Helmut Oberlander says he was forced to act as a translator for the squad and did not participate in atrocities. He has fought three prior attempts by Canada to strip his citizenship and won. His lawyer says Mr Oberlander will also fight this latest citizenship revocation, calling it "persecution". A spokeswoman with Citizenship Canada said in a statement to the BBC that "we don't take citizenship revocation lightly, but it is necessary in cases of fraud and serious misrepresentation". Canada says that when Mr Oberlander applied for entry to Canada in 1954, he obtained his citizenship by knowingly concealing that he had been an auxiliary of the Einsatzkommando, a force that operated behind the German army's front line in the Eastern occupied territories. The squad is responsible for killing more than two million people, many of them Jewish people. "We are determined to deny safe haven in Canada to war criminals and persons believed to have committed or been complicit in war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide," said Citizenship Canada's Lisa Filipps. Mr Oberlander has argued in court that he was conscripted, had no alternative than to work for the Germans, and would have been subject to the harshest penalties had he disobeyed. Canada has revoked his citizenship three times since 1995. Each time it was overturned on appeal. In 2016, Canada's Supreme Court refused to hear the government's appeal of a lower court ruling that Ottawa should reconsider its decision to revoke Mr Oberlander's citizenship. His lawyer Ronald Poulton says Canada "appears prepared to hound Mr Oberlander and his family to his grave". "In order to find Mr. Oberlander complicit in war crimes, given his limited and forced participation with the German military, they had attempted to stretch fiction into fact and to rely on an outdated archaic principle known as guilt by association," he said. Mr. Oberlander was born in Halbstadt, Ukraine in 1924, and he obtained his Canadian citizenship in 1960. Shimon Koffler Fogel, with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, praised Canada for its "tireless" efforts to strip Mr Oberlander of his citizenship. "This latest development is an important milestone in bringing a measure of justice to his many victims and their families," he said in a statement. Mr Oberlander's case is expected to be back before a federal court within the next six months.

Summary: Canada has revoked the citizenship for the fourth time of a 93-year-old man who has admitted to being a former Nazi death squad member.


A smart doorbell, a connected camera, a child's toy and a locator to help monitor children were all found to be vulnerable to straightforward attacks. The default passwords and bad security practices could have leaked data to attackers, said the research teams. However, all four firms have acted on the warnings, tightened up code and closed loopholes. "The problem with the Internet of Things these days is that everyone is becoming an IT shop whether they like it or not and whether they realise it or not," said Tod Beardsley, security research manager at Rapid7, who uncovered problems with two of the devices. While IoT device makers were writing code more confidently, few took the extra design steps to make sure the programming they put into smart devices was secure, the researchers found. Mr Beardsley checked the security in two devices from separate firms: The way the bear communicated with the web was poorly configured, he found, so attackers could have interrogated it to find out more about its young owner, their family and home network. Similar problems were found with the HereO watch that could have let an attacker add themselves to a group of watches used by a family or other group. HereO's chief technology officer said his team fixed the flaw within four hours of being alerted to it. "We not only appreciate Rapid7's feedback, but also welcome and embrace the valuable support of the global IoT [internet of things] community in our relentless efforts to maintain a bar-none, zero-tolerance environment for the safety and security of our users," said Eli Shemesh. "As HereO at the time had yet to commercialise its GPS watches, at no point was any child at risk of any malicious activity." Separately, researchers at Context IS uncovered security issues with a Motorola Focus outdoor camera. If exploited, the lapses could allow a camera to be taken over and remotely controlled by an attacker and used as an entrance to infiltrate a network to which it was connected. Security experts at Pentest Partners also found problems with Ring - a smart doorbell fitted with a video camera that uses an app to beam video of callers to a phone. But by removing the cover of the gadget and pressing its set-up key it becomes possible to recover the key to the wi-fi network to which it is joined, found the security testing firm. All the security failings found by the researchers were reported to the respective firms and all have now been patched or fixed. Ken Munro from Pentest Partners said Era Home Security was "quick to respond" to the report of the bug. Tod Beardsley from Rapid7 said getting the security bugs fixed in the two devices he studied was a "good and surprising outcome". "I was expecting the usual emotional response of, 'How dare you hack our stuff?' and 'What's your motivation?'" he told the BBC. "But both firms were very mature about it." He added that there were no reports of IoT devices being targeted by attackers as yet but security firms

Summary: New research has highlighted security issues on four separate smart gadgets.


The reforms, ranging from the setting up of small businesses to reducing bureaucracy, had already been agreed by the ruling Communist party. Mr Castro also hinted that changes to the country's controversial travel and emigration rules could be introduced. He said those attempting to undermine the reforms could face prosecution. The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says one of the biggest obstacles Mr Castro now faces is resistance from party bureaucrats who face losing their job under the changes. But the president warned lawmakers that "bureaucratic resistance is useless". Mr Castro told parliament that the time had come for social and political reforms to be introduced. "Let's clean our heads of all sorts of nonsense," he said. The measures the assembly was discussing in its twice-yearly session include cutting more than one million state jobs in a move to reduce Cuba's vast bureaucracy and reducing the state's role in areas such as agriculture, retail and construction. Small private businesses will be encouraged to step in to fill the space, while state subsidies for goods and service will be phased out. Mr Castro also said the government was "working to orchestrate the modernisation" of the country's migration policies. Human rights groups have long criticised the requirement for Cubans to get government permission to travel abroad - a remnant of the days when Cubans emigrated for political rather than economic reasons. Mr Castro said the rules had "played a role in their time and endured unnecessarily".

Summary: Cuba's National Assembly has given its backing to President Raul Castro's plans to reform the country's stagnating economy.


Earlier in the morning we saw a number of airstrikes in the Old City. Iraqi forces were still pinned down by snipers from the group that calls itself Islamic State. Colonel Jabbar Abad told us it was the last pocket of resistance. He claimed they would be defeated within hours. His troops helped a steady stream of civilians fleeing to safety. Mostly women and children. Their faces were haunted and some had to be helped. The children didn't even flinch when there was more sound of gunfire. An older woman was so weak she could barely walk. A few babies being carried looked almost lifeless. The families were given food and water. This, their first taste of freedom after three years of living under IS control. The battle briefly forgotten in their own fight for survival. If this is victory it has come at a huge cost. Not just in human life. Nearly everyone rescued had to leave dead relatives behind. Almost every building in the old city has been scarred or completely destroyed. Search and rescue teams are still pulling bodies from the rubble. The heat has contributed to the stench of decaying corpses. We met Ali, who had come to find his brother's family. Hoping against hope that some may have survived. He said IS fighters had been using their house when it was hit by a coalition airstrike a few weeks ago. Iraqi security forces had only recently taken the area. With tears streaming down his face, Ali held up his mobile phone and told me he'd spoken to his brother trapped under the rubble. But over the last few days there had been no reply. Ali helped the search and rescue teams make their way through the tonnes of rubble. They tried to console him when all they could find what must have been their remains, which they carried off in a black zipped bag. We watched them do the same at several other sites. Contrast that with the jubilation of the Iraqi security forces who mobbed Prime Minister Abadi as he arrived in the city to declare victory over IS. This is still a significant moment. The extremists have held the city for three years. It's taken nine months of brutal street to street fighting to dislodge them. This was their stronghold in Iraq. It was here, in the city's now flattened Great Mosque of al-Nuri, where their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, made his one and only public appearance as Caliph of their so-called state. For many IS fighters Mosul is their graveyard, though it is still likely that some have escaped. The misery of Mosul is far from over. The UN estimates it will cost at least $1bn (£0.77bn) to restore the city's basic infrastructure - such as clean water and electricity. It will take tens of billions more to rebuild this city.

Summary: Even while the Iraqi prime minister was on his way to Mosul to declare the liberation of the city, there was still the occasional sound of gunfire and coalition warplanes flying overhead.


Dyfed-Powys Police said training would begin on Wednesday ahead of them being deployed on the streets. Cameras are always on but only record once the officer presses a button. Police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: "The use of the cameras supports transparency in policing and will aid the investigation of complaints against officers." The move follows a three-month trial in 2015 and any member of the public has the right to request footage taken of them within 31 days. Any recordings not needed for policing purposes are automatically deleted from cloud storage after that time. The force said recordings would only be made if there was "a policing need" and officers would announce when they start and stop filming. Cameras will always be on standby, filming on a 30-second loop, but audio does not record until the officer presses the button. Chief Constable Mark Collins said: "They will provide the public with more reassurance and will help officers to document valuable evidence - leading to swifter justice for victims."

Summary: A police force has begun the rollout of body cameras for 800 officers and community support officers.


