Heavy rain seemed to have scuppered any hope of play on a night just three matches from seven got under way, and only two ended with a positive result. The Jets chased down Leicestershire's 88-2 to win thanks to Paul Coughlin (38 not out) and Paul Collingwood (34). In the South Group, Hampshire beat Gloucestershire by 24 runs in Bristol. Gloucestershire scored 175 in 19 overs, with Australian Michael Klinger hitting a magnificent unbeaten 101 from 58 balls, which included six sixes and seven fours. But openers James Vince (42) and Rilee Rossouw (45) ensured the visitors were always ahead of the run chase. The reached 121-3 to earn a 24-run victory courtesy of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system when the rain forced an early end. The victory lifted Hampshire four places to third in South Group. Durham Jets appeared to be facing a seventh straight defeat in this season's competition when a Luke Ronchi-inspired Leicestershire made 88-2 from their seven overs at Grace Road. The New Zealander smashed a six and five fours from James Weighell's first over and went on to make 63 from 21 balls. Despite losing both openers cheaply, former England batsman Collingwood and Coughlin teamed up to guide the away side to an unlikely victory However, there was drama in the final over as Collingwood and Jack Burnham were run out off successive balls before Coughlin hit the winning boundary as rain poured down across the ground.. "It was a bit of a surprise that we managed to get out there, the outfield was really wet," Collingwood told BBC Newcastle. "But, when you've got a win under your belt, your first win, you don't mind. I thought the guys showed a lot of character. "Things hadn't been going easy in T20 this year, but to stand up and chase that total down after what was pretty much a Luke Ronchi blitz in the first innings, was a great effort." Despite the victory, Durham remain bottom of North Group, with Leicestershire dropping two places to sixth. Sussex and Middlesex managed to make a prompt start to their match in Hove, but were eventually beaten by the rain which swept across the country. Middlesex were chasing a fourth T20 victory of the season and reached 136-6 from 17.4 overs when the players were forced off for the second time. Captain Brendon McCullum smashed a quickfire 26 early on, but he fell to Chris Jordan and some impressive fast bowling from Jofra Archer (2-17) kept the visitors in check. The worsening conditions meant the Sharks reply never got under way with the match abandoned just after 21:30 GMT. The games between Lancashire and Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northants, Birmingham and Yorkshire, and Glamorgan and Surrey were all called off before a ball could be bowled. T20 Blast: Tell us who you think will reach the quarter-finals?

Summary: Durham secured their first T20 Blast win in seven attempts as they beat Leicestershire in a frantic seven-overs-a side contest.


He died in a Dublin Hospital at 06:40 GMT on Friday. Fr Reid, 82, a member of the Redemptorist order, secretly acted as a conduit between the republican movement and the SDLP. He was one of the witnesses who confirmed the decommissioning of IRA weapons. In recent years, he was involved in talks with Basque nationalists seeking independence from Spain. In 1988, Fr Reid was pictured praying over the bodies of Army corporals Derek Wood and David Howes who had been dragged from their car, beaten and shot by the IRA. The corporals had inadvertently driven into the midst of a republican funeral in Belfast. The photograph of the bloodstained priest crouched praying over one of the soldiers was one of the starkest images of the Northern Ireland Troubles. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Fr Alec Reid's intervention to administer last rites epitomised his enormous faith and strength of conviction. "His comfort was given amidst the enormous fears and tension on that terrible day in March 1988." Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Clonard monastery, Fr Reid's base in west Belfast during the Troubles, was "the cradle of the peace process". He told RTÉ Radio he was with Fr Reid on Thursday night in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, and had been due to visit him again on Friday. "What Alec Reid did was, he lived the gospel message. He developed a view which was contrary to the official view, that there had to be dialogue, and he was tenacious." Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, said: "I heard with sadness of the death of Fr Reid. "We all owe a debt of gratitude to him for the role he played in the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland." Former SDLP leader John Hume said Fr Reid was "not simply a go between" in the early days of negotiating for peace. "He was an active player in fighting for an end to violence," Mr Hume said. "Without his courage, determination and utter selflessness, the road to peace in our region would have been much longer and much more difficult to traverse. "While we mourn the loss of a great man, we must also celebrate the legacy of peace and an opportunity to reconcile our people that he gave to us. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste." Michael D Higgins, the president of Ireland, said: "His ministering of the last rites to the two British corporals brutally killed in 1988 offered us an image of decency struggling to assert itself amidst brutality." There were tears and tributes in west Belfast as news broke of the death of Fr Alec Reid. "He should have got a Nobel Peace Prize," said one man. "But maybe he turned it down. The only prize he wanted was peace." One elderly woman, tears streaming down her face, said: "He should be remembered with respect. "He was someone who children should aspire to be like." Fr Reid's funeral will take place at 12:00 GMT on Wednesday after requiem Mass in Clonard church in west

Summary: Fr Alec Reid, who was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, acting as a go-between between the IRA and politicians, has died.


When the nozzle releasing a stream of molten glass is raised above a certain level, that thread begins to wobble. It traces out waves or loops - which the team found could be controlled by adjusting the speed of the nozzle. Those shapes then become the building blocks for intricate, 3D objects. Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology pioneered a method for glass 3D printing in 2015. They then started to work with mathematician Pierre-Thomas Brun, who has studied the fluid dynamics of liquid "ropes". The results are documented in a video, which the team presented in the American Physical Society's "Gallery of Fluid Motion" in November. It all started with a collaboration between two labs at MIT, Dr Brun told the BBC - one specialising in glass and the other in "mediated matter". Runny honey "Normally when you 3D print, the nozzle is very close to the piece that you're printing - that's the conventional method. But what they started working with was having a large offset. "And in that case, instead of having a thread that falls down and moves straight, you can create coil-like patterns like honey on toast." That coiling process, as it happens, is exactly what Dr Brun studied during his PhD. "I came up with a reduced model that explained the dynamics of these things," he said. "So I have a way to rationalise the patterns they observed, and we started working together in order to create some structures that take those patterns as building blocks." Suddenly, instead of being a potential flaw in the system, the wobbling of the liquid glass became a tunable design feature. And what is more, some of the tiny loops are smaller than anything that could be created by moving the nozzle itself around. The physics of the dribbling glass itself was now a precision instrument. What most impressed Dr Brun was how simple it was to control that instrument. For a given nozzle height, he explained, everything boils down to how fast the glass is being poured, relative to how fast the nozzle is moving forward. "These coils may seem complex, but you can rationalise them in a very simple way. And to do that you need one number: how fast is the glass falling onto the surface?" If the dribbling of the glass starts to outstrip the forward progress of the nozzle, the thread will trace out a meandering, wavy line instead of a straight one. Then if the forward motion gets even slower, the glass will start to trace small, alternating loops. Even slower, and the loops become one big coil. It was a surprise, Dr Brun said, that this simple ratio produced such a variety of shapes. "This is a very complex system, but you can forget about all the other properties. That's a big statement, which has no reason to be true - but it is, in this case." Following the lead of other researchers, studying the dynamics of viscous liquid threads nearly 10 years ago, Dr Brun and his colleagues called their system

Summary: US researchers have developed what they call a "molten glass sewing machine" by combining 3D printing of glass with a mathematical model of how a liquid thread forms different types of loop.


He said that a rugby player has many ways to score a try but the route he so often chose was the shortest route: "Straight over a fella. Sometimes you need to run at people rather than around them - you need to put a bit of manners on them." Foley - or Axel to his mates - died suddenly on Sunday in Paris and the game in Ireland, and beyond, is going to take some time to try to comprehend this outrageous loss. When the news broke you thought of his family, of course. You thought of all those people at his beloved Shannon RFC, where it all started for him. You thought of his legion of fans at Munster, who hold him up as one of their greatest and most influential sons. The numbers of his playing career are impressive - 201 appearances for Munster and 62 Tests for his country, 86 European ties, three European finals, three semi-finals. No list of his accomplishments would be complete without cataloguing the five All Ireland League titles he won with Shannon. Those victories meant as much to him as anything. Hard rugby played in front of passionate rugby people. This was where Foley was at his happiest. It was what Foley was born to do. And yet the number that jumped out at you on this grim day was 42 - his age. It's no age. He had taken his first steps in coaching with Munster - he was head coach and in Paris for Munster's opening fixture of the Champions Cup against Racing 92 - and though he had a lot to learn, the story of his playing career told you emphatically that one day he would learn it all and achieve greatness as a coach, too. Media playback is not supported on this device Ten years ago he wrote: "If I'm going to be remembered I'd like to be seen as a stubborn player, somebody who wouldn't give in. There were times during my career when I could have called it quits and gone off and done other things - but there was always a goal there, always something to achieve. "Once there's something to chase, I'll chase it." Foley underplayed his ability. For sure, he was a stubborn back-row forward, a number eight that would never take a backward step for anybody. But he was intelligent. His reading of rugby games was extraordinary at times. "The smartest rugby player I have ever had the honour of playing with or against," said Keith Wood, the former Ireland captain and Foley's boyhood friend. It was easy to see where Foley got it from. He was born into a rugby family - or more particularly, a Shannon family. Shannon people will tell you there's a difference. They'll say there's no rugby family is like a Shannon rugby family - and therein lies the beauty of rugby in Limerick because Young Munster people say the same thing about themselves, as do those in Garryowen, Old Crescent, Bohemians and many other clubs in this

Summary: Anthony Foley once described rugby as, basically, "a street fight with a ball".


Three people were left seriously injured in the incident on Marine Drive, Rhos-on-Sea, Conwy county, at about 14:25 GMT on Wednesday. A black Citroen came off the promenade, down a grassy slope and through iron railings before rolling on to rocks. Two adults and a teenager, all believed to be women, were taken to hospital. An adult and teenager were airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, Gwynedd, while a second adult was taken by ambulance to Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire.

