Of the 32,000 officers who responded, 94% said they believed morale in the service was low or very low. The Police Federation has warned that the service could be left without enough experienced officers. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said they were working to improve morale. The online survey, which was released to BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast, aimed to measure the impact of reforms which followed a review of police pay and conditions. It found 94% of officers believe morale in the service was low, compared with 62% in the armed forces, who were asked the same question. Some 59% of police officers said their own personal morale was low, compared with 28% of people in the armed forces. In his 2011 report into police pay and conditions, former rail regulator Tom Winsor called for the abolition of a series of allowances and special payments and for a pay system that recognised hard work and merit instead of long service. Mr Winsor said his recommendations, which included making savings of £60m a year in overtime, would produce savings of £485m in three years. Reforms, including a £4,000 cut in starting salaries, were then introduced by Home Secretary Theresa May in 2013 after the proposals were considered by the Police Arbitration Tribunal. The survey asked officers how the reforms had affected morale. Some 91% said that they had felt some reduction to morale following changes to overtime and rest day payments. The survey found the pension age increase had led to 87.2% of officers feeling like their morale had dropped. The Police Federation, which represents police officers up to the rank of chief inspector in England and Wales, said: "Our survey suggests 15% are planning to leave the service. "Forces should not be complacent that they have enough officers to fill their current quotas, it's likely that when the job market picks up these officers will go, leaving an experience gap." Bedfordshire Chief Constable Colette Paul said her force had been 60 officers short until recently, and told 5 live it had put the force under a lot of pressure. "We actually have real urban challenges here in Bedfordshire, real strong crime challenges which we had to deal with, so if you're 60 short, because every person counts in a force of our size, it does have a big impact. "But even if morale is affected they go out there and do a great job day in and day out." Acpo's vice-president, Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy, said: "All parts of the public sector are reporting low morale among staff. There is concern at low pay increases, lack of promotion opportunities and the likely impact of further budget cuts with fewer staff to do more work. "Policing is no different but there is also a weariness at what is seen as constant negative press coverage, a blame culture looking for fault rather than learning lessons and a feeling that the realities of some of the social problems the police are having to deal with are just not appreciated." He added:

Summary: More than 5,000 police officers in England and Wales are planning to leave the service in the next two years, a Police Federation survey suggests.


Over the next week, every BBC local radio station in England and the Channel Islands is accepting nominations for a local artist (or venue) that changed the course of musical history. The winners will be honoured with a plaque on a building where they lived or a venue where they became famous. To be considered the nominee must be: The candidates will be submitted to The British Plaque Trust - and the 40 recipients will be unveiled on Friday, 9 June as part of BBC Music Day. Surprisingly few pop musicians have one - with a notable exception being David Bowie, who is honoured at the location of the photoshoot for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust in London's West End. But who else deserves one? To get you thinking, here are five people and places that could benefit from a blue plaque. Long before he could grow that designer stubble, George Michael met Andrew Ridgeley at Bushey Meads school and pop history changed forever. Bonding over a love of music, the duo initially formed a five-piece band called The Replacements, who played everything from ska to Beethoven's Fur Elise. Their friendship was vital in sustaining George through the whirlwind success of Wham! and eventually giving him the courage to go solo. Estimated to be more than 100 million years old, Peak Cavern is undoubtedly the oldest music venue in the UK. The natural limestone cavern has hosted gigs by the likes of Richard Hawley, Mystery Jets and The Vaccines, who all benefit from the site's remarkable acoustics. Fun fact: It used to be called The Devil's Arse (because of the flatulent sound caused by flood water draining from the cave) but received a more demure name in 1880, so Queen Victoria wouldn't be offended when she visited for a concert. While Queen were still a struggling young pop band, Freddie Mercury ran a stall in London's Kensington Market with drummer Roger Taylor. They sold clothes and bric-a-brac, as well as a thesis Freddie had written about Jimi Hendrix while attending Ealing College. The stall did well enough to fund the band in their early days - so much so that they kept it going after Queen released their first album. Delia Derbyshire is one of the earliest and most influential pioneers of electronic sound. Working in a time before synthesisers, samplers and multi-track tape recorders, the musician, assisted by her engineer Dick Mills, created not only the original Dr Who theme but countless other experimental and ground-breaking recordings. She was born in Coventry, but was evacuated to Preston, Lancashire, during World War Two. A blue plaque at either of her childhood homes would be a fitting memorial. Not the most rock'n'roll of locations, Beachy Head nonetheless deserves its place in music history. David Bowie filmed elements of the video for Ashes to Ashes there; and The Cure used it as the backdrop for both Just Like Heaven and Close To Me. Industrial noise terrorists Throbbing Gristle used it in the deeply-ironic cover for their album, 20 Jazz Funk Greats; and,

Summary: Rock and pop's most influential figures are to be honoured with blue plaques on BBC Music Day this year - and you can decide who gets one.


Theresa May used a speech in Washington to urge the UK's partners in the Five Eyes security alliance - the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - to work together against terrorism. Mrs May called for better information-sharing and more thorough exchange of terrorist finance details. She said tackling terrorism was the "challenge of our generation". Mrs May called on the UK's partners in the Five Eyes alliance to extend "the successful co-operation between our countries on issues of national security which we have built over past decades". "I am clear that defeating terrorism requires a global response, and that we will not succeed by acting in isolation," Mrs May said. She challenged the alliance to: "Extremism is spreading, threatening and taking lives, not just in our countries but in other lands. It thrives in the disorder created by fragile and failing states. "It is contributing to, and in some cases exploiting, mass migration. It is turning the benefits of modern technology to its twisted ends," she added. Fears have previously been raised that militants from the so-called Islamic State group may be attempting to get into Europe posing as refugees. Last month a report by EU's police agency Europol said there was no "concrete evidence" that militants were using the flow of refugees to enter unnoticed but it said there were reports that refugee centres were being "specifically targeted" by Islamic extremist recruiters.

Summary: Extremism is contributing to and exploiting mass migration, the home secretary has warned.


Military officials said 50m naira ($317,000; Â£197,709) was offered for help in tracking down the group's suspected leader Abubakar Shekau. Other alleged commanders have around 10m naira on their head. Boko Haram has been waging an insurgency since 2009 to impose strict Sharia law across Nigeria. The group has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks against churches and other establishments since 2009. More than 640 people have died so far this year in attacks blamed on the group. "They are wanted in connection with terrorist activities particularly in the north-east zone of Nigeria that led to the killings, bombings and assassination of some civilians, religious leaders, traditional rulers, businessmen, politicians, civil servants and security personnel amongst others," a military statement said. "They are also wanted for arson and destruction of properties worth millions of naira." Abubakar Shekau was one of three Boko Haram leaders designated terrorists by the United States in June. The other two, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi, are thought to have ties with a branch of al-Qaeda. A reward was offered by the Nigerian military for Khalid Barnawi on Friday but not Abubakar Kambar, AFP news agency reports. Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is a sacrilege" in the Hausa language, is based in the dominantly Muslim north of Nigeria. The south of the oil rich country is mostly Christian.

Summary: Nigeria's military is offering large rewards for information leading to the capture of leaders of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram.


Latham smashed Colin Ackermann for six to reach his hundred but was caught behind off Neil Dexter for 124. Opener Steel went on to make his century off 242 balls, before passing his previous first-class best of 128. Dieter Klein claimed a couple of late wickets but Steel ended unbeaten on 145 as Durham closed on 324-4.

Summary: Cameron Steel and Tom Latham shared a 234-run first-wicket stand as both scored centuries to help Durham dominate against Leicestershire.


13 July 2016 Last updated at 14:42 BST The game has not been officially released in the UK, but keen gamers have found ways around the app's country restrictions to get early access. However, the chief executive of children's charity NSPCC has urged the app's makers to add safety measures before its UK release, warning that adults could use it to prey on children.

Summary: Pokemon Go has become a phenomenon in the few days since its release - and the creatures have even been spotted outside 10 Downing Street, ahead of Theresa May's first appearance as prime minister.


Greek officials had been expected to meet representatives of EU creditors in the Greek capital Athens on Friday. But a European Commission spokeswoman later said those representatives would arrive "in the coming days". Separately, Greece formally submitted a request for a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a letter to IMF head Christine Lagarde dated 23 July but released to the public on Friday, Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos wrote that Athens was "seeking a new loan". Greece had initially planned not to ask the IMF for more funds, reports say. Greek MPs have approved tough new conditions set by the EU lenders for talks on the bailout. It is unclear when IMF officials will be joining the negotiations. The Washington-based IMF wants Greece's debt burden to be reduced to a level it considers "sustainable", but it faces resistance from reluctant European partners. EU officials said on Friday that there were "logistical issues to solve" before high-level talks with Athens could begin, but that negotiations were taking place at a technical level. The Greek team had been expected to meet top representatives from the European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - the eurozone's main bailout fund. Talks on the bailout package are expected to last a month. Tight capital controls, introduced at the end of June, remain in place to prevent a run on Greece's cash-strapped banks. PM Tsipras faced a backlash from MPs in his own left-wing Syriza party, during two parliamentary votes on austerity measures required by the creditors in order for negotiations to start. But he secured parliament's backing after a second crucial vote passed early on Thursday. The reforms debated this week included changes to Greek banking and an overhaul of the judiciary. Last week, Greece passed an initial set of austerity measures, including tax rises and pushing back the retirement age. Mr Tsipras has said that he is not happy with the measures imposed by creditors but that his government was forced to choose a "difficult compromise" to avoid Greece exiting the eurozone. A decision on more contentious measures - phasing out early retirement and tax rises for farmers - has been pushed back to August. Demonstrations have taken place on the streets of Athens against the bailout deal and trade unions have taken strike action. On Wednesday, the ECB increased its cash lifeline to Greek banks by €900m - the second rise in a week. The IMF confirmed on Monday that Greece had cleared its overdue debt repayments of €2.05bn and was no longer in arrears. The repayments, which included €4.2bn to the ECB, were made possible by a short-term EU loan of €7.16bn. Greece's next major deadline is 20 August, when it must pay €3.2bn owed to the ECB, followed by a payment of €1.5bn to the IMF in September.

