Cwmbran-based Douglas Willis Ltd could not prove when the meat was frozen and admitted 12 offences of mislabelling. Caerphilly Magistrates' Court heard the firm broke labelling laws by creating a risk that "hazardous" food could enter the food chain. The case went ahead following a ruling from the Supreme Court. The company, which supplies meat products to catering outlets, was told it had no case to answer in 2011 because it was judged that frozen meat did not pose a risk to public health. But a clarification from the Supreme Court last summer ordered Thursday's retrial, ruling the prosecution did not have to prove the meat was a hazard - only that it was not labelled correctly. Douglas Willis Ltd failed to record when meat was first frozen, and some was found to be several years past the "use by" date given to it when fresh, the court heard. District Judge Richard Williams said the company was "not alleged to have acted intentionally, but it did". The firm was fined a total of £15,000 for 12 offences and must pay £12,000 in costs. The company, which has been in the Willis family for three generations, employs 41 people in Cwmbran, and had a £7.1m turnover last year. In any similar cases in future where frozen meat has a use by date, trading standards officers will be able to prosecute regardless of whether the meat poses a safety risk.

Summary: A meat wholesaler has been fined £15,000 for having meat in its freezers which had passed its "use by" date, in some cases by several years.


Promoted Edinburgh City started with a 3-2 loss at home to Forfar, and Annan beat Stirling Albion by the same score line. Barry Ferguson's Clyde edged out Montrose 2-1, and Elgin City were 1-0 winners away to Cowdenbeath. Arbroath were held at home by Berwick Rangers in a 1-1 draw at Gayfield. Edinburgh City got off to the worst possible start as David Cox scored a penalty, but Craig Beattie levelled. However, the joy was short-lived as Lewis Milne made it two. Thomas O'Brien added another late on before Ross Guthrie's consolation strike, while Joe Mbu and Cox both saw red after the final whistle. Annan had to come from behind after Sean Dickson put the visitors ahead, with Ross Forsyth diverting a cross into his own net then David McKenna and Aidan Smith made it three, before Marc McKenzie pulled one back. Matt Flynn's first goal for Clyde gave his side a first win of the season, adding to Dylan Easton's opener after Chris Templeman had levelled with a header. Chris McLeish scored the only goal of the game as Elgin City started with a win, slotting into the bottom corner with his left foot just after the break. Arbroath deservedly took the lead against Berwick when midfielder Martin Scott drove a left-foot strike into the top-right corner, but the visitors fought back through a Steven Thomson equaliser.

Summary: Annan Athletic, Forfar Athletic, Clyde and Elgin City all started their Scottish League Two campaigns with single goal victories.


The ECB cut its deposit rate by the minimum 0.1 percentage point to -0.3%, and extended its asset purchase program, but did not increase its monthly government bond purchases. Investors were expecting a bigger cut in the rates, analysts said. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 1.7% to 19,606.32 points. Evan Lucas, market strategist at trading firm IG said Friday's shares sell-off is because there was over-excitement and high expectations for what the ECB would deliver at its policy meeting. "I have been fully aware that last night's ECB meeting would be the biggest 'disappointment' event of the week," he wrote in a note. The six month extension of its stimulus program was seen as the bare minimum, because traders were looking for a one-year extension of the plan - or even an open-ended plan. "What the market 'wanted' versus what the market was 'going to get' were two distinctly different events," Mr Lucas said. Chinese markets followed global markets lower with Shanghai Composite index down 1% to 3,549.51, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 1.2% to 22,158.57. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was down 1.7% to 5,138 despite retail sales rising 0.5% in October from the month before. It was the third month of solid growth as shoppers spent big on household goods and at department stores. South Korea's Kospi index was down 0.8% to 1,978.78 points.

Summary: Asian shares opened lower following the global trend as investors reacted negatively to the European Central Bank's (ECB) policy-easing moves.


Medway Council is to stop new takeaways opening near secondary schools at lunchtime and near secondaries and primaries after school. The council said there were currently 179 takeaways within 400m of a school. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it was simplistic to treat all fast food restaurants in the same way. The restrictions will be used as guidance when the planning committee considers new planning applications. Councillor Jane Chitty said Medway's public health and children's services were extremely concerned about obesity. "Allowing the planning committee to take this guidance into account is a positive step," she said. Local authority health profile figures show 30% of adults in Medway are obese, while the average for England is 24.2% and the wider South East 23.7%. Among children in Medway, 20% of 10-year-olds are obese. "To do nothing is not an option," said Councillor David Brake. "We are already seeing the effect obesity has on our National Health Service and anything we can do to prevent this at an early age is welcome." A secondary and grammar school that responded to a six-week consultation on the restrictions supported the restrictions. But the Kent Small Business Federation has called them draconian and said obesity needed to be tackled by changing behaviour. The BRC said local authorities should encourage companies that wanted to play a positive role in public health and target those that were less responsible. "There are those that are working positively to cut obesity by removing fats and sugars from food and giving clear calorie labelling on their menu boards to help customers make healthier choices," said director of food and sustainability Andrew Opie.

Summary: A Kent council has voted to restrict the opening hours of fast food outlets near schools in a bid to tackle rising obesity.


By the close, the FTSE 100 had gained 0.97%, or 64.57 points, to end at 6,737.95. France's CAC-40 closed up 1.94% at 4,998.10 while Germany's Dax ended up 1.49% at 11,484.38. The rises came after European Council President Donald Tusk said a bailout for Greece was "all ready to go". US stock markets also traded higher early in the session. Bank and financial shares surged, with Germany's Deutsche Bank shares closing up 3.3%, while the biggest winner on Frankfurt's main index was the stock exchange Deutsche Boerse up 4.38%. However, after an early spike upwards, the euro fell 1.19% against the dollar to buy $1.1024, and tumbled 1.18% against the pound to buy 71p. Nick Stamenkovic at RIA Capital Markets said: "The relief rally in the euro was short-lived as investors await details of the Greek agreement." An initial drop in the yield, or cost of government borrowing, in Italy and Spain - the countries seen most at risk from the knock-on effects of a Greece exit - also tapered off. Eurozone leaders have said that so far, a blueprint for a Greek debt deal has been agreed, with European countries' parliamentary approval processes beginning from Wednesday. "For the markets, it's clearly positive that there is an agreement among the European member states and that there is an atmosphere of co-operation," said Philippe Gijsels, head of research at BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets in Brussels. "Still, there is a bit of execution risk which may haunt us in terms of volatility."

Summary: (Close): Shares in London and other key European markets have risen on news that eurozone leaders have reached a deal on a third bailout for Greece.


He has only played twice all season, having also missed the start of the season with a back problem. The 27-year-old has now returned to light training following surgery. "Diaf is essentially at the start of his own personal pre-season training schedule," Hammers medical boss Stijn Vandenbroucke said. "When players return from their off-season, they will go through four to five weeks of pre-season work to build up their strength and fitness. "After undergoing back surgery and three months of rehab, a player needs time to reach sufficient fitness levels before we can contemplate making him available for selection in the Premier League." Senegal international Sakho, who was due to join West Brom for £15m before his summer injury, missed this season's Africa Cup of Nations.

Summary: West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is unlikely to play again this season because of the back injury he suffered in November.


It is believed they will oppose plans to publicly name recipients and seek legal advice on any contract changes. The group, who met on Wednesday, are against publication of their details. This is due to the negative publicity some businesses received after details of their biomass installations were made public. The Economy Minister, Simon Hamilton, has plans which, he claims, could reduce a potential scheme overspend of hundreds of millions to "effectively zero". His officials have already written to boiler owners giving them until next Tuesday to agree to the publication of their names. In the letter, recipients were told the department was "minded to publish the names" in the "interests of openness and transparency". It is understood the group will represent only those who have signed up to the scheme in good faith and are operating it legitimately. They are writing to the Department of the Economy seeking a meeting ahead of any announcement of changes to the scheme. The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) chief executive, Wesley Aston, said it was advising members who availed of the scheme not to give permission for their names to be disclosed, unless audits have been carried out of their installation. "Without the audit, farmers risk being criticised, without being able to show they acted within the terms of the scheme," he said. "It is up to individuals to decide whether they give permission to be named - but we fear this is not about transparency but efforts to shift the focus from those who failed to safeguard the taxpayer." The UFU said the "vast majority" of people using the scheme were doing so "legitimately". The RHI scheme was flawed from the start offering overgenerous subsidies over 20 years. A spike in applications in Autumn 2015 led to an over commitment that could cost the Northern Ireland taxpayers up to £490m over 20 years. The handling of the scandal has become a major political row that threatens to bring down Stormont. Sinn Féin has demanded that Mrs Foster stand aside pending an investigation. Mrs Foster has said she will not be standing down.

Summary: Biomass boiler owners have formed a group to deal directly with government officials proposing changes to the controversial RHI scheme.


