The 26-year-old, who has 11 caps, has been on the bench for his club for much of this season. But he will start ahead of Scotland's four other strikers. "Am I a bit rusty right now? Yeah, but as a striker you need to be ready whether you're starting the game or coming off the bench," said Griffiths. "The gaffer has kept us on our toes this week with the tempo of training." Griffiths scored 40 goals for Celtic last season but was given only 15 minutes of action during the whole of Scotland's failed Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He had found Sheffield Wednesday's Steven Fletcher, Norwich City's Steven Naismith and Chris Martin, currently on loan at Fulham from Derby County, chosen ahead of him by head coach Gordon Strachan. And Fletcher's clubmate, Jordan Rhodes, is the only player to be playing regularly for his club at present. But Griffiths has still managed 14 goals in 33 appearances for Celtic this season despite finding himself second choice behind summer signing Moussa Dembele. He was given half an hour along with Rhodes as replacements for Naismith and Martin in Wednesday's 1-1 friendly draw with Canada. Strachan admits that, with the Scots fifth in qualifying Group F, his side must beat the second-placed Slovenians to retain hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia. Griffiths feels he can cope with such pressure despite admitting to nerves as he looks to score his first international goal. "Maybe I am trying too hard and I just need to relax a little bit more," he said ahead of Sunday evening's game at Hampden. "I want to try and break my duck for Scotland as quickly as possible. "It's frustrating for a striker, not scoring, but it's not about me - it's about the team and how I can help them to get the three points." Strachan's future is on the line should his strategy fail, but Griffiths insists the squad is fully behind the former Celtic manager. "There's a lot of things said about the gaffer that is probably unfair," said the striker. "We as players need to take on that criticism as well. "Everybody loves coming away with Scotland and playing for the gaffer. Media playback is not supported on this device "I've seen things with people saying he should resign and this and that. "But us as players, we want to get a good win and three points, which would put us just a point behind Slovenia with the England game coming up in the summer. "We still feel we're going in the right direction under the gaffer. "Everyone is still playing for the same cause. We want to get to the World Cup as much as anybody. "The results recently haven't been good, but one win changes everything. "In football, you always need a bit of luck, but we have got enough in this squad to get the win."

Summary: Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has yet to score for Scotland but is ready to lead the line against Slovenia despite admitting he is "rusty".


Two gay couples denied licenses have requested Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis be held in contempt of court. But they asked a district judge to punish Ms Davis by fining her, rather than sending her to jail. The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected the argument that her faith prevented her from carrying out her duty. Despite court orders to continue issuing licences, Ms Davis turned away two gay couples seeking marriage licences on Tuesday morning. Ms Davis, who cannot be removed from post because she is an elected official, stayed inside her office with the blinds closed as the couples demanded to see her. She eventually came out, but she said she would not issue any licences. "Under whose authority?" she was asked. "Under God's authority," she said. Dozens of reporters and activists, both supporters and opponents of gay marriage, filled the waiting area of the Rowan County clerk's office, alternatively chanting "do your job" and "stand firm". One of the men seeking a licence, David Ermold, said he and his partner would not leave the office until they were married. "Then you're going to have a long day," Ms Davis replied. Since the court legalised gay marriage nationwide two months ago, Ms Davis has refused to issue any marriage licences to anyone. The American Civil Liberties Union sued her on behalf of two gay couples and two heterosexual couples. The clerk has been ordered to appear in federal court on Thursday to address a motion filed by one of the couples asking for her to be held in contempt of court. In making its ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court denied her request for a stay while she pursues an appeal.

Summary: A Christian official has refused to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples in Kentucky despite exhausting all of her legal options.


The Scottish airline believes the flights, from 15 October, will attract passengers working in the offshore energy industries. The routes will be operated by 33-seat Saab 340 aircraft. Durham Tees Valley chief executive Steve Gill said it was a "real shot in the arm for the airport" and good news for the business community.

Summary: Loganair has announced new services linking Aberdeen with Durham Tees Valley Airport and Norwich.


The plans include a new multi-story car park and knocking down the 1937 arrivals building. The building, which has already lost two floors due to safety concerns, has been called "unsafe" by airport bosses. But Christopher Scholefield, from Save Jersey's Heritage, said plans to demolish the Art Deco terminal would be a loss to the island. "Why is it that the interesting, genuine, historical, architectural artefact has to be knocked down in order to replace it on virtually the same footprint? "If we ended up with what they're going to build... it won't be horrible, but we'll have something that's not genuine anymore." Group chief executive officer of Jersey's airport and harbours, Doug Bannister, said: "It's actually not so original because it's been added to year after year... over the decades. "It's an obstacle and what that means is it's too big and too close to the runway. It's currently unsafe."

Summary: Designs for redeveloping an airport "remove" its Art Deco past, a heritage campaigner has said.


It has been estimated that half of the privately-owned land in Scotland is controlled by 432 people. The Land Reform Bill will end tax relief for shooting estates and force the sale of land if owners are blocking economic development. However, it has been described as a "land grab" by opponents. Landowners on sporting estates stopped paying business rates in 1994 after being given an exemption by then prime minister John Major's Conservative government. The Scottish government had previously said the tax exemption was unfair and must end. It has proposed using the additional money raised by ending the tax exemption to treble the Scottish Land Fund - which is used to help support community buyouts of land - from Â£3m this year to Â£10m a year from 2016. But landowners have claimed re-introducing the rates could make some sporting estates unprofitable and force gamekeepers out of work. Nicola Sturgeon set out the land reform proposals shortly after becoming Scotland's first minister in November of last year. She said at the time that "Scotland's land must be an asset that benefits the many, not the few". Other proposals in the bill include: The Scottish government has set a target of doubling the amount of land in community ownership from the current 500,000 acres to one million acres by 2020. It has held a 10-week consultation on its proposals. By BBC Scotland correspondent James Cook On a dusty track just outside Islay's main settlement, Bowmore, Alasdair and Rachel Whyte are standing at a metal gate. It affords a view of the bay and the hills beyond but their eyes are on the fields in the foreground. "The sun may be shining but there is a cloud over Islay," says Mrs Whyte, in a lyrical island lilt. These fields, she explains, were in her husband's family for more than a century, passed down through five generations of Whytes. They did not own the land but were tenant farmers, part of a feudal system which survives to this day. Three years ago the land here was taken off the Whyte family when Mr Whyte's sister Aileen died suddenly at the age of 47, unmarried, childless and without a will. The tenancy of the 100 acres was in her name and the law did not regard her brother as a close relative. Read more from James... David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land and Estates, which speaks for private landowners, had previously said that sporting estates were "too readily singled out in a negative light", when in fact "they were businesses that made a key contribution to rural tourism, local employment and the environment". And the Scottish Conservatives have also criticised the government's proposed reforms as "a Big Brother-style land grab". Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod said: "We cannot underestimate the crucial part land reform will play in contributing to the future success of communities across Scotland. "Through the Land Reform Bill we want to ensure that future generations have access to land required to promote business and economic growth and to provide access to good quality,

Summary: The Scottish government has published "radical" proposals aimed at widening the ownership of land across the country.


In a series of Freedom of Information requests, BBC Scotland asked how many cases, concerns and complaints of child exploitation, and child sexual exploitation were recorded in the past four years. But the force said the figures were not held on a single system. Scotland's Children's Commissioner said the revelation was "disturbing". It comes on the day that officers launched a new unit to help with what police acknowledge is the complex problem of child abuse and neglect across Scotland. It will provide expertise to allow local teams to robustly investigate cases, including child sexual exploitation, online offences and other types of abuse. In its response to the BBC's FOI requests, Police Scotland said: "Child exploitation covers a broad range of criminal activity and doesn't correlate to a specific offence, but rather can involve a range of differing offences...The level of data you have requested is not held on a single system." It comes after the publication last summer of the Jay report into sexual exploitation in Rotherham in South Yorkshire. It revealed that more than 1,400 children were subjected to appalling sexual abuse. Last year Glasgow City Council said 97 children in the city were victims, or at risk of, sexual exploitation. The Association of Chief Police Officers said most forces in England and Wales now put a marker on such offences in their records, but senior officers here say that it is not easy to do. Children's Commissioner Tam Baillie said: "I am disturbed that we do not yet collect police figures on children who are the subject of sexual exploitation. "This was a recommendation of the Scottish Parliament and features in the Scottish government action plan on child sexual exploitation. "The reason this is so important is that unless we know the scope of the problem we are trying to deal with, then we won't have the appropriate or proportionate response." Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, from Police Scotland, said the nature of child sexual exploitation made it highly unlikely that young people would come forward to report being abused. "Our priority is to be focussing on identifying as many victims as we can and identifying perpetrators who have the intent to commit these devastating crimes so we can prevent the abuse from happening," he said. "Scotland is at the forefront of approaches to child sexual exploitation. "Sexual exploitation is a form of abuse and it is not a specific crime type recorded as such. Children and young people may be victim of repeated rapes, physical assaults or grooming offences and we categorise all of these in crime recording." He added: "But what is most important here is our focus on identifying who these victims are. "Our focus is always on where there are child protection issues, and on keeping children safe." Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo's Scotland, said: "Rotherham was a real wake-up call and led to the Scottish government's national action plan last year but we could and should be doing more. "Our concern is that we don't know the full extent of the problem. We welcome

Summary: Police Scotland has said that it does not collate or hold specific figures on child sexual exploitation.


