We've learned a lot about the end of the journey, the slave camps and mass graves in the jungles of Thailand and Malaysia. What we haven't heard so much about is how these journeys begin. We travelled to southern Bangladesh, where many of the migrants set off on their perilous voyages. What we have discovered brings a shocking new dimension to this story that speaks of the terrible desperation that is driving this vast movement of people. We met one of the people smugglers on what Bangladeshis proudly boast is the world's longest beach - a vast stretch of sand that runs for more than 120km along the southern coast. Let's call him Kamrul Rahman. He appeared to be in his early 30s. He said he used to be a fisherman and started in the people smuggling racket greedy for money after his business went belly up. As the surf crashed down on the beach beside us, he calmly explained in chilling detail how the business worked. He said the prison camps were an essential part of the business model and all the migrants knew about them. It seems they are part of what amounts to a sinister and hideously cynical marketing trick the people smugglers have evolved: they offer the voyage for virtually no upfront cost. He said the deal was straightforward and understood by everyone involved. You only pay the main charge - about Â£1,500 ($2,300) when you arrive in southern Thailand. I was amazed. "So the migrants know they will be held in camp before they get to Malaysia?" I asked. "Before they leave from here we tell them if they don't pay they will be put in a prison. You won't get any rice and you will die of hunger", he told me, without any sign of emotion. "If you pay, you will be able to start for Malaysia with honour." We spoke to many migrants and relatives of migrants in southern Bangladesh. They all confirmed his account. Without exception, they said they knew migrants would be held in Thailand until full payment was made. What this suggests is that for the most part this phenomenon isn't strictly human trafficking - where people are bought and sold against their will - but rather a perverted business transaction to which most of the migrants and their families are actually party. The so-called "ransoms" migrants who have been rescued from the camps in Thailand say their captors are actually part of the deal they sign up to when they make the journey. Take a moment now to think about what that tells us about the people who make these journeys. They are so desperate for a better life that they are willing to go with the people smugglers even though they know that they may end up starving to death in a jungle prison camp. Stina Ljungdell, the UN refugee agency representative in Bangladesh, agrees that many migrants do know what they are getting into. If you think about it objectively, it makes a kind of sick business sense for

Summary: Over the last couple of weeks, the world has woken up to the horrific trade in human beings being conducted in the seas of South East Asia.


Officials say 108 tons of corn will be delivered by the end of the weekend. Last month, eight people were killed in Oaxaca in clashes between the demonstrators and police. The protesters oppose reforms that allow the federal authorities to remove teachers who fail evaluation exams. Members of the CNTE union, which has a history of radical activism, have been blocking roads in Oaxaca and other states ever since the union leaders were arrested in early June. The roadblocks have prevented food deliveries to some remote areas in the region, the government says. "There are no products," says Araceli Hernandez Ramirez, manager of a grocery store in Puente de Coyula. She says she has no rice, corn or flour to sell to her customers. "They go home empty-handed," she said. In a strongly worded message on Friday, Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said the unrest had hurt millions of people and "the blockades and damages to the citizenry must end". "The time is up," he said, warning that "the necessary decisions will soon be taken to allow transit on strategic roads". The CNTE union opposes education reforms introduced by President Enrique Pena Nieto in 2013. The changes include new measures to assess teachers' performance.

Summary: Mexico's air force has been flying tons of grain into Oaxaca state in the south of the country to deal with dwindling food supplies caused by roadblocks set up by protesting teachers.


Mr Pistorius says he mistakenly shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through the door, believing she was a burglar, then broke it down with the bat. The prosecution says he tried to beat down the door and then fired the gun. Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing Ms Steenkamp in February 2013. Forensic expert Police Colonel Johan Vermeulen also said he thought Mr Pistorius had hit the door with the bat from a low angle, indicating he was not wearing his prosthetic legs at the time. By Pumza FihlaniBBC News, Pretoria A big day in the Oscar Pistorius murder case. The defence worked tirelessly to disprove a finding by Colonel Johan Vermeulen, a decorated forensic expert in the South African Police Service (SAPS). Oscar Pistorius's toilet door stood obtrusively in the courtroom, held up by a white frame, behind it a toilet cubicle. Col Vermeulen, a state witness, told the court that based on the marks on the door and their level Mr Pistorius was on his stumps when he struck the door with a cricket bat. The defence strongly challenged his version, adding that they will present their own expert witness who will prove Mr Pistorius was in fact wearing his prosthetics. Defence lawyer Barry Roux also introduced another dimension to the case, suggesting that the police recklessly handled the crime scene - he pointed to police shoe prints on the door. The forensics from the scene are a make or break for either side. Mr Roux's plan seems to include discrediting the integrity of the evidence collection process. He has already hinted at the possible contamination of the crime scene, placing the SAPS under a rather embarrassing spotlight. This contradicts the athlete's claim that he had been wearing his artificial limbs. Correspondents say whether or not the athlete was on his prosthetic limbs is important because it could match parts of his story that he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp, or expose inconsistencies in it. The damaged toilet door, with four bullet holes, was examined in the courtroom along with a replica of the toilet cubicle. Forensic evidence on the location from which shots were fired, how they were grouped and their trajectory were presented to the court on Wednesday. Cross-examining, Mr Pistorius' defence team asked forensic expert Col Vermeulen to kneel and lift his feet, which caused him to wobble. The defence team claimed that Mr Pistorius therefore would not have been able to balance on his stumps and break down the door using a cricket bat. Defence lawyer Barry Roux also alleged that police had contaminated the crime scene by stepping on the door. Col Vermeulen argued that if Mr Pistorius was balanced enough to fire a gun, he could also break down a door with a bat. The forensics expert argued that the angle and location of the marks on the door suggested that they had been caused by someone much shorter than him. The defence team argued that a mark on the bottom of the door showed where Mr Pistorius had tried to kick open the door using his

Summary: A forensics expert has swung a cricket bat at a toilet door erected in the courtroom at Oscar Pistorius' murder trial in South Africa to demonstrate key pieces of evidence.


A fault at the Clydesdale Bank machine in Stewarton Street, Wishaw, meant customers received double the amount of money they keyed in. It is understood about 100 people queued up at the ATM after hearing about the fault at 19:00 on Friday. A spokeswoman for Clydesdale Bank later said the problem had been corrected quickly. She said: "We don't operate our ATMs directly as they are outsourced to other suppliers. "What has happened is that while the machine was being filled, some of the cassettes were placed in the wrong order, meaning that double the amount of money was available." She added she could not confirm the amount withdrawn, because the bank could not reveal how much was kept in any ATM for security reasons. In January, dozens of people took advantage of a cash machine in Fintry Road, Dundee, which also paid out double the requested amount. The machine's operators later said customers would not have to return the extra money.

Summary: Cash machine users doubled their money when an ATM started giving out free cash in North Lanarkshire.


Jack Walsh, from Lisburn in County Antrim, is hoping he will be one of the few to make it big. "Here everyone is involved in the industry as an actor or film-maker, even if they're serving coffee in a restaurant," he said. His passion for film was initially sparked by his A-level course in moving image arts at Friends' School in Lisburn. Now, the 23-year-old is working for the hugely popular Game Grumps channel in Los Angeles, which has over 3.1m YouTube subscribers. The idea is deceptively simple. Each day, Game Grumps uploads up to four videos of members of the group playing a videogame while talking about it as they play. Be warned, the commentary and humour can be of the adults-only variety. But watching and listening to members of the company play classic videogames like Super Mario attracts hundreds of thousands of people a day. Walsh works behind the camera to help keep the whole enterprise going. "You'd be amazed at the work that goes into watching people play video games," he said. "What I do is shooting and directing the commercials for them which they upload onto their channel. "They get asked by a lot of technological and computer companies to promote and advertise their products, so I film live action material for them." He is also involved in the company's planned expansion into TV comedy on YouTube's Red channel, which has recently been launched as an alternative to Netflix. "We're developing more original material which will be released on YouTube," he said. "The team behind Game Grumps are animators, comedians and musicians, so the YouTube channel helps to keep all their other projects afloat. "We hope to get bigger, releasing more original content." Walsh moved to Los Angeles at 18 to study at film school straight after taking four A-levels at Friends' School. His A-level in moving image arts got him hooked on filmmaking, and in the final year of his film degree he got an opportunity to work with leading composer John Debney. Debney has composed scores for a number of films including Iron Man 2, Bruce Almighty, Elf and The Passion Of The Christ, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. "Our syllabus allowed us to intern at a production company for the final semester and I was fortunate enough to work with him," said Walsh. "I was his sole intern and at the time John was conducting for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, released last year as the first film under Paramount's new animation studio." That experience led Walsh to write and direct his own short film musical, Not Another High School Musical, in which a teenage boy becomes inspired to form his own all-singing, dancing gang to stand up to the bullies in his school after watching West Side Story. "I wrote the music and lyrics, and I would really like to do more of that in the future," he said. "I hope to write a Game Grumps musical and shoot it over the next couple of years." And would he

Summary: It is the home of the entertainment universe, but for every top filmmaker in Los Angeles there are many who fail to be successful.