Sir Alex Ferguson's Premier League champions responded in spectacular fashion to Manchester City's outstanding 5-1 win at Spurs by returning to the top of the table with a result that represented Arsenal's worst defeat since 1896. Wenger sent out a makeshift side depleted by injuries and suspensions - but even this cannot excuse the manner in which they were outclassed in all parts of the pitch and swept aside with such ease by United. Wayne Rooney was United's inspiration with the sixth hat-trick of his Old Trafford career, but Ashley Young also made his mark with two stunning goals. Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-sung were the other scorers. Media playback is not supported on this device Theo Walcott reduced United's three-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time but Robin van Persie's strike late in the second half-represented no measure of consolation for a dispirited, broken Arsenal. United keeper David de Gea distinguished himself with a fine penalty save from Van Persie moments after Welbeck had opened the scoring - and in a game of almost unrelenting misery for Arsenal, teenager Carl Jenkinson ensured they have failed to end a game with 11 players in any of their league games this season when he was sent off. Old Trafford was understandably exultant at the conclusion of such a carnival performance but Wenger now faces defining days of his Arsenal reign before the transfer window closes on Wednesday. For Wenger it was a performance, or lack of one, that proved the folly of his summer of transfer inaction Read more of the blog This result underscores the gulf that has opened up between United and Arsenal and Wenger will now seek to address the weaknesses in his squad and replace the departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Ferguson's faith in the team that won so convincingly against Tottenham was rewarded with another thrilling attack-minded performance. Arsenal's uncertainty was partly explained by the unfamiliar make-up of their team, but the flaws were swiftly exposed by the manner in which United took the lead. Anderson's lofted pass was inventive but Arsenal's failure to react was ominous for what lay ahead, allowing Welbeck to head past Wojciech Szczesny. Van Persie then squandered an instant opportunity to equalise after referee Howard Webb awarded a penalty when Walcott tangled with Jonny Evans in the area. De Gea has had a mixed start to his Old Trafford career but he was engulfed by his team-mates as he dived to his right to make a fine save. And United ensured Arsenal were punished heavily as Young added the second after 28 minutes. Young found space just outside the area and curled a perfect finish high beyond Szczesny's grasp at the Stretford End. Welbeck's game was cut short by a hamstring injury - but there was no respite for Arsenal as Rooney worked a free-kick routine with Young to send a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner as the interval approached. Walcott halted some of United's momentum when he took advantage of slack marking to shoot beneath De Gea in first-half

Summary: Manchester United inflicted total humiliation on Arsenal and their embattled manager Arsene Wenger with a brutal victory at Old Trafford.


Real scored three goals in the first 16 minutes, with Karim Benzema heading the first from a James Rodriguez cross. Ronaldo then added a penalty before Rodriguez scored with a deflected shot. Ronaldo made it 4-0 by half-time with a fizzing effort before completing his hat-trick with a header, which was followed by a Oscar Duarte own goal. With Rodriguez filling in for the injured Gareth Bale in Real's front three, Espanyol were ripped apart. Ronaldo was the star as he moved level with Barcelona's Luis Suarez - on 19 goals - in the race to be La Liga's leading scorer. It was a testing debut for Espanyol's new goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis, signed on loan from Watford during the week. The Lithuania international faced England in a Euro 2016 qualifier in October, but his only previous start at club level this season was for the Hornets in a Capital One Cup defeat at Preston in August. Arlauskis saved well from Ronaldo's early free-kick and could not be blamed for Real's three quick goals. He also got a hand to Ronaldo's shot for his second goal, but the Portugal international's dazzling footwork deserved reward as he bamboozled the visiting defence to create space to score. The goal rout ended when Costa Rica international Duarte turned Jese's low cross into his own net. Both teams are in La Liga action next Sunday, with Real Madrid visiting relegation-threatened Granada, while Espanyol host Real Sociedad.

Summary: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol to cut the gap between themselves and La Liga leaders Barcelona to four points.


But the former Scotland midfielder insists that he can turn the Cumbernauld outfit around despite only one win in 12 games. "Of course I can," the 39-year-old manager told BBC Scotland. "But, if we have any aspirations about getting into the play-offs, we need to win on Saturday." With Forfar Athletic eight points clear of Arbroath at the top, Clyde slipped 15 points behind third-placed Elgin City when they were trounced 4-1 away to the Moray outfit on Saturday. The Bully Wee are also 11 points behind this weekend's hosts, who sit in the final play-off spot. Ferguson's side do have three games in hand over Annan, but Montrose and Berwick Rangers have also overtaken Clyde during their run of nine league games without a win. "It is tough," admitted Ferguson, who previously had a spell as caretaker manager with Blackpool. "Listen, it's easy to walk away, but I am there fighting and we'll get into the play-offs." Clyde have played fewer games as a result of a run to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup that ended last midweek after they lost 2-1 in extra-time at home to Championship outfit Ayr United. "We had a long game on Tuesday night - went into 120 minutes and into extra-time, but I'm not going to use it as an excuse," said the Bully Wee boss, whose side were praised for their display against the full-time visitors. "We try to do everything properly, the recovery - we went and got protein shakes, recovery shakes, we took them up the night before, which we normally don't do because it is a bit of a cost to the club. "But it just wasn't good enough. I'm not going to mix my words. I told them after the game." Ferguson, who had a long playing career in the top flight in Scotland and England, has often expressed his frustration at managing part-time players. "On Tuesday night, Ayr United scored the winner in extra-time," he said. "I had four guys who were going straight from that game to night shift for eight or nine-hour shifts. "I take my hat off to them as a realise now how difficult it is. "But that's why we do a pre-season and we should should be fit enough to play three games in a week."

Summary: Clyde's Barry Ferguson admits it is make or break for his side's promotion play-off chances when they travel to face Annan Athletic on Saturday.


Detective Botha was removed pending the result of an investigation into seven counts of attempted murder. National police commissioner Mangwashi Phiyega announced the change after a third day of testimony at Mr Pistorius's bail hearing. Mr Pistorius, 26, denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29. Ms Steenkamp died after being shot three times at Mr Pistorius' home on 14 February. Ms Phiyega said the police had received feedback from state prosecutors about Det Botha only on Wednesday. By Andrew HardingAfrica correspondent The news Hilton Botha is facing reinstated charges of attempted murder has stunned everyone. The immediate question is what impact, if any, the news may have on the prosecution argument that Mr Pistorius should not be allowed bail pending trial. The timing of the reinstatement of the charges is still unclear and the National Prosecuting Authority says they are in no way connected to the athlete's murder case. It is curious, though, that the information about Det Botha was not provided to the Pistorius defence team or, apparently, to the prosecution. Some might argue that Det Botha, who wilted under strenuous cross-examination by the defence, eventually conceding that he had not yet seen any evidence to contradict the athlete's version of events, has already done enough damage to the prosecution's call for Mr Pistorius to be denied bail and that the new revelations may not affect the magistrate's decision significantly. She described him as an "experienced detective" who was not yet facing any criminal charges. However, she said she was using her authority as national police chief to ask Lt Gen Vineshkumar Moonoo to take over the Pistorius case. Gen Moonoo is reported to be a veteran of some 30 years service. He will work with the police chief in Gauteng province on a case Ms Phiyega said required attention "at a national level". "We recognise the significance, the importance and the severity of the matter," she said of the Pistorius case. She denied that the decision to replace Det Botha was embarrassing for the police. He has not been suspended and could remain a potential witness in any trial. The BBC's Pumza Fihlani, in Pretoria, says the claims against Det Botha refer to a 2009 incident in which he and several other officers allegedly opened fired on a minibus taxi carrying seven passengers when the driver apparently disobeyed an order to stop. The detective is expected to appear in court in May, reports say. In court on Thursday, defence and prosecution lawyers offered their final arguments. The magistrate is expected to issues his ruling on Mr Pistorius's bail application on Friday. Lead defence lawyer Barry Roux asked for the charge of premeditated murder to be downgraded, and said Det Botha's contradictory evidence on Wednesday had undermined the prosecution's case. Mr Roux said: "The poor quality of the evidence offered by investigative officer Botha exposed the disastrous shortcomings of the state's case." The defence counsel said the fact that Mr Pistorius had carried Ms Steenkamp downstairs showed he was desperate to save her life. Mr Roux added that the "known forensics

Summary: South Africa's top detective is to take over the Oscar Pistorius inquiry amid attempted murder accusations against current lead officer Hilton Botha.


Fans threw flares and ripped up parts of the Mohammed V stadium after Raja's 2-1 victory over Chabab Rif Al Hoceima. The country's DGSN security service said in a statement that 31 people were arrested for "acts of vandalism". FMRFF has banned fans from the next five Raja home matches and fined the club 100,000 dirhams (£7,170). Footage on Moroccan media showed the fans, dressed in the club's green colours, charging at each other. It was unclear how the clashes had erupted. DGSN revealed 10 people had been arrested prior to the game. Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the fan trouble.

Summary: Two people were killed in fighting among fans of Raja de Casablanca on Saturday, the Moroccan Football Federation (FMRFF) has confirmed.


Bob Neill was speaking after ministers claimed there had been a "relentless campaign of distortions and half-truths" about the move. The changes come into force on 1 April as a result of a revaluation of premises carried out by the government. Business groups and some Tory MPs have warned of high street store closures. As a result of the government's revaluation, ministers say three quarters of businesses' rates will either go down or stay the same - but ministers have faced calls for a rethink, with claims retailers in some areas could face rises of up to 400%. In a letter to Conservative MPs, Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid and Treasury Chief Secretary David Gauke said: "This year's revaluation has been preceded by a series of reports claiming that rates are going to soar, that appeals are being banned and that hundreds of thousands of businesses will be forced to close. "Such claims are simply untrue." The ministers said 2017-18 "will see the biggest ever cut in business rates" and "three-quarters of all businesses, right across the country, will see their rates either fall or stay the same". They said the "misinformation circulating in the news" meant it was "understandable that business owners and lobby groups have raised concerns with many of you", but they insisted the changes coming into effect in April were "not something to be afraid of". But speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Neill, the Conservative MP for the South London constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst, said the government had "swallowed a line" from the Valuation Office Agency, the organisation that handles property valuations relating to tax changes, which was "wholly out of touch". He said high street shops in London and the South East would be particularly badly-hit, adding: "I think that the concern is genuine and there are sensible things that the government can do to address this." Mr Neill said the "cliff edge" system should be replaced by a sliding scale and that businesses should be given more time to adapt.