Summary: A woman has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a car crashed through a seafront barrier and fell on to rocks.


Last weekend, the country was declared free of the virus that killed almost 4,000 people in the country over the past 18 months. He told the BBC's Richard Hamilton about his experiences in the civil war, which ended in 2002, and his Ebola work: I had a normal family life before the war started in 1991. But at 15 I was kidnapped by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels and taken to the jungle where I was trained on how to use a gun and initiated into the group. I thought it was the end of my life. It was like living in a different world, not like living on earth. They used a blade to cut the letters RUF into my chest, so if I was thinking about escaping I knew that I could be killed if I got caught by militia who supported the government. The rebels also threatened to cut off my legs or arms if I tried to flee, and I saw this happen to other people. Sometimes they would even take out the heart from someone's chest and cook it up with onions and ask people to eat it. It seems like a nightmare now. I remember when we used to look for food and demanded that people hand it over. If they said: "We don't have food", we told them they were lying, and then we beat them even if they could have been telling the truth. Sometimes we were forced to kill, which we did under the influence of drugs: Marijuana was very easy to take - we used it like people drink coffee - and cocaine was also available. I was given the impression that if you took these drugs then you would be brave and if you were brave you would have the opportunity in the jungle to climb up the ranks. Luckily I did manage to escape from the jungle without being killed and I went to the capital, Freetown, but was unable to find my relatives. I lived alone, but teamed up with some guys doing things like pick-pocketing and I was caught. Fortunately [while in jail] I met a preacher called Richard Cole, who was the founder of a project called Lifeline Nehemiah which aimed to give hope, and a home, to people like me who felt they had lost hope. He encouraged me saying: "You used to cause atrocities, but you can be used to contribute to rebuild the nation." At the home he encouraged me to continue with my schooling, he also told me that guys like me would be leaders of the nation and help to rebuild it. Richard taught me that it was God who was taking me through all these troubling times, and I also learnt that it was important to give back what was invested in me. He passed away in 2006 but we had that vision and continue with it. When the Ebola crisis came to Sierra Leone in 2014 we considered it to be a common enemy. We were not medical practitioners

Summary: Prince Tommy Williams, who used to be a child soldier in Sierra Leone, was one of hundreds of volunteers who helped fight the spread of Ebola.


Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, had provisionally suspended the position last year when the allegations first emerged. It is now returning what remains of the original $20m (Â£13m) donation. Mr Cosby denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime. The Cosby family donated the money to the women's college in 1988 and the endowed professorship was established in the name of Mr Cosby and his wife, Camille. Mr Cosby, 78, is facing a series of historic sexual assault allegations dating back several decades. Recently released court documents from a 2005 civil case show he had admitted obtaining sedatives to give to women before sex. But Mr Cosby's lawyers said he was only one of many people who introduced the sedatives - Quaaludes - into their "consensual sex life in the 1970s". They said that at no point had Mr Cosby admitted to having any non-consensual sex or giving any women drugs without their knowledge. "Quaaludes were a highly popular recreational drug in the 1970s, labelled in slang as 'disco biscuits', and known for their capacity to increase sexual arousal," a statement said. Mr Cosby's legal team is attempting to stop a judge unsealing the full set of documents from the case, including the confidential settlement agreement. More than 12 women have accused Mr Cosby of sexual assault, but he has denied all of the claims. 2002: Lachele Covington, a 20-year-old actress, reportedly files a police report saying she had been inappropriately touched. No further action was taken. 2005: Andrea Constand sues Mr Cosby for sexual assault. The case is eventually settled out of court in 2006. 2014: Over the year, dozens of women make public accusations that Mr Cosby sexually assaulted them. Live shows are cancelled across the country amid protests November 2014: TV network NBC scraps plans for a new show with the comedian following allegations by TV presenter Janice Dickinson that he had assaulted her in 1982. Repeats of the Cosby Show are also pulled from cable TV December 2014: Judy Huth sues Mr Cosby for molesting her in 1974 when she was 15 years old. Mr Cosby counter-sues, claiming she is trying to extort money from him May 2015: Mr Cosby speaks publicly about the allegations for the first time. "I can't speak; I just don't want to argue; I don't talk about it," he told ABC News. July 2015: Court papers made public from Constand's 2005 civil case reveal Mr Cosby admitted obtaining sedatives with the intent of giving them to women he wanted to have sex with.

Summary: A prestigious African-American college has discontinued a professorship funded by the comedian Bill Cosby, following allegations that he assaulted several women.


A panel of judges compiled a list of the country's 100 most influential females for Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Further down were author JK Rowling at seventh and Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at 20th. One judge, journalist Eve Pollard, said the list highlighted the sectors where women were still under-represented. The Queen's granddaughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, did not make the list but the judges noted her potential to do so. Ms Pollard said: "Most women on our list were judged to have power because they had reached a place where they have control - of policy, of direction, of influence, of staff. "The panel, a democratic group, also felt that we should include some women who have what we describe as soft power - not hire and fire or innovative financial decisions but the ability to transform the way we think about ourselves. "Inevitably, not everyone will agree with the 100 we have chosen. There are some omissions. For example, we had long debates about the Duchess of Cambridge. Is she influential? Hugely. Is she powerful? Not yet. "What this list does is shine a light on those sectors where too few women are getting to the top, like politics, FTSE companies, the military and journalism. "Our legacy, we hope, is that this list might change that." David Cameron's speechwriter Clare Foges, singer Adele and broadcaster Clare Balding were among those outside the top 20 but on the full list. The judging panel also included Conservative MP Priti Patel, Labour peer Oona King and crime novelist Val McDermid. Figures compiled by the BBC News website last year showed fewer than a third of the UK's most influential jobs were held by women. Women occupied on average 30.9% of the most senior positions across 11 key sectors analysed, including business, politics, the judiciary and policing. Campaigners said progress was still too slow. The top 20 names in the Woman's Hour list are: More information about the Women's Hour Power List can be found here.

Summary: The Queen, Home Secretary Theresa May and Santander bank boss Ana Botin have been declared the UK's top three most powerful women in a BBC survey.


The European research centre announced its spoof discovery with pictures showing its scientists using The Force in everyday life. It was one of many April Fools jokes seen on websites around the world. Others included a selfie shoe, driverless pizza delivery and thought-powered web search. "The Force is what gives a particle physicist his powers," said Cern scientist Ben Kenobi of the University of Mos Eisley, Tatooine in a press release. Many scientists at the centre were already using The Force, said the release, to communicate over long distances, influence minds and for "lifting heavy things out of swamps". Microsoft used the background image for its main Bing search page to tout its April Fools joke in which it claimed the search system could read palms and minds to ensure people got the results they really wanted. Anyone could try thought-powered search by putting their right hand on a screen where the Bing homepage indicated. "The innovative new search function intelligently analyses the electrical signals transmitted through the hand to calculate the relevant search term," said the software firm. Many other firms and sites produced spoof announcements and products for 1 April. Smartphone maker Samsung produced a spoof page for a Blade edge version of its Galaxy smartphone that, it claimed, was designed for cooks. The limited edition handset incorporates a diamond-edged blade so the phone can also be used to chop food when it is not being used for calls, texts, or browsing the web. HTC joined in with fake product pages for the Re-Sok - the "world's first truly smart sock". The technology-enhanced footwear is engineered with GPS so pairs of socks can easily find each other and have an automatic hole warning system to alert owners when their intelligent footwear is running thin. For its April Fools parody, Motorola went to the trouble of making a lavish video showing two craftsmen producing selfie-sticks out of wood and leather. New York-based footwear maker Miz Mooz joined in and produced a pair of shoes that have smartphone docking ports in each toe so each one can be used to take selfies. Other parodies included cab-calling firm Hailo introducing piggy-back rides around cities; Domino's pizza introducing a driverless pizza delivery system using autonomous scooters; BMW making the ultimate rugby mouth guard and Sony making a wearable add-on for the PlayStation so players can take part in games when they are swimming.

Summary: The Force - the mysterious energy field used by the Jedi in Star Wars - has been discovered by researchers at the Cern laboratory.


Almost everyone with a Chinese background has grown up learning the folktale Journey to the West, the story of an epic pilgrimage of a Buddhist monk and his three disciples, the legendary monkey god Sun Wukong, the greedy and mischievous Zhu Bajie and man-eating demon Sha Wujing. Together with a dragon prince -transformed into a white horse - the party travels on a mission to bring ancient Buddhist scriptures from India back to China. Along the way, they encounter monsters and other obstacles, triumphing through their wit and teamwork. "It is the greatest story in classical Chinese literature," says Qu Jingyi, a professor specialising in Chinese literature and history at the Nanyang Technological University. Western audiences might best know the legend through the kitschy 1970s series Monkey, which put Sun Wukong front and centre. The Japanese show, which most people called Monkey Magic after its theme song, was a mainstay of kids TV in the 1980s, and won a cult following for its mismatched dubbing, rudimentary special effects and funk soundtrack. Streaming site Netflix, perhaps capitalising on current nostalgia for the era, has now teamed up with broadcast companies in Australia and New Zealand to bring back Monkey. The Legend of the Monkey will revamp the classic as a "big budget fantasy drama", with a whiff of Game of Thrones about it. The decision proved to be a controversial one, however. There's a noticeable change in location, this time being filmed on set in New Zealand, and early promotional photos released last week show no Chinese actors have been cast. The lead actor is Thai, while others have Maori or Pacific Island backgrounds, but it caused a now familiar outcry. "My childhood favourite just got a whitewashing reboot," said Khoo Fooi-Ling on Twitter. "Is this Journey to the West or Lord of the Rings," wrote a user from Beijing on China's popular micro-blogging Sina Weibo site. "Everything looks wrong, they've butchered and insulted our history. Expect an unwelcome from viewers in China and zero ratings." The journey story has been retold in China for centuries. It can be seen in artworks, cultural festivals and even as local movie and small screen adaptations. While it's commonplace to see Chinese operas telling the story, in 2007 it found a fan in British musician Damon Albarn of Blur fame, who brought the story to life in Europe. Monkey: Journey to the West featured music by Albarn with designs by Jamie Hewlett, the artist who brought Albarn's animated band Gorillaz to life. It was performed in Mandarin and featured acrobats, martial artists and a team of contortionists. The legend has even made its way into video games. Blizzard title Overwatch unveiled a festive update in time for the Lunar New Year, which featured special holiday items, maps and cosmetic "skins" modelled after the four main characters from Journey to the West. Multiplayer online battle game Defense of the Ancients (DotA) has also incorporated Journey to the West-themed characters in past gaming updates. All of this would likely be surprising to Xuanzang, the Chinese monk who travelled

Summary: As one of the greatest Chinese fables is set to be retold yet again, in the form of a Netflix series, the BBC's Heather Chen looks at the enduring appeal of a wandering monk and his loyal friends.


