The White House and state department said plans for up to 300 new homes and an industrial zone were diminishing prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel insisted fewer than 100 homes had been approved. Its foreign ministry said the new homes would be built within the area of an existing settlement. Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) secretary general Saeb Erekat said while Palestinians welcomed Washington's criticism, they expected it "to take real action". "After almost 50 years of systematic Israeli colonisation and belligerent military occupation of the State of Palestine, the US must implement the necessary tools to end Israeli settlements, including through the UN Security Council, end funding to Israel, and stop funding settlements through US-based organisations fuelling violence and discrimination against Palestinians," he said. About 570,000 Israelis live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. In July, world powers warned of "perpetual occupation and conflict" between Israelis and Palestinians. "The actions of the Israeli government in announcing this settlement undermine the pursuit of peace," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. State department spokesman Mark Toner said the new settlement would be "another step towards cementing a reality of perpetual occupation" that would "further call into question Israel's commitment to achieving a negotiated peace". It was "deeply troubling", Mr Toner said, because Israel had announced it so soon after the US agreed last month to a 10-year $38bn (Â£30bn) military aid package for the country. However, Israel's foreign ministry said the new units did not constitute a "new settlement". "This housing will be built on state land in the existing settlement of Shilo and will not change its municipal boundary or geographic footprint," a statement said. "The real obstacle to peace is not the settlements - a final-status issue that can and must be resolved in negotiations between the parties - but the persistent Palestinian rejection of a Jewish state in any boundaries," it added. Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital, and say settlements make this impossible.

Summary: The US has "strongly condemned" Israel for approving plans for new settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.


Shares in Barclays fell 0.9% after the US Department of Justice sued the bank for alleged mortgage securities fraud. It says Barclays misled investors about the quality of loans backing securities in the run-up to the financial crisis. Barclays has rejected the claims Data showed the UK economy grew faster than estimated in the third quarter. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the economy grew by 0.6% in the July-to-September quarter, compared with the previous estimate of 0.5%. However, the ONS also trimmed its growth estimates for the first and second quarters of the year. On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.2% against the dollar to $1.2258, and slid 0.4% against the euro to â‚¬1.1725.

Summary: UK shares edged higher in the final trading session before Christmas, with the FTSE 100 ending a shortened session up 4.49 points at 7,068.17.


Four-month-old Eli Cox was found at an address in Lapwing Close in Minster, Sheppey, on 13 April and died in hospital on 27 April, Kent Police said. Katherine Cox, 32, and Danny Shepherd, 25, both of Millfield Road, Faversham, appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Both were released on conditional bail. Ms Cox and Mr Shepherd are also accused of one count of causing or allowing serious injury to a child and one count of possession of a class B drug (amphetamine). They are due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on 13 December.

Summary: A man and a woman have appeared in court charged with causing or allowing the death of a baby.


The Fire and Rescue Service said they received a call just before 08:30 GMT on Thursday. The man was found dead in an upstairs bedroom, after fire crews arrived at the house in Drumgay Close, in the Kilmacormick area. They wore breathing apparatus and used thermal imaging cameras to locate the occupant. The Fire and Rescue Service are working to establish the cause of the fire.

Summary: A man has been found dead after a house fire in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.


National Grid and WPP shed 5.08% and 3.46% respectively after ending dividend payments to shareholders. Overall, the benchmark FTSE 100 share index was down 91.22 points, or 1.31%, at 6859.24. Outside the 100-share index, price comparison websites Moneysupermarket and Zoopla fell 9.9% and 5.32% on fears of a competition probe. Energy watchdog Ofgem says it is looking into "whether two or more companies providing a supporting service for the energy industry have breached competition law". Low-cost airline Easyjet was among the top gainers, rising 0.63% on the strength of its latest passenger numbers. The airline said it carried 7.2% more passengers in May than in the same month in 2014. On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.13% against the dollar to $1.53600 and 0.22% against the euro to â‚¬1.36370.

Summary: (Close): London's leading shares closed lower on Thursday dragged down by companies going ex-dividend.


The 24-year-old Australian has spent his entire professional career to date at Newcastle, making his debut in 2014. He has made 44 appearances, five of them coming in 2017. "His position is one that we identified at the start of the season that we did not have a great deal of depth," said Trinity head coach Chris Chester. "By bringing in Tyler, it will bring in a genuine competition and add quality to what is already a strong squad."

Summary: Wakefield Trinity have signed hooker Tyler Randell from NRL side Newcastle Knights on a two-year contract from the start of the 2018 season.


Some 65,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh as the military searched for those behind attacks on police border posts. Many of those who fled described rapes, killings and other abuses by the army. But the military said its own investigation found the claims were "false and fabricated". "Out of 18 accusations included in the [UN human rights body] OHCHR report, 12 were found to be incorrect, with [the] remaining six accusations found to be false and fabricated accusations based on lies and invented statements," Myanmar's state media quoted a report from the military as saying. The military said it interviewed 3,000 villagers and 184 military officers and troops. Soldiers were disciplined over two cases, for stealing a motorbike and beating villagers with sticks for failing to put out a fire, the military said. The crackdown began after insurgents killed nine policemen in attacks on border posts between Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and Bangladesh in Rakhine state. Reports then emerged that the military were targeting Rohingya indiscriminately. The UN report in February - compiled from interviews with those who fled the violence - accused the military of abuses including gang-rapes, savage beatings and murder. It described incidents in which children were killed as their mothers were raped by groups of soldiers, families - including pregnant women and the elderly - being beaten and houses set alight as people sheltered inside. "The attacks against the Rohingya population in the area... seem to have been widespread as well as systematic, indicating the very likely commission of crimes against humanity," the OHCHR report said. Nobody but the most die-hard supporters of the Burmese military will take this report seriously. The evidence for what United Nations officials are calling "crimes against humanity" is overwhelming. Witness testimony from hundreds of Rohingya, satellite images of burnt villages and video of charred bodies to name just a few. And then there's the small matter of explaining why more than 65,000 Rohingya decided to flee their homes and risk their lives crossing the Naf River into Bangladesh. Some of the men have gunshot wounds, scores of women have sought treatment for sexual violence. A smart army response would have acknowledged some failings and promised to address them. Instead the Burmese military is denying everything. How they arrived at that conclusion is unclear. The army investigators say they spoke to more than 3,000 people but they didn't travel to Bangladesh, so haven't heard from any of those who fled and told graphic horror stories to the United Nations. After a period of relative quiet on Rakhine this report once again puts Aung San Suu Kyi in a difficult position. For weeks she's been telling the world that Myanmar doesn't need a United Nations fact-finding mission, and that the Burmese can credibly investigate themselves. This report suggests the exact opposite. Tensions between Rohingya Muslims and Myanmar's Buddhist majority have been rumbling for years. The Rohingya are denied citizenship in Myanmar, which views them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. They face routine official and public discrimination. Tens of thousands of Rohingya live in make-shift

Summary: Myanmar's military has rejected allegations by the United Nations that it committed atrocities during its crackdown on Rohingya Muslims last year.


Kieran McGrath, 26, was shot after leaving the Sheldon Arms pub in Ashton-under-Lyne on 4 October 2014. He drove to a police station but died later. The man who orchestrated his killing, Anthony Henry, 32, was found guilty of murder on Friday. Troy Beckford, 24, and Jace Smith, 31, were convicted after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The jury was unable to agree in the case of two other men, Remi Adams, 34 and Scott Chapman, 27, also charged with murder. Mr Adams was found not guilty of possessing ammunition without a certificate. A woman, Bretony Gallimore, 24, was found guilty of assisting an offender. The gun used to kill Mr McGrath was the same gun used to kill Manchester shopkeeper Pragaret Singh three weeks later. Police believe the firearm was passed between criminals. Mr McGrath was shot after leaving the pub at about 22:25 BST. Anthony Henry had tracked Mr McGrath's Audi S3 and watched his movements on an iPad, the trial heard. After being shot, the 26-year-old drove away from the scene to a nearby police station but died after collapsing near the front door. He died from a single gunshot wound, a post-mortem examination found. No witnesses to the attack have come forward.

Summary: Two more men have been found guilty of murdering another man who was shot outside a Greater Manchester pub.


This hard-fought-for policy united local political parties, but doubt now hangs over it. There are several reasons why. Firstly, although the legislation is in place, it needs a final green light from government. The Northern Ireland Executive must demonstrate its finances are on a sustainable footing. Does a potential £490m blunder over the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme undermine that? This is, perhaps, arguable. We are talking about finding £20-30m a year for 20 years to cover an RHI overspend, a small part of a £10bn annual block grant. But the crisis has put other hurdles on the horizon. The Northern Ireland Assembly must pass a rate recommended by the finance minister in the year before it applies. How soon will there be an executive or assembly the other side of an election? And will there then be a greater reluctance about paying for corporation tax with a £200m cut to the block grant? Any return to direct rule from Westminster might not offer an immediate solution either. European Union state aid rules apply until Brexit and they only allow devolution of corporation tax to a region which has "institutional autonomy". It is premature to pronounce Northern Ireland's big economic idea as dead. But in the here and now, things look mightily challenging - can Invest NI promote a rate and a date to overseas companies with any certainty? Even before the political crisis, some experts felt 2018 was ambitious anyhow for companies to adapt to new rules. And all the while, the main UK rate of corporation tax is falling, blunting the attractiveness of what Northern Ireland wants to offer.

Summary: Northern Ireland's political crisis could kill off plans to cut corporation tax to 12.5% in April 2018.