Summary: Critics of the government's planned changes to business rates are raising "genuine" concerns, a former local government minister says.


They say the government is failing to promote back-to-nature schemes which protect lowland homes by deliberately creating floods in the hills. The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) say upland schemes to slow river flow cost a fraction of conventional flood walls – and should be spread round the UK. Ministers back the principle but say the details need to be worked out. The idea of creating floods upstream to prevent floods downstream was a key message from the Pitt Review into the 2007 floods. A handful of pilot projects have pioneered cheap small-scale measures like felling trees into streams to slow down the flow, and building earth banks to catch run-off water and allow it to soak away. One low-tech scheme in the hills above Belford in Northumberland cost about £300,000. It was put in place after a study suggested the cost of conventional flood defences would cost £4m. But progress nationally has been slow, with funding a major problem. Katherine Pygott, from CIWEM, told the BBC: “Flooding is getting worse with changing weather patterns, but these schemes are taking a very long time and a lot of energy. “Projects working with nature to reduce flood risk are needed right across the country but it is complicated with many different organisations involved and it will need political leadership from the highest level to make it happen. So far we haven’t seen that leadership.” The upland schemes are designed to reduce the regularity of flooding, not remove risk completely. Conventional flood defences will still be needed but CIWEM estimates that re-wilding rivers will save ten of millions by reducing the peak flow and lowering the specification for flood walls. The projects should also benefit wildlife. Phil Welton, from the Environment Agency, says the UK should aspire to have "a pond in every field in the areas where flood prevention is needed. "We have got to give incentives to farmers to persuade them to capture water on their land," he argues. "Farmers will lose a bit of land – but these areas are only wet for two to three days a year and quite often they are on bits of land that farmers don't use – boggy areas or buffer strips.” Incentives for farmers are one key sticking point. In theory, funds from the Common Agricultural Policy can be used for catchment management but in practice Ms Pygott says that the standard of proof is much higher than for biodiversity projects which can also be supported under the CAP. “With biodiversity schemes a farmer simply has to show that he has changed the land in a way that’s expected to benefit wildlife," she adds. "With flood schemes they have to prove what the benefits will be and that’s very hard. "We obviously don’t want to be wasting government money on the wrong projects but with weather patterns changing it really makes sense to take a leap of faith on this and say it’s obvious these schemes are going to help if you get them in the right place.” While farmers’ union

Summary: Water experts are calling on ministers to show greater leadership on flooding.


Data shows that the total tuition fee and maintenance loan balance is up 12% on the previous year's figures. Graduates start repaying their debt once their income reaches £21,000 but after 30 years outstanding debt is written off. For those repaying loans in 2017 the average sum owed at the start of repayment was £19,280. That compares with £32,220 for English students, £20,990 for Northern Irish students and £11,740 for Scottish students who do not pay fees if they study in Scotland. The figures come from the Student Loans Company and cover 2016/17. Welsh domiciled students have been able to claim a grant towards their tuition fees since 2012-13 - a sum of £4,954 in 2017-18. But the grants are due to be scrapped from 2018-19 with help for maintenance costs introduced instead, under plans unveiled last year. At the end of 2016-17 there were 304,900 borrowers of higher education student loans in Wales, with 191,100 liable for repayment. As of the end of April 2017 there are 41,430 borrowers who had fully repaid, amounting to 16.4% of the overall total. The data covers Welsh domiciled students studying in higher education in the UK and EU students studying in Wales.

Summary: The overall student loan debt for Welsh students has reached £3.7bn, new figures show.


In the Hautes Alpes, they are currently feeding beneath ski lifts on slopes that will soon be covered by a thick layer of snow. But this year the freedom to roam has been curtailed. Somewhere in the dark, dense forests a grey wolf is on the prowl. The wolf was hunted almost to extinction in France in the 1930s but, protected as an endangered species, it is making a surprising comeback. Some 200 wolves have colonised the southern regions of France, divided into about 20 packs. They are believed to have crossed from Italy in the mid-1990s and they are moving ever further north. Lionel Serres has 250 sheep on the mountainside this summer. Each night he pens them in behind electric fences. But the wolf is a cunning predator and so far it has killed 17 of his ewes, while 10 more are missing. Sheep spooked On the day we met, he was busy trying to recover an ewe that had been grabbed by a wolf around the neck. Its fleece was matted, thick with blood. "We have had lots of dead and injured sheep," said Lionel. "The flock is in a pretty sorry state. Some are lame, they are stressed, and some are so frightened they have miscarried lambs." At night the wolf will circle the pens until the sheep are spooked into jumping the electric fences. And so costly are these losses that in recent weeks Mr Serres has been forced to hire another shepherd, who will sleep alongside the sheep at night. He is not the only one with concerns. So angry are the farmers in this region, that on the road to Hautes Alpes, in south-eastern France, on the border with Italy, there are huge signs painted on the road - "NO to the wolf." Two hundred wolves might not sound like a huge problem. But this year there have been almost 600 attacks in which more than 2,000 sheep have been killed. That constitutes a rise of 20% on the same period last year. So, under pressure from farmers and faced with an increasing number of attacks, the local prefect has finally ordered a hunt for one individual wolf thought to be doing much of the damage. Since an anti-hunting code was agreed in 2004, only four wolves have been killed in France. Under the present rules, the wolf can only be shot legally by government marksmen or by shepherds trained and licensed to defend their flocks. Remy Saunier, the chief wolf catcher for the area, is now sending small, nightly patrols into the mountains. 'Mystical animal' "The wolf will always take the easiest prey," he said. "If it's easy he comes back, and that's what he's done here, every other night. We have tried to scare it with lights and noise but it returns. It is only our presence in these mountains that are limiting the wolf attacks. "Most people in France have welcomed the return of the wolf. It is a beautiful, mystical animal. But if these people woke in the morning to find

Summary: In the summer months high on the French Alps the sheep graze on rich pastures.


The victim was David Byrne, a leading member of the Kinahan criminal gang. Gunmen alleged to be linked to the Hutch family took revenge on the Kinahans for the murder of a family member in Spain the previous September. Kevin McAnena, who was a journalist for BBC Radio Foyle at the time, was an eye-witness. "I heard gunshots and saw two gunmen dressed up in police uniforms. They came in through the lobby just to my left. One of them shot a man running away in the leg. "I jumped over the receptionist's desk and started shouting 'Don't shoot, don't shoot'. The gunman then leaned over the receptionist's desk and pointed the gun down at me. And I again screamed 'Don't shoot, don't shoot'. He than said something to me and left again," he recalled. By the time David Byrne was buried, Eddie Hutch had already been murdered in retaliation. Gardaí (Irish police) believe he was killed solely because of his surname. And so began a Kinahan gang-led cycle of violence that has, so far, claimed at least nine lives. It is not yet clear if some other gangland killings are feud-related. David Byrne's funeral took place as politicians were getting ready for a general election. When the ballot boxes were opened and counted it was soon clear that Fine Gael and Labour, the outgoing coalition parties, were taking a big hit. Not everyone bought into their "Keep the Recovery Going" message. Independents and Sinn Féin made progress, but Micheál Martin and Fianna Fáil were the big winners. At the time Mr Martin said: "Everybody who is elected to Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament) has a responsibility to do their best by the country. And we're committed to doing our best by the country and making sure the country gets a good government. But it's going to take time." He was right. It took several parliament meetings before a Fine Gael-led government with independents in the cabinet emerged. It is a government that Fianna Fáil agreed to support for three budgets and in motions of confidence. Those political developments meant that when Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny attended the centenary of the 1916 Rising he was there as a caretaker prime minister. The highly symbolic event passed off without controversy with the President Michael D Higgins saying the rebellion was justified as a means to free what is now the Republic from British rule. "I think the balance now among historians, not just here but abroad and in Britain as well, is that it did need this event. And it is this event that gave us the space and capacity for independence and freedom," he told the BBC. That historically-complicated Irish relationship with the UK now seems set to take a new turn because of the June Brexit referendum result. After the vote, Enda Kenny met several European heads of government to stress Irish concerns as the only EU country with a land border with the UK. The continuation of the Common Travel Area, trade between the two states worth more than €1bn

Summary: On Friday 5 February, at the Regency Airport Hotel in north Dublin, a boxing weigh-in became a murder scene.


The 24-year-old Spaniard was with East Fife last season and impressed during a short trial at Dens Park. Etxabeguren spent five years with Real Sociedad and was included in their Champions League squad for season 2013-14. Following his switch to Scottish League Two in January, he made 15 appearances for the New Bayview club.

Summary: Dundee have signed defender Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia on a three-year deal.


Former England skipper Terry, 36, will leave the Premier League champions at the end of the season. He captained Chelsea to an FA Cup and Premier League Double in Clement's first season as assistant to then manager Carlo Ancelotti in 2008-09. "I don't know his thinking, whether he is going to carry on," Clement said. "I will have a conversation with him. I've known him a long time." Terry made his senior debut for Chelsea in 1998, and Sunday's home Premier League game against Sunderland could be his final appearance for the club. "There's been talk in the media it could be his last game or that he will go on," Clement said. "Whether that is here in the Premier League, or whether that is abroad, that is all unsure at the moment." Swansea's Premier League rivals Bournemouth are also reported to be interested in signing Terry, should he carry on playing. Meanwhile, former France and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele is to become a permanent part of Swansea's coaching staff. The 44-year-old, brought in until the end of the season following Clement's appointment in January, is now set to sign a long-term deal. "All the terms have been agreed, he just needs to sign," said Clement. "We are very happy Claude is gong to be staying on. "He is very well-liked by all the staff and the players. He brings great experience of what it is like to play at a very high level. "He and all my backroom staff have been fantastic."