He accused Lord Patten, chairman of the trust which oversees the BBC, of making "unfair and untrue" claims not to have known about Mark Byford's payment. Lord Patten said he "couldn't have been expected to know" about the sum. Mr Thompson told MPs the trust had put him under "ferocious pressure" to make senior redundancies like Mr Byford's. The BBC has been criticised for paying £25m ($39m) to 150 outgoing executives - £2m ($3.1m) more than their contracts stipulated. Mr Thompson - who is now chief executive of the New York Times newspaper - was one of seven senior BBC figures giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). He was asked about a £949,000 pay-off package given to former deputy director general Mr Byford. By David SillitoArts Correspondent A "grossly unedifying occasion" which has damaged the reputation of the BBC - that was Margaret Hodge's verdict. But have we learnt anything? MPs seemed to accept Lord Patten's argument that he really could not be expected to have questioned deals such as Mark Byford's £1m pay-off given it was done before he arrived and was said to be within contract. Mark Thompson appeared to convince the committee when he said he had tried to keep the trust informed. The question about why the trust had not done more hung in the air. The answer that it was not their job did not go down well with some of the MPs. The former chairman Sir Michael Lyons accepted that perhaps they should have taken more of an interest. The government has been watching with interest; the question of how the BBC is governed is being discussed. The debate over the renewal of the charter for the BBC is about to begin and today will only add weight to a growing debate about the future of the trust. He said Mr Byford's redundancy had represented "value for money" as part of a wider effort to cut the number of highly-paid executives and save about £19m a year. He said he had believed he had the "full support" of the BBC Trust in trying to do that within a very short time frame. Committee chairman Margaret Hodge said under Mr Byford's contract he could have been paid off with £500,000. But Mr Thompson said he was paid almost twice that because the corporation wanted him to be "fully focused" on his job in the final months of his tenure and not "worried about his future and taking calls from head hunters". He said the fact that he had known Mr Byford for more than three decades and socialised with him did not affect judgement about his severance package. Asked by Mrs Hodge if the BBC had "lost the plot", Mr Thompson replied: "I do not think we lost the plot." BBC HR director Lucy Adams told the committee the corporation was trying to "get people out of the door" with minimal disruption and no risk of legal action - and to do that, it was "occasionally" necessary to pay more than was contractually required. Former

Summary: Ex-BBC director general Mark Thompson has told MPs the corporation had not "lost the plot" when it agreed a pay-off of almost £1m to his former deputy.


Birmingham academies Park View and Nansen Primary - rated inadequate by Ofsted - will have their funding agreements terminated. Park View Educational Trust said it may be removed from running the schools. Oldknow Academy and Golden Hillock School, also rated inadequate, were warned they could lose funding unless concerns were addressed. A head teacher at one of the Trojan Horse schools said parents tried to undermine her authority and descended on the school during an Ofsted inspection. The head teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said she heard parents speaking to an inspector about her. She said she came close to quitting her job on a number of occasions but everything "fell into place" when news of the Trojan Horse letter broke. "From 2012 I felt alone," she said. "I did not know it was happening to other heads. If I had known, I could have rationalised it but at the time I felt embarrassed. "I started thinking 'maybe it is me, maybe I'm doing something wrong.'" On Monday, the watchdog published 21 reports into schools allegedly targeted as part of a hardline Muslim takeover. Five of those schools, including Park View and Oldknow, were rated inadequate. 'Islamic-themed assemblies' Birmingham City Council said it would work with Saltley School, the only local authority school placed in special measures, and the Department for Education to install a temporary governing board. In a letter to Park View chairman Tahir Alam, education minister Lord Nash said there were "deep concerns" about the way Park View School was run. The letter said: "I have decided under clause 5.6 of the supplementary funding agreement for the academy to give written notice of the Secretary of State's intention to terminate that agreement." Lord Nash criticised the trust for failing to promote "spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils". "I am deeply mindful of the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations," he said. A similar letter about Nansen Primary School, also addressed to Tahir Alam, said it would have its funding arrangement terminated. Both letters invited the trust to respond before 4 July. A spokesman for Park View School said they would challenge the Ofsted report through the appropriate legal channels. They said terminating the funding agreement would mean the trust could be removed from the running of the three schools. "What happens to the schools after that would be the decision of the secretary of state, as they are already academy schools under the remit of [the] Department for Education," they said. In a letter to Dr Achmad da Costa, chair of Oldknow Academy Trust, Lord Nash said it was not meeting the requirements set out in its funding agreement. "Therefore the Secretary of State is minded to terminate the funding agreement unless all the breaches are addressed promptly, in full, and to his satisfaction," it said. Lord Nash set out a list of actions the trust must take before 4 July. These included ending "less favourable" treatment of non-Muslims, ceasing segregation of boys and girls, and drawing up a plan

Summary: Two schools at the centre of the Trojan Horse inquiry are to lose their government funding.


Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pledged â‚¬50m (Â£42m) in funds for rebuilding. At least 268 people are now known to have died and 400 were injured. Teams have continued to search the rubble of toppled buildings for a second night. However, hundreds of aftershocks have hampered the efforts of the 5,000 rescuers. Another magnitude-4.7 tremor struck early on Friday. In addition to the funds, Mr Renzi cancelled taxes for residents and announced a new initiative, "Italian Homes", to tackle criticism over shoddy construction. But he also said that it was "absurd" to think that Italy could build completely quake-proof buildings. It follows criticism in the Italian press over building standards in high-risk areas. Some of the buildings that collapsed had recently been renovated. Historic towns do not have to conform to anti-quake building regulations, which are also often not applied when new buildings are put up. The 6.2-magnitude quake hit in the early hours of Wednesday, 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome in mountainous central Italy. The worst affected towns - Amatrice, Arquata, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto - are usually sparsely populated but have been swelled by tourists visiting for summer, making estimates for the precise number missing difficult. More than 200 people died in Amatrice alone. At least three Britons died in the quake, a local official in Amatrice told the BBC. The Romanian government said 11 of its citizens were missing. Bodies are still being found in the town, including one discovered in the rubble of the Hotel Roma in the city late on Thursday. An official with the fire department, Lorenzo Botti, admitted they were facing a race against time. "The chances of finding people alive in these conditions, in this type of setting, well, it's challenging," he said. But other rescuers said there was still hope, noting that one survivor was pulled from ruins in L'Aquila in 2009 three days after an earthquake that killed more than 300 people. Search teams have asked locals to disable their wi-fi passwords to help rescue workers communicate more effectively. Police have also arrested a man for attempting to break into and loot an empty home in the town, Ansa reported.

Summary: Italy has declared a state of emergency in the regions worst hit by Wednesday's earthquake as hopes of finding more survivors fade.


Isobel Parker, 23, who was known as Becky, died at a property in Booth Place, Burnham-on-Crouch, on 17 July. Her mother described her as a "bubbly girl" and a "fantastic mother who adored spending time with her two precious children". Matthew Smith, 23, of Wood Corner Caravan Park in Maldon, has been charged with murder. He will next appear in court on 28 September. A post-mortem examination found Miss Parker had been strangled with a ligature. Her partner Shane said: "Becky was the best woman I could have ever wished to meet. "We were so looking forward to the birth of our first child together, a little girl, who we were going to name Charmaine."

Summary: The family of a pregnant woman who was strangled to death in Essex said she was "an absolute angel".


However his role as used-car salesman Arthur Daley, in the long-running TV series Minder, is the one for which he will be best remembered. His character became synonymous with dodgy dealing and phrases such as "nice little earner" and "er indoors" passed into the national lexicon. As well as his numerous screen appearances, he also starred for 15 years in the BBC radio series A Life of Bliss, later adapted for TV. George Edward Cole was born in Tooting, south-west London on 22 Apr 1925. His 16 year old mother abandoned him when he was just ten days old and he was adopted by the Cole family and brought up on a London council estate. He left school at 14 intending to work as a butcher's boy but, following the death of his adoptive father, ran away to Blackpool where he successfully auditioned for a part in a touring musical show. In 1940, he played a Cockney evacuee in Cottage To Let, first on stage and then on film. He had gone to the audition for the stage version purely to accompany a friend but ended up getting the part himself. "I was always in plays at school and in school concerts," he said. "You could say I liked to show off." Together with his adoptive mother, he was taken in by the actor Alistair Sim and his wife, Naomi, and appeared with Sim in a number of plays. The Sims ruthlessly worked on ironing out his cockney vowels, determined that he shouldn't be type-cast. Cole joined the RAF in 1943, where he trained as a wireless operator. When it was discovered that his eyesight wasn't good he was removed from flying duties and transferred to Coastal Command HQ in Northwood before going to Allied occupied Germany to run the bar in an officers' mess. After the war he returned to acting and, by his late 20s, was a veteran of more than 30 films, few of them memorable, including a role as the love interest of a newly-emerging starlet called Joan Collins, in the 1951 film Bikini Babe. He did have a small role in Laurence Olivier's epic production of Henry V and was, at the time of his death, the last survivor of the huge cast. In 1953, he took over the role of David Bliss, the somewhat bumbling bachelor in the BBC radio comedy, A Life of Bliss. The series ran for 118 episodes, transferring briefly to television in the early 1960s. It was the 1954 film, The Belles of St Trinian's that brought him to the attention of a wider audience and, incidentally, allowed him to establish the character of the cockney rogue that he would later portray in Minder. As the spiv, Flash Harry, he was a ready source of nylons for the girls in the school and drink for the teachers. The film featured his mentor, Alistair Sim in the dual roles of the headmistress and her crooked brother. He would go on to reprise the role in Blue Murder at St Trinian's in 1957, Blue

Summary: George Cole was a veteran of more than 60 films in a career that spanned eight decades.


Former party leader Nick Clegg called her comments "utter cheek". "It is Theresa May's extreme version of Brexit which will cause real damage to the NHS," he added. The prime minister gave a speech earlier on Tuesday in which she stressed that she was the best person to lead talks on leaving the EU. She also told the audience in Wolverhampton: "If we don't make a success of Brexit, we won't have the financial means to fund the public services on which we all rely. "Our National Health Service - the institution which is there for us at the most difficult times - needs us to make a success of Brexit to ensure we can afford to provide it with the resources it needs for the future." Mr Clegg responded: "By insisting on dragging the UK out of the single market, she has chosen a UKIP-style version of Brexit which is already causing a squeeze on public services." "It's time she came clean that the risks are all of her own making. It is her choice to take this country in a dangerous and damaging direction." The Conservatives have promised increases in NHS spending in real terms reaching Â£8bn extra per year by 2022-23, while Labour has pledged Â£30bn in extra funding over the next parliament. The Lib Dems have committed to adding 1p in the pound on income tax to raise Â£6bn for NHS and social care services. They are also arguing for a referendum on the eventual Brexit deal, unlike Labour or the Conservatives.

