Gareth Southgate's side went out in the group stage in the Czech Republic. "We made the decision and I back it," Ashworth told the BBC's senior football reporter Ian Dennis. "Youth teams are there to help develop players and give them experience to get into the seniors." Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling, Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, Arsenal midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere and Manchester United defender Phil Jones were among those eligible but not called up. Media playback is not supported on this device Ashworth added: "Those players are established internationals. It's like being a first-team player and asking them to come back and play in the U21s. It's not necessarily the right thing to do. "The players who hadn't competed in the two-year cycle and lead-up to the European Championship wouldn't be considered. "The debate will be reopened now but we stand by the decision Gareth and I made. You never know when you drop players into a new group whether it'll be the right thing to do." England, who had Premier League quality in Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Everton defender John Stones and new Liverpool forward Danny Ings, lost 1-0 to Portugal, beat Sweden by the same score but then lost 3-1 to Italy. Ashworth had a key role in the FA introducing proposals - the 'England DNA programme' - in December aimed at improving England's prospects at major tournaments. The plan is to co-ordinate the style, formation and tactics from the under-15 side upwards. And he believes improvements can be seen already. "I don't want to hide behind the fact we're devastated to have been eliminated in the group stages," Ashworth said. "We're disappointed with the group that we hoped and thought might go a bit further. But there are some success stories. "In order to win things at senior level, we need to develop players who can deal with the ball in all areas of the pitch. We have to prioritise that in the development teams. "They're young players and they'll make mistakes - it will cost us games. We have to accept that. We can't after six months say that's wrong, let's just crash it down the other end as quickly as we can. "We're starting to see a different kind of player come through the system now. Three years into EPPP [Elite Player Performance Plan] we're seeing players more capable with the ball. I believe it will stand us in good stead in years to come. Is it too soon now to see that? Yes, perhaps." Media playback is not supported on this device FA chairman Greg Dyke set a target in 2013 for England to win the World Cup by 2022 and Ashworth is adamant that this remains a realistic goal. "Yes I do believe that," he said. "I genuinely believe we have a lot of good young players in the system. We have the pathways getting better at clubs and international level. "We've introduced an Under-15s, 18s and 20s in the past 12 months because we recognise we need to give our players more

Summary: England made the right decision to omit some of their Premier League players in the European Under-21 Championship, says Football Association director of elite development Dan Ashworth.


But archaeologist Steve Clarke believes this fortified farmhouse once stood on stilts on a manmade island in an Ice Age lake 4,900 years ago. The "crannog's" timbers survived and carbon dating said they were built on Jordan Way, Monmouth, 2,917 years BC. A slab of timber was discovered when the estate was constructed in 2003. It is the second crannog discovered in Wales. But the first, at Llangorse Lake, in the Brecon Beacons, is thousands of years younger than the recent discovery. "This is very important, it was a huge lake that was here until the Iron Age," said Mr Clarke, 70. "This will tell us what was happening here in the Stone Age - we know so little about that period."

Summary: This ancient fort could not look more different to the red brick housing estate currently occupying suburbia in Monmouthshire.


The prince was welcomed to the village of Surama in the Iwokrama rainforest with a feathered headdress, before he watched a cultural dance around a pole. He met rangers to learn about the steps being taken to protect the rainforest and the benefits of eco-tourism. Prince Harry later visited a school and the Kaieteur Falls - one of the world's largest freefall waterfalls. On the penultimate day of his Caribbean tour, the prince took a flight to the Iwokrama International Centre which has a close link to the Prince of Wales, who has been its patron since 2000. He then visited Fairview village to pay his respects to its elders, as well as going to the local school. The prince was also taken to an open-air community hall, where he was given presents including a painting of traditional homes. He gave a speech which praised the people of the remote community, saying: "My father told me what an amazing time he had here, when he was far younger and had far more hair. "The positive thing you are doing here, it's incredible, your leadership is so important to ensure the protection of this place." The final stop of the day was the Kaieteur Falls, which has a drop of 250 metres - five times as high as Niagara Falls. Earlier in the week, the prince met Barbados's biggest star, Rihanna, when the pair sat side by side at a celebratory concert. They also both took part in a HIV test to highlight World Aids Day in Bridgetown. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America. Between 1780 and 1813, Guyana changed hands between the Dutch, French and British. Guyana was home to the 1978 Jonestown massacre - a mass suicide by more than 900 members of the People's Temple religious sect led by Jim Jones. Click here to read more about the country of Guyana

Summary: Prince Harry has visited the heartland of Guyana and explored its rainforest on day 14 of his Caribbean tour.


27 December 2016 Last updated at 09:00 GMT German Shepherd Finn was injured early one October morning while protecting his handler from a suspected armed robber. The seven-year-old fought for survival, helped every step of the way by his handler PC Dave Wardell. BBC News looks back at how his recovery captured the hearts of thousands and inspired a petition calling on the government to re-think the laws surrounding injured police support animals.

Summary: A police dog stabbed on duty returned to the beat earlier this month after life-saving surgery.


He made the comments at a news briefing in his home city, Davao, on Tuesday, where he also unveiled his new cabinet. Since 1986, 176 journalists have been killed in the Philippines, one of the most dangerous countries for reporters. But Mr Duterte said many of them had "done something wrong". The former mayor of Davao was formally declared the next leader on Monday, after a landslide victory in May's election. He will be sworn in on 30 June. When asked about the high number of attacks on journalists, Mr Duterte said that "you won't be killed if you don't do anything wrong". Citing Jun Pala, a journalist, politician and critic of Duterte who was murdered in 2003, he said: "I do not want to diminish his memory but he was a rotten son of a bitch. He deserved it." "That can't be just freedom of speech. The constitution can no longer help you if you disrespect a person." The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said the comments were "appalling". "Mr Duterte's crass pronouncement not only sullies the names and memories of all 176 of our colleagues who have been murdered since 1986, he has also, in effect, declared open season to silence the media." The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the remarks "give security officials the right to kill for acts that they consider defamation". "This is one of the most outrageous statements we have ever heard from a president in the Philippines," said CPJ's Shawn Crispin in Bangkok. The news conference was a typically strident appearance by the man nicknamed "The Punisher" for his strict criminal policies in Davao. Here are some of the other main points: Mr Duterte's popularity rests on his reputation as a crime-fighter. During his time as mayor of Davao crime fell sharply, but it also saw the rise of death squads and, according to rights-groups, at least tacit official approval of the murder of more than 1,000 people. Saying the new crackdown started "now", Mr Duterte promised to pay 3m pesos ($64,000; Â£44,000) to officials who capture suspected drug lords, If any law enforcement agent was "messing around with drugs and it comes to a fight, I want you to kill him personally", he said. Mr Duterte's new cabinet is mostly male - only two so far are women - and they were broadly seen as conservative choices. Perfecto Yasay, who has said talks are the only way to resolve the country's South China Sea disputes, was named foreign secretary. Mr Duterte's former schoolmate, Carlos Dominguez, was named finance minister, and economics professor Ernesto Pernia will be economic planning minister. More controversially, former marine Nicanor Faeldon was chosen to be head of the customs bureau. He led a coup attempt in 2003 and in December took a group of protesters to a disputed island held by the Philippines, to a furious response from Beijing. "We have this pact with the West, but I want everybody to know that we will be charting a course of our own." Currently a staunch ally

Summary: Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has been condemned by media groups for saying some of the many journalists killed in the country had deserved to die.


The 34-year-old Canadian joins the Giants from the Austrian Hockey League side Villacher SV. Johner was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 2001 NHL draft but has played in Europe for the past decade. He won the Swiss A League with the Zurich Lions and had a successful spell in the Swedish League. Johner becomes the fourth new signing of the summer for the Giants following the arrivals of Darcy Murphy, Jonathan Ferland and Sebastien Sylvestre. "Johner is one of those guys that no matter who you speak to about him, they have nothing but positive things to say - as a player, person and team-mate," said Giants head coach Adam Keefe. "We are really excited to add a player of Dustin's pedigree to the Belfast Giants. He's another new signing that will leave it all out on the ice for this city."

Summary: The Belfast Giants have added experienced forward Dustin Johner to their roster for the forthcoming Elite League season.


Total Fitness bosses say they were sorry difficulties over a lease caused them to leave the building on Stansty Road. But now they are working on reopening the facilities in April, complete with new equipment. Facilities include three pools, a family workout area and a cafe.

Summary: About 40 jobs are expected to be created when a gym, which closed suddenly in 2011, reopens after a £1m refit.


The blaze took hold of the Royal Victoria Hospital building at about 16:20. Firefighters used six pumping appliances and breathing apparatus to battle the blaze. They were still at the scene a number of hours later. A Scottish Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said there were no casualties in the incident. The fire was reported by a significant number of people as smoke rose from the abandoned building. The Royal Victoria Hospital was closed in 2012, but later temporarily reopened to deal with seasonal demand.

Summary: A fire at a disused hospital in Edinburgh led to thick smoke being seen across the city.


Moments after Chris Evans announced he was stepping down as a presenter on Top Gear, Twitter users took to social media to comment about the number of recent high-profile resignations in politics and sport. The writer Will Black started the hashtag #SuggestAJobForFarage after Nigel Farage stepped down as UKIP leader on Monday morning. So it was probably inevitable that the Top Gear presenter's vacancy was among the job opportunities suggested on social media for Mr Farage. Others thought another political figure should be considered for the post, although Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is not considering any new career opportunities. As social media bets were placed on who should take up Evans's now vacant post, some Twitter users suggested Boris Johnson as a possible replacement. While others thought there was only one man for the job. @RobertRobmurphy tweeted: "Bring back Jeremy Clarkson." Another Twitter user suggested Matt Le Blanc's co-star in Friends should join him on the show. @_EveStarks posted: "Really hope they replace Chris Evans with Matthew Perry so the Friends bromance can continue." Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow threw his hat into the ring. And there were some rank outsiders for the position. Produced by Rozina Sini, BBC's UGC and Social News team

Summary: You might have noticed your social media timeline full of pictures like this.