Summary: Swansea City manager Paul Clement says he will have "a conversation" with Chelsea captain John Terry about the possibility of signing him.


It was discovered by a passing police patrol near Holy Cross Boys' Primary School in Ardoyne in the early hours of Sunday morning. Ch Supt Chris Noble said the device was "sizeable" and an attempt by dissident republicans to kill police officers. He said the lives of the local community had also been put at risk. "There's no doubt that device was there to try and kill community police officers on the beat in their local area but also it was left in such a reckless manner and in such a reckless location that it would undoubtedly have led to the death or serious injury of a member of the public had it exploded anywhere near them," he said. "This is an attempt, we believe, by violent dissident republicans to kill police officers but it was also very much an "anti-community act" as well, in terms of where it was located and the way in which it was left." About 20 residents had to leave their homes during the security operation and were given shelter in a nearby community centre. The senior officer said they included "very distressed young children" as well as elderly residents and people with "significant disabilities". They have since been allowed to return home. Northern Ireland Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, said: "I am sickened by this incident with dissident republican terrorists placing a bomb close to a primary school in north Belfast. "This shows their wanton disregard for human life, potentially putting children in danger. "The consequences could have been utterly devastating and it shows them for what they really are." North Belfast MP, Nigel Dodds of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said: "Those who constructed and planted this device clearly have no regard for any human life. "Such a device could have caused devastation and we must all pay tribute to the work of those who have made the scene safe." The Sinn FÃ©in North Belfast MLA, Gerry Kelly, also condemned those who had left the bomb in the area. "Those who are involved in this need to get off the people's backs and they need to go away," he said. "The message is as simple and straightforward as that, we could have been dealing with death here, thankfully, we're not." SDLP councillor Paul McCusker said the incident had caused distress to those living in the area. "In total there were over 20 homes evacuated," he said. "One young girl, a six-year-old, you could see the fear when you were speaking to her and she said [was] woken up by her mum and had to leave the house. "She told me she actually thought she was dreaming and her and her mum were very frightened." The chair of the Policing Board, Anne Connolly, urged witnesses to help detectives track down those responsible. 'Leaving an explosive device in the heart of the community shows the recklessness of those responsible as anyone could have been caught up in this," she said. "I'm grateful that the device was found and the attempt to harm our police officers thwarted." The

Summary: Police have said a bomb which was left outside the gates of a primary school in north Belfast could have killed or seriously injured.


The 29-year-old was on trial with English Championship side Bolton Wanderers last week but has signed a three-year deal in Turkey instead. He joins Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o at the club, after he signed for them in July. Mbolhi impressed for Algeria at the 2014 World Cup as they reached the second stage.

Summary: Algeria goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi has signed for Turkish club Antalyaspor after being allowed to leave MLS side Philadelphia Union.


David Fifita's second-minute try, a Ben Jones-Bishop score and three Liam Finn kicks put Wakefield 14-0 up early on, as Scott Grix and Jake Connor replied. Tom Johnstone's length-of-the-field effort and prop Fifita's second put Wakefield's victory beyond doubt. Jermaine McGillvary's two tries were consolations for the struggling hosts, who are still without a head coach. Wakefield have not appeared in a Challenge Cup final since 1979, but head coach Chris Chester is one win away from a second final in as many seasons, having led Hull KR to Wembley in 2015. Huddersfield, second from bottom of Super League and under the temporary stewardship of Andy Kelly after sacking Paul Anderson on 16 June, had knocked out holders Leeds Rhinos in the previous round. Against Wakefield, they were made to pay for poor starts to both halves. Giants half-back Danny Brough was sent to the sin-bin for a high shot on Reece Lyne during a sloppy opening to the first period, although he returned to set up Connor's first-half score with a jinking run and sharp pass. That left the hosts only six points behind at the interval, but there was to be no way back for Huddersfield once Grix's loose pass had gifted Johnstone the chance to coast over for his sixth Challenge Cup try of the season. Huddersfield: Grix; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Connor; Brough, Ellis; Crabtree, Hinchcliffe, Rapira, Symonds, Ta'ai, Lawrence. Replacements: Murphy, Wood, Johnson, Mason. Wakefield: Jowitt; Johnstone, Lyne, Tupou, Jones-Bishop; Miller, Finn; Fifita, Moore, England, Molloy, Ashurst, Sio. Replacements: Arona, Anderson, Annakin, Walton. Referee: Gareth Hewer.

Summary: Wakefield reached their first Challenge Cup semi-final for eight years by beating Huddersfield in the last eight.


Yorkshire Water said the problem was detected at water treatment works at Tophill Low and Keldgate. A spokesman said the issue had now been resolved but it could take several hours for water supplies to return to normal. The HU7 and HU8 postcodes were particularly affected by the problem, along with other places in the city. Tens of thousands of residents could be affected, but the exact figure will not be known until an investigation has been carried out. Yorkshire Water said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused this morning and hope to get the issue resolved and the water supply back to normal by the end of the day."

Summary: Thousands of homes in Hull have been left without water due to a technical fault.


The justices said they would hear a combined case about marriage bans in four states. But a supreme court ruling on the cases could fully legalise gay marriage in the US. The court previously struck down a US law preventing federal recognition of marriages in states allowing same-sex unions. After that ruling, a wave of decisions in the regional federal appeals courts ended numerous state gay marriage bans. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia now issue marriage licences to same-sex couples. Fourteen state bans remain. On Friday, the justices said they would take up cases from gay and lesbian plaintiffs in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. In November, a US appeals court overturned rulings striking down marriage bans in those four states, the first appeals court to do so since the Supreme Court's initial gay marriage ruling. The US high court previously declined to intervene in cases that had made it to the appeals court level, effectively allowing marriages to go forward. During two-and-a-half hours of arguments, the justices will consider two related questions - whether the US constitution requires states to issue marriage licences to gay and lesbian couples and whether states must recognise such marriages performed in other states. The case will be argued in April and a decision is expected by late June.

Summary: The US Supreme Court will rule this year on whether gay couples have a right to marry across all states.


Before Saturday's fight between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko, find out which boxing great you are by taking our quick personality test. Will your choices see you matched to Lennox Lewis, do your picks make you a modern day Rocky Marciano, or perhaps you'll come out as the greatest of all time - Muhammad Ali. The current top dogs are in there too - are you Joshua or Klitschko in disguise? Obviously it's just a bit of fun. Let us know if you agree with who you got matched with by using #MyBoxingAlterEgo This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser

Summary: Are you all-out aggression, do you outsmart your opponents, or do you win through sheer willpower?


The sum is on top of more than £1.2bn set aside in previous years' provisions. Parent company National Australian Bank (NAB) said between £350m and £500m more would be set aside this year, but added that the final cost remained uncertain. The move was announced in its third quarter results on Monday. Up until the end of March, NAB had set aside £806m to compensate customers for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI). A total of £325m has already been paid out. NAB's cumulative provisions relating to interest rate hedging products amounted to £431m, about half of which has been paid out. This year's extra funding will come from a £1.7bn mis-selling fund, which the bank is being required by UK regulators to make available after the Clydesdale is floated. NAB is in the process of demerging and floating Glasgow-based Clydesdale, which includes the Yorkshire Bank. It intends to complete the break-up by the end of this year. In a statement, NAB said "substantial progress" had been made on the demerger and stock market sale. It will provide more detail with full-year results in late October. The Australian banking group has been working hard to offload the Clydesdale, which amassed a large portfolio of bad property loans. It has also been facing high costs of redress for mis-selling payment protection insurance and complex systems for business customers to protect against interest rate changes.

Summary: Clydesdale Bank is to set aside as much as £500m in extra funding this year to compensate customers for mis-selling of financial products.


Media playback is not supported on this device The Scot, 28, beat world number 87 Taro Daniel 6-1 6-3 6-1 in his first match since becoming a father last month. World number six Kei Nishikori brought the visitors level with a 6-3 7-5 7-6 (7-3) win over Dan Evans in Birmingham. Victory in the best-of-five first-round tie will secure a quarter-final place and World Group status in 2017. Dom Inglot and Jamie Murray are scheduled to take on Yoshihito Nishioka and Yasutaka Uchiyama in Saturday's doubles contest, although the line-ups can change up to an hour before the 14:00 GMT start time. "We will wait and see," GB captain Leon Smith told BBC Sport. "[It will be] hopefully our strongest team, put it that way." Britain are defending the title they regained last November for the first time in 79 years with victory against Belgium. "It was amazing," Murray said of the reception he received after needing only 90 minutes to see off Daniel. Media playback is not supported on this device There were signs of rustiness - four double faults and 25 unforced errors slowing his progress at times - but the Scot broke serve six times and saved both break points he faced in a one-sided win. Murray, 28, won the opening 11 points in his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final 33 days ago. He wrapped up the first set in 28 minutes and took hold of a more competitive second after a double fault at 3-3 from Daniel, the US-born 23-year-old with just five ATP wins to his name. Two blistering returns gave Murray the decisive break at the start of the third and he wrapped up the 28th Davis Cup singles win of his career in style. "The last few weeks have been the best of my life, really special," Murray said of becoming a father to Sophia. "It has been tough the last few days being away from her for the first time but it had to happen to some stage, and it is a pleasure to represent my country and be with team-mates that we won with last year. "The second set was tough - a lot of close games and some tough points, which was good for me. "I was getting a little out of breath but I played a good match, served well, missed a few second serves but the first serve went extremely well, so it was a nice start." Evans, from Solihull, had the support of his home crowd and the confidence from a victory in his only previous meeting with Nishikori, but the Japanese player was still too strong. It is over three years since he surprisingly lost to Evans at the US Open and Nishikori has since become established among the game's elite. Evans, 25, once again played above his ranking of 157 but could only convert four of 13 break points that came his way. After dropping serve twice in the first set he failed to capitalise on 0-40 early on in

Summary: Andy Murray returned to action with a comfortable win as Great Britain ended day one of their Davis Cup defence tied at 1-1 against Japan in Birmingham.


