A group chaired by Paralympic multi-gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson says it would be the first country in the world to take that step. It would mean more time for sport, but unions worry too many core curriculum subjects could dilute their importance. The Welsh government said it would consider the recommendation. Education Minister Leighton Andrews said he wanted to look into how schools can increase levels of physical activity in children and young people. By Arwyn JonesBBC Wales education correspondent Although the need for more exercise is clear enough, it isn't just a simple matter of adding PE as a core subject. Pupils in Wales already have as core subjects Welsh, English, maths and sciences. They are the areas the government has decided should have most time and resources allocated to them. And teaching unions fear the more you add to that core, the less of a priority they each become. More than one-third are either overweight or obese, costing the Welsh NHS more than £70m a year. The current core subjects in schools in Wales are English, Welsh (as a first language), mathematics, and science, while physical education is a foundation subject. Having PE elevated to a core part of the curriculum would mean more time devoted to it, as well as extra resources and more training for teachers. Schools would also need to give greater priority to provision for PE. As a result: • Teachers would be required to be competent to deliver the subject on completion of their initial teacher training. • Well qualified, specialist teachers would be needed to work with schools to ensure high-quality provision. • Standards and provision in physical education would be rigorously reviewed in school, both by the educational consortia and by schools inspectorate Estyn. • Progress would be regularly measured. The move to give PE more status in schools would be a bold move but an important one, according to the group. In its report, the group, which also included the chair of Sports Wales Laura McAllister, said: "Given the Welsh government's commitment to making physical literacy as important a development skill as reading and writing, the group felt that changing the status of physical education is the only credible and secure way of ensuring this." But while teaching unions support the idea, they are worried that too many subjects on the core curriculum could dilute their importance. Dr Philip Dixon, director of ATL Cymru, said it was important to decide on "what small core we want". "We certainly want literacy and numeracy in there," he said. "We may well want physical education in there too, that's for the government to decide. "But the core has to be kept very small or else we'll see a core which isn't a core and that's just ridiculous." Owen Hathway, Wales policy officer at the NUT, also warned that schools already had a heavy curriculum in Wales. "We are constantly being told that literacy and numeracy is a priority, " he said. "Science is being pushed as a priority with its importance to future PISA

Summary: PE should be given the same status as maths, English, science and Welsh in schools to help tackle obesity in Wales, experts have recommended.


It replicates the repeating lattice of sodium and chloride ions found in a crystal of salt (NaCl). Standing more than 3m tall, the model was built by Dr Robert Krickl from nearly 40,000 balls and 10km of sticks. The world record attempt will be adjudicated by the Guinness Book of Records on 23 November. It will be on public display until 30 November, and has already been commemorated on an Austrian postage stamp. "I want to show - to visualise - how our world looks when it's magnified about a billion times," Dr Krickl, a crystallographer turned science communicator, told Science in Action on the BBC World Service. Because of the regular pattern it is built up from, which causes hundreds of the "ions" to form precise lines from multiple angles, the huge model has a rather dazzling appearance. It also has particular significance this week, Dr Krickl said. "This week it's the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for discovering what I show with this model: the arrangement of atoms in crystals." The British father-and-son team of William and Lawrence Bragg won the physics Nobel in 1915 for originating the technique that is now known as X-ray crystallography. "This discovery really had a major impact on science and our understanding of the world," Dr Krickl said. "It led to the determination of the structure of DNA, of viruses, of proteins - and on the other hand, of materials used in our daily lives, for technology to build faster, better lighter machines." To mark this anniversary, on Thursday he welcomed representatives from the British Council and the British Embassy to view the nearly completed structure.

Summary: The world's biggest crystal structure model - a 3D chemical illustration made from little balls and sticks - is being assembled in Vienna's city hall.


Mullah Mansour was named as the new leader on Thursday, after the death of former head Mullah Omar was confirmed. But a Taliban spokesman told the BBC he had not been appointed "by all Taliban", going against Sharia law. The audio message said fighters should unite as "division in our ranks will only please our enemies". It also said that the Taliban would "continue our jihad until we bring an Islamic rule in the country". The 30-minute recording - in which a crying baby is heard at some points - was released to journalists by Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid on Saturday. The first public message from the Afghan Taliban's new leader, Mullah Mansour, indicates that his way of doing things will be different from that of his reclusive predecessor, Mullah Omar, who relied on issuing written statements. The recording is of a speech that he made to a gathering of apparently dozens of his supporters, after his appointment on Thursday. Faced with opposition to his selection from several high-ranking Taliban, the new leader is now focused on consolidating his power and establishing his authority. The speech repeatedly calls for unity and is primarily aimed at calming dissent. Mullah Mansour says that his new role is not a "kingship" but a huge responsibility. He is also trying to present himself as a tolerant, forgiving and conciliatory person whose decisions will be "based on Islamic Sharia". There doesn't seem to be a major policy shift from the past. In his speech, he sounds relaxed and doesn't seem to be reading from notes. Taliban leaders 'not consulted' Some Taliban figures have accused pro-Pakistani circles of imposing Mullah Mansour, who is known for his support for peace talks, on them. But in the audio message, Mullah Mansour dismissed peace talks as "propaganda campaigns by the enemy". At least one Taliban faction would have preferred Mullah Omar to be succeeded by his son. Another Taliban spokesman, Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi, said those who elected Mullah Mansour had not followed the rules. "According to Islamic rule and principles, when a leader dies, a Shura (council) is called, then its leader is appointed," he added.

Summary: The new leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, has called for unity in an audio message, saying that the group will continue fighting.


The 54-year-old has spent seven years overseeing the Premier League side's youth set-up, and has a full Uefa coaching A licence. "The time was right for me to look for a fresh challenge and I am joining one of the world's truly great football clubs," Allen said. "Steeped in history and tradition, I am honoured to join Rangers." Allen, who begins his new role next month, started his career as a youth player with Swindon Town before moving to San Diego to take up a football scholarship and business and accounting degree. After returning to the UK, he attained the position of managing director of MTV's broadcast division in London during a 13-year spell with the global music corporation. Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson added: "We are delighted Mark has agreed to move to Glasgow and become our new director of football. "He is a man of vision who has achieved great success with Manchester City's Academy. He has excellent contacts in football but also the business world and he will be a great asset to Rangers. "We said we would not rush into an appointment as we wanted the right candidate and we feel Mark is the best man for the job. We look forward to working with him closely in the years ahead in what will be an important role at the club." Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristan said: "Mark has made a significant impact at Manchester City over the years, and he leaves us with our best wishes for the future."

Summary: Rangers have named Manchester City academy director Mark Allen as the club's director of football.


That was half a million fewer than the audience for the launch of the previous series in January this year. Yet the ratings were up on the launch of last summer's show, which debuted in August 2015 with a 2.2 million average. Christopher Biggins, former glamour model Sam Fox and ex-EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood are among the latest edition's 15 celebrity housemates. Others include reality show personalities Saira Khan, Marnie Simpson and Katie Waissel, from The Apprentice, Geordie Shore and The X Factor respectively. Celebrity Big Brother was beaten in its 21:00 BST timeslot on Thursday by both Hugh's War on Waste on BBC One and The Investigator: A British Crime Story on ITV. The former attracted an average audience of 3.6 million, while the latter drew an average viewership of 2.5 million. Celebrity Big Brother's peak audience came around the 22:00 mark, when 2.5 million viewers were watching the show. The ratings are only provisional overnight figures - final numbers including viewers who recorded programmes and watched them later will be released in seven days. All figures mentioned include +1 timeshift viewing. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: The launch of Channel 5's latest series of Celebrity Big Brother was watched by an average 2.3 million viewers.


It will be used to stage competitive cycle sports as well as recreational events, coaching and training. The Welsh Government has agreed to sign over some land near the entrance to Pembrey Country Park, meaning work can start shortly. Welsh Cycling welcomed the announcement. Chief executive Anne Adams-King said: "The development of cycling facilities in Wales is a priority for Welsh Cycling as they provide opportunities for all to cycle encouraging physical activity and progression through sport to elite performance." It is expected to make more than £25,000 a year from entrance fees and caravan and camping stays.

Summary: Work will begin on a £500,000 purpose-built cycling circuit in Carmarthenshire after a funding boost from the council.


Provisional data from the Department for Transport (DfT) showed the 3% rise came alongside a 2.2% increase in traffic in the 12 months to September. AA president Edmund King said the death toll was the "equivalent of three plane crashes" and called for more action. Separate DfT figures suggest about 240 deaths in 2014 involved drivers over the legal alcohol limit. Officials said the rise in deaths in the year ending September 2015 was not "statistically significant" - meaning the increase was "probably to do with a combination of factors that have come about by chance, rather than any specific change". Steve Gooding, director of automotive research charity the RAC Foundation, said: "Forty-nine more people dying on the roads might not be statistically significant, but try telling that to their family and friends. "It is true that traffic is on the rise again and that might partly explain why the downward trend in road deaths has plateaued in recent years. "But the pressing question is: what do we now do to get back on track?" Neil Greig, the Institute of Advanced Motorists' director of policy and research, said that although drink-drive deaths were "flatlining", the numbers were still "unacceptable". He called for the drink-drive limit elsewhere in Britain to be lowered to be in line with Scotland. In 2014, the Scottish government reduced the limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg. The DfT said the new estimated figure of 240 road deaths involving people over the legal alcohol limit in 2014 meant the level was unchanged from 2013. Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: "Britain continues to have some of the safest roads in the world but we cannot be complacent on road safety and are determined to do more. "We launched our road safety plan last year which includes plans for tougher penalties for people using mobile phones while driving, extra money to crack down on drug-drivers and funding to train the next generation of cyclists."

