Mr Evans joined the civil service in 2010 and is currently deputy permanent secretary to the Welsh Government. He will succeed Ian Jones in the role from October. S4C's chairman Huw Jones said Mr Evans was a "highly respected leader". Mr Evans was educated at Ysgol Penweddig, Aberystwyth. He graduated in economics at Swansea University. He was director of Business in the Community Wales, from 2008 and 2010, and a member of the Welsh Language Board from 2005 and 2010.

Summary: Owen Evans has been appointed as the new chief executive of Welsh language television broadcaster S4C.


Ibrahim Halawa, the son of the most senior Muslim cleric in the Republic of Ireland, was arrested during a siege on the Al-Fath mosque in Cairo in 2013. The mass trial of Mr Halawa and 493 others began in March after being postponed five times since his arrest. Mr Halawa, 19, could face the death penalty if he is convicted. Mr Halawa was on a family holiday to his parents' homeland when he and three of his sisters were arrested by Egyptian security forces during a crackdown on protests in the country's capital. He was 17 at the time. His family said he had taken refuge in the building during violent clashes between supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi and the security forces. His sisters were allowed to return to Dublin in November 2013. On Wednesday, a hearing in his case took place, with Irish officials in attendance. But it could not proceed as 16 defendants were not present in court, according to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. Defence lawyers requested that the trial would not proceed during the forthcoming Ramadan period and the judge agreed to adjourn the matter until 2 August, the department added. Amnesty International Ireland said Mr Halawa should be released immediately with all charges against him dropped. Colm O'Gorman, the human rights organisation's executive director in Ireland, said the situation was "utterly unacceptable". "No one should have to withstand the continual raising of hope that they might have their day in court, only to have that hope continually dashed," he said. "This young man should be at home in Ireland, continuing his studies and getting on with his life." He added: "I urge the Irish government and their EU partners to continue to work on Ibrahim's case as an absolute priority."

Summary: The trial of a Dublin teenager held in an Egyptian prison for almost two years has been adjourned for a third time.


Media playback is not supported on this device In charge of world football's governing body since 1998, Blatter, 79, said last year he was standing down amid a growing corruption crisis. Five candidates want to replace him. They are Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Tokyo Sexwale and Jerome Champagne. The election process is expected to begin at 12:00 GMT, but several rounds of voting may be required before a winner is known. Media playback is not supported on this device Each candidate has 15 minutes to address the congress before voting starts at approximately 12:00 GMT. There are 209 Fifa nations but Kuwait and Indonesia are currently barred from taking part, so that makes 207 eligible voters. To become president after the first round of voting, a candidate needs to secure two-thirds of the available votes. If no candidate achieves that mark, then a simple majority is required in the second round. If there is still no winner, then a third round will take place, minus the candidate with the fewest votes in round two. Fifa says a winner must be declared on Friday because an ice hockey rink is due to be installed at the Hallenstadion venue at midnight. So determined is Fifa to get this election done that it has spent £500,000 converting its headquarters into a back-up venue. Media playback is not supported on this device Given everything that has happened to Fifa, this is seen as a pivotal moment for an organisation which has been heavily criticised for its lack of transparency and for failing to clamp down on corruption within it. A new leader, together with a raft of reform measures, is seen as a chance to start afresh. Acting president Issa Hayatou said Friday can "signal a new dawn", adding: "This is our opportunity to show we are united in building a stronger Fifa." Media playback is not supported on this device There have been widespread allegations of corruption, the arrest of leading officials, the banning of its president and the sight of big-name sponsors deserting the organisation. Numerous Fifa officials have been indicted in the United States, while Swiss authorities are also investigating the organisation. Blatter has also been banned from all football activity for six years after being found guilty of breaching Fifa's ethics rules over a $2m (£1.3m) "disloyal payment" to the head of European football's governing body Uefa, Michel Platini, who had been favourite to succeed the Swiss. Former France captain Platini was also suspended. Both men deny any wrongdoing and are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Furthermore, Jerome Valcke, Fifa's secretary general and formerly Blatter's right-hand man, was banned for 12 years following allegations - which he denies - of misconduct while in office. Media playback is not supported on this device Fifa's leader is the figurehead for world football, often seen in public alongside presidents, prime ministers and royalty. There have been eight of them so far, presiding over the organisation's executive committee, which is where the real decision-making power lies.

Summary: Fifa will get a new president on Friday when 207 delegates from around the world gather in Zurich, Switzerland to vote for a successor to Sepp Blatter.


Aston Villa's Jordan Ayew opened the scoring on 62 minutes, curling the ball past Ley Matampi in the Leopards goal. Paul-Jose M'Poku equalised for DR Congo with a sensational long-range effort from outside the box. West Ham's Andre Ayew then coolly dispatched a winning penalty, sending Matampi the wrong way to seal the win. It marks Ghana's sixth consecutive Nations Cup semi-finals appearance, as they seek to end an agonising 35-year wait for a continental title. In a game that only properly sparked to life in the second half in Oyem, DR Congo - and their captain Dieumerci Mbokani in particular - were left to rue several missed chances early on. The Hull City striker's best opportunity came on six minutes, after a terrible mix-up in the Ghana defence, but he hit the post when he had the goal at his mercy. Mbokani then teed up the competition's top scorer Junior Kabananga on 25 minutes, who fired high over the bar. The Congolese talisman again broke through the Ghana defence, only to slice his chance into the side netting. Ghana showed a lot more intent in the second half, with Wakaso whipping a free-kick at Matampi, who saved with his feet. Jordan Ayew - the younger of the two brothers - scored his first of the tournament, surging into the box and stroking the ball home confidently and decisively. The lead lasted all of five minutes, with M'Poku unleashing a breathtaking long-range shot with the outside of the boot that arrowed into the top corner. Ghana continued to press and were awarded a penalty when Christian Atsu went down in the box after contact from Lomalisa Mutambala, who was lucky not to receive a second yellow card. Andre Ayew then coolly dispatched the spot-kick, sending Matampi the wrong way, to grab his second of the competition. Leopards substitute Cedric Bakambu missed several chances to equalise in the final minutes, forcing a good save from Razak and finding space in the box at the death before shooting badly wide from close range. Atsu could have finished it for Ghana in injury time, but the busy Matampi produced a great save at his feet. The Black Stars' celebrations at the end showed Avram Grant's side's relief at edging the contest. Match ends, Congo DR 1, Ghana 2. Second Half ends, Congo DR 1, Ghana 2. Foul by Dieumerci Mbokani (Congo DR). Daniel Amartey (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Cédric Bakambu (Congo DR) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Dieumerci Mbokani with a headed pass. Foul by Cédric Bakambu (Congo DR). Mubarak Wakaso (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Jonathan Bolingi (Congo DR) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by André Ayew (Ghana). Corner, Ghana. Conceded by Junior Kabananga. Corner, Ghana. Conceded by Ley Matampi. Attempt saved. Christian Atsu (Ghana) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Thomas Partey. Foul by Jonathan Bolingi

Summary: Ghana's Ayew brothers grabbed a goal each to beat DR Congo 2-1 and put the Black Stars through to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.


The Football Association, known simply as the FA, is the organisation that looks after all football in England. Similar organisations play the same role for football in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1863 and is the oldest football association in the world. As the first ever football association, it does not need to call itself the "English" FA. The FA is based at Wembley Stadium in London. It controls many different competitions, the most famous of which is the FA Cup. It is also responsible for appointing the manager of the men's, women's, and youth England football teams. Although it does not run the day-to-day operations of the Premier League, it does have some say in English football's biggest league. The FA has been accused of being old fashioned and out of date in the way it is run, and the people it has in power. The government has repeatedly called for the FA to be more of a reflection of modern society, and those who play the game. It also wants the organisation to change the way it makes decisions. The FA is run by a group of people called the FA Council, which has 122 members. Just eight of these members are women and only four are from ethnic minorities. More than 90 of the 122 members are aged over 60. This is a big area where some people believe the FA needs to change. The government wants more women and people from ethnic minorities to have a say in how the FA is run. Other areas that the government wants to change are for fans to have more input, and changes to limit the power and influence of the Premier League. On 9 February, MPs in the House of Commons, had a debate about whether they believed the FA can change itself, or whether the government needs to step in to force changes. They voted that they had "no confidence" in the Football Association to make the changes. The vote itself does not have any powers or immediate effect on the FA, but it will be seen as a warning to the organisation that the government could force them to change if they don't act soon. The FA faces losing getting money from the government, but is confident they can make the changes themselves to keep the government happy.

Summary: MPs have voted to say that they don't believe the biggest organisation in English football, the FA, can make the changes needed to keep it modern and relevant.


Demolition of the existing buildings is still subject to a bat mitigation licence being granted by Natural England. Commercial Estates Group (CEG) was granted permission in 2011 to redevelop in Carlyon Bay. The Â£250m redevelopment project would include housing and leisure facilities. The site, near St Austell, was previously home to the Cornwall Coliseum complex, which hosted acts such as Cliff Richard, Status Quo and The Who. CEG development director John Kenny said the company was planning a "major development which will have major benefits", including providing more than 400 construction jobs and 500 jobs after completion.

Summary: Designs for a new development on the site of the old Cornwall Coliseum building at Carlyon Bay have been approved by Cornwall Council.