Lord Alderdice said proposals for a new international body to monitor paramilitary activity would have "much less power" than the panel he sat on. He was a member of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) which operated from 2004 to 2011. The Liberal Democrat peer said the new body would only be able to produce a few proposals for the Executive. "Which will then fall into disagreement about how they should be implemented," he said. Lord Alderdice spoke on Tuesday's debate on the Northern Ireland Welfare Reform Bill in the House of Lords. The former Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Robin Eames also used the debate to express his disappointment that the "Fresh Start" deal did not include any agreement on the legacy of the troubles. Lord Eames, who was co-chair of a consultative group on the past, told peers he was well aware of the "desperate plight" of troubles' victims. He urged the government to publish the legacy papers prepared during the inter-party negotiations, arguing that the victims "deserve nothing less". Lord Eames expressed the hope that legacy issues might yet be tackled, adding that "perhaps the situation is not as bleak as it seems". The government spokesman, Lord Dunlop, said the establishment of a new monitoring body to assess the impact of paramilitary activity on local communities is "a crucial part" of the "Fresh Start" deal. Lord Dunlop said the government regretted the fact that an agreement on legacy issues could not be reached, and remained committed to continuing to work to build a consensus.

Summary: The former leader of the Alliance party Lord Alderdice has criticised plans contained in the "Fresh Start" deal.


The pastor and his family eventually fled Chibok in September after repeated attacks by the militants. They moved to the nearby town of Mubi until it also came under attack the next month and now live in Minna in the north-west. The family now scrapes a living by selling firewood and as Rev Mark tells the BBC's Chris Ewokor, the 12 months since the abductions have felt like "like 10 years". Since the abduction of Monica and Sarah we've been in some kind of condition but I cannot describe it. We are not able to sleep. My wife [has been having] this problem with her blood pressure, we have been struggling, at times when I come and see her alone I meet her crying, at times she cannot eat especially when it was in the early days just after these girls were abducted. We set a day that we fast and pray so that the Lord will strengthen our daughters and all the abducted Chibok girls, if they are still alive. My biological daughter Monica, she was 20 at that time she was abducted, and Sarah Samuel [my adopted daughter] was 18. That day, 14 April, was a very dangerous day. I remember hearing gunshots - all the buildings in Chibok were shaking. We have little mountains there and they were was echoing the shooting sound. When we went to the bush, I asked them [my wife and small children] to continue walking but I watched what was going and and saw how they were setting fire on some buildings until the morning. I managed to get back to my house and took my machine [motorbike]. I went to the school, no pupils were there. I asked about them and was told that they have taken our daughters, and they showed me the direction they went. We saw that the girls had dropped their head scarves and dropped shoes along the way. So I used that as a guide to follow where they went. Somebody told me that my daughter jumped out of the vehicle and she was wounded and she could not walk. It encouraged me to continue to pursue them. I went to a village which the kidnappers had set fire to and passed through it. I went to the next village and was told that the kidnappers had somebody and that should go back. I just went into the bush to keep on looking and I met two girls - Sarah Lawan and a daughter of my watchman. I took them on my machine to the house. They [had] jumped out of the big lorry that was carrying them - if you would have seen the dust on them, you would have pitied them. So it was those girls who gave me the information that they were kidnapped. When I was in Chibok, there were some members of Boko Haram who mixed with us, so we did get some information though it was not first hand and we did not know if it was true or not. I was

Summary: The daughter and adopted daughter of Reverend Enoch Mark were amongst the more than 200 girls kidnapped in the early hours of the morning from their boarding school by Boko Haram militants in northern-eastern Nigeria a year ago.


Friday is likely to be the busiest day of the year, with air traffic controllers expecting to handle more than 8,800 flights - a record number. They have called for a drastic modernisation in the way aircraft are guided across UK airspace. It comes as the government launches a discussion to shape the UK's aviation industry for the next 30 years. Air traffic controllers expect to manage a record 770,000 flights in UK airspace over the summer - 40,000 more than last year. But the ability of the the UK's National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) to deal with this surge is being stretched to the limit, it is claimed. Nats director Jamie Hutchison said: "In the last few weeks we have already safely managed record-breaking daily traffic levels, but the ageing design of UK airspace means we will soon reach the limits of what can be managed without delays rising significantly." The Department for Transport estimates that, if airspace management remains unchanged, there will be 3,100 days' worth of flight delays by 2030 - that is 50 times the amount seen in 2015 - along with 8,000 flight cancellations a year. The government wants the public to submit ideas on a wide range of subjects, from airport bag check-ins in town centres to noise reduction targets. The six themes it will consult on over the coming months are: Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Our new aviation strategy will look beyond the new runway at Heathrow and sets out a comprehensive long-term plan for UK aviation. "It will support jobs and economic growth across the whole of the UK. "Our vision puts the passenger at the heart of what we do, but also recognises the need to address the impacts of aviation on communities and the environment." Meanwhile, airport capacity is expanding way beyond Heathrow's new runway. Friday also marks the start of a Â£1bn investment programme to double the size of Manchester Airport's Terminal 2. The number of planes taking off and landing at Stansted has gone up every month for almost four years. Cardiff Airport has seen an 11% rise in traffic, and Luton is recording growth of 7% this year alone. The problem of volume has been complicated by shifts in travel patterns. Destinations including Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia have lost out to Spain, Italy and the US, which means major changes in the flows of traffic into UK airspace. Nats itself is rolling out a new Â£600m ($747m) computer system known as iTec that could result in more flights and fewer delays. But Juliet Kennedy, Nats operations director, said: "What is needed is a clear and stable UK policy that recognises how important our airspace is as a critical part of our national infrastructure. "It is essential that we are able to balance the needs of airspace users with the environment and, of course, with the communities who experience aircraft noise."

Summary: Air traffic controllers are warning that UK skies are running out of room for record numbers of planes.


Speaking to Huw Edwards on The Wales Report, Andrew RT Davies defended his party from criticism that it simply opposes Labour policies rather than putting forward its own programme for government. "At every juncture we bring forward an alternative, we don't just criticise," he said. "There is a clear agenda for what the Welsh Conservatives stand for, and it's action. "It's action to improve the economy, it's action to improve public services in Wales and it's action to strengthen communities the length and breadth of Wales." Asked about his priority if the Tories won power after the assembly election in May, Mr Davies said: "The first spending commitment is protecting the NHS budget for the lifetime of this parliament, or the assembly's term, the five years. "I would suggest that the outcomes in Wales regrettably aren't as good as we want them to be. "And we want to make sure those outcomes are improved. "That's why we've called for an independent Keogh-style enquiry into the NHS here in Wales so we can make those improvements, not on political whims, but led by clinicians themselves telling us what we need to be doing to improve the health service here in Wales." Prof Sir Bruce Keogh investigated 14 NHS trusts in England for a review into higher-than-expected hospital death rates, published in 2013. Speaking about the Wales Bill on further devolution, the Welsh Conservative leader praised Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb's handling of the legislation, put on hold on Monday after MPs called for a re-think. It followed claims that the draft bill was confusing, and would leave Welsh ministers with fewer powers rather than more. Mr Davies said: "The secretary of state deserves huge credit; for instead of ploughing on with this bill, actually saying 'I've listened to what people have said to me'. "Actually, the Welsh Labour government could learn a lot from this legislative process." First Minister Carwyn Jones had called Monday's announcement on the Wales Bill an "avoidable delay to clear up an avoidable mess".

Summary: Labour has been "ploughing on as if they have a divine right to rule" in Wales, the Welsh Conservative leader has said.


Wasps goalkeeper Neil Parry had already denied Dobbie three times before the striker curled in a drive off a post. Parry saved again from Dobbie after the break, but the 33-year-old would not be denied his fifth goal in three Challenge Cup outings and 12th goal of the season for the Championship side. His close-range header killed off the lively League One visitors' hopes. And it ended a run of eight games without a victory for the Dumfries side - a sequence that had ended with Gavin Skelton standing down as manager earlier this week. The side under caretaker Jim Thomson, who had been football development manager, for the first time became the second into the last four. Dundee United had earlier beaten Dunfermline Athletic 1-0 at East End Park. League One leaders Livingston host Welsh champions The New Saints, while Ayr United visit Championship rivals St Mirren, in two Sunday quarter-finals. A Grant Anderson header had grazed the Alloa crossbar before Dobbie made the breakthrough at Palmerston Park. The Wasps had their moments, with Jamie Longworth being denied by goalkeeper Lee Robinson and Greig Spence going close with an overhead kick with Jim Goodwin's part-time side only one goal behind and looking the more likely to score. However, after Parry prevented Derek Lyle extending the lead, Dobbie provided the finish from Dean Brotherston's cross 14 minutes from time. Queen of the South caretaker manager Jim Thomson: "It was a shock to myself. On the Monday, Gavin just decides to resign. I think it was a combination of things. "It has been a terrible run and hopefully that brings a bit of confidence to the squad. "It has been a hard week for everybody, but the way the boys trained during the week, the tempo they took into the game. "I thought in the first half we were excellent. Some of their play was brilliant. "It is a break from the league for the boys and it's a national cup semi-final so you always want to progress." Alloa Athletic manager Jim Goodwin: "We came here to be positive and to take the game to Queen of the South. I thought we done that for large spells of the game. "They're very lucky to have Stephen Dobie, who's a top player. "He's the type of player who could easily be playing in the Premiership. "I'm proud of the players. We didn't just come down here and look to hang on. Overall, there's a lot to be positive about."

