But there certainly should be. These are two of the biggest firms in the lucrative international business of making spectacles. France's Essilor is the world's number one manufacturer of lenses and contact lenses, while Italy's Luxottica is the leading frame manufacturer. It is not obvious that the merger is in the public interest, though the two firms certainly think it is. "The parties' activities are highly complementary and the deal would generate significant synergies and innovation and would be beneficial to customers," says Essilor. But there seems to be growing disquiet in the industry. Gordon Ilett, of the Association of Optometrists, says: "This now allows the [enlarged] group to control all aspects of supply of product - from manufacture to the end user. "Those businesses who remain as their customers will be indirectly controlled by the terms and conditions imposed by them. "Whether their UK market share, following this merger, is sufficient for examination by the competition authorities is open to debate, but the effect of it will be reduced choice for the consumer, and will most likely result in reduced quality products longer term," Mr Ilett adds. If the deal goes through later this year the new company, to be called EssilorLuxottica, will become a behemoth of the industry. It will sell not only lenses and frames around the world but will also be stocking its own optician's shops as well, such as Sunglass Hut, and LensCrafters in the US and Australia, both currently owned by Luxottica. One long-standing independent UK wholesaler, who asked to remain anonymous, says the merged firm would be so powerful it would probably squeeze out some competitors. "If those two companies merged there would be a branded frame supplier offering you high-end branded frames, and also offering UK opticians a lens and glazing deal, to suit, so they will control almost everything [they offer] to both independent retailers in the High Street and even the chains," he argues. In his view this would amount, almost, to a stranglehold on the supply of high-end glasses, with some rivals giving up. "I imagine it would knock out quite a few glazing houses in the UK, and it would probably knock out other fashion frame houses," he adds. Unless you know about the eyewear business, or take an interest in investing in big European companies (they both have stock market listings) the names of the two big firms will probably have passed you by. But if you have been inside an optician's shop you will certainly have heard of the brands they own and make. For instance, the leading varifocal lens brand, Varilux, is made by Essilor. Just a year ago, in presenting its 2015 financial results to investors, Essilor boasted that it was "an undisputed leader with only 25% market share" of the combined world market for prescription lenses, sunglasses lenses and lenses for reading glasses. When it comes to just the prescription lenses, it has a 41% share of the world market. For its part, Luxottica owns several of its own brand names such as Ray-Ban and

Summary: Since their impending merger was announced in January, there has been remarkably little comment about the huge proposed deal to combine Essilor and Luxottica.


The United Arab Emirates thrower was training at Newham Leisure Centre for the World Para-athletics Championships in London. Majid Rashed, vice president of the UAE International Paralympic Committee, confirmed "the throwing cage collapsed on the athlete's head". Hayayei, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene at 17:20 BST on Tuesday. The Health and Safety Executive and police are investigating the incident, which was witnessed by some of Hayayei's team-mates and UAE staff. "I can say the throwing cage collapsed on the athlete's head - but how that happened, we can not say," Rashed said on Wednesday. Media playback is not supported on this device The IPC said two of the athlete's personal coaches were present but were not involved. Hayayei, a father of five, was preparing to compete in the F34 class at the Championships. "He was ambitious, he wanted to win medals for his country and for his family. He had a lot of dreams within the para-sports movement, " Rashed said, adding that the UAE team will still compete in London. "The athletes were very close to Abdullah, they trained in the same centre in the UAE. It's really very difficult for all of us but we promised ourselves that we are going to continue and we are going to win something for Abdullah, bringing the best performance from the athletes. "We are working with the athletes to get them in a better situation, obviously today will be better than yesterday, tomorrow we believe will be even better for them." The Metropolitan Police said emergency services "were called shortly after 17:00hrs on Tuesday... to reports of a seriously injured man at Newham Leisure Centre". It added: "At this early stage, it is believed the man was struck by a metal pole which formed part of training facilities at the centre." IPC president Sir Philip Craven said: "We are all truly devastated by this tragic news and the passing of Abdullah." Hayayei made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, finishing sixth in the javelin F34 and seventh in shot put F34. London 2017, which starts on Friday, was to be Hayayei's second World Championships. At the 2015 event in Doha, Qatar, he finished fifth in the discus F34 and eighth in shot put F34. He was set to compete in the shot put, discus and javelin F34 events. A moment of silence will be held in honour of Hayayei during Friday's opening ceremony at London Stadium.

Summary: Para-athlete Abdullah Hayayei died after a metal throwing cage fell on him during training.


Under the bill, the performers - often dressed as popular characters like Elmo - must work for tips in special areas. Some performers have been criticised for being overly aggressive and one was arrested for punching a police officer. They threatened to tarnish the area's newly acquired family-friendly image. In recent months, topless women called desnudas joined the superheroes and cartoon characters jostling for tips. City leaders feared the desnudas in particularly would hold back their efforts to establish Times Square as a top tourist and shopping destination. In the 1970s and 1980s, the area - filled with strip clubs - had a seedy reputation. "People should be able to walk through Times Square without being harassed and harangued," Councilman Corey Johnson told the New York Times. Mayor Bill de Blasio - who had considered removing Times Square's pedestrian areas altogether to combat the problem - is expected to sign the bill into law.

Summary: New York has passed a bill that creates rules for Times Square's costumed performers, after tourists and business interests complained that the characters were becoming a nuisance.


It is looking to raise more than $900m (Â£624m) from investors, which would value the firm at more than $5bn. The listing, planned for July, could make it the world's biggest technology initial public offering this year. Line is looking to raise funds to expand into the US and help it compete with rivals such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and China's WeChat. The app first made its debut in 2011 and is the most popular messaging service in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan. It is famous for selling animated stickers and stamps that people can share while chatting. Line also provides free voice calls and services such as music streaming. Line's management have looked to take the company public for several years now. It submitted an IPO application to the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2014. However, those plans were shelved at the time due to weak global markets. Line had 218 million monthly active users at the end of March.

Summary: Japanese phone messaging app operator, Line, has said it plans to list its shares in both Tokyo and New York.


Later, a ninth person died at a local hospital, an immigration and customs spokesman said. Thirty others were inside the trailer without air conditioning or water while outside temperatures hit 38C (110F). Twenty were airlifted to hospital and eight more hospitalised by other means. Police say they believe the incident is linked to people smuggling. San Antonio is a few hours' drive from the border with Mexico and the US immigration department is trying to establish the victims' legal status. Officials were brought to the trailer by a man who had approached an employee of the Walmart and asked for water. The driver would be charged in connection with the "horrible tragedy", said San Antonio police chief William McManus in a press briefing. He said the people ranged from school age to in their 30s. Video footage from the store showed a number of vehicles arriving to pick up some of the survivors. Several others may have managed to escape on foot into the woods nearby. "We're looking at a human trafficking crime this evening," Mr McManus added. Local fire chief Charles Hood said the survivors had heart rates of over 130 beats per minute and were very hot to touch. In addition to the 20 people in a critical condition, eight others were taken to hospital in a less severe state. The fire chief confirmed at least two of the victims were school-age children. Their condition is not clear. "We're very fortunate that there weren't 38 of these people who were all locked inside this vehicle dead," he added. The US attorney for the Western District of Texas, Richard Durbin, said the authorities were working to identify those responsible for the incident. "These people were helpless in the hands of their transporters. Imagine their suffering, trapped in a stifling trailer in 100-plus degree heat," he said in a statement. They were victims of "ruthless human smugglers indifferent to the wellbeing of their fragile cargo", he added.

Summary: Police in the US state of Texas have arrested a truck driver whose vehicle was found in a Walmart car park with eight people dead in the back of it, two of them children.


The Chinese authorities are said to be angry at the prime minister's decision to meet the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, last year. Mr Cameron told MPs that UK policy had not changed and it did not support calls for independence for Tibet. He said he was seeking a "strong and positive" relationship with China. The prime minister met the exiled Buddhist leader - who has called for a measure of independence for Tibet - when he visited the UK a year ago to accept an award. At the time, No 10 defended the PM's right to meet whomever he wants and said the meeting had been arranged to engage in "dialogue and discussion and gather a wide range of viewpoints on issues of importance". China halted ministerial meetings with UK counterparts as a result and it was reported recently that Mr Cameron had effectively been barred from visiting the country - claims No 10 has denied. Asked in the House of Commons about the status of Sino-British relations, Mr Cameron said the two governments planned to work "very closely together" in the future. "Let us be absolutely clear: this government has not changed the long-standing British policy towards China and China and Tibet," he added. "We do want to have a strong and positive relationship with China, which I believe is in our mutual benefit. "The Chinese government is aware of our policy on Tibet. We recognise Tibet as part of China. We do not support Tibetan independence and we respect China's sovereignty." No 10 has said Mr Cameron hopes to visit China later this year but has not given any specific details. The Chinese authorities oppose contacts between the Dalai Lama and foreign governments but he has met a host of world leaders, including President Obama, in recent years.

Summary: David Cameron has said the UK continues to recognise Chinese sovereignty over Tibet amid reports of a rift with Beijing over the issue.


The 95% target had not been hit for 33 consecutive weeks, since late last September. Figures for the week ending 24 May show 95.1% of A&E patients spent four hours or less from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. NHS England praised its front-line staff for dealing with high workload demands during a tough winter. A spokesman said: "These latest figures are testament to the excellent services our front-line staff continue to deliver while coming under sustained pressure." The improvement comes as the NHS enters the summer period when these pressures tend to ease. Dr Clifford Mann, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said there was no room for complacency. "There is still pressure on the system, which in our view is operating at full capacity." He said some A&E units were still not meeting the four-hour target and were stymied by a shortage of hospital beds. "This exit block must be addressed otherwise the winter of 2015-16 will be hugely challenging," he warned. Latest figures show targets for waits in A&E are being missed in other parts of the UK. In Wales, 83% of patients are being seen within four hours. In Scotland, the figure is 92% and in Northern Ireland it is just under 74%.