The 46-year-old succeeds Ronnie Moore, who parted company with the club by mutual consent earlier on Wednesday. This is a first managerial role for Hignett, who had a spell as Hartlepool assistant manager under Colin Cooper in 2013-14. Hartlepool are one place above the relegation zone having lost three of their past four league matches. Hignett, whose 19-year playing career began at Crewe and ended at Hartlepool, will take charge of the team for the first time when Pools host Yeovil on Saturday. "We immediately identified Craig as our number one target and we believe he has all the right qualities to help instil confidence back in to the players and help us move up the table," said chairman Gary Coxall. "He has a wealth of experience in football and has been looking for an opportunity to move in to management so we're delighted to give him that chance here at Victoria Park." Sam Collins, who worked alongside Moore, will remain at the club but in a new role focusing on the club's under-21 players.

Summary: Former Middlesbrough player Craig Hignett has been named as the new manager of League Two side Hartlepool.


As government colleagues speak boldly of the economic opportunities Brexit might offer and point to the better than expected economic news since the referendum, the Treasury is quietly warning there may still be pain ahead. Eeyore to the rest of the government's Tiggers, Number 11 is hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. Yes, the chancellor has said to colleagues, the mood has changed since the Autumn Statement. There will certainly be some "pats on the back" when it comes to the Budget on Wednesday. The economy is more resilient as consumers - buoyed by ultra-low interest rates, cheap borrowing and high employment - keep spending. And among the members of the European Union there is less talk of economic "punishment" as Brexit approaches - and more of "co-operation". I am told that one banking chief executive was even bold enough to tell the Prime Minister at a recent private meeting that in three years' time the UK's financial services sector and the economy could be in a better position than they are now. How to follow the Budget on the BBC Better growth also means the government's borrowing position is more positive than predicted just three months ago. Tax receipts are higher as stronger consumer spending and higher levels of business activity feed through to the Exchequer. The Office for Budget Responsibility - the official economic watchdog - is set to upgrade its growth forecast for 2017. And borrowing, it is likely to say, will come in at least £10bn lower than the official target. It should be remembered, however, that that target was significantly loosened last year. So, with a better economic outlook, will the Budget be a time for a few politically targeted giveaways? There will be some limited action. The Treasury was certainly stung by accusations following the Autumn Statement that Philip Hammond did not mention the NHS or social care funding despite predictions of a looming crisis. Expect more money for social care, more money for business rate relief and more money for schools. Individual tax thresholds - the point at which people start paying tax on their income - will also be increased, getting ever closer to the target of £12,500 of tax-free income promised in the Conservatives' 2015 manifesto. But each move will be limited. Yes, the Treasury will have a modicum of borrowing headroom, but officials have created a long list of headwinds that could knock the economy off course. Eeyore still wonders if an earthquake might strike. First, the tax base is eroding as more people join the "gig" economy - the self-employed who work for companies such as Uber and Deliveroo and pay less tax. Gig employers also pay less in national insurance and pension contributions. Mr Hammond wants a review of the tax status of the self-employed, ready for major announcements in the autumn, when the new cycle of November Budgets begins. Treasury officials are also convinced that some of thegood news on increased tax receipts are "one-offs" - changes to self-assessment rules and corporation tax payments that will

Summary: "We haven't had an earthquake lately," was Eeyore's tart response when asked about forecasts that the weather can only improve in the Hundred Acre Wood.


Spokesman John Kirby said the two officials - who have not been named - were told to leave on 17 June. Mr Kirby said that earlier that month, a Russian policeman attacked the US diplomat near the US embassy in Moscow. "The action was unprovoked," he said. Russia said the diplomat worked for the CIA and had refused to show ID papers. Last month, US officials said harassment against US diplomats by Russian security and intelligence services was on the rise. Russia has denied the allegation. "On 17 June, we expelled two Russian officials from the United States to respond to this attack," Mr Kirby said on Friday. He said this was in response to the attack on the US diplomat on 6 June. The assault happened after the accredited American official had identified himself to the policeman, Mr Kirby said. "The action was unprovoked and it endangered the safety of our employee. The Russian claim that the policeman was protecting the embassy from an unidentified individual is simply untrue." Russia said earlier this week that the US official was a CIA agent who had refused to provide his identification papers and hit the policeman in the face. "Instead of the CIA employee, who was in disguise, as we understand, it could have been anyone - a terrorist, an extremist, a suicide bomber," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Russian media have also released a video of what they say was the scuffle between the US diplomat and the Russian policeman. Last month, the US said it had raised the issue of the alleged harassment of US diplomats in Russia directly with President Vladimir Putin. Washington said the problems began two years ago after the US - as well as the EU - imposed sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula and its ongoing involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Specific incidents have not officially been revealed. But the Washington Post said last month they included breaking into the homes of embassy staff, rearranging furniture and even killing a family pet. No official response has been made by Russia but a statement to the Post did not deny the charge and said there had been US provocation against Russian diplomats. The former US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, told the newspaper that while his family was living in Moscow, they were routinely followed by security services that wanted him to know they were being watched.

Summary: The US has expelled two Russian diplomats in response to an attack on an American diplomat in Moscow, the state department says.


All but one Welsh council had resettled refugees from the UK government's Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme by the end of last December. Councils had been criticised for the speed that they were housing people. Oxfam Cymru welcomed the figures, with Conwy and Denbighshire the latest authorities to become involved. The charity's Matthew Hemsley said: "Wales has a proud history of welcoming those in need and it is important to see that tradition being continued." The majority of the refugees in Wales were taken in the second half of 2016 - 285. A total of 5,454 people have been resettled in the UK. The figures from the Home Office come after the Welsh Local Government Association said Syrian refugees were expected to have been housed in all council areas across Wales by the end of 2016. In August 2016, it was reported that only nine of Wales 22 councils had taken part up to the end of June. The statistics said that one authority - Pembrokeshire - was yet to house refugees from the programme at least by the period covered by the figures, which run from October 2015 to December 2016. However the council says it plans to resettle a family in the county by the beginning of April.

Summary: The number of Syrian refugees resettled in Wales has reached at least 397, according to figures from the Home Office.


The assets comprise properties, money from nearly 30 bank accounts and fine art belonging to Gioacchino Campolo. Dubbed the King of Videopoker, as he made his fortune by tampering with slot machines, Campolo was sentenced last year to 18 years in prison. Authorities have described the seizure as the largest ever from a criminal in Italian history. Campolo came by his fortune by altering slot machines in countless bars and cafes. In 2011, he was found guily of criminal association, usury and extortion. For 10 years he tampered with gambling machines, amassing millions in illegal profits, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome reports. Among the confiscated assets are more than 200 properties comprising homes, shops and land in Rome, Milan and Paris among other cities. Campolo also possessed more than 100 art works, including an original Salvador Dali. They are all now state property. The Italian fraudster is thought to have had strong links with one of the most powerful mafia networks in the southern region of Calabria, known as the 'Ndrangheta. Authorities say the criminal network helped him amass his fortune in return for sharing some of his profits. Italian police have hailed the assets seizure as a defining moment in its war against criminal networks. A police statement said that "taking on criminal fortunes means taking away prestige from the 'Ndrangheta within its own criminal environment". The 'Ndrangheta is estimated to have an annual turnover of tens of billions of euros, the AFP news agency reports. But, in 2010, the 'Ndrangheta suffered a major blow when police arrested more than 300 people suspected of belonging to the network following a sophisticated undercover operation.

Summary: Italian police have seized assets estimated to be worth about 330m euros (£253m) from a convicted businessman.


Grant's side are in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations but that has not stopped some Ghanaians expressing dissatisfaction with the performances. "Every player had has criticism at one time or another. I would like that to change," said the Israeli. "I don't know why they target players. I would like them to respect the payers, who are giving everything." Ghana are seeking an elusive fifth Nations Cup title in Gabon - their last came in 1982. And they are showing the kind of resilience and quality necessary to end that 35-year wait, having beaten DR Congo 2-1 in Sunday's quarter-final to reach the last four. But some people have questioned whether the team is sufficiently equipped to go all the way, and Aston Villa forward Jordan Ayew appears to be the focus of the doubters' negativity. "Jordan is having a great tournament," Grant countered. "He gave a great assist to Asamoah Gyan against Mali and scored a great goal against DR Congo in the quarter-final. "Also his performance statistics are great and they show he is running a lot. He is answering his critics on the pitch." The Black Stars will meet Cameroon on Thursday for a place in the final. "It will be very tough, we saw Cameroon's quarter-final win over Senegal and they played very well," Grant said. "Cameroon will have one more day rest than us but we've shown we can deal with difficulties. "My team is improving, every game we get fitter and sharper. And this team has a big heart."

Summary: Ghana coach Avram Grant says his team deserve respect following criticism by some fans and sections of the media.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 11 February 2015 Last updated at 10:17 GMT Rail services were suspended as teams worked to clear the lines of snow and schools were forced to close their doors. Forecasters have warned of more snow on Thursday and over the weekend. Footage taken from the air shows the damage the latest snowstorm has caused.

Summary: As residents and emergency teams in Boston, USA, struggle to deal with 60cm of fresh snow, the roofs of some buildings have collapsed under its weight.