Summary: Talks between Greece and its European creditors on a third €86bn (£60bn; $94bn) bailout have been delayed due to logistical problems, officials say.


The weather phenomenon is set to exacerbate droughts in some areas, while increasing flooding in others. Some of the worst impacts are likely in Africa with food shortages expected to peak in February. Regions including the Caribbean, Central and South America will also be hit in the next six months. This periodic weather event, which tends to drive up global temperatures and disturb weather patterns, has helped push 2015 into the record books as the world's warmest year. "By some measures this has already been the strongest El Nino on record. It depends on exactly how you measure it," said Dr Nick Klingaman from the University of Reading. "In a lot of tropical countries we are seeing big reductions in rainfall of the order of 20-30%. Indonesia has experienced a bad drought; the Indian monsoon was about 15% below normal; and the forecasts for Brazil and Australia are for reduced monsoons." As both droughts and floods continue, the scale of the potential impacts is worrying aid agencies. Around 31 million people are said to be facing food insecurity across Africa, a significant increase over the last year. Around a third of these people live in Ethiopia where 10.2 million are projected to require humanitarian assistance in 2016. Can Ethiopia cope with drought? South Africa grapples with worst drought in 30 years El Nino is a naturally occurring weather episode that sees the warm waters of the central Pacific expand eastwards towards North and South America. It was originally recognised by fishermen off the coast of South America in the 1600s with the appearance of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino translates as Little Boy, or Christ Child. The phenomenon, which happens every two to seven years, usually peaks late in the calendar year, although the effects can persist well into the following spring and last up to 12 months. El Nino is part of what is known as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle - the opposite phase of the cycle is called La Nina. La Nina is sometimes referred to as the cold phase and El Nino the warm phase The current El Nino episode is the strongest event since 1998 and is expected to be among the three most powerful ever recorded. According to the WMO, the peak three month average water surface temperatures in tropical Pacific are expected to exceed 2C above normal. Strongest El Nino since 1950 on the way Matt McGrath: 'High impacts' from globally stronger El Nino The UK's Department for International Development says (DfID) it is providing emergency support for 2.6 million people and 120,000 malnourished children. It says it will provide 8 million people with food or cash support from January 2016. "If we fail to act now against this especially powerful El Nino, we will fail vulnerable people across our world," UK International Development Minister Nick Hurd said in a statement. "Ensuring security for those affected by El Nino is important to their countries but also in Britain's national interest. Only by protecting and stabilising vulnerable countries can we ensure

Summary: The strongest El Nino weather cycle on record is likely to increase the threat of hunger and disease for millions of people in 2016, aid agencies say.


Ms Tiffney was last seen leaving her home in Edinburgh's Dean Village in May 2002. A murder charge against her son Sean Flynn was found not proven by a jury at the High Court in Perth in 2005. The remains were found in an area off the A198, near the entrance to Gosford House in Longniddry. A cyclist called the emergency services when they made the discovery at about 18:30 on Sunday. There are 40 police officers working on the find. It is thought Ms Tiffney was murdered and her body disposed of in the Gosford House area. The bones are still in situ and it is understood it will take a few days to recover them. Det Supt Pat Campbell, of Police Scotland, said: "The recovery will be a painstaking process. "We are consulting with a number of experts to ensure that the remains are recovered in a sensitive and careful manner and no evidence that helps us to establish what happened is damaged or missed. "I understand the anxiety of those who may be waiting for news of a missing loved one, but whilst the identity of the remains is unknown we cannot speculate." He added: "The death is being treated as unexplained and once the remains are recovered, there will be significant, detailed forensic analysis required to establish the cause of death and whether any crime has been committed."

Summary: Police investigating the discovery of human remains in East Lothian have spoken to the family of missing woman Louise Tiffney.


The Mexican, 25, beat Khan with a thunderous right hand in round six to retain his WBC middleweight title. Thoughts immediately turned to a unification match with Kazakh Golovkin, who holds the WBA and IBF belts. "I will fight him at 160lb, no problem," said Alvarez, who fought Khan at a catch-weight of 155lb. "Weight will not be an issue - we can even fight for no belts. I would have fought him in the ring tonight. I'm not afraid of anyone." After his victory over Khan, Alvarez invited the watching Golovkin into the ring, although the rivals did not speak to each other. The undefeated Golovkin, 34, has 32 knockouts from 35 wins and is the mandatory challenger for Alvarez's WBC title. A fight between the pair is the biggest boxing has to offer and would be a boost for the sport following the anti-climactic fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao last year and both boxers' subsequent retirements. Alvarez won the vacant WBC title by outpointing Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto at a catch-weight of 155lb last November, and it was thought weight would be a major sticking point when negotiating with Golovkin. But after Alvarez's demolition of Khan, the Mexican's promoter Oscar de la Hoya said he would try to open talks with Golovkin's team the next day. "Golovkin, make sure you answer your phone in the morning because we'll be calling," said De la Hoya. "That's the fight the fans want and the fight Canelo wants. And those fans who were turned off by Mayweather-Pacquiao will fall in love with boxing again." However, De la Hoya hinted at the tortuous negotiations ahead when he added: "There's no doubting who the star is. We have four aces and they have a pair of twos."

Summary: Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez says he is prepared to fight Gennady Golovkin at any weight after knocking out Britain's Amir Khan in Las Vegas.


Police said the victim was set upon by up to eight men in the Heights area at about 02:00 BST on Sunday. A 30-year-old man was arrested but has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries. Police have appealed for information about the attack.

Summary: A 28-year-old man has been beaten by a gang armed with metal bars and bats in Coleraine, County Londonderry.


A biomass electricity generation plant, to be approved by the council, would use straw pellets as a raw material. Protesters claim construction on contaminated land could pollute water sources for a nearby soft drinks factory, leading to job losses. Power company EON said emissions would be controlled and neither air nor water sources would be affected. Residents are worried about poor air quality, but the company said emissions would be maintained within strict levels and constantly monitored. The site for the Â£300m scheme would be in the Thorpe Hamlet district close to the city centre. Plans for Generation Park, on a former industrial site between the River Wensum and Yarmouth Road, have been backed by the University of East Anglia. Campaigners said it threatened damage to a water source used by the Britvic soft drinks factory. Campaign spokesman Conrad Jones said: "Generation Park is on the old coal-fired power station and the ground is very contaminated. Developers will have to be very careful when they disturb it." As well as the incineration plant using straw pellets providing electricity and heating for 120 new homes, the site will contain student accommodation and research and education centres. Norwich City Council said the plant would also reduce its carbon footprint by 22%. Professor Trevor Davies, from the University of East Anglia and the Generation Park spokesman, said: "There is no risk to health or threat to water sources." Consultation on the project by the city council lasts until the end of the month.

Summary: Residents and representatives of food firms have staged a protest at Norwich City Hall over a planned energy park.


In 2012, we've swung from droughts to floods, hot to cold. The impact has been felt far and wide, not least by the UK's burgeoning wine industry. With over 400 acres of vineyards in Hampshire and Sussex, Nyetimber grows the same variety of grapes that are found in the Champagne region in France. The company has been working to put English sparkling wine on the map, but this year it hasn't had much to celebrate. "Nyetimber's [vines] have been planted since 1988, and 2012 is the first year we said there is no way we can make wine," says Cherie Spriggs, a wine-maker at the company. Torrential rain and cool temperatures meant their grapes were not up to standard. "It came to early October, and we were evaluating the fruit and tasting it, and we just said this isn't going to happen. "The quality of the fruit was just not at the level that we needed in order to make sparkling wine at the quality we are striving for." Cancelling the harvest, she says, felt like a kick in the stomach. 'Erratic excursions' The culprit for much of the extreme weather that the UK has seen this year is the jet stream. Usually, this river of air in our upper atmosphere flows in a fairly straight line from the east coast of America, east across the Atlantic. It fluctuates a little all the time, but this year, it underwent large variations and then got locked in these unusual patterns. Tim Palmer, professor of climate physics at the University of Oxford, explains: "When the jet stream moves up to the north, and then travels back down to the UK, it brings with it cold air, blizzards, very severe and unpleasant weather from that perspective. "On the other hand, when the jet stream moves south, then we get these periods of intense flooding, which we have seen through the second part of this year." But Professor Palmer says that with climate change, the jet stream could become far more variable. He says: "The question of how it will change is still a very active research problem, and we don't have clear-cut answers yet. "But I think there is quite a big possibility that what we will see is the jet stream undergoing quite dramatic and erratic excursions." And the UK's geographical position under the jet stream means that we could see the worst of this. Prof Palmer explains: "I think it is a bit unwise, and possibly even a bit dangerous, to think that the climate of the UK will just gradually warm and we'll transition to a more balmy southern European climate. "If the ideas about a more fluctuating jet stream are correct, then in fact what we will be seeing is a climate with many more extremes: both extremes of wetness and flooding on the one hand, and extremes and dryness and possibly even coldness on the other." Getting prepared The exact course that the UK's climate will take is still uncertain, and scientists say we need more powerful computers and better

Summary: We're always accused of being obsessed with the weather in the UK - but this year we've had a good excuse.


