There are pubs where they play music and then there are pubs where music takes a more prominent role. Sometimes, however, there are pubs where drinking seems almost a sideline to the main business of musical appreciation. Walking into Sandy Bell's in Edinburgh, you feel it sits very firmly in the latter category. Long a focus for the Scottish traditional music scene, recent years have seen more performances, bigger audiences and some very talented players. And as far as many are concerned, that tells you something about Scotland today. "There's more pride in Scotland generally," says Archie, a smiling accordion player from Skye. "You'll get pubs that used to be trendy pubs, with CDs playing, and now they have folk music sessions." For Sam, who plays violin, it's a particular source of pride that so many visitors from abroad now seem captivated by the melodies of her native land. "You've got tourists from Canada, Australia, America, Japan, China. I've always liked this sort of music. It does make me feel like I'm celebrating being Scottish." In a week when Scotland's First Minister unveiled plans for a possible second referendum on independence, the strength of nationalist sentiment has usually been gauged by polls. And much to the frustration of Ms Sturgeon's Scottish National Party, support for independence has barely budged from the 45% who voted for it in the previous referendum of 2014. Yet many believe that Scots now have a far stronger sense of their country's distinct identity, a sentiment that polls seem to miss. Among them is Henry McLeish, the Labour First Minister of Scotland from 2001-02, who extols what he believes are Scotland's particular qualities. "We're more internationalist, we're more open to immigration," he says. It is the Brexit vote and its aftermath that has done more than anything else to shift his opinion. The majority of Scots voted to remain in the European Union, in contrast to the UK vote to leave. "I was a diehard unionist. Politics has changed, I've had my Britishness squeezed out of me. It's more in sorrow than in anger that I am ready to say that I could support an independent Scotland." Michelle Ferguson is not sorry about her increasingly strong sense of being Scottish, but it has come as something of a surprise. Once an employee of a large multinational, she used to live in London and described herself as British. But Michelle has now become managing director of a social enterprise, St Andrews First Aid Supplies and Training, which ploughs all its profits back into the local community. The experience seems to have changed her sense of identity, as much as her attitude to business. "Here in Scotland, people really want to make a difference, it's not all about the big bucks," she says. "I now feel that if I had to fill in a form… I would have to say I am Scottish." Michelle does not want to say whether she voted for Scottish independence, nor whether she would do so in the event of another referendum. And the fact

Summary: The Scottish Government has published a bill outlining provisional plans for another referendum on Scottish independence, plans which some believe coincide with a renewed sense of Scotland's separate identity.


Ministry of Defence figures show there are currently 81,700 full-time servicemen and women in the Army, down from 102,260 in 2010. More reservists are being recruited but that process has been slow. Former commander Richard Kemp said it showed the plan was "incoherent" but the MoD said the Army had the "manpower we need at the moment". Col Kemp, a commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the BBC News website: "To have already made the cuts by 2015, it shows confusion and targets that don't match up... it doesn't mean it's a good thing. "The whole plan was to cover the gaps with reservists, but if you've not achieved that then it must mean that we have got deficiencies. "Not only does that cause us concern about how we govern our people, but it is also the message we are sending to our enemies. That kind of message always shows aggression towards us." Plans to increase the number of Army reservists from 19,000 to 30,000 by 2019 have been controversial. As of April 2015, the number of trained reservists was at 21,030 - an increase of just over 1,000 since April 2012. Former chief of the defence staff General Lord Richards has referred to the plan as "a brave experiment", while John Gearson, professor of national security studies at Kings College, London said: "I think it is accepted that the recruitment programme has underperformed. "With the absence of a major conflict maybe they will come through... It is a calculated risk." According to recent statistics from the MoD, the trained strength of the UK's armed forces is at 143,200, down from 176,600 in 2010. Cuts began after the government's strategic defence and security review called for a restructure - dubbed Army 2020 - to help reduce the UK budget deficit. The Army has cut more than 20,000 jobs well ahead of the 2018 target. The other services have also already exceeded their targets for job cuts, with the RAF losing 8,500 personnel and the Royal Navy cutting more than 5,500 posts since 2010. An MoD spokesman said: "This government is committed to an army of 82,000 and the funding is in place to deliver it. "We have the manpower we need at the moment and, working with the army, we are taking clear action to keep driving recruitment upwards." Shadow Defence Secretary Vernon Coaker said the shortfall in Army reservist recruitment was a "real concern". "The figures need to be looked at again within the context of Strategic Defence and Security review in the autumn. If there is shortage of capability, clearly it needs to be addressed," he said. Former Defence Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said: "If they have achieved what they set out to do then that must be satisfactory. "The government had to have a strategy to deal with the economic situation. It was always going to be challenging to increase reserves at the same time. "Will it be achieved? I think the jury is still out on that." Prof Keith Hartley, defence economist from the University of York,

Summary: British army personnel has been cut back by more than 20,000 - three years ahead of target, the BBC has learned.


Three girls, aged 10, eight and five, and two five-year-old boys were taken to hospital following the collision on Wentedge Road, near Kirk Smeaton. The crash, involving a red Mercedes A180 and a blue Vauxhall Corsa, happened at about 18:20 on Thursday. North Yorkshire Police said a number of the casualties had suffered serious but not life threatening injuries. Women aged 36, 19 and 18 were also taken to hospital. The force has appealed for witnesses to the collision to come forward. The road was closed for about four hours to allow investigators to examine the scene.

Summary: Five children and three adults have been injured in a crash involving two cars.


Derek Mackay was accused of "showing contempt for parliament" during a fiery debate on the budget timetable. The finance committee wants Mr Mackay to hand over detailed planning information ahead of the budget, which will be published on 15 December. Mr Mackay said he would publish some extra "high level" information. However opposition members said he had been "ambiguous" and had not been clear about what information would actually be provided. A "fundamental" review of the budget process has also been established in light of Holyrood's new fiscal powers. Mr Mackay has delayed publication of his first set of spending plans until after the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, which he said would make a major difference to the funds available to the Scottish government. The finance committee, led by SNP member Bruce Crawford, brought forward the chamber debate to voice "concern" at how much time they would have to scrutinise spending plans before they are voted on by MSPs. He said it was "unacceptable" that Mr Mackay had refused to hand over any scenario planning information as an indication of how the budget may unfold, despite having previously told the committee that he would give them as much information as possible. All opposition MSPs backed Mr Crawford on this point, signing up to support a motion from Patrick Harvie "urging" the government to put the information in the public domain. During the debate, Mr Harvie said opposition members had chosen not to force a vote on the matter, but worried that Mr Mackay "kept using the same language" as he did when previously writing to the committee. The finance secretary replied: "What parliament asked for was high level scenario planning, and that's what I've said I'll provide. "I've repeatedly said I won't publish a draft budget [before the Autumn Statement], I can't publish a credible draft budget or a number of draft budgets. But I will publish that scenario information that I've pledged to in keeping with what I've said to committee." However, opposition members said Mr Mackay was still not being clear about what information he would actually provide. Labour's James Kelly, who said the finance secretary had provided "seven minutes of waffle" in the debate, said MSPs were "still no further forward" with budget scrutiny. Conservative member Alex Johnstone said it would "take some further time" to work out exactly what Mr Mackay was offering the committee. He said the committee was "offering a compromise" to the finance secretary, noting that "it appears he has not yet accepted that compromise". Mr Harvie said he was disappointed at the "ambiguous stance" Mr Mackay had taken, saying he was "being quite unclear" about what information he would provide. Mr Mackay had earlier said he would "honour the commitment" he had previously given about "sharing as much information as I possibly can". He said he could not produce a draft budget without having all of the information that will come from the Autumn Statement. He added: "I will continue to work constructively with the finance committee and share as much information as I can

Summary: Scotland's finance secretary has pledged to give more information to the finance committee to scrutinise his delayed draft budget.


Santner, 24, broke his finger in only his second game for the county in 2016. "There is some unfinished business with Mitch," director of cricket Steve Rhodes told Worcestershire's website. "Last summer he was very unlucky. Losing Mitch was a massive blow to our hopes of qualifying. We'd had a good start and him playing all those games would have been an extra bonus for us." The left-arm batsman and spinner, who made his Test debut in 2015, will rejoin the Rapids following June's ICC Trophy in England. Santner added: "I really enjoyed my time at Worcester with a great bunch of lads and it was so frustrating for me to pick up that injury in the very first T20 game. "It's fantastic that I've got the chance to come back again next summer and hopefully I can make up for lost time and make an impact with bat and ball." In August, Worcestershire signed Australia pace bowler John Hastings as their main overseas player for the 2017 season across all formats of the game.