Summary: The NHS in England has met its four-hour A&E waiting-time target for the first time since September.


Froome was over three minutes behind the winner on the mountainous 160km stage from Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz, but finished alongside his main rivals. Colombian Pantano (IAM Cycling) outsprinted Poland's Rafal Majka to claim his maiden Grand Tour stage win. Dutchman Bauke Mollema and Briton Adam Yates finished in the peloton to stay second and third overall. Movistar's Nairo Quintana, fourth in the general classification and two minutes 29 seconds behind Froome, is the man most likely to make a move for the yellow jersey, but he showed few signs of attacking in the Jura Mountains. With six categorised climbs, including two up the physically testing Grand Colombier, there would have been chances for rivals to try and surprise 2013 and 2015 champion Froome. But the peloton remained mainly passive, and what few efforts there were to catch out the 31-year-old - one from the Astana team and a solo effort by Romain Bardet - were quickly shut down by the tireless work of Team Sky colleague Wout Poels. Even after Froome lost the support of team-mate Geraint Thomas on the first climb up Grand Colombier, with the Welshman suffering a puncture, he was barely threatened. It will now take something special to unseat Briton Froome, who leads his closest rival Mollema by one minute 47 seconds. "I was surprised that we weren't more attacked out there," said Froome. "I really thought today's stage was a perfect opportunity for the other teams to put us under pressure, especially with Geraint getting a puncture on the second last climb out there - we were one man down." There have been rumours that 26-year-old Quintana, twice runner-up in the Tour to Froome, has been suffering from illness, but he will need to carve out opportunities when the race moves into the Alps from stage 17. Pantano, 27, was the last man standing from an early break that was whittled down from an initial cast of 30 riders. Tinkoff's Majka, who took ownership of the king of the mountains jersey, was persistently at the front and was leading on his own during the second descent of Grand Colombier - a mountain making only its second Tour appearance - but was caught by Pantano on the way down. "This is the last chance for the sprinters before we get to Paris because four days in the Alps follow" Read Geraint's preview of stage 16 The pair held off a late surge from Alexis Vuillermoz and Sebastien Reichenbach, before Pantano sprinted to a first stage win for a Colombian since Quintana's victory on the penultimate day in 2013. It was also a first stage win in the Tour de France for the IAM Cycling team, giving them a standout moment before they fold at the end of the season because of a lack of a secondary sponsor. "This is incredible. It's a dream come true," Pantano said. "I came to the Tour de France for that, but I didn't believe it could happen. I'm very happy." Stage 15 result 1. Jarlinson Pantano (Col/IAM Cycling) 4hrs 24mins 49secs 2.

Summary: Jarlinson Pantano won stage 15 of the Tour de France as defending champion Chris Froome kept the yellow jersey.


Most flights coming out of or landing in Chile's main airports were cancelled or delayed. The strike hit Chile in the busy run-up to the Christmas holiday period, leaving thousands of people stranded. The airport ground workers' union called the strike after the government rejected their request to join the more generous Chilean military pension plan. Some 3,000 luggage handlers, airport security and weather forecasters at 12 Chilean airports joined the strike. Airport workers had gone on strike for 24 hours in September over the same issue. This time the stoppage was meant to last 48 hours but it took four days for both sides to reach an understanding. Their differences have not been solved, but the employees have agreed to resume talks. Chilean Defence Minister Jose Antonio Gomez apologised for the disruption and said that airport staff would put in extra effort to try to bring the situation back to normal as quickly as possible. "We will go the extra mile together with the airlines, with all of our staff and also with workers from the civil aviation authority to reverse this situation," said Mr Gomez. Chile's flagship carrier, LAN, which is part of LATAM Airlines, said it would add 16 domestic flights to its daily schedule in the next few days. But the airlines it will take days to take everyone to their destinations, as flights were already booked up before the strike began on Thursday.

Summary: Airport workers in Chile have agreed to end a four-day strike that led to major disruption.


G4S provides healthcare for the UK's Yarl's Wood immigration detention centre, deemed a "place of national concern" after it was found to be failing vulnerable women. Emerging markets' revenue rose 5.7% to £1.18bn but UK revenue fell by 3.2%. G4S's operations span 110 countries and it employs 611,000 staff. Its operations include providing services for airports and restocking cash machines. It also has outsourcing contracts from companies and governments to place, for example, police and prison officers where there are shortages, and "supports justice and security strategies" for governments of countries in conflict, says G4S. Revenues were £3.2bn, up 2.8% compared with the same period last year. However, the company said that during the period, it took a charge of £16m for restructuring. New contract sales were £1.4bn. Chief executive Ashley Almanza said: "Demand for our services was robust, particularly in North America, Latin America and Asia Middle East. As anticipated, revenues were lower in UK & Ireland."

Summary: Security firm G4S has reported a £4m rise in profits to £185m for the first half of 2015 due to new contracts and growth in emerging markets.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 21-year-old was fifth with 250 metres remaining before powering through to win a time of three minutes 31.447 seconds. The Czech Republic's Josef Dostal took silver in 3:32.145, and Russia's Roman Anoshkin won bronze in 3:33.363. Walz has an English father and a German mother, but grew up in Majorca, Spain. Find out how to get into canoeing with our special guide. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Oxford-born Spaniard Marcus Walz produced a remarkable finish to take the Olympic kayak 1,000m title at the Lagoa Stadium.


Age Scotland says official figures suggest that each year about 8,640 people in Scotland wait longer than six weeks for a council care assessment. The average "worst case" is between two weeks and five months, with the longest delay of 18 months recorded in 2014/15. Cosla, the umbrella body for local councils, declined to comment. Age Scotland's research, compiled using freedom of information requests, found significant variations across councils in the time taken to carry out assessments. Under national guidelines, people should wait no longer than six weeks for care services to be provided after an assessment has taken place. Age Scotland found that about 10% of people were not provided with services within the six-week limit over the past three years. The charity said its research suggested that about 3,000 elderly people each year wait longer than six weeks for services to be put in place. Most councils do not record the reasons why delays occur, but many cited instances where delays were caused by the person being admitted to hospital or waiting for a place in their chosen care home. Staff shortages, financial constraints and delays in adapting homes were also cited. Age Scotland received freedom of information responses from 25 out of 32 councils. Chief executive Keith Robson said: "These are deeply concerning figures showing thousands of older people facing delays in the care provision they need being put in place. "It also means payments for free personal care they are entitled to are not being received. "This confirms the experiences of a number of older people and their families who have been in touch with Age Scotland's helpline to tell us their experiences of delays in the system. "As we look to local authority elections next month, Age Scotland has contacted council candidates across Scotland to ask them to ensure providing high-quality health and social care services is made an urgent priority by new administrations."

Summary: Thousands of elderly people are missing out on free personal care because of delays to assessments and care arrangements, a charity has claimed.


Adventures in the Anthropocene is her record of the people and places she encountered on a huge global tour. The book details how humans are altering the planet, but it also tells the stories of how we are learning to limit and cope with that change. The Royal Society Winton Prize is worth Â£25,000 to the winner. "Anthropocene" is the word used by many scientists to describe the epoch of humanity's profound influence on the Earth. There are arguments over when our activities started to distort natural processes, but there is no doubting the effects today. Pollution, species loss, over-exploitation of water and mineral resources, and of course climate change. The list goes on. This is "the age we made". Gaia knew all the data from her job as a science reporter, but she wanted to see the impacts first-hand. So, she put on hold the nine-to-five existence and bought a one-way ticket to Kathmandu, to start a personal odyssey and directly sample some of the global upheaval. She expected to be gone no more than six months, but two-and-a-half years later, she and her backpack were still travelling and still talking to people about their experiences. Adventures in the Anthropocene is not simply a book of doom and gloom. It has many inspiring characters. These are the individuals with bottom-up approaches to meeting the particular challenges they are facing - like the man making his own glaciers in the Indian Himalayas to store water for his neighbours, or the Belize man who has built an island habitat out of rubbish that he's collected from the sea. "I really wanted it to be an optimistic book, because I'm an optimist; because we are incredible, we are ingenious, we are this resourceful species," she told me. "So, yes, although we've put ourselves in this position, and are reaching all sorts of crises in various different ways in terms of food, water, energy, etc - we're also very capable of turning things around. "I met incredible people all around the world who are already doing things for themselves. "They're not waiting for someone in Berkeley, or Yale, or Oxford to come up with amazing solutions (although perhaps that's where the solutions will come from); they're also coming from the people who are living in conflict with our massive changes. We need to learn from them." You can listen to Gaia talk about her book in the audio interview at the top of the page. And still available to hear online is The Age We Made series of radio programmes that Gaia presented for the BBC World Service. The four episodes (1, 2, 3, and 4) can also be downloaded as podcasts. Gaia Vince blogs at Wandering Gaia Last year's winner was a book called Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik that explored the importance of modern materials. The full shortlist for the 2015 prize was: You can read sample chapters from all the books at the Royal Society website. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

Summary: The UK's premier prize for science books has been won by Gaia Vince - the first female writer to claim the award outright in its near 30-year history.