The data, published in the Lancet, shows that only one in 200 women - or 0.5% - is still doing any degree of breastfeeding after a year. That compares with 23% in Germany, 56% in Brazil and 99% in Senegal. The researchers said it was a "widespread misconception" that breastfeeding was beneficial only in poor countries. In the UK, 81% of mothers had tried breastfeeding at some point, but only 34% were breastfeeding at six months and 0.5% at 12 months. In the US, 79% started, 49% were still going after six months and 27% after a year. It is the worst record in the world. Breastfeeding is far more common in developing countries, but the UK figures are behind even similar countries in Europe. Women in the UK are advised to feed their baby exclusively on breast milk for the first six months and then a combination of breast milk and other foods, however, it does not give a recommend end-point. Breastfeeding is good for the health of the baby and lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Prof Cesar Victora, report author from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, said: "There is a widespread misconception that the benefits of breastfeeding only relate to poor countries. "Nothing could be further from the truth, our work clearly shows that breastfeeding saves lives and money in all countries, rich and poor alike." The Lancet report said breastfeeding in developed countries reduced the risk of sudden infant deaths by more than a third. And in poorer countries, half of cases of diarrhoea and a third of respiratory infections could be avoided by breastfeeding. Overall, the report's authors said that near-universal breastfeeding could save over 800,000 children's lives a year. A commentary, signed by Save the Children UK and the World Health Organization, was critical of formula milk being promoted at the expense of breastfeeding. It said: "The active and aggressive promotion of breast milk substitutes by their manufacturers and distributors continues to be a substantial global barrier to breastfeeding. "Promotion and marketing have turned infant formula, which should be seen as a specialised food that is vitally important for those babies who cannot be breastfed, into a normal food for any infant." Commenting on the findings, Sarah Redshaw, from the BabyCentre website, said: "It is crucial to bear in mind the various barriers and challenges faced by mums when it comes to breastfeeding. "Generally mums are aware that breastfeeding is best for their baby but often don't get the right support if they encounter problems in the early weeks - which many, many do. "As a result, significant numbers give up on breastfeeding." Follow James on Twitter.

Summary: Rates of breastfeeding in the UK are the lowest in the world, an international study shows.


Djokovic, 29, swept past seventh seed Tomas Berdych 6-3 7-5 6-3 as he bids to win his first title at Roland Garros and complete the career Grand Slam. Williams, 34, was given a severe test by Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, coming through 5-7 6-4 6-1. The American is trying to win her 22nd Grand Slam title and equal Steffi Graf. She will play Kiki Bertens in the last four on Friday, after the unseeded Dutch player saw off Swiss eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky 7-5 6-2. Djokovic will face Austrian 13th seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Belgian 12th seed David Goffin 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 6-1 to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final. Britain's Andy Murray will take on Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in the other men's semi-final at 14:00 BST. Williams looked out of sorts for much of her quarter-final on a gloomy afternoon, with a sparse crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier. The champion was in deep trouble after an error-strewn set and a half, with the 5ft 4in Putintseva more than holding her own from the baseline and moving much the better in heavy conditions. Williams made 24 unforced errors in the first set to just two from her opponent, who had never been past the third round of a Grand Slam before this week. Putintseva then came back from 4-1 down in the second set to earn a break point at 4-4 that could have seen her serve for victory, but Williams held on and finally began to exert some control. She worked her way to a 5-0 lead in the decider, only for Putintseva to show one more flash of defiance by saving three match points before finally succumbing. "She's unbelievable and I didn't think I was going to win that but somehow I did," said Williams. Djokovic had won 23 of his previous 25 matches against Berdych of the Czech Republic, and was never seriously threatened after beginning their 26th meeting in commanding fashion. Berdych appealed for officials to take action when the rain, which has dogged this tournament, returned - but the closest Djokovic came to a quarter-final exit was a potential disqualification in the third set. He let his racquet slip out of his hand while angrily swiping at the ground and was relieved to receive just a code violation as it narrowly missed a line judge. "I am aware that I have been lucky," he said. "It was just some unfortunate bounce, but fortunate ending of the scenario. That's all I can say." Djokovic was already two sets up after dominating for an hour and a half, and moments later he recovered Berdych's early break of serve in the third set. Berdych described the tournament director's hesitance to halt play when the rain became heavier as "an absolute circus", but the delay lasted a little over 10 minutes and Djokovic soon wrapped up victory on the resumption. BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller "Djokovic has coped very well with the hand he has been dealt this week. Playing for the third day in a row, and in

Summary: Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams remain on course to make history as they both reached the semi-finals at the French Open.


Procter made a dogged 137, his highest first-class score, and Alviro Petersen a sparkling 81 in a total of 465, a first-innings lead of 347. It would have been greater had it not been for a fiery and entertaining spell from Tino Best, who took 5-90. Jimmy Adams fell to Jimmy Anderson early in Hampshire's second innings as they closed on 22-1, 325 runs behind. Their quest to avoid an innings defeat will be aided by a surface that remains true, albeit with some turn on offer to the spinners. Indeed, the way Lancashire piled on the runs on a hot day further highlighted the inadequacy of Hampshire's meagre first-innings 109. Procter was at first in the company of Haseeb Hameed, who made a careful 62 before edging the impressive leg-spin of Mason Crane to slip, with Petersen then arriving to make batting look easier than anyone else in the match. While the South African busily accumulated and punished anything loose, Procter, favouring the leg side, registered his second first-class century. It was when Petersen was caught hooking Best that Lancashire began to slide in the face of some thrilling, hostile bowling from the West Indian. Procter was caught pulling, while Liam Livingstone had his stumps uprooted and James Anderson was comprehensively bowled. Faced with such a huge deficit, Hampshire instantly lost Adams, who edged a beauty from Anderson, before Michael Carberry and England hopeful James Vince watchfully ensured there were no further loses. Luke Procter told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I'm over the moon. To get a century at Old Trafford was one of my boyhood dreams and it's come true. I didn't really think about it when I was out there. I just kept batting. "The bowlers did a fantastic job for us in the first innings and then for us to put 450 on the board is fantastic. We just wanted to bat all day. There was no rush with how fast we got our runs. "Haseeb is really good to bat with. He is calm and that calms you down. Alviro was great too. He puts the pressure back on the bowlers. When they come hard at us he goes back hard at them. "Ashwell Prince batted at three last year and it's obviously big boots to fill bit I've really enjoyed it. I've had a few starts so it's good to get a century on the board." Tino Best told BBC Radio Solent: "Mason Crane bowled beautifully. For a 19-year-old leg spinner to have that much control is amazing. England have produced a quality leg spinner. He is really one for the future. "He kept it tight and it gave me the opportunity to really run in and express myself. That's why Hampshire have brought me. At the end of the day, you only have a short while to play this game and I'm 35 this summer. But I'm fit and strong and I'm always ready to go and to commit myself. "The sun was warm, the wicket was flat and I thought to myself that this is

Summary: Lancashire built a huge lead with the help of Luke Procter's century on day two against Hampshire at Old Trafford.


Former actor John Denham, 49, said conversations he had had about it were "fantasy" and he did not think "any of that stuff" would happen. Mr Denham, from Wiltshire, has pleaded guilty to child pornography offences and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child. He and co-accused Matthew Stansfield, 34, deny conspiracy to rape a child. They also deny conspiracy to sexually assault a child under the age of 13. Mr Stansfield, from Hampshire, has pleaded guilty to child pornography offences. The court heard that the alleged plan to rape a baby was to have taken place on 17 January last year in Bedfordshire. However, it did not happen because another man, Robin Hollyson, who had access to the intended victim, had been detained in hospital. Hollyson, 30, has already pleaded guilty to the rape of a child and conspiracy to rape a child during 2013 and 2014. Mr Denham, who has two children and was previously known as Benjamin Harrop, said in court he did not believe the intended victim existed. But he admitted that months afterwards he had watched a video showing Hollyson raping the child. The court has heard how members of a gang raped and abused young children, live streaming the attacks over the internet. The men contacted each other using Skype, video conferencing software and online chatrooms. Mr Denham said he had begun by viewing adult pornography online but after seeing an image of a young teenage girl performing a sex act on a man he became "oddly fascinated" by child pornography. He said he became "desensitised" to what he was seeing on screen and the age range "dropped lower and lower". He said he was "ashamed" of deriving sexual gratification from child pornography and now understood there were "real victims". "It wasn't reality for me at the time," he said. "When I wasn't online and when I was in the real world I viewed children as they should be viewed. I didn't look at them in a sexual way at all." The trial continues.

Summary: A paedophile accused of conspiring to rape a baby has told a court in Bristol the alleged plan was "pie in the sky".


GB's 2008 men's 4x400m relay team moved up from fourth to third after Russia's Denis Alekseyev failed a drugs test when his sample was retested. It had been suggested the medal ceremony could take place at the World Championships in London in August. But next month's Anniversary Games also take place at London's Olympic Stadium. A decision is yet to be made on when Rooney and team-mates Andrew Steele, Robert Tobin and Michael Bingham will receive their medals. Rooney, 30, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I don't want to be distracted. I need to go to the World Championships and focus on that, so if we could get it done at the Diamond League, I'd love that. "There's no way of getting back to Beijing and doing it that way, but if we can go to an Olympic stadium and be in front of a British crowd, that would be amazing. "But whatever happens, whenever it happens, I just can't wait to get on that podium." The International Olympic Committee has reallocated medals from Beijing after Alekseyev and compatriots Anastasiya Kapachinskaya and Inga Abitova tested positive for banned substance Turinabol. Britain's women's 4x400m relay team have also moved into the bronze medal position. Christine Ohuruogu, Kelly Sotherton, Marilyn Okoro and Nicola Sanders finished the race fifth but have moved up to third as a result of both third-placed Russia and fourth-placed Belarus being disqualified due to subsequent failed tests. The men's Beijing medals are in the possession of the British Olympic Association and British Athletics but an announcement is still to be made on where they will be awarded. They could be presented at next month's Diamond League Anniversary Games, or at the World Championships in London in August. But, as the World Championships is an IAAF event, the IOC would have to give permission for any presentation to take place as Olympic medals fall under their jurisdiction. British Athletics does not have possession of medals for the women's 4x400m team yet as legal proceedings are ongoing regarding athletes in their race. Britons Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Jo Pavey, Sotherton and Goldie Sayers are among those waiting to receive Olympic and World Championship medals they were denied by drugs cheats. Sayers has told the Guardian she would be "gutted" if she did not receive her medal at the World Championships this summer.