Summary: Worcestershire have re-signed New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner for the 2017 T20 Blast competition.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 30-year-old Celtic midfielder will win his 50th cap if he features in a friendly against Denmark on Tuesday, when six players could earn first caps. "He's not only been a good footballer, but he's been a good help to young players now," said Strachan. "He's been a big part of my career over the last 10 years." Brown was signed from Hibernian by the Scotland coach when he was in charge of Celtic and also made him captain while Darren Fletcher was absent through prolonged illness. "He is good with people, he likes being with people, he makes everyone welcome here and then he trains to the maximum," said Strachan. "He is a leader and Darren Fletcher is too." Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean won his first cap after starting in Thursday's 1-0 friendly win over the Czech Republic in Prague. Tony Watt, the Charlton Athletic striker currently on loan with Blackburn Rovers, and Birmingham City full-back Paul Caddis also made their Scotland debuts from the bench. On Tuesday, it could be the turn of Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney and Nottingham Forest midfielder Oliver Burke to earn their first senior caps at the age of 18. Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain, Leeds United defender Liam Cooper, Hibs midfielder John McGinn and Brighton winger Jamie Murphy are also possible debutants. Burke has only made six starts and come off the bench 13 times for his English Championship club. However, Strachan said: "I've seen him a right few times now and seen his debut and he impressed and I've got to say he has impressed everyone here so far. "If you are playing in a successful team, you are ready for international level. "It doesn't matter to me if you are Gordon Greer at 34/35, or Oliver Burke at 18." Tierney has ousted Honduras international Emilio Izaguirre from Celtic's starting line-up this season. "He has played European football against top sides, so that's been a benefit to him and to Celtic and to us," said Strachan. "He did not look out of place in the games I seen him and he's got a good way about him - determined and he's got a bit of humility about him. "I think it's helped that Scott Brown's been round him and people like that." Brown, who thinks Tierney's progress this season "has been exceptional", was looking forward to matching the feat of Alan Hutton, the Aston Villa right-back having earned his 50th cap on Thursday. "It feels like I'm getting old," said the Scotland captain. "I was told that Kieran was eight years old when I had my first international cap." Brown praised Strachan for his role in his own progress when asked how he had changed since that debut against United States in 2005. "I was a bit of a hothead from Hibs at the time and now I'm a hothead at Celtic, so not too much," he joked. "He has put a lot of faith in me and I've got a lot to thank him for over

Summary: Captain Scott Brown has been a "terrific influence" on players looking to make their Scotland debuts, according to coach Gordon Strachan.


Josh Earnest said the closure of the Cuban detention camp was a national security interest. It was one of the first directives President Barack Obama ordered two months after he was elected in 2008. Inmates have slowly been transferred out and at the start of the year, 122 men were left. The peak population in 2003 was 684. Mr Earnest said the administration was "in the final stages of drafting a plan to safely and responsibly (close) the prison at Guantanamo Bay and to present that to Congress". He added: "That has been something that our national security officials have been working on for quite some time, primarily because it is a priority of the president." In 2009, President Obama admitted the January 2010 deadline he had set for closing the counter-terrorism facility would be missed. Since then, Congress bipartisan opposition has meant the transfer of prisoners to the US has been blocked. Some have been considered too dangerous to be released, but the US holds no evidence that can be used in civilian or military trials against them. The US has slowly been sending prisoners back to their home countries or to third countries, a process Mr Earnest said needs to continue if the facility is to shut. The camp was established in 2002 by the Bush administration to detain the most dangerous suspects for interrogation and the prosecution of war crimes. Controversy has centred around the period of time detainees have been held without charge and the use of interrogation techniques.

Summary: The White House is in the "final stages" of drafting a plan to close the controversial US military prison Guantanamo Bay, a spokesman has said.


The X-47B jet is being designed by weapons manufacturer Northrop Grumman for the US Navy. It was in the air for 29 minutes during its maiden flight and reached an altitude of 5,000 feet. Officials say it will help form part of a new generation of unmanned drones and works like a smaller version of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. As such it would be very different from the current fleet of remote controlled military planes like the Predator and Reaper. Instead the X-47B would be virtually invisible to radar and fly at much faster speeds than those older, propeller driven machines. In a statement Captain Jaime Engdahl, a programme manager for the warplane, said: "Today we got a glimpse towards the future as the Navy's first-ever tailless, jet-powered unmanned aircraft took to the skies." The flight was primarily designed to test the jet's guidance and navigation systems and the aerodynamic control of the tailless design. It was controlled from the ground by a joint team of the company's engineers and Navy specialists. Northrop is building the bomber as part of a Â£395 million contract signed in 2007. Janis Pamiljans is vice-president of Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Designing a tailless, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft from a clean sheet is no small feat. "Commitment, collaboration and uncompromising technical excellence among the Navy [and] Northrop Grumman made today's flight a reality. "We are indeed honoured to have given wings to the Navy's vision for exploring unmanned carrier aviation." Although it will be several years before the X-47B is ready for operations officials say it should have its first test flight from an aircraft carrier in 2013. Follow Radio 1's technology reporter Dan Whitworth on Twitter

Summary: Military chiefs in America say a new, unmanned stealth bomber has carried out its first test flight.


LL Camps in Bushey, Hertfordshire, was closed by Ofsted last week and director Ben Lewis has been charged with possessing indecent images of children. Following the closure, parents vented their anger on the firm's Facebook page at the initial lack of information. But camp co-founder Tal Landsman has now said refunds will be issued. Ofsted closed the camp on 6 August and the company's website was taken down soon after. One parent whose child was due to attend the US-style day camp wrote it was an "utter disgrace". Another was concerned about parents who "could not afford alternative care without the refund". A man whose children had gone to the camp told the BBC: "Fortunately, for us they were only going for one further day, and then they were going to a different camp. "Had it been the situation that they were due to be there this week and all of next week, we'd be in a bit of bother." But on Wednesday, Mr Landsman confirmed parents would be able to fill in a refund form which has been placed on a holding page on the company's official website. Mr Lewis and Mr Landsman opened the holiday club in 2010.

Summary: Parents of children due to go to a summer camp whose director has been charged with possession of indecent images have been offered refunds.


Two-year-old Hank was removed by dog wardens last month and taken for testing. A court in Belfast heard he had been assessed by an expert to be a pit bull terrier-type. However, it has been recommended that he be placed on the council's exemption register. Hank will undergo behavioural training and will also be kept on a lead and muzzled while in public. As the the exemption order was signed, one of Hank's owners - Joanne Meadows - broke down in tears in the public gallery while supporters applauded. "We knew what was happening today but it was just such a relief to know that it actually was happening," she said. "Until the judge said the words, we were just feared in case something changed, so it means so much. "I just can't get over that I'm going to be able to see him later on today." Miss Meadows said she did worry that this day may never come. "Even when we were told that was the decision on Thursday, I just didn't want to believe it until it actually happened because I just didn't want to get my hopes up because I just missed him so much," she said. A solicitor for the family thanked all those who helped with the campaign to free Hank, which attracted worldwide attention and support from celebrities including presenter Dermot O'Leary, boxer Carl Frampton and celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stillwell. An online petition to have Hank returned was signed by more than 280,000 people. Under Article 25(a) of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 some types of dog, including pit bulls, are deemed inherently dangerous and can be destroyed. Hank is the 12th dog to be placed on the exemption register since 2011. The couple have said their fight is not over as they believe the current legislation is fundamentally flawed and want it overhauled. They are planning a rally at Stormont next Sunday and said they simply could not just walk away and leave other dog owners in the same situation. Hank's other owner, Leonard Collins said they did not think he would have been coming home so soon without the public support they had been offered. "Belfast City Council, when the pressure was put on, they expedited the process," he said. "We've spoken to people going through similar situations in England and here and it seemed to be that once this picked up public pressure, they wanted it finished as soon as possible." "We'd just like to thank everyone across the world, never mind Northern Ireland, Belfast, the media, friends, family, just everybody," Miss Meadows said.

Summary: A dog seized by Belfast City Council for "looking like a pit bull" has been reunited with his owners.


Samuel Armstrong, 23, of Copt Hill, Danbury, Essex, is charged with two counts of rape and one of sexual assault. He has been suspended from his position as chief of staff to South Thanet's Tory MP Craig Mackinlay. The charge follows an alleged incident at Parliament in October. Mr Armstrong was bailed to appear before Southwark Crown Court on 28 April. He was ordered not to enter the Palace of Westminster and not to contact the alleged victim.

Summary: An aide to a Kent Conservative MP has appeared before Westminster magistrates charged with rape following an alleged attack at the Houses of Parliament.


An IoD report, Ultrafast Britain, says the UK is lagging behind many European nations when installing fibre optic cables that enable the fastest broadband connections. It is calling for faster broadband access for homes and business. A government spokesperson said most UK homes can get "superfast" broadband. "Almost nine out of ten UK properties has access to superfast speeds and 95% of the UK will be reached by 2017," a spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC. But the IoD believes the target should be higher and is calling for speeds of 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) by 2030, 1,000 times faster than the current official aim of 10 megabits per second (Mbps) by 2020. "Now is the time to set a bold new target for genuinely world-beating broadband," said Dan Lewis, senior advisor on Infrastructure Policy at the IoD, and author of the report. "We have the leading internet economy in the G20, and yet download speeds are mediocre and the coverage of fibre optic cable is woeful." He added: "Unfortunately, the Government's current target displays a distinct poverty of ambition." Mr Lewis said the government needed to look at how the UK could provide the physical infrastructure needed to maintain a position "at the forefront of digital innovation in business". IoD members interviewed for the report said that better broadband speeds could increase their company's productivity, make them more competitive, and enable them to offer more flexible working to their staff. The IoD report comes just days after communications watchdog Ofcom said BT must open up its cable network and allow competition to improve UK internet connections. Ofcom also said there was a digital divide in the UK between those with the latest technologies, and those without. It has proposed that decent, affordable broadband should be a universal right. Rivals had called for a split between BT and its Openreach operation, which runs its cables, fibre and network infrastructure. Companies such as Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk, who pay to use the network, had claimed that BT underinvested in Openreach, leading to a poor service with interruptions and slow speeds.

Summary: Business leaders' group the Institute of Directors (IoD) has accused the UK government of a "poverty of ambition" on broadband speeds.