Summary: Stephen Dobbie's double took Queen of the South into the Challenge Cup semi-finals at Alloa Athletic's expense.


The oil giant said the majority of the staff and contractor posts would go this year, with the rest expected to be lost by the end of next year. The job losses amount to about a fifth of BP's North Sea workforce. BP said it was taking the step in the face of "toughening market conditions" but added that it remained committed to the North Sea. The cuts are among 4,000 posts BP plans to shed from its global oil exploration and drilling business. The announcement comes a day after oil firm Petrofac said up to 160 UK jobs could go under a restructuring plan. Mark Thomas, regional president for BP North Sea, said: "We are committed to the North Sea and see a long-term future for our business here. "For example, in 2016, we are continuing to invest around $2bn of capital into North Sea projects and a further $2bn in running our North Sea operations. "This will sustain many hundreds of jobs both in BP North Sea and our supply chain going forward. "However, in toughening market conditions and given the well-documented challenges of operating in this maturing region, we need to take specific steps to ensure our business remains competitive and robust. "An inevitable outcome of this will be an impact on headcount and we expect a reduction of around 600 staff and agency contractor roles by the end of 2017, with the majority of these taking place this year. "We are speaking to our staff and agency contractor management and will work with those affected over the coming months." The UK government's Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, is expected to hold talks soon with the Scottish government's energy minister, Fergus Ewing, over the announcement. Mr Mundell said: "The UK government will work with the Scottish government to ensure help is provided to those affected, including through the Job Centre Plus network. "The UK government recognises the huge importance of the North Sea, to Scotland and the whole of the UK." First Minister job Nicola Sturgeon described the job losses in the North Sea as a "crisis" for those affected but insisted that the sector had a "strong future ahead". She said: "I think it is important to note and to welcome BP's continued commitment to the North Sea. "BP has reiterated today its investment plans, both in capital investment and operational investment in the North Sea this year and has said that it sees a long-term future for its business." She said she would ensure the taskforce, which was set up last year and is chaired by Lena Wilson from Scottish Enterprise, was doing everything it could for individuals facing the prospect of redundancy and the industry as a whole. Lewis Macdonald, Scottish Labour MSP for the North East of Scotland, said the job cuts were "another huge blow" for Scotland's oil industry. He added: "With so many jobs being lost in the north east, and no sign of a recovery any time soon, it is time to reconvene the oil summit held just under a year ago and

Summary: BP has announced plans to shed about 600 jobs from its operations in the North Sea.


Germany, Australia, Nepal and Pakistan now offer a third gender option on official forms with other countries set to follow suit. And scientists are finding more evidence to suggest that even biological sex is a spectrum. Do we need to re-imagine our binary world and rethink one of the most basic parts of our identity? Four experts talk to the BBC World Service Inquiry programme. Brin Bixby was brought up as a boy, and went on to get married and father children before coming out as bigender. She set up Bigender.net, which reflects the view that gender is a spectrum. "In college I wore a dress on Halloween, and it was supposed to be a joke, and the people helping me thought it was going to be hyper-real, exaggerated. [But] I didn't want to be a drag queen, I wanted to be a woman, and I think it took people by surprise. "It was the first time I looked in the mirror and saw myself. People interacted with me as a woman: they saw me the way I wanted them to. "I would be most comfortable if I didn't have to think about my gender, but unfortunately that's not how it works for me and a lot of other non-binary people. "We have a cultural understanding of what gender is and looks like, and in the west we have a very binary view of it. My sense of gender as a part of my identity shifts. "I present as a woman everywhere I go, except for at work and at my children's school, because it gets very exhausting to have to explain gender fluidity to everyone I meet. "Ideally we would not make gender such a huge focus of our culture, which would give people the freedom to inhabit their gender in ways that feels most comfortable to them. "What we're seeing now is a relaxation of the sense of binary amongst younger people and internet-savvy people who are inhabiting much more fluid spaces." Writer Mark Gevisser explores gender identities across different cultures. "We know there's a gender continuum, because there have always been effeminate boys and masculine girls. Transgender is certainly not a western phenomenon. In many cultures all over the world there are traditionally third gender or gender-fluid identities. "There are the Hijras in India, what are known as two-spirited people in Native American culture, Muxe in Mexico, and the Bakla in the Philippines. The space these people have occupied has receded with the spread of the Judeo-Christian ethic and western culture, but they're still very much there. "There's a tendency in the west to idealise these. But the truth is that if you're Bakla or two-spirited, there are only certain things in your culture you can do. In India, the Hijras are basically cast out of society, only good for begging and sex work. So it's not necessarily a great life. "I was talking to a remarkable gender therapist named Diane [Erinsaft] and I suddenly started worrying that if she'd been around when I was a little boy, I

Summary: A growing number of people refuse to be put into male or female categories, either because they do not identify as male or female, or because they are going through transition to the opposite gender.


According to his spokeswoman, "Matthew may tape something" for the tribute to the show's creator James Burrows. "In other words, this is not the reunion people have been hoping for," Lisa Kasteler told Us Weekly. His former co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc are all expected to take part in the special. It is set to be aired on NBC on 21 February. Friends ended in 2004 after 10 series. As well as Friends, Burrows worked behind the camera on sitcoms including Cheers and Frasier. Perry has written and will star in the play The End of Longing... which is set to run in London's West End from 2 February until 14 May. It will be directed by Lindsay Posner. The dark comedy follows four disparate people approaching middle age, who meet in a bar one night. It marks Perry's first return to the West End since 2003, when he starred in David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago.

Summary: Matthew Perry "will not" attend the Friends reunion show due to rehearsals for his West End play.


The 75-year-old was recovered unconscious from the water at Tywyn, by a crew from Aberdovey RNLI Lifeboat at 16:14 BST on Saturday. He was flown to hospital by the coastguard rescue helicopter but later died. The girls were taken to hospital as a precaution. In a separate incident, three people including a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, were rescued from the sea in Harlech at about 15:30 BST on Saturday. Harlech Coastguard team, Criccieth RNLI Lifeboat, North Wales Police and paramedics were involved in the rescue. North Wales Police warned people to take extra care in the sea and to avoid taking risks.

Summary: A man has died after attempting to rescue two teenage girls who got into difficulty in the sea in Gwynedd.


Torquing Group was criticised for a lack of communication over the Zano after the project folded last week. An apology has been issued along with the new information. The collapse of Zano caused embarrassment for Kickstarter when many disappointed backers questioned whether they would get their money back. In the new update, which was published to the project's Kickstarter page, the firm detailed how its funding had been apportioned across the project. The four largest areas to which more than £2.3m in donations had been distributed as follows: Developing improvements to the Zano prototype had been one significant example of expenditure, the company said. "Ultimately these upgrades coupled with delays caused by the creation of a bespoke and automatic testing rig had significant financial and timeline impacts upon the project," the statement added. The firm also reiterated its intention to "co-operate fully" with Trading Standards within Pembrokeshire County Council. In a closing comment, Torquing added an additional apology: "We would like to make a sincere apology for the understandable disappointment felt by all of those that have supported the project." The BBC had also learned that Kickstarter had contacted Zano backers following the announcement of Zano's collapse last week. "Like you, we're extremely frustrated by what's happened with this project," the message said. It added that Kickstarter had asked Torquing to provide a more detailed update to backers by November 30 - or Kickstarter would pursue an inquiry into the Zano project.

Summary: The company behind the failed mini-drone Zano has provided some details of how more than £2.3m in funding was allocated.


The route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank had been hit by delays and cancellations. ScotRail apologised for the problems and said buses had been organised to supplement the trains that could run. More minor disruption on the route between the Borders and Edinburgh was cleared by about 16:00.

Summary: Services on the Borders Railway are "running as normal" after severe disruption due to signalling problems.


Although such an event should have been predicted and planned for, the panel said, it found gaping holes in safety standards and emergency procedures. Here is an outline of key quotes, findings and recommendations from the 88-page executive summary of the Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission's report. The earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 were natural disasters of a magnitude that shocked the entire world. Although triggered by these cataclysmic events, the subsequent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant cannot be regarded as a natural disaster. It was a profoundly manmade disaster - that could and should have been foreseen and prevented... Our report catalogues a multitude of errors and wilful negligence that left the Fukushima plant unprepared for the events of March 11. And it examines serious deficiencies in the response to the accident by Tepco, regulators and the government. For all the extensive detail it provides, what this report cannot fully convey - especially to a global audience - is the mindset that supported the negligence behind this disaster. What must be admitted - very painfully - is that this was a disaster "Made in Japan." Its fundamental causes are to be found in the ingrained conventions of Japanese culture: our reflexive obedience; our reluctance to question authority; our devotion to 'sticking with the program'; our groupism; and our insularity. (Chairman Kiyoshi Kurokawa) Collusion and lack of governance The Tepco Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident was the result of collusion between the government, the regulators and [private plant operator] Tepco, and the lack of governance by said parties. They effectively betrayed the nation's right to be safe from nuclear accidents. Therefore, we conclude that the accident was clearly "manmade"... We believe that the root causes were the organizational and regulatory systems... rather than issues relating to the competency of any specific individual. [All parties] failed to correctly develop the most basic safety requirements - such as assessing the probability of damage, preparing for containing collateral damage from such a disaster, and developing evacuation plans for the public in the case of a serious radiation release. Organisational problems within Tepco Had there been a higher level of knowledge, training, and equipment inspection related to severe accidents, and had there been specific instructions given to the on-site workers concerning the state of emergency within the necessary time frame, a more effective accident response would have been possible... Sections in the diagrams of the severe accident instruction manual were missing. Emergency response issues The government, the regulators, Tepco management, and the Kantei [prime minister's office] lacked the preparation and the mindset to efficiently operate an emergency response to an accident of this scope. None, therefore, were effective in preventing or limiting the consequential damage. In the critical period just after the accident, the Kantei did not promptly declare a state of emergency. The regional nuclear emergency response team was meant to be the contact between the Kantei and the operator, responsible for keeping the Kantei informed about the situation on the ground. Instead, the Kantei contacted Tepco headquarters and the

Summary: A Japanese parliamentary panel has delivered a damning verdict after investigating the accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant which followed an earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011.