Media playback is not supported on this device Bottom side United's first win in Perth in four years, and Kilmarnock's draw away to Partick Thistle, means the gap between them is down to five points. "It was a wonderful effort. With 10 men, that spirit and character was there again," said the Finn. "I can't praise the boys enough. They've got real mental toughness." Media playback is not supported on this device Ryan Dow had put United into a deserved lead midway through the first half. However, Saints came back into the match and when Coll Donaldson was sent off for denying Chris Kane an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the visiting fans may have feared another damaging day in their bid to avoid automatic relegation. St Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson hit the crossbar as the home side pressed for an equaliser but United held firm. "We still have a long way to go but that was a small step towards it," continued Paatelainen. "The mood is positive. Killie will pick up points so we need to be strong. They have a quality manager, they have fantastic players in every department, but days like this will help our chances of survival and that's what we hang on to. "I'm really pleased with everybody's effort." Saints manager Tommy Wright was frustrated at his team's lack of bite in the first quarter of the match. "Up until they scored we didn't compete well enough, didn't make enough tackles, didn't win enough first headers or second headers," he lamented. "I thought we got a slap in the face with the goal and we were much better after that. Probably they've defended well enough overall to win the game. "When you give a team something to hold on to, even with 10 men, it makes it really difficult." Alan Mannus had made two impressive saves prior to the United goal but he will have been disappointed to have allowed Dow's shot past him. "I think in the build-up to the goal we should have done better," said Wright. "We dropped too deep and we should have dealt with the cross better. He got a free contact inside the box. "Because Alan was on the move, it hit the underside of his body and squirmed over the line."

Summary: Mixu Paatelainen praised his Dundee United players' resolve as they beat St Johnstone 1-0, despite being reduced to 10 men for the last 30 minutes.


The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 19 of the 28 governor posts in results declared from Saturday's elections. It is the biggest defeat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since military ruled ended in 1999. It lost the presidential poll last month for the first time. APC leader Muhammadu Buhari will be inaugurated on 29 May, after he defeated President Goodluck Jonathan. The PDP's decline has been reinforced by results from Saturday's elections for governors and state assemblies, reports the BBC's Bashir Saad Abdullahi from the capital, Abuja. The party lost for the first time in key northern states like Katsina and Kaduna, the home of outgoing Vice-President Namadi Sambo. It also lost control of Adamawa, one of three states badly hit by militant Islamist group Boko Haram's insurgency. However, the party managed to hold on to Rivers State, Nigeria's oil hub. The PDP won eight governorships, mostly in the south-east. Taraba is the only result still outstanding, while the election in Imo state was declared inconclusive, because the number of spoilt ballot papers was larger than the margin of victory. Elections were not held in seven states. Analysis: Chris Ewokor, BBC Africa, Abuja The APC has made historic gains, relegating the once-powerful PDP to a regional party. The PDP failed to get a national spread of votes, doing well only in the south-east and the oil-rich Niger Delta. Most states in the north went to the APC, along with Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos, in the south-west. However, the APC failed to win in any of Nigeria's five oil-producing states. This will be of huge concern to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, as militant groups could disrupt oil production and starve the federal government of much-needed oil revenue. It is unlikely that the PDP governors in the five states would help Gen Buhari rein in the militants. In parts of the country, the elections were marred by violence due to stiff rivalry, and the battle for power and money. Ethnic differences also fuelled the conflict in some areas, but overall the elections have been more peaceful than in previous years, raising hopes that Nigeria's democracy is maturing. Why Jonathan lost? Buhari's historic victory Nigeria's 36 governors enjoy wide powers and are extremely influential. Some, especially in oil-producing areas, control bigger budgets than those of national governments in some neighbouring West African countries. The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) reported 66 violent incidents at polling stations - higher than in the presidential poll. Most of the violence took place in Rivers and other southern states, where voting at some polling stations had to be extended. On Sunday, Inec also announced that the APC had retained power in Lagos state. It means that when Gen Buhari takes over the presidency it will be the first time that the party of the president has controlled Lagos - the commercial capital - since the advent of multi-party democracy in 1999. Our correspondent says the PDP will have to go through a period of introspection, and then rebuild itself under a new leader. The party was in power for

Summary: The party of Nigeria's incoming president has won a landslide in elections for powerful state governors, ending the former ruling party's dominance.


Lord Keen - the UK's government's Advocate General - said triggering Article 50 would not alter the "essential structure" of devolution. The Scottish government believes Holyrood should be consulted before talks between the UK and EU begin. But Lord Keen said that was "fatally undermined" by powers over foreign affairs being reserved to Westminster. He was speaking as the UK's highest court heard a second day of argument in the historic Brexit legal challenge. The Scottish government's top law officer, Lord Advocate James Wolffe, is due to put the case for Holyrood having a say in the triggering of Article 50 later this week. Lord Keen told the panel of 11 judges that it was plain from the legislation setting up the Scottish Parliament that it had no authority over matters of international relations, such as EU membership. As a result, he suggested devolution arguments could not be used to "qualify or abrogate" the UK government's right to exercise powers to trigger Article 50. He said: "I would submit these reservations are fatal to reliance on devolution legislation as giving rise to any necessary implication, or indeed any other indication, that the government cannot exercise its foreign affairs and treaty prerogative in the ordinary way." Pressed by Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger if he was saying "the answer is the same in Scotland as it is here (in the UK as a whole), Lord Keen replied that "essentially" it was. Lord Keen went on to argue that the Sewel convention was a "political" accord and should not be seen as a legal obstacle to the UK government exercising its powers with regard to EU exit without reference to the Scottish Parliament. The Sewel convention was an important component of the 1998 Scottish devolution settlement, which stipulated that Westminster would not normally legislate on devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament. But Lord Keen said it was a political convention concerning the legislative functions of the Westminster Parliament, and was "never intended to be a justiciable legal principle". Pressed by Lord Sumption on whether he believed that the convention's incorporation into an act of Parliament makes "no legal difference to its effect", Lord Keen replied "yes". James Eadie QC, for the UK government, had earlier continued his attempt to persuade the Supreme Court justices to rule in its favour over its planned strategy for exiting the European Union. He is urging the panel to overturn a ruling against the government by the High Court in London last month. The Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas and two other judges decided that Prime Minister Theresa May lacked power to use the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and start the two-year process of negotiating Brexit without the prior authority of Parliament. Long before the start of the second day of the appeal on Tuesday, members of the public joined a lengthy queue in the hope of getting a place inside the court to witness the proceedings. The case, which will finish on Thursday with a judgment likely

Summary: Holyrood's consent is not needed before Brexit negotiations formally get under way, the Supreme Court has heard.


The Canal & River Trust said the path at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct would close between 09:00 GMT and 15:00 from Monday until 17 February. The towpath will be open outside these hours from Monday to Saturday and will be open all day on Sundays. Repair work is needed on the parapet of the 126ft (38m) tall structure. The Canal & River Trust said said: "These measures are to protect the public whilst we undertake these important works, allowing them to be undertaken safely by our operatives."

Summary: Maintenance work on a Wrexham aqueduct means the towpath will be closed for six hours a day.


They will be able to end tenancies, sometimes without a court order, when asylum requests fail, ministers say. Landlords will also be required to check a migrant's status in advance of agreeing a lease. Repeat offenders could face up to five years in prison. But critics have said it may lead to UK citizens being refused accommodation. The proposals - to be included in the upcoming Immigration Bill - come as the British and French governments struggle to deal with a migrant crisis in Calais, where large numbers of people are making nightly bids to cross the Channel to reach the UK. Under the proposals for landlords in England, the Home Office would issue a notice when an asylum application fails that confirms the tenant no longer has the right to rent property. Analysis by legal correspondent Clive Coleman It is currently a criminal offence to remove tenants without a court order. Obtaining that order enables bailiffs to evict tenants. That all takes time. The new measure may cut out court orders, but it is unclear: This will trigger a power for landlords to end the tenancy, without a court order in some circumstances. Landlords will also be required to carry out "right to rent" checks on each tenant's immigration status before allowing them to move in, expanding a pilot that has been running for a year in the west Midlands. Repeatedly failing to do either would be a new offence carrying maximum penalties of five years' imprisonment or a fine. A blacklist of "rogue" landlords and letting agents will allow councils to keep track of those who have been convicted of housing offences and ban them from renting out properties if they are repeat offenders. Communities Secretary Greg Clark acknowledged that cases in which tenants refused to move out would still end up in court but that the process would be quicker because landlords would have official "evidence" to present to the courts of their tenant's status. "You have saved the landlord having to spend money establishing something that is clear and that the Home Office can provide - which is a clear statement of whether they should be there or not," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Asked whether evicting migrants simply increased the risk of people disappearing altogether, unless immediately detained by the police, Mr Clark said the initiative was part of a "joined-up system to send people home". Analysis, by Alicia McCarthy The streets of the UK are not paved with gold. That's the clear message the government wants to send to those tempted to come to Britain illegally. Ministers say the tightening of the demands on private landlords in England is simply the enactment of a manifesto promise to make them carry out the same checks as employers and that migrants need to know there is no right to work or rent a home if you are in the UK illegally. It's not clear yet how the scheme will work or what impact it will have other than moving illegal immigrants from where they are living.

Summary: Landlords in England will be expected to evict tenants who lose the right to live in the UK under new measures to clamp down on illegal immigration.


The Marine Conservation Society said more than 8,000 bottles were picked up during its Great British Beach Clean Up in September, up 43% on 2014. It wants deposit return schemes, which give money back to people who return empty bottles, to encourage recycling. More than 6,000 volunteers collected and recorded litter along 340 beaches across the UK. The MCS said putting a charge on the bottles of up to 20p, which gets refunded when they are returned, would change behaviour, and called for the UK government to explore the potential of such a scheme. Lauren Eyles, the charity's Beachwatch manager, said: "The bottles we find on beaches are either dropped directly on to the beach, blown from land or sea, or end up there via rivers. "The more we use as a nation, the more we'll see ending up on our shores." The survey also found: All countries within the UK saw an increase except Wales, where levels dropped after a record rise the previous year, the MCS said. England saw record levels of litter across 189 beaches, with highest levels of rubbish - averaging 5,170 items per kilometre - in the South West. The Channel Islands had the lowest levels of litter for the UK, but rubbish still increased by a fifth (22%) compared with 2014.