About 300 have already died at Farewell Spit, on the South Island, in one of the worst such cases in the country. Hundreds of locals and conservation department staff have been trying to save the survivors since early Friday morning, and have formed a human chain to refloat the whales. Scientists do not know what exactly causes whales to beach themselves. But it sometimes happens because the whales are old and sick, injured, or make navigational errors particularly along gentle sloping beaches. Sometimes when one whale is beached, it will send out a distress signal attracting other members of its pod, who then also get stranded by a receding tide. The conservation department said it had received a report about a possible stranding on Thursday night, but did not launch the rescue operation until Friday morning as it was too dangerous to attempt a rescue in the dark, reported the New Zealand Herald. Andrew Lamason, the departments regional manager, said it was one of the largest mass beachings recorded in New Zealand. New Zealand marine mammal charity Project Jonah. which is leading efforts to save the whales said a total of 416 whales were stranded. It said the surviving whales are "being kept cool, calm and comfortable" by medics and members of the public. Some of the refloated whales tried to swim back to shore, and the human chain was trying to herd them out to deeper waters, said volunteer Ana Wiles. She told news outlet Stuff that there were "so many fins in the air, no breathing". "We managed to float quite a few whales off and there were an awful lot of dead ones in the shallows so it was really, really sad." "One of the nicest things was we managed to float off a couple [of whales] and they had babies and the babies were following," Ms Wiles added. New Zealand has one of the highest stranding rates in the world, with about 300 dolphins and whales ending up on beaches every year, according to Project Jonah.. Many of these incidents happen at Farewell Spit. Experts say its shallow waters seems to confuse whales and hinder their ability to navigate. In February 2015 about 200 whales beached themselves at the same location, of which at least half died.

Summary: Volunteers in New Zealand are racing to rescue survivors after more than 400 pilot whales beached themselves.


According to reports, South Korea sports minister Do Jong-hwan said North Korea could host some skiing events. He also said the countries may enter a combined ice hockey team. "We are happy to discuss his ideas. The Olympic movement is always about building bridges, never about erecting walls," said an IOC spokesperson. "We are looking at the comments of the new minister of sport, culture and tourism with great interest." The Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, will take place from 9-25 February. In comments reported by the Korea Herald, Do suggested the North and South could enter one women's ice hockey team, helping to make Pyeongchang a "peace Olympics". He said he would discuss co-hosting at the Masikryong ski resort with Jang Woong, North Korea's delegate to the IOC. Earlier this month, South Korea's new president Moon Jae-in said North Korea could be part of a bid to co-host the 2030 football World Cup across north-east Asia. Moon, the son of refugees from North Korea, advocates greater dialogue with their neighbours.

Summary: Proposed collaboration between North and South Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics has been welcomed by the International Olympic Committee.


The Swiss bank is suspected of "complicity in illegal sales practices", an official at the Paris prosecutor's office told the BBC. It also allegedly set up a shadow accounting system that masked transfers between French and Swiss bank accounts. UBS said it was cooperating with authorities. Under French law, being placed under official investigation means there is "serious or consistent" evidence to implicate a suspect in a crime. But it does not necessarily lead to a trial, the official said. The latest move follows action taken against the bank's French unit last week which was also formally placed under scrutiny on similar suspicions. The former head of UBS France, Patrick de Fayet, and two other local branch executives are already being investigated. Investigators are examining whether UBS staff broke a French law against "illicit solicitation" by actively approaching potential clients in France. The allegations originally came to light after former staff blew the whistle on the practices that involved hundreds of retail and corporate clients. An anonymous letter was reportedly sent to the regulatory arm of the French central bank suggesting that parallel accounts were opened in Switzerland but undeclared in France, which is illegal under French law. The letter said a special record was kept between 2002-2007 listing undeclared bank accounts that had been opened by corporate clients. According to French daily Le Monde citing former employees, UBS bankers regularly mingled with affluent people at sporting events and musical concerts - including some sponsored by UBS - in order to seek out possible clients for tax evasion. In one example, a former marketing official at the French branch of UBS said Swiss bankers "made trips [to France] to meet 'prospects'" at events, including the tennis tournament Roland Garros. Stephanie Gibaud said she was asked to "destroy a series of sensitive documents containing the names of current or potential clients who had participated in events organised on French territory." Nicolas Forissier, a former internal auditor of UBS' private banking division, also told the newspaper that a special record containing a list of French clients with undeclared bank accounts was sent to the UBS' Swiss headquarters. "It was France that you had to milk. The French branch of UBS was just an excuse to collect [clients] for UBS Switzerland," he told Le Monde. The magistrates investigating the affair have sent a list containing the names of 353 people suspected of having held a Swiss account to Swiss authorities and have requested details, the official at the prosecutor's office told the BBC. In addition to the latest investigation, UBS was also identified as a "supervised witness" on two other allegations related to money laundering and tax evasion, she added. Supervised witness is a less serious status than a formal investigation. It means that a person must be accompanied by his or her lawyer if questioned further in the investigation. UBS said: "We will continue working with the authorities in France within the applicable legal framework to arrive at a resolution to this matter." In a separate statement in French, it said: "The tribunal's decision

Summary: French authorities are formally investigating UBS for allegedly helping wealthy clients open undeclared bank accounts in Switzerland.


The event, held at the World Museum in Liverpool, was streamed to thousands of schools where pupils simultaneously conducted simple experiments. The live link-up with the International Space Station lasted about 20 minutes. Major Peake made history last month when he became the first Briton to walk in space. See more updates about the space talk on our live page Among the questions was: "What can you see out of the windows?" Major Peake replied: "I have got a window right behind me - let me go take a look." The children laughed as he turned and floated away from the camera to look out of the window. He added: "At the moment we are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean coming up to the coast of Africa with the beautiful colours of the Sahara Desert." There was a huge gasp of delight when his beaming face appeared on the screen in front of the young audience. Standing in front of a union flag, the astronaut seemed to be in good spirits, demonstrating how you touch your toes in space - turning upside down in a backward roll as the children laughed. Matthew Savage, 10, from St Anne's Fulshaw CE Primary School in Wilmslow, Cheshire, asked if he got hit by meteors on the International Space Station. Major Peake replied: "We do get hit by small particles every day and they have even caused some damage. On space walks we have to be careful where we put our hands." He said the "clever people on earth" made sure they were safe. He said he liked experiments involving vegetables and flowers grown in space the most. "We are going to need that information for longer missions on Mars," he said. He also liked experiments on the human body because they could have health benefits back on earth. "Does your heart beat faster in space?" asked Riley, aged five, from Wilberfoss Primary School in York. "It actually slows down and would shrink if you didn't regularly exercise." he replied. He explained this was why astronauts had to exercise regularly in space. The call ended with rapturous applause from his young audience.

Summary: British astronaut Tim Peake has spoken to hundreds of children from across England and Wales in a live space chat.


Saturday's incident involved an MV-22 Osprey belonging to the US Marines based in Okinawa, Japan. The third Marine Expeditionary Force said they had shifted their operations to recovery efforts, which could last several months. Families of the three marines have been notified. Teams rescued 23 people. The circumstances of the incident off the east coast of Australia are still under investigation, a statement said. "As the sea state permits, recovery efforts will be conducted to further search, assess and survey the area, in coordination and with assistance from the Australian Defence Force," it added. The MV-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft similar to a conventional plane but has helicopter-like rotor blades which allow it to take off vertically, without a runway. There were 26 people on board including the crew. Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper quoted military sources as saying the aircraft had been trying to land on the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. US military forces have been operating in the area as part of a joint training exercise called Talisman Sabre. It involved some 30,000 personnel from both countries.

Summary: US officials say they have suspended a search and rescue operation for three marines missing after their aircraft crashed off the Australian coast.


Second-placed Brechin City and Alloa Athletic, who are third, also won against Peterhead and Stenhousemuir respectively. Airdrieonians, who occupy the other promotion play-off place, beat Albion Rovers 2-1 to stretch their advantage over their opponents to five points. And Queen's Park were 2-0 winners away to Stranraer. At Livi, Liam Buchanan's strike in first-half stoppage time put the hosts ahead and Michael Miller's free-kick doubled their advantage before Kevin Smith netted to halve the visitors' deficit. Mark Hurst was dismissed for a foul on Danny Mullen and Buchanan scored the resulting penalty before the visitors also had Paul McManus sent off. Ross Caldwell scored a hat-trick as Brechin won 3-1 at Balmoor, Rory McAllister netting the hosts' consolation. In Clackmannanshire, Alloa comfortably overcame bottom club Stenny, with Greig Spence's strike and Andrew Graham and Jamie Longworth's headers putting the Wasps in command. Alistair Roy replied for the visitors but Kevin Cawley rounded off a 4-1 win to keep Alloa four points behind Livi. Airdrie went ahead at Cliftonhill when Andy Ryan lashed into the top corner and Iain Russell doubled their advantage, Ross Stewart heading one back for Albion Rovers. And goals by Dario Zanatta and Anton Brady secured the three points for the Spiders at Stair Park.

Summary: Livingston remain two points clear at the top of Scottish League One after they beat nine-man East Fife.


The works on Gdynia Way near Plymouth's city centre have been in place since June to widen the road to three lanes. But police said they had seen an increase in the number of collisions on the Maxwell Road, Macadam Road junction. Plymouth City Council (PCC) said a new set of temporary traffic lights would be put on the junction. Pc Ian Tanner, Plymouth's road casualty reduction officer said: "There have been some collisions since the new system was put in place, with four or five injury collisions in that area. "The council are diverting quite large volumes of traffic on to roads that, although perfectly up to the job, people don't usually travel on, and as a result it hasn't worked as well as we would have liked it to. "It's a balancing act for the council, as to what is the best thing to do, to keep the traffic moving as well as they can and to keep the level of injuries down." Pc Tanner added that the increase in collisions could also be a result of drivers, familiar with the route, not reading new signs properly. In a statement, PCC said: "During the last couple of months it has become apparent that there could be further improvements to the revised junction layout. "The decision to install temporary lights has been made after routine discussions with various stakeholders including the police. "The lights will reinforce the changed priorities and help drivers negotiate this junction." The council said that up to 1,000 drivers used the junction each hour. The new traffic lights will give priority to traffic travelling between Plymstock and the city centre in the morning and vice versa in the evening, until the work is completed in October.

