those things add up to it being a very good signing for us," added Baxter. "I'm expecting him to have a very positive influence on and off the pitch in how he helps the team prepare for big games." Woodburn, meanwhile, is on the less experienced end of the scale, having spent some of last season out on loan at Championship side Nottingham. "With we knew we had to recruit some players in the back three and Olly is a good age with decent Premiership experience," said Baxter.

Summary: Exeter Chiefs have signed England lock Geoff Parling from Leicester Tigers and Bath wing Olly Woodburn for next season on two-year contracts.


Police said the firework was dropped through the doorway of a fish and chip shop by an "unknown male". The incident happened at about 21:15 BST on Friday at the shop in Alliance Avenue. The man was taken to hospital where he is described as being in a stable condition. Condemning the incident, North Belfast SDLP assembly member Nichola Mallon said: "Fireworks aren't toys, they can cause serious injury and they can cause considerable damage to property and they need to be used responsibly. "So I would send a very clear message to parents and to young people to realise the dangers of fireworks." Sinn FÃ©in councillor JJ Magee said: "Hopefully the injured man will make a full and speedy recovery but it must have been a very traumatic experience." Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

Summary: A man has suffered burns after he was hit by what police have described as a "large firework rocket" in north Belfast.


Operators such as Uber and GrabTaxi will now have to register with the country's Land Transport Authority. Under the regulations, fees charged by the booking apps cannot exceed those of regular taxi companies. The new measures will be enforced from the second quarter of next year, the government office said on Friday. "To ensure that taxi services remain equally accessible to all members of the public, bidding and pre-trip tipping for taxi services will not be allowed," the LTA added in a statement. Wealthy city-state Singapore is among the most expensive places in the world to own a car, with many commuters relying on taxis to get around. The popularity of taxi booking services has surged in the city of nearly 5.4 million people, especially during peak business hours. Uber has expanded rapidly in Singapore offering services such as high-end UberExec and cheaper UberX cars, along with a service to book regular taxis. The company said the new rules would not affect its extra services, because it already has partnerships with licensed limousine and rental car companies. "We appreciate that the LTA has acknowledged the benefits our technology brings, and like Uber, is putting the interest and safety of consumers and drivers first," said Uber's regional general manager of Southeast Asia, Mike Brown, in a statement to Reuters. The San Francisco-based company has faced protests around the world by taxi drivers who are against its services, which allow people to become unlicensed taxi drivers by using their own cars.

Summary: Singapore plans to regulate third-party taxi booking apps such as Uber by capping fees and limiting them to use only licensed vehicles and drivers.


Chelsea, the reigning Premier League champions, losing at home to Burnley (that's Burnley, the team that won once away in the whole of 2016-17) on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. It is, of course, very early days. But should Antonio Conte be worried? History suggests he should. It's been eight years since a side staged a successful defence of the Premier League title, Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2008-09. And going back even further, since 2006-07 the Scot is one of only two managers - along with Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini - to win the title and still be in his job come the end of the following May. Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea, 2009-10), Roberto Mancini (Manchester City, 2011-12), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea, 2014-15) and Claudio Ranieri (Leicester, 2015-16) were all gone 12 months after winning English top flight's biggest prize. That's four of the six title-winning managers before Conte. There's also David Moyes, who took over a side just crowned champions under the retiring Ferguson but who failed to make it to the end of his first season in charge. And if that's not enough to worry Chelsea's Italian manager, what about these stats? Chelsea are only the second reigning Premier League champions to lose the opening game of the following campaign (after Leicester last season). They are also the first title holders to concede three goals in the opening game of the next season, and the first side to pick up two red cards on day one. Worrying times. At least, not in August. There's probably not a single person in your office who did not have Harry Kane in their Fantasy Football team, and why not? The Tottenham striker was the Premier League's top scorer last season with 29 goals. However, there's a strange statistic about the deadly finisher - he has not scored a single goal in August in 11 Premier League appearances. Not one. With six efforts against Newcastle, no-one had more shots on goal this weekend than Kane. The ball just would not go in the net. Spend that Fantasy Football cash elsewhere... Conte might have had a nightmare on Saturday but one manager certain to have slept soundly was David Wagner. The Huddersfield boss led the Premier League new boys to a stunning 3-0 win at Crystal Palace, a result which meant the Terriers spent a night as the leaders of England's top flight for the first time since 18 August 1970. Only a last-minute goal by Paul Pogba for Manchester United against the Hammers on Sunday denied the Terriers top spot heading into the second round of fixtures. But we're sure Huddersfield fans will get over that disappointment when they read this statistic - of the 14 previous teams to win their Premier League opener following promotion, only four have gone on to be relegated. If you watched Match of the Day on Saturday then you might have been scratching your head at the addition of a new statistic on the end-of-match stats - expected goals. The metric is designed to