Footage secretly filmed by France 2 TV shows Francoise Olcay selling dinghies and life jackets to migrants hoping to reach the Greek islands. The UN says 124,000 people reached Greece's shores by sea in the first seven months of 2015. Ms Olcay said the items would be bought elsewhere if she did not sell them. Admitting that she was taking part in the trade, she alleged that local Turkish authorities were also involved. She said others would have taken her place if she stopped selling supplies to the migrants. The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says that while honorary consuls are not members of the diplomatic corps, the news will be a big embarrassment to the French foreign ministry. The reporter on France 2 TV who uncovered the news had been investigating where migrants in Bodrum were purchasing their supplies. His inquiries brought him to a large store, with a French flag flying outside and a sign at the entrance saying "French honorary consul". Ms Olcay confirmed she was the consul, and that she sold boats to the migrants despite knowing it could lead to disaster. She told the reporter that it was wrong but everyone was doing it. Thousands of refugees have used Bodrum as a gateway to fulfil their dream of reaching Europe. However, correspondents say the number of nightly departures appears to have slightly decreased after Turkish police stepped up patrols in the wake of the death of Alan Kurdi. The body of the three-year-old was washed up at Bodrum last week, after he drowned along with his mother, four-year-old brother and nine other Syrians as they attempted to sail to the Greek island of Kos. Images of the boy's body sparked international outrage and highlighted the dangers faced by migrants who make the crossing. Alan Kurdi death: A Syrian Kurdish family forced to flee Migrant crisis in maps and charts

Summary: France has suspended its honorary consul in the Turkish port of Bodrum after a TV report showed a shop she owns selling dinghies to migrants.


The blaze started at the ICL UK Boulby mine at 00:30 BST on 13 April, 1,100m (3,600 ft) under the sea bed and five miles (8km) from land. Seven workers were taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said a notice had been served in relation to the underground fire. More than 100 staff were underground at the time, 11 of whom were temporarily unaccounted for. Polystyrene blocks are believed to have caught fire in the mine. A spokesman for ICL UK, said: "We have been working closely with HM Mines Inspectorate in the investigation into the recent incident. "Safety is always our first priority and we are fully committed to working with the inspectorate in order to identify ways in which procedures can be improved. "We will, of course comply with all the measures set out in the improvement notice." The company has until 27 June to comply with the notice. The HSE said the investigation was ongoing. One of Europe's deepest mines, the site employs about 1,100 people. Last year, the company announced it was shedding hundreds of jobs as part of a "new business strategy" to produce fertiliser polysulphate.

Summary: A potash mine in East Cleveland has been issued with an improvement notice after a fire broke out hundreds of metres below the sea bed.


Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko told Germany's Bild newspaper: "The idea of Mercedes is finished. We are now focusing elsewhere." Team principal Christian Horner said he was doing "necessary due diligence" in talking to other manufacturers. With their partnership with Renault disintegrating, the team may be forced to switch to Ferrari engines. Mercedes are understood to be against supplying Red Bull - who are contracted to Renault until 2016 - because they do not want to help a strong rival become more competitive. Media playback is not supported on this device The German giant is also concerned about what it and many other F1 insiders perceive to be Red Bull's history of antagonistic relationships with engine partners. Red Bull's relationship with Renault has been difficult for some time, and appears to have become untenable in recent months as the team's frustrations with the lack of competitiveness of the French engine boil over. Honda is the only other manufacturer in F1, but partner McLaren would almost certainly exercise their veto over any potential deal with Red Bull, who in any case are not believed to be interested in a deal with the Japanese company at this stage. Renault, which supplies only Red Bull and sister team Toro Rosso in F1, is in the final stages of negotiations to take over the financially troubled Lotus team, although no deal has yet been completed. Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said the Italian company was prepared to supply Red Bull if necessary. He said he was not concerned about their reputation for being able to build highly-competitive chassis in F1, led by their design chief Adrian Newey. Arrivabene said: "In theory they have big names, with Newey as chief designer and it is easy to think that if you give them the engine they will build a scary chassis, which means they will be really competitive. "Concerning my team, my engineers and aerodynamicists know their own jobs. For that reason I don't have a problem, and competition is nice when you have a stronger competitor. "This doesn't mean tomorrow morning we will give our engines to Red Bull or Toro Rosso. "But I don't see any kind of problem to give our engine to any other team or be scared of the competition before they start. "This is not the right spirit of competition or what Ferrari represents. We fight with everybody."

Summary: Red Bull have said that their hopes of securing a Mercedes engine supply in 2016 are now over.


Christopher Tate, who also runs Donington Park circuit, said most of the British industry was in "Motorsport Valley", in central England counties. On Wednesday, the Welsh Government refused to underwrite the £350m private funding for the Welsh circuit. Developers say they have a new deal which could proceed within eight weeks. The Heads of the Valleys Development Company, which runs the Circuit of Wales, has said up to 6,000 jobs could be created by the project. Mr Tate, a director of the Association of Motor Racing Circuit Owners, told the BBC's Good Morning Wales programme there had always been "an eyebrow raised" about some of the claims made about the size of the proposed Circuit of Wales. He stressed it was not a question of not wanting more competition, but being "surprised and concerned" about the figures involved. "When it came to the point that it was apparent that private investment felt it needed to be underwritten by the government of Wales, more eyebrows were raised, as you can imagine, among the members of our association - 17 of them, including circuits of course in Wales at Pembrey and on Anglesey - that said 'really? "'Wouldn't be nice if all our private investors got underwritten by our government?'." He said the recent announcement by First Minister Carwyn Jones that the TVR car company would establish a new factory in the Ebbw Vale enterprise zone and bring about 150 jobs, was still "a long way short of the much-vaunted 6,000". "That number depends on the building of hotels and restaurants and other factory units and industrial units and so on," he said. "Right across the UK - not just in Wales - there is not a shortage of empty industrial space at the moment. "The second [point] is, the British motor sport industry is very much focused on what they call 'Motorsport Valley' - running approximately from Oxford up in a loop through Northamptonshire towards Leicestershire and Derbyshire. "Now, in that area lies 50,000 jobs and they're all a little bit interdependent. "So it doesn't matter if someone had suggested that a new motor racing track be built in Cornwall or in Aberdeen or in Ebbw Vale or, for that matter, in Norwich. "It would still have been well outside the natural agglomeration of these industries, and that's always been another reason for the raising of an eyebrow." Circuit of Wales director Michael Carrick has been contacted for a response. The Welsh Government has declined to comment.

Summary: The motorsport industry is sceptical about locating the proposed Circuit of Wales track in Ebbw Vale, a director of a motor circuit owners' group says.


The deaths plunged the community in the town of Arnstein into mourning. The five young men and a woman, all aged 18 or 19, were found on Sunday by the landowner whose son and daughter were among the victims. Police say a wood-burning stove was in use at the hut, but other possible causes are still being investigated. "The six adolescents... died from carbon monoxide poisoning," said a police statement. "The cause of the leakage of the toxic gas remains under investigation." The owner of the hut said he had gone there after his children failed to return from the party the night before. A neighbour told German media that his daughter had been celebrating her 18th birthday. The brick building is some distance outside the town and the area was covered in snow. The tragedy has caused an outpouring of grief in the town, which is about 30km (18 miles) north of the city of Wuerzburg. An area has been set aside in the local church for flowers, candles and other tributes to the teenagers. A gathering for friends and relatives was held there on Monday "for grief, remembrance and prayer".

Summary: Six teenagers found dead in a garden hut in the German state of Bavaria died from carbon monoxide poisoning, police have said.


Media playback is not supported on this device In an error-strewn display, the 2012 bronze medallist needed 102 points from his closing dive to reach the final. However, he managed only 50.40 to finish in last place with 403.25 - well short of the personal best of 571.85 he set in Friday's preliminary round. "It's really hard to accept. I've worked so hard," said Daley, 22. "Yesterday I scored the highest score ever in an Olympic Games. Today it wasn't meant to be. That's what diving does sometimes. "I truly am heartbroken because I feel like I am in the peak physical condition and I could have won." British Diving performance director Alexei Evangulov had said Daley was "in the best shape and best form of his career" before the Olympics. Daley, who won a bronze medal in the 10m synchronised platform with Dan Goodfellow, suggested he would compete again in Tokyo in 2020. "I'm so happy with how GB have done, so proud to be part of it and I wanted to be able to stand on top of that podium, so it will be another four years' hard work," he said. Media playback is not supported on this device China's Chen Aisen, 20, claimed his second gold of the Games by winning the final, which took place later on Saturday. Chen, who also won the 10m synchro alongside Lin Yue, scored 585.30 points to finish ahead of Mexico's German Sanchez (532.70) and defending champion David Boudia of the United States (525.25). Media playback is not supported on this device Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Britain's Tom Daley said he was "heartbroken" after a shock semi-final elimination in the Olympic 10m platform diving competition.