Summary: The Liberal Democrats have reacted angrily to Theresa May's claim that a badly managed Brexit would mean fewer resources for public services.


The alleged spying by the National Security Agency (NSA) "must be explained and more importantly new trust must be built up for the future", she told German MPs. The allegations dominated the news during an EU summit last month. Ms Merkel said the NSA affair was putting EU-US trade talks to the test. She also said Germany's relations with the US "are of paramount importance". The German government has said it is keen to hear directly from the fugitive NSA leaker Edward Snowden about the agency's collection of phone and internet data. But Germany says it cannot offer him asylum because he would have to make his application on German soil. According to his leaks, the NSA targeted communications among Washington's Western allies, including Ms Merkel's mobile phone and EU offices. "The accusations are grave," Ms Merkel said in her statement on Monday. She did not comment specifically on the alleged bugging of her phone. The Bundestag - Germany's lower house - is holding a special debate on the NSA spying allegations. The scale of NSA surveillance in Germany is not clear, and last month Germany sent some senior officials to Washington to find out more. German media report that the German secret services exchange intelligence with their US counterparts. But recently the British newspaper the Independent, citing leaks from Mr Snowden, said the UK spy agency GCHQ had tapped into communications using a listening post on the roof of the British embassy in Berlin. Mr Snowden, 30, fled to Russia in June after leaking details of far-reaching US espionage. He has temporary asylum, allowing him to live in Russia, until July 2014.

Summary: Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that reports of US spying in Germany - including bugging her mobile phone - are straining transatlantic ties.


Six incidents have been reported to police between 3 and 13 February. In all the cases, two or three men have targeted foreign national tourists in an attempt to steal money - succeeding on two occasions. The men, who are described as southern European, claimed to be police officers before demanding to search the victims. Police Scotland said the first incident took place at about 13:20 on 3 February in the Grassmarket, when a Chilean man was approached by a man who asked him to take his photograph. The pair were then approached by two suspects who claimed to be police officers and then demanded to search them. The two police impersonators then got into a silver or grey Seat hatchback and drove away and the other man walked into the Grassmarket. Officers said the Chilean man later realised a three-figure sum of money had been stolen from him. On 13 February, two Chinese tourists lost a four-figure sum of cash when they were targeted in a similar scam on Market Street. They were approached by two men who showed them ID and said they were undercover police officers. Other incidents happened in Chambers Street, Castle Street, and in the Calton Hill area. There was one incident on 3 February, one on 11 February and four on 13 February. Sgt Mark Hamilton, of Police Scotland, said: "These men are purposely targeting tourists who are visiting the city centre in a bid to steal money from them. "Impersonating a police officer is not only inappropriate, it is illegal. We would advise that if you are stopped by someone claiming to be a Police Scotland officer, request their collar number and ask to see a warrant card. "All our officers are happy to provide this information to the public and it should be offered readily."

Summary: Police in Edinburgh are investigating a series of thefts and attempted thefts where men have impersonated police officers.


Orla Galton, from Blackmill, Bridgend county, was diagnosed with leukaemia at three and blood transfusions helped save her life. She endured them for years, but her mother, Sharon, said they were a lifeline. The Welsh Blood Service wants 200,000 more donors to replenish stocks. "When Orla was having chemotherapy her bloods hit so low that she became anaemic, she would have no white blood cells so she couldn't fight any infection," she said told BBC Radio Wales. "It's quite a dangerous time as while their bloods are going down, they can't carry on with the treatment. Orla needed blood transfusions so she could keep having the chemotherapy." Orla, who has now been given the all clear, paid tribute to the donors who helped her. "I would just like to say thank you," she said. "I can't thank you more." The Welsh Blood Service said:

Summary: A 12-year-old cancer survivor has urged more people to give blood, as the number of new donors has dropped by 40% over the past decade.


The incident happened on EnQuests's Thistle platform, off Shetland, last December. Rigging supervisor Steve Innes, from Sunderland, told the BBC he and fellow Wood Group contractors discovered they had been exposed to alpha radiation. EnQuest said "additional precautionary steps" had since been taken. Wood Group said it was committed to employee safety. Mr Innes - who said he has struggled to find more work since raising concerns - said the workers now faced cancer fears, and blood tests were ongoing. He said EnQuest had failed in its duty of care. The men were working at Thistle, 125 miles (201 km) north east of Shetland, doing shutdown work with pipe equipment. Mr Innes claimed they were told there was a problem two thirds of the way through the trip. He claimed a health and safety manager told them a reading had been taken the night before and all the work was stopped. He said: "We had all been working on it without the proper PPE (personal protective equipment), because they had assumed it was clear. "At first we were all in shock. "We have been exposed to radioactive material for hours at a time." He said they had been told the levels of radiation may not cause them long-term harm, but he was continuing to undergo tests. Mr Innes said of EnQuest: "They have a duty of care. Their procedures have broken down. "You can't say 'you've been contaminated but we think you'll be OK'. "I would like somebody to take the case on who's not frightened of the companies." An EnQuest spokesperson said: "EnQuest can confirm that, in December 2016, during planned shutdown activities on its Thistle platform, six personnel employed by Wood Group under a contract with EnQuest were removing a piece of pipework when they were exposed to low levels of NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material). "The level of exposure was less than 1% of the level at which it is reportable to the Health and Safety Executive however EnQuest advised the HSE of the matter at the time. "EnQuest has appropriate control measures in place which are designed to prevent exposure to NORM. "Following an investigation, additional precautionary steps have been taken to further ensure that personnel avoid any such exposure." A Wood Group spokeswoman said: "The health and safety of our people is always our top priority. "As a precaution following the incident, we downmanned our employees from the platform in order to conduct medical assessments. "We fully supported EnQuest in a detailed joint investigation and continue to reinforce the application of our health and safety procedures, to ensure the safety of our employees. "Our commitment and priority following the incident and throughout the investigation has been to the health and wellbeing of our employees." John Boland, regional officer for the Unite union, said: "Unite believes that the way these workers has been treated is terrible. "It's vital for workers' safety that there is openness and transparency about serious safety incidents, so that we can learn lessons and create a safer working environment for everyone offshore." A spokesperson

Summary: An offshore worker has called for action after he and colleagues were exposed to radiation, BBC Scotland can reveal.


At least 21 people were killed by the storm, the Red Cross said, with the eastern island of Samar worst hit, but it caused far less damage than feared. Thousands of people are heading home after about a million people were evacuated from vulnerable areas. The city of Tacloban, which bore the brunt of Super Typhoon Haiyan last year, has emerged relatively unscathed. Albay province, which evacuated more than half its population, has called for those people to go home. After spending three days at a school in Polangi, families are packing into small military trucks, holding one or two plastic bags with the essentials they brought with them. They worry about the state in which they'll find their homes but many are most worried about their rice fields, their only source of income. One woman reached her house and found it flooded and uninhabitable. For her that means at least one more night in the evacuation centre. Hagupit: What did the Philippines do differently? Hagupit - pictures, tweets and videos from the Philippines In the capital, residents are preparing for heavy rain and strong winds. The typhoon is still travelling westwards across the Philippines, and has weakened into a tropical storm, according to the Philippine meteorological authorities. A government alert on Monday morning stated that residents of the capital and surrounding regions should expect winds of up to 100km/h (62mph) in the next 24 hours, and to prepare for possible flash floods, landslides, and storm surges of up to 2m. Thousands who live along the coast and riverbanks were evacuated on Monday, reports said. A total of 11.8 million people live in the national capital region. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the city was "prepared and trained for this", but added: "It's the flooding that we are worried about." Financial markets closed their doors on Monday along with schools and government offices. Flights and other public transport were halted. Hagupit has been nowhere near as powerful as Typhoon Haiyan - known as Yolanda in the Philippines - which tore through the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing. In Tacloban, Hagupit blew away roofs and flooded streets, but the area has escaped the wider devastation of last year. "There were no bodies scattered on the road, no big mounds of debris," local woman Rhea Estuna told the Associated Press by phone from Tacloban. "Thanks to God this typhoon wasn't as violent." Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez told the BBC that the immediate task was assessing damage to the temporary shelters in which some people have been living. He said that the weather was good now but that high tides were making it harder for waterways to drain, despite work to clear debris. UN official Orla Fagan told Reuters that a lot of people have begun returning to their homes. "In Tacloban this morning, the sun is shining, people just started going back," she said. The storm made its fourth landfall on Monday night, hitting Batangas province some 100km (60 miles) south of Manila with winds of roughly

Summary: Tropical storm Hagupit is heading to Manila, but has been downgraded from a typhoon after crossing the country.