Summary: No-one saw it coming.


Emmerson Whittel may need surgery on his jaw, while the club alleges player Josh Lynam was also bitten on the ear. The RFL's match review panel will look at official video on Thursday, as it does for all on-field incidents. Keighley have gathered additional video from spectators following an appeal. Footage already online, shot from the stands, shows a number of fights breaking out on the field between the two sets of players. Following the incident, Whittel posted on Twitter that brackets and bands had been used to try to re-align his jaw and that he faces at least three months out. Keighley Cougars of League One, England's third-tier competition, progressed to the Challenge Cup fourth round with a 50-32 win over Fryston Warriors - a side from the second tier of England's amateur game. The match, a "home" game for Fryston, was played at nearby Featherstone in West Yorkshire after the tie was at risk of being reversed and played at Keighley instead. Keighley have also complained to the RFL about their off-field treatment before kick-off, as they allege players and members of staff were refused entry to the ground without a valid matchday ticket. A statement on Keighley's website said: "The players' allocation of 'family and friends' tickets was then claimed to have been used to admit the playing squad and coaching staff into the ground. "The club is outraged by this development." The BBC contacted Fryston Warriors, who have declined to comment at this time.

Summary: Keighley want the Rugby Football League to consider amateur video footage when they review a brawl during the club's Challenge Cup tie against Fryston, which left a player with a broken jaw.


The Ibrox club ripped up its contract with Mr Ashley after it was alleged Rangers only received about 7p in every Â£1 spent on club products. Mr Ashley claimed the deal, struck with former Rangers chief executive Charles Green, was wrongly terminated. He took his case to the High Court in London where it has been agreed his litigation can continue. Deputy High Court judge Richard Millett issued a written ruling after hearing competing arguments. The judge gave no date for the next hearing. In May, Rangers' directors said they were going to rip up contracts held with a merchandise company, Rangers Retail, which they ran with a Sports Direct firm. Rangers chairman Dave King, who took control nearly two years ago, and other directors were unhappy with the arrangement. William McCormick QC, who led the Rangers legal team, told Judge Millett supporters were also upset. He said fans became angry after learning the club only got about 7p of every Â£1 spent and had staged a merchandise boycott. Mr McCormick said fans thought Mr Ashley, who owns Newcastle United FC, pocketed too much of their money. He said there was a widespread view that no "self-respecting" Rangers supporter wore a replica shirt.

Summary: Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has won the latest round of a legal fight with Rangers over a merchandise deal.


Inspectors found staff at Complete Utilities Ltd were not fully trained to operate plant vehicles, and the work site was "chaotic and disorganised". At Gloucester Crown Court, the firm was also ordered to pay costs of £27,000. Employee Spencer Powles, 62, from Coleford, died 10 days after the incident on October 24, 2012. He suffered severe injuries to his abdomen when a telehandler lurched forward, pinning him against a metal shipping container at the firm's Maisemore site. A telehandler is a four-wheel drive machine, mostly used in farming and industry, which has an interchangeable bucket on the end of a telescopic arm. Speaking after sentencing, health and safety inspector Caroline Bird said: "This terrible incident could have been avoided and Mr Powles would still be here today if Complete Utilities had provided proper training to staff in the operation of this telehandler. "It is not acceptable to put drivers into vehicles that they have not previously operated, or without the necessary training by a qualified and competent instructor." The BBC has tried to contact Complete Utilities Ltd for a response to the case and the criticisms of its operations.