Iain Duncan Smith, Leave campaigner and another ex-Conservative leader, said: "You can't claim democracy when you want it and reject it when you don't." He spoke out after Sir John also warned against Brexit being dictated by the "tyranny of the majority". Mr Duncan Smith said: "We had a vote, that vote now has to be acted on." The dispute came after Sir John, Conservative prime minister between 1990 and 1997, called for the 48% of people who voted against Brexit in June's referendum to have their views considered. "The tyranny of the majority has never applied in a democracy - and it should not apply in this particular democracy," he said. He argued that Parliament would have to ratify whatever deal is finally reached by the Brexit negotiators and there could be a case for a second referendum, depending on the deal on offer. Mr Duncan Smith told BBC Radio 5 live's Emma Barnett: "The idea we delay everything just simply because they disagree with the original result does seem to me an absolute dismissal of democracy. "And that's what I thought John Major's comments were today. The tyranny of the majority? What's the tyranny?" Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative MP and leading figure in the Vote Leave campaign, also dismissed Sir John's talk of a second referendum. "The idea this particular genie can be put back in the bottle after the British people have voted in a year-long debate - that we are now going to vote to stay in the EU - is absolute rubbish," he said. Mr Jenkin argued that the UK could have avoided Brexit if Sir John had held a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty, which was responsible for the creation of the European Union almost 25 years ago. "If he had stopped the Maastricht Treaty, there would have been no monetary union, there would have been no eurozone crisis, no bailouts, no centralisation of power in the EU - we might even still be a member of the EU," he told the BBC. "And it's because he gave in on the Maastricht Treaty that we've had to finish up leaving the EU." Liberal Democrat MP Nick Clegg, the former deputy prime minister, weighed in to add that while the government had a mandate to leave the EU, it did not have a mandate on "how" to leave. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, he criticised what he called the "almost hysterical fervour of the hard Brexiteers" to turn Britain into "a low regulation, low tax, enlarged offshore Singapore for which they have no mandate". He insisted it was "quite right that people, particularly from the centre ground point of British politics, say: 'Hang on a minute, that's actually not what people necessarily voted for on 23 June'." He added: "Brexit yes, but not this very hard ideological Brexit that they seem determined to pursue."

Summary: Ex-Prime Minister Sir John Major has been accused of "an absolute dismissal" of democracy after he suggested there should be a second Brexit vote.


One year on, the first handball matches since the Olympic Games have taken place inside the venue - reborn as a sports centre for the community - and on its hallowed London 2012 floor tiles. Handball will be a regular feature here. If you missed it at London 2012, handball is played on an indoor court between two teams of seven players. To simplify things greatly, you use your hands to throw the ball into the opposing team's goal. For handball's dedicated British fans, getting back in the Box at the Olympic Park has been a rare thrill. "We're in our Wembley," says Paul Stewart, who plays for Ruislip Eagles and took part in one of Sunday's inaugural games. "This is the pinnacle. You don't get to play in the biggest sports stadiums in football unless you're a pro. Every so often I look up from what looks like a gym floor and see these banks of seats, and remember - I'm in the Copper Box! Wow! "I can see the seat I sat in at the Olympics." Stewart was not a handball player this time 12 months ago, but he traded some water polo tickets with friends for the chance to see the sport and a love affair was born. "We saw a double header in the group stage, Croatia-Spain and France-Sweden. The wow factor was there, watching these amazing goalkeepers. "I went to my first session at the end of August last year, intending to be a goalkeeper, and the buzz was amazing. "I remember getting home that evening and thinking: 'That was so much better than I'd imagined.' I was thinking I'd come home bruised or not even bruised because I hadn't touched the ball... but it was so much fun." For Dani Sposi, setting foot inside the Copper Box is bittersweet. A former member of the British handball team, she narrowly missed out on selection for London 2012. "During preparations for the Games we used to go there once a month," she remembers. "When I got there, I remembered the smell, all those times we used to train there. "Being there as a player after the Olympics was a bit emotional, because I wasn't selected and it was very hard to go through all that disappointment. "I had my six-year-old son, Matteo, with me. He said: 'Mum, why didn't you play at the Olympics?' I said: 'Well, the coach made a different decision, so mummy didn't play.' Dani Sposi: "We had loads of people coming into the Copper Box on Sunday and asking about handball. We had another area in the arena where we could explain what handball is all about and let them shoot at goal. "Sometimes people don't realise how hard handball is. Even the parents are like 'oh, I'll do it' - and then 'oh, this is hard!' You have to find the right co-ordination with the three steps and the bounce." Paul Stewart: "We had easily hundreds, probably a couple of thousand people all told. There were points when it was massively busy, queues

Summary: Last summer, the Copper Box played host to surprise smash-hit handball, a sport which engrossed unsuspecting British audiences.


The 1949 Delahaye Roadster, which some have dubbed the most beautiful car in the world, was given to Dors when she was 17. The sky blue car has been described by auctioneers as "extravagant and outrageous - a rolling sculpture". Dors, who was seen as the British Marilyn Monroe, died in 1984 aged 52. Born Diana Mary Fluck, Dors became known as a 1950s blonde sex symbol, but was also well-respected for her acting skills. RM auctioneers said the car was curvaceous, sexy and flamboyant, just like its former owner. It was expected to sell for up to $6m but went for $3m plus a buyer's premium of 10%. The car is one of only 150 Roadsters made, and only one of 51 of its specific model - the 175S. The company stopped production in 1951 as it found there was little demand for such extravagance during that post-war period. When Dors first received the car, she did not even have a driving licence. At 20, she became the youngest owner of a Rolls-Royce in the UK - a reflection of her success at an early age. After she died, the car changed ownership several times and has in recent years been restored to its former condition. In its catalogue listing, RM Auctions says the Roadster - which has a top speed of 70mph - can "easily claim to being the most extravagant and beautiful coachbulit car in existence".

Summary: A sports car once owned by the late British actress Diana Dors has sold for $3 million (Â£1.9m) at a California auction.


Some 2,600 people attended the service in central Paris, including President Francois Hollande, survivors of the attacks and victims' families. A minute's silence was held and the names of all the victims read out. Attackers with assault rifles and suicide belts targeted a number of sites in the capital. Islamic State later said it was behind the assault. In pictures: Paris remembers with flags What happened on the night Who were the victims? Who were the attackers? Some of the survivors who attended were in wheelchairs, while members of the fire and ambulance services wore uniforms for the 45-minute ceremony in the courtyard of the historic Les Invalides complex. In his speech, President Hollande said France would "do all it can to destroy this army of fanatics". "It will operate relentlessly to protect its children." he said. He vowed that France would respond with more music, concerts and sporting events, after some of the attacks targeted a concert venue and a stadium. Among those attending the service were the parents of British victim Nick Alexander, who said that they were now "intrinsically linked" to those who had also lost loved ones. "The outpouring of love from around the world has been a great comfort to us and makes us even more proud to have had Nick as our son," they added. It started with a song that said it all: "When all we have is love." The lyrics of the iconic singer Jacques Brel echoed through the Court of Honour of the Invalides - a place where the French nation delivers its highest tributes to heroes and casualties of war. There was a silent pause and the names of those who lost their lives were read out. We heard their age too - most of them in their twenties or thirties. It was a long and painful listen as portraits were screened in the courtyard. Francois Hollande was the only speaker - he gave a brief and simple address, in which he paid tribute to the "130 smiles and faces" of the victims. Announcers read out the names and ages of all 130 victims, from 39-year-old Stephane Albertini to 37-year-old Stella Verry. However, not all the victims' families accepted the invitation to attend the service at the grand complex that houses a military museum and Napoleon's tomb. The family of one victim told French media they had refused, saying not enough had been done to protect the nation in the wake of other attacks earlier this year. President Hollande has this week embarked on a diplomatic push to increase support for the fight against IS militants. He flew to Washington to meet President Barack Obama, then met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian PM Matteo Renzi before travelling for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where more coordination on air strikes and intelligence was agreed. Cooperation with the regime? Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris Is France signalling an important shift in policy on Syria? That is the question after the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius spoke on French radio this

Summary: France has held a national memorial service for the 130 people who died in the Paris attacks two weeks ago.


The Spaniard, whose opening round in Munich contained six birdies, trails leader Wade Ormsby of Australia by two shots and Belgian Thomas Detry by one. England's Tommy Fleetwood, who finished fourth at the US Open on Sunday, is tied for sixth, three strokes adrift. Defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden also carded a five-under-par 67. Fleetwood's compatriots Richard Bland, James Morrison and Matthew Southgate matched Fleetwood and Stenson's score. "I felt like I played quite well, but not spectacular," said Garcia, whose Masters triumph at Augusta in April was his first major title. "There's still three more rounds to go, so we're going to keep playing hard and hopefully we'll be up there on Sunday."

Summary: Sergio Garcia shot a six-under-par 66 to share third place at the BMW International, his first event in Europe since winning the Masters.


