Mencap president Lord Rix urged the speaker of the House of Lords to push through legislation allowing those in his situation to be assisted to die. He had previously opposed an assisted dying law, but said his illness has left him "like a beached whale" and in constant discomfort. "My position has changed," he wrote to Baroness D'Souza. Stage and TV actor Lord Rix, who specialised in post-war "Whitehall farce" comedies, is receiving 24-hour care in a retirement home. "My position has changed. As a dying man, who has been dying now for several weeks, I am only too conscious that the laws of this country make it impossible for people like me to be helped on their way, even though the family is supportive of this position and everything that needs to be done has been dealt with. "Unhappily, my body seems to be constructed in such a way that it keeps me alive in great discomfort when all I want is to be allowed to slip into a sleep, peacefully, legally and without any threat to the medical or nursing profession. "I am sure there are many others like me who having finished with life wish their life to finish. "Only with a legal euthanasia Bill on the statute books will the many people who find themselves in the same situation as me be able to slip away peacefully in their sleep instead of dreading the night." The crossbench peer voted against an Assisted Dying Bill in 2006 because of concerns that people with learning disabilities might become the unwilling victims of euthanasia. He has been a prominent campaigner for people with learning disabilities after his daughter was born with Down's syndrome. He said his children were "absolutely supportive" of his decision and that he has "wrapped up" his affairs and was "ready to go" to "put an end to this misery, pain and discomfort". "I can't do anything but lie here thinking 'Oh Christ, why am I still here?' They won't let me die and that's all I want to do," he said. He added the doctors and nurses "do their best for me" but that it was "not good enough because what I want is to die, and the law stops them from helping me with that". He had discussed with his children the possibility of travelling to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, but felt it would be "unfair to them to push them into a situation where they are helping me to die". Lord Rix said he had not been given an estimate from doctors as to how long he will live, adding: "I think it's wrong that people like me are stranded like this. "I'm not looking for something that helps me only, I'm thinking of all the other people who must be in the same dreadful position." Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Terminally ill actor and disability campaigner Brian Rix, 92, has said the law on assisted dying needs changing.


Learning Partnership West runs job clubs, provides mentoring and support and manages adventure playgrounds in a Â£3m contract from Bristol City Council. A dozen whistleblowers raised issues including concerns Nicola Burcham's leadership created a "culture of fear". The former CEO, who quit in May 2015, said she had left "a long time ago" and refused to comment further. She added the BBC's approach for a comment was "ridiculous". Ms Burcham left almost a month after the whistleblowers approached the council with concerns about her leadership and decision-making. The BBC has spoken to a significant number of former staff, on condition of anonymity. One said: "She coined the term 'freeze and squeeze'. It would start with totally ignoring someone. Then excessive performance management and finally the person would be managed out. "Appointments were often made with a heavy bias towards black and minority ethnics - particularly young black males." Another whistleblower said: "She had her favourites. You were in and then out quickly. She was the boss. She could do what she liked. You couldn't challenge her." While another told the BBC: "When she was appointed CEO, things changed. There was a culture of fear and bullying from her. She had her favourites. "No one had a good experience of how they were treated by her. She was not a well-liked woman. She was a very unpleasant woman to work for." The council investigated some of their allegations, and said the company was not always acting in the best interests of its clients - young people in need. They found clients from troubled backgrounds were being funnelled into institutions run by Learning Partnership West. Staff at the company were told not to consider other provision. It was also alleged Ms Burcham bullied staff, and recruitment processes at the company were inappropriate - resulting in unfair selection. The chairman of the company commissioned an independent investigation into these allegations, but declined to share the final report. He did say nothing illegal was found. The BBC understands enough people felt bullied that something had to be done. Netta Meadows, service director for Strategic Commissioning in the People directorate of Bristol City Council, said: "Last year we were made aware of some complaints relating to the management of the service and the council has provided support to investigate these claims. "The council is confident that Learning Partnership West has responded to the issues." A council report obtained by the BBC concluded the company had "turned a corner" under new leadership.

Summary: The head of a youth services firm left her job amid allegations of staff bullying, the BBC has learned.


Accompanied by the Youth Music Voices choir, Walsh and Boe will debut their version of the classic Queen track on 11 May at London's Royal Albert Hall. The official Team GB and Paralympics GB single will go on sale the same day. "So excited to be supporting Team GB with Alfie," said Walsh. "Bring on the gold medals!" The original track , based around one of Brian May's most recognisable riffs, was a top 10 hit for Queen in 1985. The lyrics have been slightly tweaked for the Olympic version - the phrase "one man" becomes "one team" throughout the song. Also missing is Freddie Mercury's infamous pay-off: He originally sang "Fried Chicken" instead of the title during the fade out. The BBC's home of 2012: Latest Olympic news, sport, culture, torch relay, video and audio Walsh, who has enjoyed massive chart success with her fellow Girls Aloud stars, is currently playing Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical at London's Theatre Royal. "It's a huge honour to sing One Vision for Team GB with Kimberley," said Boe, who was acclaimed for his performance in the 25th anniversary concerts of Les Miserables. "Being a massive Queen fan, I was very excited about recording the track - I hope everyone likes it." The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join the official Team GB launch party, Our Greatest Team Rises, at the Albert Hall next week, alongside a host of British Olympians.

Summary: Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh and leading tenor Alfie Boe are joining forces to sing on One Vision, the official single for Team GB.


The one-year-old livestock - a mixture of Cheviot and black face sheep - were taken from the Coltfield area between Wednesday and Thursday. Police Scotland said the theft of such a large number of sheep would have required "careful planning" and the use of vehicles to transport the animals away from the area. Officers appealed for information.

Summary: More than 50 young sheep have been stolen from a farm in the Alves area of Moray.


The 29-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and wounding with intent. Previously, a 30-year-old, 27-year-old and 20-year-old, all from Rugby, were arrested. All four men have been bailed until the end of April. It follows an incident on Oxford Street on 17 March in which a 17-year-old was shot and an 18-year-old knifed. More on this and other Warwickshire stories

Summary: Police investigating a shooting and stabbing in Rugby have arrested a fourth man.


Now, the community is turning to introspection. Questions are being raised in the province around radicalisation and whether there is a climate of intolerance that needs to be addressed. On Monday, Alexandre Bissonette, a 27-year-old University of Laval student, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder. Police have not said what motivated the alleged attacker, who opened fire at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre during evening prayers. Quebec attack: Who were the victims? Quebec Muslims 'emotionally destroyed' Who is Alexandre Bissonnette? But there are reports that Mr Bissonette expressed anti-immigration and anti-feminist views online. Francois Deschamps, an official with an advocacy group, Welcome to Refugees, said the suspect was known for those views online. Vivek Venkatesh, a professor with Montreal's Concordia University who studies online hate and radicalisation, says social media creates "echo chambers", where more extreme views can gain traction. He says while Quebec is "still reeling" from the mosque shooting, it is important that there be a public debate in the province on how to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism in all its forms. Pierre Martin, a political science professor with the University of Montreal, says that it appears Mr Bissonette may have been influenced by a mix of global nationalist trends, the so-called "alt-right", and "currents within Quebec itself". Trump’s shock troops: Who are the ‘alt-right’? In the 1960s, Quebec shifted quickly from a highly religious society to a deeply secular culture. "People (now) tend to be critical of religion in general and how religion shapes people's social interactions," he said. He said Quebecers tend to reject overt displays of religion. For example, the province has debated in the past few years whether government workers should be allowed to wear clothing that showed their faith, like hijabs or turbans. Mr Martin said the current provincial Liberal government is seen as being overly permissive on the issue while the opposition "have tended to be criticised for seizing some currents of resentment and exploiting them for political purposes". But he says the fact that thousands of Quebecers attended candlelight vigils on Monday showed "that the large majority of people who may have even traces of reservations about ostentatious displays of religion in the public sphere are extremely tolerant of private observance". Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard echoed that on Tuesday, telling journalists that while "all societies live with demons and our society is not perfect", the majority of the province is open to newcomers. Still, many in Quebec City's Muslim community have said over that past two days that they have concerns about Islamophobia in the province. Amira Elghawaby, with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, says that in Quebec, recent debates around the niqab - like whether to ban the wearing of the face veil while offering or receiving public services - have been "toxic" and contributed to the mischaracterisation of Muslims as the "other."

Summary: The shock from Sunday night's deadly the Quebec mosque shooting is slowly waning.


The children, who had previously lived in areas controlled by Boko Haram, were held in a military barracks in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, a UN spokesman told the BBC. Details of the children's ages and the length of their detention have not been given. The army has not made any comment. Human rights groups argue that there is no proper legal process for civilians, including children, who are detained by the army as part of their counter-insurgency operations. "We fear that there are still kids who are being at least temporarily detained because they are being released from Boko Haram areas by the army but then kept for a while," Manuel Fontaine, regional director for the UN Children's fund (Unicef) in Central and West Africa, told Reuters news agency. Earlier this month, 21 of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram two years ago were released and reunited with their families. Nigeria has been fighting a seven-year insurgency against Boko Haram, with the army retaking much of the territory under the Islamist militants' control in the past 20 months. 'Boko Haram took my children' Town divided by Boko Haram legacy On patrol against Boko Haram Who are Boko Haram?

Summary: The UN says it has negotiated the release of 876 children in Nigeria, who were being held by the army over possible links to Islamist militants.