The US has said the bombing, which took place in the Afghan city of Kunduz, was a mistake and it was attempting to strike the Taliban. MSF wants the bombing to be investigated as a war crime. Mr Obama has also apologised to the president of Afghanistan. "If it is necessary to hold individuals accountable, that will be done," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Mr Obama "expressed his condolences" to MSF president Joanne Liu, said Mr Earnest. "In the United States when we make mistakes, we're honest about it. We own up to it," he said. Mr Earnest also hinted at the possibility of paying victims and their families, a Department of Defense policy. He said he could not say legally whether the bombing was a war crime but the US "goes to great lengths to limit the loss of life" of civilians. In a statement, MSF said they received the apology but it was still demanding the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) investigate. MSF has said it would not trust internal military inquiries into the bombing. The IHFFC was set up in 1991 under the Geneva Conventions. MSF says the co-ordinates of the hospital were well-known and its bombing could not have been a mistake. A number of inquiries have been ordered - by the US justice department, the Pentagon, Nato and an American-Afghan team.

Summary: US President Barack Obama has apologised to the president of aid agency Medecins San Frontieres (MSF) for a bombing that killed at least 22.


Johnny Sexton's 15th-minute penalty was the only first-half score as Connacht produced some stout defending. However, Leinster upped the pace after Sean O'Brien's introduction and Josh van der Flier's try put them in control and Sexton kicked the conversion. Ian Madigan added a penalty as Connacht suffered a third straight Pro12 defeat. In contrast Leinster, despite having lost all four of the their European Champions Cup games, have now earned six straight wins in the Pro12 to move to within a point of leaders Scarlets, who were edged out 29-27 by Cardiff Blues on Friday. Early-season leaders Connacht will drop to fourth place if Ulster defeat Munster at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday. Van der Flier's crucial 61st-minute try was awarded by referee George Clancy after his consultation with TMO Marshall Kilgore even though replays appeared inconclusive. However, Leinster deserved their victory as impressive displays from Eoin Reddan and O'Brien, making his 100th appearance for the province, helped them control most of the second half after being contained despite playing with a wind advantage in the opening period. Sexton's penalty on the quarter hour mark was the only score of a bruising first half with Connacht repelling several threatening attacks from the home side. Connacht were close to snatching a try before the break with Leinster's Ireland wing Dave Kearney making a vital intervention to bundle Niyi Adeolokun into touch after Tiernan O'Halloran's grubber kick. Kearney's initial burst into the Connacht 22 helped set up van der Flier's try on 61 minutes although replays suggested that he may have been held up by John Muldoon. A couple of other refereeing decisions appeared to go against Connacht - including an apparent missed knock-on by Rob Kearney near to his own line - as Bundee Aki attempted to inspire a rally from the visitors with some strong running. Madigan's late penalty confirmed Leinster's victory as they moved to within a point of the Scarlets with also a game in hand. Leinster coach Leo Cullen: "To be only 3-0 up at half-time left after having had the wind advantage definitely left us with a bit of a mountain to climb. "But in the second half, we controlled the ball well in difficult conditions and we're delighted to come away with a win and to keep Connacht scoreless as well." Leinster: R Kearney; F McFadden, G Ringrose, B Te'o, D Kearney; J Sexton, E Reddan; J McGrath, R Strauss, M Moore; D Toner, M McCarthy; R Ruddock (capt), J van der Flier, J Murphy. Replacements: J Tracy for Strauss 60, P Dooley for J McGrath 69, M Bent for Moore 69, R Molony for McCarthy 67, S O'Brien for Murphy 51, I Madigan for Sexton 71, Z Kirchner for R Kearney 75, Boss for Reddan 70. Connacht: T O'Halloran, N Adeolokun, B Aki, C Ronaldson, M Healy, J Carty, K Marmion; F Bealham, T McCartney, N White, A Muldowney, A Browne, J Muldoon (capt), J Heenan, E Masterson. Replacements: D Heffernan for McCartney 69, R Loughney for Bealham 68, R Ah You for White 52, U Dillane

Summary: Leinster moved above Connacht into second place in the Pro12 table after winning the Irish inter-provincial derby at a wet and windy RDS in Dublin.


The 70-year-old Time Team presenter joined anti-tunnel campaigners to fight the plans, saying they placed the area's wider archaeology at risk. The protest by the Stonehenge Alliance was staged outside a consultation event in London earlier. Highways England said it was working to find "the best solution possible". The public consultation on its plans for putting the A303 into a 1.8-mile (2.9km) dual carriageway tunnel runs until 5 March. Highways England says the move would cut congestion and improve journey times. The scheme has the backing of English Heritage and the National Trust. Speaking outside the Society of Antiquaries at Burlington House, Robinson suggested a longer tunnel. He said: "I think the proposal we are being offered is a really old-fashioned one. "It assumes what needs to be protected is that little clump of stones." He said it was only over the past three decades archaeologists had begun to comprehend the wider significance of the site. "That's a high-class Wiltshire Disneyland experience," he said. "Once it's gone, we'll never get that back. "If you were going to protect Buckingham Palace, you wouldn't put a tunnel in halfway down the Mall." The Stonehenge Alliance wants other options to reduce traffic to be fully explored. Spokeswoman Dr Kate Fielden said: "We want a genuine consultation with real choice. "Both of Highways England's options involve huge and damaging new roadworks gouged into our most important ancient landscape." A spokesman for Highways England said: "We fully understand the cultural heritage of the site and one of the broad objectives of the scheme is to help conserve and enhance the World Heritage Site by removing the sight and sound of traffic and make it easier to reach and explore."

Summary: Actor and broadcaster Sir Tony Robinson has said plans for a tunnel near Stonehenge in Wiltshire are too "old-fashioned" in outlook.


Filming of the third and final series of the drama has begun, and will continue shooting in Dorset, Bristol and Somerset throughout the summer. Sarah Parish, Charlie Higson, Roy Hudd and former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh will also appear in the eight-part series. David Tennant and Olivia Colman will return as DI Alex Hardy and DS Ellie Miller. The show will see the detectives reuniting to investigate a serious sexual assault, ITV said. "Broadchurch's final chapter looks at the emotional cost to all of those involved and the irreparable damage to friendships and relationships," the network said in a press release. Writer Chris Chibnall said: "We have one last story to tell, featuring both familiar faces and new characters. I hope it's a compelling and emotional farewell to a world and show that means so much to me." Dorset-based organisations who specialise in dealing with victims of sexual assault and police advisers have been assisting Chibnall with scriptwriting. After Broadchurch ends, Chibnall will be moving to replace Steven Moffat as the head writer and executive producer for BBC One's Doctor Who. Broadchurch launched in April 2013 and reached a peak audience of 8.9 million viewers. It went on to win Bafta and RTS awards, and a second series was shown in January 2015.

Summary: Sir Lenny Henry is to join the cast of Broadchurch, ITV has announced.


A first-half own goal from Diego Reyes was followed by Saul Niguez's acrobatic volley and Antoine Griezmann's penalty in the second half. Barca can restore their eight-point advantage and set a Spanish football record of 35 games unbeaten if they win at Rayo Vallecano on Thursday. Third-placed Real Madrid travel to Levante on Wednesday.

Summary: Atletico Madrid easily beat Real Sociedad to close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to five points.


Harvey, 21, scored five goals in 50 league appearances for the Pilgrims but rejected the offer a new contract. Manager Gary Mills is also considering signing ex-Burton Albion striker Shaun Harrad, who has been training with the Dragons. Harrad is a free agent after finishing the 2015-16 season at Torquay, who are keen to re-sign the 31-year-old. "He's experienced, knows the leagues and has scored an abundance of goals in his career," Mills told BBC Wales Sport. "I managed him at Notts County when he was a younger player so he could well be part of us as well." Full-back Jordan Evans has also been on trial with the National League side following his release from Championship club Fulham. Evans is a product of Wrexham's academy and Mills said the 20-year-old could sign for the club ahead of their opening league game against Dover Athletic on 6 August.

Summary: Wrexham have signed Plymouth Argyle forward Tyler Harvey on a one-year deal.


The Japanese carmaker's investment in the Burnaston plant near Derby will allow production of vehicles using its new global manufacturing system. The factory employs about 2,500 people, while another 590 work at Toyota's engine plant at Deeside, North Wales. Burnaston made about 180,000 vehicles last year, most of which are exported to Europe and other markets. Johan van Zyl, chief executive of Toyota Motor Europe, said the investment showed that the company was doing all it could to make Burnaston more competitive. However, he warned: "Continued tariff-and-barrier free market access between the UK and Europe that is predictable and uncomplicated will be vital for future success." Industry trade body the SMMT said in January that uncertainty around Brexit and the UK's future trading arrangements had hit investment in the car sector. Investment commitments in the UK automotive sector last year totalled £1.66bn, down from £2.5bn in 2015. Business Secretary Greg Clark said Toyota's investment "underlines the company's faith in its employees and will help ensure the plant is well positioned for future Toyota models to be made in the UK". The government is providing £21.3m in funding for training, research and development, and improving the Burnaston plant's environmental performance. Last year, rival carmaker Nissan said it would build both the new Qashqai and the X-Trail SUV at its Sunderland plant following government "support and assurances". The decision to upgrade the plant to take Toyota's New Global Architecture, its new system for producing vehicles worldwide, suggests the company sees the UK as part of its long-term future. But the UK's automotive industry knows that Brexit is coming and with it the possibility of tariffs and complex customs arrangements. That threatens the competitiveness of carmakers that rely upon the kind of just-in-time manufacturing which Toyota pioneered. Read more from John here. The general secretary of the Unite union, Len McCluskey, said Toyota workers "need to know that the government has their back and will do whatever is necessary to ensure new models and new investment keeps coming to Britain". "With discussions set to start on the replacement of models such as Vauxhall's Astra and decisions due on BMW's electric Mini, it is vital that ministers calm nerves by stating they will secure tariff-free access to the European single market and customs union in Brexit negotiations." In January, Toyota announced it was planning to spend $10bn (£8.2bn) in the US over the next five years. The firm lost its crown as the world's biggest carmaker to Volkswagen last year. Last month, Toyota said it expected to report net profits of 1.7 trillion yen ($15.1bn; £12.1bn) for the 2016-17 financial year. However, that was lower than the 2.1 trillion yen profit it recorded a year earlier.