But what really strikes you, especially in those initial developmental stages, is how familiar the forms look. How like an early human foetus, they appear. "This is something you see time and time again in vertebrates, not just with mammals," says Richard Sabin, the Natural History Museum's top whale expert. "You see these similarities in the early developmental stages and it's really not until you're halfway through the gestation - which for a humpback whale is around 11 months - that you start to see the things that make that foetus characteristically the species that it is." Richard has a remarkable sequence of seven humpback foetuses that he's going to put on display for the NHM's major summer exhibition on cetaceans. They go from what is essentially just a ball of cells that's perhaps only a few weeks old, all the way through to a specimen that appears to be a perfect humpback in miniature. This larger foetus, about half a metre in length, is probably seven to eight months into the gestation period. It has everything you would expect to see in a humpback, including those long, tell-tale pectoral flippers with their nobbly tubercles. The specimens were collected at the beginning of the 20th Century by scientists who had been sent to the Antarctic to gather data on the activities of the whaling fleets. Their role was to understand the biology, the movements, and the ecology of whales - to appreciate the status of stocks so that the commercial returns could be maximised. It's an awkward feeling knowing that these foetuses were taken from harpooned pregnant humpbacks. Somehow you have to console yourself with the recognition that the acquired data was ultimately what shut down that bloody industry. "There is a story with every specimen and it may not be a very comfortable story, but it is something we have to acknowledge," says Richard. "The thing to remember is that the data we get from these specimens we actively use for marine conservation purposes now." Just this past week, a Swiss-led team used old whaling data to show how species had shrunk in size in the 40 years prior to the stocks collapsing. This trend signal, the team said, could be used to warn of imminent disaster in other hunted wildlife groups. What have we learned from foetuses, specifically? A lot it seems about evolutionary biology. "One thing we see in these humpbacks is the development of tooth buds at around four-to-five months into gestation. They're then reabsorbed to allow the baleen to start to develop," explains Richard. The baleen are the keratin plates that hang from the upper-jaw and filter the humpbacks' prey. "So, we know from the study of these foetuses, from an evolutionary developmental perspective, that there was a time when all cetaceans were toothed and that baleen are a relatively recent development. And we've only just found the fossils that back that up." The whales exhibition is due to open on 14 July, the day after the NHM re-opens its front entrance. The Hintze Hall has been

Summary: It's a curious thing to see a group of early whale foetuses up close - to see beings so small that have the potential to become so big.


US markets had finished higher on expectations that job figures for February, due out later on Friday, will show a strong pace of growth. Asia's biggest market, Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 0.3% higher at 17,014.78. Shares in the embattled electronics firm Sharp rose 9.4% on new reports it was close to a deal with Taiwan's Foxconn. The jump came after the Nikkei business daily reported that Sharp and Foxconn parent company Hon Hai Precision Industry were continuing talks, with both sides seeking to conclude a takeover deal by Monday. Earlier talks had been delayed when Foxconn said it had received new information from Sharp which needed to be clarified. In Australia, the ASX 200 index finished the day up 0.2% at 5,090.02. Shares of commodity giant BHP Billiton rose 2.4%, with investors unfazed by a downgrade by credit ratings agency Moody's. Moody's cut its ratings of the Anglo-Australian firm to "A3" from "A1", citing the deterioration in the company's earnings and cash flow as reasons. The ratings agency also said it expected low commodity prices and softer demand to continue to affect BHP. In China, the mainland benchmark Shanghai Composite index closed up 0.5% at 2,874.15. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended up 1.2% at 20,176.70. Samsonite shares rose 1.3% as the company confirmed that it was taking over US luxury rival Tumi. In South Korea, the Kospi index finished down 0.1% at 1,955.63.

Summary: Shares across Asia traded mixed on Friday, failing to pick up the positive lead from Wall Street.


Here are some of your pictures from the 26 beaches ranked as Scotland's "most excellent" for water quality.

Summary: We actually don't have a picture of Thortonloch beach - yet - so if you have a great shot of this, or if one of our other pictures isn't of quite the right spot, or indeed if you have any other great images from anywhere around Scotland, you can send us your pictures here.


The crossing in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was concreted over in 1904 when the tram network expanded. It re-opened to pedestrians after a Â£5m project, which also exposed a section of the River Roch in the town. Work on uncovering the bridge started 18 months ago and is part of a Â£250m transformation of the town due to end in 2019. A Rochdale Council spokeswoman said the crossing is believed to have been built in about 1324 when Edward II ruled England. It expanded as the town grew, with sections added in the Restoration and Georgian eras. Merchants travelled over the bridge to Yorkshire to buy wool which was then finished in Rochdale's mills. In the 1700s it was one of two main routes from Lancashire to Yorkshire, making Rochdale one of the most important towns in the region ahead of the Industrial Revolution. The council said the re-exposed section of the river would help prevent flooding.

Summary: A bridge built in the 14th Century has reopened after it was hidden from view for more than a century.


3 February 2016 Last updated at 08:07 GMT The British astronaut has been up there for six weeks, but took time out to speak to children and share some experiments. Leah went to meet some of kids lucky enough to be able to talk direct to the astronaut...

Summary: Children across Britain linked up with Tim Peake on the International Space Station yesterday for a big question and answer session.


Pools, who were relegated from the English Football League last season, lost their opening game at home to Dover on Saturday but started well at Moss Rose, with Cassidy and Jack Munns both firing inches wide. Macclesfield hit back, with Danny Whitaker's volleyed effort superbly tipped away by goalkeeper Scott Loach. The home side took the lead in the 38th minute when Elliott Durrell's ball into the box was headed home by Whitaker. There was a let-off for Hartlepool at the start of the second half when a mistake from defender Scott Harrison set Tyrone Marsh clear but he shot straight at Loach. Pools levelled after 58 minutes when Cassidy nodded in a cross from Ryan Donaldson and came closest to winning it when the striker's flicked header was saved. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Macclesfield Town 1, Hartlepool United 1. Second Half ends, Macclesfield Town 1, Hartlepool United 1. Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Koby Arthur replaces Elliott Durrell. Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Scott Wilson replaces Scott Burgess. Substitution, Hartlepool United. Blair Adams replaces Jack Munns. Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Kieran Kennedy replaces George Pilkington. Goal! Macclesfield Town 1, Hartlepool United 1. Jake Cassidy (Hartlepool United). Second Half begins Macclesfield Town 1, Hartlepool United 0. First Half ends, Macclesfield Town 1, Hartlepool United 0. Jack Munns (Hartlepool United) is shown the yellow card. Goal! Macclesfield Town 1, Hartlepool United 0. Danny Whitaker (Macclesfield Town). Tyrone Marsh (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card. Liam Donnelly (Hartlepool United) is shown the yellow card. First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Summary: Jake Cassidy's second-half equaliser earned Hartlepool their first point in the Vanarama National League as they drew against Macclesfield.


Uber CEO Travis Kalanick made the admission while speaking at a private event in Vancouver, according to Canadian tech news site Betakit. The $1bn figure was later confirmed with Uber China by Reuters news agency. US-based Uber launched in China in 2014 and competes against the country's largest taxi app Didi Kuaidi. Uber is available in more than 40 cities in China. It announced last year that it would expand into 100 Chinese cities over the next 12 months. "We're profitable in the USA, but we're losing over $1bn a year in China," Betakit quoted Mr Kalanick as saying. He described China as the firm's largest international marketplace. But Uber's market share is dwarfed by that of the larger Didi Kuaidi. "We have a fierce competitor that's unprofitable in every city they exist in, but they're buying up market share." Mr Kalanick has previously said the firm had gone from a tiny 1% share of China's market at the beginning of 2015 to about 30% to 35%. Didi Kuaidi, which is backed by Chinese tech giants Tencent and Alibaba, has now also partnered with Uber's rival US ride-sharing service Lyft. Mr Kalanick said he had recently raised about $200m to help the firm compete in emerging markets, Betakit said. "I wish the world wasn't that way. I prefer building rather than fundraising. But if I don't participate in the fundraising bonanza, I'll get squeezed out by others buying market share," he added. Uber is available in 380 cities around the world, according to the website.

Summary: App-based car-hire service Uber is losing more than $1bn (Â£699m) a year in China, as it struggles against what it called a "fierce competitor".


The decision to dedicate part of the radio spectrum to a global flight tracking system was taken at a UN conference in Geneva on Wednesday. The conference aimed to improve on the current tracking system which relies on ground-based radars. MH370 disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people on board. Representatives from more than 160 countries decided to set aside a radio frequency for the satellite tracking of planes at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), organised by the UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The deal will enable satellites to receive transmissions, known as automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), that aircraft currently only send to other aircraft and to ground stations. This will allow "real-time tracking of aircraft anywhere in the world," said Francois Rancy, head of the ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau. The disappearance of flight MH370 exposed weaknesses in worldwide air navigation systems. The current system leaves around 70% of the world's airspace uncovered. Soon after the plane disappeared, Malaysia's communication minister urged the ITU to help find new ways of transmitting flight data in real-time. The Malaysia Airlines flight was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when air traffic control staff lost contact with it. The plane is long believed to have crashed into the southern Indian Ocean. In July part of an aircraft wing was found on Reunion Island. Malaysian authorities later confirmed the debris to be from the missing MH370 plane. Following Wednesday's decision, ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao said the agency had "responded in record time to the expectations of the global community on the major issue concerning global flight tracking." The UN's aviation arm, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), has set a November 2016 deadline for adopting new tracking guidelines. These will include aircraft sending their position at least every 15 minutes, or more in case of emergency, reported Reuters.

Summary: A deal has been struck on using satellites to track planes, motivated by the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 last year.