In May, Qatar vowed to improve the rights of migrants in the Gulf state amid growing alarm at their treatment. But Amnesty said progress to end exploitation had been minimal. Among others, the report highlighted that Qatar was "lagging behind" in reforming controversial laws that tie migrants to a single employer. Amnesty said that requirements that workers obtain exit permits from their employers in order to leave the country were also still in place. Sherif Elsayed-Ali, Head of Refugee and Migrants' Rights at AI, said: "Time is running out fast. It has been four years since Qatar won the bid to host the World Cup, putting itself in the global spotlight, so far its response to migrant labour abuses has not been much more than promises of action and draft laws." "Urgent action is needed to ensure we do not end up with a World Cup tournament that is built on forced labour and exploitation." The Gulf state has seen an influx of foreign workers ahead of the football tournament and expatriates now make up the bulk of the workforce in the country. Earlier in November, Qatar's Sports Minister Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali told The Associated Press news agency that the country planned to implement labour reforms in the "next few months". Amnesty says the proposals do not go far enough. The report said that Qatari officials increasingly acknowledge the need for improvement but that widespread changes must happen in the coming months. A failure to put serious changes in place would "call into question whether the Qatari authorities are serious about reform," said AI. More than 180 migrant workers died in Qatar last year and a significant number are believed to have suffered injuries as a result of unsafe working practices. Qatar is reported to be spending more than $200bn (Â£121bn) on a series of infrastructure projects, and says the World Cup is a catalyst for a nationwide building project.

Summary: Qatar is failing to tackle the abuse of migrant workers, Amnesty International has warned, six months after work began on the Fifa World Cup 2022 stadiums.


Karl and Donovan Demetrius, both 29, Jaydene Parsons, 23, and James Ireland, 23, were charged with assisting an offender earlier. All were remanded in custody after a short hearing at Bristol Magistrates' Court. Becky's stepbrother, Nathan Matthews, 28, appeared in court earlier charged with her murder. Karl and Donovan Demetrius, and Ms Parsons, all of Barton Court, Bristol, and Mr Ireland, from Avonmouth, will appear at the city's crown court on 26 March. They all face a single charge of disposing or concealing Becky's body parts with the intent "to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Nathan Matthews". A fifth person - a 23-year-old man also arrested on 2 March - was released without charge. The 16-year-old's stepbrother, of Warmley, Bristol, appeared at the city's crown court via video link earlier, charged with her murder. He was also remanded in custody to appear at crown court on 26 March. Mr Matthews' girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, appeared alongside him at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with perverting the course of justice. She will appear before the crown court on 2 April. Becky was last seen on 19 February and was reported missing the following day. The discovery of her body came after an extensive search of various locations across Bristol.

Summary: Four people have appeared in court accused of helping to hide or dispose of teenager Becky Watts' body parts.


Caerphilly council has been accused of lacking "Christmas cheer" by the opposition Plaid Cymru group. But council leader Keith Reynolds said it has made cuts to protect key services. The ruling Labour group said the decision was taken "reluctantly" but it had to save £12m for 2015-16. Plaid's Colin Mann said: "It will be really disappointing if our town centres don't have any Christmas cheer this year with the lighting cancelled." He said the lighting was available, but there is no money to pay contractors to put up and dismantle it.

Summary: There will be no Christmas lights in towns around Caerphilly county this year after funding was cut.


The IMF's steering committee, made up of 25 of the world's largest economies, said the global outlook was fraught because of weak trade and a series of risks including a UK exit from the EU. It urged countries to boost public spending and avoid deflation. The IMF last week made its second cut to global growth forecasts this year. Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF, described the talks between finance ministers and central bankers in Washington DC as "collective therapy" to deal with the gloomy prospects. But she said calmer financial markets since February had reduced the nerves at the IMF spring meeting. "There was not exactly the same level of anxiety but I think there was an equal level of concern, and a collective endeavour to identify the solution and the responses to the global economic situation," she said. The IMF now predicts global growth of 3.2% this year and 3.5% in 2017, having previously forecast 3.4% and 3.6% respectively. "Downside risks to the global economic outlook have increased since October, raising the possibility of a more generalised slowdown and a sudden pull-back of capital flows," the IMF steering committee said. It said countries' tax policies and public spending should be "as growth-friendly as possible". But it also pledged to "refrain from all forms of protectionism and competitive devaluations", amid concerns that some countries are keeping their currencies weak to boost exports.

Summary: Key countries in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have pledged to pursue "growth-friendly" policies to kickstart the slowing world economy.


Dean Owens, from Leith, knew that his great great grandfather Ambrose Salvona was buried somewhere in Inverness. After telling this to his audience at Perth's Southern Fried Festival, Inverness resident Judi Menabney came forward and offered to find the grave. Salvona's resting place has since been found in Tomnahurich Cemetery. Owens' research of his family tree influenced the writing of Dora, a track on his Nashville-recorded album Into the Sea. The song is about his grandmother, Dora Salvona Owens, who grew up in a circus that Salvona started in Scotland. Salvona was thought to have arrived in Scotland from Italy in the company of a dancing bear, sometime in the late 19th Century. Owens' lyrics of the song include the lines: "Somewhere way back there's a lion tamer/Ambrose and his dancing bear/He's buried in the Highlands/but we're not sure where." Ms Menabney works for High Life Highland, an organisation that runs archives, registration and family history services on Highland Council's behalf. With help from her colleagues at the Highland Archive and Registration Centre in Inverness she was able to find the grave in one of the city's largest cemeteries. Family historian Anne Fraser said: "It was great fun investigating Ambrose's story. "He turns out to have been a very colourful character - which may not be a surprise - but we have also finished up raising as many questions as we've answered." The staff at the centre found out that Salvona was married twice and was the father of at least 10 children. He was 80 when he first arrived in Inverness and was, at the end of his life at the age of 88, a resident of a poor house that later became Hilton Hospital and is today a block of flats. Salvona appears to been a popular figure in the Highland town. A procession of people carried his body to a prominent position at Tomnahurich following his death on 13 October 1917. The inscription on the gravestone acknowledges his career as a lion tamer. Owens said: "I can't believe the final resting place of my great great grandfather has been found. "I'm very grateful to Judi, Anne and their colleagues for all the work they've put into discovering his story. "I'm delighted they want to use it and my song Dora - which started the search - in their own presentations." The singer added: "You really don't know what's up there, way up in the family tree. And maybe there's another song in that."

Summary: A singer-songwriter has tracked down the grave of a circus lion tamer ancestor with help from an audience member at one of his gigs.


Police probed reports hounds filled a street in Macclesfield, Cheshire, in February and allegedly killed a fox. Lesley Martin from Cheshire Monitors said "the law needs to be strengthened" and loopholes must be tightened. The CPS said there was not enough evidence to prove the animal's death was caused deliberately. Ms Lesley, from the anti-hunting campaign group which monitors hunting groups in Cheshire, said the law is inadequate in its current form. Resident Julie Clarke, 47, who witnessed the hunt in Penningtons Lane said it was "horrific" and the "dogs were out of control", leaving some locals "traumatised... scared and outraged". A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokeswoman said police referred two files to them relating to Cheshire Forest Hunt, one on 25 February and the other on 2 January. "In both cases our prosecutor decided there was not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction", she said. A spokesman for Cheshire Forest Hunt said at the time they had "apologised" for what had happened. Ms Lesley said the law "really needs to be strengthened... plus we need to have stronger sentencing so it sends a really good message to have these people brought to account". Legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg said: "I think the problem with the hunting act is that it wasn't very well drafted and it's really quite difficult to bring prosecutions". "I think those who thought it was going to stop hunting as a sport have been disappointed". A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs said they could not comment on individual cases, but whether an offence under the Hunting Act 2004 is taken to court would depend on whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. He said: "The government's manifesto includes a free vote on the Hunting Act. There are no plans for a vote in this session, as with the EU negotiations beginning, this is clearly not a top priority for the first session."

Summary: Campaigners are calling for a change in the law after a decision not to charge anyone involved in a hunt that spilled on to a residential street.


The new brand, Arket, will provide "simple, timeless and functional designs" including clothes for adults and children, and household products. It will sit in a slightly higher price segment than the main H&M brand. The move comes as competition online and on the High Street is squeezing profits at the fashion giant. After London, more Arket stores will follow in Brussels, Copenhagen and Munich, and the new brand will be launched online. The new stores will also stock external brands, and some outlets will include a cafe offering Scandinavian-style food. Bernadette Kissane, apparel and footwear analyst at Euromonitor International, said on paper the plan looked "promising". "The company's results have been falling short of expectations recently, consistently outpaced by key rival Inditex," she said. "Rather than adopt a faster sourcing strategy to compete, the company has opted to introduce new brand Arket to effectively cater to shifts in consumer behaviour." H&M already operates a range of High Street brands including Cos, & Other Stories, Monki, Weekday and Cheap Monday. But the firm said market conditions were difficult for fashion retailers as digitisation is changing both shoppers' behaviour and the way fashion companies operate. H&M pioneered fast fashion alongside Zara's owner Inditex. But Inditex has overtaken H&M in recent years to become the world's largest fashion retailer. The company's profits are also being squeezed by online competition from retailers such as Asos, which offer a fast turnover of fashion styles in response to customer demand. "Retail is going through a challenging period of change in which customers' shopping behaviour and expectations are changing at a fast pace as a result of growing digitalisation," said H&M's chief executive Karl-Johan Persson in a statement accompanying the firm's latest financial results. "For fashion retail in general, market conditions were very tough in many of our large markets in central and southern Europe and in the US, and this was reflected in our sales," he added. H&M reported a 3.4% drop in net profit to 2.45bn kronor ($275m; Â£220m) for the December to February period, the first quarter of the company's financial year.

Summary: Swedish fashion company H&M will launch its eighth fashion brand later this year, with the first outlet opening in London this autumn.