Media playback is not supported on this device Meg Lanning hit a composed 55 and Alyssa Healy a rapid 25 as Australia compiled 132-6 amid a mixed England fielding performance. In reply, Charlotte Edwards (31) and Tammy Beaumont (32) added 67 for the first wicket inside 10 overs. But, from there, England lost regular wickets to slump to 127-7. Australia - seeking a fourth straight title - will play New Zealand or West Indies in the final in Kolkata on Sunday. England, meanwhile, miss out on the final for the first time since 2010. Although they arrived at this semi-final having won all four of their group matches, England had already shown plenty of fragility with the bat, collapsing from 59-0 to 109-9 against West Indies and from 42-1 to 92-8 against India. This time, their middle-order woes finally cost them as they squandered the perfect platform laid by Edwards and Beaumont. With seven overs remaining, England needed 45 more with nine wickets in hand, but they succumbed to panic. First Beaumont played an unnecessary slog and was caught at cover, then Natalie Sciver was bowled third ball attempting an overambitious scoop, before Heather Knight smacked Erin Osborne to long-on. From there, England's hopes rested with the out-of-form Sarah Taylor, but her dismissal - caught behind tamely trying a reverse sweep - summed up England's muddled thinking and sealed their demise. After Healy and Elyse Villani got Australia off to a superb start with a partnership of 41 from 27 balls, the Southern Stars were in danger of faltering when both openers were dismissed in quick succession. Lanning came to the crease having passed 30 only once in four innings in the tournament, but the world's top-ranked T20 batter quickly set about demonstrating her class. Scoring heavily behind square on the off side, Lanning hit six fours, adding 36 with Ellyse Perry. As England came back into the game with late wickets, the Australia captain remained a serene presence at the other end - but she could not find any boundaries in the final four overs of the innings as Australia lost momentum. Media playback is not supported on this device It was a mixed performance in the field by England, containing both moments of magic and costly instances of ineptitude. In the closing overs, Sciver brilliantly ran out Alex Blackwell with a direct hit from deep midwicket, and Anya Shrubsole then accounted for Lanning with another superb piece of fielding, shattering the stumps from long-on. However, earlier Edwards' side had fluffed two straightforward run-out chances, with Lanning reprieved by a poor Danielle Wyatt throw and Blackwell surviving after a Shrubsole fumble. Media playback is not supported on this device Crucial runs were also conceded by poor ground fielding, with the whole haphazard display summed up by the comical moment when an inattentive Sciver was hit on the head by Katharine Brunt's throw as she walked back to her bowling mark. England captain Charlotte Edwards: "I think we know a lot about each other and there are no secrets but Australia held

Summary: England were knocked out of the Women's World Twenty20 by Australia for the third tournament running with a five-run semi-final defeat in Delhi.


Mohammad Amir took 3-63 for the hosts, his best figures since his return from a spot-fixing ban, to ensure victory for the hosts in their 400th Test. Bravo's 116 gave West Indies - chasing 346 to win - hope, before he fell to Yasir Shah to leave them 263-7. Pakistan wrapped up victory with 12 overs to spare. The second match of the three-Test series starts on Friday in Abu Dhabi. Beginning the final day on 95-2, West Indies - now without a win in 12 Tests - lost Marlon Samuels caught behind off the first ball to Amir. But Bravo shared half-century stands with Roston Chase and captain Jason Holder and reached three figures off 211 balls, having hit nine fours and a six, to bring West Indies within sight of what would have been the third highest successful run chase in Tests. The experiment of having a day-night Test in the United Arab Emirates looks to have failed after a lacklustre turnout across the five days. While 123,736 fans packed into the Adelaide Oval across three days in November 2015 for the first ever day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand, official figures suggest just 6,000 spectators watched the action over five days in Dubai. On Friday, the first of the weekend in the UAE, the crowd was a little over 2,400 at its peak despite an entry fee of just AED 20 (£4.50). Problems with the pink Kookaburra ball arose too, despite its seam being strengthened and coloured black to make it easier for the batsmen to see. The pink ball had to be changed after just three overs in Pakistan's second innings on the fourth day after losing its shape - with just one ball throughout the duration of the Test lasting the full 80 overs. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur: "There's some work to do with the pink ball. I don't think it's up to the standard required yet and I think that's the only thing holding day-night cricket back. "We didn't get the pink ball to reverse swing and we saw it get soft quite quickly, so it has a way to go." Former West Indies captain Sir Viv Richards: "I don't think they have fully sussed the right ball just yet and the jury is still out with the changes in shape and discolouration of the ball, but once they get that right the future may look a little bit brighter. "We have to try various ways and means to give new excitement to the game. I remember when one-day cricket started there were some issues with the white ball and it's still very much in existence so we need to give the pink ball a chance." Former Pakistan captain and coach Waqar Younis: "Test match cricket is still the pinnacle and we have to preserve it. We haven't fiddled with it too much from the beginning and I don't think we need to do too much. "Some pitches may end up being too juicy for the pink ball in the evening. "If it's attracting crowds,

Summary: Pakistan clinched a thrilling 56-run win over West Indies in the day-night Test in Dubai despite a Darren Bravo century on the final day.


A Chinook helicopter from RAF Odiham in Hampshire was sent to recover the wreckage. Five people were on the training aircraft when it was forced to land on Yr Aran in Snowdonia on 9 August. All five escaped unhurt, but black smoke could be seen billowing from the peak for miles around. Five people - four military and one civilian - were on board the Griffin helicopter from RAF Valley on Anglesey when it made what the Ministry of Defence called a "precautionary landing". A sixth person involved in the training exercise was already on the mountain when the crew had to land. The exercise involved the helicopter picking people up and putting them back down on the peak.

Summary: Recovery of the RAF helicopter which burst into flames shortly after the crew was forced to make an emergency landing began on Monday.


Ashton Carter, US defence secretary, said about 90 people were being trained in a secure location, and they would be paid by the United States. He said more fighters would begin training soon at sites in Jordan, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Supporting the troops militarily on the battlefield has not been ruled out. Nearly 4,000 fighters volunteered for the programme but, after an extensive screening process, only 400 were given places. "We're starting with the people that we have that we've vetted very carefully," Mr Carter said, "We expect that to be successful and therefore to grow. But you have to start somewhere, and this is where we're starting." Mr Carter was at pains to point out that the role of the force would be to take on the Islamic State and not the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. However, he did not say what would happen if the rebels engaged the Syrian army. "We have not determined yet all of the rules of engagement... but we have acknowledged that we have some responsibility to support them," the defence secretary said. The fighters will be paid by the United States, and, when deployed, will continue to receive back up and support from coalition forces. There are about 450 coalition forces involved in the training at the four sites, including about 350 Americans. The Pentagon intends to train and arm more than 15,000 rebels over the next three years. Mr Carter made it clear that the support did come with strict conditions. "An explicit part of their training is how to conduct themselves in a way that is consistent with international law," adding: "Any continued support for them would be strongly conditioned upon their continued good conduct." The Pentagon would not disclose when the troops would be ready to enter the battlefield. Since last year, the US has been part of an international coalition conducting an air strike campaign against Islamic State, which took over large swathes of Syria and Iraq in a lightning offensive.

Summary: The US military has begun training a small group of Syrian rebels in an effort to build a force capable of defeating Islamic State militants.


The Project Loon team, part of the company’s X research lab, said it was now able to use machine learning to predict weather systems. It means the firm has far greater control over where its balloons go, making it possible to focus on a specific region, rather than circumnavigating the globe. Clustering a small number of balloons greatly reduces the cost of the idea, Google’s “captain of moonshots”, Astro Teller, told reporters. "We can now run an experiment and try to give service in a particular place in the world with ten, twenty or thirty balloons,” he said, rather than the hundreds needed previously. “Real users” will be able to use the system in the “coming months”, he added - but he did not specify where the initial roll out would take place. Rural ambition Google’s aim is to provide connectivity to the around four billion people in the world who do not have access to the internet, particularly those in difficult-to-reach rural areas. Rather than undertake huge construction projects to replicate connectivity networks in the developed world, the firm has instead experimented with beaming down connectivity from a network of huge, tennis-court sized balloons. The balloons float in the stratosphere around 11 miles high. By raising or lowering altitude, the balloons can be caught in different weather streams, changing direction. By using machine-learning algorithms, Google thinks it has cracked a way to predict weather with enough accuracy to make it possible to hover balloons over a relatively small area for a long period of time. Last last year the firm was able to keep a cluster of balloons over Peru for three months. Spin off Over the past year Google has come under increasing pressure from its shareholders to rein in the costs of its more outlandish ideas. Last month, the firm has spun off its self-driving project into a new company - Waymo - and has stepped up attempts to commercialise the technology amid criticism it was taking too long to make money from its work. Mr Teller said Project Loon was one of the more “mature” moonshot ideas at the company, but while it was entering into contracts with telecoms firms, Google was in “no rush” to make Project Loon a stand-alone business. “The service has a much better chance of being profitable which is obviously exciting for us,” he said. "Things have gone much better than we anticipated they could go. That has made the prospects of Loon even better than we had anticipated.” Falling out of the sky One key hurdle for the company to overcome is the reliability of its balloons. To date, the record for continuous balloon flight has been 190 days. At a research lab within Google’s campus in Mountain View, California, development teams painstakingly analyse each failed balloons on a huge scanner nicknamed “Billie Jean” owning to light panels reminiscent of the illuminating pavement in Michael Jackson’s iconic music video. Other technologies trying to achieve similar goals have been tested by Google and others. The company recently shut down Project Titan, an effort

Summary: Researchers at Google say they are “years closer” to rolling out a network of huge balloons to provide connectivity to rural areas.