Summary: Toyota is to invest £240m in upgrading its UK factory that makes the Auris and Avensis models.


Opposition leader Gordon Bajnai never once raises his voice, despite the roar of the crowd behind him. In the face of the opinion polls, he insists: "We are flying blind in these elections. Opinion polls were invented for normal democracies. If democracy becomes limited, then surveys are of limited value too." As leader of Together 2014, a centrist opposition movement, he is running in these elections as part of an uneasy coalition of leftist, liberal and green parties, trying to oust the popular and populist Prime Minister, Viktor Orban. His last hope is that the many people fed up with Mr Orban will find just enough in the opposition programme to vote for. Mr Bajnai's vision of Mr Orban's Hungary is a dark one of a country Ferenc Kumin looks out from his first-floor window in the south wing of the Hungarian parliament onto a very different Hungary. As spokesman of the Fidesz government, he is inordinately proud of the vast, newly landscaped square, of the new metro line under the city (begun by the liberals, completed by Fidesz) but above all by his government's record in office. "Hungary is performing better!" is the message plastered on the country's buses, trams and roadside billboards for the past months - long before the election campaign started. Mr Kumin has the figures to prove it: Viktor Orban has decided not to publish a party programme for this election, preferring the simpler message: "We cut utility bills". A swingeing 30% cut in gas bills has proven rather popular with consumers. The opposition says Hungary's 27% value added tax - the highest in Europe - harms their standard of living far more. Mr Kumin rebuts Gordon Bajnai's allegations one by one. Democracy is alive and well in Hungary, he insists. The main criticisms by European institutions of the media law and the new constitution were addressed with amendments. All parties agreed that Hungary needed a smaller, more streamlined parliament, and that is what has been achieved - without gerrymandering, he says. The cuts in utility bills, he says, are part of the Fidesz philosophy to stand up for households against big businesses which overcharge consumers. And the big loan from Russia to build new nuclear reactors, he believes, will make it possible to keep electricity prices down. Budapest does look beautiful in the spring sunshine. Tourists flock here in ever greater numbers. Cruise liners plough the River Danube. The newly paved area around the parliament building lacks trees but is otherwise impeccable. An army of street sweepers swoops on each chocolate wrapper before it hits the ground. Japanese tourists flock enthusiastically to watch the raising of the Hungarian flag each morning and its lowering at dusk. The new metro station at Kalvin Square is a science-fiction extravaganza. Gellert Square, a marvel of mosaics. At least 150,000 (pro-government media said 500,000) government supporters turned out for the final Fidesz rally in Heroes Square to hear Viktor Orban exhort the faithful. This is nothing less than a love affair with a charismatic leader for whom the centrist opposition

Summary: Polls suggest Hungary's governing Fidesz party is set to win another two-thirds majority at Sunday's general election.


The Oban lifeboat was launched on Thursday evening after the explosion near Puilladobhrain, which blew out the boat's windows and hatch. The owner managed to escape the vessel and rowed himself ashore, making his way to Oban hospital. He was later transferred to Glasgow for treatment. The lifeboat crew towed the yacht back to Oban to be safely berthed.

Summary: A yachtsman was treated for burns following an explosion on a vessel anchored off an island near Oban.


The department is funding redundancies for 212 staff who have already applied to leave before the 2015/16 academic year. It has told a further 285 staff they can leave during the year. Those taking redundancy include lecturers and college support staff. If all the staff go that will reduce the further education workforce in Northern Ireland, which stands at about 4,100 full-time equivalent staff, by just over 12%. The cost of the redundancies was due to be funded under the civil service voluntary exit scheme. As part of the Stormont House Agreement, the £700m scheme's future is uncertain due to the Northern Ireland Executive's continuing discord over welfare reform. DEL Minister Stephen Farry has now decided to use his department's budget to fund the initial 212 applications. That will cost £9.4m. Mr Farry said that, in the absence of the voluntary exit scheme being agreed, he may also use his department's budget to meet the costs of the additional 285 staff who have been made offers to leave later in the academic year. He said the initial 212 redundancies would save his department money in the long run. "We will be finding a saving of £7.5m year after year, so it makes sense to proceed even though there is a degree of risk," he said. "In the event a decision is taken on the main scheme for the public sector as a whole, then we hopefully will be able to backdate the money out of that scheme itself." He said that colleges had prepared for the reductions in staff. "If you look at the further education sector, they have a very heavy proportion of their budget spent on staffing themselves," he said. "So whenever we pass on, very regrettably, cuts to the sector, they've very little alternative than to look at their staffing complement. "But I'm confident the sector can respond very positively to this. "We've worked closely with the colleges and the trade unions, and I think everyone understands this is something we have to go through to ensure we have a modern, fit for purpose, public sector." Mr Farry also said it was important he acted now to end uncertainty for colleges and staff. "If I was to stand back and allow this situation to drift over the summer, we would be a year delayed in making those efficiencies, and there would be many more costs to be borne by the sector itself." The department's budget was reduced by £62m earlier this year, from £756m to £694m. As a result, the further education sector faces budget cuts of £12m. The initial 212 staff had ended the summer term unsure if they would have to return to work, but were told on 9 July that their redundancy applications had been approved. They are entitled to a redundancy payment of one month's gross salary for every year of service, up to a maximum of 21 months, as part of the process. About a quarter of further education staff - more than 1,100 - had initially expressed interest in the voluntary redundancy scheme.

Summary: Voluntary redundancy deals have been offered to almost 500 staff in Further Education (FE) colleges by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).


Trainer John Gosden let the unbeaten 4-7 favourite race after he walked the course and she beat runner-up Vintage Folly by a length and three quarters. She goes to Chantilly next rather than the Oaks at Epsom, in which stablemates Enable and Coronet are top contenders. Tasleet (14-1) took the Duke of York Stakes for trainer William Haggas. Jim Crowley's mount won comfortably from Magical Memory in second, with Comicas third. Shutter Speed, whose last run at Newbury saw her beat Enable into third, brought a fifth Musidora win for both Gosden and Dettori. "We got away with it. The ground was very soft. It was hard work for her," said Dettori. "She'll be a better horse on better ground. She's top drawer. Everything she does is very classy." Gosden is concerned about the ground for his colt Cracksman in Thursday's Dante Stakes and will again walk the course before deciding whether he runs in the Derby trial. BBC Sport horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght Shutter Speed's clearly in very good order and she coped well with the soggy conditions. She'll be off to France's Oaks, staged over 'her distance' of a mile and a quarter, and Gosden will rely on Enable and Coronet in the longer Epsom Oaks. The trainer said he was pleased to now have a month to prepare Shutter Speed for Chantilly. Meanwhile, the gap between Thursday's Dante Stakes and the Derby is just 16 days, so Gosden's colt Cracksman may not be asked to line up in what's sure to be an examining Dante, in terms of both quality and going.

Summary: Shutter Speed overcame rain-softened ground to win the Musidora Stakes at York under Frankie Dettori and will now be aimed at next month's French Oaks.


The 26-year-old German tore cartilage in his knee during the Premier League defeat by Chelsea on 14 December, coming off after 57 minutes. Kirchhoff was making only his eighth appearance of the season, and had two months out with a hamstring injury. Sunderland, who visit Manchester United on Boxing Day, are 18th in the Premier League and one point from safety. Black Cats forward Duncan Watmore is out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Summary: Sunderland midfielder Jan Kirchhoff is expected to be out for 12 weeks after having knee surgery.


The Victorian Society released its annual list, which it says names those in urgent need of help and protection. It includes Red Barns in Redcar where Bell lived, St Paul's Church in Chester, Wakefield's Clayton Hospital and Mount Street Hospital in Preston. A Grade II flour mill in Grimsby and a Cardiff railway station also feature. For more stories about Victorian England follow our Pinterest board For the first time no properties in London and the South-East have been mentioned. The charity's director, Christopher Costello, said it had "simply got far more nominations from other regions". "Retaining historic buildings like those in the top 10 is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work," he said. This Grade II* listed building by arts and crafts architect Philip Webb has been left in a "terrible state" with internal water damage, the society said. It was the childhood home of explorer, writer and archaeologist Gertrude Bell, who travelled around the Middle East in the early 1890s. A Grade II former flour mill, warehouse and office complex which was partially converted to flats in the 1990s. The tower, which was not converted, suffered structural problems earlier this year forcing some people to move out temporarily as their homes were declared unsafe. Thought to have been designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Grade II* station was home to the first steam-powered train service in Wales. A Grade II building that was partially funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and once housed Clement Lindley Wragge's collection of ethnographic, zoological and geological material. Built as an orphanage, this Grade II Victorian Gothic building later became a convalescent home but has been empty for more than a decade. The stone Tudor-style hospital is threatened under a planning application by a foundation to demolish it for expansion purposes, the charity said. The society said the Grade II* church was "going through a closure process after the congregation merged with another church". A Grade II complex of Gothic sandstone buildings which was first a seminary and then a boarding school whose alumni are said to include comedians Tom O'Connor and Johnny Vegas. A Grade II listed former cotton mill, with boiler, engine house, chimney and weaving sheds which has been left derelict since the early 2000s and is currently for sale at Â£2.5m. This Grade II Shapland and Petter brick factory, showroom and office complex on the riverside was designed by William Clement Oliver.