For 70 years, my father has lived with the shame of what happened to his ship, HMS Hebe, in June 1940. During the evacuation of Dunkirk, he was the chief engine room artificer on board the Hebe, a minesweeper deployed to Dover as a control vessel. The Hebe crossed the Channel to Dunkirk three times during those chaotic days between 27 May and 4 June. "It was torrid, dangerous and nerve-wracking with all-day long German air attacks", says Harold Biles who marked his 28th birthday during the height of the bombardment. "The Hebe was lying about 200 metres off the beach at Dunkirk, and there was just a seething mass of soldiers. All we knew was that we were on the water, they were on the beach and were trying to get to us. "There was constant bombing and shellfire. We just used to wait for nightfall when there was a relaxation, and we could perhaps get some sleep." In the early hours of 29 May 1940, the captain of HMS Hebe sent a gig ashore to the beach at Dunkirk. It was to collect Lord John Gort, the commander-in- chief of the British Expeditionary Force and take him to England. "As we sped back to Dover, I remember seeing Lord Gort standing in the waist of the ship, holding the guardrail to offset the rise and swell of the waves. He was resplendent in his red-trimmed uniform, but he was motionless, with his head sunk to his chest". "It was not for him to receive any acclaim for the evacuation of some 330,000 men and saving them from Nazi POW camps. In his eyes, there was only defeat. He had lost an army." The German bombardment, the trauma and the fatigue were taking a toll on the crew of HMS Hebe, and no doubt other ships involved in the evacuation. My father describes how on the morning of 1 June, he witnessed the first signs of what we now know to be post-traumatic stress, but in those days was sometimes referred to as a "lack of moral fibre". "We were embarking more stores and ammunition back in Dover. An RAF plane flying low overhead was the starting point. A seaman looked up, screamed and fell into convulsions with hysteria. It was contagious and he was joined by three or four others. "Later in the day an order was issued, amazing and ill judged. Anybody feeling the stress of the last week was told to leave the ship and assemble on the dockside in preparation for going to hospital. "About 20 men left the ship and I can still see their grins as they trooped over the gangway. The majority were malingerers but in fairness, the prospect of that final trip was frightening as the Germans were almost on the French beaches." The captain of the Hebe sent for Harold Biles as the Chief Engineer, and the Coxswain. "We both had to tell him that the ship was so depleted of crew that a further sailing was impossible. And so we remained

Summary: BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles has been talking to his father, Harold, about his recollections of the Dunkirk evacuation.


Some argue that Africans have never had so much artistic freedom, with a proliferation of books, paintings and films since the advent of multi-party democracy in the 1990s, and the huge advance in technology which has allowed anyone with a smartphone to publish their views across the world. But critics say artists are still subject to tight censorship, pointing out that a South African gallery was forced to remove a painting of President Jacob Zuma under political pressure, while in Uganda a play about gay rights was banned. So, just how free are Africa's artists - in film, literature and music- to tell their own stories? Here are some of their experiences: Having been born and raised in Uganda, it was the best place to be. It was my home and my everything. I remember joining the film industry in 1999 - everything was still good. You didn't need a licence to shoot a film, no censor body to look at your script. All you had to do was get a camera, run to the streets, shoot something and lock yourself in the edit suite - and later put your work out there for the world to see. Today, I have grown to understand that not all stories can be told and not just any film can be done here. There are topics you have to think twice before tackling or which, for your safety, are better left untold. Topics that will get even actors saying: "I think I am not the right person for that role" even when you know they can pull it off. Here, you don't just wake up to say you are doing a film about the gay community, a film about the political situation, or a film that paints a bad picture of Uganda. One day I had to drop a story that was inspired by the practice of female genital mutilation amongst some communities in Uganda. I had strong interviews and had done thorough research, but everyone kept telling me it was not safe to go ahead. But it is still my home, my Uganda, my everything. I don't think anyone is free to exercise their art. And that includes artists. There is a cost for this freedom. Artists are no different to the entrepreneur in that financial resources are required for the capital outlay of the "work" or manuscript. Just to be in a position to indulge in the work is time spent creating a product without the immediate benefit of financial return. Then the work needs to be produced depending upon the format and genre, requiring additional resources. In the case of a writer, it is then given to a publisher, who spends even more resources to fine-tune the manuscript with an editor, proof reader, type setter, graphic designer etc. which could take considerable time before it is placed on the retail shelf. Since the work now becomes a joint investment, compromise is inevitable. So, I guess artists are free to tell their story if they have the resources to indulge in this freedom.

Summary: Fespaco, Africa's premiere film festival, is taking place in Burkina Faso this week, amid debate about artistic freedom on the continent.


A yellow "be aware" warning has been issued for late Thursday into Friday for the Western and Northern Isles, Highlands and Argyll. The warning also applies to parts of Moray and Aberdeenshire. Earlier this year the Met Office asked the public for suggestions for names for storms. Storm Abigail could bring gusts of 60 to 70mph, potentially rising to speeds of up to 80mph in exposed areas. The warning is in place from 18:00 on Thursday until 14:00 on Friday. In its warning, the Met Office said: "The public should be aware of the risk of disruption to transport. In addition, large waves may give rise to local over-topping along some coasts. "A vigorous depression is expected to pass just to the northwest of Scotland on Thursday night bringing a swathe of very strong winds on its eastern and southern flanks. "There remains some uncertainty regarding the exact extent and timing of strongest winds and the extent of impacts and this warning will be kept under review." Sea swell charts produced by South Devon-based surfing website Magicseaweed.com suggest swell reaching heights of 10-11.5m (36-38ft) on Friday. Meteorologist Dr Eddy Graham, who lectures at Lews Castle College UHI in Stornoway in Lewis, said people should stay indoors if the weather deteriorates. He said: "The Met Office have issued the first high wind warning of the season for this Thursday and Friday for most of northern and western Scotland. "Winds are expected to reach over 70mph, possibly touching 80mph in the strongest gusts. Winds of these speeds are dangerous when outdoors - stay safely indoors when conditions deteriorate."

Summary: Storm Abigail, the first storm to be officially named by the Met Office, is set to bring winds of up to 80mph to parts of Scotland later this week.


Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres scored the pivotal goal on 72 minutes as Atletico moved within eight points of leaders Barcelona. Antoine Griezmann put Atletico ahead and Denis Cheryshev equalised for Valencia before Torres struck. Valencia had Anderlan Santos sent off on 80 minutes before Yannick Carrasco completed the scoring. Neville suffered just a second defeat in seven games as goalkeeper Diego Alves endured a tough night. Atletico made the brighter start so it was no real surprise when they went ahead in the 24th minute. They squandered possession 25 yards from goal and Griezmann let fly with a low shot that crept inside the near post with home goalkeeper Alves slow to react. The lead lasted just four minutes, however, before Valencia scored as a long pass was cushioned by the head of Paco Alcacer to Cheryshev, who lashed home a left-footed drive from 15 yards. Cheryshev lifted a shot over the crossbar from another Alcacer header seven minutes before half-time as Valencia grew in confidence. Alcacer had a chance to put Valencia ahead just before the hour mark when he latched onto a pass by Sofiane Feghouli but fired straight at goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Moments later Alves made up for his earlier error with a fantastic, one-handed save to keep out a powerful effort by Luciano Vietto. But the keeper could do nothing to stop substitute Torres, who was making his 300th Atletico appearance, putting his side ahead with 18 minutes remaining as he slid in at the far post to turn the ball home after Jose Maria Gimenez flicked on a corner. Santos saw red for two bookable offences with five minutes remaining and Carrasco made it 3-1 five minutes later when he fired straight at Alves, who allowed the ball to creep in under his legs. Earlier in the day, Barcelona kept up their run with a comfortable win at Eibar.

Summary: Atletico Madrid kept their La Liga title hopes alive with victory over Gary Neville's Valencia.


The item was sold to a private Irish collector. It was part of a sale of over 600 items, many from the 1916 Rising. The rebellion was an attempt to overthrow British rule 100 years ago. The 1916 proclamation is considered one of the most important documents in Irish history. Auctioneers said that the copy was from Dr James Ryan, a medical officer attached to the garrison based out of the General Post Office (GPO) during the Easter Rising. The GPO was the headquarters of the Rising's leaders. After the GPO was taken by rebel forces, Pádraig Pearse, the Rising's comander-in-chief, read the proclamation from the front of the building. The seven signatories of the proclamation were executed, along with nine other leaders, after the Rising was quelled. Last month, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Dublin for a parade to mark the Easter Rising's centenary. The 1916 Proclamation was then read out by an officer from the Irish defence forces during the parade, in a re-enactment of the declaration of independence the rebels made outside the GPO.

Summary: An original copy of the Irish proclamation, that was reputedly hung in the headquarters of the rebel leaders during the Easter Rising, has sold at an auction in Dublin for 150,000 euros (£117,000).


Patrick Bauer and Nathan Byrne helped Karl Robinson's men complete a perfect smash and grab, cancelling out Zach Clough's free-kick. A victory which furthers the Addicks' own play-off ambitions was made all the more impressive considering that they were a man short from the 12th minute onwards following Lewis Page's red card. After Page was sent off for a professional foul on Josh Vela, Clough then made the punishment count double with a brilliant free-kick, his ninth goal of the season. But Robinson's side refused to lie down, equalising on 23 minutes when Jake Forster-Caskey's free-kick was turned in at the far post by defender Bauer. The Addicks then grabbed a shock lead in first-half stoppage time when Forster-Caskey led an impressive counter, feeding Byrne to slot the ball under the advancing Ben Alnwick. Bolton, now without a win in their last five games in all competitions, threw all they had at Charlton after that and struck the woodwork when Andrew Taylor's cross deflected off Chris Solly. They failed to seriously test goalkeeper Declan Rudd in the second half, however, as they slipped to a second consecutive 2-1 defeat in front of their own fans. Charlton, unbeaten since Christmas, have now picked up 11 points from their last five matches to climb to 11th, just six points off a play-off place. Report supplied by the Press Association.