Summary: Britain's Martyn Rooney says he would rather receive his Beijing Olympic bronze medal at the Anniversary Games than at the World Championships.


Brittany Carter, 23, is accused of performing a sex act on the 29-year-old driver while Corey Jackson, 20, allegedly held a knife to his throat. Police said the pair then stole $32 (Â£26) from the victim before fleeing the scene in the city of Findlay. "We don't know why she did it," police Lt Robert Ring said. "Maybe it was a distraction because they took money from him." The assault unfolded after Ms Carter called the Trinity Express Cab Service in the early hours of 28 January, according to police. She was arrested after the driver reported the incident. Ms Carter faces first-degree felony rape and aggravated robbery charges in Hancock County. She was indicted twice on drug charges in 2016 and is accused of heroin possession. Mr Jackson remains at large and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, say police. He is charged with aggravated robbery and complicity to commit rape, both first-degree felonies.

Summary: An Ohio woman has been charged with raping a cab driver at knifepoint before she and another man robbed him, according to police.


The fire, which is being treated as deliberate, was first reported at about 11:00 BST on Sunday. Eight fire appliances and 45 fire fighters are at the scene, including crew members from the Irish Fire Service. The blaze has spread across a 5 kilometre area, crossing the border. It is the latest of 435 reported wildfires since the beginning of May. Group Commander Brian Stanfield said: "We believe this fire has been started deliberately and we believe there are still people in the area qho are starting fires. "We'd like to appeal to members of the public. This is reckless behaviour, this is not just endangering the countryside, but it is putting people's lives and property at risk."

Summary: The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) is attending a gorse fire in Alderwood Road near Clogher and Fivemiletown in County Tyrone.


Smith, 26, already leads the one-day side and will also captain the Twenty20 team in the absence of the injured Aaron Finch. Fellow batsman David Warner, 28, has been named as Smith's vice-captain. "At 26, Steve is a fine young man with extraordinary talent," said national selector Rod Marsh. "He is highly regarded by the selectors and we congratulate him on being appointed to the role on an ongoing basis. He should be incredibly proud." Clarke, 34, confirmed his decision to retire after his side surrendered the Ashes with a heavy defeat by England at Trent Bridge, which gave the hosts a 3-1 lead. Smith had already captained the side in three Tests against India last summer, when Clarke was recovering from hamstring surgery and back issues. The New South Welshman has played in 32 Tests for his country, scoring 2,952 runs at an average of 54.66. Media playback is not supported on this device "When Michael made his decision to retire last week it was a very straightforward decision for us to nominate Steve as his successor," added Marsh. "He has big shoes to fill but everything about him suggests he is the right man for the job." Warner has earned the vice-captain's role despite a history of disciplinary problems, and Marsh said of the opener: "David has matured and developed into an important senior figure in the Australian team. He has come a long way. "We believe that he will respond well to the added responsibility of leadership." Smith and Warner will lead Australia in the limited-overs matches that follow the final Ashes Test at the Oval, which starts on 20 August.

Summary: Steve Smith will become Australia's Test captain after the Ashes following Michael Clarke's decision to retire at the end of the series.


Mr Johnson, who returned to the Commons at the election, told LBC he would be best placed to continue to fight expansion by staying in Parliament. The Conservative manifesto said the party would "take account" of the Davies Commission into runway options. The report, which has two Heathrow and one Gatwick options, is due next month. Mr Johnson has been an outspoken opponent of further expansion at Heathrow. He told LBC that if it did go ahead there would have to be a new congestion charge zone around it to tackle the traffic and pollution caused. Fellow Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith has pledged to quit the party and force a by-election if the Conservatives - who scrapped Labour plans for a third runway in 2010 - complete a U-turn on the issue of Heathrow expansion. 'Filed vertically' In his acceptance speech on being elected MP for Uxbridge, Mr Johnson said he would lie down "in front of those bulldozers and stop the building, stop the construction of that third runway" at Heathrow. Asked on his regular radio phone-in show if he would resign, Mr Johnson pointed out he did not have a government job to resign from - on Monday he was named as someone who would attend the Conservatives' political cabinet in Downing Street while concentrating on his final year as London mayor and being an MP. He was then asked by Nick Ferrari if he would force a by-election. Mr Johnson said he thought he "would be best off staying in Parliament to fight the case". He added that he thought Heathrow was "undeliverable" and that if the Davies Commission did choose a new runway there as its preferred option, he hoped it would be "filed vertically [shelved]" as a series of other reviews in past decades had been.

Summary: London Mayor Boris Johnson has said he would not quit as an MP if a Conservative government approved a third runway at Heathrow.


The 59-year-old was the first American to manage a Premier League club, but lasted just 85 days before being sacked by the Swans in December 2016. They won just two of the former USA and Egypt manager's 11 games in charge. Los Angeles, who are led by an ownership group of 27 people including Hollywood actor Will Ferrell, will join the MLS for the 2017-18 season. The team, also co-owned by basketball legend Magic Johnson and former Cardiff City chairman Vincent Tan, will play at the purpose built 22,000-seater Banc of California Stadium. This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser

Summary: Former Swansea City boss Bob Bradley has been named as the first manager of MLS team Los Angeles FC.


Jonathan Platt successfully contested a fine from Isle of Wight Council for taking his young daughter on a family holiday to Florida in April. He will now speak up on behalf of other parents when the council seeks High Court clarification on the law. He is crowdfunding for Â£25,000 expected legal costs and raised more than Â£1,000 in the first 24 hours. The father wrote on the fundraising page he would spend the money on "nothing other than legal fees for solicitors and barristers". He added: "I will take nothing personally from the money, not even travelling costs." Isle of Wight Council is asking the High Court for clarification on what constitutes "regular" attendance at school. As Mr Platt is a "person of interest" in the case, he has a right to attend. He said he is arguing "on behalf of all parents". Comments on the online crowdfunding page include: "Thank you for being our voice Jon, we are all behind you." "Well done and good luck, let's hope common sense prevails." Mr Platt took his children to Disneyland in Florida in April despite his daughter's absence being refused by her primary school. The council took him to court after he refused to pay a Â£120 fine. He won his case after he told magistrates that Section 444 of the Education Act did not put restrictions on holidays during term time, provided pupils otherwise attended school regularly. The council has applied to the High Court for an opinion on whether "the unauthorised absence of a child for seven consecutive school days on holiday... amounts to the child failing to attend the school regularly".

Summary: A father is preparing for a High Court legal battle to give parents the right to take children on term-time holidays.


People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) wants the mascot to be replaced with a modern animal-friendly version. The group has suggested a fish with the slogan Skegness - A Happy Plaice. The mayor of Skegness said all suggestions were welcome but said he did not think there would be much support for Jolly to be axed. The original Jolly Fisherman poster was commissioned by the Great Northern Railway to encourage visitors to take the train on their seaside breaks to Skegness. The poster featured the slogan "Skegness is so bracing". It was commissioned in 1908 for 12 guineas and has became synonymous with the Lincolnshire resort. However, Dawn Carr, of Peta, said Jolly "evokes images of cruelty to animals". "Fish being tricked into impaling themselves in the mouth, animals being pulled out of the ocean in giant nets where they are so crushed together the pressure pushes their stomachs out through their mouths and their eyes pop out." "This is what the Jolly Fisherman represents," she said. She said Peta's suggestion would give the resort an opportunity to rebrand itself as a progressive holiday destination. "One where the mutilation and killing of sea animals is not being celebrated." Skegness's mayor, Carl Macey, said the Jolly Fisherman was loved by adults and children alike. He said: "Animal cruelty is something we don't want to be portrayed for, but I don't feel Jolly has ever come across in that manner. "He is just accepted as happy and friendly and he does such a wonderful job for Skegness. "It [Peta's suggestion] will go before council, but if it isn't broken we won't try and fix it."

Summary: An animal rights group is calling for the Skegness mascot, the Jolly Fisherman, to be replaced with a fish.


Nine families have been resettled in Aberdeenshire in the past few weeks. Faith groups and the North East Scotland Credit Union (Nescu) have set up an account to allow people to donate money for essential items. Rev Stella Campbell, of Skene Parish Church, said: "We wanted to do what we can to help them settle in to their new life here in Scotland." The fund will be managed by representatives of the Church of Scotland, Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre (AMIC), and the Aberdeenshire Partner Refugee Group. More details are available via info@nescu.co.uk

Summary: An appeal to raise money for Syrian refugees who have arrived in the north east of Scotland has been launched.


He set up a security agency, bringing together counter-terrorism and domestic intelligence under the authority of a single body. The king also replaced the head of the royal guard, and made several appointments to the team of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In June, the 31-year-old prince became the first in line to the Saudi throne. He replaced the king's nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, who pledged allegiance to the younger cousin. The latest changes were announced in Thursday's decrees, published by the state-run SPA news agency. It said the decisions were made in order to maintain "the highest readiness levels to keep up with the latest developments". The new security agency is now headed by Abdulaziz bin Mohammed al-Howairini, a general who will be reporting directly to the 81-year-old king. Previously, the interior ministry was in charge of counter-terrorism and domestic intelligence. The new boss of the royal guard is Gen Suheil al-Mutiri, replacing Gen Hamad al-Awhaly. As part of the overhaul, King Salman also named Mohammed el-Kuwaiz as head of the agency that regulates investments in the oil-rich country.