Summary: A Gloucester-based firm has been fined £80,000 after a man was crushed between an industrial vehicle and a shipping container at work and later died.


Former Manchester United player and coach Phil Neville explains what Louis van Gaal has learned from his first season in the Premier League and why his team are not far away from being title contenders again. This season, they have dropped points in 10 out of their 16 away games against teams below them in the table. They got rolled over at Everton and Leicester, and drew with Burnley, Sunderland and West Brom. In the past, the aim at United was always to do the double over everybody outside the top six. We approached all of those games - home or away - with the aim of winning them and doing that was one of our strengths down the years. That meant, when we came up against our rivals in the top five, our record against the rest meant that those big games were not must-win and the pressure was off us a bit. This season, it has largely been the opposite. United have produced their best football against the other teams in the top five and have struggled against the sides that have camped in their own half and made things difficult for them. Going forward, United need a player who can make the difference in those games, when the opposition are packing their defence. Chelsea have that with Eden Hazard. Last season, Luis Suarez did it for Liverpool. Those players can win you the title because, when games are tight, they make the difference. But at the moment United do not have anyone who is providing those bits of individual brilliance in the final third. A lot of people are saying Gareth Bale would be the answer to that particular problem but I think United already have the right player on their books - if he performs to his capabilities. Angel Di Maria arrived for a British record fee last summer but, considering his £59.7m price-tag and his reputation, he has not delivered since his first three or four games. Even so, he is still the United player who excites me the most. Everything about the way he plays from his pace, his skill, and his ability running or passing forwards tells me he has what it takes to shine at Old Trafford. He has just not done it yet. Next season could be the time when he realises what it takes. He now knows there are no easy games in the Premier League, and that he has to toughen himself up. Di Maria will also understand that United are a huge club. He is on a big stage and there is a bit of pressure on him. We know he can do much better, and so will he. I would love to see him play to his potential because he could be the attacking star this United team needs to make the next step. Van Gaal's first season as United manager is also almost over and he will have found out a lot about English football over the last few months. Earlier in the campaign, he tried playing three

Summary: I think Manchester United can be Chelsea's closest challengers for the title next season, but Louis Van Gaal has got to get things right away from home against the so-called lesser teams.


A number of homes were inundated in Gorleston and nearby Bradwell on Sunday. The flooding followed a 90-minute downpour. Jonathan Wilby, of Great Yarmouth fire station, said: "Drains and pumping systems were unable to cope with the amount of rain." He added: "We prevented some homes from being flooded by pumping water away."

Summary: Torrential rain caused flash flooding of homes and businesses in coastal areas of east Norfolk.


Speaking to the New York Times, Mr Trump said the US would only come to the aid of allies if they have "fulfilled their obligations to us". Members of Nato have all signed a treaty that says they will come to the aid of any member that is attacked. Mr Trump will speak on Thursday at the Republican National Convention. In a preview of what he will tell convention-goers in his speech, he outlined a foreign policy strategy aimed at reducing US expenditure and involvement abroad. What the world wants to know about Trump - Q&A from Cleveland Although the White House has not responded directly to Mr Trump's comments, spokesman Josh Earnest said on Thursday the US commitment to NATO was "ironclad". He said potential enemies should not misjudge Washington's commitment to defend its NATO allies. "The president renewed that commitment just two weeks ago today when he travelled to Warsaw, Poland, to attend the NATO summit." Mr Trump's comments hit at the fundamental basis of the Atlantic alliance; that an attack on one ally is an attack on all. Under Article 5 of Nato's founding treaty, allies are bound to come to the aid of a member under attack. The US has long been pressing its European allies to spend more on defence. That is slowly beginning to have an effect. But never has there been a suggestion that the US would renege on its responsibilities. His comments on Turkey suggest that the Republican contender also seems reluctant to insist upon Nato members maintaining strong democratic principles. Mr Trump's positions will be seen by Washington's Nato partners as at best eccentric and at worst alarming. At a time of growing tensions with Moscow, the idea that the US might become an unreliable ally is a nightmare for Nato's European members. Asked about Russian aggression towards Nato countries in the Baltic region, Mr Trump suggested the US might abandon the longstanding protections offered by the US to such nations. The divisive Republican candidate also said that, if elected, he would not pressure US allies over crackdowns on political opposition and civil liberties, arguing that the US had to "fix our own mess" before "lecturing" other nations. He said: "Look at what is happening in our country. How are we going to lecture when people are shooting policemen in cold blood?" Asked about the failed coup in Turkey on Friday, the Republican candidate praised Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been criticised by some Western leaders over his increasingly authoritarian rule. "I give great credit to him for being able to turn that around," Mr Trump said of the failed coup. "Some people say that it was staged, you know that," he said. "I don't think so." US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Mr Erdogan to follow the rule of law, amid a crackdown on opposition figures by the Turkish leader in the wake of the coup attempt. But Mr Trump chose not to make a similar statement. "When the world sees how bad the United States is and