It has recently attended nine properties in areas including Poole. The service said neighbours were not warned before the devices were set off. It is asking people who wish to use them to contact residents in advance to avoid "false alarms". British Pest Control Association (BPCA) described them as "aggressive" products. Firefighters have also been called to homes in Bournemouth, Weymouth, Wool, and Woolland, near Hazelbury Bryan. Richard Moseley, technical manager for BPCA, said such devices were used by the association in confined areas such as loft spaces and greenhouses to control pests, including cluster flies. "Imagine a firework with insecticides going off - that's what you're dealing with," he said. "Sometimes smoke can be seen externally and in cases such as these we would inform the local fire service, but it's not something an amateur would always think of." They are not advised for use in living areas, such as kitchens or sitting rooms, where there is a greater risk of contamination, he said. He added there was a "lack of knowledge" with over-the-counter products.

Summary: A number of emergency call outs to properties being fumigated with pest control "smoke bombs" has prompted a warning from Dorset Fire Service.


Rankin suffered cramp in his sole Test appearance against Australia in January 2014 then dropped out of favour with the country he switched to in 2012. "I'm grateful to England for the chance to play Test cricket," said Rankin, 31. "But with few opportunities in the last two years, I felt it was time to move on at this stage of my career. I'm delighted to be returning for Ireland." He met with Cricket Ireland last week to seal what is a timely comeback given the imminent World Twenty20 in India. Rankin's last appearance for England was on 17 January 2014, making him eligible under ICC regulations to play again for Ireland on 18 January 2016. The Londonderry-born player will therefore be available for the InterContinental Cup match with Papua New Guinea in Australia from 31 January to 3 February and then the ICC World Twenty20 in March. He made the last of his 82 appearances for Ireland during the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, taking 112 wickets at an average of 24.12 before appearing for England 11 times between 2013 and 2014. "There's a real opportunity for Ireland to get Test status now, and that prospect was a real lure for me - I'd love to be part of history," he added.

Summary: Warwickshire bowler Boyd Rankin will play for Ireland in the World Twenty20 after switching back from England.


The 21-year-old made his debut for the Tigers in the League Cup first-round tie against Accrington Stanley in August. Dixon was captain of the Championship club's under-21 side. He could make his debut for the Minstermen, who are bottom of the Football League, in Saturday's match against Newport. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: League Two side York City have signed Hull City midfielder Matt Dixon on an 18-month deal.


Sir Peter Blake received Liverpool's Citizen of Honour at a ceremony at the city's Liver building. The 84-year-old also gave Mersey ferry Snowdrop a dazzle ship makeover entitled Everybody Razzle Dazzle. Sir Peter, who was born in Kent, said he hopes Liverpool people will accept him as an "honorary Scouser". Lord Mayor of Liverpool Roz Gladden said: "Sir Peter has helped shape Liverpool's cultural significance on the global stage for more than five decades - from Sgt Pepper to Everybody Razzle Dazzle. "His work with The Beatles was one of the seminal moments in popular art in the 20th Century and 50 years on still resonates around the world as we will see with our 50 Summers of Love programme." She said he had continued to make outstanding contributions to the cultural life of the city "underlining the depth of feeling he has for Liverpool and the city has for him". Sir Peter said: "As well as my music links with the city, I'm proud of my association with Liverpool Biennial and Tate Liverpool and hope to continue my relationship with the city." He said he treasures "the warmth and good humour of the people of Liverpool". Citizen of Honour awards were introduced in 2008 to recognise individuals who have enriched the image of Liverpool and its citizens. Recent recipients include James Barton, founder of the nightclub brand Cream, and Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film director David Yates. The Snowdrop ferry was due to be returned to its original paintwork at the end of 2016 but it has been extended until 2019.

Summary: The artist who created the album cover for The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album has been given a top honour in the band's home city.


The victim was attacked because her son had eloped with an upper-caste girl about a month ago. She has alleged that police initially refused to file a case saying such incidents were not uncommon. The incident took place in Mulgaon village on Monday afternoon but reports of the atrocity have just come out. The village in Satara district falls in the constituency of the state's Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. "The women pushed me to the ground, took off my sari and started beating me up with chappals [slipper] and a stick. They pulled my hair," the victim told a television channel. She said the beatings continued for two hours. On Wednesday, police arrested five people, including the eloped girl's parents. Dalits, formerly known as "untouchables", are at the bottom of the Hindu caste system in India. Although caste discrimination is illegal, biases remain in many areas.

Summary: Police in India's Maharashtra state have arrested five members of an upper caste for beating, stripping and parading naked a low-caste Dalit woman.


Media playback is not supported on this device Fifteen of those won gold. How many of them will be back to defend their titles in 2016 at the Rio Olympic Games, and who else might come through the ranks to join them? A week is a long time in sport, never mind four years. But here, BBC Sport takes an early look at some names in the frame for future Olympic fame. Media playback is not supported on this device Six of the 12 British Olympians who won more than one medal at London 2012 were younger than 26. Laura Trott, 20, and boyfriend Jason Kenny, 24, were both double Olympic champions in the velodrome, Andy Murray, 25,took tennis gold and silver, gymnasts Louis Smith, 23,and Max Whitlock, 19,both picked up two medals, and Rebecca Adlington, 23,won double bronze in freestyle swimming. It would be risky to bet against any of them returning for Rio. Trott, in particular, has the chance to establish a legacy to match Sir Chris Hoy's record medal haul over the next decade, having dominated her team pursuit and omnium events in recent years. Adlington has some thinking to do after losing both of her Olympic titles, particularly following the stunning performance of American 15-year-old Katie Ledecky over her favoured 800m distance. Smith has suggested younger gymnasts may prove better all-rounders and push him out of the 2016 gymnastics team. But you can expect Whitlock to be a bedrock of that squad if he maintains his progress, while Trott and Kenny should have at least two more Olympic outings left in them, if not more. Murray will certainly hope to defend his singles title in Rio. Of course, 25 is something of an arbitrary barrier. In many sports, you can just as easily win a medal in your 40s or 50s as your teens. Many of GB's gold medallists can be expected to fight for their place, if not retain their title, in four years' time - think of the likes of Jess Ennis, 26,and Mo Farah, 29, plus many of the GB rowing team. To take an example from the opposite end of the spectrum: Nick Skelton is 54, has come back from a broken neck and a hip replacement, and now needs work on his back - but the team showjumping champion plans to return. Media playback is not supported on this device Plenty of likely candidates for Rio 2016 have already broken into the team at London 2012, even if they didn't grab the headlines. The most obvious of these is Adam Gemili, the world junior champion over 100m, whose time of 10.06 seconds in the Olympic semi-finals saw him narrowly miss out on a place in the final alongside the likes of Jamaican winner Usain Bolt and his team-mate Yohan Blake. Gemili, still only 18, has already been hailed by US rival Tyson Gay as a man with the potential to become one of the greatest in history. By Rio, we will know a lot more about what the former footballer can achieve on

Summary: More than 30 of the Britons who won medals at London 2012 were aged 25 or under.


Julian Lewis, chairman of the Defence Select Committee, said the former prime minister had "charm and ability". But he had "dangerously" delayed renewing Trident, Mr Lewis said, also questioning Mr Cameron's roles in Libya, Brexit and armed forces cuts. The ex-PM was mooted as Nato secretary-general over the Christmas period. The incumbent, former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, is due to stand down within the next couple of years. In a speech as part of the Speaker's Lecture series, Mr Lewis said: "During the Christmas recess, an obviously planted story appeared in a tabloid newspaper suggesting that our most recent former prime minister should be the UK's candidate as next Nato secretary-general. "It was duly taken up by the wider media, with heavy hints suggesting that Number 10 was actively considering the proposal." He added: "David Cameron is a man of charm and ability. He deserves to find a role commensurate with his talents, and I am sure that he will. "But those talents do not include wisely judging strategic issues, whether when toppling Arab dictators in places like Libya, increasing military commitments whilst cutting the armed forces, predicting a Third World War in consequence of Brexit, or dangerously delaying the renewal of Trident for the sake of coalition politics - as he did." Mr Cameron resigned as prime minister last summer after his Remain campaign lost the EU referendum. He stood down as MP for Witney, Oxfordshire, in September. In an interview with the Times, published on Monday, US President-elect Donald Trump branded Nato "obsolete" for failing to adapt to the threat posed by terrorism, but he also said the 28-member military alliance was "very important". Mr Lewis warned that if the US turned away from the organisation, Europe would have "little chance" of deterring non-nuclear threats. But he claimed Mr Trump was trying to strengthen the alliance by confronting countries which failed to meet the membership requirement of spending more than 2% of GDP on defence. Mr Lewis said: "It seems to me far more likely that, by confronting the 'free-riders' within the alliance, he actually aims to strengthen Nato by ensuring that all its members properly fund their armed forces in the future."