Jose Manuel Barroso said Britain could not negotiate with the US and China "on an equal footing" on its own. He also said free movement of people within the EU was an "essential" principle that could not be changed. Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said Mr Barroso was "out of touch" and an "unelected bureaucrat". Mr Barroso was asked about Prime Minister David Cameron's stated intention to negotiate a better deal for the UK in Europe, ahead of an in/out referendum. The prime minister has said he will "not take no for an answer" and "get what Britain needs" on the question of freedom of movement. If the Conservatives remain in power, a referendum would be held by 2017, Mr Cameron has said. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Barroso, whose term of office ends this month, said he believed Mr Cameron wanted Britain to remain in the EU. "Britain is stronger in the European Union," Mr Barroso said, pointing to the Ebola crisis as an area where Britain would not have the same level of influence if it was outside the EU. "David Cameron wrote to all of us about Ebola... What would be the influence of a prime minister of Britain if it was not part of the European Union? "His influence would be zero." Mr Cameron has said he wants to curb migration within the EU and last week pledged to have "one last go" at renegotiating the rules for Britain. The Conservatives lost the recent Clacton by-election to the UK Independence Party, which wants the UK to leave the EU. Mr Barroso would not comment on a report in the Sunday Times that the government could limit the number of national insurance numbers given to low-skilled immigrants. But he said that while the EU was willing to discuss benefit fraud and sham marriages, an "arbitrary cap" on migration would "not be in conformity with European rules". He said Mr Cameron had previously asked him to enforce the free movement principle between Spain and Gibraltar. Mr Barroso said 1.4 million Britons lived elsewhere in the EU and it was a "matter of fairness" that other EU citizens had the same rights. He also criticised comments by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond last week that Britain was "lighting a fire under the European Union" with the proposed referendum. Mr Barroso said: "I'm told the foreign secretary was the former minister of defence. I think this reference to fire and weapons is more appropriate for defence than foreign secretary. "It is very important to have a positive tone regarding these issues between Britain and the EU." BBC political correspondent Matt Cole said this was a "bit of a slap-down" for Mr Hammond although Jean-Claude Juncker would shortly be taking over as commission president. These comments are definitely unhelpful - and a window into Brussels thinking. But Jose Manuel Barroso is on his way out - he's the outgoing president and a whole new commission will take over next month. And in several areas where David Cameron wants to renegotiate, he

Summary: The UK would have "zero" influence if it voted to leave the EU, the outgoing president of the European Commission has said.


Green scored 13 goals as the Stags just missed out on the League Two play-offs. But the 30-year-old only managed four league goals after Steve Evans took over as manager in November. Green told BBC Radio Nottingham: "He's the new era and unfortunately I wasn't part of his plans; that was obvious. I turned into an unhappy player." Green, who returned to Mansfield in May 2015, scored 86 goals during two spells over four seasons with Mansfield, but said the time was right to leave. "It is demoralising for any forward if you have scored the amount of goals I have and you are not getting the respect you think you deserve," he added. "Bids were being turned down and they were not really enlightening me about it, so it was very frustrating towards the end of the season." Mansfield agreed to cancel his contract and Green said there had already been plenty of offers. "It's from League Two to the Championship at this moment," he added. "I offer goals, I am still quick and strong and I look after myself. It will be interesting. "I have some great, great years at Mansfield Town and it gave a lot to me as a club and I gave a lot back. But I have to move on - that is football. I think my time at Mansfield was done. "Everything changed as a positive for the football club when Steve Evans came in, but not for me. Sometimes you have to shake hands and move on in a situation like that. It was very friendly and respectful and ended on good terms."

Summary: Striker Matt Green says he is attracting interest from Championship clubs having left Mansfield Town following a "demoralising" season.


In 2014, 27 motorcyclists were killed and the number of serious injuries also rose from 507 to 514 in the year up to September 2015. London Assembly's Transport Committee said the figure for deaths was "unacceptably high". TfL said more police have been deployed in accident hotspots and it is focusing on motorcycle and scooter safety. The figures were released as the London Assembly committee published its report â€˜Easy Rider: Improving motorcycle safety on London roadsâ€™. Researchers spoke to 1,200 riders and found one in five had been involved in a collision and about 62% motorcyclists had been involved in a near-miss incident. In 2010, 4,337 motorcyclists were injured in London, which by 2014 rose to 5,233, an increase of nearly 21%. The report found the inconsistency over access to bus lanes causes "unnecessary confusion" as TfL allows motorcyclists to ride in bus lanes on the roads it manages, while many boroughs do not. It also asked TfL to monitor the impact of dedicated Cycle Superhighways on the road space shared by other traffic. The report also called on authorities to educate young riders. Valerie Shawcross, chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said: "Arguably motorcyclists have been overlooked in public discussion about road safety in recent years. "However, 36 motorcyclists were killed on London's roads last year, a death toll that is unacceptably high, and part of a bigger picture of collisions and injuries affecting motorcyclists, many of them life-changing in their seriousness." TfL said that since September police had stopped 5,389 riders, issued 742 traffic offence reports, 1,335 verbal warnings, seized 96 motorcycles and made 10 arrests. Police will also target the boroughs where motorcyclists are at greatest risk of injury. Leon Daniels, TfL's managing director of surface transport, said: "On-street education and enforcement, substantial investment in improving rider skills and guidance to help engineers design roads so that they are safer for riders, all form part of a concerted effort to improve road safety in the capital."

Summary: The number of motorcyclists killed on London's roads reached 36 in 2015, Transport for London (TfL) data showed.


Marco Goncalves, 34, assaulted the referee after being sent off in last month's game against Rio Tinto, and was escorted off the pitch by police. Images of the attack went viral, with the referee suffering a broken nose. Goncalves plays for Canelas, a club made up of FC Porto ultras who have been branded "thugs" for their aggressive style of play. Three members of their squad, including the captain, hail from the 'Super Dragons' ultras, a well-known fan group of Porto. Other clubs in the fourth-tier amateur league would rather pay a 750-euro fine and forfeit the match than play Canelas. As a result, they are top of the league after a string of default wins, but no official complaints have yet been filed against the club. A spokesman for the Porto regional league told AFP Gonclaves has been banned for four years for the attack on the referee, three months for assaulting an opposition players and two months for "insults".

Summary: An amateur footballer in Portugal has been banned for more than four years after kneeing a referee in the face.


Lucas has had two previous spells with the National League side this season, scoring three goals in 10 appearances. The 20-year-old made his Bristol Rovers debut in April 2014, but has yet to start a game for the League Two club. "He has proved already that he is a handful for defences at this level and he gets goals," Wood manager Luke Garrard told the club website. "He comes into a squad that is growing in confidence and will give me options in the forward areas."

Summary: Boreham Wood have re-signed striker Jamie Lucas from Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the season.


The protesters have built barricades and occupied key road junctions, and want to replace the government with an unelected "People's Council". The government has deployed 18,000 security personnel to maintain order. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has offered to meet protest leaders to discuss potentially delaying the polls. Protesters allege Ms Yingluck is a proxy for her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military in 2006 and is currently in self-imposed exile. Thaksin-allied parties draw considerable support from rural voters and have won the last four elections. By Jonathan HeadBBC News, Bangkok It was all wearily familiar - the shrieking whistles, the colourful umbrellas, the rousing speeches and music from the stages, which had been moved overnight to block some of Bangkok's busiest intersections. And there was a certain weariness visible among the protesters, now in their third month of street rallies. Not the same levels of energy I saw a month ago. Nor do these loyal supporters of a movement largely defined by its hatred of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her family really know what results to expect from their marathon protest. They know about the idea of an "appointed committee" to fix Thai politics, and they can all mouth the slogans "Reform Before Election", and "Shutdown Bangkok, Restart Thailand". But, asked what would happen if the prime minister resigned, and her own substantial support base outside Bangkok were to refuse to accept this, no one had an answer. "Well, it doesn't matter, because we are going to win anyway", was one woman's hopeful answer. The longer these debilitating protests continue, the more likely a dramatic, perhaps violent, showdown between the two irreconcilable sides of Thai politics. Would that spark the much-rumoured military intervention? A coup still seems unlikely, and yet not impossible. The crowds on the street are just a part of a bigger game, involving bargaining and brinkmanship by leaders on all sides. In a conversation with Anchalee Praireerat, one of the more hard-core protest leaders, she would not say exactly what she expected to happen. But she assured me it would all be over in three days, and that the protesters would win. But the protesters claim the Thaksin-allied parties' populist policies have created a flawed democracy. The main opposition party is now boycotting the 2 February polls. Anti-government demonstrators have called on Ms Yingluck - who has urged protesters to respect the democratic process and use the February elections to choose the next government - to step down. Thailand's election commission has called for the vote to be postponed to May. But this is unlikely to satisfy the protesters, who want the Shinawatra family to be purged from politics, and a two-year period without elections in which an appointed committee would reform Thailand's political system, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports. At least eight people have been killed since the protests began late last year. On Saturday, at least seven people were injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on demonstrators at the main rally site in Bangkok. On Sunday night, an

Summary: Protesters are blocking roads in parts of the Thai capital, Bangkok, in a bid to oust the government before snap elections on 2 February.