The Electoral Reform Society attacked both sides of the referendum campaign, saying people felt "ill-informed" by the "dire" debate. The society said the impact of political leaders had been "minimal". It called for a "root and branch" review of the way referendums are run. Recommendations made by the society in its report include having a public body intervene when "misleading" claims are made by campaigns, reviewing broadcasters' role and publishing a "rule book" to govern conduct by campaigns. They also propose that future referendums have a guaranteed six month official campaign, and citizenship education be extended in schools with the voting age reduced to 16. The UK voted to leave the EU on 23 June by 51.9% to 48.1%. The then prime minister David Cameron and the government backed a Remain vote, while the Leave campaign was fronted by ex-mayor of London Boris Johnson, who is now foreign secretary. The Electoral Reform Society, which campaigns for "democratic reform", said its polling showed Mr Cameron and other political "big beasts" had failed to convince the public. When asked about eight prominent politicians, most people said they had had no effect on the way they voted. The only high-profile figures who, according to the poll, persuaded more voters of their position than drove them to vote the other way were Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who backed Brexit. "Above all, what these numbers tell us is that people had by and large lost faith in established political figures as opinion-leaders - except where those figures might be said to be kicking against the establishment," the society said. It said voters had viewed both sides as increasingly negative, and many "simply did not trust" their key claims. These included Remain saying households would be on average Â£4,300 a year worse off outside the EU and Leave claiming an extra Â£350m a week could be spent on the NHS. The government's controversial mail-shot to every household in the UK had "little effect on people's levels of informedness", it said, and towards the end of the campaign nearly half of voters thought politicians were "mostly telling lies". The society said the EU debate was in "stark contrast" to the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, which it said had featured a "vibrant, well-informed, grassroots conversation that left a lasting legacy of on-going public participation in politics and public life". The society's chief executive Katie Ghose said: "This report shows without a shadow of a doubt just how dire the EU referendum debate really was. "There were glaring democratic deficiencies in the run-up to the vote, with the public feeling totally ill-informed. Both sides were viewed as highly negative by voters, while the top-down, personality-based nature of the debate failed to address major policies and issues, leaving the public in the dark." On the plus side, the society said it had heard "time and again" from people who felt the referendum was the first time their vote "had truly counted". But it said there were "serious questions" to be asked about the place of

Summary: The EU referendum campaign was dogged by "glaring democratic deficiencies" with voters turned off by big name politicians and negative campaigning, a report says.


He also cancelled an investigation into claims of abuse of power revealed by covert recordings, saying he wanted to "put an end to the agony" ahead of early elections in June. But his move was condemned both by the opposition and by EU officials. Macedonia has been in turmoil since the recordings were released in 2015. In a televised address on Tuesday, President Ivanov said he acted to "defend national interests". "I've decided to put an end to the agony and, metaphorically speaking, to cut a knot,'' he said, without referring to any politicians by name. Opposition leader Zoran Zaev said the move was illegal, urging protesters to gather in the capital Skopje. A crowd of several hundred people later gathered outside the prosecutor's office. Meanwhile, EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said: "Today's actions of President Ivanov are not in line with my understanding of rule of law." Mr Hahn added that the move put Macedonia's EU membership ambitions at risk. The crisis was sparked by covert recordings which appear to show ministers plotting vote-rigging and the cover-up of a murder. Mr Zaev has been releasing a steady stream of recordings since February 2015, accusing the government of wiretapping 20,000 people, including politicians, journalists and religious leaders. He says that scores of leaked recordings reveal corruption at the highest levels of government, including the mismanagement of funds, dubious criminal prosecutions of opponents and even cover-ups of killings. The government denies the accusations, and in return has accused Mr Zaev of trying to "destabilise" the Balkan nation. He rejects the claim.

Summary: Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has issued a pardon to all politicians embroiled in a big corruption scandal that sparked a major political crisis.


The BBC's James Landale says he is going voluntarily at the age of 52, while he still has time to pursue a second career in business. His departure, which was discussed with David Cameron over the festive break, came as a surprise after 25 years on the front bench for the Conservatives. He will be replaced by Lord Hill of Oareford, a former John Major aide, who entered the Lords in 2010. Prime Minister David Cameron praised Lord Strathclyde's contribution, describing him as a "brilliant public servant". Speaking at the launch of the coalition government's mid-term review, Mr Cameron said he was "sad to see him go" as he "knew the House of Lords inside out" and had done a great job on behalf of both the government and his party. The then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gave Lord Strathclyde his first job as a whip in the 1980s and he has been on the front bench in the Lords ever since. He has served six party leaders, including three prime ministers. The BBC's James Landale says his friends insist there is absolutely no political reason for his departure. It is just, they say, that he feels he has done his time. The peer has been the Tory leader in the Lords for 14 years since his predecessor Lord Cranborne was sacked by William Hague in 1998 for "running in like an ill-trained spaniel" and negotiating secretly with Tony Blair over Lords' reform. By James LandaleDeputy political editor He was also a minister of state at the Department of Trade and Industry during the 1990s and his various junior ministerial jobs covered tourism, Scotland, the environment, and consumer affairs. In his resignation letter to Mr Cameron, Lord Strathclyde says: "When I was invited to join the government by Margaret Thatcher in 1988, I never believed it was a career for life. I didn't expect it would consume me for as long as it has or that I would one day lead the Lords and sit in a cabinet. "The Lords is an extraordinary and vigorous place, but recently I've been considering a change of direction. "I started my working life in the private sector and at some stage always hoped to return, I would now like to do so... I do not see a political career as the cap of everything and would like, while there is still time, to take up other threads of my life and other interests." He added: "I always promised myself that when I did leave I would do so when I could make a smooth handover to a strong successor. Whatever my feelings on the matter, reform of the Lords is effectively over and now is a good time to manage that handover." In his letter of reply, the PM said that "after a quarter of a century on the front bench I entirely understand your desire to pursue other interests". He added: "You have been an outstanding Leader of the Lords. Under your leadership the Lords has enhanced its role as our second legislative chamber.

Summary: Lord Strathclyde has resigned from his cabinet role as Leader of the Lords.


David Skeen, 51, was last seen going for a run in Talgarth, near Brecon, at 09:00 GMT on Tuesday. Firefighters, police and more than 45 mountain rescue volunteers had been out searching for Mr Skeen. A drone was used during the day. Mr Skeen was last seen wearing an orange gilet, black running trousers, pale trainers and a blue hat. Dyfed-Powys Police said they would continue to follow up any lines of inquiry overnight.

Summary: The search for a jogger who has been missing for more than 24 hours in Powys has been stood down for the night.


Cynthia Cheroitich, 19, said she drank body lotion because she was hungry and thirsty. She was only brought out on Saturday morning after security forces found a teacher she knew to convince her it was safe to come out. Ms Cheroitich said her ordeal began at around 05:30 (02:30 GMT) on Thursday when she and her fellow students were in class studying for their exams. "Suddenly, we heard the bullets and then we started coming out and then we said: 'What is happening?'" she told the Associated Press news agency. "We ran to our rooms, then these people came running, following us. When we reached our rooms, we hide under the beds." She said that their pursuers told them to come out of their hiding places, but she decided to hide in the wardrobe instead where she covered herself with some clothes. It was then that the gunmen entered the room. Ms Cheroitich described a scenario that other survivors have alluded to. Her roommates were taken out and divided up between those who were able to recite verses of the Koran and those who were not. It was not clear what happened to them. She said she found some bottles of body lotion where she was hiding and "drank all of them", describing it as "nice and lovely". But she was too scared to move. "I was just praying to my God," she said. It was not until 10:00 on Saturday, long after the attack ended, that the authorities were able to persuade her to come out. She told AP: "You know at first I did not believe it [when police came to rescue her], at first I was thinking that maybe they were the al-Shabab. So I said: 'How do I know that you are the Kenyan police?'" It was only after a member of the college staff came to convince her that it was safe to come out that she emerged.

Summary: A survivor of the al-Shabab attack on Kenya's Garissa university campus has been describing how she spent more than two days in a wardrobe in fear of rampaging militants.


Gayle was responding to a question from Ten Sport's Melanie McLaughlin about his aggressive batting style after scoring 41 runs in 15 deliveries. He said: "To see your eyes for the first time is nice. Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush." A BBL statement said the comments were "disrespectful and inappropriate". The 36-year-old former West Indies captain's knock helped the Melbourne Renegades to a five-wicket win over Hobart Hurricanes. BBL head Anthony Everard added: "We'll certainly be talking to him and the Renegades about it. "This league is all about its appeal to kids, families and females. There's just no place in the BBL, or for that matter cricket anywhere, for that sort of behaviour." Australian broadcaster Ten Sport apologised on air after the interview and later tweeted "well played for staying professional" after McLaughlin replied to Gayle: "I'm not blushing." McLaughlin, 36, joined Network Ten to host match-day coverage of the Big Bash League in 2013.

Summary: West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has been called "disrespectful" for asking an Australian journalist on a date in a Big Bash League pitch-side interview.