Summary: The former home of explorer Gertrude Bell, a Grade II* listed church and two derelict hospitals are among 10 of the most endangered historic buildings.


Staff Sgt Robert Bales, who was sent to Iraq three times before his recent deployment to Afghanistan, returned to the United States on Friday. His lawyer, John Henry Browne, has said the accused could be suffering from PTSD. Talk to people who live around the sprawling military base of Fort Lewis-McChord - one of the largest in America and home to more than 100,000 personnel, including Sgt Bales - and you will find they know all about post-traumatic stress disorder. As the population of this base in the north-western state of Washington has grown - and war zone deployments have increased - so too has the amount of suicide and violence. Last year, the military newspaper Stars and Stripes labelled Lewis-McChord the "most troubled" base in the US military. But it is claimed that cases of PTSD were not just being overlooked - they may actually have been deliberately downplayed. At the base's Madigan Army Medical Center, an investigation is currently under way into allegations that the diagnoses of hundreds of soldiers suffering from PTSD may have been altered to lesser conditions in order to save on disability costs paid by the army. Seattle-based mental health therapist and PTSD counsellor Reid Stell says: "A PTSD diagnosis never goes away. To say you're curedâ€¦ that would be overly optimistic." As to whether Sgt Robert Bales could have had his diagnosis altered in such a way, a US military spokeswoman told the BBC in a statement that they keep service members' health information private and do not comment on medical records. Navy veteran Matt Bambara, 29, volunteers at a cafe, Coffee Strong, near the Lewis-McChord base. He told the BBC he believes many problems in the community have been caused by people with untreated cases of PTSD. "The military ought to be held accountable for the health and well-being of soldiers," Mr Bambara said. The words "war is trauma" are painted on a wall of Coffee Strong, and Mr Bambara says he witnesses PTSD behaviour among some of his customers. "People come in with high levels of anxiety," he says. "You can almost see it in their face in terms of the way they are looking over their shoulders and constantly looking out of the window and are just kind of generally suspicious and just distrustful." Is the military doing enough? "I don't think they are," he says. "I don't think they have the capacity. "The fact is they wouldn't be able to function and perform their mission if they were to genuinely compensate and allow the proper healing to take place." Dr Harry Croft, former Army doctor and psychiatrist, who has evaluated more than 7,000 veterans for PTSD, says the rampage in Afghanistan means it is time for the military to take a closer look at the impact on soldiers who serve multiple tours. A study in 2008 by RAND Corp, a think tank, indicated that 18% of all service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 had PTSD or major depression. Only about half were seeking help. "They're reluctant for fear

Summary: As a US soldier is held for the massacre of 16 Afghan civilians, there are growing concerns at his home base about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


The Widnes Viking star was taken to hospital with head injuries following an attack at about 04:05 GMT on Sunday. A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and bailed until 29 November. Greater Manchester Police said they were investigating the incident at Queen's nightclub on Wigan Road in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Widnes Viking said they had been "advised that [Tickle] will make a complete recovery", adding they would make no further comments on the matter. The 32-year-old former England international joined the club on a three-year contract in 2014 from Hull FC. His career also involved stints with Wigan Warriors and Halifax.

Summary: The rugby league player Danny Tickle is in a stable condition after an assault outside a nightclub.


Zabair Hussain, 41, was discovered with multiple injuries to his head and body in Staniforth Road, Darnall, Sheffield, at about 23:20 GMT. He later died at the scene. The 28-year-old arrested man has been taken into police custody. Officers believe a number of men were involved in an assault and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Det Ch Insp Steve Handley, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "We are still in the very early stages of the investigation and we're carrying out numerous enquiries to get to the bottom of what happened - from reviewing CCTV footage to speaking to potential witnesses. "While I understand that incidents like this are worrying for those living locally, we have increased patrols by neighbourhood officers to reassure residents."

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after another man's body was found in a street on New Year's Eve.


After Everton striker Lukaku's fiercely struck opener from outside the box, Bournemouth's Joshua King levelled. Veton Berisha profited from static defending as Norway then led, but Hazard deftly headed in an equaliser and Laurent Ciman got the winner. Meanwhile, Russia, who begin their Euro 2016 campaign against England on Saturday, drew 1-1 with Serbia. They were denied victory by an 88th-minute equaliser from Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, having taken the lead through Artem Dzyuba in the 85th minute. Earlier, Czech Republic suffered a 2-1 home defeat by South Korea in their final warm-up game. Yoon Bit-garam and Suk Hyun-jun gave the away side a 2-0 half-time lead before Marek Suchy got one back and Theodor Gebre Selassie was sent off for a second yellow card. Match ends, Belgium 3, Norway 2. Second Half ends, Belgium 3, Norway 2. Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Belgium). Ruben Jenssen (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Divock Origi (Belgium). Jonas Svensson (Norway) wins a free kick on the right wing. Corner, Norway. Conceded by Marouane Fellaini. Substitution, Belgium. Mousa Dembélé replaces Eden Hazard. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ruben Jenssen (Norway). Laurent Ciman (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Valon Berisha (Norway). Attempt missed. Marouane Fellaini (Belgium) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a cross following a corner. Substitution, Norway. Alexander Sørloth replaces Joshua King. Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Jonas Svensson. Substitution, Belgium. Divock Origi replaces Dries Mertens. Attempt missed. Valon Berisha (Norway) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ruben Jenssen. Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Jonas Svensson (Norway) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Jonas Svensson (Norway). Jordan Lukaku (Belgium) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Jordan Lukaku (Belgium). Markus Henriksen (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Hand ball by Ruben Jenssen (Norway). Offside, Belgium. Thibaut Courtois tries a through ball, but Kevin De Bruyne is caught offside. Substitution, Norway. Ruben Jenssen replaces Stefan Johansen. Radja Nainggolan (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Markus Henriksen (Norway). Goal! Belgium 3, Norway 2. Laurent Ciman (Belgium) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Toby Alderweireld with a headed pass following a corner. Substitution, Norway. Stefan Strandberg replaces Ole Selnaes. Substitution, Norway. Iver Fossum replaces Veton Berisha. Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Haitam Aleesami. Attempt blocked. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball. Attempt missed. Dries Mertens (Belgium) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Jordan Lukaku. Attempt missed. Jordan Lukaku (Belgium) left footed shot from a difficult angle on

Summary: Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard scored as Belgium came from behind to beat Norway in their final game before Euro 2016.


Mr Johnson, the Mayor of London, announced on Sunday that he would be backing the campaign for Britain to leave the EU. His intervention in the debate - made, as he termed it, with "deafening eclat" - was even said to have helped cause the pound to slide on the international money markets as traders thought it made the possibility of a so-called Brexit more likely. He has arguably the highest profile of any of the governing Conservative Party except the Prime Minister David Cameron, but those outside the UK may be wondering: who is he, and is that actually his hair? Read on. Profile: Boris Johnson How could 'zip wire prat' become prime minister? Read more about the UK's referendum on the EU Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, to give him his full name, was born in New York and is descended from Turkish, French and German stock. He describes himself as a "one-man melting pot". He first made a name for himself in journalism, including a stint as Brussels correspondent for the right-wing Daily Telegraph newspaper and editor of The Spectator magazine. His humorous persona led him to become a fixture on various television programmes, including the satirical BBC panel show Have I Got News For You. He still has a lucrative and entertaining column in the Daily Telegraph, in which august forum he explained the reasons for his decision on the EU. As a politician, he has been a Conservative member of parliament for two constituencies, Henley from 2001 to 2008 and then Uxbridge and South Ruislip from 2015. Lest you think he was putting his feet up between parliamentary mandates, he is also currently serving the second of two terms as mayor of London, no mean feat in a city where the centre-left Labour Party has dominated in recent decades. That's indicative of the position Mr Johnson has carved out for himself as one of the most charismatic politicians in the UK who has wide appeal beyond Conservative heartlands - polling has suggested that his stance on the EU referendum may sway some undecided voters. Just look what happens when you type his name into Google.co.uk. Not quite. He has previously courted controversy for his remarks about (among others) the populations of Liverpool, Portsmouth and Papua New Guinea, not to mention run-ins with his own party leadership and TV chef Jamie Oliver. Last October he accidentally flattened a 10-year-old schoolboy at what was meant to be a friendly game of photo-op rugby in Japan. But none of this seems to have affected his standing among the party faithful or the public at large. Even getting stuck on a zip-wire during the London Olympics in 2012, a sure-fire route to derision for any other politician, only enhanced his eccentric image. Mr Johnson finally ended months of speculation about which side of the EU debate he would back in an immaculately impromptu media scrum outside his home in North London, having reportedly informed the prime minister of his decision earlier the same day. He said that he had come to

Summary: Foreign observers of the UK's debate on its forthcoming referendum on whether to stay in the European Union may have noticed an awful lot of fuss about the views of a man called Boris Johnson - yes, that man on the zip wire.