It says it has received more than 1,000 complaints about calls and texts this year. The consumer group Which? also believes unsolicited calls have increased with the arrival of pension freedom. Both organisations have urged people of pension age to be on their guard against fraud attempts. In the past, fraudsters trying to access savings have needed to set up fake pension schemes, before persuading victims to transfer their money. But since pension freedom changes came into force on 6 April, anyone over 55 has been able to withdraw their pension savings and put them where they like, subject to certain conditions. Steve Eckersley, head of enforcement at the Information Commissioner's Office, told Radio 4's Money Box that fraudsters are always looking for new opportunities. "We always thought it could lead to an increase in the number of unlawful calls which are made. We're hoping it won't match the scale of the calls made in relation to PPI." He believes part of the problem is people giving permission to be contacted to a firm with no obvious financial services connection. It may then sell it onto a firm offering to help invest your pension money. "They're saying they'll share information with affiliated members or third parties. We say they should be clear about which organisations they share their information with." The consumer group Which? estimates that over the last two years, one in every three people over 55 has been contacted about their pension without having requested it. Gareth Shaw, editor of Which? Money, believes the problem has increased dramatically since the start of the year. "Two in five of the people who had been contacted had been contacted in the first three months of this year and that's actually double the whole of 2014." He said people were being tempted by a range of services. "Things like investment opportunities, free pension reviews, legal loopholes and early access to their pension cash. All the well-worn phrases and the warning signs that many of the industry bodies have said that people need to look out for. "If you get a call about transferring a pension or an investment opportunity, it's not going to be from a genuine company." Steve Eckersley, head of enforcement at the Information Commissioner's Office, warned fraudsters that his organisation has stronger powers since last month. "Prior to April 6, we had to show that consumers had suffered substantial damage or distress. "But since the change in the law, all we have to show is there has been a serious contravention . We can issue fines up to £500,000. " Money Box is broadcast on Saturdays at 12:00 BST on BBC Radio 4 and repeated on Sundays at 21:00 BST. You can listen again via the BBC iPlayer or by downloading Money Box podcast.

Summary: The Information Commissioner's Office says it is concerned about the number of people being cold called about pensions.


The 22-year-old has scored 11 times in 18 games in the seventh tier this season and will join the Premier League champions' under-23 side for the rest of the season. Rangers said: "We are proud to have played a part in a young man's journey to a top club." Gordon had eight years at Stoke before dropping into non-league football. Former Leicester player Stan Collymore began his career with Stafford, while Foxes and England striker Jamie Vardy started out at Stocksbridge Park Steels, also in the seventh tier. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Leicester City have signed forward Josh Gordon from Northern Premier League Premier Division side Stafford Rangers.


Pundits and election wags love to talk about the so-called "October surprise" - a last-minute revelation that turns an election upside down. This October, the only surprise seems to be a day without surprises. Here are just some of the highlights of a week that will likely cast a shadow over US politics for years to come. If there were any doubts about the direction the second US presidential debate was going to take on Sunday night, they were dispelled an hour before showtime, when Donald Trump held an impromptu press conference with women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault. The striking thing is that while the former president's sexual history was broached by the Republican, it probably wasn't the most eye-popping, norm-breaking moment of the debate. That, instead, came when Mr Trump said that Hillary Clinton feared his presidency because his election would lead to her imprisonment. "Such incendiary talk is an affront to elementary democratic decency and a breach of the boundaries of American political discourse," writes conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer. In the days since the debate, Mr Trump has only increased the voltage. Where once he used to downplay his crowd's "lock her up" chants, now he eggs them on. "She has to go to jail," he said at a Pennsylvania rally. Gone is any semblance of moderation or talk of pivot and restraint. It's red meat from here on out. Parade of the accusers While Mr Trump's embrace of "lock her up" rhetoric received the lion's share of condemnation from the left and the right, that debate moment likely won't have the greatest impact on the final month of the campaign. That (dubious) honour goes to his assertion that his secretly recorded discussion of how he made unwelcome advances on women was "just talk". Such a blanket denial has prompted a steady stream of women to come forward to assert that Mr Trump's actions do, in fact, reflect his candid words. Jessica Leeds, who accused Mr Trump of fondling her on a plane, said she practically jumped out of her skin when she heard Mr Trump deny any improper behaviour. The Trump campaign has promised that it will release evidence that the accusers are fabricating their claims - and Mr Trump in several speeches has issued blanket denials. So far, however, the sum total of evidence levelled against the growing list of women coming forward is a discussion of the mobility of airline armrests, an insistence that Mr Trump wouldn't have enough private time with the women in question to do anything untoward and, most amazingly, Mr Trump's own assertion that one of the women wasn't attractive enough to catch his eye. "Believe me, she would not be my first choice," he said at a North Carolina rally on Friday. Believe me, that line isn't going to win him any votes. You'd be hard-pressed to notice over the din of the travelling circus the Trump campaign has become, but the Clinton team also spent the week weathering a scandal of its own. Thanks to the release

Summary: The second week of October is likely to be remembered as the moment when the 2016 presidential campaign went careening off the rails and spinning into the void.


But this is where you find the alleged mastermind of Turkey's failed coup, the Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. And he has broken his customary seclusion to give rare interviews defending himself against the accusations levelled by his nemesis, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Who was behind Turkey coup attempt? Turkey police and officials purged How mobiles beat tanks and saved Erdogan We were greeted at the Golden Generation Worship & Retreat Center by polite, well-spoken men who serve as the first line of gate-keepers to the revered preacher and writer. They belong to organisations inspired by Mr Gulen, not run by him, a testament to the strength of his personality and the appeal of his message. He advocates a Sufi-based Islam of tolerance that emphasises education and promotes business. In Turkey, though, critics view this style of leadership as a threat, saying he wields much unelected political influence through followers who have heavily penetrated the bureaucracy and have links to media and business. The retreat sprawls over 25 lush green acres (10 hectares) in the foothills of the Poconus Mountains. But the cleric, it was emphasised, occupies only a single, spartan bedroom in one of the buildings. We were shown a desk, a small bed and a small mat. He met us in an adjacent room, seated beneath a framed admonition to "Continue to Love", written in Arabic calligraphy. He rose to greet us but his strength failed him and he fell back onto the sofa. The real gatekeeper is Mr Gulen's doctor, who gave him medication so he could manage the interview. Although his heart condition and diabetes have made him very frail, his language was anything but. He condemned the coup attempt as treason, claiming that "even if at the helm of the country there are people who would like to replace me and suppress me and oppress me at the level of blood-sucking vampires, even then I do not want to remove them with anti-democratic means". "This is my attitude toward any and even the idea of the consideration of a military coup." It may be that he sees President Erdogen as a vampire after his blood. The two men once banded together to curb the power of Turkey's secular military. But a few years ago Mr Erdogan became suspicious that Mr Gulen's followers were driving a corruption investigation that targeted his inner circle. He moved to stamp out any alternative power centre, even if it was another Islamic one. Since then he has been purging them from state institutions. Mr Gulen called this a "witch-hunt" which accelerated after the failed coup. "It's not possible to talk about democracy any more," he said of reported excesses. "This kind of regime resembles more of a clan and a tribal administration." Without naming Mr Erdogan, he compared him to dictators such as Hitler and Saddam Hussein. But he counselled his followers to remain peaceful because "society is already polarised enough, don't make it worse". Ironically Mr Gulen fled to America in 1999 amid accusations of trying to overthrow the secular government. Now

Summary: Rural Pennsylvania is not the sort of place you would think to look for someone accused of throwing the Middle East into further turmoil.


Glasgow-based photographer Craig Mann, whose work usually features landscapes from around the world, used Photoshop to make the pictures. They feature characters such as Princess Leia, Darth Vader, bounty hunter Boba Fett and Ewoks. The firth is used for anchoring rigs during winter and downtime from work. Mr Mann, who is from Shetland and now lives in Glasgow, works on the rigs and created his Star Wars collection of photographs in his free time.

Summary: A photographer has created images that place some of Star Wars' best-loved characters on oil rigs parked up in the Cromarty Firth in the Highlands.


Alexandra North, 25, a zoology graduate from Swindon, beat about 150 applicants to land the £24,000-a-year role with Suffolk Wildlife Trust. She will start work as Ipswich's dedicated hedgehog officer next month. The trust chose to focus on the town after receiving a large number of sightings by members of the public. Almost 12,000 hedgehogs, dead and alive, have been recorded in Suffolk over the past two years, with about 2,500 of these around Ipswich. The trust previously said there was a "rich natural network" for hedgehogs across Ipswich, "including its beautiful parks as well as the cemetery, allotments and churches". Ms North, who currently works as a researcher at Cambridge-based conservation group Birdlife International, saw off competitors from countries including France, Spain, Germany, South Korea, China, the US and Nepal. The job advert for the two-year role was shared around the world and mistakenly touted as a £2.4m post in the Taiwanese press. However, in the end the wildlife trust interviewed just four candidates, all of whom were from the UK, "because they matched the criteria most closely, not because they were based in the UK", a trust spokeswoman said. "The competition was tough. We had applications from around the world and some really strong candidates," the trust said. Ms North said she was "really excited by the prospect of a great project with the overall aim to make Ipswich a really hedgehog-friendly town". Her work will involve building a network of volunteers who in turn will help build a network of hedgehog-friendly routes around Ipswich's urban landscape. Ms North, who boasts a postgraduate degree in biodiversity and conservation, said: "Everyone loves hedgehogs and they are so important to the biodiversity of our landscape and our wildlife. "I really hope I can engage with people and encourage everyone to see how making small changes really can make a difference to these little creatures."

Summary: A hedgehog officer is set to start work to improve animal numbers after an advert for the job sparked worldwide interest.


Kent closed on 288-5, a lead of 437, opting not to set Essex a target. Essex earlier were bowled out for 292, avoiding the follow-on by one run. Kent were reduced to 40-4 but Northeast shared an unbroken 185 with Will Gidman (63 not out) as runners-up Kent batted through the remainder of the day. The hosts had already secured the six points that guaranteed second place, a promotion spot in any other season. In reality, the prospects of a result were slim as soon as David Masters and Matt Dixon scored the three runs Essex needed to avoid the follow-on, with Dixon then out from the very next ball. Even when Kent slipped to 40-4 and 103-5, it never seemed likely that Essex would be able to force victory without the aid of a declaration. Northeast, an immovable figure, ensured as much, the only excitement coming when he took 30 off one Kishen Velani over - three fours and three sixes. The final over was bowled by retiring Essex seamer David Masters, the 38-year-old ending his first-class career with 672 wickets from 202 matches. He was given a guard of honour that included England Test captain Alastair Cook as he left the field.