Below are some of the main points from Greece's list of reforms - contained in a letter from the Greek government to its European partners - alongside analysis and comment from BBC economics correspondent Andrew Walker. Andrew Walker: Improving tax collection has been a persistent theme in the discussions between Greece and its bailout lenders. It's an area where it's easy to see a shared view between the two sides. The idea of getting the well-off to contribute to the financing of public policies is right in line with Syriza's wider agenda. Anything that brings in more revenue and so helps stabilise the government finances is likely to be welcome to the lenders as well. Creating a new culture of tax compliance is a bit "motherhood and apple pie". Who could object? But it will take a long time to achieve. Andrew Walker:The lenders are also likely to welcome the commitment to review every area of government spending and to identify cost savings. Andrew Walker:There is more motherhood and apple pie on tackling corruption, smuggling and money laundering. The aim is not controversial. But will they be able to achieve significant improvements? Andrew Walker: The line on privatisation is striking - accept those that have been completed and respect those that are underway. New cases are not ruled out, far from it. The letter only calls for an emphasis on maximising public revenue - which is after all one of the reasons there is a privatisation programme in the first place. How will this go down with Syriza, especially the left of the party? Even so the IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde isn't impressed on this point. Privatisation is one of a number of areas where she notes "a lack of unequivocal undertakings to continue already agreed policies". Andrew Walker:Also on that list is labour market reforms, another area that Ms Lagarde of the IMF regards critical for Greece. Even so, the party is likely to be suspicious at best of some of the labour market stuff that is included. Linking the minimum wage with productivity and competitiveness could well limit the scope for raising it, which was a central element in the party's election offer. Andrew Walker: The independence of the statistical authority might play into the debt debate later. One idea has been to use growth-linked debt payments. That has more chance of getting off the ground if the growth data come from a genuinely independent and adequately resourced agency. Andrew Walker:The humanitarian crisis had to be in there in some form. It was so central to Syriza's political campaign. But the commitment to use non-pecuniary measures and to ensure the fight has no negative fiscal effect shows how hemmed in the Greek government is. It will be hard to land many blows with such constraints on how they can fight.

Summary: Greece's government has pledged reform to try and satisfy the demands of creditors in Europe while maintaining its pre-election pledges.


An effort to raise cash for a role-playing video game was exposed as a fraud by users of Reddit, Something Awful and other sites. The project had $4,739 (Â£2,922) in pledges out of a target of $80,000 at the point it was pulled by its creator. Kickstarter could not provide comment at this time. The site has successfully funded nearly 22,000 schemes since it was created in 2009. Mythic: The Story of Gods and Men had promised "gameplay characteristics will be similar to that of World of Warcraft and the graphics quality should be up there with Skyrim". The commitment to compete on an equal footing with big budget titles and a claim that "animations will be done via motion capture thanks to some friends at Disney/Pixar" raised suspicions. The scheme also offered supporters the chance of being motion captured so that they could appear as a "god" in the game, a life-sized sword and a copy of the soundtrack recorded "at the Disney Studios" if they gave enough money. Internet users subsequently reported that teaser screenshots had been copied from unrelated concept art and graphic design tutorial websites. No money transferred hands as Kickstarter only charges backers' credit cards if a project attracts enough support before a time limit expires. However, some users have raised concerns about whether the site was doing enough to vet applicants. "What worried me the most is how Kickstarter allowed this to be posted in the first place," wrote David Kononen on the site's comments page. "A simple Google search, and I found out for myself this was very shady." The person responsible for the scam may have been trying to capitalise on the success of another video game. The studio Double Fine recently raised over $3.3m from more than 87,000 backers to develop a new point-and-click adventure. That sum has since been eclipsed by Pebble, an effort to build an e-paper based watch which has raised close to $7.7m in pledges, smashing its $100,000 goal with more than a fortnight to go before its deadline.

Summary: Crowdsourced funding site Kickstarter has suffered its first publicised scam.


The listed properties on London Road were last used by the Witan International College 10 years ago. The university, which owns the buildings, and a private developer plan to convert them into 53 apartments. Christopher Reeve of the university said the buildings "create a sense of heritage" in the town. If planning permission is granted by Reading Borough Council, restoration work will start in early 2016 and is expected to take approximately nine months.

Summary: Three early 19th Century buildings in Reading are to be converted into private homes, under plans published by the University of Reading.


Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight councils applied to the government in October to create an authority to boost economic growth. They said they had been allocated £900m over 30 years by the government. Portsmouth Council leader Donna Jones said the money now appeared to have been lost because of opposition by Hampshire County Council. Ms Jones said it was "highly unlikely" that the government would agree the deal, because "there isn't consensus". The situation was discussed at a meeting at Westminster on Wednesday involving Hampshire MPs and council leaders. The new Isle of Wight Council leader Dave Stewart said he confirmed to the meeting that his recently-elected Conservative administration would not support the existing bid. Isle of Wight Conservatives had previously said the island's needs "could easily be overridden" by Southampton and Portsmouth. Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry said: "I'm not surprised that the deal is now dead. "It would not have helped the local economy and would have led to the dismantling of vital county-wide services - such as transport, health and social care." Keith House, the leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, which had been in talks to join the Solent Combined Authority (SCA), said the bid was "almost certainly dead", but Fareham Borough Council leader Sean Woodward urged the government to "press ahead" with the deal. The Department for Communities and Local Government said devolution applications should be accompanied by "local support", but did not say whether the Solent bid had been refused. The Conservative MP for Havant, Alan Mak, said: "The money is still very much there. "This is an opportunity for the council leaders to come forward with new proposals that are viable."

Summary: A deal to set up a new authority for the Solent area is "almost certainly dead", council leaders have said.


Phenytoin sodium capsules, used by 50,000 people in Britain, are made by Pfizer and sold by Flynn. Pfizer said it was co-operating with the Competition and Markets Authority. When Pfizer made the drug under its Epanutin brand name, the NHS spent about £2.3m on the drug, the CMA said. This amount soared to £50m in 2013. The CMA said Pfizer sold UK distribution rights to Flynn in 2012, but continued to make and supply the drug to the company. Analysis: Hugh Pym, health editor This is a provisional report, with allegations made by the Competition and Markets Authority. The companies now have a chance to give formal responses and a final ruling may not be made until next year. But it comes at a time of intense debate about NHS finances, as patient demand and the cost of treatment rise faster than budget increases. NHS England is grappling with the need for ambitious efficiency savings. It has been under fire for reducing the number of treatments available to patients through the Cancer Drugs Fund. So today's provisional findings, with renewed scrutiny of drug spending, are the last thing the pharmaceutical industry needs. It was after this deal that prices rose, said the watchdog in a provisional finding. "The CMA's findings on dominance and abuse are provisional and no conclusion can be drawn at this stage that there has, in fact, been any breach of competition law. We will carefully consider any representations from Pfizer and Flynn Pharma before deciding whether the law has been infringed.," said Ann Pope, CMA senior director of anti-trust enforcement. Companies can be fined as much as 10% of annual sales for abusing a dominant position in a market, depending on the seriousness of the abuse. Pfizer and Flynn can now supply their own views and evidence before the watchdog makes a decision, it said. "Ensuring a sustainable supply of our products to UK patients is of paramount importance to Pfizer and was at the heart of our decision to divest the product," said Pfizer in a statement. "Pfizer is co-operating fully with the CMA's ongoing investigation." A message left with Flynn Pharma was not immediately returned.

Summary: Pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Flynn Pharma have been accused by the UK's competition watchdog of charging "excessive and unfair" prices for an anti-epilepsy drug.


Parts of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean are up to 11 kilometres deep, so we know little about what sea life there is. So a team has been sending down a robotic submarine called Deep Discoverer with a camera on it. Science fans or anyone who is just curious can check out what the camera is showing online. The three-month expedition is looking for things like fish, mud volcanoes and deep sea coral. So far they've spotted shrimp, jellyfish and black pillow lava from an underwater eruption.

Summary: Scientists are exploring the deepest place on Earth - and streaming live video from there.


Alice's family had asked for the scope of the inquest to include why Arnis Zalkalns was allowed to live unchecked in the UK. The chief suspect who was jailed for murdering his wife in Latvia, Zalkalns was found hanged in west London. Alice's parents said they welcomed the coroner's decision. The full inquest, to be held in front of a jury, will start in June. Alice, 14, went missing on 28 August last year having last been seen alive on the Grand Union Canal towpath near Hanwell. Her body was found on 30 September after Scotland Yard's biggest search operation since the July 7 bombings in 2005. Builder Zalkalns, 41, is believed to have killed Alice in a sexually motivated attack and then dumped her body. He had been imprisoned in Latvia for murdering his wife but was released and travelled to the UK in 2007. His body was found in woodland in Boston Manor Park. Police said he would have been charged with Alice's murder had he lived. Alice Gross investigation - timeline The Gross family lawyer asked at a pre-hearing in October that the inquest should cover whether there was any failure by the authorities to implement statutory safeguards to protect the public under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to life. Sitting at the High Court earlier, Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said she accepted the submissions, adding that witnesses would be called to determine "how he (Zalkalns) came to be in the country in the first place, given his convictions for murder and firearms offences". The inquest will also look at "the systems that were in place at the time, and whether appropriate checks were carried out". Katerina Laiblova, Zalkalns' girlfriend, could be called to give evidence to the inquest about his mental state prior to his death, Dr Wilcox added. In 2009 Zalkans was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage girl but no charges followed. At the time of that alleged offence it appeared he was still subject to a supervisory or probationary arrangement in Latvia, that hearing was told. A statement from Alice's parents, Ros Hodgkiss and Jose Gross, said they were pleased "at the range of information that the coroner is willing to put in front of the jury". They also said it was their hope that the coroner "will be able to make recommendations to prevent this kind of thing happening again". A further pre-inquest hearing is scheduled to taken place in April.

Summary: The inquest into the death of Alice Gross will examine whether failures by the government and police contributed to her death, a coroner has ruled.


Helen Garner initially dismissed the message from Yale University as a hoax. "I thought what the hell is this? Somebody's having me on," Ms Garner told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. She was going to delete the email but thought to call her publisher, who informed her that the Windham-Campbell prize was in fact real. The Windham-Campbell prize is one of world's richest literary awards, according to reports. Garner, 73, won for her body of non-fiction work. She is also the author of novels and screenplays, including 1977's Monkey Grip, considered a classic of Australian literature. She was not the only author to be taken aback by the surprise award, because the prizes have no submission process. "Writers are judged anonymously and unaware that they are in the running," Yale says on its website.