Summary: Some 1,780 people died on Britain's roads last year - 49 more than the previous year, new figures suggest.


Belmont, a Grade II* listed building in Lyme Regis, has been restored following eight years of research and two years of restoration work by the Landmark Trust charity. It was owned in the 18th Century by Eleanor Coade, who built up a successful artificial stone business. The building will open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Dr Anna Keay, director of the Landmark Trust, said the rejuvenated building was "a fitting monument to the genius of Eleanor Coade". She added: "Visitors will now be able to stay in her Georgian architectural gem and in so doing experience the beauty and peace that inspired one of our greatest modern writers, John Fowles." Belmont was Fowles's home for almost four decades from 1968, and it was where he completed his classic novel The French Lieutenant's Woman. The Landmark Trust's craftspeople have recreated any damaged or missing items at their studio in the Cotswolds, such as fireplaces, architraves, shutters and skirting boards. Coade stone was a ceramic, synthetic stone that was first produced during the 18th Century. Like the trust's other 195 buildings, Belmont will be let out for short breaks.

Summary: A Georgian seaside villa in Dorset, where author John Fowles lived, will open its doors after a £1.8m revamp.


Mancini said a fully-fit Tevez could wear the sky blue shirt again, despite previously asserting that the Argentina international was "finished" at City. Tevez remains at City after interest from AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain failed to turn into a transfer. "If he comes back - and he is fit - it is possible," conceded Mancini. I hope for him he has been training in the last three months to help his condition Tevez, 27, remains in Argentina and, as yet, there has been no indication when the striker may return. "Carlos is not an option at the moment but it is possible in the future if he comes back," added Mancini. "I hope for him he has been training in the last three months to help his condition. "There is only one thing on my mind, the Barclays Premier League." Mancini has confirmed Owen Hargreaves remains available but has struggled to gain any consistent form during his time at City, triggering the deadline-day loan deal that saw David Pizarro move from Roma. "Owen always has these little problems," said Mancini. "When he came to us in the summer we took a gamble because he had not played for two years. "We thought we could try and get him fit in two or three months and then he would be able to play. "But, like any player who hasn't played for two years, when they start to train, every day there is a problem, with his knee or his hamstring. "I hope for him he eventually is able to play all the time. He deserves to." Club captain Vincent Kompany has insisted City have the mental strength to keep their title challenge on course. City have had a mixed set of results in January, allowing Manchester United to draw level with them on points at the top of the Premier League table. If people want to underestimate us, then please do so But Kompany expects his team-mates to thrive on the pressure as they aim for a first top-flight title since 1968. He said: "If anything it will give us a boost to carry on and if people want to underestimate us, then please do so." The pressure has increased on City in recent weeks, with their 1-0 league defeat at Everton on Tuesday night coming at the end of a period which included cup defeats by Liverpool and neighbours Manchester United. The Goodison Park defeat marked Kompany's return to the City team after a four-game suspension following his red card in the 3-2 FA Cup third round loss to United in January. And he says he expects City to bounce back from the disappointment against Everton with a win against Fulham at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. "There is no shame in going under at Everton," he said. "It wasn't enjoyable, but we believe we can go back to our best football and win the games that are left to play."

Summary: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has named Carlos Tevez in his 25-man squad for the remainder of the season - and admitted he could pick him again.


Sir Timothy O'Shea said plans to elect the chair of universities' governing bodies were "inconsistent, incoherent and potentially very damaging". The proposal is made in the Scottish government's Higher Education Governance Bill. The Scottish government said it would continue to listen to all views. The bill aims to improve the way universities - which are fiercely protective of their independence from the state - are governed. Although universities get a large chunk of their income from the Scottish government, unlike schools and colleges they are not part of the public sector or directly accountable to politicians. The proposal which has caused the most controversy is for directly elected chairs for university courts - students and staff would be able to take part in the vote. But this is seen by some as a threat to the role of the rector at the ancient universities. The role of the rector is sometimes seen as purely symbolic and ceremonial. However, supporters argue the best rectors can be powerful ambassadors for their universities and champions of the students' interests. Prof Sir Timothy said amendments to the bill could prove damaging to his university. He said the amendments would allow for two elected positions playing a chairing role in the university - a rector and a senior lay member. This would suggest changing what he described as the "the long-established and well-understood role of our rector - without any prior consultation or discussion." He also argued the senior lay member would appear to have significantly weaker powers than their counterparts at other universities - without any prior consultation. Sir Timothy said: "The amendments are inconsistent, incoherent and potentially very damaging for one of Scotland's major universities. "There has been no consultation or discussion with us, or the wider sector on the implications, which require careful consultation and scrutiny otherwise there is a real risk of perverse and possibly unintended consequences." He argued it could even significantly impede the university's ability to contribute to the economic and social good of the country. He urged Holyrood's education committee to ask the government to withdraw these amendments until they have consulted with those affected on the implications of their proposals. However, Sir Timothy also welcomed amendments to the bill, including one which removed some additional ministerial powers that he argued threatened the university's institutional autonomy. A Scottish government spokesperson said: "The Higher Education Governance Bill aims to ensure that the entire campus community has a say on how our higher education institutions are governed. "We have worked closely with the sector over the course of the bill's development and will continue to listen to the views of all interested parties and consider all constructive suggestions as the bill continues to be considered by parliament. "The detail of how a rector and new elected senior lay member would work together would remain, as now, a matter for each autonomous institution to address. The bill does not change that." The Scottish government said any expansion in the role of the rector in a higher education institution beyond the current role set

Summary: Plans for changes in the way universities are governed are facing a fresh attack from the principal of Edinburgh University.


Its ethical policy states that any artwork using Lego products should not "contain any political, religious, racist, obscene or defaming statements". However, the Danish company was widely attacked by commentators and accused of not wishing to annoy the Chinese government, which Ai regularly criticises. Lego has now relented and on Wednesday announced that it had changed its policy. It will no longer ask customers what they want to use the bricks for, but requests that they make clear that the company does not support or endorse their projects, if exhibited in public. But should a business be picky about whom it sells to? The problem is that selling as much as you can to anyone and everyone can have unintended consequences. Some customers can turn into your competitors. LVMH, which owns luxury brands from Christian Dior clothing to Dom Perignon champagne, has had its Chinese business undermined by bulk sales ferried into the country by so-called "daigou" agents. Taxes and currency differences make luxury goods far more expensive in China. Some analysts estimated that by mid-2015, Chinese prices were 60% higher than those in Europe. The daigou agents, many of them students making extra cash to finance their overseas studies, buy up luxury products in bulk in Europe and Hong Kong and sell them on at home. It is sometimes known as parallel trading. So LVMH started to watch its customers more closely. Speaking on a conference call earlier last year, Jean-Jacques Guiony, chief financial officer at LVMH, said: "We've placed strict retail restrictions for the amount of products that people can buy. "But, when you see someone in a store, you don't know whether they are buying handbags for themselves or to sell them on to the market in China. We are trying to make sure we are not competing with our own products in the China market, but our actions are not entirely bullet-proof." Other companies have found it easier to try to equalise prices. The fashion house Chanel raised its European prices by 20% and cut them in China, directly competing with the daigou agents and successfully eroding their profit margins. This kind of grey market happens everywhere. A supermarket might halve the price of a box of chocolates in a sale and sell them all to a single customer, only to see them turn up in the corner store down the road, undercutting their recommended retail price, a fortnight later. That's not illegal, but there are ways to stop it - by restricting sales. The British Retail Consortium's external affairs adviser, Bryan Johnston, says: "In the end, it is up to the individual store. It is in the gift of the retailer to decide on how much they want to sell to any one customer." Many supermarkets imposed restrictions two years ago when the scandal over contaminated baby milk in China prompted overseas Chinese to buy up formula and import it into China. However, these were more to do with trying to stop a run on the product at home than trying to stop any kind of parallel

Summary: When Lego originally decided not to sell the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei bricks with which to make a political statement, it really thought it was doing the right thing.


Police were targeted with fireworks, while motorists described "petrol bombs" being thrown at cars on Commercial Road, Pill, on 20 October. Three teenagers - aged 16 to 17 - were sentenced to five months' custody at Cwmbran Youth Court on Tuesday. Two 13-year-olds were handed non-custodial 12-month referral orders. All five of the teenagers - who cannot be named - had earlier admitted violent disorder, with one of the 16-year-olds also admitting a separate charge of breaching a dispersal order. District Judge David Parsons said no other sentences could be justified because of the "uninhibited, unlawful behaviour". Prosecutor Paul Hewitt told the court police received calls at 19:45 BST to say youths had set off fireworks. Officers arrived at the scene but a lit firework was thrown at them and, when about 20 youths began throwing stones and eggs, they retreated. "At about 20:35, police were called to another riot on Commercial Road, where there were fires being set in bins and fireworks thrown at buildings," Mr Hewitt said. "There was a large group in the street, throwing items at vehicles. The windscreen of a police van was smashed by a brick, causing significant damage." Mr Hewitt described wheelie bins being set alight and put into the road, "petrol bombs" being thrown at vehicles with "terrified" motorists making three-point turns to escape. He added: "Local people were terrified. Police feared their vehicles would be pelted with fireworks and the entire area was under siege. "A dispersal order was issued and a police helicopter was used to tell the crowd on loudspeaker." Locals and motorists described "missiles and bombs" being thrown at cars and thousands of pounds worth of damage caused. A video taken on a mobile phone was shown, with a youth heard shouting "there are Molotov cocktails out here, throw it" as cars were set alight. Judge Parsons handed each of the three older defendants - two were aged 16 and one 17 - a 10-month detention and training order, half of which will be served in custody with the rest under supervision in the community. He said the court had an "overwhelming obligation" to "protect the public in their homes or businesses or in the street". "Those that partake in disturbances of this magnitude, causing harm and fear to even the most steel-hearted of residents, must be punished accordingly," he added.