Summary: Conservationists say they found 160 plastic bottles for every mile of UK coastline cleaned last year.


CIA code that obscures malware's origins was detailed in the latest release by the whistle-blowing site. The code could be used to create a "signature" for CIA malware, said one virus hunter. The information is part of a larger cache about CIA hacking tools that started to be released last month. The release of the information could be "one of the most technically damaging" said Nicholas Weaver, a computer security researcher at the University of California in Berkeley, in an interview with the Washington Post. "It seems designed to directly disrupt ongoing CIA operations and attribute previous operations," he said. Before now, the information released about the CIA's hacking tools by Wikileaks has largely been only text describing many different ways the agency spies on targets. The latest release differs as it involves actual code used to hide the ultimate origins of malware used by the US organisation. It shows the obfuscation techniques used to make it harder to reverse engineer malware to unmask who made it. Included in the code library are fragments of Chinese and Farsi that are intended to be used in malware, as well as methods of moving data around that seek to thwart tools examining whether different samples have anything in common. Jake Williams, founder of security firm Rendition InfoSec, said the release was "significant". "It allows the attribution of previously discovered malware to the CIA specifically," he wrote, adding that the code samples could add up to a signature for spotting agency work. "It is likely that malware has been discovered previously which was not attributed to CIA then, but can be today thanks to the release of the code," he said. The CIA would not comment on the authenticity of the information released by Wikileaks, but a spokesman said Americans should be "deeply troubled" by the organisation's actions. "Dictators and terrorists have no better friend in the world than Julian Assange, as theirs is the only privacy he protects," said the spokesman.

Summary: Current spying campaigns run by the CIA could be disrupted, say experts, after more data on the agency's hacking techniques was released by Wikileaks.


For the next three weeks the city will host the International Festival, the Fringe and the Military Tattoo. The Fringe remains the world's largest arts festival with 3,269 shows at 294 venues. Meanwhile, the International Festival will host some of the finest performers from the worlds of theatre, music, opera and dance. Online highlights at bbc.co.uk/edinburghfestivals Follow @BBCEdFest on Twitter, facebook.com/BBCEdFest and Instagram.com/bbcedfest for updates. BBC Arts Online at bbc.co.uk/arts The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will pay tribute to the Queen, who celebrated her 90th birthday this year. It will include a cast of more than 1,200 performers and over 250 pipers and drummers from around the world. Twenty-five performances will take place across August, with a combined live audience of 220,000 people. The Royal Air Force will open the show with a flypast on selected evenings, including a planned flypast by the world-famous Red Arrows on Saturday at 19.30. It will commemorate the centenary of the Great Arab Revolt - the British-backed uprising against the German-allied Ottoman Turks depicted in the film Lawrence Of Arabia. The anniversary of The Battle of Jutland will also be marked during the event. Brigadier David Allfrey, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo's chief executive and producer, said: "We are particularly proud to add our celebration to Her Majesty the Queen's special year while marking other important anniversaries: Jutland and the Great Arab Revolt. "Above all though, the music is the star. This year we have developed a fabulous score bursting with incredible tunes." The International Festival will stage a huge opening event on Sunday. It is a free event called Deep Time, which will see artwork projected onto the western faÃ§ade of Edinburgh Castle and Castle Rock. The digitally-animated projections will be inspired by the city's past, set to a special soundtrack by Scottish rock band Mogwai. It will chart 350 million years of Edinburgh's history, looking at how volcanic activity formed the landscape and exploring the intellectual legacy of the city. In particular, it will celebrate the work of renowned Edinburgh scientist and thinker James Hutton. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe also gets under way. Its new chief executive Shona McCarthy promised "unparalleled" breadth and diversity of talent. The festival will be made up of: It remains the largest arts festival in the world despite a small fall in the number of shows - down 1.3% from 3,314 last year.

Summary: Edinburgh's cultural festivals are officially kicking off, with thousands of events taking place.


The columnist told the newspaper last month that he had been diagnosed with the "full English" of cancers. Gill, who had been having chemotherapy, said that he did not "feel cheated" and had been "very lucky" in his life. Sunday Times editor Martin Ivens said Gill had been "a giant among journalists" and the "heart and soul" of the paper he joined in 1993. The final column by Gill, about coming to terms with his diagnosis, will be featured in tomorrow's Sunday Times. In a statement sent to staff on Saturday, Mr Ivens said: "It is with profound sadness that I must tell you that our much-loved colleague Adrian Gill died this morning. "Adrian was stoical about his illness, but the suddenness of his death has shocked us all." He added: "He was the heart and soul of the paper. His wit was incomparable, his writing was dazzling and fearless, his intelligence was matched by compassion. "Adrian was a giant among journalists. He was also our friend. We will miss him." Writing about his illness in November, Gill had said he had "an embarrassment of cancer, the full English. "There is barely a morsel of offal not included. I have a trucker's gut-buster, gimpy, malevolent, meaty malignancy." Writers, broadcasters and journalists have paid tribute to the published author, who was known for dictating his copy over the telephone due to his dyslexia. Jay Rayner, the broadcaster and writer, tweeted that Gill had been a "controversialist" but also "a kind man and a brilliant writer". Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman described Gill as "the writer who first made me buy the Sunday Times". "The best of us for 30 years has died. Very sombre mood in the office," he added. Times Literary Supplement editor Stig Abell tweeted that Gill had been "the first journalist I learned to recognise purely from his style". John Witherow, editor of the Sunday Times from 1994 to 2012, said Gill had been extraordinary and unique. "In all the years I was editor of The Sunday Times, he never once produced a boring sentence or a phrase that did not shine." Another former editor, Andrew Neil, added: "Hired AA for Sunday Times in 1993. He never forgot what he saw as huge favour. As one of finest writers of our time, he was doing the favour." Former Daily Mirror editor and TV presenter Piers Morgan tweeted that Gill had "trashed" him for 20 years, but always did so "with magnificently eloquent savagery" as well as "an irritating kernel of truth". While his writing remained popular, Gill's articles often caused controversy. In October 2009, he described how he had shot a baboon while in Tanzania, prompting outrage from animal rights groups. In 1998, he described the Welsh as "dark, ugly little trolls" - a comment that was referred to the Commission for Racial Equality - while he once described Rhyl as "a town only a man driving a crane with a demolition ball would visit with a smile". In a critical review of a Norfolk pub, he referred to

Summary: Sunday Times restaurant critic AA Gill has died, aged 62, three weeks after revealing he had cancer.


A statement from Greaves's family said the 75-year-old, who had a minor stroke in 2012, had been taken ill on Sunday. Greaves scored 44 goals in 57 England games and a club-record 220 league goals for Tottenham having started his career at Chelsea. "His wife Irene and four children have asked for privacy during what is a worrying time," added the statement. "Jimmy had a minor stroke in 2012, but appeared to have made a full recovery. "He was due to be inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame on 13 May at a sell-out ceremony at White Hart Lane." Greaves is fourth on the list of all-time England goalscorers, behind Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney. He was part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad but originally missed out on a medal because he was injured during the tournament's group stage. At the time, only the 11 winning players on the pitch at the end of the final received the award, although football's governing body Fifa changed that practice in 2007. The World Cup squad players and the families of team manager Sir Alf Ramsey and other backroom staff were finally presented with medals in 2009. Tottenham posted a message of support on their official Twitter feed shortly after the news of Greaves's stroke emerged. "Everyone at the club wishes Jimmy Greaves a speedy recovery after he suffered a stroke yesterday," the message read. "Our thoughts are with Jimmy and his family at this difficult time." Greaves scored 124 league goals for Chelsea, then a club record, between 1957 and 1961. Chelsea tweeted: "All at Chelsea are thinking of former Blue Jimmy Greaves and his family at this time. We wish him a full and swift recovery." England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the 1966 final, said on Twitter: "Thinking of my friend and one of our greats this morning. Wishing him all the best and hoping for a speedy recovery." Hurst replaced Greaves in the England team in 1966 after he injured a shin against France during the group stages. Greaves helped Tottenham win the FA Cup in 1962 and 1967, while his career also included spells at AC Milan and West Ham United. In the 1980s he forged a new career as a football pundit on ITV, most notably alongside former Liverpool striker Ian St John on 'Saint and Greavsie', which ran from 1985 to 1992. Former Tottenham striker and BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: "Choked to read that Jimmy Greaves has had a severe stroke. One of my absolute heroes. Thoughts are with him and his family. Get well, Jimmy."

Summary: Former England and Tottenham striker Jimmy Greaves is in intensive care after suffering a severe stroke.


London turned down the chance to host the Grand Depart, citing the cost of staging the event - reported to be about £35m - as the reason. It will be the first time since West Berlin in 1987 that Germany has hosted the opening stage of road cycling's premier race. La Manche in north-west France will host the 2016 Grand Depart. This 2015 event started in the Dutch city of Utrecht, a year after thousands came to Leeds to watch the cyclists set off.

Summary: The 2017 Tour de France will begin in the German city of Dusseldorf, it has been announced.