They are among seven ex-News of the World staff accused of conspiracy to access voicemails. Prosecutors say the charge could involve about 600 victims. Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, facing four counts relating to specific people, was also at the Old Bailey. A 9 September 2013 trial date was set. The former staff members from the now-defunct News of the World newspaper who are also facing trial are its ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-reporter James Weatherup and former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck. As well as a general conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications charge, other charges relate to specific people. Mr Coulson was News of the World editor from 2003 to 2007 and Mrs Brooks edited the paper from 2000 to 2003, before moving on to edit the Sun and then becoming chief executive officer of the two papers' parent group News International. Mr Kuttner was excused from attending Wednesday's hearing. The provisional trial date was set for 9 September next year and all defendants were released on bail. In a separate case, Mrs Brooks, 44, from Churchill in Oxfordshire, her husband, Charlie, and five others appeared before the court accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Mrs Brooks's chauffeur Paul Edwards, former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, head of security at News International Mark Hanna, and security staff Daryl Jorsling and Lee Sandell also face the charges. They relate to an alleged attempt to hide evidence from police investigating phone-hacking claims and illegal payments to public officials by the News of the World and the Sun.

Summary: Former News International boss Rebekah Brooks and ex-Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson have learned their trial over phone-hacking claims will take place next September.


The man, in his 20s, was the only person in the BMW convertible when the accident happened on the A323 Aldershot Road in Guildford. He was travelling east when his car left the road near the junction with Holly Lane at 23:00 BST on Monday. Police closed the road between Frog Grove Lane and Holly Lane while investigators were at the scene. Officers have appealed for witnesses.

Summary: A driver died when his sports car hit a tree on a main road in Surrey.


The Labour Ministry said the number of people filing for unemployment benefits fell by 98,853, or 2.1%, compared with the previous month. June is generally a good month for employment as it marks the beginning of the tourist season. Despite the fall, the unemployment rate in Spain is still the highest in the eurozone. According to EU figures published on Monday, one in four of the Spanish workforce is out of a job, compared with an overall rate of unemployment for the 17-member bloc of 11.1%. "June is traditionally good for the unemployment queue but we have never reached a decline of nearly 100,000 people," said Spain's state secretary for labour, Engracia Hidalgo. "We will have to follow the development of the unemployment figures after this good data for June to verify whether we are turning towards a positive trend." June is the third month in a row that the number of unemployed has fallen in Spain. In March, the number of jobseekers hit a record high of 4.75 million. The Spanish government is implementing a number of labour market reforms to try to reduce unemployment, including cutting back on severance pay and restricting inflation-linked salary increases. These have proved very unpopular with unions and workers. However, it has been forced to approve billions of euros of spending cuts and tax increases in an effort to reduce its debt levels, which have had a negative impact on employment within the economy.

Summary: The number of people looking for work in Spain fell almost 100,000 in June, a record for the month, to 4.62 million.


The money will be used to create 35 new posts across Northern Ireland in an effort to speed diagnosis and cut waiting lists. Since 2010, the number of referrals for autism assessments has nearly doubled in five years from 1,500 to 2,800. More than 2,800 children are currently waiting to be seen. Health Minister Simon Hamilton said it was "unacceptable". He told Radio Ulster's Sunday News that the extra cash should help match pace with demand. "The impact of the additional money should be felt very quickly," Mr Hamilton said. "We are going to create about seven posts in each of the five health trusts across Northern Ireland to supplement the hardworking teams that are already there doing a great job and to give them much needed resources to be able to carry out the diagnoses." Mr Hamilton said waiting lists resulted from "huge pressure" on the system.

Summary: Autism services in Northern Ireland are to get an extra £2m a year.


Moorways was closed to the public in 2016 but continued to be used by swimming clubs until the end of January. The decision was made in a bid to save about £350,000 a year. Council leader Ranjit Banwait said that whatever the cost of a new pool, it was important to get it right. Moorways, built more than 40 years ago, has struggled with maintenance and health and safety issues. Derby's other big pool, at the Queen's Leisure Centre, is currently closed due to structural problems, although two other pools remain open for public use at the centre. The Moorways closure was opposed by high-profile swimmers Ross Davenport, who won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2006, and Olympic champion Adam Peaty, who now trains outside the city. Mr Banwait said: "To start work on the pool we've set £20m aside as an initial amount of money. "Potentially the work is going to cost more than that, we are currently looking at the designs... if it means it is going to cost more we will put that money in place. "The most important thing is that we get this right, this pool's going to be built and it's going to be there for generations to come." The new 50m pool is expected to be built by 2020.

Summary: A replacement for one of Derby's council-run swimming pools could cost more than the £20m the local authority estimated.


The 25-year-old American born striker made 37 appearances and scored seven goals during his 12 months at Tynecastle. Johnsen also made his first international appearance for Norway while a Hearts player. The Edinburgh club has strengthened up front, signing Kyle Lafferty during this transfer window. Johnsen was brought to Hearts by former head coach Robbie Neilson after leaving Bulgarian club Litex Lovech. And Neilson's successor, Ian Cathro, had to deny reports of an argument with the striker at half-time during a game against St Johnstone in May. Den Haag, managed by Alfons Groenendijk, the former Manchester City midfielder and former Ajax assistant, finished 11th in the Eredivisie last season.

Summary: Hearts have sold Bjorn Johnsen to Dutch top-rlight club ADO Den Haag for an undisclosed transfer fee.


Tulip has been covering the outbreak over the past few months, reporting on the children born with microcephaly and other birth defects believed to be caused by the virus as well as speaking to scientists who are leading the fight back against Zika. Many of you got in touch on Facebook to ask Tulip questions about the new vaccine, and when it might be available to pregnant women. This is an edited version of the Facebook Q&A. Question from Dawn McLean: Have you tested the vaccine already? How do you know if it works or not? Tulip answers: Human trials haven't started for the vaccine being developed by the National Institutes of Health - where I have been reporting from this week. They are due to start - assuming no major problems - in the summer/ autumn of this year. If the vaccine is found to be safe with no concerning side effects, the drug will be given to a larger number of people to test how effective it is and further evaluate its safety. The final phase is giving it to large groups of people to confirm how effective it is. Question from Priscilla Wakanuma: How possible is it to make a vaccine for this virus? Tulip replies: Scientists here in Bethesda at the National Institutes of Health think it's very possible. They already have a vaccine for a similar virus - West Nile - which they have been working on. So they're using some of the tried and tested methods from that to try and develop a vaccine for Zika ASAP. Taj Rahman asks: The vaccine is available in November, I thought this was a global emergency? Tulip replies: Hi Taj - getting vaccines ready for market takes years, often decades. They have to go through stringent safety and efficacy trials and then get signed off by a whole load of regulatory bodies. When the WHO declared this public health emergency last month, one of the key things they highlighted was the urgent need for research into new vaccines. Scientists and pharmaceuticals came together very fast on Ebola, it's hoped that can happen again this time. But sadly, many more babies are expected to be born with these birth defects in the meantime. Question from Hannah Borrett: How have they managed to push through the development so quickly? Tulip replies: You're right, it can take years, decades even to get a new vaccine through all the clinical trials and then signed off through all the various national and international regulatory authorities. But in an emergency - which the Zika outbreak now is - things can be fast-tracked. A lot more money is put into research, and there's a much bigger political will to get things moving fast. Take the Ebola outbreak for example, there are now a couple of candidate vaccines that could be used in an outbreak that have shown some efficacy. Research - and cash - for that vaccine was pushed through super quickly. Adebola Misturah Martins-Bello asks about plans to prioritise who will be considered a priority

Summary: The BBC's Global Health Correspondent Tulip Mazumdar has been investigating a new Zika vaccine which could be ready for human trials later this year.


The details emerged during the sentencing of Arshid, Bannaras and Basharat Hussain at Sheffield Crown Court. Arshid, 40, and Basharat, 39, were found guilty by a jury of 50 offences. Bannaras, 36, pleaded guilty to 10 offences before the trial started. Michelle Colborne QC said Bannaras Hussain met one victim when she was 12 or 13 and she performed sex acts on him. "He was indifferent to whether she consented or not," she said. "When her brothers found out, they were furious with her and would physically assault her because she was involved sexually with an Asian man." She said Bannaras abused one victim in a car park next to Rotherham Police Station, and told the court how the sister of another of his victims described her sister as a "broken human being". Ms Colborne said one woman had described the Hussain brothers as "a pack of animals". Summing up the contents of a number of statements from the women abused by the brothers, she said: "They describe from their teenage years a life in the main of feeling dirty, ashamed and guilty. "Between them, a plethora of emotional conditions - eating disorders, self-harm, agoraphobia, self-loathing and terminations for many of them from the age of 14 - events they have never been able to put behind them." She said many of the victims have had relationship problems throughout their lives and have found themselves subjected to domestic violence. Three associates of the Hussain brothers, their uncle Qurban Ali, 53, Karen MacGregor, 58, and Shelley Davies, 40, will also be sentenced. Ali was found guilty of conspiracy to rape, while MacGregor and Davies were convicted of false imprisonment and conspiracy to procure a woman under 21 to become a common prostitute. MacGregor was also convicted of two counts of conspiracy to rape.

Summary: A victim of one of three brothers who raped and sexually assaulted 15 teenage girls in Rotherham was attacked by her own family when they discovered the abuse, a court has heard.