Summary: Charlton Athletic came from behind with 10 men to deliver a blow to Bolton Wanderers' League One promotion hopes at the Macron Stadium.


The Procession to Calvary, completed in 1602, will remain on show at Nostell Priory in West Yorkshire. The painting had been put up for sale for £2.7m. A campaign by The Art Fund and National Trust raised £1.7m. The National Heritage Memorial Fund, which aims to save key historic items, has now stepped in with the final £1m. The painting depicts Christ carrying the cross on his way to crucifixion and has hung at Nostell Priory, a stately home near Wakefield, for 200 years. The priory is the family home of Lord St Oswald, who put it up for sale to pay for the restoration of the estate. He had said he would put it up for auction if the target was not reached by Christmas. Members of the public donated £680,000 to the campaign, with almost £510,000 coming from trusts and foundations, while The Art Fund gave a further £500,000. Art Fund director Dr Stephen Deuchar said: "Considering the economic climate, this has been a hugely challenging campaign and we are enormously grateful to all our members and supporters who have given so generously. "Working with the National Trust has been a very fruitful experience, pooling our resources to pull out all the stops and save this remarkable painting for Nostell Priory and its visitors." Dame Jenny Abramsky, chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, said: "The overwhelming public support to help secure this stunning painting has been an inspiration. "Individual giving combined with ongoing support from government funds such as the National Heritage Memorial Fund will play an increasingly important role in securing our most precious heritage." The fund's money comes from the Treasury and is intended to be the last resort for saving items of importance to the UK's national heritage. It has received £10m a year since 2007, but its grant will be halved from this year as a result of government cuts.

Summary: An Old Master by painter Pieter Brueghel the Younger will remain on public display after a government fund paid £1m to save it for the nation.


The pop legend lost his cool during his performance at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium on Sunday. The steward incurred John's wrath for trying to stop people with cheaper tickets blocking the view of concert-goers at the front who had paid more. But sorry turned out not to be the hardest word, with John later getting her on stage and apologising. Stewards at the stadium, which is the home of Gloucester Rugby, were faced with the problem of some people moving to the front and blocking the view of others at the gig, which was supposed to be seated. The lack of crowd control has been criticised by fans, but promoter Marshall Arts, which was responsible for the stewarding, refused to comment about it. During the concert, the legendary singer-songwriter told the stewards to "lighten up". He told them: "These people have come here to hear music so if they want to put their hands in the air, let them." In an expletive-laden rant, John went to say it was "not China" and he picked out a female steward, telling her: "You put a uniform on and you think you're Hitler - well you're not." Moments later the woman could be seen on the big screen walking away from the stage area, while people cheered the Rocket Man writer's outburst. Steven Ward, from Tewkesbury, who attended the event, said: "This [concert] was seated, there were disabled people who were sat on our aisle who couldn't see, obviously they couldn't stand up to see the stage. "There were people fighting to get a view of what they were trying to look at and, for some reason, the stewards brought out barriers to try and stop people, but that made them worse because they congregated by the barrier." Gloucester Rugby's commercial manager, Mike Turner, said: "The Elton John concert is a stadium hire so Elton brings on his own stewards. "Our stewards man the corporate areas and everything else is manned by the production company Elton uses. "The stewards did their best to bring the concert back to how it should be." A spokesman for Marshall Arts said the concert had been a great success but she would not comment on any aspect of the stewarding, which she said was subcontracted to another company.

Summary: Sir Elton John likened a steward to Hitler as she tried to stop crowds from surging forward during a gig.


Landlord Mr Jones, 46, died at The Blossoms public house in Holyhead on Friday afternoon. Following a stand-off with police on the roof of a neighbouring pub, a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody A family tribute read: "A partner, soul mate, father, brother, uncle and our best friend. We love you." A post mortem examination was carried out on Saturday but North Wales Police say they are not releasing Mr Jones's cause of death yet. Officers have made a specific appeal to speak to people who were on board the number four Arriva Bus which left Bangor bus station at 14:00 GMT on Friday and arrived at Summerhill in Holyhead at about 16:00. Det Chf Insp Iestyn Davies said: "It is understood that the bus was caught in traffic around the Black Bridge area of Holyhead as events at the Blossoms public house were unfolding."

Summary: The man whose death at an Anglesey pub sparked a murder investigation has been named as David Jones.


Air accident investigators have been briefing families ahead of official publication of their final report. The police helicopter crashed onto the busy Clutha bar on 29 November 2013. An earlier interim report said the engines had shut down even though there was fuel in the reserve tank. Some relatives said the briefing had left many questions unanswered, and underlined the need for black box flight recorders to be fitted in all passenger-carrying aircraft. Following the meeting with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in Glasgow on Wednesday evening, Ian O'Prey whose son Mark died in the bar, said there was "no resolution" to the tragedy. Mr O'Prey said there had been a few "heated moments" during the meeting but it "all calmed down". He said: "I don't think I'm any further forward. The AAIB - they think it was switches that were left on - or weren't left on. "My main question to them was flight recorders - if they had flight recorders, it would have taken us a fraction of the time it has taken us. "Personally I feel calmer than I did before I went in. I can't keep shouting at the moon for the rest of my life although I feel I want to." Investigators are due to hold another closed meeting with bereaved relatives on Thursday and have asked families not to discuss the detailed findings until the report's official publication on Friday. John McGarrigle, whose father John died, said he felt "let down" despite optimism ahead of AAIB meeting. Mr McGarrigle said: "All tonight has done for me is raise loads more questions. My head is scrambled, I'm that angry. "Flight data recorders should be installed in every passenger-carrying aircraft - simple as. If we had that, we would know a lot more. "We wouldn't know the full cause, but we would know half of the reasons at least and we would have learned from it." Jim Morris, an aviation law expert with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, also said the lack of a "black box" had hampered the investigation. He said: "Unfortunately, in my view, due to a lack of a requirement to fit a black box flight data recorder, we have almost more unanswered questions." Mr Morris added: "We still do not know why fuel did not reach the engines. "The report goes into significant detail in its analysis but it is clear from what is said in the report that they can't answer all the questions." Anne-Marie Kennedy, who was working behind the bar and was trapped in the wreckage, said she was "satisfied" with how the briefing went. She said: "It's shown me that they should have black boxes for defo, it's shown me the need for other regulation, but other than that nothing. "Until I speak to my legal team I can only speculate. "I'm satisfied with the way the night went. I believe that the AAIB has done everything in their power. "The guy explained the investigation, the complexity and the length of time. They did all they could." Find out more The

Summary: Relatives of the 10 people who died in the Clutha helicopter tragedy in Glasgow have been told fuel switches were in the off position when they should have been on.


The Hemel Hempstead-born 37-year-old succeeds fellow Briton Ian Poulter, who hosted the 2015 event at Woburn. This year's tournament was the first since 2008 and was won by Sheffield's Matthew Fitzpatrick. The Grove has only ever held a European Tour event once before in its history - when Tiger Woods won a World Golf Championship tournament in 2006. "We knew the British Masters would get great crowds," said Donald. "The British people love coming out and supporting their events and supporting the British players. It was a fun and successful week. "Woburn was a tremendous venue and Ian did a brilliant job as the ambassador. It's my turn next and I will be looking forward to coming back and hopefully having even more success and bringing even more people to this amazing tournament."

Summary: Luke Donald will host the 2016 British Masters at The Grove in his home county of Hertfordshire.


Most MSPs on the equal opportunities committee endorsed the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill. But some members were either not convinced by the bill, or had concerns that it lacked adequate protections. The legislation still needs to go through three stages of voting at parliament before becoming law. Under the bill, religious bodies would opt in to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. In addition, protection would also be offered to individual celebrants who felt it would go against their faith to carry out gay weddings. Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships, and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches. Both the Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic Church are opposed to the proposals. The convener of the equal opportunities committee, Labour MSP Margaret McCulloch, said: "All of us on the committee recognise the validity, depth and sincerity of all views submitted to us on what has clearly been an emotive issue. "While the majority of our committee supports the general principles of this bill, we wholeheartedly support the right of all members of the Scottish Parliament to vote on the bill as a matter of conscience." The Bill will now go to the full parliament for consideration. Tom French, of the Equality Network charity, said backing the Bill would help remove discrimination from law. "With just days to go before the crucial stage-one vote on the equal marriage Bill, we urge MSPs to stand up for a fairer and more equal Scotland by giving this milestone legislation their full support," he said. "The large majority of people in Scotland believe it's time LGBT people had full equality, including the right to marry the person they love. This Bill will remove discrimination from the law and send out an important message about the kind of country we are." But campaign group Scotland for Marriage renewed its call for safeguards in the legislation to protect those opposed to it. A spokesman said: "The Scottish government's promise of sufficient safeguards have been shown to be hollow. "Real safeguards set out in amendments to the legislation are required to protect the rights and civil liberties of the majority of Scots who don't support this law. "No one who supports the law as it stands should be discriminated against. At home in the workplace and in schools, declaring a belief in traditional marriage should always be permitted and respected." In England and Wales, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act was passed into law in July. It is expected that the first gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies will take place by summer next year when the relevant statutory orders have been put in place. The act will allow religious organisations to "opt in" to offering weddings, with the Church of England and Church in Wales being banned in law from doing so.