Summary: Sam Northeast made 178 not out as his Kent side batted out a tame draw against County Championship Division Two champions Essex on the final day of the season at Canterbury.


Latest figures show the the nursing and midwifery vacancy rate stands at 4.5% - the highest ever reported. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the current situation with unfilled posts threatened patient care. Health Secretary Shona Robison insisted staff levels within the NHS had risen to "historically high levels" under the SNP. Figures from ISD Scotland show 2,818.9 whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts were unfilled at the end of March, a 27.5% increase from March last year. The number of such posts lying unfilled for three months or more was up 51.3% year on year to 670.6. During the same period, the NHS spent Â£8.4m more on nursing and midwifery bank and agency staff, paying out a total of Â£166.5m. Vacancies for consultants have also risen year on year from 6.5% to 7.4% and there were 415.7 vacancies, of which 203.4 have lain empty for more than three months, up 38.2 from 2016. The total number of staff working within the Scottish NHS, however, has risen 0.7% year on year to 139,430 WTE posts. Norman Provan of the RCN warned: "If there aren't the nurses, patients won't receive the care they need." He added: "These figures reflect the challenge faced by Scotland's NHS. Across both acute and community settings, there are simply too few nurses. "The Scottish government can point to the increase in the number of nursing and midwifery staff, but the reality on the ground is that nurses wanting to do their very best for patients are too often coming up against the reality of vacancies in the workforce. "Nursing morale is low and teams are struggling to recruit and retain the staff they need." Health Secretary Ms Robison said part of the increase in vacancies was due to the creation of new posts in health boards. She said: "Under this government, NHS staff numbers have risen to historically high levels, with more doctors and nursing staff now delivering care for the people of Scotland - including over 2,000 additional qualified nurses and midwives. "We're committed to training and retaining our nursing staff, and earlier this year we confirmed a 4.7% increase in trainee nurses and midwives for 2017/18 - a fifth successive rise. "We have also committed Â£450,000 over three years to reintroduce a national return to practice scheme."

Summary: Nursing leaders are warning the NHS in Scotland has "too few nurses" after vacancies rose to record levels.


Four officers were injured when the Met's Flying Squad swooped on the men in Piccadilly at 11:25 BST. A Taser was discharged several times and the policemen were hurt as the men tried to escape on mopeds. Four men have been arrested and are being held at London police stations. A Met Police spokesman said three officers suffered minor injuries and the fourth is in hospital in a serious condition. Store owner Avi Reed said the gang smashed a glass cabinet, causing more than Â£300,000 of damage, Mr Reed said police contacted them at the Chronext store earlier to warn them that there might be a robbery, and the shop was closed to protect customers. He said: "At about 11:30 we saw three guys, they had helmets on. One tried to smash the door with a hammer. The glass didn't break as it's protected but he managed to get in. "Another guy had an axe and managed to smash a cabinet, while the other stayed on the motorbike. They caused enormous damage." Mr Reed praised the actions of the "amazing" police. Det Supt Craig Turner, said: "Our officers are absolutely committed to keeping London safe and target the criminals who pose a danger to Londoners and our city businesses day in, day out. "They know that this work carries with it very real risks and dangers but take this in their stride as part of serving the public. "However, today's events highlight how the reckless behaviour of those determined to evade justice, heedless of the consequences, can have a real impact on all those involved." Piccadilly was closed eastbound at Hyde Park Corner for about six hours while investigations were carried out.

Summary: A moped gang armed with knives and an axe has been intercepted by police in a "terrifying" attempt to rob a luxury watch store in central London.


Paul Wilmott, 63, died in the explosion at his home in Haxby, near York, on 19 February 2016, which was caused by the fracture of a corroded gas pipe. One house was "completely missing" and others were left seriously damaged, the inquest in York heard. Andrew Hewitson said: "It's something I've never seen before." Live updates on this story and others in North Yorkshire The Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedic told the jury: "My first personal thought was it was a possible plane crash, the way the house had caved in. "The street was covered with debris, cars were covered with concrete. "Windows looked to be blown in, all the glass was shattered. Complete devastation." Michael Jamieson, a watch manager at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, told the inquest the scene was "almost like an airstrike". "There was virtually no house left," he said. "I've been to gas explosions before but I've never seen something with that level of destruction." Mr Jamieson said he found Mr Wilmott's body underneath rubble at the back of the house, on Springwood. Mr Wilmott died of multiple fractures of the skull and injuries to the brain consistent with having been sustained in a domestic explosion, the jury heard. A statement from Mr Wilmott's partner, Olivia Costello, was read out to the jury in which she said the pair had noticed a "very extreme and pungent" smell in the house before the blast. They thought it was "caused by a dead ants' nest in the wall". Coroner Rob Turnbull said an inquiry found the copper pipe fractured at a point where two concrete floor slabs met and had moved "possibly as a result of bad weather". The inquest continues.

Summary: A paramedic called to the scene of a gas blast that left a man dead has told an inquest he thought the devastation was the result of a plane crash.


Russia has sent a super-tanker aircraft capable of carrying tons of water to douse the fires. The series of fast-spreading fires, mostly in Chile's central region, are being fanned by strong winds, high temperatures and a prolonged drought. One town, Santa Olga, has been destroyed by the blaze.

Summary: More international help has been arriving in Chile to help the country fight the worst wildfire in its modern history.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 26-year-old British number one is taking a short break before preparing for the US Open in August. "I've got a massive amount of room to grow in all areas of my game to be quite honest," she told BBC Sport. Australia-born Konta said she is proud to represent Great Britain after her nationality was questioned. Konta became the first British woman since Virginia Wade 39 years earlier to reach the Wimbledon last four. But she is determined to make further progress towards her goals of becoming world number one and winning Grand Slams. "I know there's a lot of work to be done between now and achieving such things," she said. "I definitely feel I can physically improve. I'd like to get stronger, move even better on the court - maximise my movement." Konta, who was ranked 150 at the start of 2015, often speaks of the mental "process" she relies upon during her rise up the rankings and believes experience will improve her tactical game. "I'm constantly looking to be more mentally strong and technically sound. I'm trying to leave no stone unturned," she said. Konta said she was proud to represent Great Britain after her nationality was questioned by BBC presenter John Humphrys on Radio 4's Today programme. The veteran interviewer said: "We talk about you as being British, but you were born in Hungary, Australian citizenship, and I seem to remember that the Australian high commissioner, when you won the quarter-final, said: 'Great to see an Aussie win', and we were saying: 'Great to see a Brit win' - so, what are you?" She laughed before replying: "I was actually born in Australia to Hungarian parents, but I have lived half my life here now, almost. So, I'm a British citizen, and I'm incredibly proud to represent Great Britain. I have done so officially since 2012." Konta, who came to the UK aged 14, later told BBC Sport of her bond with Britain. "This is my home, where I consider to be from and where I come back to. This is the place I miss when I am away," she said. "People are entitled to their opinion, but this is the only place I've truly represented and will continue to do so. "I'm a British citizen and representing Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics was one of the proudest moments of my career." Some newspaper reports during Wimbledon referenced the fact that five years ago Konta did not know the words to the national anthem. "Seeing as I've sung the national anthem at both the Olympics and many Fed Cup ties, I do know the words to my national anthem, yes," she said. Media playback is not supported on this device Konta reached the Wimbledon semi-finals with a thrilling defeat of Romanian second seed Simona Halep which was watched by a peak of 7.4 million viewers, the BBC's best TV figures for the 2017 tournament. "It's a massive compliment and a brilliant thing for tennis. It's great that so many

Summary: Johanna Konta says she can significantly improve her game despite reaching the Wimbledon semi-final and fourth in the world rankings.


The 68-year-old Dutchman was appointed in March, when the Black Cats were one point above the relegation zone. He guided them to safety and was due to leave the club in the summer, only to sign a new one-year contract. Advocaat said: "I have made the decision to go after only eight games as I felt it was important to give everyone time to turn things around." Sunderland chairman Ellis Short said: "I am truly saddened by Dick's decision, but I respect him for his honesty. Media playback is not supported on this device "It is also testament to his character that he has foregone any kind of a financial settlement, something which is very unusual in football." Assistant head coach Zeljko Petrovic has also left the club. Saturday's draw with West Ham left Sunderland without a win in their first eight league matches and looking for a sixth manager in four years. Since Steve Bruce was sacked in November 2011, Martin O'Neill, Paolo di Canio, Gus Poyet and Advocaat have managed the club. Advocaat's departure also follows a trend set by Di Canio and Poyet of managers arriving to save the Black Cats from the drop, only to depart in the next season. He initially agreed to lead Sunderland only until the end of last season, shedding tears as their survival was secured with a 0-0 draw at Arsenal. Advocaat said he would leave the club to fulfil a promise to his wife, but changed his mind and returned in June. The former Netherlands, Russia and South Korea boss has seen his side win just once this season - against League Two Exeter in the League Cup. North-east rivals Newcastle are the only team below them in the Premier League table.

Summary: Dick Advocaat has resigned as Sunderland boss, with the team yet to win in the Premier League this season.