A fire was started when the building was broken into sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. The museum is located in the Bogside, close to where some of the 14 victims of Bloody Sunday were killed in 1972. John Kelly, whose brother, Michael, was killed said the damage to the building could have been a lot worse. "I looked at it and thought: "Good God, if that had really caught fire, we could have had an explosion". A Â£2.4m reconstruction of the Glenfada Park museum began in 2015 and is now close to completion. Mr Kelly has been working on the project for the past 10 years. "It shows total disrespect for my brother and all those who died during Bloody Sunday and all the others who lost their lives in that period of time, total disrespect for our family members and their memory," he said. "The police told me there was a fire and it was in the back store, that's where we have the gas mains and electronic equipment as well. "The building is next door to people's houses and everyone could have been affected by it. It didn't travel any further, thank God, and we still have an intact building," Mr Kelly added. Building site foreman Dermott McGrotty said they have now improved security at the site. "They had to climb over an eight foot fence to get in, so overnight security has now been arranged and we're making sure the doors are well secured." The Northern Ireland Fire Service is treating the fire as deliberate. The police have appealed for information.

Summary: An arson attack on the site of the new Museum of Free Derry shows "total disrespect" for victims, a Bloody Sunday relative has said.


Jamal Hakrush starts his job as deputy commissioner after months of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. He will oversee policing in Arab communities where there is a longstanding distrust of the police. A fifth of Israel's population is Arab and they often complain that areas in which they live are not so well policed and have poorer public services. Their grievances have been supported by Human Rights Watch which in recent years has published several reports highlighting the discrimination which it is argued the Arab population faces. Deputy Commissioner Hakrush, from the Galilee village of Kafr Kanna, will be in charge of a newly-created police division established to improve policing in Arab communities, The Times of Israel reported. Deputy Commissioner Hakrush was formally appointed into his new position on Wednesday at a ceremony attended by Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich. One of his main responsibilities will be to stop illegal weapons falling into the hands of the Arab community. Mr Alsheich also wants to reduce domestic violence, murder rates and other crimes in the Arab sector. He and the government wants to recruit 1,300 new officers and construct several new stations in Arab population centres.

Summary: An Arab police officer has been promoted by Israel to the highest rank ever attained by a Muslim in the force.


Several lawsuits had demanded Cairo's Administrative Court block the decision to form the panel as it did not reflect the diversity of Egyptian society. They said women, young people and minorities were under-represented. Islamists from the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafist Nour party, which dominate parliament, have a near-majority. Liberals and secularists fear some of them would like to amend the constitution so that it follows the principles of Islamic law more strictly. The new document will also determine the rights of Egypt's religious and ethnic minority groups and the balance of power between the president - previously the supreme authority - and parliament. Once the assembly has produced a draft, it will be put to a referendum. It had been hoped that would take place before May's presidential election. The Administrative Court did not give the reasons for the ruling to suspend the constitutional assembly, stating only that it had halted "the implementation of the decision by the speaker of parliament" to form it and had referred the question of its legitimacy to a legal adviser. By Yolande KnellBBC News, Cairo "Illegitimate" was the cry that went up from campaigners celebrating outside the Cairo Administrative Court, after news came through of its ruling. The judge said he was suspending the assembly drawing up Egypt's new constitution and referring the question of its legitimacy to a legal adviser. "This is great, it's very reassuring and I'm very happy," said Hala Gamal of the Women and Memory Forum, a civil rights group. "The formation of the constitutional committee was illegal, unconstitutional, so that is why we resorted to court. It was totally unrepresentative of Egyptian society, not only women but students, workers and peasants." "It's an historic ruling," added Abdul Jalil Mustafa of the Egyptian Association for Change. "They suggested a committee in the sense of the Islamic political current and yes this is a part of Egypt, but not the whole." The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, which controls more than half of parliamentary seats has said it will appeal against the court's decision describing it as "political". Campaigners nevertheless celebrated outside the court when news came through of the ruling, which followed complaints by political groups and constitutional experts over parliament's decision to select the assembly itself and to allocate half the seats to sitting MPs. The complaints said both moves violated Article 60 of the constitutional declaration adopted in a referendum last year - which does not state how the assembly should be appointed - and would also give Islamists unmatched influence over the constitution-drafting process. "The constituent assembly is unrepresentative of Egyptians," said the advisory council of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. "A new constitutional declaration should be issued... specifying how the constituent assembly is formed. Article 60 of the current declaration was so vague that it has left the assembly in the hands of one force." The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party said it would appeal against the court's decision, describing it as "political". Secular and liberal parties have

Summary: A court in Egypt has suspended the 100-member assembly appointed last month to draft the country's new constitution.


The group published its report on the government's draft budget, which marks the first use of new tax powers. Members said new powers combined with economic uncertainty caused by Brexit meant it was "critical" there was "complete transparency" over budgets. Holyrood's parties have so far failed to reach consensus over the plans. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said he is "positive" about winning opposition support for the budget, but other party leaders have warned "it's not looking good" for a deal to be struck ahead of the Stage One vote on 2 February. The budget bill has now been formally published at Holyrood, marking the start of the formal legislative process. The final votes on the tax and spending proposals will be held before the end of February. Finance committee convener Bruce Crawford said he was pleased that the cross-party membership of the group had managed to come to a consensus and produce a largely unanimous report, despite the political disagreements over the budget. Summarising the report, he pointed to Holyrood's new fiscal powers introducing "a significant level of complexity to the budget process". He said: "It is clear to us the increased dependence of the budget on relative economic performance, combined with the complexity of the fiscal framework, means there is now a much greater degree of volatility and uncertainty in the budget process. "This uncertainty is exacerbated by the potential impact of Brexit on economic growth and the public finances." The report notes the "historic" nature of the budget, being the first time that Holyrood will set the rates and bands for income tax in Scotland. Members noted that this would be complex under normal circumstances, but added that "the added uncertainty arising from Brexit significantly increases the challenge" for the parliament and government in agreeing the budget. They said it was therefore "critical" that there was "sufficient transparency to ensure public confidence in the operation of the new financial powers". And they added that "significant work is required in developing a new budget process and wider financial scrutiny" given the added complexity and the reduced timescale for scrutiny in the current setup. Members also noted the "variety of sets of figures" being presented on local government and local services, which has been the root of a political row. Opposition parties have pointed to the core council budget going down, but the government insists other funds going directly to schools and health and social care partnerships means the budget for "local services" is increasing. In its budget report, Holyrood's local government committee said that "greater transparency is required" as "the budget for local government and the allocations to local authorities are very difficult to follow". The finance committee agreed with this, and called on the Scottish government to produce "detailed proposals" on making the state of local government finances more transparent. This was one of the few areas where the MSPs could not reach a consensus, with the report noting: "Due to the different presentation and sets of numbers relating to the local government settlement, some members were concerned about

Summary: Scotland faces "a much higher level of uncertainty and volatility" in its budgets due to new powers and Brexit, Holyrood's finance committee has said.


Four of those on board, three soldiers and an airman, were stationed at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. The fifth, an Army reservist, was based in London. The Ministry of Defence said the crash near Kandahar air base appeared to have been a "tragic accident". It represents the third single biggest loss of life of British troops in Afghanistan since the conflict began. The families of all five servicemen have been told. Three of the soldiers on board the helicopter were from the Army Air Corps, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, the MoD said late on Saturday. A fourth member of the crew was serving with the Royal Air Force and was also based at Odiham, while the fifth man was an Army reservist from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, in London. Maj Gen Richard Felton, Commander Joint Helicopter Command, said: "It is with great sadness that we must confirm that five UK service personnel have been killed in this incident which, at this early stage, would appear to have been a tragic accident. "Events like this, whilst mercifully rare, remind us of the risks our personnel face in their work in Afghanistan as we approach the conclusion of the combat mission later this year. "Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives." Prime Minister David Cameron said his "heart goes out to the families and friends of those killed in this terrible tragedy". Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was "tragic and poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our armed forces in serving our country with bravery and distinction". It is the first fatal accident involving a UK military helicopter in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001. BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said sources had suggested the cause of the crash may have been "technical problems" on board the helicopter, despite claims by the Taliban that its fighters had shot it down. She said the location of the crash - close to the border with Pakistan - has also led to speculation that the helicopter could have been taking part in a special forces mission. It is understood the helicopter was a Westland Lynx Mk 9. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We can confirm that a UK helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan today. "The incident is under investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further until families have been notified." The crash is understood to have happened around 30 miles from the Pakistan border, near Kandahar air base in the Takhta Pul district. The deaths bring the number of British forces killed in the conflict in Afghanistan to 453. The fatal crash comes after a Nimrod surveillance aircraft exploded in mid-air while supporting Nato ground operations near Kandahar, killing all 14 servicemen on board, in September 2006. This incident remains the biggest single loss of UK life at one time in Afghanistan. In 2012, six British soldiers were killed when a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle in Kandahar province was hit by an explosion. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition

Summary: Five British service personnel have been killed in a UK helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan.