Summary: Five teenagers have been sentenced after admitting their part in a "riot" which saw part of Newport city centre "under siege".


The secretary of Honeybourne Railway Club said he originally thought someone had broken into the premises, near Evesham in Worcestershire. The floor was covered in beer and glasses and bottles smashed, Sam Boulter said. Mr Boulter, 62, said he then saw a squirrel "staggering around" after coming out from behind a box of crisps. He added: "There were bottles scattered around, money scattered around and he had obviously run across the bar's pumps and managed to turn on the Caffrey's tap. "He must have flung himself on the handle and drank some as he was staggering around all over the place and moving a bit slowly. "I've never seen a drunk squirrel before. He was sozzled and looked a bit worse for wear, shall we say." Mr Boulter, who estimated he lost about Â£300 in the incident, eventually caught the squirrel in a waste paper bin and released it out of the window.

Summary: A "drunk" squirrel has caused hundreds of pounds of damage at a private members' club.


Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull - the breakout stars of the last series of the BBC Two quiz show - are getting behind the microphone. The pair will present Monkman and Seagull's Polymathic Adventure on BBC Radio 4 on 21 August. The duo became friends during filming, despite being captains of rival teams. Monkman and Seagull each went viral in their own right, with the former proving so popular he sparked what was termed "Monkmania" among viewers. The Cambridge economics student attracted a loyal following for his animated - and very meme-able - facial expressions. The 29-year-old's blue jumper, impressive intellect and tendency to answer questions with an upward inflection cemented his place in the hearts of quiz show fans. He and Seagull became friends off screen and even travelled to interviews together during the series as their popularity soared. So what will their new radio show actually be about? Good question. The pair are set to explore whether being highly intelligent is actually a useful quality. They will discuss whether it's possible to be a useful polymath (a person of wide knowledge or learning) with guests including Stephen Fry. If this goes well, we're keeping our fingers crossed it's just the start of their media careers. Surely introducing Justin Bieber songs on Radio 1 would be the next logical step? Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: If watching University Challenge makes your head hurt, you might want to take an aspirin before listening to a new show Radio 4 are planning.


The 30-year-old joined Wanderers for a second loan stint in January from Cardiff City and helped the club to promotion from League One. He was out of contract at Cardiff this summer and moves on a free transfer. "It's not going to be a shock that I've signed and it's been a long time coming," he told the club website. "Bolton is my spiritual home at the moment and I'm really looking forward to putting in a lot of hard work and get going." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Bolton Wanderers have completed the permanent signing of striker Adam Le Fondre on a two-year deal after his loan spell last season.


The charred pine twigs date back 140 million years to a time when fires raged across large tracts of land. Pine trees now dominate the forests of the Northern Hemisphere. The research suggests the tree's evolution was shaped in the fiery landscape of the Cretaceous, where oxygen levels were much higher than today, fuelling intense and frequent wildfires. "Pines are well adapted to fire today," said Dr Howard Falcon-Lang of Royal Holloway, University of London, who discovered the fossils in Nova Scotia, Canada. "The fossils show that wildfires raged through the earliest pine forests and probably shaped the evolution of this important tree." The specimens, which are described in Geology journal, were preserved as charcoal within rocks from a quarry. "It was only when I digested [the samples] in acid that these beautiful fossils fell out," Dr Falcon-Lang told BBC News. "They were sitting in my cupboard for five years before I actually worked out what was there." The fossils are just a few mm long but probably came from trees resembling the Scots Pine that now cover large areas of Scotland. Pines are well adapted to fire, containing inflammable deadwood that makes them burn easily. They also produce cones that will only germinate after being scorched, ensuring a new generation of trees is seeded after the fire has passed by and other vegetation has been destroyed. Scientists have debated for many years why some trees seem to thrive on wildfires. "One of the oddities about pine trees today is that they are one of the most fire adapted species on our planet," explained Dr Falcon-Lang. "These oldest pine fossils are preserved as charcoal, the product of fire, suggesting that the co-occurrence of fire and pines is something that's very ancient, that goes back to the very origin of these first pine trees." Dr Falcon-Lang plans to return to the quarry this summer to recover more specimens. He hopes to find fossils of flowering plants, which were evolving at the same time as the ancient pines. Follow Helen on Twitter.

Summary: Scientists have discovered the oldest-known fossil of a pine tree.


Numerous fire and police vehicles were dispatched to the Froghall Gardens area, homes were evacuated and roads were closed. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted to reports of a fire within a property at just after 10:25. Six appliances were sent. One local spoke of hearing a bang. A rest centre at Froghall Community Centre was being set up for residents. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Six appliances attended and five firefighters dressed in protective breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using a high-power hose. "Nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution and one individual was safely removed from the affected property via a ladder with assistance from firefighters. "The casualty did not require medical treatment and crews ensured the area was made safe before leaving the scene." Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) confirmed they had been asked to cut power supplies to 81 properties in the area. In a statement, the company said: "We would like to thank our customers for their patience whilst we work with the fire service to restore supplies safely. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and will remain on site until all supplies can be restored."

Summary: The emergency services were called to the scene of a fire in Aberdeen.


1 April 2017 Last updated at 12:33 BST The tiny pad was appraised by manuscripts specialist Matthew Haley during an episode filmed at Caversham Park in Berkshire. The programme will air on Sunday at 20:00 BST on BBC One.

Summary: A 17th Century notebook analysing the work of William Shakespeare has been described as "extraordinary" by an Antiques Roadshow expert.


The 29-year-old pedestrian was struck by a silver Renault Clio on the B2173 Maidstone Road, near the junction with Hockenden Lane, just after 22:00 GMT. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin have been informed, Kent Police said. The driver of the car was injured. Witnesses are being urged to come forward.

Summary: A man has died after he was hit by a car in Swanley on Saturday night.


They trailed by seven at the break as Rob Kearney, Josh van der Flier and Zane Kirchner crossed to cancel out scores from Seymour and Tim Swinson. Scotland winger Seymour then lacerated Leinster with three predatory strikes after the break. The bonus-point win sees Warriors level on points with Pro12 leaders Ospreys. This was a compelling shoot-out between two Pro12 heavyweights who have fought some thunderous bouts in the recent past. The defending was often porous - Glasgow's missed tackle count hitting double figures, while Leinster were manipulated by the speed and variety of the Warriors attack. When the opening try came, it was textbook Glasgow. After punishing carries from Jonny Gray and then Leonardo Sarto took the Warriors into the Leinster 22, the ball was swept to the opposite wing, with Sam Johnson zipping a sumptuous pass for Seymour to scamper in at the corner. Co-captain Henry Pyrgos missed the conversion, and the rest of the half belonged chiefly to the Irish province. Their pack were heaved into touch as they rumbled towards the freshly painted whitewash but it was a temporary reprieve for Glasgow, reliant on last-ditch breakdown scrapping with the visitors repeatedly puncturing their midfield. Eventually they crumbled, the Ireland full-back, Rob Kearney, scything through two missed tackles and finishing well at the corner, young pivot Joey Carbery converting magnificently from the touchline. The response from Glasgow was immediate and resounding. Swinson capped a spell of rapid, aggressive phase play, neatly orchestrated by Pete Horne at fly-half, by driving over between the posts, Pyrgos converting, barely two minutes after Kearney's try. Back surged Leinster and Sarto was dispatched to the sin-bin for infringing metres from his own line. It culminated in a comically simple try for Van der Flier as the flanker scooped up the ball from the ruck and exploited the lack of any discernible fringe defence, shrugging off Simone Favaro's lunge and sprinting under the posts, Carbery again adding the conversion. Then, with the clock red, Leinster pounced again, Kirchner gathering Carbery's delicate crosskick on the bounce and racing in for an unconverted score and a seven-point half-time lead. That advantage was bolstered by Carbery's penalty four minutes into the second period as Glasgow struggled to exit cleanly from their own half. However, if the first 40 minutes belonged to Leinster, the second was sole property of Seymour as the Pro12's hottest finisher produced an irrepressible combination of speed, power and opportunism to turn the game on its head. First, he plucked Carbery's pass from the air to dot down under the posts for Pyrgos to convert. Then, a minute later, he seized on another loose Leinster pass to spin out of a tackle and out-pace the chasing defence to the line. With Pyrgos' conversion, suddenly the Warriors led. Carbery cut the deficit to a point with a penalty just after the hour, but it was Seymour who had the emphatic final word. From a scrummage deep in the Leinster 22, he fizzed brilliantly on to Pyrgos' inside flick, the winger's momentum carrying him towards a remarkable

Summary: Tommy Seymour scored four tries as Glasgow Warriors christened the newly-laid synthetic Scotstoun pitch with a Pro12 win over Leinster.