Jean-Claude Juncker said the UK imposed no migration controls on eight central European and Baltic nations joining the EU in 2004 and the new proposals would "address the consequences" of that. But he said the emergency brake would only apply in "exceptional cases". Eurosceptics say it is ineffectual and could make the situation worse. Speaking in the European Parliament, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the plan was a "handbrake turn" by David Cameron. The prime minister has hailed a plan to allow the UK to limit the amount of tax credits paid to new EU migrants for up to four years as one of the key elements of a draft package of reforms to the UK's membership of the EU - the details of which he will set out to the UK Parliament later. He has said the emergency brake, which would take effect if it could be proven that high levels of migration were putting an extreme strain on the UK's benefits system, could be triggered almost immediately. But many Tory MPs have criticised the plan, saying it is a watered-down version of the total four-year ban the PM was hoping for and that new migrants would still receive "graduated" rates of in-work benefits over the four year period and the full amount after that. They are also unhappy that the brake would have to be approved by other EU nations and the UK could not apply it unilaterally. Defending the proposals and the rest of the draft deal in the European Parliament, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that the entire package - which must be approved by the EU as a whole, was "fair to the UK and fair to the other 27 EU states". On welfare, he said: "We propose to create a safeguard mechanism tailor-made to the concerns of the UK, that would allow it to restrict the excess of EU workers newly entering its Labour market to in-work benefits in a graduated manner for a period of up to four years. "The duration of the mechanism will be limited in time - that is a crucial characteristic of a safeguard mechanism, necessary to make it compatible with the (EU) treaties. It will apply in exceptional cases as all derogrations from the freedoms (of movement rules) should." Mr Juncker pointed out that the then Labour government had had the option to introduce transitional controls on migration when countries such as Poland and Hungary entered the EU in 2004 but, unlike Germany, decided against doing so. One of the most controversial decisions of Tony Blair's time in office, several former Labour ministers have since said it was a mistake and acknowledged the government hugely underestimated the number of people who would come to the UK. Mr Juncker said "as a result" of that decision "over the past decade, the UK attracted a record number of mobile EU citizens". He added. "In effect, we will enable the UK to use the safeguards mechanism to address the consequences of that decision." But UKIP leader Nigel Farage, also speaking in the

Summary: Limiting in-work benefits to new EU arrivals will help tackle the effects of record migration to the UK since 2004, the EC's president has said.


Two Jesse Sene-Lefao tries got the Tigers on the way after Leigh had one of three scores ruled out by the video referee, before Eden cut loose. All four of his tries were created by the potent left-side combination of Luke Gale and Michael Shenton. Jake Webster added a seventh Tigers try, their 101st league score of 2017. Since these two teams met on the opening weekend of the season, Daryl Powell's Castleford have proved to be the stand-out team in the division, and showed hallmarks of that quality to dispatch the Centurions - who have struggled since a bright start. Leigh were not disgraced by their performance and had plenty of ball but defence has been a major improvement for the Tigers, who have the best record in the division. Discipline did not help them, as Cas loanee Ben Crooks went to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle call and the Tigers scored in his absence. However, it is Castleford's attacking menace which has caught the eye most and they were at their best, through the influential England half-back Gale in particular. Sene-Lefao took his personal tally to six for the season but Eden is now just 14 tries behind last season's Super League record-breaking winger Denny Solomona with 14 games of the season left to play. Castleford coach Daryl Powell: "I thought we were superb in the second 20 minutes of the first half. We defended well all the way through but made too many errors when we got in attacking positions early on. "To nil a team is very difficult to do and we showed some last-ditch stuff there which shows the character in the team. We have done that twice now this season and they are big results for us. "I thought our attitude was outstanding, given we've just had the second ridiculous short turnaround this season. It's crazy how that has been put together. "The boys have put a lot of emphasis on defence this year and they were delighted to keep a clean sheet." Leigh: McNally; Dawson, Crooks, Fleming, Brown; Reynolds, Drinkwater; Acton, Hood, Burr, Paterson, Vea, Stewart. Replacements: Pelissier, Tickle, Maria, Hopkins. Castleford: Hardaker; Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden; Roberts, Gale,; Millington, McShane, Massey, Sene-Lefao, McMeeken, Milner. Replacements: Moors, Cook, T Holmes, Larroyer. Referee: Chris Kendall (RFL).

Summary: Greg Eden kept up his phenomenal scoring record for Super League leaders Castleford with a fourth hat-trick in a row to help beat Leigh.


The 19-year-old Sunderland Ladies striker has scored 66 goals is 68 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons, including 13 in 17 in this season's FA Women's Super League 2. Logically, Mead's next step is the top flight, and she could get there with the Black Cats, who need just five points to seal promotion this term. "I've spoken to some of the (FAWSL 1) managers but they know at the moment I'm doing well at Sunderland," she told BBC Newcastle. "Maybe at the end of the season I might get a few calls, but we will see where Sunderland end up. "You can tell the difference between us and the teams in the top league. They are training every day, with the likes of Jordan (Nobbs), Jill (Scott) and Steph Houghton going full-time, and it has helped them develop their careers a lot. "I would like to be in that position as well." Mead showcased her talents at the recent U20 World Cup in Canada, scoring a wonder goal that upped her profile and was widely shared on social media. "I didn't realise it would be as big as it was, but I'm glad about what it did for women's football and how it helped promote the game more," she explained. "It was mental, the response I got from the goal. "It just felt right when I went to hit it, and obviously I hit it well and it went in the top corner." With England honours at U15, U17, U19 and U20 level, Mead is now waiting for a senior call-up from national boss Mark Sampson. "Mark has shown that if you're on form he will pick you in any league - Fran Kirby (Reading striker) has just got in and she is in FAWSL 2. She's on fire at the moment," said Mead. "If he thinks you've got the talent and he thinks you can do a job in his team he'll pick you at any age." Like Rachel Yankey, Jordan Nobbs and Steph Houghton, the Whitby-born forward started her football career when her mother took her to a boys' Saturday morning training session. Aged 10, Mead went on to join the California Girls side, but continued to play along with the boys as well, and eventually came to the attention of the Middlesbrough Centre of Excellence. "I started out with a boys' team, and played for them until I wasn't allowed to anymore. Playing with the boys helped me develop a lot quicker. "I was scared of the girls more than the boys when it came down to it." Mead made her way through the age groups at Middlesbrough, and in 2010 she showed up on England's radar, earning England caps at both U15 and U17 level. "It was a bit surreal - at that age I'd never thought I would be playing at an international standard," she said. "I'd started playing well for the Centre of Excellence and obviously England scouts came to watch some games and I impressed them. "I went to a one-day camp and did really well,

Summary: Meet Beth Mead, one of the most prolific strikers in English domestic women's football over the last three years.


On Wednesday, shares of Chinese solar power manufacturer Hanergy Thin Film were suspended after falling 47%, wiping out $18.6bn (Â£11.9bn) from its market capitalisation. That was followed by shares of Goldin Financial, which fell 55% on Thursday. Both firms had seen the price of their shares surge over the past year. Shares of Goldin Financial, which is 70%-owned by Hong Kong billionaire Pan Sutong, have jumped by more than 400% between September 2014 and March this year, according to Reuters. The firm had said that it was not aware of the reason behind the big jump in its share price. About half of Goldin's value - $16.12bn - was erased on Thursday as shares fell. Meanwhile, Hanergy shares had risen five-fold since September before the sell-off began. The firm, controlled by Chinese billionaire Li Hejun, had issued a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday saying its shares had been halted from trade "pending the release of an announcement containing inside information". Li has been considered one of China's richest men on the back of his stake in Hanergy. Nicholas Teo, market analyst at trading firm CMC markets said he had noticed the dramatic drop in Hanergy's shares right away because it had everyone "scratching their heads". "The company was very quick to call a halt to the trading, but without any news, there is plenty of speculation and potentially room for further reaction to the downside if the trading suspension is lifted," he said. "Even after the drop though, Hanergy's shares are basically twice as expensive as some of the firms in that sector." David Kuo, chief executive of The Motley Fool Singapore backed the view that Hanergy shares were overvalued. "Hanergy is involved in the much-hyped solar-panel industry. Investors are paying $50 for every dollar of profit the company makes," he said. "When expectation overtakes reality, reality eventually wins. The market is experiencing a dose of reality." There has been speculation as to the reason why the Chinese company halted trading, with Reuters citing an unnamed source as saying the firm is under investigation by Hong Kong regulators. Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has declined to make a comment. Local reports also said that Li, chairman of the firm, did not attend the firm's annual general meeting in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Summary: Shares of two Hong Kong-listed companies have plunged by about 50% in the past two days, surprising market watchers across the region.


Martin Shkreli's drug company Turing Pharmaceuticals bought the rights to 62-year old drug Daraprim and increased the price per pill from $13.50 to $750. Turing said it will cut the price by 50% for hospitals and offer financial assistance to individuals. However, the company will keep its list price at the new higher level. In September Turing promised to reduce the price. The pill costs around $1 for patients in Europe. In statement Turing's chief commercial officer Nancy Retzlaff defended the company's move. She said that reducing the listing price would not have translated into saving for patients. "Drug pricing is one of the most complex parts of the healthcare industry. A drug's list price is not the primary factor in determining patient affordability and access," Ms Retzlaff said. Doctors though worry keeping the price so high will make it impossible for hospitals to stock the drug for the few patients who need it. "The decision not to lower the price leaves patients in the same boat," said Dr Joel Gallant, medical director of special service at Southwest Care centre. Though Turing is offering payment assistance for some patients, Dr Gallant said this could still leave patients waiting for treatment. "Patients start the drug in the hospital, but then they need to be discharged with the drug. While they wait for patient assistance to be approved they could be re-hospitalised," said Dr Gallant. The original increase sparked outrage on social media and among politicians. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called the increase "price gouging". Turing's chief executive Martin Shkreli- who had been labelled the most hated man in America-fought back saying politicians did not understand Pharmaceutical pricing. He later backed down and promised to lower the price of the drug, though never said by how much. Mr Shkreli told ABC news in September, "'We've agreed to lower the price of Daraprim to a point that is more affordable and is able to allow the company to make a profit, but a very small profit."

Summary: The company that sparked an outcry by raising the price of its HIV drug in the US by 5,000% says it will cut its price for some users.


A lady was knocked over during the theft in Market Street, Limavady, which happened at about 15:00 BST on Friday. She suffered non life-threatening injuries. Police have said the officers were nearby when the incident occurred and a 20-year-old man was detained. Supt John Magill commended the off-duty officers. "I feel that this is a perfect example of police officers continuing to keep people safe, whether they are on or off duty at the time."