The cessation comes despite attempts to rescue the route in a £9m emergency deal, mostly from Stormont. Economy Minister Simon Hamilton had previously said the rescue package was crucial to attracted US-inward investment for Northern Ireland. A United Airlines statement said: 'We have regretfully taken this decision because of the route's poor financial performance." The ruling by the European Commission to block the funding package to protect Northern Ireland's one and only scheduled trans-Atlantic service defies logic and is an example of "abysmal Brussels decision-making". Managing Director Graham Keddie said: "You could hardly get a worse example of process-driven madness. "This is a vital link for business and losing it will be a body blow to executive ministers who use it to promote Northern Ireland to would-be investors from the United States. "This is a bad day for the executive and a bad day for Northern Ireland." "The executive did the right thing with its bid to save this key route. There was a risk to the flight and we stepped in to save it. Faced with the same circumstances again, I would make the same decisions. All public money has been recouped with interest and we retained the route for a longer period. "Our decision to support the route was praised by many and, had we not have made an effort to save the United flight, we would have been rightly criticised. "We were always aware of the potential of an issue around state aid compliance, but given the tight timescale to put a package of support in place, approval by the European Commission could not be sought in advance of agreeing a deal with United." "This is an international embarrassment. "This is a huge blow to our international standing and the minister must tell us what he intends to do to sort it out." "Awarding a £9m subsidy for a global corporation, which makes billions every year, against the advice of senior civil service officials and against state aid rules, was a dangerous commitment of resources at a time of already stretched budgets. "The gamble taken by the executive has spectacularly crash landed and there are now very serious questions for the economy minister to answer. "We need to know what communication the minister had with the European Commission before and after he issued a ministerial direction, ignoring the advice of senior civil servants. "Additionally, Simon Hamilton must outline how much public money has been spent advertising the route since the direction was issued." Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said the decision by United Airlines to halt its Belfast to Newark route is a serious blow to Northern Ireland, in economic and social terms. He said: "To lose our only direct air route from Northern Ireland to the United States will have a serious impact on our business community as well as local people using it to visit family or for holidays. Coming just weeks after United was offered £9 million to keep the route open after they threatened to pull it is a slap in the face to our Executive.

Summary: Politicians and businesses have been reacting to United Airlines ending their flights from Belfast to Newark Airport.


"My first instinct was to open the wing exit and slip out with as many passengers as I could, but I realised that this would leave the rest of the passengers vulnerable," then flight attendant Nupoor Abrol told BBC News. Security forces laid siege to the New York-bound plane for 16 hours at Karachi airport after the jet was taken over by Palestinian militants on 5 September 1986. There was a bloody end - 22 people killed and about 150 injured. It shocked the world, and is the subject of a newly released film, but the surviving crew have until now remained silent. While they relayed the events to a private FBI meeting a week after the hijack, and to a parole hearing for the lead hijacker in 2005, this is the first time they have shared details with the media. They also shed light on the last few hours of Neerja Bhanot, their colleague who died in the attack and is the subject of the new film. They are breaking this silence now, they say, because they want to honour and acknowledge the vital roles played by all on board, most of whom are not known to the public. "The hijack is far from over for me and my colleagues. Some of us, passengers and crew alike, are still struggling with the skeletons of the past, trying to fix the puzzle of incidents, sequences, people who were involved in the chains of events," says Nupoor. "The stories may differ but the spirit remains the same." It was just before 06:00 and Pan Am Flight 73, on a stopover in Karachi from Mumbai, was scheduled to continue on to Frankfurt, en route to New York. There were 14 flight attendants on board, 12 of whom were preparing for take-off. Outside, four gunmen had sped on to the tarmac in a van disguised as airport security. The men entered the Boeing 747, firing shots into the air. Nupoor saw them shoot near the feet of a colleague, shouting at her to lock the door. Flight attendant Sherene Pavan, who was out of sight of the militants, heard the commotion, reached for the intercom and pressed the emergency number to the cockpit. The pilot picked up on her second attempt and she relayed the hijack code. Fellow attendant Sunshine Vesuwala saw one of the hijackers grab a colleague, Neerja Bhanot, and put a gun to her head. And then another militant, his AK-47 and grenades in clear view, instructed Sunshine to take him to the captain. The cockpit was empty. "I noticed immediately that the escape devices in the cockpit had been deployed. I noticed that the evacuation hatch on the ceiling of the cockpit was open, but I pretended not to. I wanted to give the pilots time to escape in case they were still in the process of climbing down the ropes outside the plane. The hijacker didn't seem to know much about the plane so he didn't look for it," says Sunshine. "Many have criticised the pilots for leaving the rest

Summary: Nearly 30 years after the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi airport, six of the plane's crew have spoken to the media for the first time.


The court refused permission to Salvatore Girone to travel to Italy for Christmas. It also rejected Massimiliano Latorre's request to extend his stay in Italy by two more months. He was allowed to go home in September for four months for medical treatment. The marines are on bail pending trial. On Tuesday, the court said the trial had already been much delayed and that legal proceedings must resume soon. The marines were guarding an Italian oil tanker when they opened fire, killing two men off the Kerala coast. The marines said they mistook the fishermen for pirates. India has ruled out the possibility of a death penalty and invoking the anti-piracy law to try the marines. Italy has always insisted that as the shooting had taken place in international waters, the men should be tried in Italy. Last year, Delhi and Rome were involved in a bitter diplomatic row after Italy refused to send the marines back when they were allowed to go home to vote in the February 2013 elections. The marines eventually returned to Delhi a month later and the court withdrew its controversial order.

Summary: India's Supreme Court has rejected travel appeals of the two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012.


The so-called tampon tax is a sales tax on feminine hygiene products which are used to absorb menstrual blood. Necessities such as food and medicine are exempt from the tax, but some states do not include tampons and pads. Advocates have decried the tax as an unfair burden on women since tampons are not considered a luxury. The Democratic governor cited fiscal concerns over his decision to block the bipartisan bill. Tampon tax paid around the world "Each of these bills creates a new tax break or expands an existing tax break," Mr Brown said in a statement. The governor also vetoed several similar bills, including one to end tax on nappies, arguing the measures would reduce state revenue by $300m (£227m) in the coming year. Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, who authored the bill, lambasted the veto, vowing to "keep pushing until we get it done". There is no "tampon tax" which specifically is pointed at feminine products, but many US states do not exempt the product from the regular state sales tax. The average statewide sales tax is 6.25%, but in some cases, can run as high as 10.25% like in Chicago, due to city and county surcharges. The tampon tax debate has gained momentum as a global movement in part due to a social media push to end the stigma surrounding menstruation through hashtag campaigns such as #HappyToBleed and #FreeTheTampons. In 2015, a London woman went viral after she ran the marathon without using feminine hygiene products to draw attention to the issue. 'Tampon tax': How much do women pay for periods? The same year, Republican Donald Trump stirred controversy after he referred to Fox News debate moderator Megyn Kelly as having had "blood coming out of her wherever," prompting the hashtag #PeriodsAreNotAnInsult. President Barack Obama also underscored the issue when he said he had "no idea" why tampons were taxed as a luxury item in some states earlier this year. Just 13 of the 50 US states have no tax on feminine hygiene products. In 2016 alone, 15 states introduced legislation or proposed debate to eliminate the tampon tax. Last month a Florida woman filed a class-action lawsuit against several state agencies and major retailers with the aim of repealing Florida's sales tax on tampons and reimbursing consumers with millions of dollars. American consumers spent $3.1bn (£2.3bn) on tampons and other feminine hygiene products last year, according to market research firm Euromonitor. The average woman menstruates from the ages of 12 to 50 and tampons in the US cost roughly $7 (£5.30) for a box of 36. New York officials estimate that by exempting feminine hygiene products from its sales tax, consumers save about $10m (£7.5m) a year in purchasing tampons, pads and other similar products. Meanwhile, the California tax brings in upwards of $20m (£15m) annually, according to Ms Garcia. Last July, Canada eliminated its national goods and services tax on menstrual products while several countries have cut the tax. Online petitions prompted countries such as Britain, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands to end the practice while French lawmakers

Summary: California Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill to end a sales tax on feminine hygiene products, a levy that has sparked worldwide debate.


Blair Turgott broke the deadlock from the spot with his 10th goal of the season in the 13th minute after David Fitzpatrick handled in the area. Turgott's strike went in off the post, giving Torquay goalkeeper Brendan Moore no chance, but the visitors were not as fortunate when Brett Williams' 36th-minute drive from close range hit the bar and went over. The visitors' search for an equaliser was just as fruitless after the break and Bromley are now up to 11th place. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Bromley 1, Torquay United 0. Second Half ends, Bromley 1, Torquay United 0. George Porter (Bromley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Substitution, Bromley. Jordan Wynter replaces Dave Martin. Lee Minshull (Bromley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Substitution, Torquay United. Jamie Reid replaces Luke Young. Substitution, Bromley. Connor Dymond replaces Jordan Higgs. Brett Williams (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Second Half begins Bromley 1, Torquay United 0. First Half ends, Bromley 1, Torquay United 0. Substitution, Bromley. George Porter replaces Louis Dennis. Goal! Bromley 1, Torquay United 0. Blair Turgott (Bromley) converts the penalty with a. Luke Young (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Summary: Bromley made it five wins from their last seven National League games with victory over Torquay.


Livi's 2-0 win over their nearest challengers came courtesy of goals from Dale Carrick and Nicky Cadden. Brechin City moved above Alloa Athletic and to within a point of second place by beating Stranraer, with the Wasps drawing with Queen's Park. East Fife won Barry Smith's first match in charge against Peterhead and bottom side Stenhousemuir beat Albion Rovers. Carrick's shot gave Livi an early lead at home to the Diamonds and Cadden's late strike sealed the win for David Hopkin's side. At Glebe Park, Ally Love fired Brechin ahead on the quarter-hour and that lead was doubled by Connor McLennan's free-kick before half-time. Stranraer had Steven Bell sent off in the second half for two bookings. Queen's Park went ahead away to Alloa through Ross Millen's 62nd-minute shot, but the hosts were level within seven minutes through Greig Spence's strike. The Fifers moved out of the bottom two after scoring two second-half goals against Peterhead, Jason Kerr then Kevin O'Hara firing in. Smith's side were replaced in ninth by Stranraer, who are only two points ahead of Stenny. Willis Furtado's strike gave the Ochilview side a narrow home win.