Summary: Saudi Arabia's King Salman has issued a series of royal decrees, marking a new shake-up of top officials.


Pham Minh Hoang had written articles that "blackened the image of the country", according to the judge at the trial in Ho Chi Minh City. Hoang, 56, admitted having joined an opposition group but said his writings were not aimed at overthrowing anyone. Human rights activists say dozens of government critics in Vietnam have been given long jail terms in recent years. France's foreign ministry had earlier voiced "serious concern" about Hoang's case. His family has said he will appeal against the sentence. His wife, Le Thi Kieu Oanh, said she was "utterly shocked" by the court's decision. "I am losing hope... but as a wife, I will fight until the very end," she told the BBC's Newshour programme. Hoang, who was said to have written 33 articles under the pen name Phan Kien Quoc, asked for leniency, saying he did not know he was breaking the law. "My writings were not aimed at overthrowing anyone," he told the court. "I only pointed out the negative things in society, and I think the country needs to be more democratic." His lawyer said Hoang was only exercising his right to free speech, and drew from his experience in France "where there is a civilised education environment". Subversion has become an increasingly common charge brought against democracy activists in Vietnam - resulting in sentences of up to 15 years in prison, says Nga Pham of the BBC's Vietnamese service. But Hoang received the more lenient jail term of three years for a number of reasons; he is a French citizen, and although he confessed to belonging to the banned opposition group Viet Tan, he said he was not acting under its instruction. Viet Tan is a California-based pro-democracy group that Vietnam considers a terrorist organisation. The US has said there is no evidence to suggest that Viet Tan is a terrorist group.

Summary: A French-Vietnamese dissident blogger has been jailed in Vietnam for three years for attempted subversion.


East Lindsey District Council's planning committee said the site near Skegness was too rural and not "well connected". The landowner applied for 18 all-year pitches, parking and toilets on land on the A158 off the Burgh le Marsh bypass. Opponents said an influx of new people could strain schools and doctors' surgeries. The district council has previously appealed for landowners to come forward with possible locations for 20 transit pitches and six permanent pitches to accommodate travellers. The area currently has none. The council's planning officers had recommended the scheme near Skegness be approved but councillors rejected it. Lincolnshire County Council said feedback from the travelling community suggests any site should be closer to Skegness to accommodate those holidaying in the area. In recent years, the resort has seen a number of unauthorised encampments.

Summary: Plans for a traveller site near a resort town have been rejected by councillors.


The DJ will be joined on the Dorset festival line-up by 90s girl group All Saints and Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman Holly Johnson. The annual event, organised by Rob Da Bank, takes place at Lulworth Castle from 27 to 30 July. Other acts include children's entertainer Mr Tumble. Headline acts in previous years have included Bassment Jaxx, Blondie and Fat Boy Slim.

Summary: Mark Ronson is to headline Camp Bestival in 2017, organisers have said.


Investment in TV drama has fallen by 44% since the last review in 2008. The report found that "the drops in the levels of investment, particularly on ITV, are a concern". The media watchdog's review found spending on children's programmes in the UK had also fallen from £103m in 2008 to £88m in 2014. The BBC now accounts for 97% (£84m) of total public service broadcasting spending on children's programmes. Spending by ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 on children's TV has dropped by 74% to £3m in 2014. The review points out there is "very limited provision of non-animation programming beyond the BBC". The review found that, despite the success of big budget dramas like Downtown Abbey and Doctor Who, the amount of new UK drama being shown on the main channels has fallen from 627 hours in 2008 to 371 hours in 2014. Although it noted that "audience satisfaction with drama is stable". The review found that - following the removal of specific quotas in 2003 - public service programmes in arts and classical music, religion and ethics, and formal education has significantly reduced. Ofcom also warned broadcasters need to adapt as the trend towards online viewing grows. The watchdog found that unless the main TV channels adapt their business models, they would struggle to pay for public service programming in the future. Ofcom warned another challenge for the broadcasters in the future will be delivering news to younger audiences, as viewing of TV news has fallen by 29% among people aged 16-34. It also found certain audience groups were concerned about how they were portrayed on screen - particularly people from BAME backgrounds or people with disabilities - either being under-represented or unfairly portrayed. However, the review found that general audience satisfaction was high with 79% believing PSB was delivering on its purposes, such as delivering trustworthy news and high quality programming reflecting the UK. That figure is up from 69% in 2008. The review also found PSB channels continue to make a significant contribution to UK broadcasting. In 2013, they invested just over £2bn in new UK programmes, not including sports content, compared to around £350m from non-PSB companies. The main UK TV channels, BBC, ITV, STV, UTV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C, all carry programmes with public service values. Over half of all TV viewing is on these main channels - but that figure rises to more than 70% when the time shifted channels are taken into account.

Summary: An Ofcom review into public service broadcasting (PSB) in the UK has raised concerns about a fall in spending on drama and children's programming.


HM Inspectorate of Probation found delays in getting offenders to start their work, and said too many were let off if they did not attend. In one case, an offender had completed just 16 hours in the 17 months since he had been sentenced. The Ministry of Justice said it was acting on the report's recommendations. Anything from 40 to 300 hours of unpaid work - or "community payback" - may be given for offences like shoplifting, theft, drug offences, or criminal damage. Some 70,000 offenders were ordered to do unpaid work such as garden maintenance, decorating or litter-picking in 2014. Inspectors looked at 100 cases and interviewed 86 offenders from different probation divisions for their report. The report outlined 15 recommendations for improvement. Some of the problems identified were: Seven years ago the government, then led by Gordon Brown, placed an order for 10,000 orange bibs. They were to be worn by offenders doing unpaid work under a re-branded scheme known as "community payback". It was intended to give the public confidence that community sentences, involving clearing communal paths and gardens, picking up litter and painting over graffiti, were a "tough" alternative to imprisonment. When the coalition came to power in 2010 it promised to make unpaid work more physical and intense, with unemployed offenders required to complete their sentences more quickly. The difficulty has always been organisation. Getting people who lead chaotic lives - many of them with drink or drug problems - to work on time is a task in itself. If sanctions are applied, they will end up in prison; if not, the sentence cannot be enforced. As the inspection report reveals, it is a problem the authorities still have not solved. Inspectors did praise instances of high-quality work, and cases where offenders believed they had gained skills from using good tools and equipment. They also highlighted that many offenders viewed their sentence positively and "were determined to... desist from future offending". Among its recommendations were that community rehabilitation companies should reduce how often offenders are turned away from work when they have reported on time, and to try to create objectives for unpaid work that "match the circumstances of the offender". The chief inspector of probation, Paul Wilson, said it appeared in most cases that unpaid work was viewed simply as a punishment, which was a "wasted opportunity". "Although we found some high-quality management and delivery, much of it was simply not good enough, lacking in focus on the basic requirement to deliver and enforce the sentence of the court." He called for "urgent remedial action". A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said it wanted "much more effective rehabilitation" - which had to start with making sure offenders turned up on time and faced consequences if they did not. "It's totally unacceptable for offenders to skip work enforced by the courts. "We accept all the recommendations for the Ministry of Justice in this report and are already taking action to implement them."

Summary: The way that offenders sentenced to unpaid community work in England and Wales are managed and supervised has been criticised by inspectors.


Media playback is not supported on this device The home side, leading by 136 on first innings, wobbled to 153-7 before Moeen's 59-ball knock took them 224-8 when rain forced an early close. Under-fire opener Keaton Jennings managed only 18. South Africa were earlier bowled out for 226 and will begin day four 360 runs behind. The Proteas already need to break the record for the highest successful run-chase on this ground, with the pitch showing further signs of turn and uneven bounce. England, 2-1 up, are chasing their first home series win against South Africa since 1998. Media playback is not supported on this device Bar captain Joe Root, who made a typically unflustered 49, none of the England top order were able to take advantage of home side's superior position in the game. Collectively, South Africa's attack was excellent, none more so than pace bowler Duanne Olivier, who picked up three wickets in the Manchester gloom. When Jonny Bairstow became the seventh wicket to fall, England were 289 ahead and in danger of letting South Africa back in. Moeen, though, counter-attacked, dishing out some particularly brutal treatment to the previously economical Keshav Maharaj. Targeting the leg side, left-hander Moeen hit the left-arm spinner for three sixes, sharing an eighth-wicket stand of 58 with Toby Roland-Jones, who contributed 11. When the rain arrived at 17:15 BST, Moeen had taken 38 runs from the previous 22 balls he faced. Media playback is not supported on this device South Africa began the day on 220-9 and lost their last wicket when Olivier top-edged to Bairstow. Trailing by such a large margin, they needed everything to go their way with the ball and, though the bowlers played their part, they were not always backed up in the field. Jennings was dropped by Dean Elgar at third slip and Dawid Malan put down by a diving Temba Bavuma, with Kagiso Rabada the unfortunate bowler on both occasions. A potential Ben Stokes edge off Morne Morkel did not result in an appeal, with the same batsman put down by Heino Kuhn at short mid-wicket off Olivier. Bairstow and Roland-Jones also survived tough chances to Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis respectively. None were particularly costly in terms of runs, but the same cannot be said about an edge from Moeen off Maharaj to Elgar at slip, which just about carried. Moeen was on only 15 at the time. This was perhaps a last chance for Jennings, who averages 15.87 in eight innings in this series. The Durham left-hander, the 11th different partner for Alastair Cook since 2012, had not scored when he was given a life by Elgar and battled for more than an hour before lunch. Soon after the break he slashed at Rabada to be held at first slip by Amla. If his place is the one that is most under-threat, then the other new batsmen in the England side still have work to do in order to establish themselves in Test cricket. Tom Westley, who made a half-century on debut in the third

Summary: Moeen Ali's thrilling, unbeaten 67 cemented England's stronghold over South Africa on day three of the final Test at Old Trafford.