Summary: The number of road traffic collisions in a Devon city has increased following the introduction of major roadworks.


Police Scotland were called to investigate at the end of June when Annan Athletic failed to receive an end of season payment from the league. The League Two side were expecting about £18,000 but the funds were paid into a fraudulent account. BBC Scotland has learned that the money has been retrieved and that the police investigation continues. The SPFL said it has been subject to further attempts at hacking and fraudulent activity as recently as this week.

Summary: The Scottish Professional Football League is warning clubs to be on their guard against online fraud.


The 26-year-old Samoan, who started his career with Manly Sea Eagles, made six appearances for the NRL champions last season. He told the club website: "I'm ready now to take my game up to a new level and Castleford sounds perfect for me. "I'm looking forward to playing for a club that plays such a big part in the community."

Summary: Castleford Tigers have signed Cronulla Sharks forward Jesse Sene-Lefao on a two-year deal.


The environment department says what should be a carpet of blue at this time of year is now fringed with white. Commonly known as wild garlic, the alium was introduced as a garden plant but it escaped and is now rampant in woods and hedgerows. Plant expert Jane Gilmour from the Biological Records Centre is advising gardeners to get rid of the invader. Its leaves appear in the autumn which means the department can use contact weed killer to tackle the problem without harming the bluebell bulbs. Ms Gilmour said: "Sometimes called stinking onions, this is from the Mediterranean. It has increased massively in numbers in the past few years. "The milder weather and generally milder winters have suited it brilliantly and it is out-competing bluebells as it comes into leaf just a little bit earlier. "It is one of those plants people are staring to realise is a thug."

Summary: Bluebell woods in Guernsey are being invaded by a non-native species, environmentalists say.


The US-owned retail firm, which processes hundreds of thousands of online orders each week, could have put millions of transactions at risk, security expert Paul Moore estimates. He first noticed the issue in March 2014 and contacted Asda to report it. Asda said it had now fixed the problem and no customers had been affected. The firm, whose website is run by US retail giant Walmart, told the BBC: "Asda and Walmart take the security of our websites very seriously. We are aware of the issue and have implemented changes to improve the security on our website." "The points flagged pose a low risk to customers and our monitoring of these security issues indicate that no customer information has been compromised over that two-year period." Since Mr Moore went public with the information it has acted to improve its security. "The small risk to customer information has been removed and an update has been applied, we're now adding further enhancements which will be completed by this evening. In short, one of the two issues is fixed but nothing that remains poses any risk to any customer information or card details," it told the BBC. The issue occurred because of two well-known exploits, cross-site scripting (XSS) and cross-site request forgery (CSRF), which combined, can offer hackers access to all the information users put on the site, said Mr Moore. It means that - if someone had both the Asda website open and another site that is infected with malware - they could be vulnerable to attack. "CSRF exploits the trust a site has in the user's browser, allowing an attacker to issue requests on your behalf and from your own PC. XSS allows an attacker to embed malicious content into the page to alter anything and everything the user can see," he explained. Asda is by no means alone in having a website open to these security flaws but Mr Moore believes that it should have acted more quickly to rectify the problem. "Back in March 2014, I contacted Asda to report several security vulnerabilities and despite a fix promised 'in the next few weeks', little appears to have changed," he said. "Asda also failed to issue adequate security headers which help mitigate the risk by instructing the browser to discard content which ASDA deem malicious or unnecessary. The majority of modern browsers support content security policy (CSP) which effectively blocks this type of attack, but very few sites adopt this technique," he added. When he published his blog, he advised users "to shop elsewhere". "Asda/Walmart have had ample opportunity to fix these issues and have failed to do so. If you must continue shopping with Asda, open a private window and do not open any other tabs or windows until you've logged out," he added. Prof Alan Woodward, a security expert from the University of Surrey, said that Asda's assertion that its site is secure is correct but that does not mean that users are not at risk. "Cross-site scripting can easily be exploited by hackers if someone has a website open

Summary: A flaw on supermarket Asda's website gave hackers the chance to collect customers' personal information and payment details, the BBC has learned.


The Friesians were found in Dolwen, near Old Colwyn, on Friday after eating poisonous tree clippings dumped in a farmer's field. North Wales Police said the culprit is described as a heavily built man, aged 50 to 60, with curly brown hair, driving a dark blue pick-up truck. Anyone with information can call 101. "Apparently he has been dumping clippings over past two weeks. Has to be living/working local to Colwyn Bay," Sgt Rob Taylor, of the rural crime team, tweeted on Sunday. A post-mortem examination showed the cows, aged 16 months, died as a result of toxins found in yew and leylandii tree cuttings. Sgt Taylor said he was "appalled" by the "atrocious" act of fly-tipping and praised the "impressive" response to his appeal for information on social media.

Summary: The description of a man believed to be involved in fly-tipping which left three Conwy cows dead has been released by police.


The Crucible's production of Show Boat and its new musical Flowers for Mrs Harris are both up for best musical. Paapa Essiedu, the Royal Shakespeare Company's first black Hamlet, is in the running for best performance in a play. Sir Ian McKellen will receive a special prize at this year's event, to be held at London's Guildhall on 9 October. Previous recipients of the outstanding contribution to British theatre award include Sir Peter Hall, choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne and actor Simon Callow. Clare Burt is nominated for best performance in a musical for Flowers for Mrs Harris, which was adapted from a 1958 novel by Paul Gallico. Daniel Evans directed both Flowers for Mrs Harris and Show Boat, which transferred to the West End in April. He has since left Sheffield Theatres to become artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre. Chichester's exuberant summer production of Half a Sixpence is up for two awards ahead of its West End transfer next month. Actress Lesley Manville, host of this year's awards ceremony, said she "looked forward to celebrating a year of artistic achievement". The full list of nominations is as follows: Theatregoers have until 12:00 BST on 19 September to cast their vote for the UK's most welcoming theatre. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Musicals staged by Sheffield's Crucible theatre lead the nominations for this year's UK Theatre Awards, which reward the best shows produced outside London.


Its mother was among the first group of 20 relocated to mid Wales from Scotland in 2015. Pine martens were once common in Wales but were thought to be close to extinction by the 20th Century. "Evidence of breeding in Wales is very exciting," said Hilary Macmillan from the Vincent Wildlife Trust, a mammal conservation charity. "This is proving that they are breeding successfully in Wales." The mother of the baby pine marten - also known as a kit - gave birth about a month ago, must have bred while in Wales to have become pregnant last year. Others among the relocated group gave birth last year but they would have become pregnant after mating prior to their move south. However, not everyone is please to see the animals return, with one landowner in Ceredigion dubbing the predator a "killing machine". So far, 39 pine martens have been relocated to mid Wales in the last two years with a further 20 expected this autumn. The kit was filmed by trust volunteer Huw Denman as it climbed a tree at its den site.

Summary: The first pine marten born and bred in Wales as part of a recovery project has been caught on camera.


Officers were called to Derby Road, Enfield at 15:30 GMT on Saturday after reports of a gun being seen in a car. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the reported car was stopped at 16:00 GMT and the four men inside were arrested. They are currently being held at a north London police station.

Summary: Four men were arrested in north London when police found a gun, a sword and a knife in the car they were travelling in.


Cosmetic lenses are available to buy on the internet, in novelty stores or at market stalls, close to Hallowe'en. Trading standards officers said the law stated that lenses should be sold with an optician or medic present. Youngsters buying the lenses may wish to recreate the look of the Twilight films and Vampire Diaries TV show. Cosmetic lenses are used to change the colour of the eye, and are also known as plano or zero-powered lenses. Trading standards officers and health experts say young people are known to share them, leading to an increased risk of corneal ulcers and infections. Alistair Bridge, director of strategy at the General Optical Council said: "Opticians make sure that contact lenses fit properly and that wearers receive expert advice on how to wear and store them safely. "They will also offer important advice such as not to sleep in contact lenses and to never share or swap lenses, which can spread eye disease." Leon Livermore, Chartered Trading Standards Institute chief executive, said: "Cosmetic contact lenses are often made and distributed on a one size fits all basis and not tailored to the wearer's needs which can increase the risk of eye health issues." "We would advise against buying products like these online or from retailers as without professional supervision there are more likely to be health concerns for the individual."

Summary: Fans of the Twilight film series have been warned that they could be putting their sight at risk by sharing cosmetic contact lenses bought online.