Some applaud Britain's decision as being in its national interest, but others fear that the only beneficiary will be Russia. David Cameron was singled out for criticism, which echoed views heard across Europe that he had put the Conservative Party before the UK in calling the referendum. Estonian Health and Labour Minister Jevgeny Ossinovski wrote in an English-language Facebook post that the UK prime minister had gambled on the European project. Parliament speaker Eiki Nestor also questioned the outgoing prime minister's statesmanship: "David Cameron never lied to British people when he urged them to vote, but he wasn't a statesman at all when he thought that the election results for the Conservatives are more important than fate of the UK and Europe". Latvian former President Vaira Vike-Freiberga tweeted that Mr Cameron would "go down in history as a less successful British prime minister". And Lithuanian conservative politician and former foreign minister Audronius Azubalis saw the referendum and its result as an "example of political irresponsibility" "With all my Britophilia, it is not hard for me to admit that there are more than enough village idiots there as well," popular Lithuanian journalist and comedian Algis Ramanauskas said in a Facebook post "liked" more than a 1,000 times. Critical voices predominate, but Britain also has support on Baltic social media among Eurosceptics. Estonian MEP Martin Helme hailed the Brexit vote on Facebook as a "joyous day for all friends of freedom and national independence. Land of Hope and Glory is like a second anthem for the British, so let's cheer them today". Popular Lithuanian journalist Andrius Uzkalnis saw the vote as a rejection of "European integration maniacs". "The British are just tired of your preaching and voted to spite you. No worries, Trump will also get elected," he wrote. Estonian political analyst Ahto Lobjakas questioned calls for the European Union to take a hard line in any negotiations with Britain, tweeting "Why does everyone seem to assume the EU's only option post-Brexit is the honour killing of the UK?" Pro-Russian activist Aleksandr Gaponenko has seen an opportunity for Latvia to follow suit, announcing a plan to collect signatures for a petition. "The powers that be will be so scared by the initiative that they will subject the signatories to police repression. The whole of Europe will condemn the repression, and this will be a step towards kicking Latvia out of the new EU," he predicted on Facebook. Some commentators, especially in Latvia, see Russia as the Brexit winner. Latvian journalist Aivars Ozolins tweeted that they would be toasting the Brexit vote in the Kremlin with "copious amounts of vodka", while Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics retweeted an LTV News post of his own comment that "Russia is the winner of Brexit, because the EU will be weakened". "As expected, all the Kremlin internet comment trolls are happy with British democracy," conservative former defence minister Rasa Jukneviciene noted wryly. For many observers, there is a widespread feeling that the impact of the British vote should not be exaggerated, and that the focus among remaining EU countries

Summary: Prime movers on social media in the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been generally saddened by the UK's vote to leave the European Union, but do not treat it as a crisis.


Witnesses said after the attack, at Forest Hill station at about 13:20 GMT, a man then chased other people outside the station. People said they saw a man attack another on the train then run out of the station shouting "he wanted to kill Muslims". A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and remains in police custody. Train services were temporarily stopped on the line. Police said they were not treating the attack as terrorism, but as a hate crime. Ambulance officials said the victim, who is in his 40s, was treated at the scene for a stab injury and taken to a south London hospital. He remains in hospital in a serious, but not life-threatening, condition. Emma Pinder, who was at the station, said a man had "chased other people outside the station with a knife". Shellby Curry, 24, from Forest Hill, said she saw a man "waving what looked to be a knife in his hand" near the station and screaming words like "Muslims... kill them all". She described the attacker as a black man with short hair, who she thought appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s. Several people phoned the police, who arrived about 10 minutes later and restrained him, Miss Curry said. "I was walking along and someone stopped and said, 'be careful, he's got a knife'. As I looked around there he was. "I just grabbed my baby and ran across the road. Looking back I saw him marching up and down waving his arm about." Appealing for witnesses senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp, Paul Langley, said: "This was a serious assault on a man in broad daylight and we are aware that other passengers may have seen what happened or been threatened themselves. "We have spoken with many witnesses from the train but if you saw what happened and haven't yet contacted police, please do so as soon as you can." Services were stopped on the rail line but have since reopened with severe delays, London Overground said. Roads around the station were also shut for a while.

Summary: A man has been stabbed on an Overground train in south-east London.


Cesare Prandelli resigned as Azzurri coach after they were knocked out in the World Cup group stage. Former Italy midfielder Conte, 45, quit as Juventus boss last month, having won the Serie A title in each of his three seasons in charge. He has also managed Bari and Siena to promotion from Serie B, as well as having spells at Arezzo and Atalanta. The Italian Football Federation said in addition to his salary, Conte would receive a bonus for qualifying for Euro 2016, an added bonus for climbing at least five places in the Fifa rankings - Italy are currently 14th - and a third bonus if they reach the final of Euro 2016. Conte is the second big appointment by the Italian Football Federation this week. Carlo Tavecchio, who made a racist comment during his election campaign, was named as its new president.

Summary: Italy have appointed former Juventus boss Antonio Conte as their new coach until 2016.


The body of Louis Thornton, 26, who played for Douglas-based Corinthians, was discovered at 05:20 BST on Saturday in his hotel room in James Street. Club treasurer Steve Corran said Mr Thornton, who had been on Merseyside to watch his beloved Middlesbrough play Everton, was a "big character" and a "leader, both on and off the pitch". Mr Thornton's death is not being treated as suspicious. In a statement, Corinthians said everyone was welcome at the club to pay their own tributes. Mr Corran said: "We would like people to come and visit the pitch where our Louis scored great goals, scruffy goals, put in crunching tackles, but most of all has given his family, team-mates, managers and fans so many memorable moments." Mr Thornton worked for an accountancy business in Douglas. Mr Corran, who was also his boss at work, said: "He worked hard and gave 100% in everything he did on and off the pitch."

Summary: The captain of a Manx football club has been found dead at a Liverpool hotel.


Police say the individuals were using software designed to remotely control computers - allowing for the stealing of information. The other arrests were made in Estonia, France, Romania, Latvia, Italy, and Norway. The practice, which in some instances can grant access to a victim's webcam, is known as "Ratting". The phrase takes its name from the malicious software used to gain control - Remote Access Trojans (Rats). Using Rats to view people through their own webcams, without their knowledge, is becoming "increasingly common" according to the UK government-backed Get Safe Online advice website. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said it arrested two 33-year-old men, and a 30-year-old woman, in Leeds. A 20-year-old man was arrested in Chatham, Kent, while a 19-year-old man had his home searched in Liverpool and was brought in for "voluntary questioning". They are all accused of knowingly using Rats to spy on multiple targets. "Victims are typically infected by being convinced to click on a link purporting to be a picture or video, or disguised as a legitimate file, but is instead an installer for the Rat," the NCA explained in a statement. "In many cases, those who unwittingly install such trojans will have no indication that their machine is infected." Source: ChildNet International and Ceop As well as the arrests, the NCA said it was warning other users that the software was illegal, and its use would result in further action. "The illegal use of Remote Access Trojans is a significant cybercrime threat, demanding this kind of strong, co-ordinated response from international to local UK level," said Andy Archibald, deputy director of the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit. "Suspected users of Rats are continuing to find that, despite having no physical contact or interaction with their victims, they can still be identified, tracked down and arrested by the NCA and its partners." An investigation by BBC Radio 5 live in June last year looked into the growing problem of Ratting. One victim, student Rachel Hyndman, told the station: "I was sitting in the bath, trying to relax, and suddenly someone potentially has access to me in this incredibly private moment and it's horrifying. "To have it happen to you without your consent is horribly violating." The investigation uncovered websites where hackers share pictures and videos of their victims. Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC

Summary: Fifteen people have been arrested, including four in the UK, in connection with the hijacking of computers.


Official results by the Electoral Commission show that Mr Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) obtained more than 50% plus one vote required to beat his main rival, President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress. The president-elect will be sworn in on January 7 after a one-month transition period. Mr Akufo-Addo had lost previous elections in 2008 and 2012 but the way he handled those losses resonated with many people. He is credited with preventing possible violence in 2012 by not rejecting the outcome - a loss by 300,000 votes to current President John Mahama - and calling for mass protests. Instead, he sought legal redress and accepted defeat after the Supreme Court upheld the result. The 72-year-old son of former chief justice and ceremonial President Edward Akufo-Addo retained his 2012 electoral promise to provide free high-school education. But the former lawyer, attorney general and foreign minister's main campaign promise was a "one district, one factory" policy that he says will industrialise the country. The plan is to establish factories in each of Ghana's 216 districts. "The time has come for us to move our industrial development forward," the presidential candidate told a rally in eastern Ghana. "There must be jobs in our country. The lack of jobs, which is the case under this government, poses a threat to the future stability of our country." In the north, Mr Akufo-Addo said there would be a functioning dam "in every village" to support agriculture. His critics, mainly from the NDC, have dismissed his promises as impossible to fulfil - but Mr Akufo-Addo insists they are not just gimmicks. Mr Akufo-Addo's wife Rebecca was part of his campaign. She told a TV show that he was a "very loving" family man. "He is also passionate about his politics. He's always cared about Ghana and wanted to do his bit for his country," she added. Mr Akufo-Addo is credited with helping to build up the NPP, which first contested an election in 1992 when Ghana returned to multiparty democracy after years of military rule. His political career spans more than four decades and he was active in political movements in his early 30s, when he criticised the military government of the time. He studied in both Ghana and the UK before working as a lawyer in France and served as an MP for the Abuakwa South constituency in eastern Ghana between 1996 and 2008.

Summary: Nana Akufo-Addo has been elected Ghana's next president at the third time of asking.