University Hospital Coventry is undergoing remedial work because its structures "were not as robust" as originally planned. The hospital trust says interim safety measures are in place during the work. Skanska, which built the hospital under a private finance initiative (PFI) scheme, declined to comment. More reaction to the story David Eltringham, chief operating officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: "We can assure our patients, staff and visitors that we remain vigilant in ensuring fire safety standards are maintained at all times." He said the trust "learned of some potential issues with the infrastructure" which prompted the internal investigation. The investigation found that "in the unlikely event of a fire, the structures to prevent it spreading were not as robust as those specified in the original plan for the building", Mr Eltringham added. The trust says it collaborated with Skanska to identify remedial work and is working with the fire service to optimise fire safety standards. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to strengthen fire safety including additional patrols and increasing rubbish collections. A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "We are working together with University Hospital Coventry and have an action plan in place for upgrading fire standards." Construction firm Skanska, which was paid to build the hospital, said it had nothing further to add to the statement issued by the trust.

Summary: A £380m hospital which opened 10 years ago may have been constructed without adequate fire protection, a safety review has revealed.


Victory over her Czech opponent would have put Konta in with a chance of breaking into the top 20 of the world rankings for the first time. Novak Djokovic reached the last 16 of the men's singes with a 7-5 7-5 win over German Phillipe Kohlschreiber. Rafael Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-0 7-6 (11-9). Two-time champion Serena Williams defeated Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2 6-2 to earn a quarter-final with Simona Halep.

Summary: British number one Johanna Konta is out of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells following a 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 defeat by world number 19 Karolina Pliskova.


The character with a huge papier mache head was the alter-ego of musician and comedian Chris Sievey, who died in 2010. Fans raised Â£60,000 for the tribute which was made in a Czech foundry. Hundreds of people attended an unveiling ceremony earlier, many in fancy dress for the occasion. Neil Taylor, who helped raise the donations for the statue, said its installation would mean that "Frank will gaze on the Timperley sunset forever". He said: "You either got the humour or you didn't get the humour. "Frank Sidebottom created a whole world, he was just magical. He just made a very modest living entertaining people and that's what he's enjoying doing." Sievey set his character's life in the village, where he lived himself, and, as Frank, hosted tours of the area for fans. He often referenced Timperley in his TV and music work, notably on his 1987 release, The Timperley EP, which featured a version of The Kinks' 1967 song Waterloo Sunset with altered lyrics that referred extensively to the village. He also covered Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK, changing its title to Anarchy in Timperley. Although best known for Frank Sidebottom, Sievey also had success in the late 1970s with his punk band The Freshies, who had a hit with I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk. His TV fame peaked in the early 1990s with his own series Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show. Next year Michael Fassbender will play Frank Sidebottom in Frank, a movie inspired by the character.

Summary: A life-size bronze statue of comedy character Frank Sidebottom has been unveiled in his hometown of Timperley in Greater Manchester.


Bent rescued a point for the Rams against Sheffield Wednesday, heading in the equaliser a minute after coming off the bench on Saturday. Derby, already assured of a play-off spot, are unbeaten in five games. "The main thing is that we go into the play-offs full of confidence and not losing games," Bent said. Former England striker Bent said falling at the first hurdle of the play-offs against West Ham in his last season with Ipswich Town in 2004-05 was a harsh early lesson in his career. "A fair few years ago now at Ipswich, our season had gone because we only managed to win one out of our last five games. We went into the play-offs with no real confidence," Bent told BBC Radio Derby. As for his own personal form, Bent was pleased to make an impact as a substitute having not featured since Derby's 3-3 draw with Rotherham in March. The goal was the former Aston Villa, Sunderland and Charlton forward's first since netting the winner in Derby's 2-1 FA Cup third-round win against League Two side Hartlepool in January and only his second in the Championship this season. Bent scored 12 goals in 17 games during a loan spell at the iPro Stadium from Villa last season, before signing a full-time deal last summer. "The boys have been joking it was my first touch in three months, it was nice," Bent said. "It was a while for that one to come. It's been difficult to get minutes on the pitch with the team playing really well, Chris Martin at the top of his game and the two wide men playing well. "To be match sharp is impossible if you play a few minutes every four or five weeks, but when you do get on the pitch you want to help the team out, and it worked."

Summary: Striker Darren Bent was relieved to score with his first touch in six weeks to keep Derby County's unbeaten run intact ahead of the play-offs.


The Dungannon rider suffered chest and pelvic injuries in the crash on 12 May. His condition was described as stable on 16 May and he was moved out of intensive care. The 40-year-old and Dan Cooper came off their bikes on the the Black Hill section of the course. English rider Malachi Mitchell-Thomas was killed in a crash at the same part of the course on Saturday, 14 May. Cooper was taken to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine with shoulder injuries but was later discharged. Farquhar is a well known-figure in motorcycling and has won five races at the North West 200. He retired from the sport in 2012 following the death of his uncle Trevor Ferguson at that year's Manx Grand Prix in the Isle of Man. However, Farquhar resumed his road racing career in 2014, saying that his family backed his decision to return.

Summary: Motorcycle racer Ryan Farquhar, who was hurt in a high-speed crash in the North West 200, is seriously ill and has returned to intensive care, the Belfast Trust have said.


Vincent Barker, known as Vinnie, died in July 2012, five months after he had a routine eye test at Boots in Ipswich. The prosecution told Ipswich Crown Court the conduct of eye specialist Honey Rose, 35, was so far below the expected standard it was "criminal". Ms Rose denies a charge of gross negligence manslaughter. Read more on this story and other news from Suffolk Jonathan Rees QC said the alleged failure of Ms Rose, of Newham, east London, to detect Vinnie's swollen optic discs during the routine test, and refer him on for further investigation, was "at the heart of the prosecution case". A build-up of fluid in his brain increased pressure in Vinnie's skull and ultimately led to his death, the court heard. "The prosecution allege that Vinnie's death was preventable and would have been prevented had the defendant, Ms Rose, done her job properly," he told the jury. "Given the risk of death involved, her conduct was so bad in all of the circumstances - it fell so far below the standards to be expected of a competent optometrist - that it was criminal." The trial continues.

Summary: An eight-year-old boy, who died after fluid built up in his brain, could have been saved if an optometrist had "done her job properly", a court has heard.


Letters from the Department of Environment to a range of organisations that work in areas like tourism, environmental heritage and hills management, began arriving on Wednesday. It is understood a number of high profile organisation are badly affected. In some cases the cuts runs to more than £200,000. It follows a cut of more than 10% to the department's own budget which was finalised earlier this week. One of the organisations affected is the Northern Ireland Environment Link. Its funding has been cut from £200,000 to £50,000. The letter it received said its funding would continue until June, but would be withdrawn after that. Its chief executive Craig McGuicken said: "We knew that the department had taken a serious cut in the budget, but the sector has been surprised by the severity of this." In the letter his organisation received, a departmental official wrote: "We will pay the relevant portion of our offer of funding for 2015-16 for the three month period from 1 April to 30 June 2015 in accordance with the verification and claim process set out in the letter of offer and to a maximum of £50,000. "No further funding will be provided in future financial years in relation to our previous letter of offer. "I appreciate that this letter will not bring welcome news to you." The Belfast Hills Partnership has also been affected. It helps to conserve and promote the mountains around the city. Its core funding from the department has been reduced to zero from £50,000. Its director Jim Bradley said: "Although NIEA [Northern Ireland Environment Agency] have been warning us of very drastic cuts, this is much more than just a major cut in funding, it is an end to funding of organisations, many of which NIEA set up to tackle specific needs and issues. "This has nothing to do with how efficient or effective individual organisations were, it's a wholesale removal of a sector which delivered services much better and at lower costs than government could." A representative from the Ulster Wildlife Trust said their annual grant of £220,000 was being totally cut. She said it would have an impact on jobs. "We're all very shocked. We expected cuts but not at this level. It will be a very different landscape we're going to be operating in," she added. The Mourne Heritage Trust is losing three quarters of its funding for 2015/16 going from £225,000 to £56,000 pounds. Chief Executive Martin Carey said the scale of the cut had come "as a complete surprise". "As of July 1, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency will not be providing any funding for an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and for the Mourne Heritage Trust which it established." He said it would affect the organisation's ability to maintain paths and stiles and collect litter. He said the decision also jeopardised up to £1,000,000 pounds in `match funding` from organisations like the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund.

Summary: Environmental groups in Northern Ireland are facing huge cuts to their budgets after the money they receive from government was slashed.


It said just 8% of councils had built enough to replace half of their stock sold through the scheme, which allows council tenants to buy their homes. The charity said there was a danger of some areas having no affordable homes. The government said it was committed to building 275,000 affordable new homes over the course of this parliament. Right to Buy was first introduced in the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher's government and was given a boost in 2012 when discounts for tenants were increased to Â£75,000. In this year's Queen's speech the government announced the scheme was being extended to 1.3m housing association tenants in England. Shelter, which looked at provisional figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government, said just two of the 166 councils in England listed as selling properties through Right to Buy had succeeded in replacing more than 100% of the properties sold. Under existing policy, the government has promised that each home sold after 2012 would be replaced. The charity's chief executive Campbell Robb warned the problem of not enough council homes being replaced was only likely to get worse, leaving some areas with no affordable homes. "At this rate they'll soon be black-spots across the country where no-one on a normal income can afford to live," he said. 1. North Kesteven 187% 2. New Forest 128% 3. Waverley 89% 4. Barking and Dagenham 88% 5. Winchester 81% 6. Ipswich 80% 7. Tandridge 79% 8. Castle Point 71% 9. Hounslow 64% 10. South Cambridgeshire 59% The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, said many council housing programmes were hampered by complex rules and restrictions on the use of receipts from sales of homes. LGA housing spokesman Peter Box said: "It is imperative that councils are given the powers to replace housing sold through Right to Buy quickly and effectively as part of the Spending Review. "Councils need to be able to retain 100% of receipts from sales while Right to Buy discounts should be set locally so they reflect the cost of houses in the area." Mr Box said the LGA estimated this would allow councils to replace 50,000 homes sold over the lifetime of the next Parliament. The government said nearly 40,000 new homeowners had been created since it increased discounts for council tenants in 2012. A spokesman added: "Councils are continuing to fulfil the requirement to deliver one for one replacements within three years, and over 3,000 replacement homes have already been delivered across England. "We have been absolutely clear that if councils do not deliver one for one replacements for the additional homes sold under Right to Buy the government will."