Kelly Pearce, 36, was found with fatal throat wounds in a flat belonging to witness Joseph Withers on Canvey Island, Essex, on 19 November. Accused Anthony Ayres, 49, of Fairlop Avenue in Canvey, denies murdering her. At Chelmsford Crown Court his defence claimed Mr Withers killed her and then blamed Mr Ayres who arrived later. Ms Pearce had been stabbed 40 times in the face and neck and bludgeoned to death with a weapon "consistent" with a hammer in a "frenzied attack", the court heard. More on this and other news from Essex She sustained fatal neck wounds and skull and brain damage, and died later in hospital. The court was told she had been attacked in the bathroom of a flat in Fairlop Avenue in Canvey, belonging to Mr Withers. On the day of the killing, Mr Withers, who described himself in police interviews as a paranoid schizophrenic, said he was briefly locked out of his flat, while Ms Pearce and Mr Ayres were inside. When he got back in he claimed to have seen Mr Ayres swinging a hammer. "I saw him hitting her with the hammer or something. I just saw him hitting like that," he told the court. Defence lawyer Oliver Saxby, QC, said: "It sounds like you weren't sure. Why did you say 'or something'?" "That's best description I could give," Mr Withers replied. He claimed he had then run from the flat to call the police. However, Mr Saxby said: "I'm suggesting that either you lost it with her, or that there was somebody else in there who was responsible for what happened." "It was Tony," Mr Withers replied. He had said early in the cross-examination: "You're trying to say I attacked Kelly. I would never attack anybody. I'm scared of Kelly." The trial continues.

Summary: A prosecution witness in the trial of a man accused of the "frenzied" murder of a woman, has been accused of carrying out the killing himself.


The £1.2m facility serving Llandaff North and Gabalfa has been created on the site of the area's old library and day centre. It houses a library, advice services, children's area, IT suite and a community cafe as well as meeting rooms and a community hall for local groups. The facility will be opened on Tuesday.

Summary: A new community hub for two Cardiff suburbs will be officially opened next week.


A senior Chinese foreign ministry official is quoted as saying that the Zambian authorities have failed to provide strong evidence. Those arrested are accused of, among other things, running unlicensed smelting plants and employing children. China has invested heavily in Zambian copper mining and other sectors. The country is also home to a growing Chinese community. The arrests happened in a joint police and immigration operation in the town of Chingola, 400km (250 miles) north of the capital, Lusaka. "We are here to put to an end this criminality. Foreign investors who come into this country must work within the confines of the law. Those who break the law will be flushed out," Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo was quoted as saying in the Times of Zambia. Lin Songtian, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's director-general for African affairs, said that while he supports measures to deal with illegal mining, in this case proof had not been provided, Reuters news agency reports. He also complained that among those arrested was a pregnant woman and two others with malaria. There has been some tension between the Chinese and Zambians in the past. In 2010, two Chinese managers were accused of attempted murder after firing on miners during a pay dispute. The charges were later dropped. Two years later, Zambian miners killed a Chinese manager during a riot at a coal mine.

Summary: China has complained to Zambia after 31 of its nationals were arrested at the weekend for alleged illegal mining practices.


The oil firm said revenues in the year fell 27% to £1.6bn as the price of oil continued to fall in 2015. It is the second year in a row the oil company has reported a loss. In 2014, it reported a loss of £2bn. Tullow also warned there was a risk it could fail to comply with its financial covenants this year. Financial covenants are agreements that companies make with their lenders to maintain a stable financial position. Oil prices have slumped by 70% since the middle of 2014, with many of the oil majors cutting back investment on exploration and production. That has also led to the loss of more than 5,000 jobs in the North Sea oil industry. Tullow said it could cut annual capital expenditure to as low as $300m in 2017, down from $1.1bn planned for 2016, if market conditions did not improve. The firm said it had reduced headcount of 37% and was on track to deliver cash savings of around $500m over three years. It also said it would pay no dividend in 2015. Tullow Oil chief executive Aidan Heavey said: "Our challenge in 2016 is to be equally robust in responding to the uncertainties that remain in the sector." He added: ". As we look ahead, we have a portfolio of world class, low cost oil assets which will produce around 100,000 barrels per day in 2017 and a major position in one of the world's newest, low cost, oil provinces in East Africa, both enabling us to create substantial value."

Summary: Oil and gas exploration firm Tullow Oil has reported a pre-tax loss of £1.3bn for the year to 31 December as low oil prices bit into revenues.


Pop Recs Ltd hosted in-store gigs by acts from Franz Ferdinand to James Bay. It also earned the group an award for Britain's hardest-working band from the Association of Independent Music. Drummer Dave Harper, who runs the shop, is now looking for a new site. "We need to be somewhere else," he said. "Not existing is not an option." The band opened Pop Recs Ltd to sell their own album in 2013 after realising there were few bricks-and-mortar stores left to sell it. Housed in the city's former tourist information office, it was originally only meant to be open for a few weeks. But the band kept it going and their DIY attempts to buck a music industry decline gained support from other independent artists. It also became a community hub, hosting regular music tuition plus poetry, stitching and toddler groups. Now, however, they have moved out after Sunderland City Council, which owned the building, sold it for student flats. Pulled Apart By Horses played the shop's final gig on Saturday. Harper said he was looking at one possible new premises, and that comments from the shop's regulars had made him realise it was important to reopen. Things like the poetry group, which has 40 members, and the Saturday morning "stitch and bitch", will "stop happening here", Harper said. "That's absolutely terrifying because, if you walk around this city, and if you don't want baked pastry goods or go to a charity shop or cash a cheque or put a bet on, I don't know what people do. "I'm standing here with grease on my hands and I hadn't cried for years until I realised this place was done, and people were saying pleasant things about it. It's really driven home so acutely what this place has meant to people." Members of shop's the regular meetings have told him that the groups help with their mental health problems, he said. "They feel comfortable here and they don't feel comfortable anywhere else that's state sponsored or medication related," he said. "I didn't know we were doing this. "People have just come and told us recently, and that was infinitely more upsetting, yet satisfying, that we were achieving things we didn't even realise under our own noses." The band have always known the council was trying to sell the building, Sunderland City Council's cabinet secretary Councillor Mel Speding said. "That has now been secured with its development into student accommodation. "This is in line with council objectives to see more people living and working in the city centre and, in the interests of council tax payers in these financially challenging times for local authorities, it secures a capital receipt. "Naturally, with the success and popularity of Pop Recs, the council and others have been looking at ways and means of continuing and securing a similar venture elsewhere in the city centre."

Summary: A record shop opened by indie band Frankie and the Heartstrings in their home town of Sunderland two years ago has shut after the premises was sold.


Last year serious floods hit north and mid Wales, and one woman died. Environment Minister John Griffiths announced that the Welsh government plans to spend £47m in 2013/14 on schemes to protect 1,000 homes. However, that is likely to be less than the amount spent on flood defences and dealing with coastal erosion in the previous two years. "We know our climate is changing and that as a result we are set to see, and have already seen, an increase in rainfall and storms," Mr Griffiths said. By working together and sharing knowledge "we can vastly improve our resilience to flooding in Wales", he said. Outlining his plans, Mr Griffiths said: "Continued investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management is a vital part of our work to manage flood risk, and in spite of a reduction in our overall budget from the UK government the Welsh government has maintained its level of investment in this area. "In 2013/14 I am investing £47m in flood and coastal erosion risk management which will pay for major flood defence schemes in some of our most vulnerable communities including Swansea vale, Fairbourne, Corwen and Coldbrook, Barry. This would protect 1,000 homes and businesses currently at risk of flooding. Although the Welsh government's "baseline" spending on flood defences is growing slightly, other sources of funding have been cut. The £47.2m earmarked for the next financial year compares to £52.7m this year and £51.9m the previous year. In the past extra funding has become available during the year, meaning the amount that is eventually spent could rise if the same happens again. Mr Griffiths added: "It is so important that we effectively target our funding for flood defence.. "That is why my national strategy includes a commitment to developing a national funding policy as well as a method for prioritising investment. "A group has been set up to progress this work and once completed the national programme of investment will enable areas of Wales to be ranked according to risk from all sources of flooding and coastal erosion." Last year was a disastrous one for flooding in Wales. In June, a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours in Ceredigion, hitting Aberystwyth and surrounding villages, trapping people in their homes and flooding caravan parks. In November, a 91-year-old woman died and more than 1,000 people had to leave their homes after the River Elwy burst its banks in St Asaph, Denbighshire. In December, heavy flooding hit the Vale of Glamorgan while homes in Ystalyfera in the Swansea Valley were evacuated after landslips brought thousands of tonnes of soil down onto a road. Monday's summit in Cardiff unites the Welsh government, local authorities, the Met Office, Environment Agency Wales, Welsh Water, and other organisations. It coincides with climate change campaign Climate Week. Emyr Roberts of Natural Resources Wales, a new agency that will take over responsibility for Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission next month, said he thought Wales had the right approach to flooding in the past. "Obviously in many

Summary: A summit is considering how Wales can respond to the growing threat posed by flooding.


The Lib Dem site was called "May & Co" - the same name as a Chelsea estate agent established in 1920. The firm's boss, John Yianni, said he started getting abusive and "weird" phone calls when the campaign appeared on Twitter. The Lib Dems said it was "an innocent mistake" and the site had been changed. A party spokesman blamed an "over-enthusiastic volunteer" who had released an early version of the campaign which had not been checked. He said the party had apologised to Mr Yianni. The Lib Dem site is now called "Theresa May and Co" - but Mr Yianni said it was still close to the name of his company and he was concerned it was affecting his business. "The damage has been done and it's probably going to get worse. You don't want to be politically biased in your business. "People were saying: 'What are you doing getting into bed with them?'" He said he had contacted Sir Vince Cable and the Lib Dem headquarters to ask for the campaign to be dropped. "I was a Vince Cable supporter. I told him that," said Mr Yianni, who said he would not now be voting for the former business secretary. He added: "This company has been going since the 20s. They should have just checked before they unleashed it. "They have changed it into something slightly different thinking it's going to be OK but it's still the same." Lib Dem candidate Sir Ed Davey earlier staged a protest against Conservative social care reforms, which the party has dubbed the "dementia tax," with "Theresa May & Co" placards. Plans to make people receiving care at home liable for the full costs if they are worth at least Â£100,000 have proved controversial since they were announced in the Conservative manifesto. Theresa May later said proposed changes to social care funding in England would include an "absolute limit" on the money people will have to pay. She has repeatedly stressed that people will not have to sell their homes while they are alive to fund care. Speaking at the protest, Sir Ed said there are other ways of funding social care than "setting up May & Co estate agents to come after your home".