Funding given to the charity, which collapsed in August, included at least £28m from the Department for Education, the National Audit Office said. It received the money despite warnings about its financial management. But founder Camila Batmanghelidjh said an "extremely distorted picture" of the charity was being painted. She said former staff and mentors at Kids Company were now "too scared" to defend it because of a "media frenzy and biased reporting". She added: "The state gave Kids Company money to do the job it couldn't do. It wasn't doing the charity a favour." Evidence would have demonstrated Kids Company's "exceptional clinical and financial value as well as its rigorous accountability", had it not been "lost" by the Department for Education, Ms Batmanghelidjh said. But a Department for Education spokesman said: "We do not recognise Camila's version of events." Prime Minister David Cameron said he thought it had been right to give Kids Company the chance to keep going, and that was why it had access to public money. The NAO found that Kids Company received public funding for at least 15 years, with at least £42m provided in government grants, including £28m from the Department for Education and its predecessors. It also received about £2m from councils and £2m from the National Lottery. The key findings of the report were: The NAO, an independent body which audits government departments, found that despite "repeatedly expressed concerns" from officials, the government "continued to respond to the charity's requests for funding". Its report said civil servants had noted that other organisations "appeared to offer better value for money" than Kids Company. It found "a consistent pattern of behaviour" of the charity writing to ministers to express fears of redundancies and the impact of service closures, while raising the same concerns in the media. This meant that from 2013 it did not have to compete for grants, the NAO found. Ashley McDougall, from the NAO, said it was not clear why government had continued to fund Kids Company "year after year" when concerns were known. 2002: Officials criticised Kids Company's record of financial management and said other similar organisations were more effective. 2003: Kids Company had not complied with conditions attached to a previous emergency grant, debts at the charity were mounting, and its long-term financial viability needed to be evaluated, officials said. 2008: Officials raised concerns Kids Company's dependency on government funding was being prolonged and the government could be accused of favouritism. 2013: Kids Company grants were significantly higher than those to similar charities, yet it had limited reserves and consistent cash flow difficulties, officials said. March 2015: Cash flow problems were persisting and officials were concerned that the charity would continue to rely on public funding. June 2015: Officials cast doubt on the financial figures produced by Kids Company, and said they had limited confidence in the charity's willingness or ability to change. They advised ministers not to provide emergency funds - but were overruled. What went wrong at Kids Company? BBC's Chris Cook: How ministers were 'bullied' Do Kids Company's sums

Summary: The founder of Kids Company has defended the charity's "exceptional" value, after a report revealed it received at least £46m of public money.


But he did not know the size of block grant coming from the Treasury in London until George Osborne's autumn statement on 25 November. So with few sleeps and bargain-seeking days to Christmas, the budget process is being delivered this week, and the legislative timetable squeezed. What can be expected of John Swinney's taxation and spending plans? Let's play budget bingo. "Osborne's austerity is wrong for Scotland": There will be a squeeze of more than 5% (the Scottish government prefers a slightly different calculation rounding it up to 6%) in current or revenue (non-capital) spending. "Difficult decisions have to be made": If the health service is protected from cuts, and schools too, departments with less than half the budget have to absorb all the cuts. That is likely to feature local government, which has been told to brace itself for some deep cuts in grant funding over the next five years. John Swinney could sweeten the pill by allowing them to raise council tax - as George Osborne did south of the border, allowing a 2% council tax rise if it is to pay for social care. But it will be tempting to stick to a ninth year of freezing council tax, even though that will cost him a cumulated Â£630m out of next year's budget, and even though it is more generous to those with the biggest bills. "Taxes for a fairer Scotland": That'll be the reason for not using the new Scottish Rate of Income Tax. Both Mr Swinney and the first minister have said they want to use income tax powers only when they are sufficiently flexible to tilt the burden towards those most able to pay it. That will probably, eventually, mean a rise in higher rate tax, or changes to thresholds. That flexibility won't be added to this year's new powers until 2017. "A healthy private rented housing market": Mr Swinney could choose to follow Mr Osborne's example last month, by raising property transaction tax on buy-to-let homes. It would be a progressive move. But the Scottish finance secretary doesn't need to burst a house price bubble in and around his capital city. He may also want to give landlords something they like, to make up for the boost to tenants' rights they are soon to face. "ESA10": Technical jargon for public finance nerds, but it matters a lot. Mr Swinney has to give more detail than he did last month on the constraints placed on capital projects by a European accounting rule that makes significant capital projects a public liability rather than the private one that had been planned. "Scottish Fiscal Commission": This independent, new-ish body will publish its reckoning of Mr Swinney's fiscal projections at the same time his draft budget is delivered. Watch for a shortfall in revenue from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (the successor to Stamp Duty). "The A9": The road is busy, it's being dualled, slowly, and it runs right through Mr Swinney's constituency. "PFI on steroids": Labour's Jackie Baillie will complain about the "debt mountain" being built up under the

Summary: John Swinney should have published his draft budget in mid-September, for MSPs to deliberate on it over winter, with a big rubber stamp in plenty time for the start of the financial year.


Ms Evans, who is currently suspended from UKIP, said she would "very much like" to run but a "handful of people at the top" had ensured she could not. Ms Evans' six-month ban for bringing the party into disrepute - claims she has dismissed - means she cannot stand. She said she would back councillor Lisa Duffy to succeed Nigel Farage. Ms Evans said UKIP needed to "break free of its hard-right image and set itself firmly in the common sense centre-ground" and also conduct some "internal reform". The leadership contest has been prompted by Mr Farage's decision to stand down following the UK's vote to leave the European Union, saying his "political ambition has been achieved". In a statement in Westminster, Ms Evans, who had been touted as a possible successor, said: "I'd very much like to run in that election. "Unfortunately there are a handful of people at the top of UKIP who, for whatever personal reasons of their own, have made quite sure I can't." She claimed the party rulebook had been "abused" to suspend her to prevent her from representing the party in May's London Assembly elections and the upcoming leadership contest. Her six-month suspension handed down in March came after an internal disciplinary meeting found she had publicly criticised a fellow candidate and held herself out as a party spokeswoman without authority. Ms Evans - who has always rejected the claims against her - lost a High Court bid to overturn the decision. In the statement, she said: "I have to face up to reality, there's no way they're going to allow me to put my name on the ballot paper... I've now given up hope of becoming the next leader of UKIP." Ms Evans said she had questioned whether to stay on in a party that "allows, and arguably encourages senior figures to behave like this", but she said the support from members had made her "more determined ever not to give up on UKIP". She also said that with the right leader, the "sky was the limit for the party". Endorsing Lisa Duffy, a district councillor for Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, Ms Evans said she was "the best chance" UKIP had to "change, to grow and to thrive". She said UKIP needed "a clean break from the past" to become more like a political party than "just a rugby club on tour". Under Ms Duffy's leadership, she argued, the party would be "more united and consensual". Prior to her suspension Ms Evans wrote UKIP's 2015 general election manifesto. She was axed from her policy role in the party in-fighting which followed Mr Farage's "unresignation" after the general election. Mr Farage has denied her ban was due to criticism of him.

Summary: UKIP ex-deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans says she has given up hope of becoming the party's next leader - but insists she will not "give up" on UKIP.


Keates made over 150 league appearances for Wrexham and captained the club to an FA Trophy win in 2013. The 38-year-old, along with Joey Jones and Andy Davies, had been in temporary charge of the National League club after Gary Mills was sacked on 13 October. "Dean is a man with an excellent pedigree in football," the club said. "He is someone who knows all about Wrexham AFC and the fans expectations and someone who has a real passion for the club. "We believe has the knowledge, the drive and the determination to bring lasting success to the Club as we build for a successful future." His first game in charge as permanent manager will be the home National League game against Barrow on Tuesday. Keates, who started his career with hometown club Walsall, also played for Hull City, Kidderminster Harriers, Lincoln City, Peterborough United and Wycombe Wanderers. He joined Wrexham in the summer of 2010 and after five seasons at the Racecourse left in 2015 before a spell with Rhyl in the Welsh Premier League and more recently played at Rushall.

Summary: Wrexham have appointed former midfielder Dean Keates as their new manager on an 18-month contract.


The body of Lindsay Rimer, 13, was found in the Rochdale Canal five months after she disappeared in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, in November 1994. Her killer has never been found and West Yorkshire Police are treating the death as murder. The force said a new DNA profile had been identified, which it hoped would lead them to identify the killer. Speaking on the anniversary of the discovery of her body, Det Supt Simon Atkinson said: "Our Canadian colleagues are doing some ground-breaking forensic work, so we've sent some of the forensic exhibits over to them. "They have been able to develop a DNA profile which we are really interested in developing further." He added: "It's a leap forward we haven't had in the past 21 years, so I'm really excited about this development." Lindsay left her home in Cambridge Street at about 22:00 and visited the Trades Club in Home Street. The last known sighting of her was caught on CCTV 20 minutes later as she bought cornflakes at a shop in Crown Street. Her body, which had been weighted down with a stone, was recovered about a mile upstream from the town centre. Juliet Rimer, her younger sister, said: "A piece of everyone's soul is missing and I often wonder how our lives would have been, if we were not a broken family. "The advice Lindsay would have given me, the fights we might have had, and the things we may have shared. "Getting the answers wouldn't change the hurt, but it would help bring closure to us all."

Summary: New forensic leads are being investigated in connection with the death of a schoolgirl 21 years ago.