The Pacaya volcano began spewing ash and lava after a powerful explosion on Saturday afternoon. New explosions were seen on Sunday, with ash clouds reaching a height or at least 4km (3 miles). Flights have been diverted from the area, some 50km (30 miles) south of the capital, Guatemala City. The Pacaya is one of three active volcanoes in the Central American nation. The other two are the Fuego and the Santa Maria. "We are assessing with the National Disaster Management Centre (Conred) whether we will need to evacuate the 3,000 people who live in the villages of El Rodeo and Patrocinio," said the Pacaya National Park director, Humberto Morales. "Access to the areas around the volcano has been suspended," he told the Prensa Libre newspaper. The Guatemalan authorities have issued an amber alert, the third highest. It means people must remain alert and be prepared to leave the area at short notice.

Summary: A volcano has erupted in Guatemala, prompting the authorities to consider the evacuation of some 3,000 people living in the area.


A stake in a local energy business could cost from just Â£5, and the industry says it could generate an annual return of between 6% and 9%. The scheme aims to reduce local opposition to renewable energy development. It has been developed by the renewable industry alongside community groups. The Shared Ownership Taskforce plan follows similar programmes in Denmark which have been running for more than two decades. It applies to anything entering the planning system from Monday. More than 70% of people in the UK nationally say they like wind farms, according to a government survey. However, proximity often provokes a different response and the wind farms are frequently considered a blot on the landscape. The government previously insisted that wind farm developers should give local communities Â£5,000 a year for every megawatt of energy installed - to support local initiatives. The taskforce goes further by insisting that any new applications entering the planning system must offer to sell part of their business to locals - somewhere between 5 and 25%. This can be in the form of directly-owned shares, crowd-funding or debentures. Nina Skorupska, Chief Executive, Renewable Energy Association welcomes the plan. She told BBC News: "Elsewhere in Europe this is commonplace, so we're very pleased the UK is also working towards this vision of a more open energy market." The scheme has been promoted by the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Edward Davey. He said: "Community energy is revolutionising renewable energy development in the UK, and shared ownership will offer people the opportunity to buy in to the green energy that their own communities are producing." The Vice-Chair of the Taskforce and an associate of Co-operatives UK, Rebecca Willis, said: "We know from our experience at grass roots level that there's a substantial appetite among local communities to invest in renewable energy." There are, though, still likely to be areas where local people will prefer to keep their uninterrupted view than to cash in a regular dividend cheque. Local groups facing shale gas developments in their area may regard the renewables scheme with interest. Follow Roger Harrabin on Twitter @rharrabin

Summary: Locals could be offered the chance to buy shares in new wind farms, solar farms and hydro power stations, under new government approved guidelines.


Shaun Moth posted abuse about Mikaeel Kular on the social networking site the day before the three-year-old boy's body was found in a wood in Kirkcaldy. The 45-year-old posted the comments on an anti-racism page as a police search was underway for the boy in January. Rosdeep Adekoya, 34, was jailed for 11 years in August for her son's death. Adekoya had originally been charged with murder, but admitted the reduced charge of culpable homicide. Moth, from Whitehills in Aberdeenshire, pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner, posting grossly offensive comments on Facebook and breaching the peace, aggravated by religious prejudice when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 4 December. He was sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Sheriff William Summers said Moth had exploited the media attention around the search for Mikaeel in order to "peddle vile abuse". The sheriff said: "We live in a multi-racial and multi-ethnic society that remains tolerant of others. "You are entitled to hold whatever views that you want and to hold them strongly. "But what you said in these posts was at times grotesque. "Anyone who disseminates this sort of material must recognise that they will be brought to justice. "This matter is so serious it seems to be that a custodial sentence is the only option." Three year old Mikaeel, from Edinburgh, was reported missing by his mother on 16 January this year. Defence agent Stuart Beveridge said his client had "strong views" and that he was abusing alcohol and drugs at the time he made the comments. Mr Beveridge said: "He accepts that his comments were callous and in the extreme. "He has been out of work for six years. "He was drinking heavily and routinely using cocaine. "He enjoys the process of argument and debate. "He accepts that he has strong views and went too far on this occasion."

Summary: A man who admitted posting offensive comments on Facebook about an Edinburgh boy beaten to death by his mother has been jailed for 12 months.


Third seed Murray plays Italian 25th seed Andreas Seppi in the third match on Centre Court at around 17:00 BST. Ward, ranked 110th, takes on Canada's Vasek Pospisil in the second match on court one at around 15:00. "It's great for British tennis and it's great for everyone involved that more people are winning matches and doing well," said Ward. "I've got to worry about my match. Andy worries about his." Media playback is not supported on this device Murray, 28, practised with Ward on Friday and the pair have become good friends over the past two years. "We've done a few training blocks together," said the Scot. "He stayed with me in Miami a few times. "I watch a lot of his matches online when he's playing challengers and stuff. I kind of say, 'Well done,' or let him know what I thought about the match, anything like that. See if I can help in any way." Ward is through to the last 32 of a Grand Slam for the first time and the 28-year-old Londoner has ensured he will break into the world's top 100 for the first time in the next rankings. He will face 25-year-old Pospisil, the reigning Wimbledon doubles champion, for the first time at the top level. "I know him pretty well," said Ward, who will collect at least £77,000 in prize money. "He's a good friend of mine actually. We spend a lot of time together. In the last few years, we've played a couple of times as well in the Challenger tour, a couple bigger matches in the semis and finals in the past. "We both know each other's games, so there's not too many secrets. As I say, it's a great chance for both of us." Murray has won six of his seven matches against Seppi, the only defeat coming on grass in Nottingham eight years ago. The 31-year-old Italian has reached two finals this year and beat Roger Federer at the Australian Open in January. "He has had such good results this year," said Murray. "He made the final a couple of weeks ago in Halle, plays well on the grass. "He won against Roger at the Australian Open this year. He's capable of playing some top tennis."

Summary: Andy Murray will have friend and fellow Briton James Ward for company in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday.


Aberdeenshire-based Harbro Group saw pre-tax profit increase by £800,000, to £3.5m, in the year to the end of June 2016. This was despite turnover falling by £1m to just over £100m. Harbro said international sales grew over the year, both in Europe and in new markets further afield. The Turriff-based company manufactures and supplies feeds for the beef, sheep, dairy, pig and poultry sectors. It also has a network of 19 shops across Scotland, operating under the Country Store brand. The stores cater for farming and rural communities with a range of products, including fireside supplies, country clothing and footwear. In accounts filed with Companies House, the company said: "As always, the outlook for agriculture is difficult to predict. "We have certainly been experiencing challenging times over the last 12-18 months but the industry is a robust one. "The impact of Brexit is still to be fully understood, although the board are confident that the group will be well positioned for whatever business challenges this may bring about."

Summary: One of Scotland's largest animal feed producers has posted a rise in profits, despite reporting a "challenging" year for the industry.


Sayes Court will double in size and provide an additional 210 places by September 2015. Surrey County Council said it needs to "bridge a Â£215m funding gap" for 13,000 places, blaming an "unprecedented demand" on its services. It said nearby Esher School is also being completely rebuilt to boost capacity by 210 places.

Summary: An artist's impression of how an expanded primary school in Addlestone will look has been unveiled.


It will also investigate claims about money contained in an Isle of Man bank account. It is understood the PSNI asked the NCA to take the lead because of the complexity and scale of the investigation. It is the NCA's first major investigation since it began operating in Northern Ireland in May. Investigators from the agency are expected to meet the PSNI shortly. In a statement on Thursday, the NCA, the UK equivalent of the FBI, confirmed it had agreed to investigate the sale of Northern Ireland assets owned by the Republic of Ireland's National Assets Management Agency (Nama). NCA deputy director of operations Graham Gardner said: "The NCA has considered a request from [the] PSNI and has agreed to lead an investigation, calling on support as necessary from PSNI officers. BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney This takes the investigation to a new level. The NCA has a level of expertise and resources not available to the PSNI. They include a specialist economic crime unit and a financial intelligence unit. Those units contain specialist investigators like forensic accountants and technical experts. The NCA also has an international reach and works with other agencies throughout the world, including Interpol, whose members include the Republic of Ireland and the United States. "We will not be providing a running commentary on our progress but will provide updates as and when appropriate." Earlier, an Irish parliament (Dáil) committee was told a former Nama adviser was in line for a £5m payment after the sale of Nama's property loan portfolio in Northern Ireland. US investment firm, Pimco, pulled out of the tender bidding process after discovering the fee arrangement to Nama's former adviser, Frank Cushnahan. The revelation came during a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). It is examining Nama's sale of its 850-property NI portfolio last year. The National Assets Management Agency (Nama) is the Republic of Ireland's "bad bank", set up to deal with toxic loans during the Irish banking crisis, and the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland portfolio is known as Project Eagle.

Summary: The National Crime Agency (NCA), is to lead the investigation into the sale of Nama's NI property portfolio.


Monday's Dublin meeting is part of an assembly External Affairs Committee inquiry and is on the day the UK begins the process of leaving the EU. The fear is a "soft" post-Brexit border between Northern Ireland and Ireland could result in more stringent controls at Welsh ports for freight operators. First Minister Carwyn Jones has warned that could mean job losses. The Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan, and representatives from the Irish Exporters Association were among those meeting AMs during the Dublin visit. The UK's formal Brexit negotiations with the European Commission started on Monday in Brussels. Launching a paper on Brexit and devolution last week, Mr Jones said the question of Ireland was "insoluble" at the moment. He said Wales had an interest in the border between the north and south of Ireland because of Wales' maritime border with the Republic. Mr Jones warned a "seamless" border between north and south, twinned with customs checks at Welsh ports, could provide an incentive for trade to avoid Welsh ports. Freight operators could "go through Cairnryan in Scotland, go through Liverpool and go to Northern Ireland then down rather than mess about in Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke", he warned. "So there are job losses there if we're not careful." The first minister said the Welsh Government was working with the Irish government on the issue.