Summary: A London estate agent has complained to the Liberal Democrats after they used the name of his company in a spoof website attacking Theresa May.


Head coach Warren Gatland is leading the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand and has named interim coach Rob Howley as part of his backroom team. Forwards coach McBryde assumes head coach responsibilities for the third time after leading Wales on tours in 2009 and 2013. "It is an honour to represent your country and to do so overseas carries extra responsibility," said McBryde. "For me it is another exciting opportunity to lead the team. It is something I have thoroughly enjoyed in the past and I'm really looking forward to doing it again at the end of the season." The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will appoint assistant coaches for the summer tour to assist McBryde. "We are also at an advanced stage in discussions with a number of other individuals about the summer tour and hope to be in a position to confirm the full make-up of the management team next week," said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips. Union chairman Gareth Davies, who is also on the Lions' selection panel, believes the involvement of Welsh coaches will benefit the national team. "2017 is a real summer of opportunity for Welsh coaches and should benefit the whole of Welsh rugby in the years ahead," he said. "It is not often that you get the opportunity to develop coaches in different environments. "Our coaches and players have been invigorated by their Lions experiences on previous campaigns and there is little doubt that a tour of New Zealand will provide the ultimate test and so once again both mentally stimulate and inspire each individual."

Summary: Robin McBryde will coach Wales on their summer tour of the Pacific Islands.


They warn that such internships without a salary, used as stepping stones into jobs, are a financial block to those who cannot afford to work unpaid. The All Party Parliamentary Group on social mobility says all interns should be paid after their first month. Justin Madders, the group's chair, called for better access to "top jobs for those from less advantaged homes". The "Class Ceiling" study follows concerns that jobs in areas such as law, medicine and the media are disproportionately filled by socially-advantaged, privately-educated youngsters who have attended top universities. The cross-party social mobility report highlights the way that entry into some professions can be skewed in favour of more affluent youngsters. The use of unpaid internships as an entry system means that it is only available to young people who can either support themselves or who have parents who can provide for them while they are working without pay. There is also a geographical barrier when internships are in London, with such unpaid work much more feasible for young people from the capital who can live with their parents. The report cites research showing that almost a third of graduates working as interns were not being paid. But an attempt in Parliament to introduce such a ban on unpaid internships was blocked last November. Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke had labelled them the "acceptable face of unpaid labour in modern Britain". But his bid to outlaw unpaid internships was opposed by the government. As well as calling for a ban on unpaid internships, the All Party Parliamentary Group on social mobility wants work experience to be more widely available and "fair and transparent". Work experience has become an important starting point for many jobs and there are concerns that this could freeze out youngsters without family connections in the professions. The report says that all work experience posts should be "publicly advertised to allow a more diverse range of candidates to apply". The report calls for employers to make better use of "contextual" information about applicants, such as looking at their results in terms of the type of school they attended and any disadvantage they might have overcome. Mr Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, said: "If the current government is serious about improving access to top jobs for those from less advantaged homes, they need to take a much more strategic approach. "This means linking the work of schools, universities and employers to build a real business case and practical plan for improving social mobility." Alan Milburn, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, said he backed the calls for an end to unpaid internships. He said firms needed to "wake up and realise that it makes sound business sense to recruit people from all backgrounds". Mr Milburn added: "Research has consistently shown that people from more affluent backgrounds, who attend private schools and elite universities, take a disproportionate number of the best jobs while those from poorer backgrounds are being systematically locked out."

Summary: Unpaid internships should be banned as a barrier to social mobility, says a report from MPs and peers.


The German investment firm, JAB Holding will pay a 78% premium to Friday's closing price to buy the company. JAB is offering $92 a share. While more than Friday's price, it's a discount to the $157 share price high the company enjoyed in November 2014. The deal will make JAB the biggest player in the North American single-serve coffee pod market. "Keurig Green Mountain represents a major step forward in the creation of our global coffee platform," said JAB chairman Bart Becht, in a statement. JAB has invested heavily in the US coffee market. It bought Caribou Coffee Co and Peet's Coffee & Tea in 2012 and formed a joint venture between coffeemakers DE Master Blenders and Mondelez International in July. Keurig will continue to operate as an independent company after the purchase. Coca-Cola - Keurig's biggest investors- voiced its support for the deal in a statement. Coca-Cola will take a 17.4% stake in the new private company. "We have enjoyed a strong partnership with Keurig Green Mountain, and will continue our collaboration with JAB in order to capitalize on the growth opportunities in the single-serve, pod-based segment of the cold beverage industry," said Muhtar Kent, Coca-Cola's chief executive. Despite the higher cost of a single-serve coffee pod compared to a cup of filter coffee, the popularity of the machines continues to grow globally. According to Euromonitor International over the next three to five years, sales of single serve coffee pods are expected to grow by 5% in the US, 10% in Canada and 8% in Mexico. The research firm said the coffee pod business already accounts for 40% of the $15bn global coffee market. The business is not without its critics. The plastic pods have been criticised for increasing the amount of waste in landfills In March the creator of the K-cups, John Sylvan, told The Atlantic magazine he did not use the machine and acknowledged their cost and impact on the environment. "I feel bad sometimes that I ever did it," Sylvan told the magazine.

Summary: Keurig Green Mountain, which makes K-cups single-serve coffee pods, said it has accepted a $13.9bn (£9.2bn) bid.


However, Mr Tillerson said the proposals provided a basis for dialogue leading to a solution of the crisis. On Saturday, Qatar's foreign minister rejected the list of 13 conditions imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain. They accuse Qatar of backing terrorism - a charge it denies. Qatar has been under unprecedented diplomatic and economic sanctions for more than two weeks, with Iran and Turkey increasingly supplying it with food and other goods. The four countries also want Qatar to reduce its ties with Iran and close a Turkish military base, setting a deadline on Friday of 10 days. Among other things, the fellow Gulf states have demanded the closure of Al Jazeera TV, which is funded by the Qatari government. Mr Tillerson said Qatar was assessing the demands and stressed there were "significant areas which provide a basis for ongoing dialogue leading to resolution". He urged the countries to sit together to stop terrorism and counter extremism. "A lowering of rhetoric would also help ease the tension," Mr Tillerson said. After the demands were made on Friday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the dispute was "a family issue" that the countries should work out together. On Saturday, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, quoted by Al Jazeera, said: "The US secretary of state recently called upon the blockading nations to produce a list of grievances that was 'reasonable and actionable'. "The British foreign secretary asked that the demands be 'measured and realistic.' This list does not satisfy that [sic] criteria." He said the demands were proof that the sanctions had "nothing to do with combating terrorism... [but] limiting Qatar's sovereignty, and outsourcing our foreign policy". Al Jazeera accused them of trying to silence freedom of expression, adding: "We assert our right to practise our journalism professionally without bowing to pressure from any government or authority." Qatar's main import routes - by land from Saudi Arabia and by sea from container ships docked in the UAE - have been disrupted, and much of the surrounding airspace has been closed to its air traffic. However, the small but wealthy country has so far avoided economic collapse by finding alternative routes. Qatari citizens living in neighbouring countries or with family living there have been hit harder, Reuters news agency notes, because of ultimatums issued for them to leave. The United Arab Emirates has been trying to mediate in the crisis. UAE's foreign minister said on Saturday there would be a "parting of ways" with Qatar if it failed to meet the demands. "The alternative is not escalation," he said. "The alternative is parting of ways. It's very difficult for us to maintain a collective grouping with one of the partners... actively promoting what is an extremist and terrorist agenda." US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line towards Qatar, accusing it of being a "high-level" sponsor of terrorism. However, the Arab states involved in the crisis are all close allies of the US, while the largest US base in the Middle East is in Qatar.

Summary: Some demands set by four Arab states on Qatar in return for lifting sanctions will be "difficult to meet", US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says.


Health Secretary Shona Robison announced the funding as she addressed a GPs' conference in Clydebank. She also said work would begin on bringing forward measures to tackle workload pressures. The move came after the British Medical Association warned the GPs were becoming "increasingly burnt-out" by the "mounting pressures" on them. Ms Robison said she was "committing £20m of additional investment, directly into general practice over the next year, because I recognise the need to provide more immediate support". She added: "General practice is a highly-valued part of our healthcare system in Scotland and we must get it back to being the profession of choice for more young doctors. "We must also look after our GPs at whatever stage in their career to ensure the basics are right." The funding announced includes: Ms Robison said the announcement "demonstrates the commitment of me and my government to supporting, sustaining and enabling general practice to flourish." Responding to the announcement, Dr Alan McDevitt, chair of the BMA's Scottish GP Committee, said it would help to alleviate some of the pressures that GPs are facing. But he said more needed to be done, and he welcomed the health secretary's "collaborative approach to finding the solutions". He added: "The cabinet secretary has today demonstrated that she recognises and understands the problems facing general practice. "It is essential that this recognition is also matched by a financial commitment to the future of general practice by investing in a new GP contract." Mr McDevitt had earlier told delegates how family doctors "are increasingly becoming burnt-out by the mounting pressures and demands of running a GP practice". He said that while the new GP contract "will resolve many of the current problems facing general practice", there was "a lack of willingness on the part of the government to actually commit to adequately funding the new contract". Dr Miles Mack, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland, said the funding was "promising news" that looked like a "small but hopefully significant step in the right direction". He added: "We are pleased to see an emphasis on the quality of patient care. Similarly, the £2m for IT infrastructure is desperately needed. "The development of an occupational health service for primary care staff will also be warmly welcomed, such is the pressure those at the front line have been facing for so long." Scottish Labour's health spokesman, Dr Richard Simpson, said any extra funding for primary care was to be welcomed. But he added: "The SNP have cut £1.6bn from primary care in the past decade, so in that context £20m is little more than a sticking plaster. "The SNP government in Edinburgh has presided over the biggest crisis in family doctors for a generation. We are seeing the result of that now, with practices serving communities overstretched and under resourced." Liberal Democrat health spokesman Jim Hume accused the government of adopting a "sticking-plaster approach" which will "not be enough to plug the gaps in Scottish general practices". He said: "Hundreds of practices have GP posts sitting empty for six

Summary: Doctors have welcomed an extra £20m of Scottish government money aimed at easing the pressure on GPs.