Summary: Livingston moved 10 points clear at the top of Scottish League One after beating Airdrieonians.


The Scot's first game in charge was the encouraging 0-0 draw at Preston. But the Championship side have still not won in eight games, their worst run since the 2012-13 relegation season. "One of the biggest differences is the work rate," said Bodvarsson. "We're playing much faster and defending better," he told BBC WM. "The message is much more clear now. A lot of the guys are taking it very positively. "Paul Lambert has obviously come in with a plan. It is a clear message to all of the guys in the team about what their job is on the field now. "Defensively, we were very good at Preston. Other than needing to be a little more clinical in the final third, I think we're improving a lot." Iceland international Bodvarsson was one of previous boss Walter Zenga's first summer signings when he joined from German second-tier side Kaiserslautern. Lambert's first home game in charge of 19th-placed Wolves is on Saturday against ninth-placed Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday have lost on their last five visits to Molineux, in a run of just two wins in 26 matches against Wolves. Wolves' all-time leading scorer Steve Bull and fellow club legend Andy Thompson will make on-field appearances to mark the 30th anniversary of their moves to Wolves from neighbours West Bromwich Albion. The club are expecting an attendance figure of 28,000, close to Molineux's 31,700 capacity, and comfortably their biggest crowd of the season.

Summary: Wolves striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson says they are already getting a much clearer "message" of how to improve under new boss Paul Lambert.


Sian Grigg, from Cardiff, has been nominated for an Academy Award for her work with DiCaprio on The Revenant. He thanked Ms Grigg during his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, where he won the best actor award for the film. "My make-up artist, Sian Grigg, you are an unbelievable talent," he said. Ms Grigg has worked with DiCaprio on several films including Titanic, Inception and The Great Gatsby. "I had a lovely art teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, Mr Anthony Evans," she told BBC Wales' Cymru Fyw last week. "He encouraged me and helped me get a place on the foundation course at Cardiff Art College." She then specialised in make-up at London Fashion College before forging a career working on films including Saving Private Ryan, 28 Days Later, Ex-Machina and Suffragette. But the make-up artist was keen to return to her home town, moving back to Cardiff six years ago. "I noticed that I was always away on location so there was not much point staying in London. "Although I've worked in many amazing countries, Wales will always be home. It's hard to beat Wales," she said. Pembrokeshire-born actor Christian Bale has also been nominated for an Oscar in the best supporting actor category for his role The Big Short.

Summary: A Welsh make-up artist described as a "genius" by actor Leonardo DiCaprio has been nominated for an Oscar.


Hilda Gaddum, the mayor of Cheshire East, said her fellow Conservative Michael Jones's position had become "untenable". The council waived its own financial rules three times when granting Core Fit Ltd contracts totalling £156,000. Mr Jones said he was "clear" that he had "not misled council". The fitness company runs classes in schools and is owned by Mr Jones's personal physiotherapist, Amanda Morris. Neither Ms Morris nor her company have commented on the claims. Mr Jones has previously said he had publicly declared his interest in the firm, while a council spokesman said there had been no "unlawful expenditure or any breach of EU procurement rules". However, Ms Gaddum said Mr Jones had "misled" councillors at a meeting in October, where he questioned why his link with the company was "being brought up", and had lobbied for it to receive help. The BBC has seen a letter written by Mr Jones to local MP George Osborne - whose Tatton constituency is included within Cheshire East - in which work carried out by Ms Morris's company is praised. Emails released following a BBC Freedom of Information Act request show Mr Jones helped Ms Morris write a positive assessment of how Core Fit had fulfilled one of the council's contracts. Core Fit Ltd contracts June 2014 March 2015 Ms Gaddum said she had written to Mr Jones asking for his resignation, which led to "a very, very difficult meeting with him". In a statement, Mr Jones said he would "not be resigning but thank the mayor for recognising the many good things I have achieved". "I am disappointed, given that I vigorously sponsored her mayoralty to my group, at the comments made. But that is Hilda for you." The council has not responded to requests for a comment.

Summary: The leader of Cheshire East Council has rejected a call to resign over claims he "misled" councillors about contracts awarded to his physiotherapist's firm.


The angel shark, once widespread across Europe, is now listed as critically endangered, with waters around the Canary Islands the only place they are frequently seen. But there have been increasing sightings off the Welsh coast. Fishermen are being asked to report all accidental catches of the shark. They are also being given advice by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) scientists on how to safely handle and release them. Angel sharks can grow up to about 2.5m (8ft) in length. They are also known as monk or monkfish by fishermen in the region. They are not threatening to humans, living mainly on sand or mud at the bottom of the sea and preying on small fish and molluscs. Ben Wray, marine biodiversity ecologist at NRW, said: "We know very little about the ecology of the shark in Welsh waters at the moment - the population could be present all year round, or only for part of the year. "The fact that commercial fishermen and anglers along the coast of Wales are helping us with this research is really important. "We hope that the data we gather will help us build a much better picture of the situation and help our work to conserve these amazing creatures."

Summary: Scientists and fishermen are teaming up to try to find evidence of one of the world's rarest sharks off the Welsh coast.


Jonathan Baines, 44, also known as "Willy", was found dead at a house on Ropery Road, Gainsborough, on 1 August. Pamela McLaggan, 51, of Greystones Road, denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Prosecutors accepted her plea. She was remanded in custody at Lincoln Crown Court ahead of sentencing on 21 December. The court heard Mr Baines had been out for the day at Market Rasen races before returning to Gainsborough and visiting pubs in the town.

Summary: A woman has admitted killing her partner who was fatally stabbed after returning home from a day at the races.


9 October 2015 Last updated at 17:27 BST Billy Bingham's side went on to defeat the host nation in Valencia to reach the second stage. It was the first time Northern Ireland had qualified for a major tournament since 1958.

Summary: Northern Ireland football fans from Carrickfergus, County Antrim, prepare to head out to Spain following their team's qualification for the World Cup finals in 1982.


The remark was directed at a woman in the audience who had criticised Mr Martelly and his administration. According to Haitian media, Mr Martelly told her to "go get a man and go into the bushes" at the rally in Miragoane. A presidential adviser said Mr Martelly's words had been distorted. Mr Martelly, who is in the final year of his five-year-term, is a former singer of Haitian dance music known for his flamboyant style and sometimes colourful language. The row was triggered by President Martelly's reaction to a woman at a campaign rally in the port city of Miragoane on 29 July. The woman complained about the failure of the government to provide electricity to her area, prompting Mr Martelly's hostile response, which in turn was greeted by cheers and clapping from the audience. In response to the incident, Women's Affairs Minister Yves Rose Morquette, Social Affairs Minister Victor Benoit and Secretary of State for Alphabetisation Mozart Clerisson announced on Wednesday that they would step down from their posts. They all belong to the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats party, which is part of the governing coalition. Party leader Edmonde Supplice Beauzile said Mr Martelly's behaviour was "unbecoming" to a head of state. Ms Supplice Beauzile is running for president in the upcoming presidential election in October, in which Mr Martelly will not be able to stand again. She said that "by insulting this woman, he has insulted all Haitian women". "Such behaviour is a shame for the country," she added. She also urged voters to "punish" candidates for Mr Martelly's party standing in Sunday's legislative election.

Summary: Three officials in Haiti's governing coalition announced their resignation on Wednesday in protest at a remark President Michel Martelly made at a campaign rally last week.


The young girl was injured by the drug patrol dog in Belmarsh Prison, Woolwich, on 31 March. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the incident had been reported to police and the dog withdrawn from service. In 2015, the MoJ said there were more than 530 dogs deployed in prisons in England and Wales. The Mirror reported the attack had taken place during a routine drugs test and the girl needed to undergo plastic surgery because of her injuries. The MoJ said it could not release more details because of "purdah" rules in the run up to the general election.

Summary: A toddler was bitten by a sniffer dog while she was visiting a relative in a high security jail in east London, it has emerged.


Byron Davies asked if a message from William Graham supporting the so-called "black route" for a Â£1bn Newport relief road came from a "spoof" account, as party policy was to review the options. Antoinette Sandbach accused Mr Graham of "not willing to put his vote where his principles allegedly are". Group leader Andrew RT Davies said the online row would "not be repeated". Mr Graham backed a Conservative motion in the Senedd in January calling for a review of the possible routes for an M4 relief road. But following the debate he tweeted: "I am confident that when the public inquiry is held the 'black route' will be chosen", referring to the Welsh government's preferred option. Some critics have claimed other routes would cause less environmental damage. It prompted responses from two of Mr Graham's colleagues asking whether he supported or disagreed with Conservative policy to review the alternatives. Group leader Andrew RT Davies told journalists on Tuesday he had "spoken to" each of the members who were "all signed up to the group position". "If people want to go on to Twitter to have a tittle-tattle that's neither here nor there," he said. "The people involved know my views on it and I'm confident it won't be repeated."

Summary: Three Welsh Conservative AMs have been "spoken to" by their leader for arguing about the party's M4 policy on Twitter.