Summary: An Australian author says she "fell off her chair" when she discovered an email about a $150,000 (A$207,000; £106,000) literary award was not a hoax.


The 29-year-old made 37 appearances for the Sky Blues last season as they were relegated from League One. Reid, who has also had spells with Charlton, Bradford and Preston, could make his debut for the U's in Wednesday's EFL Cup first-round tie against Championship side Aston Villa. Colchester started the season with a 3-1 defeat at Accrington on Saturday. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Colchester United have signed winger Kyel Reid on loan until January from League Two rivals Coventry City.


What did the court say? Until now, those employing mobile workers who had to travel to get to or from their first or last appointment of the day were not required to count that time as work. On Thursday, the European Court of Justice judgement ruled those without a fixed or habitual office should consider the time they spend travelling between their homes and the premises of their first and last jobs as part of their hours for the day. The ruling relates to the Working Time Directive - the European initiative which caps the working week at 48 hours. In the UK, employees have the option of opting out of the directive. I'm a care worker who travels to different patients' homes. Am I affected? Possibly, yes. Employees who fall into the category loosely defined as "mobile workers" - those who habitually travel to different places of work - could be affected. Simon Bond, an employment specialist at Higgs and Sons solicitors, says the most obvious group to fall under this definition is carers not already paid for travelling to their first and last jobs. Sales people who travel between sites and employee workmen and women, such as plumbers or electricians, could also fall into this category. As many as 975,000 people in the UK could fall under the remit of the ruling, says Paul Sellers, a policy officer at the TUC. And some employees could be working an extra 10 hours a week once travelling time is counted, Chris Tutton, an employment lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, adds. I travel a lot for work, but I have a permanent office The ruling is less likely to affect people who work both in an office and remotely. If your contract includes a permanent base, you are unlikely to be able to successfully argue you are a mobile worker, Mr Sellers says. There may, however, be cases where it is possible to argue that a permanent base is meaningless because of the length of time spent outside the office. I have to commute two hours every day to my office For those with a permanent office (however lengthy your commute), this ruling will not have an effect. Mr Sellers says this final group is the "overwhelming majority" in the UK. I think I'm affected. Should I expect a pay rise or a change in my hours? The ruling could eventually affect pay. Unions say the ruling does not directly deal with remuneration, focussing instead on working hours and conditions. But it is possible the European judgement will be used in UK courts to challenge employers who pay an average hourly rate under the minimum wage (once travelling time is taken into account). That could mean employers facing increased wage bills and raises an outside chance costs for some services, such as cleaners who have to travel and are paid a low wage, could go up. It could also lead to a change in working patterns - especially for those who do not choose to opt out of the 48-hour maximum. "I think some

Summary: Time spent travelling to and from first and last jobs by workers who do not have a fixed office should be regarded as work, European judges have ruled.


The search was launched after the coastguard received reports from an individual claiming to be in difficulty off the coast of County Down. Two RNLI boats and a coastguard helicopter from Scotland were launched to assist in the search. The kayaker was reported to be near Mew Island, one of the Copeland Islands near Donaghadee. A coastguard spokesman said it received several calls from a person claiming to be in difficulty. However, the alarm was declared to be a hoax following a thorough search.

Summary: The coastguard has called off a search for a kayaker after it declared the alarm an "elaborate hoax".


The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. IS has been gaining ground in northern Iraq since June, and also controls some of Syria. The US has warned that the situation for Iraq's minority groups threatens to become a "humanitarian catastrophe". ``We are gravely concerned for their health and safety," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. But he refused to confirm a New York Times report that the US is considering air strikes to help the Yazidi community, another minority group in northern Iraq that has been targeted by IS. About 50,000 Yazidis are thought to have been trapped in the mountains after fleeing the town of Sinjar - although the UN says some of them have now been rescued. The United Nations Security Council is due to meet in emergency session later on Thursday to discuss the situation. Tens of thousands of religious minorities have been forced to flee since IS, a Sunni Muslim group formerly known as Isis, launched its onslaught. IS says it has created an Islamic state in the territory it controls. In other developments: A majority of Nineveh inhabitants left their homes overnight, according to Fraternite en Irak, an international Christian organisation based in Paris. As many as 100,000 people are believed to be fleeing toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region. Pope Francis has made an impassioned appeal to the international community to do much more to address the crisis. A Vatican statement said the Pope had appealed for "all necessary help" to be given to those forced to flee their homes, "whose fate depends entirely on the solidarity of others". And Minority Rights Group International has warned that Iraq's multi-ethnic future is now at grave risk. Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the IS militants' advance for weeks. The Peshmerga's commander in Qaraqosh reportedly told the town's archbishop late on Wednesday that the forces were abandoning their posts. Several senior clergymen in Nineveh confirmed the town had fallen. "It's a catastrophe, a tragic situation: tens of thousands of terrified people are being displaced as we speak," said Joseph Thomas, the Chaldean archbishop of the northern city of Kirkuk. Eyewitnesses in Qaraqosh said IS militants were taking down crosses in churches and burning religious manuscripts. The town - referred to as Iraq's Christian capital - is located 30km (19 miles) south-east of the city of Mosul, which was captured by IS in June. Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be executed. Iraq is home to one of the world's most ancient Christian communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003. Christians Yazidis Iraq: The minorities of Nineveh Yazidi eyewitness: 'They want to slaughter us' Meanwhile, the UN said it was mobilising resources to assist Yazidis rescued from Mount Sinjar over the past 24 hours. Members of the ancient Kurdish ethno-religious community sought refuge there at the weekend. Almost 200,000 civilians have been displaced

Summary: Up to a quarter of Iraq's Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority group's biggest town.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 21-year-old's success also guaranteed Britain a berth in the event at the Rio 2016 Olympics. The Brownlee brothers did not compete, with their focus on this year's World Series competition and the Rio Olympic test event. Benson completed the event in one hour 48 minutes 31 seconds. He was ahead of Portugal's Joao Silva (+11 seconds) and Rostyslav Pevtsov (+33secs) of Azerbaijan. After a strong swim, British team-mates Bishop (16th) and Philip Graves (46th) played a crucial role in helping Benson to the lead during the cycling phase. During the 10km run he broke free from the chasing pack and although the Leeds-based triathlete was briefly caught by Aleksandr Latin of Estonia he soon re-established his lead. "I couldn't have done it without Tom and Phil," said Benson. "It was a real team effort. It's a shame we couldn't all get medals - but getting the gold is brilliant." London 2012 gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and world title-winning brother Jonny are expected to secure further Rio Olympic places for Team GB through performances at the qualification event in Brazil in August. Benson will now hope to be included in World Series races and the Rio test event in order to enhance his prospects of a place in the squad for the Rio Olympics. Triathlon, which consisted of a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run in the European Games, is one of three sports included in Baku 2015 which have direct qualification possibilities for next year's Olympics in Brazil.

Summary: Gordon Benson claimed Great Britain's first European Games gold medal with victory in the men's triathlon in Baku, Azerbaijan.


The 24-year-old, who played 16 games on loan at Kilmarnock last season, will compete with James Tavernier. Hodson started his career at Watford and played 51 games in three seasons at MK Dons after a loan at Brentford. He joins new faces Matt Gilks, Clint Hill, Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar, Jordan Rossiter, Matt Crooks and Josh Windass at Ibrox. Rangers paid an undisclosed fee for Hodson, who was part of Northern Ireland's squad at Euro 2016, but did not feature in any of their four matches.

Summary: Rangers have made right-back Lee Hodson their eighth summer signing on a three-year deal from MK Dons.


They said this will amount to double the number of apprentices created each year - currently about 28,000. All parties are promising to create more apprentices or equivalent schemes to get unemployment down. Labour highlighted its pledge to create 100,000 additional apprentices. The Lib Dems said they would fund their promise by moving cash from Jobs Growth Wales, the Labour Welsh Government's existing job-creation scheme. Eluned Parrott, the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Cardiff Central, said: "Providing high-quality skills training is vital to boosting our economy and helping people to build careers and get on in life. "Labour's own evaluation report said that Jobs Growth Wales locked people into low wages and that 73% would've found work without it. "We all know this scheme is a failure, but Labour refuses to face the facts. "The Welsh Liberal Democrats would instead invest in apprenticeships and training, which will actually give young people professional skills and help them get on in life." On Labour's policy, Deputy Skills Minister Julie James said Wales already had "one of the best records in Europe" on apprenticeships. "This pledge is the next step to ensuring that we have the skills base that projects like Wylfa Newydd and the South Wales Metro, will demand," she said. "That is why so many voices within industry are so enthusiastic about this pledge." Plaid Cymru has promised to created 50,000 new apprentices, while the Welsh Conservatives say they will lift the current 16-24 age restrictions on the Jobs Growth Wales scheme. It helps firms employ 16-24-year-olds for six months by covering the cost of the minimum wage. The Tories aim to replace it with a scheme called Journeys to Work, open to all ages, with jobs lasting for a year. UKIP say they back industry-supported apprenticeships, along with more vocational options in post-14 education.

Summary: The Welsh Liberal Democrats would create 140,000 extra apprentices over the next five years if the party wins power in May's elections.