The National Crime Agency (NCA) has released the names of the most wanted, whose crimes range from rape to child abuse and drug trafficking. The list was published in Madrid as part of Operation Captura. It includes ex-soldier Shane Walford who was jailed in 2010 for the manslaughter of an off-duty fireman while on leave from the army. Walford, a former boxer, killed father-of-two Paul Gibbons with a single punch inside a bar in Coventry. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years but recalled to prison in August 2013 after breaking the terms of his licence. He has numerous distinctive tattoos including a black panther on his left arm and boxing gloves on his abdomen. Also on the list is Mohammed Jahangir Alam, 32, who was sentenced to 14 years in his absence in March 2010 for rape and sexual assault. Bangladeshi Alam arrived in the UK on a temporary visa in October 2007 and moved to Cheltenham the following year, where he sexually abused his victim, the NCA said. His last known address was in the E3 area of London. A third fugitive, 52-year-old Carlo Dawson, from Croydon, south London, is wanted on suspicion of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl and making indecent photographs of a child. He has a two-inch scar on his right palm. Hank Cole, the NCA's head of international operations, said: "Spain is not a safe haven for British fugitives. The NCA and its partners will continue to pursue these individuals relentlessly and return them to the UK to face justice. "The exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence-sharing with the Spanish authorities has been vital to these arrests. However, we still need the support of the public." Police are also hunting: Since the launch of Captura in 2006, 65 out of 76 named suspects have been caught. This is the ninth appeal of its kind. One of the latest to be found in Tenerife was "drugs lord" Stephen Blundell, 36, from Merseyside, who fled the UK before being sentenced for a Â£1 million heroin plot, the NCA said.

Summary: A convicted killer is among 10 of Britain's most wanted fugitives believed to be on the run in Spain.


Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was found in a military training base near Shikabe in Hokkaido, just a few kilometres from where he was left. His parents initially said he had got lost, but eventually admitted briefly abandoning him for being naughty. His father has apologised to his son and rescuers, saying "we went too far". How did Yamato survive? The lost boy and Japanâ€™s parenting debate World media draw lessons "My excessive act forced my son to have a painful time," Takayuki Tanooka said in an emotional news briefing outside Hakodate hospital, 30km (19 miles) south, where the boy was taken for checks. "I deeply apologise to people at his school, people in the rescue operation, and everybody for causing them trouble," he said. "I have poured all my love into my son, but from now on, I would want to do more, together with him. I would like to protect him while he grows up. Thank you very much." Search teams including the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) have been combing the remote area, home to brown bears, for nearly a week. They had found no trace of Yamato and hopes were fading. But shortly before 08:00 on Friday morning (23:00 GMT on Thursday) he was found inside a building at the SDF base about 4km (2.5 miles) from where he was left. "One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and opened the door of a building on the base, and there he was," an SDF member told NHK. "When he asked 'are you Yamato?' the boy said, 'Yes'. Then he said he was hungry, so the soldier gave him some water, bread and rice balls." It appears rescuers came tantalisingly close to finding him four days ago. The SDF said the base had been searched on Monday but no trace was seen of the boy, who says he reached the hut on Saturday. The soldier who found him was not part of the search team. NHK said Yamato had told rescuers he "walked through the mountains" until he found the shelter. He was taken to hospital by a medical helicopter. A doctor later said he was in very good condition, despite only having had water during his six-day ordeal. At Yamato's school in Hokuto, near Hakodate, his fellow pupils shouted for joy when it was announced at assembly that he was safe, the Japan Times reports. Yamato's parents initially said he got lost while they were foraging for vegetables, along with their daughter. But they later admitted they had driven off, briefly leaving him alone on a mountain road as a punishment for throwing stones earlier. When they returned to collect him shortly afterwards, he had disappeared, they said. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt at the time, Reuters news agency reported. Police have said the parents could face charges for negligence. The case has gripped Japan, sparking discussions about acceptable levels of discipline for children.

Summary: A boy missing in remote woods in Japan since Saturday after being left alone by his parents as punishment has been found alive and well.


It shows Californians are starting to understand "that we are in the drought of our lives," state water regulator official Felicia Marcus said. It is the second month in a row the state has exceeded emergency conservation regulation. California has been dealing with record low water levels for four years. California Governor Jerry Brown imposed the state's first mandatory water restrictions four months ago, ordering a 25% reduction in all towns and cities. In June, the state used 27% less water than it used in the same period of 2013, when the drought emergency was first declared. This saving rose to 31.3% in July, with a cumulative saving for both months of 29.5%, the State Water Resources Control Board reported on Thursday. Felicia Marcus, who chairs the board, praised the "millions of conscientious Californians" who she described as "the real heroes here". She said record rain in July had played a role, as well as better enforcement, including warnings and penalties, and messaging by the water agencies. But, she warned, "this isn't your mother's drought or your grandmother's drought, this is the drought of the century". Drought monitors say 92% of California is currently in severe drought or worse, down from 94% at the start of the year.

Summary: Cities in California cut water use by 31.3% in July, exceeding a state-wide mandate of 25% to combat a record four-year drought there, officials say.


A petition to the assembly wants it to be mandatory to scan microchips of all pets, dead or alive. RSPCA Cymru said it backed mandatory identification of pets killed on highways so owners know what happened. One of six councils which does not scan said it was reviewing its policy, but two others have no plans to change. The petition says: "The microchip system can only be fully effective if animals that have been microchipped are scanned and this is vital for the owners who have to endure the mental torment of never knowing and continuing searches for weeks/months when a family pet goes missing." The petition has more than 160 signatures - at present, petitions need 10 names before they are considered, but proposals are being discussed to increase that to 50. Cats Protection wants it to be compulsory for people microchip their animals - a law covering dogs came into effect in April 2016. When the Welsh Government developed microchipping regulations, a survey of councils found most routinely scanned dead dogs found on the roads and informed owners when possible, so compulsory scanning was not included. The petitions said only Gwynedd, Anglesey, Cardiff, Newport, Blaenau Gwent and Neath Port Talbot councils do not routinely scan animals. The rest do "when they deem the animal in a state to do so" but the petition calls for this to cover all domestic animals, regardless of their condition, and their owners notified. "Whilst it is considered the unfortunate upset or distress the street clean may endure when scanning animals found in a bad way, the fact is they will handle these animals regardless of our proposed policy," it said. Cardiff council said dead dogs were scanned and taken to the pound, but not cats - which the authority has been petitioned about separately. Neath Port Talbot said it was reviewing the situation in light of several requests, Blaenau Gwent said it had no plans to scan, as did Anglesey - stating it was not part of its street cleaning contract with a private firm. RSPCA Cymru said it was "deeply sad" owners of many animals killed on the roads were "unable to locate them or learn their fate". The charity wants to see mandatory identification of pets and their owners notified in when they are killed on highways.

Summary: Animal lovers hope to make it mandatory for pets found by council workers to be checked for microchips so they can be returned to their owners.


After losing to the West Indies in their opening match, England chased 230 to beat South Africa and recovered from 57-6 to defeat Afghanistan. "We have a point to prove after the last game," said right-hander Root. "We've obviously not performed at our best yet which in a way is exciting because we know that's still to come." Victory against Sri Lanka in Delhi would secure England's place in the World Twenty20 semi-finals for just the second time since its inception in 2007. Defeat would enable either Sri Lanka or South Africa - who face each other in the group's final match on Monday - to finish second in Group 1 and join West Indies in the last four. Root added: "It's a must-win game on Saturday. We can win a game with ball and bat but we need to put them both together consistently. Then we can go all the way in this competition." James Vince replaced the injured Alex Hales and was the first to fall as England lost five wickets for 15 runs against Afghanistan on Wednesday, but Hales could return to play in Delhi on Saturday. "Alex Hales is improving with his back and he's feeling more comfortable. He had a training session today (Friday) but we will have to see how he is tomorrow (Saturday) when he gets up," said Root. Defending champions Sri Lanka have not played since Sunday when they where defeated by the West Indies, and have had one fewer match than England. In their opening game they recovered from a poor start to beat Afghanistan. "It was a really good break. We discussed what went wrong in the two games. We need to execute our plans and the guys are looking forward to the match," said wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. "We are struggling with our batting, especially the middle order, but we are working hard in practice and looking forward to do well." Ex-England spinner Vic Marks on Test Match Special: "England haven't put together the perfect match yet. England did beat Sri Lanka in the last T20, the only team to do so when they won it. "That was the match where Alex Hales smashed them for 99. England will want him to be fit to play. "Sri Lanka are not as fearsome as they were because they have lost key players, but they still have quality spinners."

Summary: Joe Root says England are yet to play to their full potential as the side prepares for a "must-win" game against Sri Lanka at the World Twenty20.