MOTD2 pundit Alan Shearer looks at the reasons why Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side won the Premier League by such a convincing margin and explains why it will be hard to stop them achieving more success. Every part of their team did their bit but the biggest reason for their success is one man, Jose Mourinho. His influence was huge. Media playback is not supported on this device The Blues manager is a serial winner who lives for titles and trophies - and he knows exactly how to get what he wants. I don't accept the 'boring boring Chelsea' jibes his side have faced recently. I think that is utter rubbish. It is not Chelsea's problem if teams cannot beat them, and it is pretty embarrassing if they then call them boring. The only tag the Blues deserve is 'worthy champions' because that is what they are. Everyone else has a lot of catching up to do. One of the biggest reasons Chelsea won the title is that, unlike his rivals, Mourinho identified what he needed last summer, and went out and got it. I am sure he was hurt by what happened to Chelsea last season, his first back at Stamford Bridge since his last spell ended in 2007. Despite not having a really top-class centre-forward they went very close to winning the title. Near-misses don't mean anything to Mourinho, though. He addressed the main issue holding his side back by signing Diego Costa, who has scored the goals that were missing. Chelsea were also lacking a bit of guile in midfield, and Cesc Fabregas has provided the extra creativity there. His midfield partnership with Nemanja Matic, who Mourinho signed in January 2014 to sit and police the back four, is just one part of a team system that works perfectly. Chelsea have some top players, but their squad also has a great hunger and desire. That is down to their manager. By the end of the season, Chelsea will have broken the record for the most days spent on top of the table, and also the most consecutive days. They were joint-top with Manchester City at the start of January but, since they kicked their first ball of the campaign, the only time they have not been at the summit was after the second round of games. Their players had the character to deal with it. From August onwards, they have been the team to beat and the best team full-stop. That underlines their consistency over the last nine months, and shows the almost total control they have had on the title race. Even when they were hit for five by Tottenham on New Year's Day, no panic set in. That was one of their very few bad days, which are inevitable over a long season, but they never suffered a slump for a sustained period of time. They have never had to play catch-up in the title race and are not used to doing it in individual games either. Again, they are usually in control. They have scored the first

Summary: I tipped Chelsea to win the title in August and there was not one moment during the whole season that I did not think they would end up as champions.


According to a committee in charge of policing the morality of Iran's football federation, Sosha Makani's outfit was deemed inappropriate and against Islamic values. However, committee chief Mahboub Afrasiabi said it was only rumours that Makani was suspended because of the style of his trousers and that the matter would be dealt with after Ramadan. The issue of Makani's "SpongeBob SquarePants" comes at a time when social media users in Iran have been voicing anger at what they see as the systematic targeting of public figures by the conservative establishment. In an apparent attempt to calm the atmosphere, Sadra Mohaqeq, an editor at reformist newspaper Shargh Daily, tweeted: "The extent of reaction and the government's dealing with an incident, such as Sosha's trousersâ€¦ is a direct result of its coverage across social media platforms." However in a sign of the strength of feeling, another Twitter user took issue, responding with: "What kind of analysis is this? You mean to say people should not oppose anything? That we no longer have the right to oppose anything? That we shouldn't even voice an opinion?" The public furore around the Makani case has caused a stir among the authorities who fear it could put the cultural integrity of the country in jeopardy. Observers have suggested that to the government, Makani's trousers represent a step towards individuals straying from conservative religious teachings of the clergy and how Islam should govern their daily lives. The goalkeeper's attire is only the latest example of personal expressions to have fallen foul of the establishment. Recently, Taraneh Alidoosti, a celebrated actress who displayed a feminist tattoo on her left arm, drew the ire of hardliners who called for her to be banned from the screens. That too followed the arrest of seven Iranian fashion models, who were charged with "promoting Western promiscuity". Six of them who were women had posted pictures of themselves without headscarves on Instagram. In a televised trial, one of the models, Elham Arab, emphasised that fame and beauty were universal desires but acknowledged there was a "price to be paid". The models were arrested as part of an ongoing operation against "loose hijab" - code for immodest dress. The head of Iran's cyber-crimes court said the campaign had been stepped up to "monitor the use of social media by the Western imperialist powers to change the Iranian-Islamic life-style of our nation". While on the face of it, the government's concern with a man's choice of trousers might appear an overreaction, in the bigger picture it can be seen as an attempt to perpetuate a policy imposed since the Islamic revolution of 1979. This was echoed by an Iranian Twitter user, Bahareh, who pointed out that women have been subjected to scrutiny for years. "Your silence for when they condemn girls for their hijab should prepare you for their inevitable harassment when it comes to the colour of men's trousers," she tweeted. The Iranian government has even gone as far as accusing US celebrity Kim Kardashian and the CEO of Instagram of using "un-Islamic" methods aimed at

Summary: The story of an Iranian goalkeeper suspended for, reportedly, wearing trousers with a motif similar to the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants raised eyebrows around the world - but the case highlights some of the tensions at play in the country.


The decision to call off the match was taken at 12:35 GMT following an inspection at Sportsdirect.com Park where part of the League One club's pitch was still frozen. The Latics are 22nd in the table and in the relegation places with Posh in sixth place. There has been no announcement as to when the fixture will be rearranged.

Summary: Oldham Athletic's League One fixture against Peterborough United has been postponed because of a frozen pitch.


The charity said this was disproportionate to the sector's size, which is 13% of housing in Scotland. Homeless applications have decreased by a third in the past five years but the Shelter said the statistics did not tell the full story. It said it was important that vulnerable households were supported before they were pushed into crisis. According to the latest Scottish government figures, the proportion of homeless applications that come from the private rental tenants rose from 13% 2008-09 to 18% in 2013-14. However overall homelessness in Scotland fell by 34% during the same period, official statistics showed. Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "Whilst the headline figures show that homelessness applications are down by one third in the last five years, which is welcome, our analysis shows it is not all good news for homeless people in Scotland. "The 36,457 households making homeless applications, a youth homelessness rate at 13.7 per 1,000 and a rising proportion of homeless applications from the private rented sector signal that, although there are movements in the right direction, there is still a long way to go." "With the significant weakening of the welfare state in recent years, it is more important than ever to ensure that vulnerable households are offered support before they are pushed into crisis." The report, 'Homelessness in Scotland 2014: Getting Behind the Statistics', has been released ahead of Shelter Scotland's annual conference later this month. Housing minister Margaret Burgess said: "Homelessness in Scotland is falling and the number of homeless applications from the private rented sector has actually fallen by 21% since 2008/09. "The Scottish government is working closely with local authorities and their partners, and with Shelter, to prevent homelessness, increase the number of affordable homes and address the issue of empty homes. Where people do become homeless, our focus is on finding the best outcomes."

Summary: Almost a fifth of homeless applications now come from the private rented sector, according to Shelter Scotland.


The victim was threatened with a knife and handed over a sum of money during the incident in Windsor Avenue. Police said they were told that a man had entered the property through a back window at about 10:00 BST on Monday. The occupant managed to release himself before raising the alarm. He was not injured. Police have appealed for information about the incident.

Summary: A man was tied up and left in a bedroom of a house in Newtownards, County Down, following an aggravated burglary.


Conversations with Arab and Western sources make it clear there is a major unifying goal in these new discussions: to avoid the collapse of Syria's security forces and its civilian institutions. That means all sides are now moving away from rigid positions taken when Syria's uprising erupted more than four years ago. "[President Bashar al-] Assad leaving before the process starts doesn't make sense any more," a senior Arab diplomat in the region told me. "If he leaves suddenly, two-thirds of his commanders would go with him and Syria would collapse." The steady rise of the so-called Islamic State, and mounting pressures on a stretched Syrian army has rung alarm bells over the threat of an ungoverned Syria falling into the hands of extremists. The risk posed by another fractured Middle East country is now too big to ignore. So is this summer's tragic exodus of hundreds of thousands of Syrians desperate to reach Europe. Then, the startling September surprise of Russia's air sorties into Syria set the stage for the most determined diplomacy of Syria's crisis. Ideas emerging from Arab and Western capitals include a ceasefire, an amnesty for forces on both sides, and a transitional government intended to ensure an orderly process that would lead to the drafting of a new constitution and elections. There's talk of a transition that could last up to two years. Some of these ideas are also appearing in reports about proposals coming from Russia and Iran. Iran has had its own "four-point plan" for a few years, which was studied with interest by the UN. But it stayed on the shelf while Iran was kept out of talks. Integrating an array of armed forces will be fraught with difficulties, if not dangers, but there is a hope that the reform of civilian structures is within easier reach. Sources speak of discussions concerning which senior members of President Assad's team would be asked to leave - a figure of 10 -15 people was cited. There's also a hope that new, more credible, leaders will emerge from the opposition during this period to replace figures seen as lacking support inside Syria. "They're nice people but they have no base," is how one source backing the opposition put it. Having convincing alternatives to take charge is seen as crucial to reassure Russia and Iran, who back President Assad. I'm told that names of possible candidates are already being drawn up and shared. An official involved in recent talks with Russia quoted the Russians in this way: "Where is the opposition? If you can assure us it will work we are not wedded to Assad." Iran and Russia recently stepped up their military support to bolster President Assad's embattled position on many key fronts. But in private, officials have said for some time that their objective is to "save Syria, not Assad." The biggest gap, however, is still over how long President Assad can remain part of the process. His opponents insist this process cannot start with him unless it is absolutely clear it will end without him.

Summary: The most concerted diplomatic push so far to end Syria's punishing war has concentrated minds on all sides of a bitter divide.


France's Dubuisson carded a 67 to tie with overnight leader Van Zyl of South Africa on 16 under par. McIlroy carded a third straight five under-par 67 to move to 15 under par with Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat. The world number three's round included an eagle on the 12th as he bids to win his first title since May. "The 67s I've shot this week have all been a little different and I feel like I've played within myself for all of them, " said four-time major winner McIlroy of Northern Ireland. "I feel there's a low round out there for me and hopefully it's tomorrow." McIlroy was level par for the day after 10 holes, dropping his first shots of the week by three-putting the third and 10th, the latter mistake prompting the 26-year-old to throw his putter at his bag. But he hit back with a birdie on the par-five 11th and a towering four iron from 229 yards on the 13th set up an eagle from just four feet. The former world number one ruptured a ligament in his left ankle during a game of football with friends in July, ruling him out of several tournaments. But he returned in time to unsuccessfully defend his US PGA title at Whistling Straits in August and played in three of the FedEx Cup play-off events before starting the new PGA Tour season with a tie for 26th in the Frys.com Open in California. He is targeting a third Race to Dubai title in four years and leads England's Danny Willett by 271, 214 points with three events remaining after the Turkish Open. English pair Chris Wood (-13) and Richard Bland (-12) who were tied for second overnight are fifth and seventh respectively.