Summary: David Cameron should not become leader of Nato as his "talents do not include wisely-judging strategic issues", a senior Conservative MP has warned.


A report due to go before the authority's cabinet on 15 July is proposing to make the cuts to cope with "a significant funding shortfall". The proposed cuts would see 195 job losses, 47 of those posts are already vacant according to the authority. The plans could also see the closure of Woodside Lodge care home and cuts to services for those with learning disabilities. A library review is also under way with a formal consultation for both service users and affected staff expected in the autumn. Deputy leader, Labour's Stephen Barnes-Andrews said: "We have a clear vision for where we want to be in 2017, but to get there we have to change the way we work and make some difficult decisions. "Any changes we make will be focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for our residents." The report highlights the likely gap that will be faced for 2015-16, is estimated at more than Â£30m. Councillor Royston Smith, leader of the Conservative group, said: "This announcement is betrayal. A betrayal of all those workers who were promised their jobs were safe with Labour and a betrayal to all those people who voted Labour after being promised services would be protected. "In two years in office Labour has refused to share services and accommodation, outsource to protect services and share management roles with other public sector bodies. "There is so much more that could have been done before sacking hundreds of workers, cutting support to disabled residents and closing care homes." In a statement, Unite described Mr Smith's claim of betrayal as "a joke" and said it was the government that was "betraying the people of Southampton by slashing funding, forcing councils to do their dirty work". It added it was opposed to any cuts that affect jobs and services to the vulnerable. "Job losses and outsourcing is not the answer," it said, adding: "If cuts carry on at this rate we fear there will be no council left by 2020." It added the joint unions had "defeated" cuts to the service in 2012 and would support campaigns against these new cuts.

Summary: Budget cuts at Southampton City Council could result in nearly 200 job losses.


Five out of six (84%) of those who voted in the ballot backed walkouts and the union said its leaders will now consider their next move. Destinations on the line include London, Aberdeen, Inverness and Hull. Virgin Trains responded to the result by saying it would run a full timetable during any RMT strike action. The two sides are in dispute over staffing changes, which the company says would have no impact on safety and no compulsory job losses. The union's general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT will not sit back while nearly 200 members' jobs are under threat and also conditions and safety are put at risk." David Horne, managing director for Virgin Trains on the east coast, said: "With our guarantees that there will be no compulsory redundancies, no impact on safety and a full timetable in place during any action, we urge the RMT not to call a strike which will cost its members pay for no reason, and to rejoin us around the negotiating table."

Summary: Virgin East Coast rail workers have voted to go out on strike in a dispute over job cuts, working conditions and safety, the RMT union has said.


The injury-hit Hammers lost to Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu in the qualifying round for the second season in succession. The visitors won Thursday's second leg at the London Stadium 1-0 to go through 2-1 on aggregate. "I'm not going to lose faith in the players after one game," said Bilic. "We're missing top-quality players." Former West Brom and Barnsley midfielder Filipe Teixeira's precise first-half finish secured victory for Astra as West Ham failed to convert any of their 17 attempts at goal. "The disappointment is massive," said Bilic. "We didn't play good in the first half or with desire as a team. We were second best. "I'm angry and frustrated but I'm much more disappointed than anything else." Bilic made eight changes from Sunday's Premier League win against Bournemouth, but had few attacking options with Dimitri Payet, Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and Andre Ayew injured. Bilic has said he is interested in signing Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony, while West Ham announced the arrival of Swiss midfielder Edimilson Fernandes from FC Sion before kick-off. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Manager Slaven Bilic said he was "angry and frustrated" after West Ham failed to reach the Europa League group stage.


Victory lifted the Shrimpers up to fifth, while Posh have only won six of their 17 home league games this term. "If you don't believe you're going to get there [to the play-offs] you never will. My belief won't stop until it's mathematically impossible," he said. "We're five points off the play-offs. It's not a lot with 13 games to go." He continued to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I know we've just been thrashed at home, but we need to continue to support each other. All I can do is apologise to the fans after the performance. "I always take the blame when we lose and I'll do it again now. It's down to me why the team lost. What we've got to do now is stand up like men, puff our chests out, come back on Saturday and produce a win." Two goals from Marc-Antoine Fortune set the Shrimpers on their way to victory at the ABAX Stadium, while Tom Nichols scored the only goal for ninth-placed Posh. However, McCann has received positive news regarding Gwion Edwards' knee injury, picked up in Saturday's defeat by Walsall. "It'll be seven or eight weeks instead of seven or eight months. We feared the worst to be honest, but we got the good news it's not too serious. "He's been top drawer this season, he's got a great attitude and he's a tough little cookie."

Summary: Manager Grant McCann has apologised to the fans for Peterborough United's 4-1 home defeat by fellow League One play-off hopefuls Southend United.


It is a joint venture between Lacuna Developments, based in Holywood, County Down, and the Welsh firm Watkin Jones. They have bought the former Willis insurance offices, close to the junction with Botanic Avenue. The same joint venture is currently converting the former Belfast Metropolitan College building at College Square East into student flats. It is also planning a student development at the former Athletic Stores building in the city centre. There are currently plans for more than 4,000 student 'beds' to be developed in Belfast over the next few years. The latest application, which was filed last week, is for more than 700 units in a development on Donegall Street. It will form part of the bigger Northside regeneration scheme which includes a hotel, social housing and commercial space. Most of the planned student accommodation is on the northern edge of the city centre, close to the new campus of the Ulster University. The latest Watkin Jones/ Lacuna plan is the first private sector scheme close to Queens University, Belfast. The scheme represents an investment of around Â£10m and the developers are aiming to deliver it by September 2017. It will be managed by Fresh Student Living, which is involved with the other two schemes.

Summary: A student housing developer is planning to build around 150 apartments on the Dublin Road in south Belfast.


Two officers were inside the car conducting a mobile patrol of the town when the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday. They were leaving Pinewood Avenue at about 02:00 BST, when a man emerged from an alleyway and threw a brick at the vehicle. The brick struck the windscreen in front of the driver, smashing it. The man, who was dressed in a dark hooded jacket with his face covered, ran off in the direction of the alleyway. The officers were left shaken, but physically unharmed. Sgt Brian Caskey condemned the attack. "This patrol vehicle will be out of circulation while repairs are carried out," he said. "The person responsible needs to be identified and brought to justice."

Summary: The windscreen of a PSNI car has been smashed during an attack on a police patrol in Carrickfergus.


But the annual Easter School at St Mary's University College Belfast drew more than 250 pupils from across the west of the city this week. Classes are targeted at those who require extra support in preparation for GCSE Maths and English. Four days of tuition are offered to schoolchildren who are at risk of not achieving a pass grade. Geraldine McAteer of the West Belfast Partnership Board, which manages the programme, said demand for places is high and pupils are "incredibly keen" to take part. Ms McAteer puts the popularity of the classes down to the environment and ethos of the school, which is one of "relaxed but focused learning". "They're mixing with children their own age, from other schools, in their own clothes, their civvies," she said. "They're in a university environment, working with different tutors and university students who volunteer to shepherd them around. So it has actually gained a reputation as quite a fun experience. "A grade C is a passport to so much, so this is to help get them over the line," said Ms McAteer. Maths tutor Jim Stott said the additional support often provides the encouragement students require to keep on studying at a time when their predicted grades may discourage them. "They're keen to tell you what exact areas they need more support with. "It may be trigonometry or algebra, so we break them up into small groups and when they're getting the extra attention, they soak it up. They're really committed to it. "It's very relaxed - I'm not standing at a board talking to children, the children are taking part in it. Sometimes they're at the board. "Pupils tend to gel together very well. They're not necessarily from the same schools, and that's part of the attraction - they like to mix with young people from other schools." Ms McAteer explained that the Â£25 fee is waived for those who cannot afford it. "This is a great social justice model," she said. "We raise money from the Department of Education which enables us to pay for tutors and hire of premises. "There are some people who can afford to pay that amount per hour. But this is 16 to 20 hours tuition for Â£25. "But if we find out from the school that a family can't afford that cost, it's overlooked. Our main aim is to get the pupils in, to give them assistance, to get them to pass." Ms McAteer said the West Belfast Partnership Board hope to roll the programme out to other parts of the city over time.

Summary: It's a strange phenomenon - teenagers opting to return to the classroom over the Easter Holidays.