Summary: One in three councils in England has not replaced a single home sold through the Right to Buy scheme since 2012, according to the charity Shelter.


David Davis rebuffed Nicola Sturgeon's calls for Holyrood to be given powers over areas such as immigration as part of any deal with Brussels. The Conservative politician was in Scotland a day after the Scottish government published its draft independence referendum bill. He met his Scottish government counterpart Michael Russell for talks. When asked if the First Minister is being "realistic" with her demands, he said: "They are both reserved powers. Immigration and international affairs are both reserved powers." Before the EU referendum in June, leading Brexit campaigner and then justice secretary Michael Gove had suggested Scotland could get powers over immigration as part of a deal to leave the EU. But Mr Davis said: "It's hard to see how a separate immigration policy would work." He insisted the Brexit arrangements would be a "United Kingdom deal", rejecting the idea put forward by the Scottish Government that the country should be able to keep its place in the European single market. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said a referendum will be called if it is felt necessary to "protect Scotland's interests" in the wake of the Brexit vote. But she has insisted her government was "exploring all of the options" for safeguarding Scotland's place in Europe, and has said she will publish proposals in the coming weeks for keeping Scotland in the European single market even if the UK leaves. After his first meeting with Mr Davis, Mr Russell said he expected to soon be able to announce a formal process for Scottish input into the Brexit process. Speaking at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Mr Davis said while it has "got to be a United Kingdom deal", it would "incorporate protection for the people of Scotland". He also said the eventual agreement would "reflect the interests of the people of Scotland". Mr Davis stated: "The aim is to get the maximum possible barrier-free access to the European Union market, as well as being able to get other markets globally. "How we achieve that? We're not at that stage yet, but that's the aim." He continued: "I don't think the Scottish people want another referendum, but that's for them. "I have simply got the single aim in front of me, which is to get the best deal possible, and that includes the best deal for the Scottish people." Yesterday the Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, said that he thinks the United Kingdom might actually rein back on Brexit. Mr Davis told BBC Scotland that is not the case: "That's not going to happen. The prime minister has made clear that the now infamous phrase 'Brexit means Brexit' is going to happen. "The people have given us an instruction, we have to carry it out."

Summary: The UK government's Brexit secretary insists any arrangements to leave the EU would be a "United Kingdom deal".


The Exiles remain in the League Two relegation zone, a point behind Hartlepool with four matches to play. The Welsh club were bottom of the table and 11 points adrift of safety when Flynn took over from Graham Westley in early March. Yeovil stay 20th, but are now only four points clear of the drop zone. Demetriou fired in left-footed from 20 yards just before the hour as Newport dominated at Rodney Parade to claim a third consecutive win. Newport County manager Mike Flynn: "It was a huge effort from the players. I know I keep saying but I won't get bored of it they were absolutely outstanding again today. "I thought we were by far the better team, we just lacked that final cutting edge in the final third. We should have scored two or three today but luckily I told Mickey Demetriou to take the free-kick and he scored." Match ends, Newport County 1, Yeovil Town 0. Second Half ends, Newport County 1, Yeovil Town 0. Substitution, Newport County. Aaron Williams replaces Alex Samuel. Attempt missed. Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Corner, Yeovil Town. Conceded by Dan Butler. Alex Samuel (Newport County) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Liam Shephard (Yeovil Town). Attempt saved. Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Liam Shephard (Yeovil Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Tom Owen-Evans (Newport County). Substitution, Newport County. Darren Jones replaces Mark Randall. Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Liam Shephard. Attempt blocked. Sean Rigg (Newport County) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Attempt missed. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Yeovil Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Ryan Bird (Newport County). Ryan Dickson (Yeovil Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Ryan Bird (Newport County) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Ryan Dickson (Yeovil Town). Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Kevin Dawson. Substitution, Yeovil Town. Alex Lawless replaces Matt Butcher. Foul by Alex Lacey (Yeovil Town). Alex Samuel (Newport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Sean Rigg (Newport County) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt missed. Alex Samuel (Newport County) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt saved. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Yeovil Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Corner, Yeovil Town. Conceded by Mitch Rose. Substitution, Yeovil Town. Shayon Harrison replaces Omar Sowunmi. Francois Zoko (Yeovil Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Dangerous play by Sean Rigg (Newport County). Attempt saved. Alex Lacey (Yeovil Town) right footed shot from outside the box

Summary: Newport County's recovery under caretaker manager Mike Flynn continued as Mickey Demetriou's second-half free-kick saw them beat Yeovil 1-0.


The 18-year-old can play at right-back, centre-half and in central midfield. Born in Birmingham, Suliman signed a professional deal with Villa in January 2015 until 2017, but is yet to make a senior, competitive first-team appearance for the Championship club. He has represented England since under-16 level and made 16 international appearances for the under-17 side. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Cheltenham Town have signed Aston Villa and England Under-18 defender Easah Suliman on loan until 2 January.


Laws, 26, had been training with Arsenal but has decided to remain in the north east by swapping Sunderland for WSL 2 club Durham. She will fill in for regular goalkeeper Helen Alderson, who is going to Africa for a three-month charity work stint. "It's a club going in the right direction," Laws said. "I can't wait to start with a new club." She continued: "Obviously it is a bit strange for over 10 years but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to getting started with." The Newcastle-born keeper played 18 games for the Lady Black Cats last season, where she has played the majority of her career barring a loan spell at Liverpool in 2013.

Summary: Durham Women have signed England international goalkeeper Rachel Laws for the WSL Spring Series competition.


Trinity led 16-10 at the break after tries from former Cas centre Joe Arundel (2) and stand-off Jacob Miller. Cas had mustered two first-half scores by Greg Minikin and Oliver Holmes But they added six more after the break through Andre Savelio, Luke Gale, who also kicked seven goals, Junior Moors, Ryan Hampshire, Minikin and Holmes. It was a debut try for forward Savelio, who only joined the Tigers on loan from St Helens on Wednesday, but Cas lost Rangi Chase with a back problem while Super League's leading try scorer winger Denny Solomona pulled out with food poisoning.. Wakefield, who lost centre Bill Tupou, second rower Jonny Molloy and loose forward Mickey Sio with injuries, managed just one score in the second half, from winger Reece Lyne, while Liam Finn failied to add to his two first-half kicks. The Tigers' storming finish, in which they scored five tries in 22 minutes, secured a fourth successive derby win to climb a place into sixth above Wakefield. Trinity drop to eighth thanks to Widnes beating fifth-placed Catalans, although they were all already guaranteed a top-eight finish ahead of the Super 8s split. But for Salford's six-point deduction, the injury-hit Wildcats would have ended up in the Qualifiers. Instead, they can now turn their attention to next Saturday's Challenge Cup semi-final against Warrington at Leigh Sports Village - and their bid to reach a first Wembley final for 37 years. Wakefield coach Chris Chester: "We had one guy fit on the bench for the last 35 minutes and that really hurt us. We had a front-rower (David Fifita) who played 65 minutes in the middle which was a great achievement. "It was a good even contest for 50 minutes then we get a penalty, miss touch and we give a penalty away and concede. It took it away from us. "I'm not overly disappointed because there was bags of effort out there but we just ran out of troops, and Castleford were too good for us. "Bill came off with a hamstring injury, Jonny Molloy has got a pectoral issue and Mickey Sio got a sternum injury so those three couldn't come back." Castleford coach Daryl Powell: "It's been an incredible effort for us over 23 rounds. 14 players couldn't play today. It's been really tough. "So for us to end up finishing sixth is an awesome achievement. I'm really proud of the players. We'll reap the rewards in the long run from what's happened this year." "We were a bit helter-skelter at times but it was really pleasing how we grabbed the game in the second half. "Savelio did really well. He's trained with us a couple of times and he handled himself really well. He's a good player. I've always rated him - and he fitted into our team really well." Wakefield: Jowitt; Lyne, B Tupou, Arundel, Hall; Miller, Finn; Scruton, Sio, Fifita, Walton, Ashurst, Molloy. Replacements: Crowther, Arona, Moules, A Tupou. Castleford: Hampshire; Flynn, Crooks, O Holmes, Minikin; McShane, Gale; Springer, Milner, Patrick, Mariano, Millington, Moors. Replacements: Savelio, T Holmes, Cook,

Summary: Castleford ran in eight tries to win the Super League derby at neighbours Wakefield and move above their West Yorkshire rivals in the table.


The 68-year-old from Bournemouth died when his Vauxhall Astra hit a Nissan Juke on the A31 near Corfe Mullen. The road, near the Coventry Arms pub, was closed for more than five hours after the crash happened at 13:20 BST. The driver of the Nissan, a 49-year-old woman from Waterlooville, was seriously injured and airlifted to Southampton General Hospital but police said her condition was not life-threatening. Three men who were travelling in the Nissan sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries and were taken to Poole Hospital. Sgt Mark Scammell said: "I would like to thank motorists for their patience during the road closures which are necessary to allow emergency services to deal with the incident."