Remarkably, this year's finale features the two franchises who have waited longer than any other to win a championship. Cleveland's last title came way back in 1948. In ordinary circumstances a win for "the Tribe" would be a baseball fairytale: this year it would mostly be remembered for crushing Chicago's dreams. The Cubs, despite being one of the most popular and historic franchises in baseball, have not won a World Series title since 1908. They have not even played in the Fall Classic since 1945, when legend has it that a curse was placed on the team when a local tavern owner was asked to leave a game because the smell of his pet goat was upsetting other fans. Baseball is fond of hexes. The "Curse of the Bambino" - placed on the Boston Red Sox when they sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees - was blamed for the Red Sox's 86-year World Series drought, while the 1920 Black Sox betting scandal was fingered as the reason for the failure of the Cubs' cross-city rivals, the Chicago White Sox, to win a championship for 88 years. Media playback is not supported on this device But the Sox, red and white, finally came good in successive years a decade ago. The Cubs' winless streak stands at 108 years and counting. Various, possibly more likely, reasons have been advanced for the Cubs' epic failure, including playing more daytime games than most (which some believe denies the players the opportunity to settle into a rhythm), a failure to tap into Latin American talent and a poor system for developing young in-house stars. Some also believe the innate pessimism of the fans creates a counter-productive atmosphere of tension at their beautiful but capricious Wrigley Field home - where the wind can swirl unpredictably - when things get tense at the business end of the season. In 2003, the fan effect was more tangible when Steve Bartman covered himself in infamy by impeding a fielder's attempt to catch a key fly ball in a post-season game against the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. Needless to say the Cubs went on to lose the game, and the series and Bartman issued a public letter of apology. As he puts it on his Twitter feed: "Some people are remembered for a lifetime of great work, I'm remembered for five seconds." In 2008, a priest even sprinkled holy water in the Cubs' dug-out before their National League Division Series against Los Angeles. They did not win a single game, losing the best-of-five series 3-0. So why does 2016 finally promise something better? It seems the key was to make Theo Epstein president of baseball operations in 2011. He is now the highest paid manager in US sport, reportedly on a five-year contract paying more than $50m (£40.87m). Epstein had already tasted success at the Red Sox, relying on a scientific, analytical method to identify talent. He has repeated the process in Chicago, transforming a team that finished in last place in the National League Central Division for the first

Summary: The Chicago Cubs will be hoping to end the most infamous run of failure in US sport when they face the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, which starts on Tuesday.


That was a 20% increase on the same period last year. The profit was achieved on turnover of £152m, up from £117m the previous year. First Derivatives makes financial analysis software used by investment banks all over the world and the firm now employs more than 1,750 people. They also provide consultancy services and are diversifying into new markets, primarily marketing technology and utilities. Chairman Seamus Keating said they have made an encouraging start to the current financial year. "We are engaged in numerous discussions across industries and believe our products and services are well placed competitively. "Consequently we anticipate another year of strong growth," he said. The firm was founded by Brian Conlon in 1996 and floated on the stock market in 2002. At that time, it had just 26 employees and a turnover of less than £2m. It is understood that the company is planning to develop a significant amount of new office space close to its existing headquarters in Newry. That will be largely to accommodate the growth in its managed services business

Summary: First Derivatives, the financial technology firm based in Newry, County Down, made £12.5m profit before tax for the year to the end of February.


At present, those under 18 can be sentenced to a maximum of three years in a reform facility. The move to change the law gathered momentum after the youngest convict in the notorious 2012 Delhi gang rape was recently released from detention. The parents of the victim were among those campaigning to change the law. On Tuesday, the Juvenile Justice Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha - the upper house of the parliament. The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha - the lower house - in May. It will now have to be signed by the president to become law - which, correspondents say, is a mere formality. The new law will not apply to the youngest 2012 rapist, but it will be used in future cases involving juvenile offenders above 16 years. Authorities say the number of juvenile crimes have been increasing - last year, 38,565 cases were registered, including many cases of rapes, murders and acid attacks. The supporters of the new law say tougher punishment will act as a deterrent. However, critics say that India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which mandates that all children under the age of 18 be treated equally, and say the new law will violate the convention. Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, died after being brutally raped by five men and one minor on a moving bus in 2012. The attack sparked a huge public outcry in India and forced the authorities to introduce tough new laws to deal with crimes against women. Her mother Asha Devi said she was "satisfied" at the bill's passing. "But I am sad that my daughter did not get justice," she added. Four adult convicts in the case are appealing against death sentences. A fifth died in prison. But the youngest of her attackers, who was 17 at the time of the crime, was sentenced to three years and released recently. During his trial in a juvenile court, there were calls to try him as an adult and protests were held over the weekend against his release. Since his release, the rapist has been housed with a charity because of fears over his safety. On Monday, India's Supreme Court dismissed an appeal to stop his release, saying it "shared" the concern of most citizens but its hands were "tied" by the law.

Summary: The Indian parliament has passed a bill which allows juveniles between 16 and 18 years of age to be tried as adults for serious crimes like rape or murder.


Tom Lucking found a gold pendant inlaid with a profusion of garnets while metal detecting on farmland in 2014. The 7cm (2.8in) item was found in the grave of a female and has been described as one of the "most elaborate...ever found". It was declared treasure alongside other items at an inquest in Norwich. Why is Norfolk a treasure hunting hotspot? Mr Lucking, 23, a student from Felixstowe who is in his final year studying history at the University of East Anglia, said the discovery "had certainly given me a good dissertation project". He said: "It makes me pleased I've put time and effort in metal detecting in that field and it was worth going out into the cold and rain over the years to find those things." He unearthed the pendant whilst exploring a field near Diss, after initially detecting a bronze bowl. After the inquest on Monday, Mr Lucking said: "You can hope, but never really expect to find something like this. "It's not about the money value, it's about finding something that makes you re-think the whole history of an area." Julie Shoemark, finds officer for Norfolk, said the burial dates to the cusp of the early Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England, around the middle of the 7th century AD. She said: "Within a century of this lady's death, burial practices had completely changed and people were being interred with no associated grave goods, as seen in the burials from Great Ryburgh. "She was undoubtedly a lady of some status in the community of East Anglia as the magnificent garnet inlaid pendant and associated grave goods demonstrate." Dr Andrew Rogerson, of the county's Heritage Environment Services, previously described the pendant as one of the "most elaborate...ever found". He said: "It would seem we have something of major significance." The British Museum report for the coroner listed a number of precious coins and jewellery found alongside the woman's skeleton. British Museum identification of items Mr Lucking has been metal detecting since he was 11-years-old. He said he will share proceeds from the sale with the owner of the land and his friend, Stuart Isaacs, who treasure hunts with him. Norwich Castle Museum is understood to be interested in buying the pendant after it is formally valued by the British Museum.

Summary: A student who found Anglo Saxon jewellery of "national significance" said the discovery has made three years exploring the field worthwhile.


It is understood the new offer was a basic £35.5m, which would have risen to nearer £40m when various extras were added. The Reds value the 20-year-old, who has also been linked with Arsenal and Real Madrid, at £50m. Last week, Liverpool turned down a bid of £25m, plus add-ons, from Premier League rivals City. Sterling joined Liverpool from QPR in 2010 and is under contract until 2017, but has rejected the offer of a new £100,000-a-week deal. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said last month he expected Sterling to stay at Anfield for the remainder of his current deal. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Liverpool have formally rejected a second bid from Manchester City for England forward Raheem Sterling.


Media playback is not supported on this device The wing, 34, scored in the last move of Wales' 24-18 defeat by Australia in Cardiff and was later in tears during a televised interview. Gatland said that the last-gasp try "was fantastic for him [Williams]". The New Zealander also says Wales' fans can look forward with excitement to the 2012 Six Nations and beyond. "You've got to be excited about the Six Nations. I thought it was a really good game of rugby," said Gatland. "And I thought we played some great rugby in that first half against one of the best defences in world rugby. Media playback is not supported on this device "They had the best defence at the World Cup - they were hard to break down. "We scored a couple of cracking tries and you've got to be excited about the youth in this team. "Jamie Roberts, now that Shane Williams is gone, is the oldest in that backline at 25 years of age. "There's a good young loose-forward trio, some second-rows are still very young so we've got to be really excited about not just the up-coming Six Nations, but the next cycle and looking forward to building up to 2015." Gatland felt that Leigh Halfpenny's 50th-minute sin-binning was "unlucky" and that Australia fully exploited Wales' disadvantage while the full-back was absent. "I felt sorry for Leigh because with the angle he came from and the way the ball bounced he thought it had gone in to [Australia fly-half James] O'Connor's hands and he has not been able to see the ball, but he thought he had the ball at the time," Gatland said. "The referee has a different angle and we accept that decision, but unfortunately we conceded 21 points in that period and that's the game. "We got ourselves back into the game, but that 10 minutes has been very costly for us." However, Gatland felt Osprey Williams can look back on a memorable send-off to an outstanding career. He [Shane Williams] is a once-in-a-generation player Gatland said: "The game didn't go fantastic for him outside of that [try], but it was a fitting end for someone who's had a fantastic career. "He's won a lot of games from his individual exploits for Wales over the years so to score in the final minute of his final game was a fitting end, I think." Australia coach Robbie Deans also paid tribute to Williams. "He is a once-in-a-generation player," said former All Black Deans, echoing the thoughts of rugby figures such as Barry John, Graham Henry and Bryan Habana. "What he has achieved in the game no one does really. He deserves every acknowledgement going. "It was a nice way to finish, although I probably wasn't excited at the time until I saw who it was. "He is a quality player and we wish him well. He has contributed to the game of rugby. "He leaves a legacy a lot of players in Welsh rugby will want to follow. It's good for the game." Media playback is

Summary: Wales coach Warren Gatland hailed Shane Williams' late try in their defeat by Australia as a fitting end to the player's career.