Anna Egginton-Murray, who quit Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust in September, said there was nobody with the expertise to treat serious cases in the prisons she worked in. She knew about 100 inmates with major problems who were "put on a list" of prisoners with "unmet needs". The trust denied the list's existence and said severe cases were treated. The Ministry of Justice declined to comment when contacted by the BBC saying this was not within its area of responsibility. "It felt dangerous," said Ms Egginton-Murray, adding: "It felt unethical and it felt very sad." Her claims were backed in written statements to BBC Inside Out North West from other staff who worked at the trust. Cognitive behavioural therapist Ms Egginton-Murray treated prisoners with less serious conditions at Liverpool Prison and HMP Kennet, a prison for Category C inmates near Maghull. She said there was nobody with the experience or expertise to deal with inmates when it became apparent they needed more specialised treatment. Ms Egginton-Murray would discover a prisoner's deeper problems during her consultations and felt frustrated because there was nowhere she could refer them. One inmate had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a childhood trauma and there was nothing she could do for him, she said. She added: "There was a list of prisoners that were listed as 'unmet need' because there was no service there to meet their needs." Ms Egginton-Murray, who left her post after 11 months, claimed there were almost 100 prisoners on that list, adding that her job "became very burdensome... very difficult." "When you know there is nothing more you can do and you are faced with someone who is desperate for help and they're asking for help, it leaves you in a very difficult position." The Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said: "Prisoners with more severe mental health needs would not be put on a waiting list unless they are waiting for a secure in-patient bed outside of the prison. "In the meantime their needs are managed within the prison." Draft guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) state that people in prison "have the same rights of access to health care as the general population", but that "there is clear evidence that this is not the case".

Summary: Dozens of prison inmates with serious mental health problems are left untreated, a whistleblower has said.


The Spiders' David Galt headed against the outside of the post before Shire took the lead. Thomas Orr took advantage of Bryan Wharton's poor header to burst through on goal and finish past William Muir. David McKenna doubled the advantage from close range and Scott Ferries' effort completed the win.

Summary: East Stirlingshire moved off the bottom of Scottish League Two with a surprise victory over promotion-chasing Queen's Park.


She was a passenger in a car that collided with a lorry on the Legacorry Road at about 15:35 GMT on Thursday. The woman who was driving the vehicle is in a critical condition in hospital. In a separate incident, Moor Road in Coalisland, County Tyrone, has been closed following a two-vehicle crash.

Summary: A 20-year-old woman has died in a crash in Richhill, County Armagh.


11 April 2016 Last updated at 06:52 BST But exactly how do they know that he wrote it? Jenny asks expert, Zoe Wilcox, to reveal the secret to spotting a Shakespeare script.

Summary: The only remaining handwritten script by the famous playwright, William Shakespeare, is about to go on display at the British Library in London.


The firm said there were waiting times of up to three and a half hours at the terminal in Folkestone and an hour in Calais. It tweeted the delays were "due to increased security measures" and said it was working hard to minimise them. On Thursday, a teenager thought to be from east Africa was killed by freight train near the tunnel in Calais. The boy is the 11th person to have died in or near the tunnel while trying to reach Britain, since late June. In a statement, Eurotunnel said: "There is a waiting time of approximately three and a half hours on the terminal. "We regret that we are currently unable to sell tickets to non-reserved customers. "We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this will cause to your journey." The rail operator also tweeted earlier that services had been affected by a power problem on the national French network but issues were later resolved. It said security systems would be checked within the Channel Tunnel before any trains were allowed to enter. There has been a fall in intrusion attempts at Eurotunnel's terminal in Calais after extra security measures were introduced in Europe. The situation in Calais is part of a wider crisis across Europe, with migrants and refugees heading north from the Mediterranean.

Summary: Eurotunnel passengers have faced fresh delays after "migrant activity" led to extra security measures in France.


Two men took £200 from the shop at Rosskeen Park at 04:00 GMT on Thursday before making off in the stolen car. Police said the black Citroen C1 was stolen from the Shearwater area. Shop owner Pat O'Reilly told BBC Radio Foyle: "This will cost us thousands but we'll pick ourselves up and get back to it though." He added: "Shelving, freezers and shutters have been badly damaged. "We have put so much money in to this place. The shop was going well too. "We are going to be closed for a while and staff still have to get paid. This is just a nightmare."

Summary: A Londonderry shop owner has said the repair bill for damage caused to his shop, after a stolen car was rammed into it, will be around £10,000.


Rio's offer of 16.50 Australian dollars ($16.42; Â£10.14) is now conditional on 47% of shareholders accepting it by 6 April. Previously its minimum target was 50%. The move came after talks on the A$3.9bn offer between Rio and Riversdale major shareholder, Brazil's CSN. If it fails to reach the new threshold, Rio Tinto will pay Riversdale shareholders only A$16 a share. So far only 41% have said yes. The other key shareholder in Riversdale is Tata Steel of India, which recently increased its stake to 27% and also has a director on the company's board. CSN, Brazil's largest steelmaker, has also increased its Riversdale stake to 19.9%.

Summary: Mining giant Rio Tinto has lowered its minimum acceptances target slightly in a last ditch effort to takeover South Africa's Riversdale Mining.


Arbroath moved into third with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Clyde. Cowdenbeath overcame Montrose 2-0, while Stirling Albion moved up to seventh with a 3-2 win at second-placed Elgin City. Edinburgh City snatched all three points in their game against Annan thanks to Ryan Porteous' late header. Forfar went ahead against Berwick when David Cox scored just before the interval with a neat header from six yards out. Lewis Milne then added a second four minutes from time. Bobby Linn was on target in the 31st minute for Arbroath; finding the bottom corner with a neat finish. Martin Scott scored two in two minutes in the second half to clinch victory for the Red Lichties, who leapfrog their visitors in the table, before Ryan McCord added a fourth late on. Nikolay Todorov fired Cowdenbeath ahead from the penalty spot in the 20th minute after Cammy Ballantyne fouled Kris Renton in the area. And it went from bad to worse for the visitors when Ballantyne was shown a red card in the 29th minute for a foul on Craig Johnston. The hosts extended their lead through Renton's 57th-minute header. Elgin took the lead against Stirling when Darryl McHardy found the bottom corner with a left-footed strike in the 29th minute. However, the visitors equalised early in the second half when Marc McKenzie headed home at the back post from an Eddie Ferns cross. Stirling moved ahead when Blair Henderson pounced from close range after Sean Dickson's shot had been saved by the goalkeeper. Brian Cameron thought he had rescued a point for his side with a 76th-minute strike, but Jamie Mills scored the winner late on.

Summary: Forfar Athletic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish League Two table to seven points with a 2-0 win over Berwick Rangers at Station Park.


The X Factor's 13th series began in August with 8.5 million viewers - four million fewer than 2010's launch show. The Voice will move from the BBC to ITV next year, also on a three-year deal. But the broadcaster has agreed a deal with Simon Cowell for both The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent to continue on ITV until at least 2019. Cowell said: "I want to thank ITV for continuing to be fantastic partners. I'm delighted for the shows and, in particular, for all the talented people who work on them with us." Cowell may not appear as a judge on both programmes, though - under the new deal he is only committed to judging one of the two series per year. ITV is currently negotiating with Ant and Dec to remain as hosts of Britain's Got Talent for the next three years. Dermot O'Leary's current contract means he will keep presenting The X Factor until at least 2019. ITV's director of television Kevin Lygo said Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor were both "big, brilliant, wonderful shows" that would form "an important part of our schedule" for the next three years. "They are defining shows for us, ones that we are very proud to have as part of our entertainment slate, and they continue year after year, for months at a time, to be amongst the most popular and hugely entertaining formats on television," he said.

Summary: The X Factor is to stay on ITV for at least the next three years, despite declining viewing figures and the arrival of The Voice to the channel.


A warning by DUP minister Paul Givan that about 34,000 homes in Northern Ireland could miss out on Â£91m set aside to mitigate the effects of the "bedroom tax" over four years makes the front page of the Belfast Telegraph. Mr Givan said he could not release the Â£24m pledged to help claimants this year, as legally he needed the agreement of the executive. Inside the newspaper, former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern says he believes Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness never gelled in their joint ministerial role. He adds that from his own experience "personalities matter in a coalition government and if there is fundamental mistrust, a breach becomes harder and harder to avoid". SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has told The Irish News that the British and Irish governments should jointly run Northern Ireland if power-sharing collapses. He says if an executive cannot be created after an election "the only acceptable deal for the nationalist community is joint authority". The News Letter includes Mrs Foster's warning of a "brutal" election and the expectation by her DUP colleague Sir Jeffrey Donaldson that a prolonged period of direct rule from Westminster is likely. "Pull Back From Abyss" is the strong headline across two pages in the Daily Mirror, above quotes from Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire describing the political situation as "grave". The destruction of eight biomass boilers and 14 tonnes of woodchip in a fire at a County Fermanagh construction firm is the other story making the front page of The Irish News. It is not clear whether the boilers at the premises outside Enniskillen had been operating with subsidies from the controversial Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. The News Letter leads with the PSNI's public apology to the family of murdered prison officer David Black, after it emerged a man charged in connection with the killing has not been seen since November. Senior detectives visited the family on Tuesday to say sorry for the "stress and worry" the episode had caused them and pledged a review to ensure bail checks were "robust". The Daily Mirror's front page concentrates on the nine-year-old boy who was critically injured after he was knocked down in Liscolman, near Bushmills. The boy was taken to the Causeway Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. A man in his 70s was arrested, but has since been released on police bail.

Summary: The impact of the political crisis at Stormont continues to feature prominently in some of the newspaper headlines on Wednesday.