Summary: Rory McIlroy moved to within a shot of joint leaders Victor Dubuisson and Jaco van Zyl after the third round of the Turkish Airlines Open.


Firefighters used a 30ft (9m) ladder to bring them to safety in the Ince area of Wigan. Greater Manchester Fire Service said engines from Wigan and Hindley were mobilised at about 13:55 BST. A spokesman for the fire service said it had received reports that a 28-year-old man was stuck up a tree in Green Lane as he tried to recover his pet.

Summary: A man has been rescued from a tree after getting stuck while trying to recapture his parrot.


Some 1.57m sq km (600,000 sq miles) of the Southern Ocean will gain protection from commercial fishing for 35 years. Environmentalists have welcomed the move to protect what's said to be the Earth's most pristine marine ecosystem. They hope it will be the first of many such zones in international waters. At this meeting in Hobart, Australia, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) agreed unanimously to designate the Ross Sea as an MPA, after years of protracted negotiations, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced. The Ross Sea, its shelf and slope only comprise 2% of the Southern Ocean but they are home to 38% of the world's Adelie penguins, 30% of the world's Antarctic petrels and around 6% of the world's population of Antarctic minke whales. The region is important to the rest of the planet as the upwelling of nutrients from the deep waters are carried on currents around the world. The Ross Sea is also home to huge numbers of krill, a staple food for species including whales and seals. Their oil is critical for salmon farming. However there are concerns that overfishing and climate change are having significant impacts on their numbers. The proposal, introduced by New Zealand and the US, and accepted by all the other nations, will see a general protection "no-take" zone where nothing can be removed including marine life and minerals. As part of the compromise that emerged in negotiations, there will be special zones where fishing from krill and toothfish will be allowed for research purposes. "I'm absolutely overjoyed," said Lewis Pugh, the UN Patron for the Oceans, and someone who has campaigned for years in support of this new MPA. "This is the biggest protected area on the land or the sea, this is the first large scale MPA on the high seas, they are largely unprotected." The ocean advocate and swimmer drew attention to the Ross Sea with a series of swims in the icy waters - and for two years he has engaged in a series of meetings, dubbed "speedo diplomacy" with Russian officials to convince them of the value of the MPA. At the end of negotiations last year, Russia was the one country holding out against a consensus on the Ross Sea. But this year there has been what Mr Pugh describes as an "environmental glasnost". Russia's President Vladimir Putin has designated 2017 as the Year of Ecology and the country has recently expanded an MPA around Franz Josef Land in the Arctic. Sergei Ivanov, President Putin's Special Representative for Ecology, welcomed the new deal. "Russia has a proud history of exploration and science in Antarctica. In this time of political turbulence in so many parts of the world, we are pleased to be part of this collaborative international effort to safeguard the Ross Sea," he said. One of the key questions in the negotiations was how long the MPA should last. China is on the record as stating it believes that 20 years is long enough for a designation. Many conservationists say

Summary: Delegates from 24 countries and the European Union have agreed that the Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the world's largest marine protected area (MPA).


The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says young people are gambling with their health by using prescription medicines in a bid to get higher marks in exams. Many websites illegally sell drugs like Ritalin and Modafinil without a valid prescription. The drugs can cause dependency, heart problems and psychosis. So far this year, the MHRA has closed nearly 5,000 websites selling fake or unlicensed medicines. Modafinil is designed to be used for a health condition called narcolepsy - a rare but serious brain disorder that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times. But some students take it to stay alert. Others take Ritalin, a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), for a cognitive boost. MHRA Senior Policy Manager Lynda Scammell said: "You may be offered 'smart drugs' or 'cognitive enhancers' at university - some of them may be potent medicines which should only be prescribed by a doctor. "Modafinil is licensed for specific medical conditions - not for use as a 'boost' during exams. Don't put your health at risk by self-medication - it could have serious side-effects. "It's a criminal offence to supply prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription - websites offering them are acting illegally. "Be smart - don't put your health at risk by buying medicines online and don't give your student loan to a criminal."

Summary: The government's watchdog has issued a warning to students about the dangers of taking "smart drugs".


Mae'r camau wedi eu cynnwys yn y Mesur Diddymu Mawr, sy'n amlinellu sut y bydd miloedd o ddeddfau'r UE yn cael eu diddymu neu eu holynu. Bydd gweinidogion yn San Steffan yn cymryd rheolaeth o'r dyletswyddau yn syth wedi Brexit, tra bo fframwaith parhaol ar feysydd fel amaeth yn cael eu trafod gyda'r llywodraethau datganoledig. Mae'r Mesur Diddymu Mawr yn dweud y bydd hyn yn darparu'r "sicrwydd cyfreithiol a gweinyddol gorau" wrth adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Roedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud yn flaenorol y dylai'r sefydliadau datganoledig gael penderfynu a ddylid datblygu fframwaith gyda San Steffan yn dilyn Brexit. Ond wnaeth y Prif Weinidog Carwyn Jones ddim beirniadu'r mesur yn uniongyrchol yn ei ddatganiad ddydd Iau. "Er bod y Papur Gwyn yn sôn am gynyddu pwerau'r sefydliadau datganoledig i wneud penderfyniadau, dyw hi ddim yn glir ein bod ni o'r un farn ynghylch lle mae'r pwerau ar hyn o bryd a sut y dylid symud ymlaen yn y dyfodol," meddai. "Rydyn ni wedi dweud yn glir ein bod ni'n gweld manteision cytuno ar ddulliau gweithredu cyffredin ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig mewn rhai meysydd polisi datganoledig, lle bo hynny'n bwysig ar gyfer gweithrediad marchnad y Deyrnas Unedig. "Rhaid cychwyn ar ddulliau gweithredu a fframweithiau cyffredin o'r fath drwy gytundeb a chonsensws." Mae'r Mesur Diddymu Mawr yn dweud mai'r nod yw "darparu'r lefel gorau o sicrwydd cyfreithiol a gweinyddol wrth adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac yn unol â'r drefn a fabwysiadwyd yn fwy cyffredinol wrth ddeddfu pan fyddwn ni'n gadael, mae'r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu dilyn yr un fframweithiau a ddarparwyd gan reolau'r Undeb Ewropeaidd drwy ddeddfwriaeth y DU. "Byddwn yn dechrau trafodaethau dwys gyda'r gweinyddiaethau datganoledig er mwyn adnabod lle y bydd angen cadw fframweithiau cyffredin yn y dyfodol, beth ddylai'r rhain fod, a ble nad oes angen fframweithiau cyffredin ar draws y DU. "Tra bo'r trafodaethau hyn yn digwydd gyda'r sefydliadau datganoledig, byddwn yn ceisio cyflwyno cyn lleied o newidiadau â phosib i'r fframweithiau. "Byddwn yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r gweinyddiaethau datganoledig er mwyn sicrhau cynllun sy'n gweithio i'r DU gyfan a'r ardaloedd gwahanol." Dywedodd arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew RT Davies y byddai'r mesur yn "gam hanfodol ar y ffordd i wneud y Deyrnas Unedig yn wlad annibynnol a sofran unwaith eto". "Mae angen nawr i'r prif weinidog [Carwyn Jones] weithio'n bositif gyda llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cael bargen sy'n gweithio i bawb," meddai. Ond mae Plaid Cymru wedi disgrifio'r mesur fel "yr ymgais fwyaf gan San Steffan i gipio pŵer ers i ni gael ein meddiannu yn 1536". "Mae'r ddogfen yn ei gwneud hi'n berffaith glir mai bwriad San Steffan yw cymryd cyfrifoldebau'r UE mewn meysydd sydd eisoes wedi'u datganoli i Gymru a'u rhoi nhw yn nwylo ASau San Steffan, nid ein Cynulliad Cenedlaethol," meddai Jonathan Edwards, llefarydd y blaid ar Brexit. "Bydd yn golygu bod ASau Saesnig yn gyfrifol am faterion sydd wedi eu datganoli i Gymru am y tro cyntaf ers datganoli."

Summary: Mae Llywodraeth y DU, am y tro cyntaf, wedi amlinellu'r hyn fydd yn digwydd i bwerau'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn dilyn Brexit, mewn meysydd datganoledig fel amaethyddiaeth.


The Belgium international, 24, changed the game from the bench but fell awkwardly in injury time. His agent Patrick de Koster initially said De Bruyne would miss six weeks. But, after seeing a specialist, the £55m former Wolfsburg player said: "I'll be out for around 10 weeks." De Bruyne could miss up to 13 league and cup games, including the League Cup final with Liverpool on 28 February, both legs of the Champions League last-16 tie with Dynamo Kiev and the Manchester derby on 20 March. The Belgian is City's second top goalscorer with 12 this season, four behind striker Sergio Aguero. De Koster added: "Kevin told me the only thing he can do is work hard and come back. Kevin is sad. His dream is to always be playing football." De Bruyne scored one goal and set up another to help City to a 4-3 aggregate victory over the Toffees. Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles, who repeatedly tried to lift up De Bruyne as he lay injured, used social media to say sorry. "I would like to apologise to Kevin de Bruyne for my reaction to his injury," said the 25-year-old Spaniard. "In the heat of the moment I didn't realise he was badly hurt. I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery."

Summary: Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne says he will be out for about 10 weeks after injuring his right knee during Wednesday's League Cup semi-final victory over Everton.