Media playback is not supported on this device Now, he has to find a replacement for the German as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton. And at this late stage of the year, it will be no easy task. So who will be on Wolff's shortlist and how likely are they to get the seat? This is the fight many would like to see. Hamilton and Alonso are regarded as the two towering talents of their generation and their intense battle as McLaren team-mates in 2007 was cut short by Alonso falling out with boss Ron Dennis and leaving the team. They ended that year tied on points, one behind world champion Kimi Raikkonen, with four wins each. Round two would be the biggest box office F1 could hope for, but it is highly unlikely to happen for two reasons: 1) Alonso is under contract to McLaren and even if he has a break clause - which they say he does not - they would not want to let him go; 2) More importantly, Wolff knows that the problems he had with Hamilton and Rosberg would pale compared to the potential difficulties of handling Hamilton and Alonso. Chances of it happening: 6/10 The Australian was the choice of many observers as the driver of 2016, and Wolff is a big fan. The on-track battle with Hamilton would be intense, but Ricciardo is a laid-back character and would probably be easier to handle off it. But he is under contract to Red Bull until 2018. Red Bull says they have no intention of letting him go, but if Wolff approached them there is just the possibility that they may consider selling Ricciardo. Why? Because most accept that, long term, Ricciardo and Max Verstappen is not a sustainable line-up - if Red Bull become title contenders their relationship is very likely to become incendiary. Chances: 6/10 Verstappen is the big rising star of F1. Shaded by Ricciardo over 2016 as a whole, performances such as his stunning drive in the wet in Brazil last month mark him out as a future world champion. Wolff would be very interested but, like Ricciardo, Verstappen is under contract to Red Bull - in his case to the end of 2019. And Red Bull are even more in love with the Dutchman than they are with Ricciardo. Chances: 4/10 Vettel's love affair with Ferrari - and vice versa - is long over after a difficult and disappointing season. Relations with team boss Maurizio Arrivabene are frayed - especially since the Italian said the four-time champion should focus more on his driving and needed to "earn" a new contract beyond 2017. And Vettel was unhappy with the decision to split with technical director James Allison in the summer. Likewise, Ferrari have been confused how, after a year and a half of easily beating team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel's form slipped in the second half of 2016 - although they might want to read the previous paragraph for an answer. Vettel has been shopping around for a move and would almost certainly welcome

Summary: Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff admits that Nico Rosberg's decision to retire took him completely by surprise - but it is only the start of his problems.


Experts are cautious because the drug, aducanumab, is still in the early stages of development. But a study in Nature has shown it is safe and hinted that it halts memory decline. Larger studies are now under way to fully evaluate the drug's effects. The build-up of amyloid in the brain has been a treatment target for many years. This study, of 165 patients, was designed to test aducanumab was safe to take. After a year of treatment, it also showed the higher the dose the stronger the effect on amyloid plaques. The researchers then carried out tests on memory and found "positive effects". However, 40 people dropped out of the study, half because of side effects they experienced, such as headaches. These too were much more common with a higher dosage. The next phase of research - phase 3 - involves two separate studies. These are recruiting 2,700 patients with very early stage Alzheimer's across North America, Europe and Asia in order to fully test the drug's effect on cognitive decline. Dr Alfred Sandrock of the biotech company Biogen, which worked with the University of Zurich on the research, said: "Phase 3 really needs to be done and I hope it will confirm what we have seen in this study. "One day I could envisage treating people who have no symptoms because if you have amyloid in the brain it's likely you'll develop Alzheimer's one day." However, there have been many disappointments in Alzheimer's drug development, and it is over a decade since the last drug for people with the condition was licensed. Other experts have welcomed this latest research - but with caution. Dr David Reynolds, chief scientific officer at Alzheimer's Research UK, said the results provided "tantalising evidence that a new class of drug to treat the disease may be on the horizon". And Dr James Pickett, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, added: "What is most compelling is that more amyloid was cleared when people took higher doses of the drug. "No existing treatments for Alzheimer's directly interfere with the disease process and so a drug that actually slows the progress of the disease by clearing amyloid would be a significant step." However, Dr Tara Spires-Jones, of the Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems at the University of Edinburgh, said: "I am cautiously optimistic about this treatment, but trying not to get too excited because many drugs make it through this early stage of testing then go on to fail in larger trials." And John Hardy, professor of neuroscience at University College London, said: "These new data are tantalising but they are not yet definitive."

Summary: A drug that destroys the characteristic protein plaques that build up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's is showing "tantalising" promise, scientists say.


The teenager was walking on the Ancrum Road crossing, near the junction with Ancrum Drive, when she was hit by a black Ford Fiesta at about 17:20 on Monday. She is receiving treatment at Ninewells Hospital. Police Scotland have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

Summary: A 15-year-old girl has suffered a serious head injury after being hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing in Dundee.


"I know that the presidential campaign is developing actively in France," the Russian president said, adding: "Of course, we do not want to influence events in any way." The Russian president appeared to be suppressing a grin as he spoke those words. Marine Le Pen appeared unperturbed. She repeated her support for Moscow's annexation of Crimea, and her opposition to the sanctions subsequently imposed by the EU. If elected to the Elysee Palace, she pledged: "I would envisage lifting the sanctions quite quickly." So the meeting was a win for both. Madame Le Pen looked like a world-leader-in-waiting; Mr Putin received assurances from a woman who might become president of France, and who, like him, opposes the EU and Nato. But there is more to the relationship between Mr Putin and Ms Le Pen than ideological convergence. Because of the National Front's racist and anti-Semitic past, French banks have declined to lend the party money. So Marine Le Pen has been forced to look elsewhere for financing. In 2014, the National Front took Russian loans worth €11m (£9.4m). One of the loans, for €9m, came from a small bank, First Czech Russian Bank, with links to the Kremlin. The loan was brokered by Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, an energy consultant turned MEP, who has called himself "Mr Mission Impossible". When I met him in Strasbourg, he told me he initially secured an agreement with a financial institution in Abu Dhabi, but the deal fell through. He even approached a potential lender in Iran, but Marine Le Pen vetoed the idea, he said. Eventually, he went to Russia. The negotiations over the loan coincided with Russia's annexation of Crimea. EU governments condemned the annexation. Marine Le Pen publicly took the opposite view, leading some to question whether the loans were a quid-pro-quo. Mr Schaffhauser denied he and Ms Le Pen ever discussed the issue of Crimea in relation to the loan. "Always Marine Le Pen, and Jean-Marie before, was for co-operation with Russia," he said. "It was not a political loan. It was a commercial loan." But Russia did want to use Ms Le Pen to legitimise its actions in Crimea. We know this because a group of Russian hackers, known as Shaltai Boltai, or Humpty Dumpty, published a series of text messages said to be between a Kremlin official and a Russian MP. The exchanges, which took place in mid-March 2014, shows the pair discussing the possibility of Marine Le Pen travelling to Crimea as an observer in the referendum which would lead to Crimea's annexation. "We really need this, I told my boss you were in contact with her," the Kremlin official says. Marine Le Pen didn't go to Crimea. Instead she publicly backed the results of the referendum, a fact that delighted the Kremlin official and the MP. "She didn't let us down," says one text, followed by a smiley-face. "We must find some way of demonstrating our respect to the French," comes the reply. Some believe the €9m loan, which was made later that year, was indeed a reward for Ms

Summary: When Marine Le Pen appeared in the Kremlin on 24 March, it was Vladimir Putin himself who gave voice to the thought that was surely on many people's minds:


The much-anticipated film sparked controversy last week after it emerged it would feature a "gay moment". It was due for release in Malaysia on Thursday, but Disney said it was being held for a "review" of its content. The Malaysian Censorship Board (LPF) said on Tuesday it had approved the screening but with "a minor edit concerning a gay moment in the film". Homosexual activity is illegal in Muslim majority Malaysia, although the country's tourism minister has said banning the film is "ridiculous". A new release date has yet to be announced. The live-action remake was granted a "P13 parental guidance classification". "We have approved the film so there is no more issue. Once a film receives approval, it means it can be screened," LPF Chairman Datuk Abdul Hamid said. "However, the date of screening and where the screening takes place is not under LPF's jurisdiction. We only look at the content and give a decision on whether the movie gets approved or not." Local cinema chains have been offering refunds for customers who have purchased tickets in advance. Beauty and the Beast director Bill Condon has spoken about the "exclusively gay moment" in the film. It involves LeFou - the sidekick of the film's main antagonist Gaston - who tries to come to terms with feelings for Gaston that swing between lust and admiration, as a side-plot to the main story. The decision to review the Disney classic in Malaysia courted criticism from netizens, many of whom called it "stupid and laughable". "Malaysia bans 'Beauty and the Beast' but is okay with nonsense Malay movies with no moral values, just full of brainless jokes," wrote a Twitter user in a tweet which drew more than 4,500 re-tweets. Priyanka Laxmiâ€

Summary: The release of Disney's Beauty and the Beast has been postponed in Malaysia.


The two sides have been without a binding deal since the previous one expired in June. Wales and British and Irish Lions lock Jones hopes the players can now concentrate on the new season. "Ultimately as players we've prepared as if it's a normal season and everything's rosy," Jones said. "I do stress it's not been ideal and it's not a distraction, but all the same it will be nice to have it done because we've heard for the last 18 months, potentially two years, that this is going to be sorted. "I commend both sides for doing so but it's just disappointing it's taken so long." We've got to move forward with the players that we've got and that's what we intend to do A new deal between the WRU and Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Scarlets and Jones' own Ospreys is expected to be signed this week and the 28-year-old added jokingly: "Apparently there was white smoke coming out of the top of the Millennium Stadium, which bodes well!" Jones, who has won 80 caps for Wales and six for the Lions, is one of nine players tipped to become dual-contracted under the proposed new deal. Ospreys begin their season on Friday, 5 September at home to Treviso in the Guinness Pro12, while they will also face the Italians in the Champions Cup in October in a pool including Northampton and Racing Metro. The Welsh side have seen senior players of the calibre of Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans and Ryan Jones - all Lions - leave for other clubs in the off-season. Jones is hoping that players will emerge from within Ospreys to swell the ranks. "[It is a] pretty big [hole], particularly in the pack. You also look at [fly-half] Matthew Morgan going which was one of our shining lights coming through," Jones said. "Obviously he moved for probably different reasons that some of the other guys did, but they've all moved on and a lot has been said about the comings and goings. "As a region, a group of players and personally we wish them the best, but we've got to move forward with the players that we've got and that's what we intend to do. "The likes of Lloyd Peers, Tyler Ardron... these are guys putting their hands up in the squad. "People like myself, Duncan [Jones] and other guys, Biggs [Dan Biggar], are going to try and grab a few by the scruff of the neck and bring them along with us."