Mr Whittingdale has been chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee for a decade. One of his first duties will be to oversee negotiations for the BBC's charter renewal. He has described the TV licence as "worse than a poll tax", although he has said it is likely to survive until at least the 2020s. He will also face the prospect of cuts to his department - the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) - as the new government seeks to eliminate the national budget deficit. And press regulation will be on his agenda. He has previously argued against statutory regulation of the press and said the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics "strayed" far beyond its remit. When it comes to understanding the brief, you would be hard pressed to find anyone better. Previous appointments have suggested the department was seen as a post to test out rising stars to see if they were up to running one of the big government departments. John Whittingdale's appointment is different. He is there to do a specific job - decide the future of the BBC. He is no fan of the licence fee, but has said he accepts it will probably survive for the next 10 years. And secondly, almost forgotten now - the issue of press regulation lurks. His summoning of Rupert Murdoch to the culture committee was one of the key moments in the hacking scandal. But anyone waiting for further action to enforce a "Leveson-compliant" system of press regulation will probably have to wait a good while longer. Figures from the media and arts worlds have been reacting to his appointment on Twitter: The BBC's royal charter determines the level of the licence fee, currently Â£145.50, and the other terms under which the corporation operates. The current charter will run out at the end of 2016. As culture secretary, Mr Whittingdale will lead the government's negotiations with the BBC over its renewal. In February, Mr Whittingdale concluded that the TV licence is "becoming harder and harder to justify" given changes to technology. As the culture select committee published a report into the future of the BBC, he said there appeared to be "no realistic alternative to the licence fee" in the short term, but that the BBC must prepare for the possibility of a change in the 2020s. It could be replaced by a compulsory levy on all households, or be reduced, with some BBC services only available by subscription, the report suggested. In October, he said the licence fee was "actually worse than a poll tax because under the poll tax, if you were on a very low income you would get a considerable subsidy", according to The Daily Telegraph. A BBC spokesperson said: "We're looking forward to working with the new secretary of state." Last November, Mr Whittingdale's committee also published a report into the way Arts Council England funds cultural organisations. It concluded that there was a "clear funding imbalance" in favour of the capital, and urged Arts Council England to "restore

Summary: John Whittingdale is to take over from Sajid Javid as UK culture secretary, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.


18 August 2017 Last updated at 08:15 BST They've just left Alaska and have a 3,500 mile journey ahead of them. The team are taking the journey to draw attention to the melting sea ice. Watch Whitney's video to find out more. Pictures courtesy of Arctic Mission

Summary: A crew of 10 people, and their dog, are trying to be the first to sail yachts to the North Pole.


The 24-year-old, capped 32 times by England, has been out of action since November with a knee injury. However, it is understood his recovery has progressed quicker than expected. Vunipola could now be in contention to face Scotland on 11 March, or Ireland a week later. He was one of England's outstanding performers throughout their unbeaten year of 2016, and his ball-carrying and dynamism has been missed by Eddie Jones' side. There were initial fears Vunipola would miss the whole of England's Six Nations title defence, but it is understood he has looked sharp on his return to full training this week, and is targeting a quick return to international rugby. Vunipola's older brother, Mako, recently made his own comeback from a knee problem, and came off the bench in the win over Italy.

Summary: England number eight Billy Vunipola is set for a shock early return to action for his club Saracens against Newcastle on Sunday, boosting his hopes of a 2017 Six Nations call-up.


Police had appealed for witnesses to an incident in the town's Agnew Crescent on Saturday evening. However, a short statement said a 23-year-old man had now been arrested and charged with wasting police time. It added that they were not looking for anyone in respect of the original alleged robbery.

Summary: A man has been charged with wasting police time following inquiries into an alleged assault with intent to rob in Stranraer.


The video, filmed by Smith and obtained by a newspaper, appears to show him laughing while retired gymnast Luke Carson mimics Islamic prayer practices. Smith, who won pommel horse silver at Rio 2016, later said he was "deeply sorry" for his "thoughtless actions". British Gymnastics said: "We will be investigating the behaviours reported." In a statement, the governing body added: "Members who break our code of conduct can face suspension or expulsion from our organisation." Smith, who has won medals at the past three Olympic Games, has already been censured twice this year by British Gymnastics. In April, the 27-year-old apologised for questioning the judging at the British Championships, where he was beaten to pommel gold by Max Whitlock. He was also reprimanded in June for posting an image on social media of an American gymnast, who was 16 when the photograph was taken, accompanied by a comment British Gymnastics said was "unbefitting to a participant". That reprimand was to remain on his record for two years with the added warning "any further misconduct may lead to even greater consequences". Smith is one of Britain's best-known gymnasts and won the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2012. He is taking a break from the sport and is instead touring as a guest celebrity on the Keep Dancing stage production.

Summary: Four-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith may face "suspension or expulsion" by British Gymnastics over a video in which he apparently mocks Islam.


Media playback is not supported on this device But the Uruguay striker, 27, can now train and play in friendly matches, with new club Barcelona confirming: "He will join the first team's training session, scheduled for Friday. "The public presentation of Suarez as a new Barcelona player will be held on Monday at the Camp Nou." It is not known if he will play in Monday's game with Mexico's Club Leon. A full explanation of the Cas ruling, which still prevents him from playing "organised" matches but now allows him to take part in all "football-related activities", will be published at a later date. He will still have to serve the remaining eight games of his record nine-match ban in competitive international games, while his competitive Barcelona debut is likely to be at Real Madrid on 26 October in El Clasico. But Suarez will now be available for Uruguay's friendlies against Japan and South Korea in September and Saudi Arabia the following month. Suarez's lawyers argued that world governing body Fifa's decision to suspend him from all football-related activity for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 2014 World Cup group match in Brazil in June was too strong a punishment. Switzerland-based Cas - an independent body whose rulings are accepted by most sporting organisations - said: "The sanctions imposed on the player by Fifa have been generally confirmed." But it said preventing Suarez from taking part in any football activity was "excessive", as not allowing him to train would have an impact on the player after the suspension had ended. World players' union Fifpro said it was "disappointed that the court had decided not to strongly diminish the sanctions" and "remain of the view they are disproportionate in relation to his violation of the Fifa disciplinary code". It added: "We regret Cas not deciding to reduce the length of Suarez's bans in exchange for an obligation for him to receive treatment." In addition to being allowed to train and play in friendlies, the former Liverpool player - who moved to Barcelona last month for £75m - can also attend matches and take part in promotional activities. His legal team said the appeal was a success, arguing Fifa had "misapplied its own rules when considering the case and the sanction it imposed was disproportionate". Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: "Luis Suarez's appeal against a four-month ban has failed. He is though, sensibly I think, now allowed to train with the team." "By allowing Suarez to train, Cas appears to have taken into account the club's interests and has emphasised any appropriate sanction for such incidents should be proportionate," said Hannah Clipston, a lawyer specialising in resolving disputes. "What is proportionate for a repeat offender is different to what is proportionate for a first time offender." Suarez apologised nearly a week after the incident, despite initially claiming to have lost his balance. He was previously suspended for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal and Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. In 2011, he was also given an eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for

Summary: Luis Suarez's four-month ban for biting an opponent has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).


Professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst and farm owner Honest Ndlovu, were charged with poaching offences and for not having the required hunting permit. The pair were granted bail of $1,000 each (Â£638) and ordered to appear in court again on 5 August. Walter Palmer, the US dentist who shot the animal known as Cecil, has left Zimbabwe but could also face charges. Mr Palmer said he paid for the hunt, but was not aware of the lion's identity. He said he regretted shooting the animal and believed he was on a legal hunt. He relied on professional guides to find a lion and obtain the necessary permits, he said. Mr Bronkhorst and Mr Ndlovu could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Cecil is believed to have died on 1 July, but the carcass was not discovered until a few days later. Mr Palmer is said to have shot and injured the animal with a bow. The group did not find the wounded lion until 40 hours later, when he was shot dead with a gun. Separately, court records have shown that Mr Palmer has a felony record in the US after killing a black bear in the state of Wisconsin in 2006. The dentist was given a one-year probation and fined $3,000, having shot the creature outside an authorised zone and then tried to pass it off as having been killed elsewhere. Records from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry also show that Mr Palmer was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint which was settled in 2006. A receptionist alleged that he had made indecent comments to her. Mr Palmer admitted no wrongdoing and agreed to pay out more than $127,000. The American tourist is believed to have paid about $50,000 to go on the hunt in Zimbabwe. More than 265,000 people have signed an online "Justice for Cecil" petition, calling on Zimbabwe's government to stop issuing hunting permits for endangered animals. As news of the killing and details about the perpetrator spread online, there was a slew of comments on social media condemning Walter Palmer, with some people calling for him to face justice. How the internet descended on the man who killed Cecil the lion Mr Palmer insists that he believed his guides had secured "all proper permits" for the hunt. "I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt," he said in a statement on Tuesday. "I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion." He said he had not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or the US but would "assist them in any inquiries they may have". The dentist is believed to be back in the US, although his exact whereabouts are unknown. His dental practice was closed on Tuesday and a note was placed on the door referring visitors to a public relations firm. Cecil the lion was skinned and beheaded, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF), a local charity. The

Summary: Two men accused of helping a US tourist hunt and kill Zimbabwe's most famous lion have been released on bail.