Nia Griffith said her party offers "investment in Wales, versus cuts from Westminster" by the Tories. She urged people to "imagine the price" if there was a Conservative government in Wales as well. "Labour changes peoples' lives when we are in government", Ms Griffith added. She reinforced the message of First Minister Carwyn Jones, who told delegates on Saturday that the assembly election in May would be a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives. "Together we are fighting for Wales in Westminster and taking on the Tories' appalling treatment of our nation," Ms Griffith said. "We need to tell families up and down the country about what our Welsh Labour government is delivering. "Investment in Wales, versus cuts from Westminster - jobs for our young people, not leaving a generation behind. "That's the difference that a Labour government makes. Labour policies promised then delivered because we are in government. "So don't listen to those who say we should be happy just shouting from the sidelines, that principled opposition is better than political power. "If we take that attitude we may as well shut up shop." Ms Griffith pointed to Labour's establishment of the NHS, introduction of the minimum wage, and delivering devolution with the creation of the National Assembly. Meanwhile Mr Jones has said income tax rates in Wales would stay the same as those in England under a Labour Welsh government. He told the Sunday Supplement programme on BBC Radio Wales he would not use new powers to increase income taxes if Labour won the assembly election. "People have a real squeeze on their personal finances and the last thing I want to do is add to that pressure," he said, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has proposed an increase of 1p in the pound for taxpayers in Scotland.

Summary: Labour makes a difference in power, not in "principled opposition", the shadow Welsh secretary has told the party's Welsh conference in Llandudno.


The 36-year-old front-rower had played 14 games for the Dragons following his move to Perpignan in February. However an avulsion fracture and ankle ligament tears ended his involvement for Laurent Frayssinous' side. Mason played 290 NRL games, represented New South Wales in State of Origin and appeared in 24 Tests for the Kangaroos. It was his second Super League spell, following a six-game stint with Hull KR in 2011. "He will remain among the great players who have worn the Catalans Dragons jersey," chief executive Christophe Jouffret said.

Summary: Catalans Dragons have released Australian prop Willie Mason by mutual consent, after injuries ended his 2016 Super League season.


In 2013, the Italian composer was reported as saying he wouldn't work with Tarantino because he "places music in his films without coherence". But the 87-year-old told the BBC he had no issues with how the director incorporated his older works into films like Kill Bill and Django Unchained. "On the contrary, I was very, very flattered," he said. "The fact that my music, which had been written for other films, could be adapted to the poetry of Quentin Tarantino's film-making was a great gift for me. "The only thing I criticised of Quentin Tarantino was a single scene in a single movie which, for me, was too violent and too ghastly. I couldn't watch it." Speaking through an interpreter, the maestro said his original comments had been mis-reported, adding: "People should pay a lot of attention when they write something down." The pair have now collaborated for the first time, with the Italian maestro penning the soundtrack for Tarantino's upcoming film The Hateful Eight. It marks the first time the composer has scored a Western since his career-defining work with Sergio Leone on films such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; and Once Upon a Time in the West. It is also a first for Tarantino - who has never commissioned a full orchestral score for one of his films before, preferring to rely on old soundtracks and classic pop records. Morricone says it was Tarantino's dense script that persuaded him to work on the project. "It was this thick," he says, indicating a document several times thicker than War and Peace. "He actually came to Rome just to convince me, to my house. "It was very easy for me to say yes because the script was very, very relevant and interesting and full of detail." The Hateful Eight, which is released in January, reunites Tarantino with several of his regular players - Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern - as well as newcomers Jennifer Jason Leigh, Demian Bichir and Channing Tatum. Set roughly a decade after the US Civil War, it finds an eclectic group of law-keepers, outlaws, mercenaries, bounty hunters and fugitives trapped in a stagecoach waypoint by a massive snowstorm. As the plot unfurls, they begin to wonder whether they'll make it out alive. The score's key movement is a seven-minute suite called L'Ultima Diligenza per Red Rock - a piece of which Morricone is particularly proud. "The main instruments introducing this piece are the bassoon, the contra-bassoon and the tuba," he says. "And this is very strange because I have never done that in the past. "The sound these instruments produce can express the drama, the rage, the despair and the irony that are the main themes of Tarantino's story. They are a healthy, bodily sound. They also express a criticism towards the leading characters of the film." A sinister, brooding passage of music, it will form the centrepiece of the composer's world tour next year, celebrating his 60 years in the film industry. Despite his age - and

Summary: Ennio Morricone has denied criticising Quentin Tarantino over his use of music.


Speaking from South Africa, Mr Machar told the BBC that his rebel faction could still negotiate a peace deal with President Salva Kiir. His statement comes despite last week's heavy fighting in the city of Malakal. Mr Machar, who first fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, is now being treated in Johannesburg. In July, Mr Machar's bodyguards and President Salva Kiir's presidential guards fought each other, sparking days of violence. Hundreds of people died and more than 100,000 fled across the border. The fighting erupted less than a year after a peace deal was signed to form a unity government and end the civil war. Riek Machar profiled Speaking to the BBC's HARDtalk programme, Mr Machar said: "I'm going to return to South Sudan." "Because President Salva Kiir doesn't want democratic and transparent and fair elections to be conducted, he attacked us, he has restarted the war. "But I am hoping that wise leaders in the region, and in Africa, and the rest of the world will throw up a political process which will bring about peace again, and the resuscitation of the peace agreement, and the reconstitution of the transitional government of national unity." Mr Machar also denied that claims that he was a warmonger, saying that his troops were simply defending themselves against government attacks. President Kiir's officials accuse Mr Machar's forces of starting the attacks. Both sides in the bitter conflict have been accused of perpetrating atrocities, the BBC's Karen Allen in South Africa reports. More on South Sudan's crisis:

Summary: South Sudan's sacked Vice-President Riek Machar - who fled the country in August - has vowed to return, saying his credibility is intact.


Oxfordshire County Council said two independent studies found having one organisation to run all services could save £100m over five years. But the plan is opposed by the county's five district councils, who have argued in favour of three councils instead. All the authorities have been criticised for engaging in a "turf war" over their rival devolution plans. County council leader Ian Hudspeth said public money should be spent on providing services, rather than running "six separate organisations". The district councils have argued the county needs an elected mayor, rather than fewer councillors, to get more money from Whitehall. Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said the county's plan was "the wrong proposal at the wrong time". He added: "For the people of Oxford, a unitary council would be a disaster. "The needs of a multi-ethnic and socially mixed urban community are very different to the more rural parts of the county." Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council James Mills said the aim of the district councils' devolution bid was to get more money from central government. He said: "A mayor gives a strong voice to Oxford, single point of contact to government and is accountable to the people of Oxfordshire." But Mr Hudspeth said the proposal was needed because the county council "cannot continue to make savings without further cuts to local services". He said: "One council for Oxfordshire would be more efficient and simpler for residents, with one phone number, one website and one point of contact." Residents are being asked for their views before the final proposal is considered by the county council's cabinet on 14 March.

Summary: A proposal to abolish six councils and create one county-wide local authority for Oxfordshire has been published.


Felix Barrow sustained many broken bones and spent three weeks in a coma when he was knocked over outside his home in Swanmore in October last year. His parents were told he might never walk again, but they said he has now exceeded all his doctors' expectations. The family has raised nearly Â£100,000 for the services that saved his life. Felix was on his way to school when he tripped in the road and was hit by a car as he was getting to his feet. His mum Vanessa said the accident was "horrific" and added: "You just think this can't be happening to you. "It was just a normal Wednesday, normal things going on, and your life is turned upside down into an unrecognisable sate where you are thrust into a hospital environment. "At first I don't think we really realised the extent of his injuries. "It's been a slow process of learning to do things again, learning to walk, learning to eat, drink normal fluids." She added that her son has surpassed all expectations and made "amazing" progress. Felix's dad Stuart said his life was saved by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, which flew him to hospital, and the Southampton General Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. He said: "We wanted to repay them for saving his life. It's been fantastic, the whole community has come together." The family set up a charity, Fit For Felix, inspired by his love of running and named by his friend Bradley. It has now raised Â£93,850 by organising a range of activities including fun runs, bike rides, and sponsored swims.

Summary: A 12-year-old boy left with a severe brain injury after he was hit by a car has returned to school after making an "amazing" recovery.


A chain of people passed a light to each other, finishing at the cathedral. As part of the annual Peace Festival in the city, the cathedral was lit up in blue, white and red to mark Friday's attacks in Paris. The event was led by the Bishop of Coventry and the Duke of Kent. The human chain idea came from a similar event held annually in Dresden to commemorate the allied bombing of February 1945, which destroyed the city's centuries-old baroque city centre. BBC Coventry and Warwickshire was broadcasting the event live until 21:00 on Saturday. As part of the ceremony, the Saint Michael's Singers also performed Mozart's Requiem and Solemn Vespers with the Parliament Choir and the English Symphony Orchestra. Ann Lucas, from Coventry City Council, said: "With each passing year the relevance of the human tragedy of the event and how Coventry rallied to become the city of peace and reconciliation grows in significance. "Whilst remembering the horror of 1940 is vitally important, it's also key we view this as an opportunity for looking forward and ensuring that people and communities come together as a city to work towards a place we can all be proud of." In Dresden, an estimated 22,700 to 25,000 people died as a result of a series of raids by British and US bombers during World War Two.

Summary: Hundreds of people have taken part in a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Luftwaffe bombing raid on Coventry, which left 568 people dead and most of the city centre in ruins.