Summary: Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones has welcomed the news that the Welsh Rugby Union and its four regions are set to sign a new participation agreement.


More than 700,000 private messages between members have also been leaked. A message on the site's homepage said: "We have been made aware of an alleged security breach and we are reviewing our systems as we work to remedy the situation and tighten our security." The leaked details included sensitive information such as whether a member would consider polygamy. The breach was discovered by security researcher Troy Hunt who runs a cybersecurity alert website. Details of members' employers, location, marriage status and whether they were a convert to Islam were revealed, as well as names, email addresses, Skype handles and IP addresses - according to technology news site Motherboard. Muslim Match's Facebook page describes the site as: "Single, divorced, widowed, married Muslims coming together to share ideas, thoughts and find a suitable marriage partner." One of the leaked messages read: "I wanna marry you - if u agree I send my photos and details." Another read: "You will enjoy when you speak to me, I am genuine and truthful and am seriously seeking a right muslimah who could be a friend, a companion to hold hands thru journey of life and beyond." The bulk of users affected are believed to live in the United Kingdom, United States and Pakistan. The website's operation has been temporarily suspended. The company said it will be closed until Ramadan ends this week.

Summary: The personal details of more than 150,000 members of dating website Muslim Match have been posted online.


The meeting will be attended by police officers, lawyers and Scotland's Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC. The focus will be on how leaving the EU could affect law enforcement and criminal justice in Scotland. It will also look at the possible implications for civil and family law, and commercial issues. The meeting, which will also include experts from the Scottish Universities Legal Network on Europe and the Standing Council on Europe, is due to take place in Edinburgh on 24 November. Mr Matheson said: "The UK Brexit vote raises many uncertainties for Scotland's unique justice system. "That is why I am bringing together leaders and experts to help us understand these issues - and any steps we can take now to mitigate the risks. "The cessation of EU membership and single market access would have significant and wide-ranging ramifications from a justice and legal perspective. "The issues range from tackling cross-border crime through to an individual with an EU ex-partner securing child maintenance payment, from Europol co-ordination with other countries to protecting Scots consumers' rights when buying from abroad online." It follows a court ruling that parliament must vote before the UK can start the process of leaving the EU. The ruling means the UK government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - beginning formal exit negotiations with the EU - on its own. The justice secretary added: "The summit discussions will help inform us of risks like these - and others - as the Scottish government continues to press for full involvement in all negotiations between the UK government and the EU. "Despite the uncertainties caused by the threat of Brexit, we will continue our efforts to safeguard Scotland's communities and the integrity of our justice system, while protecting the personal and commercial interests of our families, consumers and businesses."

Summary: Justice Secretary Michael Matheson is to host a summit of experts to consider how the UK's Brexit vote could affect Scotland's justice system.


The 40ft (12m) whale was discovered by wardens at the Holkham National Nature Reserve on Thursday. The Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) was contacted and a post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out. Evolutionary biologist Dr Ben Garrod said it was "really unusual" for a fin whale to be found on the east coast. For more on the whale and other stories, visit the BBC Norfolk Live page "It should not be in those waters," he said. "We see fin whales occasionally on the southern coast or more the west coast of the UK, so Ireland, right up to Scotland. "But you never get them in the North Sea so what it was doing there, we have no idea at the moment." Dr Garrod, who is based at the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said it was not yet known what killed the whale. He said: "There are no obvious signs of net entanglement, no obvious signs of boat strike, not a clue, and that's what is so interesting." The beach has remained open but Holkham Estate has urged members of the public not to venture close to the whale carcass and to keep dogs on leads. Dr Garrod also urged members of the public to show the whale respect. He said graffiti was found on the sperm whales which were washed up on the Norfolk coast in January. "I would be heartbroken to see that happen to this big, beautiful visitor to our waters," said Dr Garrod.

Summary: An expert has been left puzzled as to why a fin whale has washed up on the coast of north Norfolk.


The 45-55 vote marks the second defeat for Republicans aiming to pass a bill this week to undo the health policy. The vote came a day after the Senate rejected a plan to repeal and replace the health law with a Republican plan. Senators will now consider a "skinny" repeal, which would scale back some of the more controversial provisions. The "skinny" plan would eliminate unpopular parts of Obamacare - the Affordable Care Act - including the individual mandate requiring all Americans to have health insurance coverage as well as a tax on medical devices. If that measure passes, the Senate and House of Representatives would then be tasked with finalising a bill that could still change during negotiations. If successful, the full House and Senate would again have to approve the measure. Seven Republicans opposed the repeal-only plan on Wednesday, which included a two-year delay on a replacement in the hope of finding agreement before that time elapses. The defeat is the latest blow for President Donald Trump, who put repealing Obamacare at the centre of his election campaign, and underscores sharp divisions within the Republican Party over a replacement plan. A proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare with the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), a Republican plan that was crafted over last two months, collapsed on Tuesday night after nine Republicans voted against it. Republicans have long railed against Obamacare as government overreach, criticising the system for introducing government-run marketplaces, where premiums have risen sharply for some people. The party's proposed alternative included steep cuts to Medicaid, a healthcare programme for the poor and disabled. And it removes Obamacare's individual mandate requiring all Americans to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty. About 20 million people gained health insurance under former President Obama's Affordable Care Act. The non-partisan Congressional Budgetary Office (CBO) found the bill would strip 22 million Americans of health insurance over the next decade. Other attempts to replace Obamacare have failed in recent weeks due to Republican divisions. In an early morning tweet on Wednesday, Mr Trump lambasted Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for opposing the party's plan, saying she "really let the Republicans, and our country, down yesterday. Too bad!" Mrs Murkowski was one of two Republicans earlier on Tuesday to vote against allowing the debate on healthcare legislation reform to go forward. But her party eked out a victory after Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote which allowed discussion to take place. Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, received a standing ovation as he returned to Congress to cast his "Yes" vote. President Trump tweeted his thanks to the Arizona senator for playing "such a vital role" in the vote.

Summary: The US Senate has failed to pass a Republican proposal to repeal President Barack Obama's signature healthcare policy without replacing it.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 19 November 2014 Last updated at 08:38 GMT It follows a BBC investigation into how assembly members use their expenses. Ciara Riddell reports.

Summary: The former chairman of a Westminster standards watchdog has called for an investigation into societies that receive public money in rent from MLAs for their constituency offices.


Mark Jeansonne said his client, Chris Few, had his hands up and was not threatening police when gunfire began. Two city marshals in Louisiana have been charged with second-degree murder. The lawyer had not seen the video, but it was described to a judge during a court proceeding on Monday. The two men opened fire on a car in which the family was riding during a traffic stop in Marksville, Louisiana. As lawyers gathered at the court, mourners met for Jeremy Mardis' funeral in neighbouring Hattiesburg, Mississippi, from where he had recently moved. Mr Few meanwhile remained in hospital, unable to attend his son's final service. He has not been told that his son is dead, the lawyer said. Col Michael Edmonson of Louisiana state police said on Monday he was still "figuring out" why the father and son's car was being pursued by police. Hopefully they did not see the boy was in the back seat before they fired, he told CNN. Early reports said that the two officers were serving a warrant on Mr Few. However, Mr Edmonson said there was no evidence a warrant was issued, and that no gun was found at the crime scene. The two officers, Derrick Stafford and Norris Greenhouse, were arrested on Friday after body-camera footage taken from them was assessed. Referring to the body-camera footage of the incident, Col Edmondson added: "I can tell you, it is the most disturbing thing I've seen, and I'll leave it like that." They each face charges of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder. They are currently being held in a Louisiana jail.

Summary: Body camera footage shows that the father of a six-year-old autistic boy was attempting to surrender before police opened fire, killing his son, a lawyer has said.


Most of the deaths resulted from a stampede as hundreds of students rushed to escape the blaze through two exits, the Kano state officials said. Twenty-five others were injured in the fire which broke out as students were sleeping at the government-run girls school in Jogana village, they added. It is not being treated as suspicious. Fire-fighters spent seven hours trying to put out the blaze, an eyewitness told the BBC's Hausa service. The government has closed the boarding school and ordered a full investigation into the fire.

Summary: At least seven female students have died after a fire at a boarding school hostel near the northern Nigerian city of Kano on Sunday night, officials say.


The Alex, relegated from League One, enquired about the 18-year-old but were turned down immediately. "I spoke to (United Under-21 coach) Warren Joyce last season about taking him," Collins told BBC Radio Stoke. "They said he was needed in their 21s and a week later he makes his first-team debut and the rest is history." Rashford's rise has been meteoric after he scored twice on his United debut in the Europa League against Midtjylland and repeated the feat in his first Premier League game against Arsenal before finishing the season with eight goals in 18 games. Called into the senior England squad, he scored less than three minutes into his first international appearance against Australia and is now in France for Euro 2016. "It shows you there are good players in these academies," Collins said. "There are plenty of kids being produced but opportunity is the key - maybe some of the bigger clubs are missing a trick."

Summary: Crewe Alexandra made a bid to sign new Manchester United star Marcus Rashford on loan last season, assistant boss James Collins has revealed.