Though the unverified story was short on details, and did not have the husband's side of the story, "divorced because of fat face" quickly became a top trend on microblogging network Weibo. State media picked up the story on Thursday, which was first reported in a local evening paper earlier this week. Liaoshen Wanbao reported the 49-year-old woman in Shenyang city had claimed her husband had divorced her 10 years ago because he disliked the shape of her face, said to be "large and square" with "fat cheeks". She said it spurred her to undergo facial surgery three times at a local hospital to shave her jawbones and reshape her face into a slimmer shape. During the third surgery the doctors discovered that if they proceeded further her nerves may be damaged, and halted the procedure. The woman, identified only by her surname Wang, later sued the hospital for 1.7 million yuan ($260,900; Â£183,900) in damages. She alleged the surgery had left her with soreness in her chin, and she could only eat and drink through a straw as "when she exerted force on her lower jaw, she had the sensation that it would break". The hospital, however, argued that the surgeries were conducted according to regulations, and pointed out that they encouraged her to seek psychiatric help instead of a third operation, which she refused. After mediation the woman agreed to accept 20,000 yuan ($3,100, Â£2,200) as compensation, said the report. On Weibo, some condemned the woman's husband, but others also chastised the woman. One top-voted comment read: "It's purely an excuse, if her face was large then why did he decide to marry her in the first place? If he stopped loving her then he should have just said so." It continued: "This woman is also very silly to have believed that her face shape was the real reason for the divorce, she is lying to herself." Said another Weibo user: "Even if you had gone for facial surgery and made your face smaller, he would still have found other reasons to divorce you." One person noted the sharp difference in the compensation amount and voiced suspicions: "1.7 million was dropped to 20,000, it makes me wonder if she really did have a problem with her jaw." Still others took the opportunity to crack jokes. "What an odd reason for divorce! I wonder how square was this woman's square-shaped face? Like a television set? Microwave oven?" Plastic surgery has long been a hot topic on Weibo. In December, users similarly expressed outrage when a Chinese man took out a newspaper advertisement pleading for his wife to go for plastic surgery. More than seven million cosmetic surgeries were performed in China in 2014. The industry's value, pegged at around 400bn yuan, is expected to double by 2019, according to the China Association of Plastics and Aesthetics.

Summary: A report about a woman who said she had repeated plastic surgery after her husband divorced her because she had a "fat face" has sparked outrage among China's online community.


The man named as Abdalfatah HA is suspected of being part of a unit with an al-Qaeda-linked group formerly known as al-Nusra Front, which killed 36 Syrian government employees in 2013. The federal prosecutors' office said the man, arrested in Duesseldorf, had carried out death sentences. A second suspected al-Nusra fighter was arrested in the town of Giessen. Abdulrahman AA is accused of breaking international weapons laws. Both are thought to have been part of the same combat unit for al-Nusra, which was al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria at the time. The group formally severed its ties to the global jihadist network last year, renaming itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. In January, JFS merged with four smaller groups to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. German prosecutors allege Abdulrahman AA, 26, and Abdalfatah HA, 35, took part in an armed battle against Syrian government troops including taking over a big arms depot near Mahin, central Syria, in November 2013, eight months after the murders of the government employees. Some local reports have claimed one of the men was an asylum seeker, but a spokeswoman for the prosecutors' office refused to confirm this.

Summary: A Syrian national has been arrested in Germany accused of war crimes involving the murder of dozens of civil servants.


The 32-year-old former Charlton, Fulham, Chelsea and Bristol Academy player has been with Yeovil since 2015. She netted seven goals in her first term for the Lady Glovers and a further seven in 2016 as Yeovil won WSL 2. "I am so happy to be given another opportunity with Yeovil to play in WSL 1," Heatherson told the club website.

Summary: Yeovil Town Ladies forward Annie Heatherson has signed a new contract with the Women's Super League One club ahead of the 2017 WSL 1 Spring Series.


Joshua Bwalya, who was 16, was found dead in the street when officers were called to Movers Lane, Barking, at about 01:00 BST on Wednesday. Det Ch Insp Gary Holmes of the Met Police said the attack was "a senseless act of violence" that "was not only cowardly, but brutal". A boy, 16, and a man, 20, suspected of involvement were also injured. Both were taken to different hospitals in the capital before they were arrested on suspicion of murder, police said. The teenager has since been discharged and released on bail while inquiries continue. The 20-year-old has also been discharged from hospital and is being held at a London police station. A post-mortem examination of Joshua's body found multiple stab wounds were the cause of death. Mr Holmes said: "I urge anyone who has information that can help our investigation to come forward and help us to bring Joshua's murderers to justice."

Summary: A teenage boy stabbed to death in a "senseless" and "cowardly" attack in east London has been named by police.


The 23-year-old, Ulster's Player of the Year, made his international debut for Ireland in the Six Nations game against England at Twickenham in February. McCloskey still had a year remaining on his previous contract but had no hesitation in signing a long-term deal. "I grew up in Ulster and it was always a dream to wear the jersey," he said. "Despite some strong interest from other clubs, it was a fairly straightforward decision since all of my family and friends are here. "The supporters, the facilities we have and the quality of the coaching were all factors in my decision. "We had a disappointing finish to the season but I believe things are promising for the future and I'm excited to be part of that." McCloskey has accumulated 42 appearances, scoring five tries, since making his debut for the province in February 2014 as a replacement in the Pro12 fixture against the Dragons. Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss described McCloskey's expressed delight at McCloskey's decision to extend his stay. "Stuart has been one of our standout performers all season. A major strength of his is his gain-line busting runs, which we used to great effect this season. "In addition to his powerful carrying ability, his deft handling and decoy lines have also caused havoc for defences."

Summary: Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey has signed a contract extension which will see him remain at Kingspan Stadium until the summer of 2019.


Margaret Slater, who has dementia, was taken to Queen's Medical Centre Nottingham suffering severe hallucinations. Her family said there appeared to be too many patients for the number of staff with queues of people in the hallways and waiting areas. In a statement the trust apologised and said there was a "surge" in patients. Ms Slater was taken to the emergency department on 11 November during a week when the Nottingham University Hospital's Trust missed its admissions target every day. 3,870 emergency patients seen in week beginning 9 November 80.7% admitted to ward within four hours over the week 74.1% admitted within four hours on the Wednesday 95% should be admitted within four hours according to the government She was assessed by a nurse when she first arrived and then, three hours later, a doctor said she needed to be admitted but it was another eight hours before she was moved to a ward. Linda Hughes, her daughter, said the staff were "very caring" but there did not appear to be enough of them. "It was only due to the pressure we were putting on them that she was moved to a ward. In that time she was offered nothing to eat or drink. "At one stage, we counted about a dozen [patients on trolleys] and more queuing outside in a corridor with paramedics." In the week beginning 9 November, the hospital had 3,870 emergency admissions with 80.7% treated within four hours. The government target is 95%. On the Wednesday, when Ms Slater was at QMC, the figure was 74.1%. Alun Harcombe, divisional director of medicine, said the hospital was fully staffed but there had been a "surge in people attending", leading to longer admissions times. "We apologise to Ms Slater and her family for the long wait and that she was not offered any food or drink and have reminded our staff of the importance of doing so at regular intervals," he added.

Summary: A hospital has apologised after a 90-year-old woman was left on a trolley for 11 hours without food or water.


Steffan Roberts Vernon, 33, from Caernarfon, died at the Llanberis beauty spot in Gwynedd, on Sunday alongside Alexander Hadley, 21, from nearby Dinorwig. Two others, aged 27 and 25, were treated in hospital and later released. Police believe the men got into difficulty while swimming in the "extremely cold" water. Friends have been posting tributes on a Facebook page called 'Steffan Vernon and why we all love him'. Debbie Ann Williams wrote: "So sad such a lovely smiley soul the gentle giant who always had a big hug 4 everyone rip steff xxxx" Eve Maria posted: "Xxx always ready for an adventure full of smiles and a beautiful crazy laugh xxx" Emma O'Neill said: "Some souls leave the world a far better place than when they arrived....just by being a part of it." The coroner for north west Wales has launched an investigation into their deaths and an inquest will be opened at a later date.

Summary: Tributes have been paid to a "gentle giant" who died while swimming near a waterfall in a north Wales village.