Simon Cope delivered the package on the last day of the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine, which Wiggins went on to win. The Culture, Media and Sport select committee has been by told by Team Sky chief Sir Dave Brailsford the package contained a legal decongestant. But MPs say they are "concerned" by some of the evidence they have heard. The doctor who received the package on behalf of Wiggins' Team Sky, Dr Richard Freeman, and head of UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) Nicole Sapstead have also been invited to give evidence on 22 February. Culture, Media and Sport select committee chairman Damian Collins MP said: "There is a considerable public interest in Ukad's investigation and it is also important to our inquiry into doping in sport to understand what they have been able to determine from their investigation. "The committee has been told by both British Cycling and Team Sky that they have supplied all the information they have relating to this investigation to Ukad. "However, we need to know if they have received documentary evidence which confirms what was in the package that was delivered by Simon Cope to Team Sky. "Without this evidence, I am concerned about how it is possible for the anti-doping rules to be policed in an appropriate manner, if it is not possible to review the records of medicines prescribed to riders by the team doctors." Team Sky have been under pressure to reveal the contents of the package following a Daily Mail allegation in October 2016. Cope, who was a women's coach for British Cycling, travelled from Manchester to Geneva on 12 June 2011 to hand a parcel to the Team Sky doctor Freeman on the final day of the Criterium. Cope claimed he did not know what it contained. In an interview with Cycling News, he said: "It was just an envelope, a Jiffy bag, a small Jiffy bag," he said. "As far as I know I could have been pedals in there." Brailsford gave evidence in December and stated the package contained Fluimucil, which is legal in sport and "administered on a regular basis".

Summary: The British Cycling coach who couriered a 'mystery' package for Sir Bradley Wiggins has been invited by MPs to give evidence at a doping inquiry.


Yet again, you feel for the families of those killed on board, and the people that actually survived the ordeal. It seems never ending. In less than a year two Malaysian aircraft have been lost, with 537 people on board. The AirAsia accident - en route to Singapore in December - killed 162. It is not just the accidents. It's the fact that whole aircraft are going down without warning. You would be forgiven for thinking that flying is becoming more lethal. But you would be wrong. In fact, when you look at the number of crashes and fatalities compared to the huge number of people flying today (3.2 billion passengers last year), we are in a golden era of aircraft safety. According to safety analysts Ascend, 2014 was narrowly the safest year ever, with one fatal accident per 2.38 million flights, compared to every 1.91 million flights the year before. It must be noted that that does not include the loss of the Malaysian airliner over Ukraine, where 298 people died, which they count as a war loss rather than an accident. But even with that flight added it is not a terrible year, historically. Another respected organisation, the Aviation Safety Network, registers 21 fatal accidents in 2014 (this time including Ukraine), compared to 29 in 2013 and 23 the year before that. Nearly 1,000 people died in 2014, which is 700 more than the year before. Horrible numbers, but compare that to the worst year, 1972, when 2,370 passengers were killed - and far fewer people were flying then, maybe a quarter of the number travelling today. So why is flying getting safer? Well, technology. "Think of your car in the 1970s", David Learmount, from Flightglobal tells me. "The brakes, the handling, the lack of safety features. Well, aircraft are exactly the same. "We knew most things about aerodynamics by the 1940s. What has changed is the technology." Every new generation of aircraft has been safer than the one before. Better computers, design, materials. But there is another sobering factor at play here too. Every tragedy has taught designers something new. Go back a couple of decades and the biggest killer was something called Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). A benign name with a morbid outcome, it normally involved a perfectly serviceable aircraft coming into land, then hitting something on the ground without the crew even knowing it was there. Many airports are near hills. Then along came a piece of equipment that was to transform safety: the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System. "It's like a sat nav that can help you thread your way through hills and mountains, even in clouds", David says. Here is another example of how disaster has led to safer flying. In 1985 a British Airtours aircraft was taking off from Manchester Airport, en route to Corfu. The pilots aborted at the last minute because one of the engines failed, but the aircraft was also on fire. Fifty-four people died fleeing the smoke, the aisles were jammed with passengers panicking to get out. Next time

Summary: Yet again, we are looking at shocking pictures of a plane crash.


Basil Khan and Omar Mohidin were 16 when they were hit and racially abused by officers in Edgware Road, north west London in 2007, the High Court heard. The sergeant and a constable involved were acquitted along with four colleagues in a criminal trial in 2009. The High Court ruled the two men were racially abused and awarded damages. The Met's Deputy Assistant Commissioner Fiona Taylor said the officers' actions had let down the public and all of the force. Officers from the Territorial Support Group stopped the teenagers in June 2007 because they claimed that some of the group had been mouthing obscenities and making gestures at them. Omar Mohidin was held in a police van for about five minutes while officers arrested Basil Khan who was handcuffed, strip searched and held in police custody for almost 20 hours. Mr Justice Gilbart said Mr Khan had been wrongfully arrested and he accepted PC Mark Jones, who has since left the force, had hit Mr Khan, grabbing him around the neck and making it difficult for him to breathe. The judge awarded Mr Khan £11,900 in damages and said Sgt William Wilson had also struck Mr Khan. The court ruled Mr Mohidin was also falsely imprisoned for a few minutes during which time he was subjected to "racist humiliation", but that his injury amounted at most to feeling upset for a few days. He dismissed Mr Mohidin's claim that he had suffered acute stress disorder as a result of the police action and awarded him £2,500. The judge threw out a third civil damages claim for false imprisonment, assault and race discrimination brought by another man, Ahmed Hegazy.

Summary: The Metropolitan Police Service has been ordered to pay more than £14,000 in damages to two men of Arab origin for racially abusing them as teenagers.


Thomas Jackson, 30, of Congleton, Cheshire, was injured as he tried to help Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, in the attack at a hostel last week. Frenchman Smail Ayad, 29, has been charged with murdering Ms Ayliffe-Chung and attempting to murder Mr Jackson. Police said this charge would be changed to murder. Latest updates on backpacker's death Mr Jackson's father Les said: "We are bereft. Our darling Tom has left us and the world is a poorer place. "There is dark and evil in this world perpetrated by a few, but so much more love and light emanates from so many more. That thought will sustain us over the coming days." The backpacker suffered head injuries as he went to the aid of Ms Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Police described his actions as "selfless". A spokesman for Queensland Police said Mr Jackson died in the Townsville Hospital. Investigations are continuing, but detectives will upgrade the charge to murder when Mr Ayad next appears at Townsville Magistrates' Court on October 28, he added. Mr Ayad is alleged to have stabbed Ms Ayliffe-Chung and to have caused the injuries which led to Mr Jackson's death at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in Home Hill on 23 August, at about 23:15 local time. Twelve police officers were also injured. Police previously said they were investigating whether Mr Ayad had an "obsession" with Ms Ayliffe-Chung. Mr Jackson's family said they were "immensely proud" of him for his actions. "There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom," his father said. "His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride." Mr Jackson's sister, Liv, wrote on Facebook: "There is nothing in this world that can prepare you for the pain and heartbreak of losing a sibling and a friend, but there is great comfort in knowing that he was mine. "All that I ask is that you don't remember Tom as a victim. "Indescribably proud of everything you accomplished and the lives you touched. I will love you always and forever TJ, your little sister, Lou." Rachel Edwards, 30, from Crewe, Cheshire, who has been close friends with Mr Jackson since they studied at South Cheshire College together, said there would "never be another one like him". She said: "He would literally try his utmost to try and light people's lives up with his kind words and inspiration, always pointing out the best in you." A fundraising page set up by Mr Jackson's friend Shoshana Palatnik has reached half of its Â£10,000 target to help his family. Ms Palatnik initially set up the Youcaring fundraising page for medical costs while Mr Jackson was on life support.

Summary: A "selfless" backpacker who was injured trying to save another traveller as she was stabbed to death in Australia has died, police in Queensland have said.


Administrators' reports suggest around £7m of £10.25m lent to Northampton Town by the local borough Council was passed to 1st Land Limited. A total of £2.65m was then given to David Cardoza and his father, Anthony. David Cardoza declined to comment, saying: "I'm under confidentiality so can't speak." A report from March this year showed a dispute arose between the Cardozas and 1st Land, which has since gone into administration, over the money. The Cardozas called it a "Joint Venture Fee" - money paid to one party to help carry out a jointly-run project - but 1st Land said it was a loan. It is unclear what has since happened to the money. The £10.25m loan was originally paid to the League Two club for the redevelopment of the new East Stand at Sixfields Stadium, along with a hotel and conference centre - none of which have been completed. Contractors Buckingham Group were appointed to carry out the works, with 1st Land appointed to oversee the development. When the company went into administration, it owed Northampton Town £7.3m and Buckingham Group more than £2m. The Cardozas and fellow businessmen, Howard Grossman, his son Marcus Grossman and Simon Patnick, feature as directors of several firms with business links to 1st Land and a second company appointed to oversee the development - County Developments (Northampton) Limited or CDNL. Many of these companies have gone into liquidation. Howard Grossman is listed as the only director of 1st Land; which is owned by another Grossman firm, County Group. The administrators' report also lists payments of £314,000 to Howard Grossman for his salary; £1.475m to County Homes (Herts) Ltd and £233,000 to County Cemetery Services Limited. The director of County Homes is also Howard Grossman. County Cemetery Services lists two current directors: Marcus Grossman and Simon Patnick. David Cardoza was a director of the company until August last year. It has also gone into administration - but not before a sale agreement was made with a company called Centurion Infinity Limited; whose directors are Marcus Grossman and Simon Patnick. After the collapse of 1st Land, CDNL took over the job of facilitating the Sixfields development. Its current directors are listed as David and Anthony Cardoza, while Marcus Grossman and Simon Patnick resigned directorships in January. That company has now also entered liquidation. The club faces a winding-up petition, due to be heard on 16 November, from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Summary: A football club chairman and his father were given a "loan" of more than £2.5m by a company set up to oversee the development of its stadium.