Four were treated for smoke inhalation and one was taken to hospital with burns, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said. The gorse fire, which began at about 13:45 BST, has engulfed a large area of dry heath-land on Woodbury Common. Twenty fire engine crews were sent to tackle the flames that were fanned by high winds. The fire is being fought on a number of fronts and a police helicopter has been deployed to help survey the scene. Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell said it was a "very difficult incident" and his teams were struggling with wind direction and a lack of water supplies. He said: "It's a very, very large area - at the moment it's difficult to quantify and there is a fire front on a number of different parts of the common - and so our resources are being targeted to bring that under control in a number of different areas." He added that firefighters will be at the scene overnight and into the early hours of Monday morning. The nearby Woodbury Park Golf and Country Club has been evacuated as a precaution. Smoke can be seen for miles around and the public have been advised to avoid the area.

Summary: Five firefighters have been injured while tackling a blaze on common land near Exeter.


Ministers are to increase the maximum discount - currently £16,000 to £38,000 - to more than the expected £50,000. They hope it will persuade more tenants and mortgage lenders to get involved in the scheme first started in the 1980s. But housing charity Shelter says the plans risk diminishing the stock of "genuinely affordable" social housing. It also says the plans could saddle low-income families with mortgage debts they cannot afford. The "right to buy" scheme was first started under Margaret Thatcher's government. In December the government launched a consultation on "re-invigorating" the right to buy, which has dwindled in recent years, and suggested the maximum discount may be raised to £50,000. Currently, discount levels differ across the country, ranging from £16,000 to £38,000. Now ministers believe discounts should be as high as £75,000, the BBC understands. The government insists all social homes that are sold "will be replaced on a one-for-one basis by a new affordable rent property, ensuring there is no reduction in the number of affordable homes". But Shelter says it will still have the effect of damaging social housing. Roger Harding, Shelter's head of policy, research and public affairs, said: "The government is not going to replace like-with-like. "The 'affordable rent' model means landlords can charge rents of up to 80% of market rates, which is typically higher than council rents. "The net result will be a reduction in the number of genuinely affordable homes for families on modest incomes." He added: "That could have the added effect of pushing up the housing benefit bill, if there are fewer council houses and more 'affordable rent' properties with higher rental costs." Mr Harding said: "We are also concerned that ownership is not necessarily the most financially suitable form of tenure for a lot of social housing tenants. "Many are on very low incomes and could find themselves unable to afford the mortgage repayments. Statistically, right-to-buy mortgage holders are far more likely than other purchasers to have their homes repossessed." Later this week Housing Minister Grant Shapps is expected to say: "This coalition government backs the dreams of those who want to own the roof over their own head." He has promised to triple or even quadruple the discounts available to "hard-working families". Mr Shapps will say: "New home buyers will have the satisfaction of knowing that for each property sold, we'll be aiming to replace it with a new affordable home for the record numbers left languishing on Labour's housing waiting lists. "It's a win/win that backs aspirational council tenants whilst dealing with the legacy of Labour's record waiting lists."

Summary: Social housing tenants could be offered discounts of up to £75,000 under plans to increase the numbers exercising the "right to buy" their home in England.


It is thought to be the second test of the North's new Musudan missile. An attempt earlier this month also failed. The tests come amid a recent ramp-up in weapons activity as the country prepares for a rare party congress. Reports suggest it is planning a fifth nuclear test, despite condemnation of its last test in January. South Korean officials said the mid-range missile launch took place early Thursday morning near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan but the missile "crashed a few seconds later" in the coastal area, reported Yonhap news agency. The incident was captured by a US surveillance satellite. The Musudan missiles are said to be able to travel up to 4,000km (2,485 miles), within the range of US territories in the Pacific. No confirmation of the attempt or the failure has come from North Korea, but sources in South Korea say that the movement of two so-called Musudan missiles, mounted on trucks, was detected earlier in the month. One was launched two weeks ago and tracked but failed to go far. The same has now happened to the second, according to South Korea. Kim Jong-un is building up to a big event in just over a week, a rare meeting of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang. He has trumpeted a series of announcements about progress towards having a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking Washington. Failed launches indicate that the reality may not match the rhetoric. All the same, they indicate determination. A fifth nuclear test coinciding with the congress would not be a surprise. On Saturday, North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong-su suggested that it would suspend nuclear tests if the US ended its annual military exercises with the South. But US President Barack Obama dismissed the proposal, saying it was not serious and that North Korea would "have to do better than that". Strengthened international sanctions were placed on North Korea after it tested what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb and launched a long-range missile. Over the weekend it also claimed it fired a submarine ballistic missile. Observers have speculated that Pyongyang is boosting the development of its weapons programs ahead of its political conference aimed at solidifying the power of its leader Kim Jong-un. The North announced this week that the congress, which was last held in 1980, would take place on 6 May.

Summary: North Korea has test fired a mid-range ballistic missile which crashed a few seconds after launch, say South Korean military officials.


Adam Ashe, Stuart Hogg and Henry Pyrgos have all committed to Warriors until 2019. However, fellow Scotland internationals Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour and Josh Strauss are out of contract this summer. "It's really important," said Blair of the need to arrange new deals. "It's difficult with the rugby contracts, you don't often get contracts longer than two years so it seems that every year there's half the squad who are pretty much out of contract. We'll be working hard to keep the guys here. "There's a lot of money being thrown around in England and France but the product that Glasgow can give - the coaching team, the crowd that we've got, the fact that we beat Racing home and away, we're playing against the best teams in Europe and doing well - hopefully that's a big pull for the guys as well." Dave Rennie will replace Gregor Townsend as Glasgow head coach this summer when the latter becomes Scotland head coach. "Dave Rennie's going to have a say in what's happening here," said former Scotland and Edinburgh scrum-half Blair. "He's watched a lot of the games from the last two or three seasons to get a handle on what players we've got here and what he likes and what he could potentially bring in." American lock Greg Peterson, like Ashe, Hogg and Pyrgos, has signed a new deal at Scotstoun and is nearing a return to the first team following long-term injury, along with Tjiuee Uanivi, Scott Cummings and Richie Vernon. "We're expecting to see them back in the next two or three weeks," explained Blair. "They're taking part in all the non-contact stuff so they're progressing well. "Pete Horne's showing good progress. He's another couple of weeks before he can step up and we'll see how he reacts to that. "It's good timing for us. We've got some good quality players coming back. They'll be in a good place when they come back in. "We've got some big games coming up and some big games during the Six Nations as well once the guys are away on [Scotland duty]." Glasgow host Cardiff Blues in the Pro12 on Saturday with the Warriors, who are fifth, nine points ahead of the Welsh province. European Champions Cup encounters with Munster and Leicester Tigers follow, with Townsend's men currently top of Pool 1. "We're really pleased with how things have gone recently," said Blair. "We've done well to be where we are, despite having the home losses [earlier this season]. "We're in a reasonable position. We're in a better position than we were this time last year." Meanwhile, Glasgow say Ryan Grant remains their player after Brive announced he was joining the French Top 14 side on loan. And Blair said: "Ryan's said that's not the situation at the moment. He's training with us today, training well."

Summary: Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Mike Blair believes it is vital the Pro12 club sign up more of their squad on new contracts.


If the bill is adopted, the lyrics would change from "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command". The initiative is backed by the Liberal government and will reach the Senate soon, having passed two readings in the House of Commons. The fight to change two words to O Canada has stirred a passionate debate. Who wants to change the lyrics? A similar idea to change the lyrics was rejected in 2010 by Conservatives, who held the majority in parliament. Longtime liberal MP Mauril Belanger started the initiative this time with Bill C-210, and many in Parliament view the bill as his legacy project. Mr Belanger is sick with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and uses a computer with a voice generator because he can no longer speak. The Ottawa Citizen reports that there has been a push by Liberals and New Democrats to move the bill for Mr Belanger's sake, while some Conservatives want more time to debate the bill because of the anthem's significance to Canadians. What's the case for a gender-neutral anthem? In May, Mr Belanger presented the case for his bill: "On the eve of the 150th anniversary of our federation, it is important that one of our most recognised and appreciated national symbols reflect the progress made by our country in terms of gender equality." "We are in 2016. The Canadian population will understand why we want to make the change," New Democrat MP Christine Moore said. "It is not a big change, and there will not be a big difference in the national anthem, but the difference is significant for women all across Canada." Liberal MP Greg Fergus said it "would be nice if [Canada] stops excluding women from the national anthem", according to the Ottawa Citizen. Why stick with tradition? Some Conservative MPs have voted yes to the bill, but others want more time to debate the issue. "It is tragic that this is being done in a fashion where Canadians are being shut out," Peter Van Loan, a Conservative MP, said in committee last week, the National Post reports. "Their national anthem is being changed. They have been singing it for decades, millions of Canadians. It belongs to them, it is not a plaything of us." "We are telling Canadians, 'Guess what, you don't have a say in your national anthem. It belongs to us as politicians ... for us to deliver our worldview to you and impose it upon you'." O Canada, originally composed with French lyrics, became the country's national anthem in 1980. The first English version included the lines "Our home, our native land, True patriot love thou dost in us command". But during World War 1 that phrase was changed to "in all thy sons command" in an effort to stir patriotic feelings. Other countries have changed their national anthem lyrics to make them more inclusive. In Austria, for example, a lyric about "sons" was changed to "sons and daughters" and a lyric about "fraternal choirs" was changed to "jubilant choirs". In Switzerland, a contest was held

Summary: The Canadian parliament is considering passing legislation that will make the English version of the national anthem gender-neutral.