This week's edition of the influential news magazine Der Spiegel is a beseeching entreaty in red, white and blue. Covered in a union jack and printed in English and German, the publication is dedicated to the referendum debate. Der Spiegel is unambiguously opposed to a Brexit: "The only internationally known politician in favour of a Brexit,' its editors write, 'is Donald Trump - and, if nothing else does, that alone should make the British worry." The majority of Germans apparently agree; earlier this month a poll revealed 79% don't want Britain to leave the EU. For months many here have been bemused, perplexed and downright concerned by the notion that Britain might want to leave. The Germans hoping Britain stays in the EU Germany conflicted on how to handle Brexit German power is the real key to Europe EU referendum: All you need to know EU referendum issues guide In the words of one of Angela Merkel's senior conservatives: "David Cameron is like the sorcerer's apprentice. He doesn't know what he's started." But, with just over a week to referendum day, the German press are happy to lay bare their version of how it could finish. A Brexit, Spiegel predicts, would be "a threefold catastrophe: bad for Germany, bad for Britain and cataclysmic for Europe." The newspaper Die Zeit envisages a doomsday Brexit scenario. Panic at the London stock exchange, a scramble among Europe's leaders to maintain a united front, a party for Marine le Pen and independence for Scotland. Great Britain, the newspaper predicts, will be flying blind. Europe is jittery. For the first time, yields on 10-year German government bonds have fallen below zero. And the real possibility that Britain may vote leave has generated a palpable sense of alarm in Berlin. Which explains Angela Merkel's recent intervention in the referendum debate. She and her advisors have been wary of doing so; they are keenly aware that British voters and commentators could (and some did) interpret any public comment as interference. And they don't wish to unwittingly boost the Leave campaign. Mrs Merkel's language was careful and muted. Her short statement carefully timed and co-ordinated with Downing Street. But it contained a stark warning; if Britain opts out, it will lose its bargaining power with the EU. Her finance minister was less diplomatic. "Out is out," said Wolfgang Schauble. A Britain outside the EU could forget access to the single market, he said, ruling out the kind of trading relationship held by Norway or Switzerland. "That won't work," he said. "It would require the country to abide by the rules of a club from which it currently wants to withdraw." Far less well publicised was what a senior German CDU MP told Der Spiegel. Juergen Hardt, the party's foreign policy spokesman, offered an intriguing glimpse into how Berlin may be preparing for Brexit. If the UK votes to leave, Mr Hardt said, then the EU should gauge possible action to prevent a British exit from becoming a reality. Brussels shouldn't close the door right away. One way or another, Germany

Summary: "Please don't go!"


Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is bidding for a third term, presenting himself as the only candidate capable of defeating a growing al-Qaeda-inspired insurgency. But Sunni Arabs and Kurds accuse Mr Maliki of being too authoritarian and pro-Shia. Some observers think his re-election could endanger Iraq's fragile democracy. These elections are likely to have a big influence on the future stability - and possible even unity - of Iraq. Following five years of sectarian violence in the wake of the 2003 US invasion, the three main ethnic-religious groups - the Shia Arab majority, Sunni Arabs and Kurds - achieved some degree of co-operation and power-sharing, but there are fears this may be breaking down. A worsening of violence in Iraq - or even the break-up of the country - could have major implications for a region already strained by power rivalries, tensions between Shia and Sunni communities and the Syrian civil war. Iraq: Prospects of partition as violence takes its toll Iraqi politics is dominated by shifting alliances or blocs, usually rooted in one of the ethnic and religious communities. Prime Minister Maliki's mainly Shia State of Law bloc only came second at the last election in 2010, which saw the Shia vote split between two rival blocs. It took nine months of difficult negotiations before a government was formed, and Mr Maliki held on for a second term at the head of a Shia-dominated coalition. Since the last election, Mr Maliki has increasingly centralised power in his hands, gaining control over the security forces and - according to some - strong influence over the theoretically independent courts. He says this is needed to deal with Iraq's problems, but many Sunnis argue he has a sectarian agenda and favours the majority Shia. Several key Sunni figures have been arrested and some of them tried in what they claimed was political persecution. Mr Maliki's tough manner of dealing with anti-government protests in majority Sunni areas has further alienated Sunni opinion. Even some Shia groups have become critical. Maliki: Iraq's shrewd operator Against the backdrop of growing political tensions between the majority Shia and minority Sunnis, sectarian violence saw a resurgence last year. The UN reported that at least 7,818 civilians and 1,050 security forces members were killed in Iraq in 2013 - the highest death toll for five years. It seems to be linked to decreased stability in Syria, the Iraqi government's crackdown on Sunni protest camps, and the perception that the Shia-led government is not treating Sunnis fairly, which has strengthened al-Qaeda's position in Iraq. Moderate Sunni tribal militias that fought the radicals and had a role in ending the civil war have become suspicious of the Shia-dominated Baghdad authorities. Buoyed by the conflict in neighbouring Syria, al-Qaeda-inspired Sunni Islamist militants have seized some areas in Sunni-dominated Anbar province. They have also been increasingly carrying out suicide attacks in mainly Shia areas ahead of the election. UN: Iraq's death toll highest in five years Iraq Anbar violence sparks civilian search for safety Voters are frustrated with rampant corruption and poor public services, but

Summary: Iraqis go to the polls on 30 April in parliamentary elections overshadowed by violence and sectarian tension.


The athlete set records for the fastest marathon for a double amputee and has won two Paralympic 200m gold medals. Photographer David Baird has charted Whitehead's progress for many years, including his training build-up to the Games. Whitehead said the resulting exhibition was "quite special". "There's lots of photos around my 40 marathons in 40 days and the success and the struggle that we had in that, but also the training towards London and Rio and the different aspects of training," he said. "The ability to showcase your talent on different levels but also what goes into it is quite special. "For me this is really important to show not just what my success looks like but also the people involved in that." The runner, from Nottingham, successfully defended his Paralympic gold medal in the 200m T42 in Rio after taking up the discipline because there was no marathon in his category. In 2013 he ran from John O'Groats to Land's End in 40 back to back marathons. Mr Baird said the photographs give people a sense of the training required and is now working with Paralympic hopefuls. "Quite often in training it looks very lonely, all that time in the gym and on the track. "The athletes get a lot of exposure during the games but they can be forgotten for the years in between, I think it's important they get the recognition for the preparation work they do." Mr Baird's exhibition will be at Sneinton Market, in Nottingham.

Summary: Photographs celebrating the success of world record Paralympian Richard Whitehead - dubbed Britain's bladerunner - have gone on display.


McAnuff, 31, joined the Royals in 2009 and has made 172 appearances since his arrival from Watford. He began his career at Wimbledon in 2001 and having played for West Ham, Cardiff and Crystal Palace, McAnuff is keen to finish at the Madejski Stadium. "From my point of view of course I would," McAnuff told BBC Radio Berkshire. The squad is so strong we have competition in every position and it is something we have to get on with and deal with "I've been on record numerous time saying how much I've enjoyed my time here and some of my best moments as a professional have been with this club. "But it's not my decision. All I can do is do as well as I can on the pitch, it is not solely down to me." McAnuff, who captained Reading in the Premier League last season, was on the substitutes' bench for their Championship opener against Ipswich but started at Bolton last weekend. Despite being disappointed at missing out on on a starting spot on the first day of the season, McAnuff is confident he can be a regular in the team. "In pre-season you come in and work hard and it is all geared up for that first game," he added. "So it's disappointing (not being selected) but that is football. The squad is so strong we have competition in every position and it is something we have to get on with and deal with. "The manager makes a point of saying it bears no meaning on the season, it is just a team to get the job done, and as you get older you see the bigger picture and for us this year it is going to be about every single player. "It is healthy (to have competition), I don't think any player should be guaranteed a place."

Summary: Reading winger Jobi McAnuff says he hopes to end his playing career at the Championship club.


Mark Drakeford will be presenting the Welsh Government's spending plans to AMs for the first time since he was installed as finance secretary. The last financial plan - for 2016/17 - saw cuts for local government but rises in funding for the NHS and education. This year's plan, as in previous years, is likely to be a story of how the government manages declining pots of Westminster cash and what priorities it has. Last year's budget came to almost exactly £15bn, but for 2017/18 we are expecting that to shrink to something between £14.6bn and £14.8bn. That would amount to £200m-£400m less cash to spend. There are inevitably going to be cuts in some parts of the Welsh Government's budget. Wales cannot raise its own money through taxes yet and so does not have scope to raise extra money itself. Apart from the proceeds of business rates, it gets all of its money from the UK government. Some small taxes - stamp duty and landfill tax - will be devolved by 2018, so this is the last budget where they will not be factored in. At the assembly election Labour - which came out as the largest party and leads the government which includes one Liberal Democrat minister - made a list of pledges which it will need to fund if it is going to keep them. The fact that the Welsh Government is operating a "one-in, one-out" approach to spending means every new thing being funded needs something else scrapped to pay for it. A few weeks ago First Minister Carwyn Jones said Labour would keep those promises - but warned there were going to be cuts. The government's five-year programme includes: Ministers always face pressure to boost funding for the NHS - and there could well be a boost for health in the budget. Last week experts warned that NHS Wales faces a £700m black hole in its finances in just three years time. Wales cut NHS funding in 2010 and for three years after that - leading to a torrent of criticism - but in recent years budgets have been rising. Currently health and social care account for 48% of the overall Welsh Government budget. Could this be the year that the budget for health services reaches 50% - or more? Meanwhile local government is lobbying for no further cuts to councils. Last year the Welsh Government cut the overall council budget by 2%, although it had felt it was quite generous compared to what happened in England. Given the possibility of difficult battles for Labour around the corner in next May's council elections, ministers might want to give county halls some respite this time. We know that Communities First is set for the axe - worth £30m a year. The scheme has been the Welsh Government's flagship anti-poverty project for 15 years but Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant said he was not convinced it was effective. There are plenty of departments that could see their budgets trimmed - further education and economic development, maybe natural resources. Education Secretary Kirsty

Summary: AMs gather in the Senedd on Tuesday for arguably the most important announcement in the assembly calendar - the budget.


Mr Ashley had been asked to give evidence about the treatment of his workers. It follows a BBC investigation into the Derbyshire company's warehouse working practises. Mr Ashley has until 21 March to respond after a letter from Hartlepool MP Iain Wright. The letter reveals Mr Ashley had invited the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) select committee - which Mr Wright chairs - to a meeting at the company's base in Shirebrook. "The treatment of low-paid workers and enforcement of the national minimum wage are issues that the committee will be keeping under review over the coming months," Mr Wright's letter states. "In line with select committees' commitment to transparency, it is normal practice for the BIS Committee to meet in public at Westminster and we agreed to adhere to this practice on this occasion. "A number of alternative dates have been offered to you by the Committee Clerk, but... you have not accepted any of them, nor agreed in principle to attend. "Should you fail in your reply to agree to attend on one of the dates offered to you...the committee reserves the right to take the matter further, including seeking the support of the House of Commons in respect of any complaint of contempt." Sports Direct has not responded to the BBC's request for a comment. The company has previously pledged to review worker rights, with oversight by Mr Ashley, who also owns Newcastle United Football Club.