Williams, 42, was forced to qualify after he was defeated by Mark Selby on Sunday in the final of the China Open. He will be one of 14 Welsh players who will have to win three qualifying rounds at Ponds Forge in Sheffield to secure a place in the first round. Ryan Day is the only Welshman to be guaranteed a place in the competition. The World Championship starts at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre on Saturday, 15 April. 15-year-old schoolboy Jackson Page and amateur Tyler Rees, 18, will play in the qualifying rounds after receiving an invitation to compete. Page, of Ebbw Vale, will take on world number 75 Martin O'Donnell on Thursday while Rees will play against world number 44 Xiao Guodong of China on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Matthew Stevens - twice a runner up at the Crucible - will face off against fellow Welshman Lee Walker on Wednesday. Find out how to get into snooker, pool and billiards with our fully inclusive guide. Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news and reports on the BBC app.

Summary: Two-time world champion Mark Williams will face China's world number 84 Zhao Xintong in the World Championship first qualifying round on Saturday.


They say the arrests happened when protesters refused to leave land owned by the pipeline company. A spokesman said the latest arrests brought the number detained since August to almost 700. They came after the US Army was ordered to allow the construction of the final section of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Native Americans and their supporters have protested against the project for months, and have vowed to fight on. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe say the final section - under Lake Oahe, a reservoir on the Missouri River - would contaminate drinking water on their land and damage sacred burial sites. Morton County Sheriff's Office spokesman Rob Keller said the latest arrests were made after demonstrators moved from their existing camp on flood-prone ground to land owned by the pipeline company, Energy Transfer Partners. He said no injuries had been reported during the operation. Protest leaders could not be reached for comment. The $3.7bn (Â£2.8bn) pipeline is designed to transport about 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day across four states, from North Dakota to a terminal in Illinois, where it can be shipped to refineries. The US Army Corps of Engineers, which has approval authority, decided last year to explore other routes for the pipeline amid huge protests by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. But earlier this week, acting Secretary of the Army Robert Speer ordered the corps to allow the work to go ahead. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order signalling his support for the pipeline.

Summary: Police in the US state of North Dakota say they have arrested 76 people protesting against a controversial oil pipeline.


Media playback is not supported on this device With his side already 3-0 up, 36-year-old Terry slid and brought down Posh striker Lee Angol - and referee Kevin Friend decided he was the last man. "You have to respect the decision, but in this case maybe we will do an appeal for this situation," said Conte. The Blues' 4-1 third-round win was Terry's first start since October. The defender, in his 19th season at Stamford Bridge, has played just six minutes since that 2-1 defeat by West Ham in the EFL Cup. Terry's foul brought a straight red card, but as it was not violent conduct and he has not been dismissed before this season, he faces a one-game ban. Should any Chelsea appeal not be successful, he will be suspended for their Premier League trip to champions Leicester on 14 January. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says the club are considering an appeal against captain John Terry's red card in Sunday's FA Cup win over Peterborough.


But when she walks down through the jagged stairs of the Petare slum in Caracas, she meticulously scans the different supermarkets and pharmacies where she may be able to buy one of the price-controlled products that are so scarce in Venezuela these days. Finding basic products has become a reason for Marta to get out of bed in the morning. "It's become like an obsession," she says. In 2003, then-President Hugo Chavez introduced price controls for some 40 food and hygiene products to guarantee the poor had access to staple goods. But lately, in the midst of a cash crisis, price controls seem to have become a headache. For the first time in years, shortages and inflation have replaced security as the biggest worry for Venezuelans, according to a recent poll by Caracas-based Datanalisis. It is a surprising statistic for one of the most violent countries on earth. But necessity is not the reason why Marta shops - it's opportunity. "The other day I bought olive oil without knowing what it works for because people were buying it like crazy as it was supposed to be cheap," she says. After the global drop in the price of oil, Venezuela's biggest source of revenue, shortages in the South American country went from bad to worse. Datanalisis says every week, on average, Venezuelans go to four different supermarkets and spend around five hours looking for goods. President Nicolas Maduro says shortages are caused by US-backed, far-right groups who smuggle and hoard products in an economic war to destabilise his socialist government. "Venezuela currently has the necessary goods to feed the people, but there is a problem with distribution," says Eduardo Saman, a former commerce minister in the government of the late Hugo Chavez. "And distribution is in the hands of companies who operate as a cartel and seek to affect the government," he tells the BBC. Yet government critics don't believe that this sort of conspiracy is the source of scarcity. "When you impose prices that are below the value set by supply and demand, you will have an oversubscription and a drop in supply, here or anywhere in the world," says Angel Alayon, an economist who has written several papers on scarcity for the ideas website Prodavinci. "I don't doubt there is hoarding and smuggling, but these are consequences of scarcity, not causes," he tells the BBC. Venezuela country profile Partly thanks to price controls, the government has more than halved the malnutrition rates the country recorded 20 years ago, a policy that has been celebrated by international organisations such as the UN. But with the highest inflation rate in the world - 68.5% in December - Mr Alayon says producers can barely cover their costs. The Venezuelan economy shrank throughout last year, hit by falling oil prices. And as the country has fallen into recession, crime has boomed. The government has not made national homicide rates public in more than a year, but independent organisations such as the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence say the rates are increasing. The NGO's annual report for

Summary: Marta doesn't need to go shopping today, because her fridge is filled with all the products her family requires.


The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood, who visited Brussels this week, is in no doubt. He described the prospect of the UK's withdrawal from Europe as "the biggest immediate threat to the economy of Northern Ireland and to the island as a whole". He insisted a Brexit - the inelegant shorthand for Britain leaving Europe - "would undermine and destabilise the fabric of successive Anglo-Irish agreements". It would "undermine and destabilise our north-south institutions", he added, and would "resurrect borders and resurrect barriers for business". In Northern Ireland Questions in the House of Commons, the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) Sammy Wilson took the opposite view. He maintained a vote to leave the EU would "help the Northern Ireland economy insofar as it would release £18bn every year for expenditure on public services". He also said it would "enable us to enter a trade agreement with growing parts of the world and release us from the stifling bureaucracies of Europe". Finance Minister Mervyn Storey, Mr Wilson's DUP colleague, attended an event this week to welcome the allocation of more than £400m in EU peace and cross-border funding for Northern Ireland. Earlier this month, Emma Pengelly, another DUP minister, described the peace money and the European Task Force on Northern Ireland as "essential to making Northern Ireland work and building that better future we want to see". At the same time, DUP politicians tell you it is only right that Northern Ireland should get its share, pointing out that the UK puts £1.50 into the European pot for every £1 it gets back. In the Commons, the SDLP, the Scottish National Party and the Labour Party appeared to be intent on exposing the difference between what they termed the "mixed messages" emanating from the Eurosceptic Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Ben Wallace, her Europhile junior minister. When it came to calculating the amount Britain puts into Europe, Mr Wilson set the bar high at £18bn. Both the DUP's deputy leader Nigel Dodds and First Minister Arlene Foster recently quoted far more conservative estimates of about £9bn. That, coincidentally, is about the same amount as Northern Ireland's fiscal deficit with Westminster, according to the latest Stormont budget. This BBC backgrounder opts for a UK EU contribution figure of £11.3bn. Mr Dodds told the BBC's Question Time that Northern Ireland and the UK could survive quite well outside the EU. Both he and Mrs Foster are sticking to the official DUP line that they will not make their minds up definitively until Prime Minister David Cameron has completed his negotiations for EU reform. But given Mr Wilson's belief that Mr Cameron's renegotiation is doomed to fail, and the DUP MEP Diane Dodds' previous criticism of the prime minister's "barrenness of ambition", it appears almost certain that the DUP will end up campaigning for EU withdrawal, together with the Tradional Unionist Voice and the UK Independence Party. The SDLP, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party will be in the pro EU camp. The Ulster Unionists are still in wait-and-see mode. If Mr

Summary: So, is Northern Ireland better off inside or outside the European Union?