The miracle involved the healing of a Brazilian man with several brain tumours in 2008, the Vatican said. Mother Teresa died in 1997 and was beatified - the first step towards sainthood - in 2003. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poor in the slums of Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta). "The Holy Father has authorised the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to proclaim the decree concerning the miracle attributed to the intercession of blessed Mother Teresa," the Vatican said on Friday. She is expected to be canonised in Rome in September. Beatification by the Catholic Church requires one miracle, while the process of becoming recognised as a saint requires proof of at least two miracles. Mother Teresa was beatified in 2003 after Pope John Paul II accepted as authentic a miracle attributed to her. He judged that the curing of an Indian woman suffering from an abdominal tumour was the result of the supernatural intervention of the late Mother Teresa - a claim challenged by Indian rationalists. There are few details about the recovery of the Brazilian man, whose life the Vatican says was saved in the second miracle. His identity has not been disclosed to maintain the discretion needed for the investigation, the Catholic New Agency has said. It says he was unexpectedly cured from brain tumours in 2008 after his priest prayed for Mother Teresa's intervention with God. Born Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, in 1910, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1949, dedicating her life to caring for impoverished and sick people in Kolkata. Known as the "saint of the gutter", she earned worldwide acclaim for her efforts. Her critics, however, accused her of mixing with dictators and peddling a hardline Catholicism.

Summary: Pope Francis has recognised a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa, clearing the way for the Roman Catholic nun to be made a saint next year.


No, President Xi Jinping of China isn't back for second helpings from the Buckingham Palace banquet, this time it is the Indian prime minister who is stopping by. India has overtaken China to take the top spot in the tables of international economic good health and David Cameron is getting ready to roll out the red carpet for Narendra Modi. Mr Cameron will be pulling out all the stops. The Indian prime minister isn't a head of state so he won't get the full bearskin and gilded carriage reception accorded to the Chinese president last month. He will, however, get lunch with the Queen and a superstar appearance at Wembley stadium where we are told he will be joined on stage by Mr Cameron. The warmth of the welcome is evidence of how the terms of trade between the two countries have shifted in recent years. Now Britain is the eager suitor proffering bouquets on bended knee; India the slightly aloof object of desire. 110,000 people are employed by Indian companies operating in the UK 13 Indian companies each employ more than 1,000 people in the UK 65,000 people work for Tata Group, which owns 5 of those 13 companies 28,000 of those work for Tata Motors, which owns Jaguar Land Rover Mr Modi sells himself as a non-nonsense technocrat who transformed his home state, Gujarat, into an economic powerhouse. He won a landslide a year-and-a-half ago on the promise that he would do the same for the entire country. He has suffered some setbacks. Many of his reforms have been blocked in parliament but India is still a formidable economic force, growing at some 7% a year. Mr Cameron told Mr Modi last year that "relations with India are at the top of the priorities of UK's foreign policy". And he has put in the air miles to prove he is serious. He has visited India three times since he came to power, even leading the largest trade mission ever made by a British prime minister to any nation. He brought enough government ministers and business people to Mumbai in February last year to fill a jumbo jet. It is easy to see why he's so keen. India is now the third biggest source of foreign investment in the UK with billions staked. The jewel in the crown - so to speak - is Jaguar Land Rover. The carmaker is now part of the vast Indian multinational, Tata, which also owns that other emblematic English business, Tetley Tea. Indian entrepreneurs, including the Tatas, also control what is left of the once mighty British steel industry, though that has been going through tough times recently. Nevertheless, to date Mr Modi has not exactly swooned before Britain's charms. He acknowledges David Cameron is a "good friend" of India but has not rushed to buddy up. He's visited dozens of countries in his effort to persuade the world to "Make in India" but, until now, has bypassed Britain. In part that is because so much else bypasses Britain these days. The sad truth is

Summary: The leader of the fastest growing large economy in the world is visiting Britain.


Some of those residents had only just returned to their homes after last week's eruptions. The latest eruption was less powerful, but sent a large plume of dark grey smoke and ash rising from the crater. Calbuco surprised residents of the Los Lagos region last week by bursting into life after decades of inactivity. The National Geology and Mines Service issued a red alert after Thursday's eruption, warning that the volcano remained unstable. On Friday, residents were warned that heavy rain could mix with ash and rock to produce deadly volcanic mudflows. These "lahars" can slide down volcanoes like avalanches. The BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago says that whereas the ash last week was blown in a north-easterly direction, this time it is drifting south-east over the town of Cochamo. The town has been blanketed in a cloud of smoke and ash. Calbuco is one of the most active volcanoes in Chile, having erupted in 1961 and 1972, and many times before that. Last week's eruptions caused the cancellation of flights to and within Chile, and forced farmers in the area to evacuate their livestock.

Summary: Chile's Calbuco volcano has erupted for the third time in eight days, leading the government to order the evacuation of 2,500 people.


Ben Gerring, 29, was in the water near Mandurah, south of Perth, when the attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon. Western Australia Police said Mr Gerring's injuries were too severe to overcome and he died on Friday night. On Thursday, a 4.2m (14ft) great white shark was captured near Mandurah, but it is not known if this shark was to blame for the attack. "He was right out the back looking to get a big wave, one of the set waves that had been coming through during the day," Brian Williams, president of the Mandurah Boardriders Club and friend of the victim, told ABC on Tuesday. "He'd sort of paddled out the back, sort of past the pack slightly. And next thing all hell broke loose and they were trying to bring him in. "His board was broken in half, they found the tail part of his board," Mr Williams said. Surf Lifesaving Western Australia had reportedly issued a warning before the attack, after an unknown species of shark was seen in the area.

Summary: A surfer who lost his leg in a shark attack in Western Australia last week has died, police say.


At first, it is hard to say exactly why. It is just that something doesn't feel quite right. Ulsan feels like a place you vaguely know but can't quite figure out how. And then it hits you. It is reminiscent of old photographs of European shipbuilding towns on rivers whose names are redolent of their history: in Britain, the Clyde, Tyne, Wear, Tees or Mersey. In those pictures cranes and partly built ships towered over houses. Thousands streamed from work together the moment a shift ended. Nobody could forget how work enabled their lives because they saw, heard and smelled the place of work in every corner of the town. It was their skyline. That world of the heaviest of industry is no longer prominent in Europe. Even the biggest shipyards that remain (in Romania, Poland and Germany) are minnows compared to the yards of Asia. If you look at the league table of shipbuilding companies in the world, five of the top 10, including all of the top four, are South Korean. The other five are Japanese and Chinese. But the Hyundai Heavy Industries yard at Ulsan is the biggest of them all, giant cranes (aptly called Goliaths) dominating the skyline. The city pulsates with work and wages and the activities of far from idle hands. The yard stretches for 2.5 miles (4km). More than 60,000 people are employed there, constructing a huge ship every four or five days. These ships are the length of three football fields and are built in pieces each weighing hundreds of tonnes and then assembled around the clock. In the dark, the yard glows across the town. By day, the clang of construction rings out. In the old European pictures and newsreels, workers would stream home on foot or maybe bicycles. At Ulsan, they swarm out on motor scooters. And when they are out, they drive the company car, eat in the company restaurants, laugh and cry in the company theatre, shop in the company department store, have their children in the company hospital, learn in the company schools, cheer for the company football team. One of the longest-serving workers, Lee Sang-bok, told the BBC: "Everything here is Hyundai. The highway I drive on is named after the founder of the company. The hospital and university is funded by Hyundai too. "There's a town joke that it's just like the Hyundai Kingdom." He started work at the yard soon after it opened in 1974. "I joined this company when I was just 16. In the past 40 years, shipbuilding really has become the centre of my life. I devoted all my youth to this company. It's become my identity". When South Korea industrialised in the 1960s and 1970s, setting in train its breathtaking transformation from poverty to affluence, it was done in a way to make Western "free-market" economists disapprove (though there is an argument that when the United States and Britain industrialised, they broke their own rules, too). Government direction and government subsidy was the order of the day. South Korea's leader at the

Summary: To a European visitor, the city of Ulsan on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula seems like a throwback to some lost world.


Locals rush about their business, the shops are full and crowds of tourists gather here to watch the Glockenspiel, the chiming carillon, with its dancing figures and little chirping golden bird. But a glance under the Mariensaeule, a column topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary, tells you that all is not well here. Flowers and candles have been laid at the foot of the monument in memory of those who died in the shootings on Friday at a shopping centre in the north-west of the city. Their killer was an 18-year-old German-Iranian, David Ali Sonboly, who was obsessed with guns. "To the victims of the 23rd of July" one message reads. "Love is stronger than hate," says another. The series of violent attacks in the past few days has shaken people here. What is going on in Germany? What drives individuals to commit mass killings? "I'm trying not to let it affect me too much in my daily life," Xenia, a student, told me. "But when one thing after another happens like this, you can't help thinking that the world is totally crazy." "Do you think the government is doing enough in this situation?" I asked her. "Have they let in too many refugees and migrants?" "I feel generally safe in Germany," she said. "Attacks have been prevented in Duesseldorf and Bonn, and you can't do much against lone wolves. "And we can't just blame it all on the refugees. That makes it far too simple. There will always be problem cases, but in general the refugees risk their lives to come here." On the other side of the square, Alois Frank shook his head. "I think there will be more attacks like this if the government doesn't take action," he told me. "They are doing much too little. "They need to check very carefully who these migrants are, whether they are real asylum seekers or not." "What do you think about Chancellor Angela Merkel?" I asked him. "I always used to like her very much," he said. "But since she has accepted so many migrants, I am strongly against her. "I always voted for the CDU [Mrs Merkel's party]," he said, "but now I am re-considering." He looked around at a couple walking with their little girl. "I'm not worried for myself because I am 83 years old and if something happens to me, my God, who cares! But I am concerned for my family." Lothar Plomitcer, 48, agreed. "Our government seems to be controlled by the EU and Brussels. What kind of experiment is it, when a million people flee here? I know they have a good reason to leave Syria and Iraq, but it's uncontrolled. People need borders." Others in this cosmopolitan city are worried for other reasons. Wandering through a shopping street with her friend Nadia, Kadidja told me the attacks made her concerned for her safety. "As a Muslim woman with dark skin who wears a headscarf, I find the current atmosphere quite charged," she said. "I notice that lots of people are looking at

Summary: At first glance, everything seems normal in Marienplatz, Munich's central square, which is dominated by the great neo-Gothic Town Hall.