Summary: Brexit's impact on Welsh ports is being discussed as assembly members meet Irish politicians and business leaders.


15 February 2017 Last updated at 12:57 GMT He particularly likes visiting the Wilko store, sleeping on rugs and saying hello to customers. One lady even thought he was a statue as she passed him on the shelf! George does have a loving home that he returns to every evening. But in the day, he just loves to shop! Video courtesy of Nicola Williams

Summary: George the tabby cat has become the local celebrity in the Kings Chase Shopping Centre in Kingswood, Bristol.


SuperTed was born in south Wales as a book, before becoming a much-loved TV series on both sides of the Atlantic. It was shown as one of Welsh language broadcaster S4C's first programmes in November 1982, before being translated into English and shown on BBC One the following year. Barry-born Young, now 70, has spent most of his working life in animation in California, working as an independent in Hollywood dominated by the big studios. The former advertising copywriter has now produced a feature-length animation, Norm Of The North, and his next film project is close to his heart - about a former legend with his beloved Cardiff City football club. A BEAR BEGINNING In 1978, Young created SuperTed as a story to read to his young stepson Richard, who was afraid of the dark, at bedtime. But the tales of the crime-solving superhero with special powers - and rivals like Texas Pete - soon got a wider audience. "I went to the village hall one day to pick Richard up from play school and they said 'we love the SuperTed stories' and I said 'how do you know about those?' "They said that 'he always tells us the story you told him last night'. "We then got the books published, a couple of hundred were written, and then S4C came along and they wanted at least one thing which would travel all over the world - and it was successful. "We became the first company to sell to Disney and we never looked back." Three TV series were made in the mid 1980s, with Derek Griffiths and Jon Pertwee providing the voices. Young also launched Welsh-language cartoon Wil Cwac Cwac and helped develop Fireman Sam. Now a new series of SuperTed is being planned, which Young again wants to make in Wales with some of the original team. HOLLYWOOD BECKONS Young and his wife Liz created Mike Young Productions - which later become Splash Entertainment - and moved to Los Angeles in 1989. With much bigger rivals in Hollywood, he called it "one of the most stupid, crazy decisions you could make". But the company flourished. As well as collaborations, its animations have included Chloe's Closet, Dive Olly Dive!, Hero:108, Growing Up Creepie, Pet Alien and ToddWorld. NORM OF THE NORTH Young's latest production is an animated feature film Norm Of the North about a polar bear. Norm, who can talk but cannot hunt, goes to New York with a gang of lemmings for adventure and to fight a tourism development in the Arctic. Although it does not have a big budget, the film uses the latest computer generated imagery (CGI) technology. "We wanted to make something economic because I want the independents to have a chance and really get back into this business," said Young. "It's all well and good having Disney, Pixar, Universal and DreamWorks but fundamentally they go a certain route but we can take more risks with what we do." The film, which includes voices from actors Rob Schneider and Bill Nighy, got its Welsh premiere at

Summary: Once upon a time, there was a bedtime story - and it was the start of a long career for TV and film producer Mike Young.


The 30-year-old looked relaxed while sitting on the 3.1m (10ft) crocodile, removed from a trap in Darwin Harbour. The pictures, which also show him hauling in the catch, were released by the Parks and Wildlife Commission Northern Territory. Meanwhile, the prince has completed an eight-day tour of New Zealand. Wildlife ranger Erin Britton said the prince would make "a great croc catcher" and said he did a "great job" helping the crocodile management team in the removal of the crocodile. Bess Price, minister for parks and wildlife, said it was a "top secret mission" that would leave "a unique lasting impression" of the Northern Territory with Prince Harry. Rangers in the Northern Territory remove crocodiles from waterways used for boating and fishing to limit the risk of fatalities and injuries. The Parks and Wildlife Commission Northern Territory says more than 200 crocodiles, common in Australia's tropical north, are removed from Darwin Harbour each year. They are taken to crocodile farms or killed. Meanwhile, on his final day in New Zealand, Prince Harry scored a winning goal in the dying seconds of a football match to the delight of a cheering crowd. The prince took part in the five-a-side game with a group of young players to promote the Fifa under-20 World Cup. After the 8-7 victory in Auckland, he said: "I've had a great time and that win was so well-scripted, thank you." Prince Harry has spent a week in New Zealand, his first visit to the country. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who was made team coach, praised the prince's "great display of athletic ability and sheer presence". "If you want a spot in the New Zealand team, call us any time, it's yours," he said. Prince Harry also talked to his teammates about football and asked if there were any fellow Arsenal fans. When one boy said he supported Stoke City, the prince said: "I wouldn't have spoken up if I was you." Prince Harry also revealed he was looking forward to the FA Cup final between his team, Arsenal, and brother Prince William's side Aston Villa. He then went to the AUT Millennium Institute of Sport and Health where he tried out different exercises with All Blacks rugby player Kieran Read. These included lifting weights, playing netball, throwing a rugby ball through a tyre and rope pulling. Prince Harry landed in the country on 9 May, receiving a traditional Maori welcome in Wellington before travelling to Stewart Island, the country's most southern and remote community. He has also spent time in Christchurch, finding out about the city's efforts to regenerate after the earthquake in 2011.

Summary: Prince Harry helped capture a saltwater crocodile during his tour of Australia last month, newly-released pictures have shown.


Mr Navalny could now be barred from running in the Moscow mayoral election set for September. He also joins a growing list of opponents of President Vladimir Putin who have ended up on the wrong side of the law or in exile, or have met their deaths in suspicious circumstances. When Mr Putin first became president in 2000, he immediately set about curbing the power of the oligarchs - the group of billionaires who exerted huge influence over Russia's political system and media. His first victim was media magnate, Vladimir Gusinsky, the owner of NTV, a station that at the time was highly critical of Moscow's war in the breakaway republic of Chechnya and was home to the satirical puppet show Kukly, which mercilessly mocked the new president. When Mr Gusinsky refused to allow the Kremlin to influence NTV's editorial policy he quickly found himself charged with fraud in June 2000, and fled the country shortly afterwards. Within months, he was joined by his fellow media magnate and political fixer Boris Berezovsky. Mr Berezovsky is believed to have played a key role in helping Mr Putin into power in 2000. But he quickly fell out of favour with the new regime and sought refuge in the UK. Mr Berezovsky continued to plot against Mr Putin and to be held up as a bogeyman by the Russian media until he was found dead in the bathroom of his Berkshire home in March this year. Police have said that there is no evidence of anybody else being involved in his death. Perhaps most famously Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of the now defunct oil company, Yukos, was targeted when (like Mr Navalny) he accused Mr Putin and his associates of conniving in massive corruption. He has subsequently been convicted in two trials of tax evasion and fraud. Following his second trial in 2010, Amnesty International recognised Mr Khodorkovsky and his co-defendant, Platon Lebedev, as "prisoners of conscience". Mr Khodorkovsky is due for release in 2014, but there are signs that he could face further charges. Political opposition to Mr Putin is becoming an increasingly risky business, with numerous activists facing charges or in jail. Two members of feminist band Pussy Riot are serving two-year prison sentences for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" after performing an "anti-Putin punk prayer" in Moscow's main Orthodox cathedral in February 2012. A third member of the band had her sentence suspended on appeal. Meanwhile, criminal charges of affray, incitement to violence and assaulting police officers are pending against more than 20 activists involved in disturbances at a demonstration in Moscow on the eve of Mr Putin's inauguration as president for a third term in May 2012. Sergei Udaltsov, a left-wing leader of the protest movement, is under house arrest after being charged with incitement to mass disorder on the basis of video evidence shown on Russian TV. If found guilty, Mr Udaltsov (like Mr Navalny) could face a substantial prison sentence. Some members of the Russian opposition, such as former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, continue to defy Mr

Summary: Russian anti-corruption blogger and opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been jailed for five years for fraud, after a trial he says was politically motivated.


Scotland Yard said the 37-year-old was held at his home address under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Officers from the Metropolitan Police are searching the property. He has been taken to a south London police station and is being questioned by officers from the counter terrorism command unit.

Summary: A man has been arrested in north-west London on suspicion of involvement in production of improvised explosive devices in Iraq in 2007.


Otters were declared extinct on the Japanese islands by its Ministry of the Environment in August 2012. The Skye-based International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) has been helping with the reintroduction preparations. Dr Takahiro Murakami, who will lead the Japanese visit to Scotland, has never seen otters in the wild. The Japanese otter was believed to be either a subspecies of the Eurasian otter or possibly even a separate species. Conservationists have suggested reintroducing otters to Hokkaido, an island in north Japan. IOSF supports conservation projects across the world. It also rescues and raises orphaned otter cubs.

Summary: Conservationists are to visit Skye to learn more about otter habitats ahead of a proposed reintroduction of the mammals to Japan.