Seven people have denied conspiracy to defraud at Cardiff Crown Court after six insurance claims worth £144,000 were made between 2009 and 2011. Matthew Davies, 33, of Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, said he suffered injuries in a "genuine" crash. A guitar worth £1,850 was also damaged, he said. On Monday, the court heard Mr Davies, who runs a valeting business, expressed his disapproval of personal injury claims during an interview about his own. "It's not something I agree with," he said at the time. "I understand the reflection that personal injuries and claims have on the price of people's insurance policies." The prosecution said he was also recorded as having stated everyone else "is doing it, so I'm going to put one (a claim) in". Mr Davies told the court he and fellow defendant, Adam Fear, 27, also of Pontypridd, played together in a band called Heroes and Outlaws. They went for a jam session at a home on Shelley Walk in Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd, on 15 October 2010, Mr Davies said. He told the court the pair were later driving out of the area when Mr Fear's car collided with a BMW at the junction of Dyffryn Road and Cardiff Road. When asked whether he was telling the truth and the crash was genuine he said: "Yes, it was." The court heard Mr Davies attended his GP a week later. "Initially, I was fine but on the Sunday and Monday evening I could not sleep very well. I had numbness in my fingers and ringing in my ears," he said. He also told medics he was suffering with neck and back pain after the alleged accident. Mr Davies visited Caerphilly Miners' Hospital on 3 November 2010, having consulted with a firm of injury specialist lawyers. When quizzed by prosecutor Christopher Clee, Mr Davies said he had "no idea" why details about his injuries and the accident appeared to differ in the various medical notes. Mr Davies told the court he discovered his Gibson Les Paul Custom electric guitar was damaged only when collecting it from the wrecked vehicle after the crash. He said it only later occurred to him that he might make an insurance claim on it but, as he had failed to find a receipt, he ended up having to "cut his losses" and accept an offer of £300 for the damaged instrument. His fellow band mate Mr Fear has already told the court he is innocent of conspiracy to defraud. The case continues.

Summary: A man from south Wales accused of involvement in a car insurance fraud ring "does not agree" with personal injury claims, a court has heard.


Bill Lord sets aside Â£3,500 from his annual budget to pay for the extra holiday for everyone at Long Sutton Primary School in Spalding. He said it was about both recruiting and keeping "fantastic teachers in front of children". A 'duvet day' is an absence which can be approved by the employer with no reason given. Read more about this story and others from across Lincolnshire Mr Lord said all staff - including himself and the cleaner - were offered one additional day a year, but had to give notice and could not take the first or last day of term off. He said the scheme cost less to implement than the Â£4,000 process of hiring new staff and it was difficult to hire staff in rural schools. "Often young teachers coming out of university want to be near the bright lights so they will head to [big cities]. "Each year we get to July panicking as to whether we are going to be able to have the fantastic staff that our kids deserve." The head teacher added it was essential to offer incentives to recruit and retain employees and one member of staff used her day to attend events at her children's school. "She said the time was far more valuable to her than a pay enhancement." Kevin Courtney, from the National Union of Teachers, said it was "no surprise" some head teachers were offering additional benefits. "The teacher recruitment and retention crisis that is blighting schools is brought about by the unacceptable levels of workload expected of teachers - which are unusually high in our country." The Education Select Committee warned the government in February about a shortage of teachers in England. At the time the Department for Education said there were record numbers of teachers and it was investing Â£1.3bn in recruitment.

Summary: A head teacher has defended his decision to offer staff at a Lincolnshire school a "duvet day".


A Canadian Lancaster, currently on a UK tour, performed an engine shutdown during a flight in County Durham. Its owners said it landed safely at Durham Tees Valley airport following the "precautionary" shutdown. It had been due to fly to Bournemouth to take part in weekend displays with an RAF Lancaster bomber. An airport spokesman said the plane had experienced an "issue" with one of its engines as it was approaching the runway at the end of a 30-minute demonstration flight for invited guests. "The aircraft landed safely and nobody was injured and it taxied to stand. "The Lancaster has been returned to the hangar and engineers are conducting tests to determine the cause of the fault," he added. The last remaining flying Lancasters - owned by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum - were due to fly at the Bournemouth Air Festival as well as the Shoreham Air Show and the Gedling Show in Nottinghamshire, as part of a two-month UK tour by the Canadian aircraft. The aircraft are based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire for the duration of the visit. There were over 7,000 of the type of aircraft produced between 1941 and 1946. A statement from Bournemouth Air Festival said: "We share the disappointment of all the Canadian Lancaster fans but we understand that she is over 70 years old and these sort of things can and do happen. "We hope she's airworthy again soon." An airworthy Merlin engine is being shipped from the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre near Skegness and this will be fitted over the weekend.

Summary: Displays by the last two airworthy Lancaster bombers from World War Two have been cancelled after one suffered engine problems.


Gilmartin, 30, has signed an undisclosed-length deal after leaving the Hornets, where he failed to play a first-team game in three years. His most recent senior match in England came for Plymouth in January 2013. Keeper Brill, 31, joined Colchester in January on a short-term deal and rejected the offer of a new contract. The former Luton, Barnet and Oldham player found himself as number two to Sam Walker, who played every league game last season. Gilmartin will coach keepers Walker and Dillon Barnes, with Ademola Bankole leaving the role after more than nine years at the club. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Colchester have signed goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin as a player-coach after his release by Watford, and confirmed Dean Brill will not be returning.


Overall, increased by 0.1% to 43.1%, after decades of decline. Belgium, where voting is compulsory, recorded 90% attendance while Slovaks showed the least enthusiasm - just 13% turned out. The centre-right EPP is set to take the largest share of the seats, with an estimated 208 - against 186 for the centre-left S&D bloc. The EPP choice for president of the European Commission, former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, has already claimed the post for himself, despite opposition from the UK's ruling Conservative Party. Soundbite: "I don't care. I'm not on my knees. I won the election" - former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking about his critics. The two big upsets of the elections are the far right coming first in France and Eurosceptics taking top spot in the UK. In France, the National Front overcame its pariah status to win 24 seats, coming first in about 70% of the country's regions. The centre-right opposition UMP saw its share of seats shrink from 29 to 20, prompting party leader Jean-Francois Cope to announce his resignation in the autumn. The UMP has been dogged by a party funding scandal. Meanwhile, the ruling Socialists lost only one seat, but remained with a meagre tally of 13. President Francois Hollande reacted by calling on the EU to reform and scale back its power, The UK Independence Party (UKIP) had 27.5% of the vote and 24 MEPs in the UK. The opposition Labour Party, on 25%, narrowly beat the ruling Conservatives to take second place. It was the first time in over a century that a national vote had not been won by either the Conservatives or Labour. Soundbite: "They [the people] no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected" - Marine Le Pen, leader of French National Front. Parties of the radical left did well in the crisis-hit southern states of the eurozone but in Greece the far right continued to build support. Defying opinion polls which forecast a single seat, Spain's new Podemos party, which has its roots in the indignado movement, won five seats and nearly 8% of the vote, coming fourth just behind the former communists. The ruling centre-right Popular Party remained in front but took heavy losses along with the opposition Socialists, the two parties losing eight and nine seats respectively. In Greece, the far-left Syriza coalition came first with 26.6% (six seats) while the ruling conservative New Democracy party took 22.8% (five seats). But Golden Dawn, the far-right party whose leaders are under criminal investigation, came third with 9.4% and three seats. After three years of austerity in Portugal, the opposition Socialists took the lead with 31.5% of the vote and eight seats, against 27.7% and seven seats for the ruling coalition of social democrat and centre-right parties. In the Republic of Ireland, Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army militant group and a Syriza ally, won three seats - one short of Fine Gael, the senior party in the ruling coalition. The leader

Summary: Here are the key results of the 2014 European elections.


Kelly, 25, returned late from a trip home to Australia and was dropped for Saturday's Qualifiers loss to Leigh. Peacock said talks are "ongoing" about resolving the disciplinary issue and whether he will face London on Sunday. Asked if Kelly had a future at the club next season, Peacock told BBC's Super League Show: "It's all down to Albert. At the moment, it's all up in the air." Kelly has been an influential figure for Hull KR since joining at the start of 2015, helping the Robins to last season's Challenge Cup final. A win over Leigh would have put Rovers second in the Qualifiers table, but a 25-18 home defeat left them fourth and battling to preserve their Super League status for next season. Former England captain Peacock continued: "It was a difficult decision to make because at times Albert has played very well for us this year, and just the enormity of the game. "But you show compassion and give someone time to go home, and they stay longer and hamper your preparation for potentially the biggest game of our year so far - you have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. "It's disappointing for me, but his actions end up letting the club, the players and the fans down because he wants to do something outside what we're trying to do as a club." Meanwhile, stand-off Maurice Blair will miss the game against London after being allowed to return home to Australia to attend the funeral of his brother.

Summary: Hull KR head of rugby Jamie Peacock is unsure if half-back Albert Kelly will remain at the club in 2017.


The move comes a day after a federal appeals court in San Francisco lifted a ban that had been in place since 2008. Many Californian gay couples then rushed to get married. But the opponents say the appeals court acted prematurely because by law they had more time to appeal before the ban can be lifted. Friday's decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals court followed a ruling by the US Supreme Court against supporters of the California ban on gay marriage. On Saturday the Alliance Defending Freedom, which supports the ban, filed the petition asking the Supreme Court to overrule the order by appeals court. The group argued that by law it had 25 days to challenge the Supreme Court ruling, and therefore that the ban should not have been lifted. The Alliance Defending Freedom described the appeals court order as "the latest in a long line of judicial irregularities". The gay marriage ban - known as Proposition 8 - was approved by voters in 2008, months after California's supreme court decided such unions were legal. The two couples then launched the legal challenge. As the state of California refused to defend the proposition, the group that sponsored it stepped up to do so. But on Wednesday the Supreme Court ruled that a private party could not challenge the earlier lower court ruling, as it could not demonstrate it would suffer injury if same-sex marriages were allowed.

Summary: Opponents of same-sex marriage in California have filed an emergency petition to the US Supreme Court to try to halt gay weddings in the state.