Summary: A man has died in a crash involving two cars on one of Dorset's busiest routes.


The polls would have been the first electoral contest between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements for 10 years. Their delay was ordered after lists of candidates for Fatah, which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, were cancelled in parts of the Gaza Strip, which is run by Hamas. Hamas has protested at the court's ruling, describing it as "political". Fatah said it held Hamas fully responsible. Thursday's ruling by the high court in the West Bank city of Ramallah came after a Hamas-controlled court in Gaza disqualified several candidate lists drawn up by Fatah on technical grounds. A challenge was also lodged by a lawyer over the inability to hold the vote in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after seizing it in the 1967 war but Palestinians want to be the capital of a future state. "Elections can't take place in one place and not the other," said the presiding judge. "The elections can't take place in Jerusalem and its neighbourhoods. Also, there are problems with the formation of courts in Gaza... Therefore, the court decides to stop the elections." Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri blamed Fatah for the delay. "The high court decision is politically motivated and it came in order to rescue Fatah after its lists of candidates collapsed in a number of areas," he told the Reuters news agency. But Osama al-Qawasmi of Fatah rejected the allegation, saying: "We hold Hamas fully responsible for foiling the election, starting with the unjustified petitions it filed." The election would have been the first involving Hamas and Fatah since the 2006 poll for the Palestinian Legislative Council, in which Hamas won a majority. A violent rift with Fatah saw the Islamist movement take control of Gaza the following year. Although Fatah and Hamas formally agreed a unity deal and a technocratic government in 2014, deep divisions remain, resulting in political paralysis.

Summary: A Palestinian court has postponed municipal elections that had been due to be held on 8 October.


Arthur and Joan Frost, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, lost their daughter Julie Bennet, and her husband Mike in February. An image of the couple during their last moments was released by their children. An appeal has raised over Â£275,00 to help them stay in their home in Wirral. Mr Bennet, 57, a cabinet maker, had been fighting a brain tumour since 2013. He died on 6 February. Mrs Bennet, 50, a primary school teacher, died five days later. She had been diagnosed in May 2016 with cancer which began in the liver and kidneys and then spread to other organs. Mr Frost said: "The way this went was just horrifying. How can it happen? You don't bury your children, it's just not possible." "It's not the way it's supposed to be," Mrs Frost added. "There was nobody like Julie. She was there for everybody. She was absolutely fabulous. "Michael was the nicest man you could ever meet, he really was. He melted your heart, really." Mr Frost found out he too had cancer just before Christmas but hid the diagnosis from the family for fear of adding to their strain. "It was quite devastating to know on top of everything else that had happened," he said. "I'm joining the gang, sort of thing. "We discussed it at length and said 'there's no way we can say anything under the condition they're in at the moment'." The family's story prompted a flood of donations to an appeal for the Bennets' children, Luke, 21, Hannah, 18, and 13-year-old Oliver. Luke has now been granted guardianship of Oliver along with a family friend. Mrs Frost said the response had been "absolutely amazing", adding, "it restores your faith in human nature". Mr Frost said: "They've got no income, and we thought well, the mortgage has got to be paid, and that basically was what we were looking for. "And it just went sky high. It went worldwide. People from abroad have been donating. We just can't get our heads around how wide it's gone."

Summary: The grandparents of three children who were orphaned when their parents died of cancer days apart have said they are "horrified" by what has happened.


Kieran Innes, of Aberdeen, died after his car crashed on the A90 north of Forfar on Tuesday morning. Mr Innes was a coach with Middlefield Wasps FC. The club said in a statement: "He was a genuine nice guy and would do anything for anyone. Kieran also ran our disability football. He loved all his players who will miss him dearly." 'Mark of respect' The statement added: "The Wasps family has lost a true gent who will be sorely missed. He loved the Wasps. Thoughts go to the Innes family. "As a mark of respect we will be doing a minutes applause at each Wasps game this weekend - Kieran didn't do silence." Police Scotland in Tayside renewed an appeal for information.

Summary: Tributes have been paid to a 24-year-old youth football coach who died in a crash in Angus.


Home manager Brendan Rodgers had changed to three at the back to allow Leigh Griffiths to play alongside Moussa Dembele up front. But Inverness kept them at bay until Scott Sinclair pounced to fire home after the break. Griffiths tapped in before Caley Thistle's Greg Tansey was sent off and Tom Rogic blasted home the third. That second yellow card, which came moments after the second goal, well and truly ended Caley Thistle's hopes of frustrating Celtic for a second time this season. And Celtic, whose only dropped points this season came at Caledonian Stadium, cruised to a sixth straight domestic clean sheet to stretch their lead over Aberdeen, who have also played one game more than the reigning champions. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers decided to change his much-recognised shape following the midweek Champions League draw in Germany. He opted for a back three and a front two of Dembele and Griffiths, but it was an experiment that only lasted for 13 minutes due to injury. Mikael Lustig hobbled off with a nasty looking ankle knock after a tussle with Josh Meekings. Dembele and Griffiths continued to link up, but Stuart Armstrong was ordered to fill in at right back. The tinkering looked to upset the Celtic rhythm and, at times in the first half, they looked to be operating within themselves. Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran said before the game that his side would press and frustrate the reigning champions and, for long spells of the first period, they did just that. They closed Celtic down well and prevented them from finding the gear that would ultimately give them the lead. But even the most pessimistic of the home supporters knew it was only a matter of time. The chances were being created and the Inverness door was creaking. The defences were breached early in the second half and the opening goal came courtesy of a now familiar and formidable name. Sinclair latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Callum McGregor and blasted low past goalkeeper Owen fon Wiliams for his 10th goal of the season. Griffiths was keen to impress in a rare start and he found the net after Dembele's effort was parried by Fon Williams. Greg Tansey was given a second yellow card for a foul on McGregor in the build up and that killed off any slim hopes of a Caley Thistle come back. Rogic came off the bench to add a third, but with Lustig and captain Scott Brown hobbling off, the win may well have come at a price. Match ends, Celtic 3, Inverness CT 0. Second Half ends, Celtic 3, Inverness CT 0. Attempt saved. Iain Vigurs (Inverness CT) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic). Jake Mulraney (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brad McKay. Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic)

Summary: Celtic restored their 10-point lead at the top of the table after overcoming Inverness Caledonian Thistle.


But Roma forward Mohamed Salah, who has been out with an ankle injury, is among the 27 names on the preliminary list. Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny is another of 11 foreign-based players in the squad. Coach Hector Cuper also handed surprise call-ups for Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim, Al Masry striker Ahmed Gomaa and Ismaily goalkeeper Mohamed Awad. Only four players - Essam El-Hadary, Ahmed Elmohamady, Mohamed Abdel-Shafy and Ahmed Fathi - have played at a Nations Cup before. The Pharaohs will start preparations on 1 January and play a friendly match with Tunisia on 8 January in Cairo International Stadium. Cuper must cut four players to get his final 23-man squad for the tournament in Gabon, which will be played between 14 January and 5 February. Egypt are in Group D alongside Ghana, Mali and Uganda. Their opening match is against Mali on 17 January. Egypt squad: Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary (Wadi Degla), Ahmed El Shenway (Zamalek), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly) , Mohamed Awad (Al Ismaily). Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City) , Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Al Ahly Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly),Karim Hafez (Nice, France) , Hamada Tolba (Al Masry) , Ahmed Hegazy (Al Ahly) , Saad Samir (Al Ahly) , Ahmed Dweidar (Zamalek), Omar Gaber (FC Basel, Switzerland) , Ali Gabr (Zamalek). Midfielders: Abdallah El-Said (Al Ahly) , Amr Warda (Panetolikos, Greece) , Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) , Tarek Hamed (Zamalek) , Ibrahim Salah (Zamalek) , Mahmoud Hassan 'Trezeguet' , Mohamed Ibrahim (Zamalek) , Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City). Forwards: Ahmed Gomaa (Al Masry) , Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim 'Kahraba' (Ittihad Jeddeh) , Mohamed Salah (AS Roma, Italy) , Ahmed Hassan 'Koka' (Braga, Portugal) , Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly).

Summary: Zamalek striker Basem Morsi has been excluded from Egypt's squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after falling out with the coaching staff.


The Niagara County Legislature voted in favour of asking New York's attorney general to investigate on Thursday. The local water authority said the colour was caused by residue from black carbon filters used to clean the water. The water authority says July's treatment process was necessary and the discharge within "permitted limits". An inky and foul-smelling cloud of water appeared at the base of Niagara Falls on 29 July 2017. Some initially suspected an oil spill, but the Niagara Falls Water Board (NFWB) said it was caused by a "routine" water treatment and apologised for causing alarm to residents and tourists. In a statement the board said the "inky water" was the result of a "necessary and short term change in the waste water treatment process" at its plant near the city of Buffalo. Officials say the plant had the correct paperwork to release the discharge - which came from one of its five sediment filtration basins and was being flushed out over the weekend in preparation for contractors to begin upgrade work.

Summary: The discharge of black smelly wastewater at the base of Niagara Falls has prompted calls for a criminal inquiry.


Pedrosa, who almost quit the sport this year because of an arm injury, took the lead seven laps from the end. Rossi's Yamaha team-mate and championship rival Jorge Lorenzo was third after suffering tyre problems. Rossi now leads Lorenzo by 18 points in the standings with a maximum of 75 available from the final three rounds. Only those two drivers can win the title, meaning Marc Marquez's two-year reign as world champion is over. Pedrosa, whose career began in the 125cc class in 2001, had not won a MotoGP race since the Czech Grand Prix in August 2014 and missed three of the season's first four races after arm surgery. "I couldn't go fast in the beginning," said the 30-year-old. "But at the end my pace was faster and could win the race. I am very happy." Meanwhile, San Marino rider Alex de Angelis is in a "critical condition" with bleeding inside his brain, following a crash in practice on the eve of the race. The 31-year-old is sedated in the intensive care unit of Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, with race doctor Michele Zasa stating an MRI scan had showed he had a brain haemorrhage. De Angelis, who competes for Team e-motion Iodaracing, also fractured five vertebrae and two ribs, and suffered a slight fracture of the sternum and the left collarbone. Meanwhile, British rider Danny Kent edged closer to winning the Moto3 title by finishing sixth in his race, one place ahead of main rival Enea Bastianini. Kent now leads the Italian by 56 points with three races remaining. The 21-year-old, from Chippenham, is attempting to become the first British world champion since Barry Sheene in 1977.