The telecoms giant said in an emailed statement it was important to retain access to the EU's free "movement of people, capital and goods". It was too early to "draw any firm conclusions regarding the long-term location for the headquarters". But Vodafone said that it would "take whatever decisions are appropriate". Last week, chief executive Vittorio Colao told the BBC - ahead of the referendum vote - that Britain risked exclusion from plans for a giant new single market in digital services if it left the EU. Vodafone said in the email to several media organisations that EU membership, including the free movement of people, had helped drive its growth. The firm employs 13,000 people in the UK. It has an operating division at Newbury, Berkshire, but the group headquarters are in London. Vodafone said that 55% of group profits in the last financial year came from its European operations, with the UK providing just 11%. The company is also to start reporting its financial results in euros, rather than pounds. Vodafone said the single legal framework spanning all member states, as well as freedom of movement, capital and goods, were "integral to the operation of any pan-European business". The company said: "It remains unclear at this point how many of those positive attributes will remain in place once the process of the UK's exit from the European Union has been completed," it said. Vodafone said it would strengthen its regulatory and public policy activities in Brussels "to ensure the group's substantial businesses within the European Union continue to be represented appropriately". Vodafone is the seventh largest company listed on the FTSE 100, with operations in 26 countries. It employs 108,000 staff outside the UK. Other businesses have expressed alarm at the vote to leave the EU and the consequences of not being part of the European single market. Business Secretary Sajid Javid hosted a meeting of business representatives on Tuesday to discuss the issues. Mr Javid said: "The biggest issue raised was the need to secure continued access to the single market. While I am not in any position to make promises, I assured everyone that my number one priority will be just that in the negotiations to come," he told a news conference after the meeting. After the meeting, the head of the CBI employers organisation said the government was "a long way off" having a plan. "There are very high levels of real and genuine concern in the business community," CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn told reporters.

Summary: Vodafone has warned it could move its headquarters from the UK depending on the outcome of Britain's negotiations to leave the European Union.


The area, which accounts for 21% of all second-home ownership in England, is to get £19.1m of the £60m annual fund. The money will be distributed to "community-led" groups to encourage the building of affordable housing. Labour's John Healey said last year saw the lowest level of new affordable homes built since 1991. The government says second-home ownership is at an all-time high and is crowding out first-time buyers by artificially raising prices. It reports that there were 340,000 second homes in England in 2013/14 - a rise of 98,000 in five years. In March the then chancellor, George Osborne, announced that £60m raised by an additional 3% on stamp duty on second homes would be spent on "community-led housing developments in coastal and rural communities". The Department for Communities and Local Government said the £60m fund had since been broadened out to include areas with high levels of second homes or where the affordability gap was a particular problem. It announced that the South West is set to get £19,125,110. This will be split between 25 local authorities in Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and the Isles of Scilly. The South East - outside London - will receive the second highest amount, £11,336,157. The East of England will get £8.9m, Yorkshire and Humberside £6.4m and the North-West nearly £6m. Friday's breakdown also includes £2.3m for London, as well as shares for the East Midlands (£2.7m). West Midlands (£1.9m) and north-east England (£1.3m). In all, 150 councils will share the money over five years, to be distributed to community-led housing groups to spend on building and the development of house-building skills.. Cornelius Olivier, a Labour councillor in Cornwall, told BBC Radio 5live: "We have a big problem in Cornwall in that the gap between what people can earn and what housing costs is bigger than almost anywhere else in the country and one of the main reasons is because we have over 10,000 second homes in Cornwall." Housing Minister Gavin Barwell said: "The high number of second homes can be a frustration for many who struggle to find an affordable home in their community. "This new fund will help tackle that by boosting supply and making sure community groups are at the heart of delivering new homes, so that this is a country that works for everyone." During the first year of the scheme, funding will focus on improving skills and reviewing housing needs in different areas. It "must then be used to deliver housing on the ground for local people" during the second year. But Labour's Mr Healey said: "Another day, another announcement but still the lowest level of new affordable homes built last year since 1991. "After six years of failure on housing, people want to see government ministers get to grips with the country's housing crisis not produce more press releases." Councillor Martin Tett, for the Local Government Association, LGA housing spokesman, said there must be a "renaissance in house building by councils" to provide enough affordable homes to rent and buy: "This means powers and funding

Summary: The South-West has been awarded the largest share of a fund raised through extra stamp duty on second homes to help first-time buyers in England.


Gammon joints, 700 pigs in blankets, cash and four charity boxes were also taken from MD Griffiths in Dinas Powys. Butcher Mark Griffiths, 62, said: "For some families their whole Christmas spread has been taken." He said he was in talks with wholesalers to try to replace what was stolen. Father-of-five Mr Griffiths, who has run the butcher's shop for 18 years, said: "There's never a good time for this to happen but during our Christmas rush it's particularly bad. "We lost turkeys, ducks, chickens, pigs in blankets - all the trimmings that make this time of year so special." "It's affected 25 orders but I'm determined not to let our customers down." Mr Griffiths discovered the break-in at 05:00 GMT on Friday when he noticed the panel on the door had been forced open. He said: "This is a family business and we are gutted to have been targeted in this way. "Customers have been back and forth to the shop to ask about their orders and we are doing what we can to recoup our loses." Customer Rowan Young, 50, described the thefts as "sickening", adding: "If we are the unlucky ones whose meat has gone then we fully understand."

Summary: Dozens of families could be without their Christmas dinner after thieves stole turkeys from a butcher's shop in Vale of Glamorgan.


South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police and are to cut the number of dogs and handlers to a combined total of 25. The South Yorkshire force will halve the size of its current dog unit, with 12 officers and dogs being lost as part of the restructuring. The new operation will have two bases in Sheffield and one in Melton, East Yorkshire. Humberside Police said it currently had 12 dogs and handlers. South Yorkshire Police said that the move was "required to meet budgetary cuts imposed on the Force's Operational Support Services". In August, the force said it needed to make savings of Â£59m by 2020, with the potential loss of 1,500 staff. A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: "Police dogs and their handlers provide a range of important roles in helping to keep the public safe. "Whilst we are reducing the size of the unit in South Yorkshire, by merging with Humberside, it allows us to maintain the same number of officers and dogs and continue to perform a valuable role for the public, yet at the same time we can still meet the savings required due to the unprecedented cuts." The merger of the dog units is one of a number of cost cutting measures introduced by police across Yorkshire in the last few years. Two years ago , Humberside Police disbanded its mounted unit, with horses now hired in from other forces when needed. All four Yorkshire forces now share an underwater search unit.

Summary: Two police forces in Yorkshire are to merge their dog units to reduce costs.


The migrant crisis has fuelled a backlash against the political establishment, but the wave of discontent also taps into long-standing fears about globalisation and a dilution of national identity. How is this right-wing backlash reshaping Europe's political landscape? In recent years the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) has shaken up the centrist consensus politics that dominated Austria for decades after World War Two. But in April 2016 it went further, pushing both main parties out of the running for the presidency. The FPOe candidate, Norbert Hofer, won the first round of Austria's presidential election in April and then secured around half the vote in the run-off vote on 22 May. The result was so tight, it was not immediately clear if he had won. The president's role is largely ceremonial. But Mr Hofer's score reflected widespread voter frustration with immigration and the political establishment. Hundreds of thousands of migrants poured through Austria last year hoping to settle in Germany. Some 90,000 people applied for asylum in Austria itself - 1% of the population. When the late Joerg Haider led the party it achieved its best ever result in 2000 and entered the government, causing enormous tension with EU partners. European Parliament seats (MEPs): 4 Far right tops presidential vote Austria sets asylum cap Far-right party ELAM entered parliament for the first time in May 2016 elections, securing two seats from voters stung by the island's acute financial crisis in 2013. Affiliated to Golden Dawn in Greece which many observers see as neo-Nazi, ELAM has held demonstrations against Turkish Cypriots and migrants. It opposes the idea of reunifying an island divided since Turkey invaded the north in 1974 in response to a Greek-inspired military coup. Denmark's immigration rules are among the toughest in Europe - reflecting the power of the Danish People's Party (DPP), which came second in last year's general election. Its 21% of the vote was a record for the party, and now the ruling coalition depends on DPP support in parliament. The Eurosceptic DPP also won Denmark's European Parliament election in 2014 by a wide margin, with 27% of the vote. The DPP opposes multiculturalism, as do nationalists in the rest of Scandinavia, where centre-left social democracy no longer dominates in the way it did for decades. Denmark became a target of Muslim anger in 2005 when Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Controversially Denmark has given its police the authority to seize valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner (Â£1,045; $1,514) from refugees to cover housing and food costs. The government has also cut migrant benefits and put adverts in Lebanese newspapers warning against migration to Denmark. MEPs: 3 Anti-EU Danish party gets big boost Denmark backs seizing migrants' assets The nationalist Finns Party (previously the "True Finns") came second in last year's general election. Party leader Timo Soini is Finnish Foreign Minister, in a coalition government. The party advocates strict immigration controls and argues that Finns, not migrants, take priority for social and healthcare spending. Its roots lie in rural Finland and it has championed welfare policies

Summary: Many European countries are witnessing electoral gains for far-right and nationalist parties, though they span a wide political spectrum.