Media playback is not supported on this device Ding scored at least a half-century in every frame he won as he extended his first-session lead from 6-2 to 10-2. Williams, who had to play with a new tip after splitting his old one on Monday, managed to pot just two balls before the mid-session interval. The Welshman did take frame 13, but China's Ding powered to victory. Two-time Crucible champion Williams only made two half-centuries, but said he was destined to lose from the moment he split his old tip. "I got beat easily and, to be honest, deep down I knew I would so I cannot really grumble," said Williams, 41. "I was playing, and feeling, brilliant. With the players left in, it was probably my best chance of winning the World Championship. "But as soon as my tip split the night before I knew then that my chances were gone. It was almost impossible. It didn't matter who I played. "He played good but in the first session, I feel, if I had my normal tip I would have been in front." Ding still had to take his opportunities and he did so in devastating style. Williams was so accustomed to sitting in his chair during a one-sided start to the evening session, that Ding had to remind his opponent to get up and go in for a break. The Welshman then joked that he had Ding "rattled" and his "head had gone" when he tweeted during the interlude. Ding, who last reached the semi-finals in 2011, has dropped down to 17 in the world and had to qualify for this year's tournament. But the 29-year-old looked to be reaping the reward of so much time in play during a one-sided morning session where he was sharp and fluent in taking six from seven frames after Williams won the opener. And he sealed victory with little fuss, grabbing his 11th score of more than 50 on his way. "I got some easy chances in the match because Mark had a lot of bad kicks," Ding said. "And every player has a big problem if they have a new tip. "I controlled the game, took my chances and made some good breaks. I was confident. Every time I saw a chance I thought I could go for it and pot it." In the evening's other match, world number one Mark Selby maintained his four-frame advantage over gutsy qualifier Kyren Wilson to lead 10-6 with a session to play. Wilson, who beat top-10 seeds Joe Perry and Mark Allen to reach the last eight, had chances in the first three frames but lost them all as the 2014 champion Selby built a 6-0 lead. The Kettering man responded by taking the next two and then won a scrappy ninth frame of a disjointed match to get to within three. But Selby's famed matchplay saw him keep his rival at bay and he won a tense final frame to avoid his lead being reduced to two frames. Wilson and Selby return to finish

Summary: Ding Junhui thrashed Mark Williams 13-3 inside two sessions to become the first man into this year's World Championship semi-finals.


Italian media say two families were living in the four-storey building that collapsed in Torre Annunziata district. Two children are among those missing. The cause remains unclear. Neighbours did not report hearing any explosion - just the crash of masonry at dawn. Some masonry fell on the nearby Naples-Salerno railway line, so traffic on it has been suspended. It is a seismically active area but there is no suggestion that an earth tremor jolted the building. There are suspicions that the collapse could be linked to vibrations from the railway, or to renovation work that was under way on the lower floors.

Summary: Rescuers in southern Italy are trying to find eight people missing after an apartment block collapsed in Naples.


Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg said parts of the track in the Azerbaijani capital were "really not looking good". Button added that some corners "don't have any run-off at all". Rosberg hoped governing body the FIA had stuck to the safety guidelines that govern tracks, but added: "I'm doubting it a little because of those corners." The main areas of concern on the new track, which joins both the new and historic old parts of the city and is expected to be the fastest street circuit in F1 history, are turns three, seven and 15 and the pit-lane entry. Button said: "We trust in the FIA and they do a fantastic job in keeping us safe. They have improved pretty much every circuit we go to, including Monaco. "It's just that on certain corners here, it looks as if there is not a lot of run-off. Hopefully I'm wrong." He added: "It is fine as long as no-one has a failure, we will go away all happy. We just have to hope that doesn't happen." Button said the most critical area was turn 15, which the drivers will approach at estimated speeds of about 180mph after a long flat-out section. He said: "There is run-off but you have to turn right to take it." Rosberg added: "The track is great, the place is great. I have been welcomed very well so I'm sure all in all it will be a great success. "But there is a bit of a concern for sure with those run-offs. That's not great. The corner before going down the hill (15) where you have a wall straight on, turn three, and then the pit entry as well. that is not fantastic." The pit-lane entry is towards the end of a 2.1-kilometre straight, where cars are expected to be travelling in excess of 200mph, and features a tight chicane. The area governed by the pit-lane speed limit does not start until after the chicane. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo said the pit entry "is going to be quite cool" because, as it is effectively part of the race track, there was "between half-a-second and a second" for a driver to gain in the chicane. But Rosberg countered: "Yeah but there is also a massive accident to be had if you go a little bit more than that." McLaren's two-time champion Fernando Alonso, who is the race's official ambassador, played down the issue. "There are some corners probably we will talk about," he said. "Some others that we need to go on the car first and see how they feel. "In terms of safety, the FIA ran many simulations in terms of how to make the run-off safe enough. Some of them are safe enough, some of them maybe they look small but it's always better than Monaco, for example. It cannot be any worse than that." The FIA has yet to answer BBC Sport's request for a response. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Leading Formula 1 drivers have questioned the safety of the new Baku street circuit that will host Sunday's European Grand Prix.


An Iranian affiliated broadcaster said MP Nadhim Zahawi bought crude oil from the militant group and sold it to markets in Israel and Europe. But High Court judges said the Iraqi-born Stratford-on-Avon candidate was a victim of "fake news". He was awarded Â£200,000 in damages and legal costs of Â£138,483 against Press TV and UK-registered Press TV Ltd. Mr Zahawi sued the English language news and documentary network - which is affiliated to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), owned by the Iranian state - over a July 2015 website article which then went viral. More updates on this and other stories in Coventry and Warwickshire It alleged Mr Zahawi funded and profited from trade with a terrorist group by purchasing the oil at a low price and selling it on. But Mr Zahawi, chief strategy officer of Gulf Keystone Petroleum, said: "The ludicrous allegation that I, while a Member of Parliament, had firstly betrayed all of my deepest held moral principles, and secondly had somehow managed to avoid international security services, and the law, to personally trade oil with Daesh, was of course completely untrue." He said the allegations spread "like wildfire" on social media and he had to defend himself from a "profoundly embarrassing and deeply upsetting experience". He added that it was "of particular note" the article was published the same day he criticised Iran in Parliament. Awarding the damages at London's High Court on Thursday, Master Victoria McCloud said Mr Zahawi had been "wrongly associated by way of `fake news' on the internet, with the consequence being very significant harm to his reputation." Neither Press TV nor Press TV Ltd defended the case and judgment was entered in default

Summary: A Conservative politician has won libel damages after it was reported he helped fund so-called Islamic State (IS).


Sam Amin, 18, fell into the river after a night out in Bath last September. Since then safety railings have been placed along the stretch of river where six people have drowned since 2009. Laurence Tindall, who will design the memorial, said: "We want people to think quietly about the people who lost their lives in the river and how young they all were." The monument will be placed at the spot where Mr Amin died and will be part of the revamp of Bath Quays, near Churchill Bridge. Mr Tindall is in talks with Bath and North East Somerset Council to settle on a final design. A spokesman from Bath and North East Somerset Council said: "The council is working with Sammuel Amin's family to define the most appropriate form and location for the memorial, which is expected to be installed within the new Bath Quays Park by the end of 2016." Attempts will be made to contact other bereaved families to see if they want inscriptions dedicated to their loved ones added to the artwork. "We can't approach the families directly, it's a very sensitive area - we have to approach them through the police formally," said Mr Tindall. "I'm sure it will give them a great deal of comfort to know that there is something permanent, so it will not only remember him but the other young men who have died and to help people to think about river safety and take due care when they're beside the water." The project is expected to take at least a year to complete. The family has now opened an appeal to help pay for the memorial costs and the council has agreed to pay for the installation. Mr Amin's memorial service takes place at St Michael's Church, Twerton on Saturday morning.

Summary: A monument will be built in memory of a student who died after falling into the River Avon.


At 05:00 The Scotsman's front page declared a "historic victory for SNP". The Herald also published a 5am edition. The paper said: "Sturgeon triumphant as Labour humiliated." "Victory's at hand" was the earlier headline in The National, with a full page picture of Nicola Sturgeon with her husband and SNP chief executive Peter Murrell. The paper said she was "on course to win her mandate". "Just Like Nat" was the headline on the front page of the Scottish Sun. Earlier, shortly after the polls closed, the newspaper tweeted that the Tories would "comfortably" seal second place. The Daily Record published its first edition with the caption "01:30 election latest". The headline was "Five more years" and the paper said Nicola Sturgeon was set to be returned as first minister. The Scottish Daily Express said Nicola Sturgeon had been warned that there would be "no more excuses" for failing to deliver for Scotland as the SNP "swept to an historic third term" in the Holyrood election. The Daily Star headline was "Five more years". It also predicted the SNP was poised to "hold Holyrood". The Scottish Daily Mail had published three editions by 03:00. Its most recent said "SNP set for victory, Tory vote surges in push for second and Labour disaster as seats tumble". The Daily Telegraph said Nicola Sturgeon "could be denied" a new independence referendum.

Summary: As the counts got under way in the Holyrood election the Scottish papers were predicting an SNP victory and there was little change as updated editions were published through the night.


"The gritters are now travelling to various workshops for maintenance, just like getting a car serviced," said a highways official. The "low-risk" season begins in October with "high-risk" starting in November. The county council said they had to think about the upcoming winter even when it was "boiling hot". The fleet of more than 40 vehicles covers about 1,865 miles (3,000km) of roads including all major traffic routes and selected A and B roads. Officials said the service was stood down in April but had to start again surprisingly soon. Richard Fenwick, from county council highways, said: "The end of summer is a busy time, even when it is boiling hot we have to think about it. "We have drivers go out during the day to make sure they know the routes, iron out any wrinkles." The authority said it had about 35,000 tonnes of salt in stock and would expect to use about 25,000 tonnes in an average year.

Summary: Gritting lorries and snowploughs have been out and about on Lincolnshire's roads - in preparation for the start of the snow risk season.