Summary: Donald Trump has said that if he is elected president he may abandon a guarantee of protection to fellow Nato countries.


The two are Anthony Allen, 43, of Hertfordshire, England and Anthony Conti, 45, of Essex, England. They were charged by US authorities with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud in an effort to manipulate Libor for Rabobank's financial gain. That brings the total number of indicted Rabobank employees to six. An earlier indictment had previously named traders Tetsuya Motomura, 42, of Tokyo, Japan and Paul Thompson, 48, of Dalkeith, Australia, as well as Paul Robson, a former Rabobank Libor submitter. "[Libor] is a key benchmark interest rate that is relied upon to be free of bias and self-dealing, but the conduct of these traders was as galling as it was greedy," said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell in a statement. Last year, Dutch lender Rabobank paid fines to US, British and Dutch regulators over allegations of Libor manipulation of €774m (£616m).

Summary: Two ex-Rabobank traders have been charged by the US Department of Justice with manipulating the Libor rate.


Mr Lewandowski is charged with simple battery over his encounter with former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields. Police allege that on 8 March after a news conference in Florida, he grabbed her arm when she tried to ask Mr Trump a question, leaving a bruise. Mr Lewandowski plans to plead not guilty, the Trump campaign said. Police in Jupiter, Florida, where he was arrested, have released new footage of the alleged assault. The security video appears to show him trying to pull Ms Fields out of the way as she walks alongside Mr Trump and tries to speak to him. "Mr Lewandowksi is absolutely innocent of this charge," the Trump statement said. "He is completely confident that he will be exonerated." Mr Trump himself has defended Mr Lewandowski on Twitter, saying the police footage shows there was "nothing there". If Donald Trump is going to win the Republican nomination without a convention fight, he will have to endure yet another string of political blows that would stagger even the strongest campaign. A week before a key primary in Wisconsin, Scott Walker - the state's governor - gave a full-throated endorsement of rival Ted Cruz. Now Mr Lewandowski has been charged over his manhandling of a female reporter during a rally. This comes after a particularly tawdry few days in the Republican presidential battle as Mr Trump and Mr Cruz engaged in a war of words over their spouses. The New York property developer has been able to maintain his front-runner status for months despite countless controversies and conflagrations. This time may be different, however. Recent events are likely to cause further damage to Mr Trump's already poor standing with female voters. The Republican presidential pack has been whittled to just three candidates, with the not-Trump vote consolidating behind Mr Cruz. Mr Trump's path to securing the Republican nomination is a narrow one, so the slightest stumble could deny him the prize outright. Then it's on to the convention, where party loyalists and a growing cadre of Cruz-friendly activists hold sway. The charge comes during a difficult time for Mr Trump, just ahead of next week's Wisconsin primary where he is neck-and-neck with Senator Ted Cruz. Earlier on Tuesday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker endorsed Mr Cruz for president. Mr Trump will participate in a CNN town hall event on Tuesday night when all three Republican contenders will face questions. He is currently well ahead in the Republican race with 739 delegates to Cruz's 465. Ohio Governor John Kasich is some way behind with 143, with the 1,237 needed to win the nomination probably out of his reach. The 40-year hurt - how Bruce Springsteen articulated the forces that underpin the rise of Trump Trumpisms - 22 things that Trump believes Donald v George Bush - How extreme is Trump? A civil war - Lifelong Republicans turned off by Trump Mr Cruz's campaign responded to the arrest by lamenting the "abusive behaviour" that they said seems to be part of the Trump campaign culture. That appeared to be an allusion to the Around the time

Summary: Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has been charged with assaulting a journalist at a campaign event.