Summary: Spain's Dani Pedrosa claimed the 50th Grand Prix win of his career with victory over championship leader Valentino Rossi in the Japanese MotoGP.


Their last home game, a 4-0 win over Droylsden, attracted 142 supporters and after staff and players were paid, the Tigers were left with £21 profit. Last week, the club issued an appeal for £25,000 so they could "stay in a solvent position" until the summer. "There are fans out there but if they don't come back then we're not going to have a team," said Hughes. The club's owner, Eamonn McGurk, has supported the club financially since they struggled to pay a tax bill of more than £80,000 in the 1990s. It is estimated his investment runs to more than £1m, in addition to funding the planning costs for a new ground. The Blue Square Bet North club have been without a home for six years after their Meadow Park ground was destroyed by flooding and their nomadic status has played a major part in their financial difficulties. They have shared with local clubs Forest Green Rovers, Cirencester and most recently Cheltenham Town - where they have been based since 2010. But Hughes believes their move out of the city, and the historical rivalry the Tigers have with Cheltenham, has caused fans to abandon their local club. "If I had £10 for every time I've spoken to someone who has said 'I used to support Gloucester but I'm not going to come back until you've returned to Gloucester', I'd probably be able to sustain the club," he told BBC Gloucestershire. "There's always been this rivalry across the divide but Cheltenham are a Football League club now and that's what we've always wanted to aspire to. "We've been fortunate that Cheltenham allowed us to have a ground share - they could have said no." Gloucester pay £40,000 a year to play at Whaddon Road, but were recently threatened with eviction after failing to meet payments. The issue is close to being resolved and Gloucester hope to have a deal in place next week to remain in Cheltenham for next season's campaign. Plans for a new stadium at the Meadow Park site were submitted to Gloucester City Council in 2011, but have yet to be approved. "It has left me so frustrated," Hughes added. "There's been a lot of money spent on reports etc [for new stadium] and it's been draining. "It's been difficult. We're tired and we just need something we can hang our hat on. We need something that will attract investors and keep us going."

Summary: Gloucester City chairman Nigel Hughes has urged absent fans to return to the struggling non-league club.


Vehicles and pedestrians will now embark and disembark the Cowes ferry separately following Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) guidance. Isle of Wight Council said its new procedures were in response to a resident's complaint. Councillor Shirley Smart said it would "initially result in a slower service". Originally passengers and vehicles boarded or disembarked the so called "floating bridge" at the same time. Ms Smart, who is the executive member for economy and tourism, said the council already had measures in place to control how passengers and vehicles left or embarked the chain ferry "in a safe manner". However, it was "responding" to the MCA's recommendations "following this complaint". She added: "This may initially result in a slower service while the measures are introduced and our customers get used to the changes." The service has been in operation since 1859.

Summary: Passengers using a chain ferry on the Isle of Wight have been warned crossing times will be longer because of new safety measures.


The explosions took place at a warehouse owned by Ruihai International Logistics located in Tianjin's port area. Authorities had earlier said that the warehouse contained calcium carbide, potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate. Calcium carbide is used in the production of PVC plastic, while the other two chemicals are used in producing fertiliser and dynamite. There were unconfirmed reports that the warehouse contained 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide, stored in wooden boxes or iron barrels. The chemical is used in the mining industry, among other uses. Police on Saturday confirmed the presence of an unspecified quantity of it near the site. People's Daily quoted firefighting officials as saying that some of these chemicals would be "easy to explode if heated or collided". China is the world's largest consumer of hazardous chemicals, says Paul Pang, vice-president of industry analysis firm IHS Chemical in China. In sodium cyanide's case - yes, very. US government health experts say it can be "rapidly fatal" if inhaled or ingested. It is soluble in water - raising concerns in some Chinese media that it may have entered drain water - but its dust is also easy to inhale. It releases the highly poisonous gas hydrogen cyanide when dissolved or burned. Potassium nitrate can cause breathing problems and damage to kidneys, while ammonium nitrate can be toxic when burned. Calcium carbide can be harmful if touched or breathed, and doctors recommend immediately washing affected areas. One image widely circulated on the Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, said to be from the disaster site, appeared to show a chemical burning when water was poured on it. "With such a large fire, inevitably the plume of toxic fumes that have been dispersed could have devastating effects to the public in the future," says Shane O'Carroll, a chemical safety specialist with Chemstore, a British hazardous materials company. Mr O'Carroll says sodium cyanide running off into groundwater systems could pose a public health risk, and he said people in Tianjin should consider drinking only bottled water. There are standard global safety regulations for producing, transporting and storing hazardous chemicals, but these are extremely numerous and depend on the type of chemical and its toxicity. China adheres to these rules, but, Mr Pang, of IHS Chemical, says: "The reality is that sometimes these regulations may not be strictly followed, and in some cases, the people working in this industry are not fully trained and qualified for handling hazardous materials." Chinese law states that businesses dealing in dangerous chemicals must store such materials at least 1km from public buildings and transport networks. But three major residential communities were located within a 1km radius of the Ruihai warehouse, said Global Times. Other media outlets also reported that a goods loader working for Ruihai claimed he had not been given relevant training. Some products, such as sodium cyanide, are extremely toxic and highly regulated, and also not easy to contain in event of a spillage. Mr Pang says: "It is uncommon to have 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide stored in one location." Mr O'Carroll says all the chemicals should

Summary: Chinese authorities are still trying to ascertain what exactly caused a potent mix of chemicals to ignite in a warehouse in Tianjin late Wednesday, triggering blasts that rocked the city.


Lady Mary Soames, who died last year at 91, was the the last survivor of Sir Winston's five children. All but two of the paintings she owned have been allocated to the National Trust and will remain at Chartwell, Churchill's family home in Kent. The others will stay in the Houses of Parliament and the Churchill War Rooms. Lady Soames wanted Coast Scene near Cannes (1935) to stay in the Commons and View From a Bathing Hut at the Miami Surf Club, 1946 at the war rooms off Whitehall in central London. The paintings have been accepted in lieu of inheritance tax. Churchill produced more than 500 artworks, many of them at Chartwell, and continued his hobby well into his 80s. Lady Soames previously wrote that "painting literally grabbed" her father in 1915, when he was 41, "thereafter playing an increasing and abiding role in his life, renewing the source of his great inner strength and enabling him to face storms, ride out depressions and rise above the tough passages in his political life". The 50th anniversary of the World War Two leader's death in 1965 was commemorated in January. As well as 37 of Churchill's works, the collection accepted for the nation also includes a painting by Sir John Lavery of the politician standing at his easel and the Aly Khan Gold Cup, which was won by Churchill's horse, High Hat. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "It is fitting that in the 50th year since his death these paintings by the great war-time leader Sir Winston Churchill will be displayed in three very significant locations that helped shape his life and gives us an opportunity to appreciate the artistic talent of a man who was a colossal figure in world politics." Chairman of the Acceptance in Lieu panel, Edward Harley, said Churchill remained one of the UK's greatest figures. "His paintings let us see the man in the round and not just as a great politician," he said.

Summary: A collection of 37 paintings by Sir Winston Churchill have been given to the nation in lieu of £9,404,990 tax, following his daughter's death.


They were part of the cargo on the SS Politician, which sank off Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides in 1941. Scotch Whisky Auctions, which sold the bottles, said they had gone to a buyer in the UK after worldwide interest. They were among eight bottles recovered from the wreck in 1987 by Donald MacPhee, from South Uist. The whisky is not thought to be fit for human consumption. The SS Politician was headed for Jamaica with 28,000 cases of whisky when it ran aground on the northern side of Eriskay in bad weather. Islanders recovered hundreds of cases of whisky from the wreck and some of the bottles were buried to keep them hidden from customs officers. Other bottles have since been found washed up on the island's shores and also recovered by divers. Scottish author Compton Mackenzie, published the novel Whisky Galore in 1947, which was loosely based on the SS Politician wreck. It was adapted for the cinema in a 1949 Ealing comedy starring Basil Radford.

Summary: Two bottles of whisky salvaged from the shipwreck that inspired the book and film Whisky Galore have been sold for £12,050 after an online auction.


Many Sephardic Jews were killed, forced to convert to Christianity or leave at the end of the 15th Century. Parliament paved the way for a change in citizenship laws two years ago, but the move needed Cabinet approval. From now on, descendants of Sephardic Jews who can prove a strong link to Portugal can apply for a passport. Proof can be brought, the government says, through a combination of surname, language spoken in the family or evidence of direct descent. Thousands of Sephardic Jews were forced off the Iberian peninsula, first from Spain and then from Portugal. Some of those who fled to other parts of Europe or to America continued to speak a form of Portuguese in their new communities. The Portuguese government acknowledges that Jews lived in the region long before the Portuguese kingdom was founded in the 12th Century. "There is no possibility to amend what was done," says Portuguese Justice Minister Paula Teixera da Cruz, adding that the law change was "an attribution of a right". Portugal's Jewish community which once numbered in the tens of thousands has shrunk to just 1,000 - most of them Ashkenazim with roots in Eastern Europe. Neighbouring Spain is still debating a similar law to address its treatment of Jews in the past.

Summary: The Portuguese Cabinet has approved rules under which descendants of Jews expelled from Portugal more than 500 years ago can claim citizenship.