Virtus, which is replacing Osprey armour, is described by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as "one of the most advanced integrated body armour and load carrying systems in the world". But among other complaints, soldiers say its webbing - where ammunition and kit is stored - has been snapping. The MoD said it was working with the armour's supplier to make improvements. Virtus body armour was first rolled out at the beginning of the year and is gradually replacing Osprey armour in phases. So far around 9,000 units of Virtus body armour, helmets and load-carrying systems have been issued to a number of units - including members of the Parachute Regiment, the Rifles, Royal Marines and Royal Artillery. The main advantage of the Virtus system is that it is lighter. But soldiers have said it gives limited space for extra equipment - such as radios and medical supplies - and that if soldiers go to ground with it they find it hard to get back up. "Daysack and Bergen should be used as fire fuel" is one of their comments on social media. Others said: "Just about room for a Mars bar and biscuits" and "Snapping!" The Virtus system is 4.7kg (10.4lb) lighter than the older Osprey body armour and will become even lighter when new armour plates are issued. There are good reasons to ease the burden. In Afghanistan a British soldier on patrol could be carrying loads of around 22kg (50lbs). The Taliban would often refer to them as "tortoises" or "camels" on their radios as the British soldier nearly buckled under the weight. These heavy loads made it more difficult to move "tactically" and could contribute to muscular/skeletal injuries. The likelihood that women will soon be allowed to serve alongside men in close combat roles is another reason to address the issue surrounding weight. The most radical innovation of the new Virtus kit is an integral spine, known as the dynamic weight distribution system. It is linked to the wearer's waist belt and helps spread the load across their back, shoulders and hips. Instead of the old Velcro straps, there is a quick release pin - a bonus when soldiers need to ditch their equipment to fight. The new helmet is also lighter. Virtus is also "modular" - so pouches can easily be added or subtracted. The father of one serving soldier issued with the equipment got in touch with the BBC to complain. He said he was "appalled" that soldiers were being issued with what he considered to be "sub-standard kit" and hoped the British Army had learned from the lessons of the past. He said his son and his comrades had found it all but impossible to get back on their feet when they went to ground wearing the new system - making life difficult for an infantry soldier. They were also unable to squeeze all their equipment into the new Bergen rucksacks and had trouble putting the armour on in the dark, he said. The MoD said: "As with every new system there have been some

Summary: British army soldiers have raised concerns about their new body armour, the BBC has learned.


64,596,800 People living in the UK 491,100 more than the previous year 259,700 added from net migration 226,200 from natural growth 25% of all births in 2013 were to mothers born outside the UK The "above average" increase of 491,100 from mid-2013 to mid-2014 included net migration adding 259,700 to population growth, the ONS figures show. This was more than "natural growth" - births minus deaths - which added 226,200. The ONS said a quarter of births were to mothers born outside the UK. The overall number of births was down compared with the previous year, continuing a downward trend seen since a peak in mid-2012. Analysis: Brian Wheeler, BBC Politics Is there any limit to the size of Britain's population? And if so what is it? Prime ministers, from Tony Blair to David Cameron, have always refused to answer that question. To do so would risk accusations of pandering to the far-right and provide a hostage to fortune, when their predictions, inevitably, proved wide of the mark. UKIP leader Nigel Farage has made political capital out of their discomfort but even he rarely talks about the overall size of the population. David Cameron thought he had hit on a formula for talking about numbers without announcing that the country is full by targeting "net migration". But, his critics would say, he only succeeded in revealing how little control he has over it. For some Britain's growth spurt, which began at the end of the 1990s, is a sign of success. It is the secret weapon that will pay the pensions bill and underpin economic growth. Some of our European neighbours struggling with declining populations, such as Germany, can only look on in envy. But anxiety about the pressure on services and the pace of cultural change among many voters is not likely to go away. The population increase was above average compared with rises over the last decade, the ONS said. As well as net migration and natural growth, other changes and adjustments, mainly in the armed forces, accounted for an increase of 5,200 people, the ONS said. The ONS figures show the annual growth in population rose steadily from about 150,000 in 1992 to about 300,000 in 2004, but that rose sharply in 2005 to 460,000. It has remained above 400,000 since - 2014's net increase is the fifth biggest. Migration Watch, which supports tighter immigration controls, said the increase "will only worsen the housing crisis and put still more pressure on our public services." Population Matters, which researches the environmental impact of population size, said the growth is having an impact on quality of life. "We are all affected adversely by the rapid population growth of recent decades," said chief executive Simon Ross. "Examples include pressure on housing and public services to the environment and climate change." The figures also found that the number and proportion of older people in the UK continued to rise. The median age of the population - the age at which half the population is younger and half the population is older - in

Summary: The UK population grew by almost half a million last year to 64,596,800, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.


More than 480 papers for the Hull East constituency were sent out without listing Labour's Karl Turner and the Green Party's Sarah Walpole. Hull City Council apologised and said a printing error had affected people who registered to vote after 1 April. The authority said it had hand-delivered the new ballot papers to the voters concerned. A council spokeswoman said: "Robust processes have also been put in place to identify any invalid ballot papers that are returned to ensure that they are replaced by the valid papers, once received." The council said that a first run of postal ballot papers - sent out to more than 5,450 homes - had been printed successfully with the full list of candidates. Ian Anderson, the acting returning officer for the general election in Hull, said: "We do apologise that this error occurred, but having quickly identified it we are confident that we have taken every available step to rectify the situation and manage it effectively." The candidates for Hull East are:

Summary: Postal ballots with the names of two candidates missing in a Hull constituency have been replaced.


"No-one will face a cliff edge," Theresa May said at a Brussels summit. A new "UK settled status" will grant those who have spent five years in the UK equal rights on healthcare, education, benefits and pensions. Guaranteeing EU citizens' rights is the top priority for the EU delegation negotiating Brexit. Before Mrs May's offer, the EU proposed that EU citizens in the UK and the estimated 1.2 million Britons living in EU countries should continue enjoying the same rights, enforceable by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). There are two other thorny issues that have to be resolved early on - the UK's divorce bill and the Northern Ireland border. An estimated 3.2 million EU citizens live in the UK and there is much nervousness - some even fear deportation. Mrs May sought to reassure the UK's 27 EU partners, saying the UK "does not want anyone here to have to leave, nor does it want families to be split up". Her Brexit statement took up little of the summit's time. There was no debate as the EU is anxious to avoid any splits emerging. The UK election left Mrs May seriously weakened, heading a minority government, which has fuelled uncertainty about the whole Brexit process. The UK's exit deadline is 30 March 2019. A cut-off date for obtaining "UK settled status" is yet to be announced. EU citizens who settle in the UK before Brexit will get a grace period to reach the five-year minimum for residency - but only if they arrive before the cut-off date. There are categories of people whose status may remain unclear, such as children, carers, students and Irish citizens. Ireland has a special relationship with the UK, including a Common Travel Area. The UK is anxious to start negotiating a new trade deal soon, but the EU has already won the argument that its Brexit priorities must be addressed first. As the summit got under way, European Council President Donald Tusk emphasised that the door to the UK staying in the EU was still open. Quoting John Lennon's Imagine, he said: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that as an Anglophile, "I hate Brexit from every angle." "It is crucially important we know what Britain wants from Brexit," he warned. The Netherlands is one of the UK's closest EU allies, with a similar stance on free trade. Mrs May has vowed to take the UK out of both the EU single market and the customs union. But there are many voices - including in her Conservative Party - pressing for a softer approach. "I hope we'll come to some form of continued [UK] membership or relationship with the internal market," Mr Rutte said. "I absolutely believe the UK will be hit in the economy and the pound very hard." Counter-terrorism has also been a key issue at the summit which comes in the wake of an attack in Brussels on Tuesday. Several EU states have been attacked in recent weeks, including the

Summary: EU citizens legally resident in the UK will be entitled to the same rights as British citizens after Brexit, the UK prime minister has told EU leaders.


A series of abusive Twitter remarks were posted on an account on Tuesday, directed to Flower, who was sent off in Saturday's Super League Grand Final. Flower received a six-month ban for hitting St Helens stand-off Lance Hohaia. One comment on the single account said Flower's "last days are approaching". Other Twitter messages said that Flower "deserves to be shot", adding that he is a "dead man". Greater Manchester Police (GMP) tweeted: "We've been made aware of abusive social media activity about the Rugby League Grand Final. Please be reassured that we are looking into this." More than 70,000 fans at Old Trafford and millions of television viewers saw the player hit Hohaia, who lay motionless on the ground just two minutes into the match. St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said after the ban: "We must assist [Flower] in any way that we can and accept him back into the sport. There is a person behind the player, and I am reliably informed by all that it is a good one." Mr McManus also said of the punching incident: "These matters have to be dealt with by the appropriate body within the game and it has so been." A GMP spokesman said any decision to take action against Flower would depend on conversations it had with St Helens.

Summary: Death threats made against Wigan rugby league player Ben Flower, who punched an opponent as he lay on the ground, are being investigated by police.


Pushp Sharma's report appeared in March in the Milli Gazette, a newspaper aimed at India's Muslim community. It quoted what was said to be a government document that banned Muslims from travelling abroad to teach yoga for last year's World Yoga Day. Mr Sharma faces charges of fabricating the document, which he denies. His report was based on what he said was an official reply from a government ministry that promotes yoga and ayurveda medicine. The report said that, after several queries to the ministry, it replied saying that none of the 3,841 Muslims who had applied to become yoga teachers had been hired up to October 2015. A letter printed alongside the article, purporting to be from the ministry, said that 711 Muslims had applied to travel abroad as instructors during the first World Yoga Day last June, but none was selected "as per government policy". The letter does not include a government letterhead and contains a number of spelling mistakes, including an incorrect spelling of the word "yoga". The Milli Gazette confirmed Mr Sharma was arrested on Saturday morning. Its editor Zafarul-Islam Khan said the charges were "clear attempts to stifle the freedom of the press". Police in Delhi told NDTV that Mr Sharma was facing charges of "cheating, forgery and promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race". India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a yoga enthusiast who says he daily practises the ancient Indian art, lobbied the United Nations to declare 21 June World Yoga Day. The first event was held last year. His support for yoga, and creation of the new yoga ministry, was criticised as "a campaign to enforce Hindu rituals on all non-Hindus," one Muslim official told Reuters last year. After opposition from Muslim groups, a series of Hindu practices were dropped from the first World Yoga Day events in India. In response, a Hindu priest and MP for Mr Modi's BJP party, Yogi Adityanath, said anyone who opposed taking part should "live in a closed room or must jump into the sea".