Announcing the "digital-only" move, ESI Media said "some redundancies among editorial employees" would be made. But it said there would also be 25 new "digital-content roles". ESI has also confirmed it will sell its sister title, i newspaper, to Johnston Press, for an expected Â£24m, subject to approval from Johnston's shareholders. Evgeny Lebedev, ESI's owner, said: "This decision preserves the Independent brand and allows us to continue to invest in the high-quality editorial content that is attracting more and more readers to our online platforms." The last print edition of the Independent will be published on Saturday 26 March, while the last Independent on Sunday will be on 20 March. By BBC media correspondent David Sillito It's easy to forget how groundbreaking the Independent was when it launched. It looked strikingly modern, it came with none of the partisan baggage of 1980s politics and in an era of bitter industrial disputes that blighted rivals such as the Times, it carved out a large readership. At its peak sales hit around 428,000 copies a day. Twenty-five years later, the number of copies being sold on a weekday in newsagents is rather closer to 28,000. This is an announcement that has been long awaited. The problem about switching to digital is that the big British print newspapers bring in revenues in hundreds of millions of pounds while even the best digital products make only tens of millions. The long decline in print readership has led to many declarations that print will be dead in a few years' time, but until a way is found to make more money out of digital, they will hang on to their print readers to the very end. ESI said the number of staff affected would be "confirmed following a consultation period". It said a "significant number" of staff would move to Johnston Press, which also own the Scotsman, the Yorkshire Post and some 250 other local and regional newspapers, as part of the sale of the i newspaper. The closure of the Independent's print editions will have "no bearing on the status" of the London Evening Standard - also owned by ESI - the company added. The Independent's editor Amol Rajan tweeted: "Impossible to over-state how proud I am of the most dedicated, clever, industrious and brave staff in the history of Fleet St." The Independent was set up in 1986, and at its peak had a circulation of more than 400,000 copies, but December's figures showed it lagging far behind rival national newspapers. Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev took control of the loss-making newspapers in 2010 when he bought Independent News for Media for Â£1. In 2014, his son Evgeny told the BBC the Independent could be sold if someone "offers the right price" - but he was "not actively trying to sell it". The first front page of the Independent was written by Mark Urban, now BBC Newsnight's diplomatic correspondent, a 25-year-old "young stripling". "I went there because I was inspired", he said. "Their mission was to be the best. I thought it was a noble mission,

Summary: The Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers are to cease print editions in March, leaving only an online edition, the owner has said.


The 73-year-old Oscar winner will be presented with the award on 9 June. AFI chair Sir Howard Stringer called Freeman "an American treasure" who brought a calm authority to his roles, "whether playing a prisoner, a president or God." Freeman won an Oscar for his role in Million Dollar Baby in 2005. His next film is the thriller Red. He was also nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for 1997's Street Smart, and has garnered three Academy nominations for best actor for Invictus, Driving Miss Daisy and The Shawshank Redemption. His other credits include Bruce Almighty and Nurse Betty. He will be the 39th recipient of the AFI Lifetime Achievement award. Others include Jack Nicholson, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese. Stringer said Freeman had an "unmistakable voice that echoes through the hearts and minds of movie lovers around the world". The AFI's Lifetime Achievement award is considered one of the highest honours in the US for a film actor. Freeman's ceremony will take place in Los Angeles - it will be broadcast on US TV towards the end of June.

Summary: Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman is to receive a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute (AFI).


PC Ed Barker, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), stopped the man falling 40ft (12m) from Rochdale Town Hall. Seeing the man in distress, PC Barker ran up the building's fire escape steps before catching him just as he tried to throw himself to the ground. PC Barker has been awarded the force's John Egerton Trophy. Chief Constable Ian Hopkins presented the trophy, which is awarded annually to a GMP officer who has performed an exceptional act of valour. The award is named after PC John Egerton, who was killed in the line of duty on 11 March 1982, aged 20. PC Barker is also due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron during the Police Bravery Awards on 14 July. Mr Hopkins said his officer showed "incredible bravery" during the incident, which happened in January 2015. "There was a genuine risk of him being carried over the edge of the snow-covered fire escape, which could have had tragic consequences for both men," he said. "His cool head and quick thinking saved this young man from certain death and I am delighted that he is now safe and well." PC Barker said the 21-year-old man's friends had tried to help him but were "losing their strength" when he arrived. "I managed to get hold of him around the neck and shoulders because the rest of his body was hanging off the edge of the fire escape," he said. "I was so relieved when I saw the blue lights arriving to help take him to hospital. "It's nice to get some recognition and appreciation, but I was helped by his friends and my colleagues."

Summary: A police officer who saved the life of a suicidal man by grabbing him by the neck as he tried to jump from a snow-covered roof has won a bravery award.


Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier are charged with attempted first-degree intentional murder over the attack. The ruling means they may face decades in jail. Their lawyers failed to get the case heard by a juvenile court. If tried as juveniles, the pair only face a five-year term. The victim, 12 at the time, was stabbed 19 times but survived. She was found by a cyclist crawling from the woods where she was attacked with stab wounds to her arms, legs and torso, after the attack in May 2014. Wisconsin Judge Michael Bohren decided the pair, now both 13, should remain in adult court after four days of hearings in May and June. They told investigators they had stabbed their victim in "dedication" to Slender Man, a fictional horror website character. They spoke of their desire to become the paranormal figure's "proxies" by killing to demonstrate their loyalty, police said. Following the attack, both suspects were found walking near a local highway, and a knife was found in one of their backpacks, police said. They said the girls planned to stab the classmate during a sleepover but instead decided to commit the crime the next morning in a nearby park. After the murder, they reportedly intended to walk to Slender Man's mansion, which they believed was situated in Wisconsin's Nicolet National Forest. The victim has recovered and since returned to school.

Summary: Two 13-year-old girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the online horror character Slender Man will be tried in an adult court, a US judge has ruled.


Maguire, 35, lost 10-7 to fellow Scot Alan McManus, his fourth consecutive first-round defeat in Sheffield. "I didn't feel anything," said the two-time semi-finalist. "It's terrible. "It's embarrassing that you can't get up for a match at the World Championship, especially being lucky enough to actually qualify for it." He added: "I need to look at things, I think. I'll maybe need to speak to someone. When I qualified, I was over the moon. How can I possibly go out there as if I don't care? So there's something wrong." Maguire, who qualified by reaching the China Open semi-finals, said he had tried everything to "fire myself up" for his 13th successive appearance at the Crucible. "Yesterday I was looking forward to it," he said. "Today I was up for it, but as soon as I got out there I missed one ball and I just go 'whatever'." He added: "I stamp my cue once and the referee has a go at me. You're not allowed to care in this game. Alan played better, so he deserved to win. I just never showed up over the two days." Maguire, who has been as high as two in the world rankings, said he was "just not good enough" from the start of the match and felt "flat". "I played better in the first four frames than I did for the rest of the match," he said. "But it was still taking me two or three chances to win a frame." McManus, who will face Ali Carter in the second round on Thursday, had sympathy for his close friend. "He'll be back and I feel for him," said McManus. "He's had some tough runs here. I'm going to have a blether with him, because he's such a good player. "I'll get him back hungry. When he's hungry, he's an unbelievable animal."

Summary: Stephen Maguire said he was "embarrassed" at not being able to motivate himself for the World Championship at the Crucible.


Abdou, who joined Millwall from Plymouth in 2008, signed a new one-year deal to stay with Lions until the end of next season on Thursday. The 33-year-old made 22 appearances for Millwall last season, helping them win promotion from League One. Abdou is Dons manager Neal Ardley's fifth signing since the end of last season. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: League One side Wimbledon have signed Millwall midfielder Jimmy Abdou on a season-long loan deal.


Van Gaal, 65, has been out of work since being sacked by United hours after winning the FA Cup in May 2016. "I thought maybe I would stop, then I thought it would be a sabbatical, but now I do not think I will return to coaching," Van Gaal was quoted as saying in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. Van Gaal also had spells in charge of Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ. He made the announcement on Monday after receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Dutch government for his contribution to football. He cited family issues for his decision, with De Telegraaf saying it was partly motivated by the sudden death of his daughter's husband last month. "So much has happened in my family, you become a human being again with your nose pressed to the facts," he added. The Dutchman also revealed he turned down lucrative offers to continue his coaching career in the Far East. Media playback is not supported on this device Van Gaal played as a midfielder for Ajax, Royal Antwerp, Telstar, Sparta Rotterdam and AZ between 1972 and 1987 before moving into coaching, first as an assistant at AZ followed by the same role at Ajax. He replaced Leo Beenhakker as Ajax head coach in 1991 and went on to preside over a period of sustained success, winning the Dutch league title on three occasions as well as the 1992 Uefa Cup and the 1995 Champions League title. Van Gaal was asked to emulate that success at Spanish giants Barcelona. He inherited Bobby Robson's side in 1997 and led them to two successive La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey. His country came calling in 2000, but his first stint in charge lasted less than two years when Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, the first time they had missed the competition since 1986. The Dutchman's second spell at Barcelona was even shorter - eight months - as he left midway through the season with the club hovering just above the relegation zone. Media playback is not supported on this device He then guided AZ Alkmaar to the 2005-06 Eredivisie title before moving to the Bundesliga, where he helped Bayern Munich to the 2009-10 Bundesliga title. The Dutch national side approached Van Gaal again in 2012 and this time the Netherlands became one of the first two European countries, along with Italy, to qualify for Brazil 2014, where they finished in third place. After much speculation, he joined United in May 2014, signing a three-year contract to succeed David Moyes. However, United replaced him with Jose Mourinho after just two years following a fifth-placed Premier League finish in the 2015-16 season, with a first FA Cup triumph since 2004 not sufficient to save him.

Summary: Ex-Manchester United and Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal says he has retired from coaching after a 26-year career.