Summary: Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has been threatened with being in contempt of Parliament after failing to appear in front of a committee of MPs.


He said Mrs May must remember she is the PM of all parts of the UK. Lord Alderdice was speaking in the House of Lords as peers considered the government's Brexit bill. He was speaking in support of an amendment that insists that no hard border is put in place between NI and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit. The amendment proposed by former Northern Ireland Secretary Lord Hain stated that an open border must continue in line with the provisions of the 1998 Belfast Agreement. After hearing government assurances during the debate, Lord Hain later withdrew his amendment. Lord Hain, who was Northern Ireland secretary of state from 2005 until 2007, said: "If we get this wrong, for the UK, it may be perilous. For Northern Ireland it could be politically lethal." Lord Alderdice, a Liberal Democrat peer who voted Remain in last year's referendum, said that Mrs May must not view the issue of the border as if she was still home secretary. He added that it was his fear that the government was looking at this with "the approach of the Home Office". He also called on Mrs May to approach the issue of the border with "imagination" and "political creativity". In response, Lord Trimble, the former Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader who sits on the Conservative benches, rejected the amendment supported by Lord Alderdice and Lord Hain. Lord Trimble told peers he did not believe the amendment was necessary. He said: "The amendment is asking the Prime Minster to support the maintenance of the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. "The Prime Minister does that as of now. It is in the White Paper. It is not necessary." Former Conservative minister, Lord Howell, supported Lord Trimble's position on the amendment. Former UUP leader, Lord Empey, said the amendment was "misplaced". He told his fellow peers that he agreed totally with "an open free border". However, he called on the government to give an assurance that "there will be no internal border in the UK". Baroness O'Loan told a packed chamber that she opposed the amendment. She said it would not "benefit the UK" and that the issue of the border should be "dealt with in the negotiations". Lord Kilclooney, the former Ulster Unionist MP, also opposed the amendment and told the house that the "southern Irish were petrified about Brexit". Earlier, Lord Hain said Brexit could cause "profound damage" to the peace process and warned that a return to checkpoints along the border would sew division and discontent. Responding for the government, Lord Dunlop said there was no need for Lord Hain's amendment. He said the "government's intentions are clear" and that no undertaking was "necessary". The peer, who represents the Northern Ireland Office, added that maintaining the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland "will be a priority". He said the government is seeking "practical solutions" to achieve as "frictionless a border as possible". At the end of the debate, Lord Hain withdrew his amendment. His move came as peers began the

Summary: The former Alliance leader Lord Alderdice has said Theresa May must not view herself as being "Prime Minister of England and a few add on bits".


The proposals, which are subject to parliamentary approval, allow farmers to clear drainage ditches and streams without asking permission. Farmers had complained that the Environment Agency was micro-managing flood control. But academics told BBC News that diverting water off farmland could increase floods where people live. The policy change was announced Environment Minister Liz Truss at the Oxford Farming Conference after what the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said were two successful pilot schemes. She said: "We will allow farmers across the country to maintain their own ditches up to 1.5km in length from April, so they can clear debris and manage the land." The decision was welcomed by the National Farmers' Union (NFU). Its president, Meurig Raymond, said: "The NFU has pressed Defra and the Environment Agency to enable farmers to undertake minor works for many years." But Professor Alan Jenkins from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology said he feared the policy could backfire. "Waterlogged fields are no use to farmers," he said. "They can't maintain their productivity on waterlogged soil so it makes sense for them to manage their fields accordingly. "There is a potential downside however, in that if we increase drainage in fields during heavy rainfall it's possible there will be increased and faster transmission of water in the river system with a possible increase in flood risk downstream." Katherine Pygott from the consultancy firm Peter Brett agreed. "If you are a landowner you may want to maximise productivity on a grouse moor by making it drier - but if you are trying to protect a town you want to keep water back on the uplands. "It very much depends on local conditions - sometimes it would be unhelpful to speed drainage, sometimes it would not. "There is a risk of making a free-for-all on drainage. It would be more sensible to make the existing system work." A government spokesman said over a million acres of prime farmland would be better protected through government investment in flood defences in the 10 years to 2021.

Summary: Experts are warning that plans to allow farmers to clear water courses on their land could make floods worse in towns.


Many have headed for Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, where Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara set a world record for the largest wave surfed in 2011. The storm created huge swells in the sea off Scotland leading to warnings from the Coastguard and RNLI. The swell off Nazare has been recorded at a maximum of height of 40ft (12m). But South Devon-based website Magicseaweed.com, which provides surfers with swell charts and surf forecasts, said the swell grew in size as it neared the beach. Three years ago, Mr McNamara caught a 78ft (23m) wave to beat the previous 2008 record by more than a foot. The Atlantic storm hit Scotland late on Tuesday and during Wednesday. The Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland and parts of the north and west mainland coast were the worst affected. Wave heights measured west of South Uist by the University of the Highlands and Islands peaked at about 49ft (15m) on Wednesday. The storm started in the Arctic where it had rapidly developed in strength in a process known as explosive cyclogenesis, or what some scientists and forecasters refer to as a "weather bomb". Pressure at the centre of the storm dropped quickly in the space of 24 hours as it passed by the south of Greenland on a strong jet stream running in excess of 230mph. As well as Nazare, surfers have been in Bilbao, northern Spain, for a Punta Galea Big Wave World Tour surfing event. It has also benefitted from swells created by the storm.

Summary: Some of the world's top surfers have been riding massive waves generated by the Atlantic storm that hit Scotland.


The patrols at Camber Sands in East Sussex will be funded with Â£51,000 allocated by Rother District Council as part of its annual budget. Councillor Sally-Ann Hart said the council needed to act after the "significant and unprecedented" deaths. Families of the men who drowned said a lifeguard service could have saved their lives. Five men died during a day-trip to the beach last August. A month earlier, two others also lost their lives. The council said the beach attracted more than one million people each year. It said lifeguards would be present from the late May bank holiday until the end of the summer holidays "to offer reassurance" to visitors. Speaking after a council meeting on Monday night, Mrs Hart, the cabinet member for tourism, said: "Our thoughts remain with the families of those who lost their lives. "The incidents were significant and unprecedented and we need to react to the changing circumstances. "We not only need to protect the visiting public, but also the economy and livelihoods of our coastal tourism businesses." However, she stressed the importance of "people from all communities across Britain being better informed" on beach and water safety before they visit. She said: "[The beach] can never be completely risk-free but we are committed to investing in our beach patrol, the lifeguard service and working with other agencies to ensure visitors to the beach are aware of the dangers of the sea." Full inquests into the deaths are awaited. The council said it would act on any recommendations the coroner might make. Five men from south-east London died on 24 August: Two others lost their lives in July:

Summary: Lifeguards will patrol a popular beach on the South Coast this summer after seven men drowned last year.


About 2,000 pieces dating back more than 1,000 years were spotted on the seabed by members of a diving club, the Israeli Antiquities Authority said. At first the group thought the coins were toys, but quickly realised the significance of their discovery. The Antiquities Authority said the find was "so valuable that it's priceless". Divers were exploring an ancient harbour in Caesarea when they came across the gold. They collected several coins and quickly returned to the shore to inform the director of the club. Experts from the authority called to the site uncovered "almost 2,000 gold coins in different denominations" circulated by the Fatimid Caliphate, which ruled much of the Middle East and North Africa from 909 to 1171. Kobi Sharvit, director of the marine archaeology unit at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said excavations would be carried out in the hope of shedding more light on the origin of the treasure. He added: "There is probably a shipwreck there of an official treasury boat which was on its way to the central government in Egypt with taxes that had been collected. "Perhaps the treasure of coins was meant to pay the salaries of the Fatimid military garrison which was stationed in Caesarea and protected the city." He said another theory was that the treasure belonged to a large merchant ship that traded with the coastal cities and the port on the Mediterranean Sea. The haul, which weighs 9kg (20lb), is believed to have been exposed as a result of winter storms. It is now the property of the state and there was no finders' fee.

Summary: Scuba divers have inadvertently discovered the largest trove of gold coins ever found off Israel's Mediterranean coast.