The 35-year-old, who played six Super League games for Hull KR in 2011 before moving to French rugby union side Toulon, was at Manly last season. He played 290 NRL games during his 15-year career spent with five clubs, including Canterbury, where he won the 2004 Premiership. "Willie knows the job a prop has to do," coach Laurent Frayssinous said. "He is a physical and aggressive player, both in attack and in defence and we have spoken a lot about the quality of our group and he is really excited to join the club." Frayssinous' Dragons side have lost their first two games in Super League this season, with defeats by Wigan and Hull FC. Veteran front-rower Mason scored seven tries and played 24 tests for the Kangaroos, including the famous Great Britain 2006 Tri-Series defeat in Sydney where he struck Stuart Fielden and was involved in a scuffle with tourists captain Jamie Peacock. He also played 13 games for the Blues in State of Origin, scoring once.

Summary: Catalans Dragons have signed former Australia and New South Wales prop Willie Mason on a one-year deal.


The 2012 Tour de France champion's assertion was questioned after leaked World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) documents revealed he had been given three injections of allergy medication. "Brad stands by his comment concerning the use of illegal intravenous needle injections," a spokesman said. Wiggins' medical records were leaked by the 'Fancy Bears' hacking team. The records show Wiggins was given permission to take two banned substances on several occasions between 2008 and 2013, prior to competitions including the 2011 and 2012 Tours de France and the 2013 Giro d'Italia. One of the substances, triamcinolone, was taken for an allergy to pollen, according to the certificates. It is the same drug for which disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong tested positive at the 1999 Tour de France. However, Wiggins' use of the substance was legal as it was covered by a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) relating to his asthma. In his 2012 book My Time, Wiggins said he had "never had an injection, apart from I've had my vaccinations, and on occasion I've been put on a drip, when I've come down with diarrhoea or something or have been severely dehydrated". In a statement, Wiggins' spokesman said his comments in the book referred to the "historic and illegal practice of intravenous injections of performance-enhancing substances, which was the subject of a law change by [cycling's governing body] the UCI in 2011". "The triamcinolone injection that is referred to in the Wada leaks is an intramuscular treatment for asthma and is fully approved by the sport's governing bodies." Wiggins also denied controversial Belgian doctor Geert Leinders had had any involvement in the decision to apply for TUEs before major races. Leinders was hired by Team Sky, Wiggins' team at the time, in 2011 and worked for them on a consultancy basis until his name appeared in the United States Anti-Doping Agency's investigation into Armstrong in 2012. Leinders was subsequently banned for life for multiple doping violations carried out when he worked for the Rabobank cycling team between 1996 and 2009. "Brad has no direct link to Geert Leinders," the statement added. "Leinders was 'on race' doctor for Team Sky for a short period and so was occasionally present at races dealing with injuries sustained whilst racing such as colds, bruises, etc. "Leinders had no part in Brad's TUE application; Brad's medical assessments from 2011-2015 were processed by the official Team Sky doctor, and were verified by independent specialists." A TUE allows an athlete, for medical reasons, to take a prescribed substance or undergo treatment that is otherwise prohibited. British athletes must contact their national governing body or follow UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) guidance before applying for a TUE. There are strict criteria for one to be granted: Ukad says it has "a number of robust controls in place to make it as difficult as possible" for athletes to misuse the system.

Summary: Sir Bradley Wiggins has defended claims made in his 2012 autobiography that he had never received injections.


For the past six weeks or so, he has driven his green Lamborghini to the UFC's new performance institute on a daily basis. At this hub, located about four miles from the city's famous strip, you can mimic conditions at 10,000ft of altitude, clock miles on an underwater treadmill, or analyse the density of specific muscles. If an athlete is to be built rather than born, this is the place. The attention to detail is stunningly intricate and it was Manchester City's own training complex which offered key elements of the blueprint. A group of journalists are led through the $14m development by Forrest Griffin, a retired UFC light-heavyweight champion and now a vice-president with focus on athlete development. He paints details around what we see at the 30,000 square feet facility, which opened in May. Some 23 years have passed since UFC was formed but this building is seen as a game changer which will take the welfare and performance of athletes to new levels. It is far removed from the spit and sawdust gyms which shaped some of boxing's greatest names. Some 24 hours earlier, I visited the Mayweather Boxing Gym, a world-renowned facility which inside is straightforward, humble and brilliantly effective. But the UFC institute cuts with tradition in pursuit of gains. Measurability, science and mapped progress shape the mantra. Griffin explains how recovery is meticulously plotted. He points to one of his own injuries and a subsequent substantial difference in mass between his two quad muscles, detected after his retirement. A UFC fighter at the Institute would be scanned during rehabilitation to highlight which muscles have suffered during their lay-off so targeted rebuilding can be done. Any fighter competing under the UFC banner can train here at no cost. Tailored workout programmes appear on screens next to weight stations. If an athlete is only here for a short spell, their data and subsequent training plan will be sent to an app to use at their traditional base. Whatever the goal - recovery, strength, mobility, technique - there is a desire to offer a menu of ways to work on it. As Griffin stresses, what works for one individual will do nothing for another. In the recovery area, for example, athletes can opt for use of a cryotherapy chamber or laser-light therapy. Both will stimulate circulation, flushing away lactic acid and easing aches and pains. Facilities are purposely placed one room apart to ease access. We pass through a door and Griffin fires up the underwater treadmill McGregor has been filmed using in recent weeks. "Conor has had a knee injury in the past so he doesn't like to do roadwork," says Griffin, 38. "So he does a lot of bike work and he uses this as it has no impact on your body and you can work hard." Two pools next to the underwater treadmill offer temperatures of 105F and 50F respectively to again offer variety in recovery. Griffin explains why McGregor's typical routine of sleeping in until midday makes perfect sense. "He's been here once or twice

Summary: If Conor McGregor beats Floyd Mayweather on Saturday night in Las Vegas, the boyhood Manchester United fan will perhaps owe a small debt of gratitude to Manchester City.


Councils are relying on agency workers to cover nearly 4,000 out of 5,500 otherwise empty posts. Social workers say they are under constant pressure because of media coverage and criticism of their role in high profile cases such as the death of Ayeeshia Jane Smith. Local authorities say social workers leave for better pay as agency staff. And the Department for Education (DFE) said it was investing £100m to recruit graduates and professionals. There were 26,500 full time equivalent posts filled by children's social workers at the end of September 2015, 1,880 more than the year before. Yet a further 5,470 were vacant. The number of agency workers filling vacant posts was equivalent to more than double the total number of employed children's social workers in the North East. Official figures showed there were 4,400 new starters as children's social workers in English councils between September 2014 and September 2015. Over the same period, 4,200 people left. The picture varies from council to council. 26,500 Children's social workers 5,470 Vacant posts 3,850 agency staff in vacant posts 4,440 social workers started jobs between September 2014 and 2015 4,200 social workers left jobs over the same period The DFE said part of the increase "can be explained by improved data quality" with some councils now including management roles that were not in previous years' figures. The rise in vacancies "is an unexpected increase" and may be down to councils not having previously counted vacancies covered by agency workers. The figures show that Havering in east London saw the biggest percentage fall in the number of social workers, down from 86 to 50. It meant the borough went from one social worker for every 13 children in need to one for every 34. Tim Aldridge, head of children's services, said it had been happening to councils across England. "This is for several reasons including the public sector pay freeze seeing only 1% increases since 2010, compared to the salaries on offer to agency workers in the range of £30 an hour or more," he said. At Northamptonshire County Council, 50% of posts were being filled by agency workers. A spokesman said the figure had fallen since the statistics were compiled through a scheme to attract new social workers. "We want to increase the number of permanent children's social workers but this will take time," he said. The official figures also showed more than a quarter of all children's social workers in England had less than two years of service. Just 9% have been in service at their local authority more than 20 years. Get the data here A social worker in the North East, the author of the Social Work Tutor blog, with 139,000 followers on Facebook, says staff are having to spend too much time on paperwork and not enough with families. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said: "It's a revolving door. Social workers reach their peak after about two or three years. People come in, they burn out and they leave. "Every local authority is so scared of having another Baby

Summary: Almost a fifth of all children's social worker jobs in England are vacant, despite a rise in recruitment.


Temporary closure notices were placed on the shellfish beds after high E.coli bacteria readings last week. Latest tests have showed satisfactory water quality levels, said the FSA. Closures remain in place in Devon at Slapton, Taw and Torridge and in Jersey. An FSA spokesman said: "Recent tests have shown high levels of E.coli contamination in 30 shellfish beds in Cornwall and Devon. "However, a number of factors have led us to question circumstances which may have led to these unusual results, including the unprecedented nature of the results, the lack of a clear cause and the fact that other testing does not support the view that there is an obvious risk to public health. "Because of this, the FSA will not follow its normal protocol and in this case will allow the closed shellfish beds to re-open as long as there is one further test that shows the bed has E coli within accepted tolerance levels."

Summary: Shellfish farms on the Helford River and Camel Estuary in Cornwall have re-opened after pollution closure notices were lifted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).