Summary: Two off-duty police officers have arrested a man after a burglary at a shop in County Londonderry.


US universities are still the most dominant international force in the Times Higher Education rankings. In top place, as last year, is the California Institute of Technology. In the UK there are concerns that, outside Oxford, Cambridge and London colleges, many major universities are slipping down international rankings. The so-called "golden triangle" of UK universities - Oxford, Cambridge and leading London institutions - is seen as a breakaway elite group, with these universities consolidating their international reputations. Imperial College, University College London, LSE and King's College London are all in the top 40. London has more universities in this league table than all of Japan, although only Imperial College makes the top 10. Phil Baty, editor of the rankings, says this is part of a global pattern of clustering of "excellent universities". Boston in the US has eight universities in the top 200, more than entire countries such as China, Switzerland and Australia. 1. California Institute of Technology 2. Harvard University 2. University of Oxford 4. Stanford University 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 6. Princeton University 7. University of Cambridge 8. University of California, Berkeley 9. University of Chicago 10. Imperial College London 11. Yale University 12. University of California, Los Angeles 13. Columbia University 14. ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ZÃ¼rich 15. Johns Hopkins University 16. University of Pennsylvania 17. Duke University 18. University of Michigan 19. Cornell University 20. University of Toronto Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings But there are warnings from the rankings organisation that prominent UK regional universities are falling away. Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Sheffield, Warwick, Southampton, Nottingham and Newcastle are all seen as going downwards against international rivals. However the University of Leicester has risen sharply, which has been described as the "Richard III effect", after the high-profile research associated with the discovery of the body of the medieval king. This is described by the Times Higher Education rankings as showing that "power is draining from the UK regions". The top 20 still reflects the dominance of wealthy US university powerhouses, taking 15 of the top 20 places, with institutions such Harvard, MIT and Stanford in the leading pack behind the California Institute of Technology. The highest UK university is Oxford and the highest ranked continental European university is ETH Zurich in Switzerland, which is also the only non-English speaking university in the top 20. "No university can rest on its laurels. No-one is guaranteed to retain a top-200 place when the US, Far East and others are investing in research so heavily," said Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of Reading University, which has fallen from 176th to 194th place. "There are some dramatic year-on-year rises and falls this year, so we should be careful not to read too much into a single set of figures." "It is no surprise that a small number of UK universities at the very top end will remain more stable, with others more likely to fluctuate." Sir Christopher Snowden, president of Universities UK, said the rankings showed that the UK had "the second-strongest university system in the

Summary: London has four universities in the top 40 of a global league table - more than any other individual city - although only one makes the top 10.


The 25-year old striker is at Euro 2016 with Belgium but has fallen out of favour at Liverpool since boss Jurgen Klopp took over last October. The forward joined the Reds for £32.5m in July 2015 under former boss Brendan Rodgers and has scored 10 goals. He has started only eight league games under Klopp and last month said: "I'd like to stay if I remain in the coach's plans. If not, it'll become difficult." Palace, who completed the signings of England winger Andros Townsend from Newcastle and France international goalkeeper Steve Mandanda from Marseille on Friday, were also reportedly interested in Benteke's Belgium team-mate Michy Batshuayi. But the 22-year-old forward has been linked with a £33m move to Chelsea.

Summary: Crystal Palace have made a £25m bid to sign Christian Benteke from Liverpool.


Prince William's last shift was thought to have been on Tuesday. It has been reported he could return to his regiment in London, the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, which would allow him to carry out more royal engagements in support of The Queen. The duke has said the island has been a "special place" for him. His final shift brought to an end a three-year posting on Anglesey. In a speech at Anglesey Show in August, the duke thanked the island's people for being so welcoming to him and his wife. "I know that I speak for Catherine when I say that I have never in my life known somewhere as beautiful and as welcoming as Anglesey," said the duke. "I know that both of us will miss it terribly when my search and rescue tour of duty comes to an end next month and we have to move elsewhere. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making my wife and me so welcome when we arrived here, as you do thousands of visitors each year." He said the island had been their first home together and would always be an "immensely special place for us both". "Catherine and I look forward to returning again and again over the coming years with our family," he added. The duke graduated as a search and rescue pilot in September 2010, having started his training at Valley the previous January. He carried out his first rescue in October 2010 during his first full operational shift. The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt tweeted that Prince William's last shift at RAF Valley was on Tuesday. He also tweeted that it was not yet in the public domain what the duke was going to do next.

Summary: The Duke of Cambridge has completed his final shift as an RAF search and rescue pilot at Valley on Anglesey, according to BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt.


Revised figures showed that Japan's economy expanded by 1% in the first three months from the previous three, up from an initial estimate of 0.6%. It also grew 3.9% on an annualised basis, compared with a preliminary reading of 2.4%, and was much higher than forecasts of 2.7% growth. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended flat at 20,457.19 points. Shares were also lower despite a positive US jobs report on Friday helping push down the yen against the dollar, which is good for Japanese exporters as it makes them more competitive overseas and increases profits when repatriated. The dollar was at 125.47 yen against 124.45 yen in Tokyo on Friday. It had briefly hit a 13-year high of 125.86 yen on Friday. Chinese shares were up despite trade data showing that exports fell for the third month in May, while imports declined for a seventh month. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed up 0.21% at 27,316.28 points, while the Shanghai Composite finished the day up 2.17% at 5,131.88 points - its highest point since early 2008 and leading the region's gains. Mainland shares of CRRC were up 10% after a month-long trading halt, as investors piled into the Chinese train maker that is now the world's largest in terms of market value following its merger. CSR and China CNR, which had been the country's two largest train makers, announced last week that they had completed their government-driven merger through a share swap, which saw CNR absorbed into CSR and delisted. In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed down 0.1% to 2,065.19 after falling to a near two-month low of 2,056.50 early in the session. The government is trying to contain an outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) after the health ministry reported 23 new infections on Monday, bringing the total to 87. Six people have died from the disease in South Korea, which now has the second highest number of infections in the world, after Saudi Arabia. Markets in Australia are closed for a public holiday.

Summary: Positive economic growth data out of Japan failed to drive shares higher in the world's third-largest economy.


The claim: Boris Johnson says the European Union will only allow bananas to be sold in bunches of two or three. Reality Check verdict: There is no such rule - we popped out and bought a bunch of five without difficulty. A member of the tireless Reality Check team nipped off to a local shop to check this claim. It was touch-and-go for a bit, as the self checkout said there was a problem with buying five bananas, but it turned out not to be a problem with EU regulations, and eventually the transaction was allowed. We've been in touch with Vote Leave, who pointed us towards this directive from 2011. It goes into considerable detail about how unripe bananas should be presented by wholesalers, but nowhere does it say that you are not allowed to sell bunches with more than two or three bananas in them. If you are a wholesaler, you are not allowed to pack bananas in bunches of two or three - they have to either be single bananas or bunches of four or more. But that doesn't affect retailers, who can sell bunches of any size they like. Read more: The facts behind claims in the EU debate

Summary: Addressing a crowd in Stafford, Boris Johnson said: "It is absurd we are told that you cannot sell bananas in bunches of more than two or three bananas."


Japan's benchmark Nikkei index spent most of the day in negative territory to close down 0.19% at 18,264.22. After surging almost 8% on Wednesday, the Tokyo index closed down 2.5% on Thursday - among Asia's big losers. Investor concern over whether or not the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week has set in. Investor sentiment has also been affected by the slowing Chinese economy, which is the world's second-biggest after the United States. Japan's investors seem to shrug off news that Japan Post is seeking to raise as much as 1.39tn yen ($11.5bn, Â£7.4bn) in a stock market listing - including its banking and insurance arms - that would be one of the world's biggest this year. The plan for the state-owned giant would be one of Japan's largest public share sales in more than 30 years. Chinese shares traded mixed with the Shanghai Composite closing down 0.1% to 3,200.45, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended down 0.3% to 21,504.37. Fresh measures from regulators to ease the volatility in the market may be working as both benchmark indexes did not move dramatically this week. In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.47% at 5,071.10 points despite gains on Wall Street overnight. Analysts said investors there were also concerned about a possible rise in US interest rates. After being the one bright spot in Asia yesterday, South Korea's benchmark Kospi closed down 1.06% at 1,941.37. The Bank of Korea left its benchmark rate unchanged at 1.5% on Friday.

Summary: Asia's markets were mostly down in trade on Friday following a rocky week featuring particularly volatile swings in Tokyo.


Dorothy Cruickshank was one of six people taken to hospital after the two-car collision on the A90 at the Toll of Birness junction on 5 April. The 66-year-old, from Hatton, was a passenger in a Volkswagen Passat which was in collision with a Peugeot 207. A statement from her family said: "We'll be lost without her." It added: "Dorothy always had a smile on face. She was a proud mum of three daughters and a devoted nanna. "We are completely broken and devastated by the loss of our kind, caring, adorable and loving mum who was also an amazing wife and the best nanna in the world. "We'll be lost without her and no words can express how much pain we are feeling. "We would like to express our sincere thanks to the emergency services and the staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Accident and Emergency, Intensive Care and High Dependency Units for all their care and support." The other casualties from the crash were the 70-year-old driver of the Volkswagen and four 18-year-olds in the Peugeot who all suffered serious injuries. Police Scotland have said a report on the crash will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

Summary: The family of a woman who died 10 days after a car crash in Aberdeenshire have described her as "a proud mum and a devoted nanna".