Summary: Legislation to introduce same-sex marriage in Scotland has been backed by the Holyrood committee looking into the proposals.


Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's programme was pushed through without debate, according to parliamentary speaker Salim al-Juburi. Under the plan, Mr Abadi will cut spending and eliminate senior posts. It follows recent anti-government protests over an unreliable electricity supply amid a major heatwave. Thousands of people have turned out in Baghdad and other cities to vent their anger at the authorities and pressurise them to make changes. Iraq's system of sharing government jobs has long been criticised for promoting unqualified candidates and encouraging corruption. The country has three vice-presidents - two from the Shia Muslim majority and one from the Sunni Muslim minority - and three deputy prime ministers - a Shia, a Sunni and a Kurd (also a Sunni). As a result of the reforms, senior political appointments will no longer be based on sectarian or party quotas, and the posts of vice-president and deputy PM will be abolished. Mr Abadi's seven-point plan also includes a requirement for a number of government positions to be filled with political independents - a move aimed at cracking down on corruption. Officials' benefits will also be reduced. The changes come after weeks of protests by voters angry at the way the country is governed and at the lack of investment in infrastructure. In some areas of Iraq it is common to have only a few hours of electricity each day. Tensions have become particularly fraught during a heatwave that has seen temperatures rise to 51C (123F). Frequent power cuts have made the sweltering conditions even more unbearable. Many Iraqis have cautiously welcomed the passing of the reform package, seen as a victory for Mr Abadi. But he still faces pressure to ensure the measures are properly implemented. Mr Juburi said a complementary plan containing even more reforms was needed, and called on Mr Abadi to sack ministers who were guilty of negligence and corruption.

Summary: The Iraqi parliament has unanimously approved reforms aimed at stamping out corruption, reducing government waste and easing sectarian tensions.


Media playback is not supported on this device Helen Richardson-Walsh struck twice in the second quarter to give Great Britain a 2-0 lead at half-time. Sophie Bray then won a scramble in front of goal to knock home GB's third, before Florencia Habif pulled two back for Argentina. Group B leaders Great Britain next face Japan on Friday. Goalkeeper Maddie Hinch pulled off some fine saves as Argentina, who won bronze at London 2012, grew stronger throughout the game. Richardson-Walsh saw her fourth-quarter penalty flick saved after a foul on Alex Danson, but Great Britain were able to hold on. "Beating a team like them gives us confidence but I don't think we're firing on all cylinders," said Richardson-Walsh. "At the start we felt comfortable, which is good, but this tournament is tough. Anything can happen in the quarter-finals but we're building momentum and hopefully we can use it." Kathleen Bam scored three goals as the United States beat Japan 6-1 to stay second in Group B. Jodie Kenny struck twice as Australia beat India 6-1, with Anuradha Thokchom scoring a consolation goal a minute from the end. New Zealand moved up to second in Group A as they beat Spain 2-1 thanks to two goals from Kelsey Smith, while Germany beat South Korea 2-0 and China and the Netherlands played out a goalless draw. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Great Britain's women maintained their unbeaten record as they qualified for the Olympic quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory over Argentina.


The success of anti-austerity campaigns is viewed as a blow to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who lost a key political ally in France's Nicolas Sarkozy. And the surge of the radical left Syriza coalition in Greece has raised fresh doubts about the country's international credit lifeline. Editorial in Germany's biggest-selling paper Bild The euro is shaking again after the chaos-election in Greece. The change of the guard in France has robbed Angela Merkel of her most important partner... What now, Mrs Merkel? Berthold Kohler in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Berlin and Paris must quickly find a new way of co-operating, the crisis won't wait. The result of the election in Greece is a new aggravation: what do the rescuers do, if those they are trying to rescue don't want to be rescued? Alexander Hagelueken in Munich's Sueddeutsche Zeitung It's relatively simple: Greece needs a government, if necessary after more elections, which continues with the cuts. Otherwise the helpers will shut off the money, and Athens is officially bust. No-one should be pleased: It will cost German firms orders and will be expensive for the German taxpayer - and could infect Portugal or Spain. The European partners must now think about how they can support growth in Greece. Gerd Appenzeller in Berlin's Der Tagesspiegel Both results [in France and Greece] could be a problem for Angela Merkel's Europe strategy, which is based on financial solidity... If the international financial markets start to lose confidence in France, the second strongest industrial nation in the EU, then that will weaken the euro. And Germany alone will not be able to stabilise it. Erik Izraelewicz in Le Monde To negotiate with the rest of Europe, France must quickly demonstrate its willingness and its ability to reduce its debt and deficit. Even if he finally achieves a reorientation of Europe, Francois Hollande cannot turn things around overnight. Nicolas Demorand in Liberation The terms of debate are clearly set and Francois Hollande, not yet sworn in, is already cornered: Could France influence Berlin's consensus or has she already lost the necessary authority in Europe? The upcoming five-year period will be played and judged by this issue, which goes far beyond the borders of our country. Pierre Rousselin in Le Figaro The [fiscal] pact will be ratified as it is by the [German] Bundestag. It will take effect... when 12 countries of the eurozone have ratified it, whether France honours its signature or not... [Hollande's] supporters should stop taking their wishful thinking for reality. Nikos Konstandaras in English-language Kathimerini The Greeks voted with their eye on yesterday and they opened the door to tomorrow.... Yesterday's elections destroyed the political system of the past 38 years. They opened the way for new forces and showed the need for co-operation, both before the elections and after. If our politicians and all those who are involved in public life did not learn their lesson yesterday, we will fall into a cycle of conflict that will only end in catastrophe. Editorial in Kathimerini "It is obvious that pro-European powers will fight the battle with

Summary: Press commentators across Europe are coming to terms with elections in France, Greece and Italy which saw big gains for left-wing politicians.


The pair shared a partnership of 187 after Nick Compton and Stevie Eskinazi fell in quick succession. Stirling's century was his first in a Championship match and he made 111 before falling lbw to Adil Rashid. Robson was dropped on 31 by Jack Brooks and was still there on 152 not out at the close, with Middlesex 337-4. Yorkshire went into the game second in the Division One table, just six points behind leaders Essex, with Middlesex down in sixth place and minus Dawid Malan, Nick Gubbins and Tom Helm, who are all on international duty. The home side, who won the title by beating Yorkshire in the corresponding match last season, opted to bat first after winning the toss and Compton put on 64 for the first wicket with Robson before a thin edge to the keeper off Steve Patterson saw him depart for 22. Eskinazi was bowled by Brooks five overs later, but the Yorkshire paceman had crucially been unable to hold onto a low caught-and-bowled chance offered by Robson. The opener was first to three figures following the tea interval, and although Stirling departed when he missed an attempted pull to a ball that kept slightly low and James Franklin was bowled by Ryan Sidebottom, he passed 150 with a boundary off Rashid - the 18th of his innings - in the final over of play. Middlesex batsman Paul Stirling told BBC Radio London: "It's about time I did this and also about time I started to score more consistently. That said, I don't want to take away my natural instinct to play attacking cricket. That's the balance I have to find. "Our skipper James Franklin has given me freedom to go in and play at the same sort of tempo as I would in one-day cricket and transfer that into the red-ball game. "When the pitches are as flat as they have been at Lord's it's a little easier to do that and I'm glad it came off." Yorkshire head coach Martyn Moxon told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's been a tough day, what with the weather and a pitch that's pretty benign. The lads stuck to their task really well. "A few nicks fell short and some very close lbw decisions didn't go out way. It was a frustrating day, but I can't fault the lads for their efforts. "We started this game trying to win it and we will pick up by making sure we don't lose it."

Summary: Sam Robson and Paul Stirling scored centuries as reigning champions Middlesex dominated the opening day against Yorkshire at Lord's.


The Serie A side reacted by vowing to ban anyone identified with the songs. Roma were fined £42,400 after the game against Balotelli's AC Milan was halted and restarted on 12 May. After the striker was the target of more racial abuse in Sunday's game with Napoli, the south stand of Roma's ground will be temporarily closed. "What occurred Sunday night is appalling and unacceptable. AS Roma does not want those individuals [who are] responsible as fans," the club said in a statement. "The actions of this small group are hateful and also hurt our club and our loyal law-abiding supporters. "We have not yet received a detailed report from the league or federation but will continue to work with them and law enforcement to ensure that everything possible is done to identify and ban those involved from football stadia." As well as having to shut the Curva Sud section for one game at the start of next season, Roma have been issued with another 50,000 euros (£42,400) fine. That 8,486-capacity Curva Sud part of Stadio Olimpico houses the club's most hardcore fans - called 'Ultras'. Roma's partial stadium closure does not apply to Sunday's Coppa Italia derby at the ground with neighbours Lazio. Balotelli's former club Inter Milan was also punished with a 50,000 euros fine - but no stadium ban - after their fans abused him in their 5-2 defeat at Udinese on Sunday. In February, Inter were fined the same amount for singing offensive songs about the Italy international during the Milan derby. Balotelli was one of three black players the Italian football authorities declared had been victimised after play in the 0-0 draw between Milan and Roma was stopped for about two minutes. Despite both Roma and Napoli players wearing anti-racism T-shirts while warming up before last weekend's 2-1 win for the hosts, the chants reoccurred after news filtered through to the Olimpico crowd that Balotelli had scored a late penalty in Milan's 2-1 victory at Siena which helped secure the club's Champions League qualifying place. Media playback is not supported on this device Last week, Balotelli - who has scored 12 goals in 13 appearances since joining from Manchester City in January - threatened to walk off the pitch if he is ever again subjected to racist abuse from fans. "If it happens one more time, I'm going to leave the pitch, because it's so stupid," the Italy international told CNN. "I always said if it happens in the stadium, I would just behave as if nobody had done anything and that I don't care, but now I think I've changed my mind a bit." There have been a number of other incidents this season involving racial abuse of AC Milan's players. A January friendly between Milan and Pro Patria was suspended because of racist chants aimed at Kevin-Prince Boateng. And in April, champions Juventus were fined 30,000 euros (£25,000) after their supporters racially abused AC Milan players.