US academics have produced international comparisons in key subjects - using tests taken in 2011 by 900,000 pupils in over 60 countries. It shows that Northern Ireland is Europe's top performing education system for primary maths. England has slipped in science, but is top 10 for primary and secondary maths. The top places in this global education league table have been taken by Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. Finland is among the highest placed European countries. Such comparisons have become increasingly influential - measuring pupils against the standards of international competitor countries. Globalisation in the jobs market and the economy has seen education ministers wanting to benchmark pupils' achievement against current international rivals. Such international rankings have also highlighted the educational strength underpinning the emerging economic powers in Asia. These latest rankings bring together two major studies - the four-yearly Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the five-yearly Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). They reveal the continuing pattern of domination by a group of Asian education systems - South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong (such international comparisons include regional school systems as well as countries). But the study, compiled by researchers at Boston College in the US, shows that England and Northern Ireland are performing strongly in the following group of European education systems. Source: TIMSS 2011 In maths, the study says England has been one of the most improved between 1995 and 2011. England remains in the global top 10 for maths - in 9th for primary and 10th for secondary. England has slipped in primary science tests, taken by 600,000 10 year olds - down to 15th place from 7th place in the last tests in 2007. There was also a dip for secondary science, taken by 14 year olds, down from 5th to 9th place. In the literacy tests, taken by a sample of 325,000 primary school pupils, there was progress for England - up from 15th to 11th. A spokesman for Education Secretary Michael Gove said: "These tests reflect progress between 2006 and 2011 and were taken only a year after the election. "So to the limited extent the results reflect the effect of political leadership, Labour deserves the praise for the small improvement in reading and the blame for the stagnation in maths and the decline in science. The tests say nothing, good or bad, about what we have done." Labour's education spokesman, Stephen Twigg, said: "These results show schools in England are some of the best in Europe - thanks to the hard work of teachers and pupils. The Labour government's reforms saw reading results improve thanks to better teaching, smaller class sizes and Labour's National Literacy Strategy. Source: TIMSS 2011 "However, we need to understand why East Asian countries out perform us in key skills - particularly science and maths." Mr Twigg also highlighted the lower achievement for Sweden in reading - linking it to the free schools inspired by the Swedish education system. There was a particularly strong performance for Northern Ireland - in 6th place for primary

Summary: Asian countries have taken top places in global school rankings for maths, science and reading, with England and Northern Ireland among high performers.


Media playback is not supported on this device Saints captain Anderson claims he was punched by Kiernan during last week's 1-1 draw between the sides. "It was a corner and he caught me in the ribs. It was a clear punch on me," Anderson said after the match. The Scottish FA disciplinary hearing regarding the incident at McDiarmid Park will take place on 12 January. Anderson said that Kiernan, who was free to play in Saturday's defeat by Celtic, deserved any punishment that may arise from the incident. "You can't do that in football games," he said. "I'm not bothered, but if it gets highlighted then he deserves it." Rangers manager Mark Warburton, however, defended Kiernan. "There's nothing in that," he said. "I've watched it again - it's a push. "If you punish that, there will be more judicial panels than you could possibly imagine."

Summary: Rangers will challenge a two-match ban offered to defender Rob Kiernan for violent conduct following a clash with St Johnstone's Steven Anderson.


Gwynedd council decided to go ahead with establishing a new Church in Wales campus at Ysgol y Berwyn in Bala. Governors want it designated as a community site and 500 people have signed a petition against the move. The council spokesman said it had received the objections and would "carefully consider the contents of the letter". The plan would see the merging of Ysgol Bro Tegid and Ysgol Beuno Sant, a Church in Wales school, with the secondary Ysgol y Berwyn. In December, the council alleged the church no longer supported the project, something it denied. Chairman of governors Gwion Lynch said following this row, it confirmed fears the relationship would not work and any trust had been shattered. The Church in Wales said only two of the 17 places on the shadow governing body would be for its members, with two others reserved for other Christian traditions in Bala and the remaining 13 places would be for others - religious or not. A spokesman said the church remained "fully committed to providing the best educational opportunities for the children and young people of Bala, Penllyn and surrounding areas". A report is expected to be discussed at the council's cabinet meeting on 14 February. If all goes to plan - the new three-to-19 campus will open in September 2018.

Summary: Governors at a Gwynedd school want a consultation restarted over church ownership of its new £10m campus.


23 June 2015 Last updated at 12:13 BST Experts say the sinkhole opened up after heavy rain put pressure on the surface of the course. Parts of the course are made over an old limestone mine and the hole opened up over a cave. Unsurprisingly the area is now out of bounds until it can be repaired. It's certainly one hole golfers shouldn't be able to miss!

Summary: A huge sinkhole has appeared on the 13th hole of a golf course in Texas, America.


Leading by 37.2 seconds heading into the last stage, the Briton narrowly missed parked cars as he went off the road with under one kilometre left. However, he managed to quickly regroup as he finished 13.8 seconds ahead of world champion Sebastien Ogier. "I'm a lucky boy. I got caught out on a bump," said Citroen driver Meeke, 37. "Certainly one way to finish a rally." Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville finished third, 45.9 seconds behind Ford's Ogier. Leading by 30.9 seconds after bossing the first two days, Meeke won Sunday's penultimate stage to extend his lead to 37.2 seconds. That left him having to negotiate the final 21.94km stage around Derramadero. The county Tyrone man's late mishap left him only seventh fastest on the final stage but it proved enough to clinch a crucial victory following his disappointing performances in the opening two events of the season. After being strongly fancied to contend for this year's title, Meeke crashed out in Monte Carlo and could only finish 12th in Sweden after another mistake. Meeke, who competed in the championship for the first time in 2011, earned his first WRC win at Rally Argentina in 2015 and took further victories in Portugal and Finland last year. The Northern Irishman's gamble of opting for hard compound tyres on Saturday's nine stages despite the threat of rain was crucial to his victory as he extended his lead to take firm control of the event.

Summary: Northern Ireland's Kris Meeke survived a late scare at Rally Mexico to clinch his fourth win in a World Rally Championship event.


Bempton Cliffs at Flamborough Head has the UK's largest mainland seabird colony, according to the RSPB. It said the new facilities would bring more visitors and improve their access to the thousands of nesting birds. Keith Clarkson, site manager, said: "It's absolutely fantastic. It's been 10 years in the making." The centre, which attracts about 76,000 people a year, has been closed since September for redevelopment. It now has a bigger reception, a sheltered place for education and space for community groups and family activities. The footpaths have been made more accessible and extra spaces provided in the car park. Its reopening coincides with the BBC's Springwatch programme, which is based at the nature reserve for its Easter show. Springwatch will be on BBC Two at 21:00 BST.

Summary: A visitor centre at an internationally important nature reserve in East Yorkshire has reopened after a £1.3m upgrade.


Three of those executed had been convicted of an attack in Tiananmen Square in Beijing last October, in which five people died, Xinhua said. The others were found guilty of crimes including bomb-making and arson. The government has accused separatist militants based in Xinjiang of carrying out a string of recent attacks. Xinjiang is the traditional home of Muslim Uighurs, who speak a distinct language and have different customs to the majority Han population elsewhere in China. Huseyin Guxur, Yusup Wherniyas and Yusup Ehmet were "deprived of political rights for life" because of their role in the deadly car crash on Tiananmen Square in October 2013, Xinhua said. "They masterminded the terrorist attack," the news agency added. In the incident, a car rammed into bystanders on the politically important Beijing square before bursting into flames. Two tourists died, along with three of the attackers. Xinhua named some of the other men who were executed along with the Tiananmen attack perpetrators: Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uighur Congress exile group, called the executions "a typical case of the law serving political ends". Chinese officials often attribute attacks in Xinjiang to Uighur separatists, accusing them of seeking to establish an independent state called East Turkestan. Beijing has recently blamed them for an attack in May at a market in Urumqi, that left at least 31 people dead. It also accused them of being behind a mass knife attack in the southern province of Yunnan in March, in which 29 were killed and more than 130 injured. Uighur leaders deny they are co-ordinating a terrorist campaign. They say the government's repressive policies in Xinjiang have provoked the unrest. Who are the Uighurs?

Summary: China has executed eight people in the north-western region of Xinjiang, for what it calls "terrorist" attacks, reports the state news agency Xinhua.


Media playback is not supported on this device Roy was bowled for 162 in England's series-clinching win over Sri Lanka, five short of the 167 not out made by Robin Smith against Australia in 1993. "I was only aware when I walked into the changing room and I saw it on the TV," he told BBC Sport. "I didn't care because winning was the most important thing." Roy also made a century in a record-breaking stand with Alex Hales in the second one-day international. His effort at The Oval, which helped England to a six-wicket win in the fourth ODI and gave them an unassailable lead in the series, meant he had scored 279 runs between dismissals. "Jason Roy is making the most of his form," said captain Eoin Morgan. "That is a big thing in international cricket, you cash in and he is certainly doing that. "It is nice for him to be second on the all-time list of highest scores because he has played a magnificent innings." England have now won three of their five one-day series since an awful World Cup campaign in 2015. They are scoring runs faster than any other international side in the world and their chase of 308 at The Oval was their third in excess of 300 in the past year, having managed similar chases only twice before. "A lot of hard work has been put in," said Surrey right-hander Roy. "The boys put in a serious amount of work and we reap the rewards. These are very exciting times for English cricket. "We're keeping things nice and simple, training hard, and there's a lot of respect for each other. There's an incredible vibe and it's something I'm excited to spend more time in." For Sri Lanka, their best batting effort of the series did not produce a first win over England on this tour, with only Saturday's fifth ODI in Cardiff and a Twenty20 at Southampton on Tuesday to come. "I thought we had a good score on the board but our bowlers were pretty ordinary and Jason took the game away from us," said captain Angelo Mathews. "We were not penetrative enough to get the batsmen out. It was a brilliant wicket, but we could not put the effort in to make breakthroughs. It's time to make a couple of changes."

Summary: Jason Roy did not know how close he was to breaking the record for the highest score by an England batsman in a one-day international.