The agreement appears to bring to an end a bitter dispute between the coalition and the Afghan government. The troops and their Afghan counterparts have been accused of murder and intimidation in the area. Special forces and local police will now begin a phased withdrawal. Afghan security forces will then take over on a district-by-district basis. American special forces and the Afghan local police they have trained in Wardak have been accused of committing atrocities in the area, including the murder of nine men. Isaf has denied the allegations but President Hamid Karzai last month said they should withdraw within a fortnight. Relations between the president and Nato have been tense in recent weeks. On Tuesday the presidential spokesman described the Nato-led military operation in Afghanistan as "aimless and unwise". "We have come to agreement on a plan for Wardak that continues the transition of this critical province and meets the security needs of the people and the requirements of our mission," Isaf Commander Gen Joseph Dunford said. "Under the agreement, beginning with Nerkh District, which is currently secured by Afghan Local Police (ALP) aided by coalition forces, the Afghan government will soon move Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) into this area to provide security. "The arrival of the ANSF will preclude the need for ALP and coalition forces in this area. The remainder of the province will transition over time." The general said that the agreement reflected the "growing capacity and capability of the Afghan security forces to meet the security needs" of Afghanistan. The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says that the agreement is short on specifics - no timetable has been reached on when the special forces will leave. But it does allow Mr Karzai to save face. Afghan defence ministry spokesman Gen Zahir Azimi said that the Afghan army "will take the lead" after international special forces withdraw from Nerkh district, "so this problem will be solved within a few days". However our correspondent says that it is far from certain that the already stretched Afghan special forces will be able to establish security in Wardak once Nato has left. Wardak is a critical province. Located near Kabul, it has been used as staging post for a number of large-scale attacks in the city and has been the recent focus of counter-insurgency operations. The accountability of US forces and local militia working with them has been a growing source of friction in Afghan-US relations. Wednesday's agreement comes against a backdrop of long-term negotiations over which foreign forces will remain in Afghanistan after Nato's exit in 2014. The bulk of Nato's 100,000 troops are due to leave by the end of that year.

Summary: An agreement has been reached between Nato and the Afghan government on the withdrawal of US special forces from Wardak province, alliance officials have announced.


The Baggies took the lead before the break when Saido Berahino finished well, before Craig Dawson doubled the lead in the 54th minute with a header. Media playback is not supported on this device A minute later Lukaku rose to nod in Gerard Deulofeu's cross, and then set up Arouna Kone who fired in to level. Belgium striker Lukaku grabbed the winner with a close-range strike from another excellent Deulofeu delivery. The result moves Everton up to fifth on 12 points, while West Brom, who have yet to win at home, drop to 15th with eight points. It was a certainly a game of two halves, following a dire opening 40 minutes, but Lukaku himself had a contrasting 90 minutes. The 6ft 3in 22-year-old has had to carry the burden of a £28m price tag ever since he signed on a permanent deal for the Toffees in July 2014, following a successful season on loan in 2013-14. Media playback is not supported on this device And despite scoring 20 goals last season, his performances were mixed, which prompted manager Roberto Martinez to defend him. Everton fans must have been wondering which Lukaku they would see at The Hawthorns. They saw both. The left side of the graphic below shows that Lukaku found himself in deep positions in the first half as he tried to get into the game. However, with Everton chasing the match after the break, he moved further forward and became more of a threat in and around the area. The service also improved from Spaniard Deulofeu, who delivered two fantastic crosses for the Belgian's goals. For a team that came into the game having conceded only six goals in six matches, shipping three goals in one half would be a surprise to the casual observer. However, two injuries caused the Baggies' tight defence to become flaky. The first occurred when Gareth McAuley was hurt in training prior to the match, and the second when Jonas Olsson came off in the 28th minute with what appeared to be a groin problem. Everton's defence also looked brittle in the first half, which again could be attributed to injuries, with John Stones, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines missing. Fortunately for the inexperienced backline, the team's emphasis focused on attack as they chased the game after the break. West Brom boss Tony Pulis: "The first goal kills us. We should deal with it. The other two goals are poor goals - the second one looks offside, the linesman is looking the wrong side. It's a poor decision. "It's really, really disappointing because before we scored the second goal we had some good chances. We switched off and Everton will punish you." Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "We were very disappointed with the first half. We were off, every single individual. "The mountain we had to climb, it would have been easy to lose focus but we got three goals against the best defensive structure in the Premier League. "Every three points is huge but it feels extra good. Deulofeu took extra responsibility, he wanted

Summary: Romelu Lukaku scored twice as he led a superb comeback by Everton, who battled from 2-0 down to win at West Brom.


Calling it "the hardest decision I've ever made," an emotional Mr Key said: "I don't know what I'll do next." Mr Key, a popular leader, said it was a personal decision, and later denied media reports his wife of 32 years, Bronagh, had given him an ultimatum. He said he would not be seeking a fourth term in the 2017 election. Deputy Prime Minister Bill English is likely to take over until the National party holds a caucus to choose a new leader. Mr Key made the surprise announcement during his weekly press conference. He set a date of 12 December for the formal resignation. He said his job required great sacrifices "from those who are dearest to me" and that his children had coped with "an extraordinary level of intrusion". "All I can say is that I gave it everything I had. I have left nothing in the tank." Referring to his wife, he told radio program Newstalk: "We talked about it and she likes the concept of me being home more but there was no ultimatum." Mr Key, who was formerly at Merrill Lynch as a foreign exchange dealer, ended nine years of Labour Party rule in 2008 when he ousted Helen Clark as prime minister. He won a third term for the National Party at elections in September 2014. Opposition Labour leader Andrew Little said Mr Key "has served New Zealand generously and with dedication. I wish him and his family the best for the future". Green Party co-leader Meteria Turei also wished him well. "I fought every day against John's politics but always supported his right to be a dad and a husband first," she tweeted. Known by the local media as "Teflon John" because very little controversy has stuck to him during his time in office, Mr Key is credited with steering New Zealand through the 2008 global economic crisis and out of recession. He has sought to build closer ties with the US, taking a leading role in supporting President Barack Obama's Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) - a 12 country trade deal covering 40% of the world economy. However Donald Trump's recent victory in the US has derailed that process, with his announcement the US would be quitting the TPP on his first day in office in January. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a close political ally, said that on learning of Mr Key's resignation, he sent him a text message reading "say it ain't so, bro". Mr Turnbull said New Zealand had boxed above its weight under Mr Key's leadership, and his departure will be "a great loss to New Zealand and a great loss to the world". Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott played on their two countries' cricketing rivalry to say Mr Key had enjoyed a "fine innings". "Not many pollies retire unbeaten on a double ton," he tweeted. Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said: "John Key has been a good friend to Australia. I wish him and his family all the best."

Summary: John Key has announced that he will resign as prime minister of New Zealand, after eight years in the job, citing family reasons.


The pilot was flying solo during a training flight on Thursday and radioed for assistance while returning to RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. The Hawk jet was promptly joined by another aircraft from the same squadron as a wingman to provide guidance. They then flew in formation and landed safely. The RAF has offered no further details on the condition of the pilot. A spokesman said: "Flying in formation, and conducting an approach to land as a formation, is a daily skill practised by RAF fast jet pilots."

Summary: An RAF pilot was guided into landing his jet by a colleague in another aircraft after suffering "a partial loss of vision", it has emerged.


Lara Clarke, an amateur baker from the West Midlands, has baked this special Harry Potter cake. In the past she has also baked the Weasley's flying car and the Hogwart's library. Many other bakers around the world have also made cakes to celebrate JK Rowling's special day.

Summary: The author of the Harry Potter books, JK Rowling, is celebrating her 50th birthday today.


The University of Essex study of 712 Italian-American mafia members in the 1960s showed their income had risen by 7.5-8.5% per extra year of education. Those involved in complex crimes such as charging exorbitant rates for loans or extortion saw three times the boost of those who committed violent crimes. But, on average, the 712 left education a year earlier than other white men of a similar age in their neighbourhoods. "Criminal careers are known to start very early and are likely to be interwoven with schooling choices," the study says. Lead researcher Prof Giovanni Mastrobuoni said education tended to have a protective effect against getting involved with crime, but he added: "It is also true that if you decide to be a criminal it's better to be a better-educated one." The study says: "Private returns to education exist not only in legitimate but also in the illegitimate activities that imply a sufficient degree of complexity," "Mobster returns (in terms of income) to a year of schooling are around 7.5 to 8.5%, compared to 9-10% for the neighbour sample. "Moreover, for mobsters who, according to the Federal Bureau of Narcotics records, were involved in white-collar crimes that require running an illegal business (ie racketeering, loan sharking, bootlegging et cetera) we found returns to education that are about three times as large as for those who are involved in violent crimes (ie robberies, murders et cetera)."

Summary: Mafia criminals who are better educated tend to earn more, research suggests.


Both sides had chances before the Pars' Ryan Wallace drilled a low shot into the bottom corner with 15 minutes left. The lead last just two minutes as Ross Davidson got the last touch on a free-kick into the area. The home side dominated the closing stages but could could not deny Rovers, who remain in fifth place. Rovers remain level with Airdrieonians, who drew at home with Forfar Athletic.

Summary: Scottish League One leaders Dunfermline Athletic were held at home by Albion Rovers but still moved 11 points clear at the top of the table.