Summary: Roma will have to shut down part of their stadium for one game next season after the club's supporters repeated racist chants about Mario Balotelli.


Like 20 million other people in Bangladesh, most of them women, Ms Rani had turned to microcredit in an effort to lift herself out of poverty. Microfinance offers small loans to people who do not normally qualify for traditional banking credit, to encourage entrepreneurship. For many recipients it is a lifeline, and very often it is the only way for them to establish a business. But after the total destruction of their crops however, villagers like Joba are not in a position to repay their loans. Yet the microfinance organisations continue to collect the instalments. Microfinance is not without its critics. Some argue that people can quickly sink into a cycle of debt, with many lenders charging exorbitant rates of interest. Dr Qazi Kholikuzzaman Ahmad, chairman of PKSF, a body that monitors microfinance, describes microcredit as a "death trap" for the poor. He explains how poor people often take up the loans without thinking of the consequences, and that 60% of borrowers take loans from several sources. "There is no understanding that it might take 10 or 20 years to repay their loan," he says. Furthermore, from the weekly repayments, some lenders deduct 10% of that payment for compulsory saving schemes - money the company then uses to lend to other people. "Interest on repayments begin at around 15%, but it is a flat rate and can soon rise to anything between 40% and 100%," Dr Ahmad says. Repayments are generally due on loans from the first week after they are taken out, which does not give the borrower enough time to establish any form of income-earning enterprise. To cover those first payments, people often resort to taking out a further loan from a different company. Ms Rani used her loan to buy six cows but after her crops were destroyed she had to sell three of them, at half the market price, to enable her to repay her loan. "I was hoping to save the remaining cows but they had to be sold as well," she laments. Women are the main borrowers in the village and they were attracted to microcredit because they could get the loans easily and quickly. Money is not always used as capital investment. Many people borrow money for cultivation, buying cattle, or a flock of chicks or ducklings. Villagers are sending their children to work to help them make the repayments. Source: Microfinance Information Exchange 2009 But when they are still unable to pay enough, the debt collectors insist that they sell their cattle, chickens and other household items. Selling agricultural land is also considered as a last desperate option. Villagers complain of harassment from the debt collectors and there have been allegations of physical assaults. Because field officers are judged on repayment rates, they sometimes use coercive and even violent tactics to collect instalments on the microcredit loans. Many villagers finally turn to local usurers - the very people whom Professor Yunus tried put out of business when he made his first loan of $27 (Â£17) to a group of families in a village in

Summary: Joba Rani was a solvent farmer in the north east village of Jamlabaj, but her world turned upside down when early floods swamped her land in April.


Jordan Edwards, 15, died after Officer Roy Oliver fired a rifle into a car that was driving away from a party in the Dallas suburb of Balch Springs. Police initially said the car reversed "aggressively" towards the officer, but footage discredits that claim. Police Chief Jonathan Haber said he "misspoke". Officer Oliver has been fired violating several department policies, a police statement said, adding that the department "cannot give further details on which policies have been violated since Roy Oliver can appeal the termination". Officer Oliver fired into a car full of teenagers as they left a party on Saturday night, Chief Haber said after reviewing the body-cam video. The car was actually driving forward - away from police - and not reversing toward them when the shots were fired, he explained. "I was unintentionally incorrect yesterday when I said that the victim's vehicle was backing down the road," Mr Haber said on Monday. "In fact, according to the video that I viewed, the vehicle was moving forward as the officers approached." The officer's behaviour "did not meet our core values", the police chief said. Jordan, who was in the front passenger seat, died after being shot in the back of the head. His 16-year-old brother and three friends were detained at the scene and taken to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, where they were interviewed as witnesses. Jordan's cause of death has been ruled a homicide, however, that does not necessarily mean charges will be filed against the officer. The Dallas County Sheriff's Department and the Dallas County District Attorney's Office are conducting a criminal investigation. The incident occurred on Saturday night when police responded to reports of underage drinking at a house party where around 100 kids had gathered, neighbours said. Officers were inside the home trying to find the owner when they heard outside what they believed to be gunshots, causing panic at the home as people fled. After going outside, the police officer fired several shots which killed Jordan, a first-year American football player at Mesquite High School. His coach, Jeff Fleener, told the Dallas Morning News that he was "crushed and heartbroken" to learn that Jordan had been killed. "You create a checklist of everything you would want in a player, a son, a teammate, a friend, and Jordan had all that. He was that kid," he said. A vigil was held at the school on Monday evening, and the school district said they are "mourning this terrible loss". Lee Merritt, lawyer for Jordan's family, demanded the officer's arrest on Monday. "We are declaring war on bad policing," he said as Jordan's parents sat silently beside him, wiping their eyes with tissues and gazing downwards. "America throughout the country must figure out a way to police its citizens without killing them," he continued.

Summary: A Texas police department has changed a key detail in the shooting of an unarmed black teenager, amid mounting calls for the officer to be arrested.


Jockey James Best edged ahead on the Neil Mulholland-trained seven-year-old (25-1) and held on to finish half a length clear. Last year's winner Theatre Guide (11-1) had to settle for third, with Double Shuffle (11-2) finishing second. "It's days like this that mean so much, this is the biggest day of my racing career," said Best. "You've no idea how much it means and how grateful I am to be given an opportunity on a day like this." There was a slight blip in the celebrations as Best was unshipped shortly after the line. He added: "I'd done celebrating, I was trying to pull him up. I delivered him as late as I dare, with the fact he is so quirky, and sure enough he's dropped his shoulder - you have to expect the unexpected with him."

Summary: Pilgrims Bay produced a late surge to win the BetBright Chase at Kempton Park.


Jolie, whose directorial debut is set in Bosnia's 1992 to 1995 war, received a standing ovation as she picked up the honorary Heart of Sarajevo award. "I told Brad in the car I was afraid I was going to cry," she said. She presented the festival's best actor award to Thomas Schubert who starred in Atman, also named best film. Romanian leading lady Ada Condeescu won best actress for her role in Loverboy. Jolie, 36, who was at the 17th Sarajevo Film Festival with boyfriend Brad Pitt, visited Bosnia several times last year as a goodwill ambassador for the UN's refugee agency. She said she was "so honoured to be here". "There is no greater example of the strengths of the artists and the festival that began during the war and grew stronger every year," she added. The festival began as an act of resistance in 1995 with residents braving mortar shells to gather in a basement to watch Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Some scenes from Jolie's film In the Land of Blood and Honey - due for release in December - were shot in Bosnia while others were shot in Hungary. The film, which stars Zana Marjanovic and Rade Serbedzija, tells the story of a love affair between a Bosnian Muslim woman and a Serb, on opposite sides of the conflict. The licence to film in Sarajevo was at one point revoked following local rumours that the film featured a rape victim who falls in love with her assailant. The licence was given back when producers proved the rumour was not true. At the time, Jolie asked people to "hold judgement until they have seen the film". "There are many twists in the plot that address the sensitive nature of the relationship between the main characters and that will be revealed once the film is released," she said. On her visits to Bosnia for the UN last year, Jolie drew attention to the thousands of people who have been unable to return to their homes despite the war ending 16 years ago.

Summary: A tearful Angelina Jolie has been honoured at the Sarajevo Film Festival for her acting and "active engagement in the complexities of the real world".


Mark Spencer, the Conservative MP for Sherwood, in Nottinghamshire, said people in the Midlands give more than a quarter of the UK's total licence fee but only receive 2% of its investment. The debate was held in Westminster Hall, London. The BBC said Mr Spencer's figures did not take into account its increasing investment in the region. Mr Spencer said every other region, apart from the Midlands, had seen increased investment by the BBC. Julian Knight, the Conservative MP for Solihull and a former BBC employee, said it had become a "bi-polar organisation" with its centres in London and Salford. He said the Mailbox, the BBC's headquarters in Birmingham, "seemed to be full of the HR department, rather than people making programmes for our enjoyment". The Mailbox is the home of BBC Radio 4 dramas The Archers and Home Front, as well as the headquarters of its England Online team. However, MPs did praise programming set in the Midlands like Marvellous, which won two Baftas in 2015, Peaky Blinders and The Archers. Ed Vaizey, the Conservative minister for culture and communications, said the Prime Minister had stated the BBC's forthcoming charter renewal would be the time to ensure the Midlands got "a fair bang for its buck". "The BBC has a strong regional presence in other parts of the country," he said. "We are going to set out what we are doing in terms of charter renewal before the recess." Joe Godwin, director of BBC Birmingham, said: "The BBC is committed to having a significant presence in the Midlands. "The figures quoted in the press of Â£80m annual spend in the Midlands reflected estimates based on 2011/12 figures. "By the end of 15/16 we are confident that Midlands spend will be in excess of Â£125m."

Summary: The BBC needs to invest more in the Midlands, a cross-party group of MPs has said.