In front of a home crowd in Birmingham, 27-year-old Yafai won 118-108, 119-107 and 119-107 on the judges' scorecards. Yafai knocked down the 31-year-old Japanese in the second round, but was caught several times himself on the way to recording his 22nd unbeaten fight. "I had to box my way through. My hands were in a bad way after two rounds but I did what I had to to win," he said. "I'm a work in progress, I have to learn how to slow the pace down a bit." Yafai landed a barrage of punches in the first round, and a slick combination rocked Muranaka in the second, causing him to touch down on to the canvas with a knee. But Muranaka recovered, walking through Yafai's punches and landing with left and right hooks of his own. The home fighter took back control in the later rounds and, despite being docked a point for a low blow, Yafai ran out a comfortable winner. Promoter Eddie Hearn is looking ahead to big things for his fighter after "a great performance". "One more defence and he has to chase the big unification fights," Hearn said. Yafai's victory made it a double success for his family, with younger brother Gamal victorious on the undercard. The younger Yafai was impressive in a seventh-round stoppage of the previously undefeated Sean Davis - a fellow Birmingham super-bantamweight. The 25-year-old worked the head and body superbly, dropping his opponent six times on his way to claiming the WBC International super-bantamweight title. Birmingham's Sam Eggington won the European welterweight title with an emphatic ninth-round win over Spain's Ceferino Rodriguez.

Summary: Britain's Kal Yafai retained his WBA super-flyweight title with a points win over a game Suguru Muranaka.


Adrian Evans, 44, from Tipton, died along with his father, Patrick Evans, 78, and nephew Joel Richards, 19, from Wednesbury. All three men were Walsall FC fans. At least 30 Britons were among 38 people killed when a student linked to Islamic State extremists opened fire on a beach in Sousse on Friday. Adrian Evans worked for Sandwell Council as a manager in the gas services department. His nephew, Walsall season-ticket holder Joel, was a football referee and student at the University of Worcester. His brother, Owen Richards, 16, survived the attack. Prime Minister David Cameron has led tributes in Parliament to the family. "It is absolutely heartbreaking," he said. "All of us have read about it in the newspapers and I know how the family and the community will be affected for many years to come." A GoFundMe page set-up to support the family has raised more than Â£3,300. Sandwell Council is inviting people to pay their respects in two books of condolence. One is in the Sandwell Homes office where Adrian worked, in Roway Lane in Oldbury, and the other in the foyer at the council house in Freeth Street, Oldbury. Colleague Mark Peniket said his death was a "real, real shock". "Adrian will be a great loss both personally and in his working life," he said. "He was such a popular person." A statement from St Mary's Primary School in Wednesbury, where Joel was a former pupil and returned as a volunteer, said he was a fantastic role model, "bright, enthusiastic, aspirational and always smiling". "Joel was an intelligent, radiant and compassionate young man who had the world at his feet and everything to live for," the statement said. "The staff at St Mary's are heartbroken at the tragic loss of his life and the lives of his uncle and grandfather. "We would like to offer our prayers and sympathy to his parents, grandmother and brother Owen who survived the attack. "There are no words that could possibly do justice to this wonderful young man. We were proud to have known him." Professor David Green, vice chancellor of the University of Worcester, described Joel as a "first class student" and was "the son everybody would want to have". Walsall FC changed the main image on its social media accounts to a photograph showing the three outside Wembley Stadium at the Saddlers' Johnstone's Paint Trophy final appearance three months ago. In a statement the club said it would do everything it could to support the family. "It is at times like this when the football family really comes together and we have been overwhelmed by the messages of condolence that we have received from all around the world," it said. "That iconic image of the three men, along with Owen, enjoying our first-ever appearance at Wembley Stadium in March resonates with us all. "It was a special moment that we all enjoyed together and now at this most devastating of times, we join together to offer strength and support."

Summary: Scarves have been laid at Walsall FC's ground in memory of three people from the Black Country who died in the Tunisian beach attack.


Lancaster left the role on Wednesday after England's World Cup failure. Gatland's Wales beat England at Twickenham to help the hosts' demise and he has been linked with a move. New Zealander Gatland is contracted to Wales until 2019 and Thomas believes "he'll see his time out with Wales and probably go back to New Zealand". Gatland has said he intends to step down from the Wales role after the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Thomas also believes Gatland will have "one eye on coaching New Zealand after a successful run with Wales and with the British and Irish Lions". However, former Lion Thomas says he understands why the English Rugby Football Union might want to have Gatland in charge - even if Wales' record against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has not matched their Six Nations efforts under him. "I'm sure England would want to make a move for someone like him after seeing what he's done for Wales," said Gatland. "Since he's been in charge, Wales have been an amazingly successful - unfortunately not against the mights of the southern hemisphere as much as he would like. "But we are such a force now in world rugby and are feared and respected, and that's due to the players, yes, but also due to him and the structure he's given the players. "So I'm sure they'd want him and if anybody could afford him, the RFU, I'm sure, could." South Africa's 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White "is interested" in the England job.

Summary: Former Wales captain Gareth Thomas doubts head coach Warren Gatland could be tempted to succeed Stuart Lancaster as England boss.


The adult comedy, starring Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell, took £1.47m in its first week, falling just behind the animated Pixar film. Finding Dory took another £1.51m, bringing its total UK takings so far to £35.8m. Suicide Squad dropped one place to third, with takings of £1.27m, followed by new entry War Dogs. The comedy drama, starring Jonah Hill and Miles Teller, is based on the true story of two men in their 20s who won a contract to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. The top 10 also saw a new entry for horror film The Purge: Election Year, which took £807,803 in its first week. Mechanic: Resurrection, a thriller starring Jason Statham, debuted at number 10, with a total of £508,715. Jason Bourne is in the charts for a sixth week, taking £732,632 and the number six spot this week, with The BFG following in seventh place with £658,840. Lights Out - another horror film - took £558,167 in its second week of release and is in eighth place, with David Brent: Life on the Road at number nine with £508,762. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Finding Dory has clung on to the top spot in the UK box office - despite the threat from nearest rival Bad Moms.


Bedene, 26, battled past Spain's Carreno Busta, ranked 23 places higher at 43rd in the world, in five sets, winning 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 4-6 5-7 6-2. It was an impressive show of resolve from the Slovenia-born player, who surrendered a two-set advantage. However, he recovered his poise, ending the match with 23 aces. Compatriot Andy Murray reached the third round with victory over Mathias Bourgue on Wednesday. "The last few months haven't been the best and I have been struggling but I'm really proud of what I have achieved so far," said Bedene. "It meant a lot to win. "I have only played one fifth set before - in Wimbledon last year, and I won it - and it wasn't easy after being two love up but it shows I am fit enough and I am really proud." Hindered by a thigh injury, Busta struggled to cover the court in the final stages, but Bedene's performance was full of grit and determination as he showed he could mix it with a European clay-court specialist. Djokovic is yet to drop a set at the tournament after easing aside Belgium's Steve Darcis 7-5 6-3 6-4 to advance. Bedene lost his only previous meeting with the Serb, succumbing in straight sets at the 2015 Australian Open. However, the Welwyn Garden City-based right-hander has risen from world number 116 to 66th in the world since then. BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller "This was an excellent victory by Bedene because he was up against a fine clay-court player and because he admits his confidence is fragile after winning only two main-draw matches in five tournaments before Roland Garros. "His 23 aces were the bedrock of victory, along with his ability to draw Busta away from his comfort zone behind the baseline by using the drop shot." Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Britain's Aljaz Bedene will play world number one Novak Djokovic after beating Pablo Carreno Busta to reach the French Open third round for the first time.


Sat on the floor leaning against each wall, they don't say much. Instead, they wail, wipe their tears and hug each other to share the pain. Ayse Aygun's 18 year-old son Salih had gone across the border to Syria, to join the Kurdish YPG militants and fight against the Islamic State group (IS). He was killed two weeks ago in a clash at the town of Sirrin. Ayse's family and friends try to be there for her in these difficult times. It is more than losing a child for Ayse. The Turkish authorities will not allow her son's body back into the country to be buried. "My son wasn't fighting the Turkish army" she says. "He was fighting the IS. IS beheaded people. They killed the elderly. Why aren't they allowing my son back? This is an insult." More than 4,000 people from Turkey, predominantly Kurds, have gone to fight against the IS since the assault on Kobani started late last year. Up until recently, those killed were allowed back for their funerals. Over 200 YPG fighters have been buried in Turkey so far. But now the bodies of 23 fighters have been stopped at the border. Salih's aunt Islim says they spoke to the local governor to help them bring his body into Turkey. "He told us it was beyond him. He said there was a cabinet decree. He told us there was nothing he could do" she says. "But we want our brother to be buried in our land. We could go visit his grave, say a prayer. He should be near us." Families suspect, all this is part of a measure to keep the border town of Suruc calm. Here, an attack by the group calling themselves Islamic State killed 32 people last month. The culture centre where the bomb went off still bears the scars of the attack. Pictures of the dead young activists, along with various toys for kids they intended to take to Kobane are laid out in the garden - at the exact spot where the attack took place. But on the streets of Suruc life is back to normal. There are security forces present of course, but that has been part of daily life for some time, given the proximity to the Syrian border. What happened in this predominantly Kurdish town across the border from Kobane changed Turkey and the security landscape dramatically. After the attack, the Turkish government launched what it called "a synchronised war on terror" on several fronts. Operations against IS were followed by a crackdown on the Kurdish militant group PKK and other radical leftist groups. The level of threat in the country has increased to extent not seen in recent years. Early this week the most violent attacks since the crackdown took place, in retaliation for the increasing military operations against the PKK. As the once solid ceasefire is in tatters, many fear peace is now something of the past and there's more trouble ahead. Ayse had 11 sons. One is now dead in Syria. Another is a soldier

Summary: A room is full of women looking like they have cried for hours, if not for days.