Dai Young, boss of Premiership leaders Wasps, expects a number of his in-form players to make the cut. "I'd like to think, the way we've played, we'll have a few in there," Young told BBC Sport. "I know [Jones has] had contact with some of the players on a regular basis - we have got a number in the mix." Jones will also name a trimmed down party of approximately 35 for a training camp in Brighton next week. The final squad before the autumn Tests will be named on 26 October, and with injuries to Wasps' James Haskell and Harlequins' Jack Clifford, England currently have a void at open-side flanker. Northampton's Teimana Harrison started there in England's last match - against Australia in Sydney as Jones' men wrapped up a series whitewash - and is set to be named in Friday's squad. But the Wasps' pair of Guy Thompson and Sam Jones have impressed so far this campaign. "There has been a lot of talk about Guy with his form at the start of the season," added Young. "And everyone knows what a big fan I am of Sam Jones - his work-rate is phenomenal." Hooker Tommy Taylor has been "excellent" according to Young, while Wasps number eight Nathan Hughes is likely to be involved having qualified on residency in the summer. Scrum-halves Joe Simpson and Dan Robson have also both stood out in partnership with fly-half Danny Cipriani. Meanwhile, Leicester flanker Will Evans has been touted as a possible solution to England's number seven conundrum. Evans starred for the Junior World Championship-winning Under-20s in the summer, and followed that by being named in an England training squad in August. It is understood Evans is set be named in the EPS on Friday, but his director of rugby at the Tigers, Richard Cockerill, says the 19-year-old should not yet be thrust into the international arena. "Will is not ready to play international rugby," Cockerill told BBC Sport. "The reality is he has started one game for Leicester, and before that he was playing for Ampthill in National One. "Eddie sees him as a project player and is keen to get the transfer from 20s to the senior group - and his potential is huge. "He is a great young player, who is going to be very, very good. But at the moment but he is not ready yet [for Test rugby]." However, Cockerill feels differently about Mike Williams, the Zimbabwe-born Tigers forward, who is a firm part of Jones' plans, and could even make his England debut come November. "Mike Williams has a little bit more experience," Cockerill said of the 24-year-old. "Given the opportunity he is ready to step up to Test match level today."

Summary: England coach Eddie Jones will name his 45-man Elite Player Squad squad ahead of the autumn Tests at 10:00 BST on Friday.


The Greens pledged to end "period poverty" by providing towels and tampons to secondary school pupils and women in financial need. A 5% tax on sanitary products has caused controversy and 320,000 people have signed a petition to abolish it. The pledge may be funded by a tax on airship sales and aircraft repairs. Sanitary products are not exempt from VAT, as some medical products are. Campaigns to end the tax on them have taken place in countries across the globe. In the UK, a further row broke out in April when it was revealed some of the money raised from the tax and promised by the government to women's charities had been given to an anti-abortion group. Of the Â£12m given to 70 UK charities, Â£250,000 had gone to Life. Green MEP Molly Scott Cato, who has pressed in the European Parliament for a VAT exemption on tampons, towels and mooncups, said it was an "outrage those on low incomes are forced to use socks or newspapers during their period because they can't afford a sanitary product". Children in secondary school from low-income backgrounds were routinely missing days at school, she said. The Green Party said it wanted to work with health companies to provide the free products. It will look at funding them by taxing other products and services such as air craft repairs and maintenance and airship sales.

Summary: Free sanitary products for those who cannot afford them have been promised by the Green Party of England and Wales.


The process involves growing someone's cells in an incubator and then mixing them with a liquid which is 3D printed into the jelly-like shape needed. It is then put back in an incubator to grow again until it is ready. Researchers in Swansea hope to be among the first in the world to start using it on humans within three years. "In simple terms, we're trying to grow new tissue using human cells," said Prof Iain Whitaker, consultant plastic surgeon at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital. "We're trialling using 3D printing which is a very exciting potential modality to make these relatively complex structures. "Most people have heard a lot about 3D printing and that started with traditional 3D printing using plastics and metals. "That has now developed so we can consider printing biological tissue called 3D bio-printing, which is very different. "We're trying to print biological structures using human cells, and provide the right environment and the right timing so it can grow into tissue that we can eventually put into a human. "It would be to reconstruct lost body parts such as part of the nose or the ear and ultimately large body parts including bone, muscle and vessels." The team of surgeons are working with scientists and engineers who have built a 3D printer specifically for this work. Prof Whitaker, who is also the chairman of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Swansea University's medical school, said the project started in 2012 but research in the field has been going on for more than 20 years. He said the work would have to be tested on animals and go through an ethics process before being used on humans. "The good news in the future is, if our research is successful, within two months you'd be able to recreate a body part which was not there without having to resort to taking it from another part of the body which would cause another defect or scar elsewhere," he added.

Summary: Patients needing surgery to reconstruct body parts such as noses and ears could soon have treatment using cartilage which has been grown in a lab.


Entertainers Starkidz were "cornered" by the gang after a Christmas lights switch-on in Formby, Merseyside. The performers, including one as young as 13, were abused, with one punched and another threatened with an airgun, said the troupe's manager Jan Hayes. "We may not return to Formby next year," she said. "We've been going for five years and we have never had any trouble like this. "It started off with these teenagers trying take their hats or telling the children they are not real elves. "Later on, a gang of about 20 cornered our group and one member was punched in the stomach as they were abused." Ms Hayes said the one of the performers had an airgun held to his head. "It was a very traumatic experience," she added. "The group member is extremely upset by this." The elves have received dozens of messages of support via social media from parents. One local mother, Nicola Cowie, said: "Starkidz bring so much to our community, they bring magic to life. "Her Elves give it their all, they live and breath as elves while they're dressed in those costumes. I'd be so disgusted if my child acted they way those youths did." A Merseyside Police spokesman said it was investigating a report of anti-social behaviour by a group of youths at the event.

Summary: A group of performing Christmas elves has been left "traumatised" after being attacked by a gang of teenagers.


Muhanad Mahmoud al-Farekh was deported from Pakistan, where he had travelled to in about 2007. He and two others travelled to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan from Winnipeg, Canada, where they were students. Mr al-Farekh was born in Texas, and has been charged in New York. He is accused of supporting a conspiracy to kill Americans and to carry out attacks against the US military. A statement from the US Department of Justice and court documents say that Mr al-Farekh, a man named Ferid Imam, and one other unnamed individual allegedly left Canada, where they were students at the University of Manitoba, to travel to Pakistan and fight against American forces. The justice department says that the trio did not discuss their plans with associates before leaving. However, one of the men called a friend to tell him that he should not expect to see him again because he wished to become a martyr.

Summary: The US Justice Department says it has charged an American citizen with conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan.


They have been the biggest student protests to hit the country since apartheid ended in 1994. The students had rejected an earlier government offer to cap increases at 6%, down from the 10% to 12% proposed by the management of universities. Mr Zuma announced the move as students gathered by his office in the capital. Before he spoke in a TV address, police had been using stun grenades and water cannon to stop a group of students breaking into the Union Buildings, the seat of government in Pretoria. The demonstrations have closed some of the country's top universities. "We agreed that there will be a zero increase of university fees in 2016," Mr Zuma said after meeting university officials and student representatives. "In the long term, there is a package of issues that was raised at the meeting that needs to be followed up - these include free education, institutional autonomy [and] racism." Analysis: Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Pretoria President Zuma's agreement to freeze all university increases to meet the demands of the #FeesMustFall campaign will be welcomed by those who have been at the forefront of this student movement, unprecedented since the end of apartheid. But the decision could have been taken much earlier. The protests have been going on for a little over a week. If it had been, we could have avoided the stun grenades and tear gas, which were fired at student protesters here at the Union Buildings. The protests have cut across South Africa's deep political divide: Black and white, rich and poor stood side by side. No political parties were involved. This is taking the country in a new direction of organic, popular protest, likely to play into next year's local government elections. The hashtag #FeesHaveFallen is now trending across the country, but I doubt this will be the end of the problems facing South Africa's students. There were chaotic scenes at the Union Buildings following the president's speech, with some students angry that Mr Zuma had chosen to make the address on national TV, rather than come out to speak to them directly. Pictures on social media showed police cars that had been damaged and one which was overturned. It is unclear how the freeze on South African university fees will be funded, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Max Price, told the BBC after attending meeting with the president. The government said it did not know how much they would pay or where the money would come from, he added. Local media reported that police fired rubber bullets to drive protesters away from the grounds around the president's office. During the protests, universities said they needed to increase fees to maintain standards, a they had been hit by a fall by in government subsidies. Correspondents say the protests have shown the growing disillusionment with the governing African National Congress (ANC), which took power after minority rule ended in 1994, over high levels of poverty, unemployment and corruption in government. Many black students say they come from poor families, and the fee increases

Summary: South African President Jacob Zuma has ruled out any increases in university tuition fees for next year after more than a week of protests by students.


Operated for the HM Coastguard by Bristow Helicopters Limited, the crews took over a role previously carried out by the RAF and Royal Navy. The 500 missions include rescues of hillwalkers and climbers and searches for missing people. The Inverness base is one of the UK's busiest search and rescue units.

Summary: Search and rescue helicopter crews based at Inverness Airport have completed 500 missions since the start of their duties in April last year.


The organisers of Common People commissioned the inflatable structure for the event on Southampton Common on Saturday and Sunday. The castle, measuring 23.8m by 20.7m by 12.8m, is taller than the Great Wall of China and can be used by 100 people. It will also appear at the organisers' other festivals - Bestival on the Isle of Wight and Camp Bestival in Dorset. Festival organiser Rob da Bank said: "We do love breaking a record and this is one of our funnest builds so far." There is currently no record for the world's biggest bouncy castle. Guinness World Records is yet to verify the record. Common People, now in its second year, features Duran Duran, Primal Scream, Craig David and Public Enemy. For the first time, a simultaneous event is also being held in South Parks, Oxford. The current record for a bouncy castle was set in 1997 by Dana Caspersen and William Forsythe, the festival said. The castle, measuring 19m by 19m by 12m, took six hours to erect at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London.

Summary: Festival-goers are being invited to have a go on what is claimed to be the world's largest bouncy castle.


Trained by Colin Tizzard, the 2-1 favourite took control at the penultimate hurdle and pulled away to win by eight lengths. Jockey Tom Scuadmore said: "He gave me a lot of pleasure. It's a special day." Reve De Sivola held on for second and Deputy Dan trailed in third, another 12 lengths further back.

Summary: Thistlecrack ended the three-year reign of Reve De Sivola to cruise to an impressive victory in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.