Media playback is not supported on this device The Italian is picking up the fallen champions after a desperate 2015-16 campaign that saw Jose Mourinho sacked just months after winning the title - and also after some undistinguished early performances this season. Conte is becoming one of the league's most compelling personalities - so how is he mixing pure theatre in his technical area with the job of pointing Chelsea back in the direction that sees them fighting for the big prizes once more? Conte's touchline antics stand alongside Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as a visual spectacle, which means the eye can sometimes be drawn to watching the touchline as much as the action. And Conte was a blur of perpetual motion again on the Stamford Bridge sidelines in the 2-1 win against Spurs on Saturday - but the top coaches never lose control and the Italian knows there is a time and a place to keep a lid on the emotions. Conte was involved in a long and heated exchange with fourth official Bobby Madley when an apparent handball by Harry Kane was not spotted in the second half. It ended with an outstretched hand of understanding that was graciously reciprocated by Madley. He was also visibly desperate to inject more urgency into Chelsea as they were outplayed by Spurs for 44 minutes until Pedro's equaliser was the catalyst for a complete momentum shift. It was a drama played out with maximum animation as his voice could be heard above the crowd. And the body language - occasionally leaping up and down on the spot - making him look like he was auditioning for Riverdance. There is, however, substance to back up his frenzied technical area style. Conte's half-time messages, bolstered by the equaliser, were clearly received and understood by Chelsea's players as they carried out his instructions to put pressure on Spurs and play at the higher tempo that suits them. He is transmitting his desire to Chelsea's players, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saying after the Spurs win: "He's passionate like that every day, every session and that's great for us because it keeps us focused and sharp." It has also roused Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea's fans warming to Conte and chanting his name constantly on Saturday night. Conte's sideshow may be eye-catching but his blood remains cool enough to make the right tactical moves that ensured Chelsea saw out the closing stages of this tight contest in relative comfort. Conte was keen to stress he wanted his work, and the fact that Chelsea are back on top of the table, to stay low-key and be treated with modesty. "We must continue to work, improve and we must stay humble," said the 47-year-old. And that is clearly what he intends to do for one of the biggest games of the season when they travel to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City next Saturday lunchtime. For all the emotion on the touchline, Conte is quietly spoken and measured in his press conferences with an increasingly impressive command of English. As Courtois hinted, Conte

Summary: Chelsea's win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge not only restored them to the top of the Premier League, it also offered up further evidence of the impact manager Antonio Conte has as he rebuilds the club from the trauma of last season.


Ansar al-Sharia demanded the authorities release Islamist fighters from jail in exchange for the soldiers' safe return. The announcement came only days after a series of suicide attacks and armed assaults by the group in southern Yemen left more than 100 people dead, most of them soldiers. It had previously warned that it was going to launch a series of attacks on the authorities, dubbed the "Flooding River". Ansar al-Sharia, whose name means "Partisans of Islamic law" in Arabic, was formed by AQAP in response to the growing youth movement in Yemen, which has marginalised Salafi-jihadists who advocate the violent overthrow of the government and the establishment of an Islamic state. Mass, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations have swept the Arab world in the past year, not least in Yemen, where they eventually forced President Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand over power to his deputy in November. Last April, jihadist websites published an interview with AQAP's religious leader, Adel al-Abbab - also known as Abu al-Zubair - who said that Ansar al-Sharia had been set up to attract people to Sharia rule in the areas under the control of AQAP and allied groups, including "Islamic" punishments. In the past year, militants linked to AQAP have seized parts of the southern province of Abyan, including the provincial capital, Zinjibar. Ansar al-Sharia says it provides public services to locals in such areas and claims to solve their day-to-day problems. It says it is reproducing the model of Sharia rule espoused by the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Islamic State of Iraq, a militant umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq. Adel al-Abbab said Ansar al-Sharia had successfully attracted locals and tribesmen in some areas by turning their strategy "into popular action, instead of keeping it as an elite one". Many of those involved in Ansar al-Sharia are jihadists who have experienced living in an "Islamic state", either in Afghanistan in the mid-1990s, or among jihadists in Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003. Ansar al-Sharia's ability to launch attacks, as well as build local support, indicates that the Yemeni authorities' struggle with Islamist militants may soon become bloodier and more protracted.

Summary: An offshoot of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has issued a statement threatening the lives of 73 Yemeni soldiers it says it captured last week.


Judge Carlos Castro Martins reversed the order he had issued in September, which had barred any work on the Belo Monte dam that interfered with the natural flow of the Xingu river. He said the company behind the project had subsequently shown its work would not harm local fishing. The project has been heavily criticised by environmentalists. Judge Martins had originally ruled in favour of a fisheries group which argued that the dam would affect local fish stocks and could harm indigenous families who make a living from fishing. He had barred the Norte Energia company behind the project from all work which could interfere with the natural flow of the Xingu river, including building a port, using explosives, installing dikes and building canals. Legal wrangling Norte Energia appealed against the decision and Judge Martins ruled on Friday that construction work on the dam could go ahead as the company had shown that local fishing boats would not be blocked or hindered in their work. "Since the course of the water won't be altered, and there won't be much variation in the speed of its flow, (the project) won't have a major influence on the habitat of ornamental fish species used for fishing," he said. Judge Martins did, however, say that the wider environmental impact of the project "could only be felt and analysed once the work was completed, as the studies into its effects were only forecasts of what could happen". He also said that any work would have to comply with the regulations laid down by Brazil's Indian Affairs Department (Funai) and the National Environment Agency, Ibama. Norte Energia said the temporary halt on the building work had not affected the project, as it had not yet reached the stage where the company needed to do any of the specific type of work which had fallen under the ban. If it goes ahead, the 11,000-megawatt dam will be the third biggest in the world - after the Three Gorges in China and Itaipu, which is jointly run by Brazil and Paraguay. The government says it is crucial to meeting growing energy needs, but environmentalists and those fighting for indigenous rights have been vociferous in their opposition.

Summary: A judge in Brazil has revoked a decision which had halted work on the Belo Monte dam in the Amazon region.


Across the UK there were 96,910 residential transactions in June, on a seasonally-adjusted basis. That is a fall of 3.3% on May's number, and the lowest total since October 2016. The figures, from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), represent a small annual rise, up 1% in comparison with June 2016. However, last summer's sales were depressed by the introduction of additional stamp duty rates in April. It is also the first time this year that the number of transactions has fallen below 100,000 a month. Property experts think the figures give a more accurate indication of the health of the market than house prices. "These figures are disappointing as we would have expected them to be much higher bearing in mind the turmoil in the market this time last year following the introduction of the stamp duty surcharge," said Jeremy Leaf, a north London estate agent. Where can I afford to live?

Summary: The number of homes being bought and sold has fallen for the third month in a row, according to government figures.


Marcy Smith was woken up by her son David to find their house in Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador, completely engulfed in flames. The whole family was able to escape, but their house is destroyed and their dog and cats did not make it. Mrs Smith said if it wasn't for her son, she and her daughter probably wouldn't have survived. David was on FaceTime to his father at the time, so was the only one awake and saw the flames out of the corner of his eye. "Within seconds of him getting us up, the flames were everywhere," Mrs Smith told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "It happened so fast. We were standing in the kitchen by the wood stove and the flames just ate around me and David. The entire kitchen just disappeared while we were standing in it." She said the fire was started by some rubbish she burned in the wood stove, something she had done "a thousand times" before. The fire alarm did not go off. The family had nothing but pyjamas on when they fled, but Mrs Smith said the community has rallied behind them, donating clothes and shoes and even a bike for her son. "All he understands is that me and his sister and him got out. He does not understand that he is the only reason we did," she said. "He did a huge thing for such a young boy. I am so proud of him and I am going to tell him for the rest of his life until he understands what a big thing he did."

Summary: An 11-year-old Canadian boy saved his whole family from a devastating fire, his mother says.


Their 367-run partnership in a 425-1 total - the second highest in List A games - saw the Lions beat Sri Lanka A. Duckett's 131-ball 220 not out was the ninth-highest List A score ever, while Bell-Drummond hit 171 off 139. "Those guys are very capable of playing international cricket," said Flower, who now coaches the Lions. It was a successful tri-series for Flower's team, as the Lions beat Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A twice apiece, with batsmen scoring more than 150 in each fixture. Duckett scored 163 not out in a seven-wicket victory against Pakistan A on 19 July, before excelling again in Monday's 140-run win. Dawid Malan - the 28-year-old Middlesex batsman who received his first England call-up for the Twenty20 squad against Sri Lanka in June - struck 185 in an 88-run Duckworth-Lewis win against Sri Lanka on 21 July. Full international Sam Billings, who has played five ODIs and seven T20s, hit 175 in Sunday's second victory against Pakistan. "I think English cricket will be better for these guys having to force their way in," Flower, who led the national team from 2009 to 2014, told the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show on BBC Radio 5 live. "These youngsters have to push their way in and earn their spot. It was an incredible series of innings and great partnerships, the selectors will almost certainly take interest in these results." And the 48-year-old had special praise for Northants' 21-year-old opener Duckett, who he described as "a very talented young man". "None of us can foresee the future but there's no reason why he can't go on and have a very successful international future," he said.

Summary: England Lions batsmen Ben Duckett and Daniel Bell-Drummond could play for England within a year, according to former national coach Andy Flower.


Clarkie and Melanie Killen became the first father and daughter to officiate a senior game in Ireland, according to the North West Cricket Union. The Drumahoe pair were in charge of Tuesday's game between St Johnston and Ballyspallen in the the Eric Cooke cup. At the same time, Melanie Killen became the first ever woman umpire of a NWCU match. "I like the sport, I've always been interested and I just wanted to give something back to it," Ms Killen told BBC Radio Foyle. "I really hope that me being the first female official will encourage other ladies to come on board. "The players helped me as well, it was really good to have my dad there just for that extra support." Her father Clarkie has been umpiring for a while but it was only last winter that Melanie, a keen cricket enthusiast, decided to sit the Level 1 course. She passed "with flying colours" according to her tutors, and is now looking forward to a bright future in the sport. "I was nervous at the start, first game, but it went well. Once I got into the match, second innings came round and I got really into the game," Melanie said. "I had a few decisions to make but I was able to make them easy enough. Everyone was very nice to me, breaking me in gently as they say. "Also, the abuse I hear umpires get, I don't know if that's going to come my way or not. It's just having to deal with those situations as they arise," she added. A spokesman for the NWCU said: "We would like to congratulate both umpires and extend a very warm welcome to Melanie in particular. "In an era when the women's game is growing at a rapid rate it is fantastic to see that participation extended into the officials' ranks as well. "We hope that Melanie has a long and successful association within the Union and who knows, maybe beyond, and that she serves as an example to other women within the sport."

Summary: Cricket appears to run in the blood for one County Londonderry family who have made history twice in one week.