Summary: A journalist in India is facing charges over a report he wrote saying Muslims were banned from being yoga teachers under government policy.


Adrian Simut, 35, travelled to Newport train station, where he thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl called Sam. But he was confronted by so-called "paedophile hunters" and later arrested, Newport Crown Court was told. He admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and meeting a child after online grooming. He also pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act. The court heard Simut started messaging the teenager in an online chat room in June, saying she looked "cute and beautiful". But she was in fact an adult belonging to a group called Petronus. The operation was captured on film by the BBC Wales Week In Week Out programme, which investigated the role of paedophile hunters in Wales. The court heard that Romanian national Simut arranged to meet "Sam" in Newport and suggested she bring a friend for sexual activity. Sentencing him, Judge Michael Fitton QC said: "You were the subject of an exchange conducted by those who are looking to attract paedophiles." He was also made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Paedophile hunting groups have drawn criticism from both the Home Office and police, who have said it was inappropriate for the public to conduct undercover work. They have urged anyone with information to instead pass it to them instead.

Summary: A paedophile who travelled from London to south Wales has been jailed for three years.


In 2014, Sarah Rochira published the results of a major review of the experience of care home residents. The use of antipsychotic drugs was a recurrent theme which she has branded a "national scandal". Health boards and care homes have said changes are being made. The commissioner is asking them to show significant improvements in practice. "I know professionals don't like this phrase, but across Wales older people in care homes, through the inappropriate use of these drugs, are being 'chemically coshed'. That's the reality of it. "It is a national scandal. I made that clear when I published my review. I was very clear I would come back and look for evidence of changes and I've now begun that process. "I will publish the findings from the health boards later this year and I cannot be any clearer in my expectation that they understand how inappropriate the current situation is and that they can evidence real progress." Antipsychotic drugs are primarily used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A survey last November by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found nearly one in five - 18% - of dementia patients were being prescribed antipsychotics. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales published its own report into the use of medicines in care homes following the Ms Rochira's report. The society's director in Wales, Mair Davies, told BBC Radio Wales' Eye on Wales programme that there were examples of expert practice. "What we need is to make sure that happens in every care home in Wales," she said. Steve Ford, the dementia care lead for Care Forum Wales, which represents more than 450 independent care homes in Wales, believes progress is being made. "We need to look at the underlying reasons for unwanted behaviour that challenges, rather than picking up the phone to the GP and requesting those prescriptions," he said.

Summary: Evidence of progress on reducing the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication in care homes has been demanded by the Older People's Commissioner for Wales.


Having resumed on 54, with his team 251-6, the 23-year-old played patiently before reaching his ton from 260 balls and eventually ending on 118 not out. Andy Hodd (44) had fallen early on day two, before much of the morning and afternoon were lost to rain. But Jack Brooks' career-best 94 not out helped Yorkshire to 421-7 at the close. The 32-year-old, with only three previous first-class half-centuries to his name, put on an unbroken 165 with Leaning as the pair seemingly batted a Lancashire attack minus the injured Jimmy Anderson out of the game. After reaching 50 off 100 deliveries, Brooks' next 44 runs came off just 35 - including a seven-ball blitz for 26 runs that included two sixes and three fours. The eighth-wicket partnership between Leaning and Brooks was also a Roses Match record for either side and gives Yorkshire some hope of forcing a positive result on days three and four. Tom Bailey (3-107) took the only wicket to fall on the second day, bowling Hodd after the wicketkeeper had added only three to his overnight score. Anderson, who will be sent for a scan on his right groin on Monday, will not bowl again in this match, but may bat if needed. Lancashire's Ryan McLaren told BBC Radio Manchester: "Tough, frustrating. The pitch has slowed up as the game has gone. Having taken that wicket this morning, you would have thought we would have been able to bowl them out pretty quickly. "But Jack Brooks has batted well and Jack Leaning led the way and anchored the innings. We have created chances, but we didn't manage to take them. It was just a frustrating day. "Sitting without a seam bowler (Anderson) is part of the game. That happens. But you've just got to adapt and find a way of taking wickets. "It hasn't been easy, but we've got to try and pitch up, start again and hopefully knock them over quickly and try and bat long." Yorkshire's Jack Leaning told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's a big weight off my shoulders to get that hundred after a poor season in red-ball cricket. To do that in a tough situation in a Roses game against Lancashire means a lot. "I didn't quite feel fluent for much of my innings, but to be able to get back to old ways and graft out ugly runs when I'm not feeling at my best is really pleasing. "They bowled very well. They held their lengths and set the fields accordingly, which made it tough to score. "Thankfully to get through that and get the team in a good position is massive. Then, Brooksy coming in and playing like he did was unbelievable."

Summary: Jack Leaning struck an unbeaten century as Yorkshire piled on the runs against Roses rivals Lancashire on a rain-affected second day at Old Trafford.


Cricket and Nigeria may seem an incongruous pairing, but in Lagos many a weekend players in their colourful kit take to the crease on a dusty pitch in a fiercely competitive cricket league. "This league actually boasts about 99% of the Nigerian national team," says Femi Solebo, who chairs the Club Cricket Committee Lagos and also plays for the Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club. Watching a game from the welcome shade of the pavilion, he occasionally shouts out instructions to his batsmen taking on Government College Ibadan in a 50-over game. "Over the last three or four years Nigerian cricket has stepped up quite a lot and has allowed these guys here to show their stuff at an international level," he says. "Recently the national team got promoted to division five in the World Cricket League, which is a huge achievement for us - we've never been there before in the history of Nigerian cricket." Mr Solebo, who first started playing cricket whilst at school in the UK, reckons that in a population of more than 170 million "there must be a million or so followers of cricket in Nigeria quite easily". However, not many of them are at Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval next to Lagos' dilapidated old racecourse. Besides a few team members on the stand and a man barbecuing meat, only a small group watches from deckchairs under a nearby tree, keeping refreshed with drinks from a cool box. Some of them turn out to be former Nigerian internationals - stalwarts of the game, some of whom are updating a chat group of enthusiasts with the latest scores by mobile phone. Femi Solebo, Club Cricket Committee Lagos chair: I joke with them that if I don't fund them, they're going to come mug me "In our time we didn't have as much exposure as the current national team does, we were restricted in playing in just the West African region," says Barnaby Ephraim, who now helps administer the game in Lagos. He says it is the Lagos league, which was started more than 15 years ago, that has helped raise the profile of cricket and the opportunity to play it outside school and university. It is also tempering attitudes that see the game as elitist and old fashioned, with some schools - even the established private ones - not seeing the sport as a priority. And Mr Solebo admits it is difficult to rival football as there are not the fans to warrant tickets that would pay for the upkeep of a turf pitch. The ground the teams use is often rented out by the cash-strapped Nigerian Cricket Federation - and with upcoming elections, political rallies have recently been held here, playing havoc with the pitch, already like concrete after the dry Harmattan season. The game is also expensive for players given the kit needed. "With soccer, all you need is just one ball and then you're away," says the 45-year-old. But he says whilst the league is sponsored by private individuals like him with a passion for the game,

Summary: Nigeria has produced its fair share of great sportsmen and women - but unlike footballers and polo players, cricketers rarely get the West African nation's heart beating.


The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service was called and up to 21 patients were moved to another area of the hospital. The Western Health Trust said the patients were removed safely and added it was hoped the hospital would return to normal later on Thursday. The alarm was raised at 07:00 GMT. A statement from the Western Trust said: "Smoke was reported coming from a 'bed pan washer' in Ward 5 at Altnagelvin Hospital this morning. "Twenty-one patients were safely transferred from the ward and have been resettled elsewhere within the hospital. "It is envisaged that the ward will return to normal business later today. "The Western Trust would like to thank its staff and the emergency services for their prompt response to the incident."

Summary: Part of Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry has been evacuated after smoke was discovered in one of the wards.


A bomb hidden inside a motorcycle exploded in front of the offices of a Muslim scholars committee in Arsal, the official National News Agency said. The Sunni clerics are believed to have been in trying to negotiate the release of Lebanese security personnel held by jihadist militants based in Syria. Arsal was the scene of fierce fighting between the two sides last year. The Sunni town, which hosts many Syrian refugees, is sandwiched between Syrian government-held territory and predominantly Shia Lebanese areas sympathetic to it. The NNA reported that the head of the Qalamoun Clerics Association, Sheikh Othman Mansour, was among those people killed by Thursday's blast in Arsal. The agency said the bomb was placed on a motorcycle that blew up outside the association's office. But a security source told the AFP news agency that the bomber had entered the offices during a meeting of the clerics and detonated an explosive belt. "The explosion definitely targeted this meeting... where usually no less than 15 people are gathered," Arsal resident Abu Ibrahim told AFP. The scholars were involved in trying to negotiate the release of more than two dozen members of the Lebanese security forces who were seized by al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, al-Nusra Front, and Islamic State militants during a major attack on Arsal in August 2014. The jihadist groups have demanded that the Lebanese authorities free Islamist prisoners in exchange, and have killed four of the captives in an attempt to force them to act. The conflict in Syria has heightened sectarian tensions in Lebanon, with violence regularly spilling over its border and more than a million refugees arriving.

Summary: At least six people are reported to have been killed in a bomb attack in a town near Lebanon's border with Syria.