The Phoenix Tent will also host New York indie pop outfit The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Joining them will be SLUG, a new band fronted by former Field Music bassist Ian Black and collaborative duo Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells. The festival near Dundrennan takes place on 24 and 25 July. The Wickerman Festival's Brian Reynolds said: '"With just five weeks to go until this year's festival, it's fantastic to announce our new stage and the raft of talent that it will showcase. "We are confident that the mix of acts will be a big hit with Wicker fans."

Summary: Scottish band the BMX Bandits have been announced as one of the acts playing a new contemporary music stage at the Wickerman Festival.


Some 69% of those asked said they had worked when unwell, the report by Aviva UK Health claimed, with many fearing a mountain of work when they returned. This compared with 23% of those surveyed admitting to having been absent when perfectly healthy. The survey comes after official figures showed fewer days were lost to sickness last year than any year on record. The TUC described UK workers as "mucus troopers" after the Office for National Statistics said that sickness absence totalled 137 million working days last year, the equivalent of 4.3 days per worker. When records began in 1993, the equivalent of 7.2 days were lost. Aviva's Working Lives report backs up this view of staff attending work when ill. The insurer's survey suggested that two-fifths of private sector employees were worried that their workload would pile up if they were off sick. It also claimed that having staff in the workplace when they were ill was a false economy for businesses. "Businesses need to ensure they create a working culture whereby people do not feel pressurised into coming to work when they are unwell, safe in the knowledge their absence can be effectively managed," said Dr Doug Wright, medical director at Aviva UK Health. "Presenteeism, driven in part by an increased 'always-on' culture, poses a genuine threat to overall business performance through the adverse impact on productivity and morale in the workplace."

Summary: UK workers are three times more likely to go into work when ill than pull a sickie, a survey has suggested.


The charges include numerous counts of rape and conspiracy to rape and relate to eight victims, South Yorkshire Police said. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2005 and 2012. The six, aged between 22 and 38 and from South Yorkshire, are due before magistrates in Sheffield on 21 March.

Summary: Five men and a woman have been charged with 53 child sexual offences relating to the alleged sexual exploitation of a number of girls in Sheffield.


Sam Gould said the proportional representation element of the assembly electoral system would give UKIP "six or seven" seats, if it repeated its general election performance. But he told BBC Wales the party was "definitely" capable of winning more. UKIP got more than 200,000 votes in Wales in May, more than both Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats. It came second in six of the 40 Welsh seats but, under the first past the post system, did not win any. The closest it came was Mr Gould in Caerphilly, who was beaten by Labour's Wayne David by around 10,000 votes. UKIP's campaign in Wales also had several problems, including one of its candidates threatening to sue the party for libel, and its regional organiser stepping down. The party believes the regional list system - whereby 20 of the 60 AMs are elected under a form of proportional representation - gives it a strong chance at the assembly election. Former Conservative and UKIP MP Mark Reckless has been given the job of developing the manifesto and it is planning to appoint spokespeople on each of the main devolved policy areas. Local branches will select the 40 constituency candidates by the autumn, while regional list candidates will be picked by a central committee. Mr Gould said: "The (general election) performance was absolutely fantastic and we are so pleased with this foundation ready for next year's assembly election. "If we were to run the same number of votes across Wales we would get seven AMs under the list system. "So we're very confident of breaking through next year in the assembly election. "I think seven seats would be a success, but I think we're in with a very good chance of achieving more." He added: "Mark Reckless will be coming to Wales to work with a Wales-based policy team to help us turn the ideas we have from our local grassroots Welsh representatives into a reality in our manifesto." There has never been a UKIP assembly member, but the party had a Welsh MEP elected in 2009 and 2014.

Summary: UKIP could win more than seven seats in the 2016 assembly election, the party's campaign manager for the poll has said.


Speaking on TV, Maria Zakharova said Jews had told her they donated both to Mr Trump and Hillary Clinton. She joked that American Jews were the best guide to US politics. The diplomat's remarks caused shock. Anti-US propagandists in the last century peddled an idea that rich New York Jews controlled US politics. Ms Zakharova was speaking on a chat show on Russian state TV at the weekend but her comments drew more attention after being picked up by media outlets on Thursday. She said she had visited New York with an official Russian delegation at the time of the last UN General Assembly, in September. "I have a lot of friends and acquaintances there, of course I was interested to find out: how are the elections going, what are the American people's expectations?" she said. "If you want to know what will happen in America, who do you need to talk to? You have to talk to the Jews, of course. It goes without saying." At this, the TV studio audience applauded loudly. "I went here and there among them, to chat," she continued. Imitating a Jewish accent, Mrs Zakharova said Jewish people had told her: "'Marochka, understand this - we'll donate to Clinton, of course. But we'll give the Republicans twice that amount.' Enough said! That settled it for me - the picture was clear. "If you want to know the future, don't read the mainstream newspapers - our people in Brighton [Beach] will tell you everything." She was referring to a district of Brooklyn with a large diaspora of Jewish emigres from the former Soviet Union. Russian opposition activist Roman Dobrokhotov wrote on Twitter (in Russian) that the spokeswoman had "explained Trump's victory as a Jewish conspiracy". Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Moscow, commented on Facebook, "Wow. And this is the woman who criticizes me for not being diplomatic." During the election campaign, Mrs Clinton accused Mr Trump of posting a "blatantly anti-Semitic" tweet after he used an image resembling the Star of David and stacks of money. Mr Trump, whose son-in-law Jared Kushner is Jewish, dismissed the accusation as "ridiculous". An exit poll by US non-profit J Street suggests an overwhelming majority of US Jews voted for Hillary Clinton in the presidential election.

Summary: A spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry has said Jewish people in New York told her they had mainly backed Donald Trump in the US election.


Joseph Brown-Lartey died as his vehicle was split in half by a car driven by Addil Haroon in Rochdale in 2014. Haroon, then 18, drove through a red light in a residential area at 80mph and was later jailed for six years. Mr Brown-Lartey's father said it was like being "kicked in the teeth twice". Mr Brown-Lartey was 25 when he died, and his father Ian said it was "very upsetting" that Haroon would be younger than that when he got out of prison. "It's just like we've been kicked in the teeth twice. You lose your son and then the legal system that you trusted lets you down too," he said. Dawn Brown-Lartey, Joseph's mother, said there was "no deterrent" to stop people driving dangerously. "Judges are bound by guidelines and the guidelines need to be changed," she said. Hours before the fatal crash, Haroon took a photo on his phone as his speedometer reached 142mph. He messaged a friend with the words: "Leeds to Rochdale in 11 mins catch me." In court, he admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death whilst unlicensed, causing death whilst uninsured and dangerous driving. Brake's Roads to Justice campaign argues that families are "betrayed time and again by our justice system", and calls for tougher penalties for drivers who maim or kill. According to a poll commissioned by the charity, 66% of people believe drivers who kill should be jailed for a minimum of 10 years. The survey of 1,000 people also found 91% believe drivers who cause a fatal crash after drinking alcohol or taking drugs should be charged with manslaughter, which carries a possible life sentence. Gary Rae, director of campaigns for Brake, said: "Drivers who kill while taking illegal risks are too often labelled 'careless' in the eyes of the law, and then given insultingly low sentences when their actions can only be described as dangerous and destructive."

Summary: The parents of a man killed when his car was hit at high speed have put the wreckage on display at Westminster as part of a campaign for tougher sentences by road safety charity Brake.


The Spaniard, who won the title in 2009, came through 4-6 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 in four hours and six minutes. Zverev, 19, had recovered a break early in the final set before requiring treatment for cramp. Nadal, 30, goes on to face France's Gael Monfils, who beat German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-4. Canadian third seed Milos Raonic made it through to the last 16 with a 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-3 win over Frenchman Gilles Simon. Zverev has long been touted as a future world number one and it appeared as though he would make his Grand Slam breakthrough against Nadal. The teenager's big serve and brilliant backhand earned him a 2-1 lead after three sets, only for ninth seed Nadal to battle his way back in characteristic fashion. It is almost three years since Nadal won his 14th major title at the 2014 French Open, and that was the last time he got past the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam. Injuries have taken their toll, but it was Zverev whose fitness failed him in the closing stages on Rod Laver Arena. The German won a gruelling 37-shot early in the final set but the damage was done as he could not recover fully, despite treatment from the trainer. "I won by fighting and running a lot," said Nadal. "I think everybody knows how good Alexander is. He's the future of our sport and the present too. "It's been a very tough match for me. I didn't start playing my best and I was not feeling very well because I was losing too much court. When I felt I was feeling better I had more time to control from the baseline. "It was a close one but he deserved to play a little more aggressive than me. I had to fight for every point." Denis Istomin, the qualifier from Uzbekistan who stunned Novak Djokovic in round two, produced another superb effort to beat Spanish 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-2. He will next play the winner of Saturday's late match between Grigor Dimitrov and Richard Gasquet. Belgian 11th seed David Goffin impressed with a 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, setting up a clash with Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-4. Thirteenth seed Roberto Bautista won the all-Spanish battle with 21st seed David Ferrer 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 and next faces Raonic.

Summary: Former champion Rafael Nadal overcame rising star Alexander Zverev in a gripping contest to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.


Lisa Bridgett, of Pwllheli, had been using the phone after the Ariana Grande concert on Monday when the explosion caused a steel nut to hit her. She lost a middle finger before the nut went through her phone and her cheek, ending up lodged in her nose. Her husband said the phone probably diverted and slowed down the nut. The bomb attack at the Manchester Arena killed 22 people and injured a further 64. Eight men are in custody following the attack, carried out by Salman Abedi. Mrs Bridgett, who was at the concert with her daughter and her daughter's friend, was in a "positive mood" and felt "very lucky to be alive", her husband Steve said. She had surgery on Tuesday and was due to have another operation on Thursday after suffering multiple injuries, including a fractured ankle and a large wound on her thigh. "The fact that she was on the phone at the time probably saved her life," said Mr Bridgett in a Facebook post. "The nut has hit her phone which has more than likely not only diverted it, but also slowed it down considerably," he said. Mr Bridgett said the couple were keen to thank police and hospital staff, as well as a steward called Peter "for helping Lisa outside and getting her to safety".