I think I've only ever had one or two hugs from Ivan - once after I lost my first Wimbledon final against Roger Federer, and maybe also when I won the US Open final. I don't think there was any hugging when I won Wimbledon. So it was with a straight handshake that we greeted each other at Queen's Club on Tuesday morning - the first time we'd seen each other since the US Open last September. Media playback is not supported on this device We'd chatted occasionally over the past couple of years and I'd spoken to him a few times at the end of last year. I was just staying in contact, seeing what he was up to, and I knew he'd done some trials with other players so was interested to know if he was considering getting back on the tour. We know each other very well and it was good to have him back on Tuesday, it didn't feel strange at all. Getting a win over someone as good on grass as Nicolas Mahut was certainly a great start. Ivan is very clear and has strong opinions on things. That's important, I like that. I'd rather someone was very strong with what they're saying and, if I disagree, that's not a problem for him. He doesn't take it to heart. It's a bit easier to communicate when you don't feel like you're going to upset someone. I also enjoy his company and his sense of humour. He'll chat about pretty much anything. He's into his sports and has lots of good stories from when he was on tour. It was a bit different back then with Johnny Mac [McEnroe] and Jimmy Connors around. There weren't microphones and cameras everywhere. I'd say it was little bit more interesting in some ways. Obviously there are rivalries on the tour now but, from the stories that I've heard, I'd say the players today are a lot more friendly with each other off the court. It's important that Ivan and my other coach, Jamie Delgado, spend time together over the next few days. Ivan has arrived with his own clear ideas on what he thinks I need to be doing but one of his great strengths is he's a very good team player. It's crucial that he and Jamie see eye to eye. Ultimately I spend 40 weeks of the year with Jamie, and he also needs to believe and buy into the stuff that I'm working on as well. Jamie knows me well too, he's spent pretty much every day with me for the last three or four months, and that can help Ivan. So the two of them will chat about the things we need to concentrate on, especially this week on the grass. I'll be told before practice that this is what we're doing, I'll give a bit of feedback about what I might want to focus on, and we'll start work. I'm the number two player in the world by a decent distance in terms of ranking points,

Summary: Ivan Lendl is definitely more of a handshake than a hug kind of guy.


West Yorkshire Fire Service said half of Freeston Academy in Normanton, near Wakefield was ablaze at one point, leaving the building badly damaged. More than 50 firefighters attended after the alarm was raised at 09:10 BST. The blaze was brought under control by about 12:00. The fire service said there were no injuries and students were unaffected. Local residents were advised to keep windows closed and stay inside at the height of the fire. Ian Bitcon, area manager for the fire service, said the blaze was in the roof of the school which was "difficult to deal with due to access". He said: "We've been very fortunate in that the school's unoccupied and there's been a very good water supply. "We appear to pretty much have it cracked now." A caller to Radio Leeds said: "I was on my way home when I saw this massive smoke and flames. "They turned us all away and stopped us all going up the street. "There's loads of kids here waiting for their GCSE results and they're all coming away in tears." Students at the school were later directed to the sports hall to collect their exam results. A woman whose daughter had been to collect her exam results at the school said: "It's been a crazy day". She told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's been an emotional rollercoaster. First, getting up and waiting to come in and pick up the results. "But then to hear the school was on fire. It's just been an utter drama." In a statement, the school said: "Our main priority was the safety of our staff, students and contractors working on site, and to ensure that our year 11 students were able to collect their GCSE results. "Following advice from the fire service, all students were able to collect their GCSE results from outside the sports hall. "All staff on the site were accounted for and no one was hurt in the fire."

Summary: A large fire broke out a school as students gathered to collect their GCSE results.