Researchers looked at three areas of England, 20 years apart, and found new rates of dementia were lower than past trends would suggest. They say improvements in men's health is the most likely explanation. But charities warn against complacency, with more than 200,000 dementia cases diagnosed each year in the UK. Researchers, funded by the Medical Research Council and dementia charities, interviewed about 7,500 people aged 65 and over living in Cambridgeshire, Nottingham and Newcastle in the early 1990s. The whole process, which included detailed questionnaires about cognition and lifestyle, was repeated in the same way two decades later. They found rates of new cases of dementia had been fairly steady in women over this time, but had fallen in men. Extrapolating their findings to apply to the rest of the UK, they say there would be 40,000 fewer cases of the disease than estimates put forward two decades ago would suggest. Scientists admit they are unsure exactly what lies behind this trend but say it could be that men have become better at looking after themselves. For example, better heart and brain health - with fewer men smoking, less salt used in food, and a greater emphasis on exercise and blood pressure medication may have helped, they say. They acknowledge it is hard to decipher why the same trends are not apparent in women, but speculate men may be catching up on health gains that women already experience. Despite this, they warn that other factors - such as rising levels of obesity and diabetes - may reverse this trend in years to come. Prof Carol Brayne, at the University of Cambridge, and part of the research team, said: "I'm pretty optimistic that it's stabilising, but if we don't further improve health, then we would expect the numbers to go up with further ageing of the population, so it's a sort of cautious optimism." Scientists say the most important finding is that a rise in dementia is not inevitable and can be fought. And they call for a better balance of funds so more money is put into prevention in mid-life. Meanwhile, Dr James Pickett, head of research at the charity Alzheimer's Society, said the research was encouraging. But he added: "People are living for longer, and with other risk factors such as diabetes and obesity on the rise, there will still be over 200,000 new cases of dementia each year. "That's still an enormous number of people who require better information and health and social care support." Other experts point out the way dementia is diagnosed has changed over time and initiatives focusing on spotting the signs of dementia earlier may offset any reductions seen.

Summary: The predicted explosion of dementia cases may be less severe than previously thought, a study in Nature Communications suggests.


The images, taken by Syd Shelton, from Pontefract, include pictures of The Clash, Misty in Roots and The Specials. The collection also features photos taken at the Rock Against Racism Carnival at Victoria Park, Hackney, which attracted a crowd of 100,000. The show runs from Friday to 3 September at the Impression Gallery. The Rock Against Racism (RAR) movement formed in response to controversial remarks made by Eric Clapton in 1976. In the following years, RAR staged marches, festivals and more than 500 concerts in the UK in a bid to fight racism through music. Shelton, who studied Fine Art in Leeds and Wakefield, said he became involved with the movement after returning to the UK from America in 1976. He said: "I was appalled at the state of race relations in Britain, in particular things like the Black and White Minstrel Show and the signs I saw in some windows saying 'No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish'. "It was a pretty serious situation and I always loved music and very quickly hooked up with the people that had set up RAR. "It was a bizarre mixture of people, photographers, graphic designers, writers, actors and, of course, musicians. "We were very lucky in the sense that we tuned in to that explosion of punk and UK reggae and brought the two together. That said more about what RAR was about than any of the slogans we may have shouted from the stage." He added: "I hope the exhibition shows that you can change things and you can actually take a stand, even in the most difficult of situations. "If it inspires people to be photographers that would be great but I hope it will also inspire people to fight against racism and inequality."

Summary: Photographs capturing some of the most important moments and inspirational figures of the Rock Against Racism movement are to go on show in Bradford.


Released by Norwich City as a schoolboy, he entered semi-professional football, turning out for King's Lynn and Staines Town, who play in the Ryman Premier Division. It was there, in the foothills of the English game, that he looked west and decided to move to the United States. Dwyer signed up to a firm who - for a fee - help organise soccer scholarships at US colleges for young, talented British footballers. Getting a scholarship means the college pays some, or all, of the student's tuition fees and costs. The firm, Soccer Icon USA, held a trial at QPR's training ground, to see whether those who had signed up were good enough for college soccer. "I think I scored a hat-trick in the first 10 minutes," remembers Dwyer, now 25. "The coaches took me off early and said: 'So - whereabouts in America do you want to go?'" Dwyer spent two years at Tyler Junior College in Texas, before moving to the University of South Florida. While there, he was signed by Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City. He has since scored more than 30 MLS goals, was named in the 2014 All Star team alongside Thierry Henry and, in 2015, is on a guaranteed salary of more than £300,000 a year. He is also married to Sydney Leroux, who was a member of the USA's World Cup-winning women's team earlier this year. "It's pretty amazing," says Dwyer. "I'm a little kid from England, and last year I was at the White House [after winning the 2013 MLS Cup]. "I just thought: 'What are they doing, letting me in here?'" Dwyer is not the only British player who has gone from US college to the MLS. Matt Watson - who studied at the University of Maryland, after being released by Wolves as a youngster - plays for Chicago Fire. Otis Earle, son of former Wimbledon midfielder Robbie Earle, is at FC Dallas, via the University of California, Riverside. Preston-born Luke Mulholland, who studied in North Carolina, is at Real Salt Lake, while Andy Rose, once a Bristol City youth, went from the University of California in Los Angeles to Seattle Sounders. Few Britons will emulate their careers. But more and more are trying. According to the Fulbright Commission, almost 11,000 British students were at American colleges in the past academic year - an increase of 21% in the past 10 years. Although the number of soccer scholarships is not recorded (there's no American equivalent of Ucas, the organisation through which applications are processed in England and Wales) it is clear they are becoming more popular. Chris Cousins, who runs Sports Recruiting USA, went to Illinois on a soccer scholarship in 2003. "I was probably one of a dozen going to America, if that," he says. Now, he estimates that more than 600 British students - male and female - will cross the Atlantic to start soccer scholarships this year. Cousins thinks rising tuition fees in England is one factor, having increased from £1,100 in 2003 to a maximum of £9,000 a

Summary: Six years ago, Dom Dwyer's career was going nowhere.


The composer, whose hits include The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Evita, is charging between £25-£95 for his latest London musical School of Rock. The average ticket price for a West End musical in 2016 was £49.28 - up almost 6% on the previous year. "Theatre is incredibly labour intensive," he said. "On the whole, the prices of West End theatre are incredibly reasonable considering the cost of what it is to put something on." Last year, Lord Lloyd-Webber revealed that the physical running costs for one of his theatres was £38,000 per week. On top of that, there are the costs of staging the production itself. The Financial Times estimated that the total weekly costs of a top musical are £150,000-£250,000. And most musicals spend years in development. The Stage estimated that the budget for the Broadway production of Groundhog Day - not a Lloyd Webber production - was $18m (£14m). Elsewhere in the West End, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has a top price of £140, while Hamilton has £200 premium tickets for when it officially moves to London in December. The topic of ticket costs often arouses strong feelings. Actor Andrew Scott recently called the high prices "disgusting", while last year, Mark Gatiss said theatre was an "exclusive club for rich white people". Lord Lloyd-Webber also pointed out that UK theatre tickets include 20% VAT - while tickets in the US are not taxed. The composer was speaking to BBC arts editor Will Gompertz's Heat Map programme on BBC 5 live, and also said he is currently looking for an idea for a new musical "rather desperately". "I must say I don't think I've ever felt more excited about musicals," he said. "I feel like I'm back when I'm started." That is partly down to a resurgence of the genre in the US with hit shows like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away. In comparison, the UK is coming up with few successful original musicals. "Everything is so vibrant in America, which has always really been the home of musicals. Fourteen new musicals this year. I mean, fourteen. This year we've only had two in Britain." Lord Lloyd-Webber made his name in the 1970s collaborating with lyricist Tim Rice on shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Evita. The pair haven't worked together on a full show since - but Lord Lloyd-Webber hasn't ruled out a reunion. "It's a shame in a way we didn't go on writing together but we are very different people in several ways," he said. "Never say never, but Tim has written the lyrics to the most successful musical currently playing in the world, which is The Lion King. He's got Beauty and the Beast, he's got Aladdin. "He doesn't exactly need to write. If he wanted to do something, if he wanted to come to me with an idea... I think it would have to be him wanting to do the idea. "If I went to him and said, 'Look, shall we do this?'

Summary: Andrew Lloyd Webber has said ticket prices for West End shows are "incredibly reasonable" given the cost of bringing a production to the stage.


His career-best 9-95 helped Essex beat Middlesex by an innings and 34 runs. "You can't really put it into words. Sometimes things go your way," the 28-year-old South African told BBC Essex. "I was saying to our scorer I'll probably never take four five-fers or 28 wickets in two games ever again - it's just been one of those weeks." He continued: "You've got to ride the wave while you can because I can guarantee you I'll be back in South Africa at the Wanderers, bowling on an absolute road and getting smashed all over the place." The victory over the reigning champions left Essex 29 points clear at the top of Division One in their first season back in the top flight. Kolpak player Harmer, who returned career-best figures of 14-128 in last week's win over Warwickshire, has now taken 47 wickets in eight matches this season. And he said a Championship day-night trial with the new pink ball helped his cause against Middlesex in Chelmsford. Harmer said: "I think everybody's feedback was that it came off the bat a bit better and there was a bit of extra bounce, and obviously being a spinner on day four when the wicket's slow and low to get that extra bounce is nice. "It keeps the batsman guessing because it takes the sweep shot out of the equation because it's bouncing. "They need to look to then play off the back foot or whatever, so it definitely helped me."

Summary: Essex off-spinner Simon Harmer says he is "riding the wave" after taking 14 wickets in both of his past two County Championship matches.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 11 July 2015 Last updated at 23:53 BST How did this massacre happen? And what are its lasting effects? Myriam Francois-Cerrah explains, in less than two minutes. Produced by: Mohamed Madi

Summary: In July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims who were meant to be under UN protection.