The takeover sees 100% of the club's shares and assets transferred from previous owner Steve Morgan to Fosun in a deal thought to be worth £45m. In an open letter to supporters, Morgan said Fosun had "made a commitment to invest between £20-£30m over the next two years" into the club. Chief executive Jez Moxey will also step down after 16 years at Molineux. Wolves, who had been put up for sale by Morgan in September 2015, are the second Championship club to have Chinese owners after Midlands rivals Aston Villa were sold to Dr Tony Xia earlier this year. The new-look board at Molineux will consist of four members, including Jeff Shi, who led the negotiations on behalf of Fosun and will become the club's representative, while local businessmen and Wolves supporters John Bowater and John Gough will also continue to serve as non-executive board members. Moxey will remain as chief executive for the next three months as the club, which finished 14th in the Championship in 2015-16, search for a permanent replacement. "We are delighted to have completed the deal to become the new owners of such a famous and historic club as Wolves," Shi told the club's official website. "We owe a great debt of gratitude to Steve Morgan for taking such good care of the club and for placing his trust in us to become the new custodians of Wolves. "During our conversations Steve's great passion and vision for the club and Wolverhampton was very clear and we feel privileged to pick up the baton from him. "And also to Jez Moxey for his tremendous contribution to Wolves. We are sad to see him leave." Shi continued: "We would also like to thank the hugely loyal and passionate Wolves supporters, and all of the club staff, for their patience whilst our discussions were ongoing. We hope they will be pleased with, and supportive of, our exciting plans for Wolves. "Our goal is crystal clear: we will do our very best to help take Wolves back to the Premier League as soon as possible and to stay there. "We believe the club and the fans belong at the top of English football and getting there is our first and top priority." Under the chairmanship of billionaire businessman Guo Guangchang, Fosun are one of the largest investment groups in China. They have stakes in various leisure and entertainment projects around the world, including Club Med and Cirque du Soleil, and currently have interests in several UK companies including Thomas Cook. Fosun also has links with super-agent Jorge Mendes, who represents Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo among others. Mendes sold a minority share of his agency Gestifute to a subsidiary of Fosun late in 2015 and is expected to play a part in recruitment at Wolves. I don't think there's any significance in the West Midlands suddenly appearing to be the hotbed of Chinese interest as far as English football's concerned. Two factors have combined - the Chinese government encouraging its big economic players to

Summary: Championship club Wolves have confirmed that they have been bought by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.


In September the 20-year-old opted to play for England over the Republic of Ireland and has been awaiting clearance from Fifa. Grealish played for the Republic at under-21s level but turned down a call-up to the senior squad for a friendly against England in June. Birmingham-born Grealish qualifies for the Republic through his grandparents. After an impressive first full year for Villa, Grealish has struggled this season, making only 17 appearances and scoring once. He has been struggling with an ankle problem and has not featured since coming on as a substitute against Manchester City in the FA Cup on 30 January.

Summary: Fifa has given Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish permission to play for England.


The abuse took place while the boys were living at Belmont House, in Baker Street, Stockport, Greater Manchester, in about 1989 and 1990. The home, which was also known as Belmont Assessment Centre, has closed. Police have made "extensive" inquiries and are now appealing for anyone who worked or lived at the home during that period to contact them. Det Con Karen Wileman said: "People who were previously residents or members of staff at the home may have moved to different areas of the country, or even abroad. "We are keen to speak to anyone who was involved with the home around the time the abuse took place."

Summary: An appeal has been launched after two boys were sexually abused at a former care home.


The 12ft-high (3.6m) statue features about 40,000 spoons and has taken almost five months to build at the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry. The spoons have been donated from across the world, as well as local schoolchildren. It is due to be transported to Mr Geller's home in Berkshire on 28 May. It was hoped the statue could be transported to Berkshire by helicopter, but after safety fears, the Ironworks Centre said the TV production company behind Shipping Wars had stepped forward to help. By Bethan BellBBC News About 250 people toasted the unveiling of the gorilla statue in a sunny Oswestry. The British Ironworks Centre had long kept the project under wraps so there was a palpable sense of intrigue and anticipation about what a 12ft high gorilla made entirely of spoons would actually look like. Uri Geller was clearly very pleased with the end result. He even signed bent spoons for a few of the children who came along to the unveiling. While Mr Geller laid down the challenge of creating a giant gorilla, Clive Knowles, managing director of the British Ironworks Centre, said it had been built for the nation and funded by the firm. He said he was hoping the statue would ultimately live somewhere more accessible to the public and that the firm was in contact with Great Ormond Street Hospital as a possible location. Many of the spoons have been sent from as far away as China, India, Kenya, Tahiti and Armenia. Mr Geller, a friend of Prince Michael, himself donated a spoon once owned by Winston Churchill. Speaking at the unveiling, in front of a large crowd, Mr Geller described the statue as "an amazing piece of art". He said: "This will not raise money for charity. It will do something better. It will amaze sick children." "I am not going to look at the gorilla too hard in case the spoons bend," he added "It has been an amazing day and Clive has made the impossible possible. Sculptor Alfie Bradley, who has hand-welded every spoon to the statue, said he had been amazed at how the appeal for cutlery had taken off on social media. "Initially we thought we only needed 5,000 spoons, but it's incredibly hard to calculate and it turned out we actually needed 40,000," he said. "It's been incredibly repetitive, but it's been a challenge. The spoons have been different sizes, different metals." He said the project had given him "sleepless nights" and now "just the word 'spoon' is enough to drive me crazy". Mr Bradley added that the gorilla's pose, with one fist breaking out of a cage, had been inspired by the film King Kong. Due to the number of spoons donated by schoolchildren across the world, he said he had come to think of the statue as "a protector" of children. Teams from the centre have given presentations at schools in Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire in an appeal for spoons, but the firm soon looked overseas. Mr Knowles said he believed the past five months had cost the

Summary: A huge gorilla statue made entirely of spoons for entertainer Uri Geller has been unveiled by Prince Michael of Kent.


Goals from Ellen White and Rachel Yankey set up a game against France in Leverkusen on Saturday. "We had a game plan, the girls implemented it, we've topped the group and it can only increase our confidence," Powell told BBC Sport. "We were very, very good and I'm so proud of how well the girls played." England needed to avoid defeat against Japan to be sure of reaching the last eight. They got off to the perfect start when White's lob put them ahead after 15 minutes, with Yankey's clever finish in the second half wrapping up the points. "The ambition was to get out of the group," added Powell. "We're still in the competition, we're not going home and that is brilliant for England. "We made some changes to the team and they worked out, but we always knew it was going to be a squad game. Our opponents from now on doesn't matter. "Sophie Bradley was enormous, Jess Clarke did a job in the first half, we changed a few things and the girls did really well." White, who impressed throughout the game and could have had a second goal when her acrobatic volley was tipped over, admitted scoring was a dream come true. "It's indescribable, the feeling of scoring in a World Cup," said White. "It's the pinnacle of your career to play in this tournament. "I don't know what came over me for that," she said of her near-miss. "I was pretty unlucky but I'm pleased I got on the scoresheet to help the team. "We stuck together as a team and implemented the game plan, which we try and do every game but this one really worked. "We always had somebody kind of filling in, always there pressing the ball and worked really hard for 90 minutes and got the end product. "I think we deserved to win the game in the end. I'm so pleased we got the three points and we topped the group. "We know that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best, so we're happy to take anyone on now we're in the quarters. "They are a great team, Japan, and they put up a real fight and it was a hard game so it was a great win for us and a good team performance."

Summary: England women's coach Hope Powell praised her players after they beat Japan 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.


The woman, aged in her 20s, was attacked after leaving the event's Chinawhite enclosure early on Sunday, with men she met there. She walked with them to the Harpsden Road and Reading Road area and was raped outside a car, which the men then drove off in. A passerby found the victim near the Three Horseshoes pub shortly after. Daniel Grist, secretary of the regatta, said: "We have been liaising with Thames Valley Police, regarding this terrible incident, which took place after Regatta facilities had closed and racing had finished for the day on Saturday 1 July. "The Chinawhite area is not located on land managed by Henley Royal Regatta but we will continue to assist Thames Valley Police and are working with them to secure CCTV footage to assist in identifying the perpetrators." Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses, and specially-trained officers are supporting the woman, who left the Chinawhite enclosure between 00:00 and 02:30 BST. Det Ch Insp Lis Knight said such incidents were rare in the area. The Â£3m rowing regatta sees more than 200 races take place on the river Thames over five days. The annual regatta, which has been held since 1839, was expected to attract 200,000 spectators to this year's event.

Summary: Organisers of the Henley Royal Regatta are supplying hours of CCTV footage to police after a woman was raped.


Shares in ITV rose 1.3% after the broadcaster said it had appointed EasyJet's boss Carolyn McCall. ITV's previous chief executive, Adam Crozier, left in June, but Ms McCall will not take up her new post until January next year. Carillion shares leapt 19% on the news it was part of a consortium granted HS2 contracts by the government. Carillion, in the wider FTSE 250, announced on Monday that it had appointed the accountants EY to support its strategic review, which has been launched after it issued a profit warning last week and announced the departure of its chief executive. Carillion's shares were trading at about 67p, although this was still well below the 191p level they stood at prior to last week's profit warning. Staying in the FTSE 250, shares in Weir Group rose 8% after the company, which makes pipes and valves for the energy and mining sectors, said revenue and operating profit for the full-year were set to beat expectations. Weir said it been helped by a faster than expected recovery in the North American oil and gas markets. The FTSE 250 index closed 112 points, or 0.6%, higher at 19,520. The pound weakened slightly against both the dollar and the euro. The pound fell 0.3% versus the US dollar to $1.31; sterling was also 0.3% down against the euro at 1.14 euros.

Summary: The FTSE 100 closed 25 points, or 0.35%, higher at 7,404, after ITV announced its new chief executive.