Northampton's North has a hamstring injury while Leinster's Henshaw has damaged a pectoral muscle. Both were injured during Tuesday's 31-31 draw with Hurricanes. Neither featured in the Lions' opening Test defeat and they will leave the tour party after Saturday's second Test in Wellington. Media playback is not supported on this device North, 25, starred with two tries in three Test appearances when the Lions beat Australia 2-1 in the 2013 series. Henshaw, 24, was on his first Lions tour, having played 29 times for Ireland. Lions coach Warren Gatland said: "It's unfortunate with Robbie doing the pectoral muscle, which puts him out so he's heading back to Ireland - I think he has an operation on Monday. "And then George with the hamstring as well. It's unfortunate for him and his tour is over as well." However, Gatland says the Lions have been "lucky" overall. Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg was first to leave the tour after suffering a facial injury in their third tour game. He was followed by Wales back-rower Ross Moriarty, who succumbed to a back problem. The Lions lost the series opener 30-15 in Auckland, and go into the second Test in Wellington on Saturday with captain Sam Warburton coming in on the flank. Gatland has also brought in Johnny Sexton at fly-half with Owen Farrell moving to inside centre.

Summary: Wales wing George North and Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw have been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.


But with no private company yet to get a craft with passengers onboard into orbit, or even sub-orbit, how can you best endeavour to lead an industry that is still very much in an embryonic state? Final Frontier's cramped headquarters are testament to the very early stage of its business sector. It is based in a tiny studio in Brooklyn Navy Yard that can barely fit co-founders Ted Southern and Nikolay Moiseev, two assistants, and a few tables. Bits of fabric and plastic tubing litter almost every available surface. However, humble surroundings have not stopped the company from dreaming big about the future possibilities - and profits - of commercial space travel, which has already seen more than $1.4bn (Â£900m) of investment from companies including Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. And that figure is expected to more than double over the next 10 years as commercial space tourism is set to become a reality. Mr Moiseev, a former space suit designer for Zvezda, Russia's national space suit supplier, left his home country to strike out in the US. He has tried on and tested almost every space suit ever designed, and was responsible for designing the suits worn by cosmonauts on Mir, the former Russian space station, and the crew of the current International Space Station. But Mr Moiseev thinks that those designs are nothing compared with what lies ahead. "In the near future a lot of people - tourists - any age, with different health conditions, will fly in space," he says. "And the high operation pressure is a challenge for the space suit designer." This is the issue that Final Frontier says it is hoping to solve: how to design a space suit, not for an astronaut, but for a normal person who just happens to be headed to outer space. Mr Southern says: "Spaceflight is notoriously uncomfortable - tight, hot - and sometimes the spacesuits just make it worse. "When they're pressurised they're hard to move, you need special liquid cooling garments generally for space suits, and they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars," says Mr Southern. "So that's what we're trying to overcome here, we're going for a suit that's lightweight, inexpensive, safe and also more comfortable than traditionally military style spacesuits." But first there's the small matter of money. Mr Southern says: "A lot of rocket companies that are coming online now are hoping to fly 2014, 2015, 2016 - years out. "So it's been a challenge for that reason finding funding, finding partners, and finding customers." Although the pair first started dreaming and designing in 2007, after meeting at a Nasa-sponsored astronaut glove design competition (which they later placed at in 2009), they did not set up Final Frontier until 2010. At first, Mr Southern poured in his extra earnings from his day job as a costume designer for Broadway shows and circus firm Cirque de Soleil, into the business. "People always raise an eyebrow - 'Wow that's so different - props and costumes and spacesuits'," says Mr Southern with a smile. "In fact I see

Summary: Final Frontier Design wants to be the number one space suit designer for commercial space flights.


Fox has spent the last five years as chief commercial officer at Premier League rivals Arsenal and replaces Paul Faulkner, who left Villa Park in July. "I was delighted and even flattered by Tom's interest in the job," said owner Randy Lerner, who put the club up for sale in May but is yet to find a buyer. "His reputation as a leader and team builder makes him, to my mind, a great fit to take our club forward." Fox had been with the Gunners since 2009 and brings more than 25 years' experience of sports marketing to Villa. "Aston Villa has always been an important club in English football and it has a long and rich history of success at the top of the game," Fox said. "The chance to help restore the club to its rightful place in the Premier League is a challenge I'm really energised by and greatly looking forward to."

Summary: Aston Villa have named Tom Fox as the club's new chief executive.