In a Scrubbing Up column for the BBC News, Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, says the hundreds of millions of pounds it will cost could be better spent elsewhere. He said other areas for investment include improving out-of-hospital services and tackling sepsis. But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC doctors agreed with him. His claims come despite criticism from the British Medical Association, which has argued he has not given enough detail about the plans or explained how it will be funded. The BMA has been given until next Friday to agree to discuss the plans with the government. Plans for a seven-day NHS have provoked a bitter row between the government and doctors' representatives. Ministers argue thousands of people die every year because there is not the same level of service at weekends as during the week. The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, says the government has failed to set out what its policy means in practice, and what it will cost. It points out that many doctors already work at weekends. In an exclusive interview and article for the BBC's "Scrubbing Up" column, the Nuffield Trusts's chief executive, Nigel Edwards, says a seven-day NHS is a good aspiration. But he argues the health service is in a world of "tough trade-offs", with many hospitals only managing to meet their current commitments by running up deficits. He concludes the policy is likely to cost hundreds of millions of pounds, and suggests - in the current climate - there are better ways of spending the money. In his column, he says: "NHS policy is largely made by middle-aged, middle-class men and women who commute long distances into London and Leeds." Mr Edwards added: "I think one compelling priority would be to try and shorten the time that patients stay in hospital. "A seven-day-service helps a little with that but actually this is more about investing in community services and getting the decision-processes in hospitals a lot slicker. And we could do that, probably, more easily". He says there may also be benefits from focusing on individual conditions. "Another area would be sepsis, which has a very large toll of mortality, probably much more significant than seems to be associated with seven-day working. "Putting in some measures to spot that early and to intervene in a more effective way would have a big effect on people." Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has defended the push for a seven-day NHS. He acknowledged there may be "upfront costs" of hundreds of millions of pounds, but he told the BBC there may also be similar levels of savings because of improved discharge from hospital. He also argued the government was investing in other areas such as the new meningitis B vaccine, new cancer drugs and dementia. And he insisted there was strong support in the health service for the seven-day plan. "For doctors who are totally passionate that the NHS should offer the best and safest care anywhere in the world, the knowledge that thousands of people die every year because we

Summary: Ministers insist there is strong support for their seven-day NHS plans as experts challenge the policy.


7 February 2017 Last updated at 07:41 GMT Nikki is also a vlogger and spends a lot of time on the internet. So for Safer Internet Day, we thought it was a great opportunity to speak to her about how she stays safe online and deals with "haters" who say nasty things. Check out her interview with Ricky to see what she had to say...

Summary: You may recognise Nikki from CBBC's Junior Bake Off, which she won last year.


Paul McMullen got them underway when he finished a Billy King cross, and shortly after it was 2-0 when King scored with a long-range shot. Mark Durnan volleyed in a third to give the visitors a commanding half-time lead against the Highland League side. The result was marred with United striker James Keatings carried off. The result at Victoria Park gives Ray McKinnon's men six points out of six following the 2-0 win on Saturday over Raith Rovers.

Summary: Three first-half goals moved Dundee United three points clear at the top of Scottish League Cup Group C as they eased past Buckie Thistle.


England will play their first day-night Test when they host West Indies at Edgbaston in August. Yorkshire say they were asked by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) about their willingness to move one of the Championship games at Headingley and would be interested in doing so. The club's chief executive Mark Arthur called it a "great opportunity". He said: "Until the fixture programme is published, we don't know when it will be or who the opposition is likely to be. But because we have got the best lights in the country for cricket purposes, then it's likely that we would be one of the selected grounds to host such an event. "Hopefully when the fixture list comes out, it's something that all members and stakeholders will save a date for in their diary. "Whether you're a club cricketer or a member who works 9-5 you'll be able to come along and watch two or three hours of Championship cricket after work and it will be very interesting to see what the uptake is on this initiative." The start of the second ever day-night Test match between Pakistan and West Indies earlier in October drew a crowd of just 68 in Dubai.

Summary: Yorkshire have said they would be interested in hosting a day-night game in the County Championship in 2017.


Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce said Australia had agreed to health protocols that would be finalised by his Chinese counterpart. This comes after Indonesia slashed live cattle imports from Australia. Mr Joyce said the trade in live cattle between Australia and China could be worth up to $A2bn ($1.5bn, Â£950m) each year. Now that Australia had agreed on the health conditions, farmers could prepare to export cattle once China made the deal official, Mr Joyce said in a statement. "I was very pleased today to sign the agreement of health conditions for trade of Australian feeder and slaughter cattle to Chinaâ€”now it's over to my counterpart, Minister Zhi Shuping, to sign on the dotted line and finalise the agreement between our two nations," Mr Joyce said. "Over the past five years we've had a significant trade in breeder cattle with China, primarily for dairy heifers. "Now, I'm pleased to announce we are a step closer to the commencement in trade in live slaughter and feeder cattle to China," he said. Feeder cattle are those mature enough to be fattened in a feed lot before slaughter. Earlier this month, Australian cattle producers were told Indonesia would only allow 50,000 head of cattle to be imported into the country between July and September, compared with an expected 200,000 permits for that quarter. The Australian Livestock Exporters Council said that decision was both a surprise and a disappointment. The Council's chief executive, Alison Penfold, said the deal with China was a "major breakthrough". "Australia will be the first country to export feeder and slaughter cattle to China," Ms Penfold said in a statement. In recent years, the live cattle industry has been rocked by a series of scandals about poor treatment of the animals in some of the countries Australia exports to.

Summary: Australia is a step closer to exporting live cattle to China, opening a new market for its farmers.


Adriano Guedes, 63, who was paralysed by a stroke in 2008, was admitted to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, in 2014. He was evicted two weeks ago after the hospital obtained a court order and is now in a council flat in Suffolk. It was granted as Mr Guedes repeatedly turned down offers of care and housing. In a statement, Suffolk County Council - which is responsible for his care since he left hospital - said it had worked "extensively" with the patient, along with other agencies. "We explored all options available, but they were declined by him," it said. "We will continue to work with our partners and Mr Guedes to ensure he continues to receive appropriate levels of care and support." On Tuesday, Mr Guedes told the BBC the hospital had "forced" him to to stay. He said: "It's very bad to occupy a place which should be used by someone in need, but I didn't cause the situation. On the contrary - I tried to get out of there. "I wanted to leave but they always offered what they knew I would refuse." Mr Guedes said he had been admitted to hospital on mental health grounds. He said he has been on a hunger strike since he left on 10 January. It is understood he is visited by carers four times a day in his new home.

Summary: A patient evicted from hospital after spending more than two years in a bed "declined" all options offered, a council has said.


The 'greatest female tennis player of the Open era' won her 23rd Grand Slam without dropping a set. But when you learn she did it while in the early stages of pregnancy, the feat becomes exceptional. So how is it possible to win a Grand Slam while pregnant? Dr Markos Klonizakis, a senior research fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, says the triumph at that stage of pregnancy is "amazing". "It is not easy for any woman to adapt to changes in her body, let alone while playing sport at an elite level," he said. "Physiologically, the main challenge women face within about five weeks of pregnancy is in adapting to changes to the cardiovascular system. "These are rapid and ensure blood and oxygen supply to the foetus. "Many women feel they cannot breathe as easily as their heart rate increases. "The nature of a Grand Slam tournament, where players have to recover to play consecutive matches, would have been a challenge for her, if you take into account nausea as well." Professor Janice Rymer, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, added: "For elite athletes, a tailored training and nutrition plan would normally be developed with a specialist team. "High levels of exercise at around eight weeks gestation should not affect pregnancy for these athletes and those used to high levels of exercise. "During the first few weeks of pregnancy these hormones may actually boost physical performance as a woman's natural production of steroids will increase slightly." Williams is not the first elite athlete to compete while pregnant. British Olympic cycling champion Laura Kenny told BBC Radio 5 live: "I was still competing when I first found out I was pregnant. I actually won the madison nationals with Elinor Barker when I was about five or six weeks pregnant, but any time after that I just feel like it is so intense that I wouldn't have been able to [compete]." Nigerian table-tennis player Olufunke Oshonaike who appeared at her sixth Olympic Games in Rio - only the second African women to do so - carried on playing when she was seven months pregnant, despite her "big belly". Media playback is not supported on this device Only last week, American swimmer Dana Vollmer competed in an elite 50m freestyle race while six months pregnant. "As hard as people think this is, the race is only 30 seconds long as opposed to the entire day I spend holding and chasing around a 35-pound two-year-old," she said. "This will feel like a break." After winning gold in the 100m butterfly in the 2012 London Olympics, Vollmer took time off to have her first child, son Arlen, and returned in time to qualify for Rio. But this time around, she has made the decision to continue training. Baby number two, another boy, is due in July. This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser "Putting the health of the baby first doesn't just mean sitting on the couch," the 29-year-old said. In June 2014,

Summary: With or without the benefit of hindsight, Serena Williams' victory at the Australian Open in January was sublime.


Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the statue of General Buller in Exeter at 23:40 BST on Saturday. The 18-year-old, from the Exeter area, was climbing on the 15ft (4.5m) statue - a well known landmark which depicts General Redvers Buller on horseback, mounted on a large granite plinth - when he fell. He suffered serious neck and back injuries and died in hospital. More on statue fall and other Devon stories

Summary: A man has died after falling from a city centre statue late at night.