Summary: Pictures have emerged showing a mobile phone which is believed to have saved the life of a Gwynedd woman badly injured in the Manchester bombing.


Tom Rogic, who levelled in extra time for Celtic, missed the vital spot-kick, blazing high and wide. Rangers striker Kenny Miller fired in the opening goal, with Celtic replying through an Erik Sviatchenko header. A wonderful long-range strike from Barrie McKay had Rangers in front on 96 minutes before Rogic swept home to set up a tense Hampden shootout. James Tavernier and Nicky Clark failed to convert from the spot for Rangers, while Callum McGregor and captain Scott Brown could not hit the target for Celtic before Rogic's miss made it 5-4 on penalties to the Championship winners. Minutes before the penalties, a thunderous free-kick from Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths crashed off the crossbar and bounced off goalkeeper Wes Foderingham before slipping narrowly wide. Foderingham also made a good stop to deny Rogic from close range after the Australian substitute had scored to make it 2-2. A pulsating, engrossing and always combative Old Firm game ended with several players out on their feet, barely able to move. The game had been a relentless affair from the outset. The pitch seemed a clutter of players in the opening spell, as play ranged from one end to the other. Defenders had to rely on their wits and hope that their composure would survive the sense of being under siege. Celtic's back four were certainly soon aware of the nature of the threat they would face, when McKay - who was lively and impressively dangerous throughout - speared a ball through to Miller, whose shot was well stopped by Craig Gordon. Rangers began to impose their game plan, passing the ball swiftly and adroitly and taking the set-pieces short, particularly corners. Yet Celtic could be incisive on the break, and Brown ought to have opened the scoring from the edge of the area, only to tug his shot wide. Amid the breathlessness, Rangers found good fortune on their side. The breakthrough came when Tavernier delivered a poor corner kick that led to the ball breaking to Andy Halliday. His cross in turn was also mis-hit, but the ball cannoned off Brown into the path of Miller, who finished coolly. With Halliday and Jason Holt pushing forward in central midfield, Rangers were composed and assertive. The strategy was effective but Celtic could still rely on individuals to be bold and they should have equalised when Griffiths' shot bounced off the post, with the rebound landing at the feet of Patrick Roberts. With an open goal in front of him, the on-loan winger skewed wide. The miss would have galled Celtic, but so too would the way Rangers often passed the ball around them, even at close-quarters. Kieran Tierney, so solid, dependable and with such sound defensive instincts, was a one-man resistance for the Premiership leaders for a period before half-time. Fiery words would certainly have been spilled inside the Celtic dressing room during the interval. It was effective, since the team was aggressive, intense and irrepressible at the start of the second half. Celtic won four corners in succession and scored with the last of them,

Summary: Rangers set up a Scottish Cup final with Hibernian after a thrilling tussle with Celtic was settled on penalties.


Glory and grounding. Fight for medals, learn your craft. The stage marries pressure of the here and now with a gateway to a professional future. British fighters know the pathway only too well - consider 2008 Olympians James DeGale and Billy Joe Saunders, both now professional world champions. The latest off that conveyor belt, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, thinks Britain has a "unique" fighter waiting to make the transition to the pro ranks. Here, with the help of Joshua, former Olympic bronze medallist and WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall, and BBC Radio 5 live pundit Steve Bunce, we take a look at the decisions facing Great Britain's 2016 Olympians. Super-heavyweight Joe Joyce will leave the comforts of the state-of-the-art British Boxing training base in Sheffield as an Olympic silver medallist, braced for life as a pro, dreaming of emulating the success of previous gold medal winners in his weight class Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis and Joshua himself. "Joe Joyce is unique," says Joshua of the fighter who holds a degree in fine arts. "He's very intelligent, he's experienced different things, you can see he is a really solid athlete. He has got people eating out of his hand. He has so much energy." Joyce, 30, is quietly spoken to the cameras but ultra-confident in the ring. A competitive swagger perhaps supported by 2014 Commonwealth Games gold and European Games gold in 2015. He didn't start boxing until he was 22, following a chance introduction to the sport while at university. He is also a part-time model and unsuccessfully auditioned for a role in the James Bond film, Spectre. "He is most suited to turn pro out of the 12 in the GB squad at this time," says Woodhall, who turned pro after the Commonwealth Games in 1990. "At his age, his engine is more developed. I say that from my own experience as I recall how I felt at say 22 compared to when I was Joe's age. My fitness was more developed for the 12 rounds." 'Adams could set the pro game alight and get it to the same level as the men's' - 5 Live In Short Joyce is the oldest male fighter in the British squad. Time is of the essence if he is to attain the Las Vegas dreams those in the fight game seem to universally harbour. The pro move fascinates, we seem to obsess over it. At virtually every news conference in Rio came the question "will you now turn pro?" In June, the contentious decision was made to allow professionals to compete. However, it is not as simple as it may seem with the IBF stating in advance of the Rio Games that any boxer competing in Brazil would be stripped of their title. The IBF claimed it was a safety risk for professionals to face amateurs. "If I'm to be perfectly honest, I don't think there's anyone apart from Joyce that's ready for the pro game because they are all very young," added Woodhall, who works with GB's amateurs twice a week. "The

Summary: Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin and even the great Muhammad Ali used the Olympic Games as a springboard for boxing superstardom.


It struck this morning between the capital city of Kathmandu and another city, Pokhara. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 - which means it was very strong - and tremors were felt in nearby countries Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. Many buildings have been reduced to rubble and injured people are being taken to hospital for treatment. Officials say that more than 700 people have died as a result of the earthquake. A Nepali minister said there had been "massive damage" at the epicentre of the earthquake and said international help was needed. Rescuers are now searching through rubble for survivors who may be trapped. Advice if you're upset by the news

Summary: A powerful earthquake has struck Nepal in Asia and hundreds of people have lost their lives.


The Sri Lankan shared a second-wicket stand of 187 with opener Rory Burns (80) as Surrey reached 394-5 at stumps. Sangakkara was dropped at first slip by Craig Overton on nine but went on to hit 24 fours and four sixes to register his 56th first-class century. Jason Roy hit an attacking 85 before he was out lbw to seamer Lewis Gregory in the final over of the day. Sangakkara passed 1,000 first-class runs for Surrey in just his 22nd innings before he was out caught at deep cover by Overton off Tim Groenewald. Zafar Ansari, making his return from a dislocated thumb sustained against Lancashire late last season, struck five fours in an unbeaten 28 before play ended. Media playback is not supported on this device Surrey batsman Kumar Sangakkara told BBC Radio London: "I think after the Nottingham game it was important we got off to a good start in the first game at home. "They way everyone went about their batting, the application and the intent they showed, was very good. "Burnsy and Jason were outstanding. It was very easy to bat with them because they kept putting pressure on the bowlers and putting the bad balls away. "It made my batting a lot easier for me because I saw a positive intent all the time from the other end."

Summary: Kumar Sangakkara hit a superb 171 as Surrey's batsman dominated the opening day against Somerset at The Oval.


The 21-year-old told BBC Sport last year that he was considering an approach from Algeria. The Lille striker was born in France and played for them at every youth level from under-16 but is eligible for Algeria through his parents. The Algeria Football Federation said it "will immediately begin the process of registering the player with Fifa." The federation added Benzia met its president Mohamed Raouraoua this week to finalise his choice to play for the Desert Foxes. Even though Fifa is yet to receive Benzia's request for a switch of nationality, the Algerian football authority is confident of a swift approval by the game's governing body. Benzia has scored 26 goals in 43 appearances during his time playing for France's youth teams. His capture will come as a morale boost for Algeria after they were snubbed by Lyon striker Nabil Fekir last year. Benzia started his career at Lyon where he progressed from the academy to the senior squad and made his senior debut against Nice in May 2012. He switched to Ligue 1 rivals Lille in August 2015 in search of regular football and has already scored five goals in 20 appearances for the club this season.

Summary: Former France youth international striker Yassine Benzia has pledged his senior future to Algeria.


O'Leary had taken the claim to Fifa following his dismissal in April 2011, one year into a three-year contract. The League Managers' Association (LMA) said despite having sacked O'Leary, the United Arab Emirates club claimed the Irishman had abandoned his job. The 55-year-old has been awarded the full sum due under his contract. "Club officials had openly stated to the media at the relevant time that there had been a dismissal," said an LMA statement. Al Ahli also argued that Fifa lacked jurisdiction to hear the claim, but football's world governing body rejected both lines of defence. O'Leary said: "It has taken a long time to deal with this matter but I am pleased that all issues have now been finalised. "I hope my case provides reassurance to all managers and coaches working all over the world that there is a formal system in place that provides employment protection." LMA chief executive Richard Bevan added: "We are clearly delighted with the outcome. In addition, the LMA is extremely grateful to the FA for their assistance in initiating the process with Fifa. "The added significance and wider impact of this process is the proof that Fifa has mechanisms in place which regulate worldwide employment issues. "It is extremely encouraging to know that the world governing body can provide a means of redress for managers and coaches at all levels seeking to establish their employment rights, wherever in the world they happen to work."

Summary: Former Leeds and Aston Villa manager David O'Leary has won a £3.4m compensation claim against Dubai-based club Al Ahli.