It is understood the former Scottish first minister recently travelled to the trade club's headquarters in Switzerland. His successor, Nicola Sturgeon, is exploring ways of keeping Scotland inside the European single market. EFTA members currently include Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. Although not members of the European Union, they are signed up to the free movement of goods, services, capital and people alongside the 28 EU countries what is called the European Economic Area (EEA). The Scottish government would like the UK as a whole to seek a similar arrangement as it prepares to leave the European Union. If that does not happen, Ms Sturgeon has confirmed that she would look at the Norwegian model as a possible route for Scotland to stay in the European single market, without leaving the UK. Speaking at a meeting of EFTA ministers in Geneva, Norway's trade minister Monica Mæland made clear that Scottish membership was not currently possible under existing rules. She said: "As for now, I think Scotland have not the competence to go into this EFTA but I think this is an internal matter for the UK, so I think Scotland should talk to the government in the UK about these matters." But Iceland's foreign minister, Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, who currently chairs EFTA, did not rule out the possibility of special arrangements for Scotland. Ms Alfreðsdóttir, who recently met Nicola Sturgeon in Reykjavik, said it was "too premature to exclude anything". She said SNP politicians had been "very interested both in EFTA and also the EEA arrangement that Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein have". She added: "It is interesting but of course you need to be a sovereign state to apply but maybe as a possibility going forward - you never know." Liechtenstein's foreign minister, Aurelia Frick, said Scottish representatives were "coming and visiting Lichtenstein, and trying to find out especially about the functioning of the European Economic Area that allows Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway to be part of the EU single market". She said Liechtenstein can inform Scotland about the way the EEA and EFTA work, but said the UK must sort out its post-Brexit ambitions before membership in either could be considered. The Scottish government is expected to publish an options paper in December. UK ministers have said the will consider proposals from the devolved administrations but have emphasised the need for an agreed UK-wide negotiating position. It would be open for the UK to seek to stay part of the single market as part of the EEA, through membership of EFTA. Ms Alfreðsdóttir said Iceland would welcome an application from the UK, adding that "I believe the EFTA would be stronger with the UK inside". But that option may be unacceptable to many Leave voters in the UK because Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein pay contributions to the EU in exchange for market access and have to allow EU citizens the right to live and work in their countries. EFTA countries must comply with the rules of the single market without getting a formal say in shaping them. Some have suggested EFTA/EEA membership for

Summary: Alex Salmond has held informal talks at the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) about the UK's future relationship with Europe.


Swindale Beck, near Haweswater, was straightened to clear land for grazing, but the resultant faster flows washed gravel away, making it less easy for salmon and trout to spawn. During summer a stretch was filled in and replaced with a meandering course. In December, 16 salmon were spotted, along with five redds - disturbed gravel where eggs had been laid. The bend restoration project, involving United Utilities, the RSPB, Natural England and the Environment Agency, was also aimed at alleviate flooding by slowing the flow of water through the valley. Lee Schofield, RSPB site manager at Haweswater, said: "Habitat restoration is often a slow process and we normally don't see the benefits of our work for years and sometimes even decades. "It's really uplifting and inspiring to work on a project where we get the chance to experience success so soon after we've finished."

Summary: The restoration of natural bends to a river in Cumbria after 200 years has spawned benefits for breeding fish.


The Redditch-based Sigma Financial Group has opened an office in Priory Queensway, in the city. About 200 staff will be recruited by the end of this year with a further 500 expected by 2017, the firm has said. "Roles will be spread across middle and senior management, contact centre staff and specialist commercial and finance jobs," said CEO Tim Freeman. Sigma Financial Group is a business outsource firm. It employs more than 300 staff at its Prospect Hill base in Redditch.

Summary: A finance company has announced plans to create more than 700 jobs in Birmingham before the end of next year.


sportscotland says it has yet to decide where the cuts will fall amid concerns that elite athletes could suffer. The cuts are being blamed on reduced government spending and a drop in National Lottery ticket sales - a major contributor to sports backing. Governing bodies are bracing themselves for potential job losses. About 60% of funding is made up from Scottish Government money, with lottery sales making up the rest. In the year ending 2015, total revenue was £65.1m, which is divided up and awarded to 52 sports. By the end of next year, that figure will have fallen to £51.8m - a cut to the Scottish sporting budget of 20% in just three years. sportscotland chairman Mel Young said: "It's heartbreaking to me because I know the effort the sport governing bodies and the community that's around it; the volunteers and the mums and dads. "And, to have to say that we're having to cut some money back is, I believe, not the right way to go." Former badminton player Susan Egelstaff, a double bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games [in 2002 and 2006] and an Olympian, fears the cuts will have "a huge impact". "What that means in the future is that Scotland will be constantly playing catch-up," she said. "It's almost impossible to catch up if you fall too far behind the leading nations." The Scottish Government said sport and physical activity play a "key role" in a healthy Scotland and that "significant" investment would continue in those areas. "Having successfully delivered the Commonwealth Games [in 2014] we are now focusing on protecting or raising investment in areas intended to decrease health inequality and improve life chances, and the small reduction in the sport budget allows us to support those priorities," Minister for Sport Aileen Campbell said. "There is on-going support for active lifestyles through capital investment in cycling and walking, and over the last 10 years we have invested £168m in sport infrastructure - from grassroots to the elite performance which has increased the facilities and opportunities to get people active and achieve on the world stage at both the Olympics and Commonwealth Games."

Summary: Sport funding in Scotland is facing a 20% reduction over a three-year period, a move described as "heartbreaking" by the national agency.


Caroline Wootton-Thomas, 49, forged colleague's signatures on cheques and transferred cash to a bank account she set up in her mother's name. She used the council's Child Protection Unit petty cash fund for debts, expensive gifts and luxury holidays. A Cardiff Crown Court jury convicted Wootton-Thomas, of Newport, of theft and transferring criminal property. The court heard she had asked to be put in charge of the petty cash fund which was meant to be used to cover fuel and parking costs. The grandmother was caught after a bank statement was sent to the wrong department. She denied any wrongdoing and blamed her colleagues for stealing the money, which the jury rejected. Matthew Roberts, prosecuting, said Wootton-Thomas had shown an "arrogance" which culminated in her mother also being charged with money laundering, though she was cleared at trial. Judge Neil Bidder said: "You have manipulated your mother in the most unscrupulous way. You took out a loan in her name to pay off your debts. "I've observed fake tears and not a jot of remorse for casting suspicion against other members of your team. "I regard the fact this money was reserved for vulnerable children to be an aggravating factor." A hearing in May will set out how she will be able to pay back the money.

Summary: A Cardiff council worker who stole £35,000 from a children's fund has been jailed for two and a half years.


The bird along with its dead mate was discovered at Wemyss Estate off Standing Stane Road in Kirkcaldy on Saturday 19 March. The swan had been shot through the wing with an arrow which narrowly missed its vital organs and spine. It underwent emergency surgery and was on antibiotics and painkillers until its release on 13 April. The swan was cared for at the Scottish SPCA's national wildlife rescue centre in Fishcross and was released at a protected site on the River Tay. Manager Colin Seddon said: "Once her wounds were healing and she was feeding well she went on to a wet pool and once given the all clear by our vet she went outside into one of our swan paddocks where she was able to join another recuperating swan. "Being a flock animal, swans do much better when kept with other swans. "After a week outside and once the weather conditions were suitable, she was released along with her new companion at a privately owned nature reserve on the River Tay, where the wild swans are support fed until they choose to disperse and go their own way." Insp Sarah Gregory, of the Scottish SPCA, said: "Sadly the swan's mate was found dead at the same time but we have recently received the results of a post-mortem which do not show anything linking the death to intentional trauma or a bow and arrow attack. "Despite our public appeal following the cruel and mindless attack on the female swan, we have not yet traced the perpetrator and we would still urge anyone with information to come forward."

Summary: A swan that was shot with an arrow in Fife has made a full recovery and has been released.


The former police captain ran a covert counter-insurgency unit that detained and killed anti-apartheid activists. ÂIt operated in secrecy from Vlakplaas, a farm near Pretoria, recruiting black liberation movement members whom it turned into killers. He revealed the existence of Vlakplaas in 1989 when he was smuggled out of South Africa to write his story. Coetzee claimed responsibility for the killings of several African National Congress (ANC) members. He took refuge in London after exposing the group in an interview with a liberal Afrikaans newspaper. Once he was in exile, he joined the ANC, where he was known as Comrade Dirk with allegiance to Nelson Mandela, and himself became an assassination target for the white-minority government. He later returned to South Africa and joined the post-apartheid spy service after Mr Mandela became president in 1994. He was later convicted of murder, but granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1997 when he publicly confessed to murdering a Durban human rights lawyer, Griffiths Mxenge. However, Coetzee failed to reveal the place where another activist, Sizwe Kondile, had been buried after being killed and burnt. Coetzee was central to many secrets of the apartheid era, but in giving him amnesty for his crimes, the Truth Commission found that he had simply been following orders from higher-ranking security police commanders. He died at Life Wilgers Hospital in Pretoria from kidney failure, a hospital spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Summary: Dirk Coetzee, one of the most notorious figures of South Africa's apartheid era, has died at the age of 57.


Avon and Somerset Police closed the Lower Bristol Road in Bath at Rackfield Place outside the First depot after the crash at 03:00 GMT. The A36 road closure, which was lifted at 14:00 GMT, had caused disruption and delays to commuters and bus services during rush hour. Investigations are under way into how the collision happened. Local Live has all the latest travel news First said that while parts of its services had resumed a normal schedule, it would take a few hours for all services to return to normal. Managing director James Freeman said: "We are hoping we will have a full service running in time for the evening commute. "We would like to thank the public for their support and understanding and staff for going beyond their call of duty to help manage the situation and recovery."

Summary: A woman has died after her car crashed outside a bus depot trapping 150 buses inside.