The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) and NFU Scotland have been calling for increased incentives in a grant scheme available to crofters. Ms McLeod said the Scottish government was prepared to look at offering loans. Fiona Mandeville, of SCF, said such assistance could help young crofters to get on to the housing ladder. She said: "We do see the loan element as key to the success of this scheme. "This scheme really needs to be aimed at young crofters who maybe find it hard to get a mortgage, or to get a start on the housing ladder. "I think it is important to look at the croft house grant scheme as another element of social housing." Ms McLeod said the government would hold further consultation on the Crofter Housing Grant Scheme while on a visit to Inverness. Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has welcomed the move. Donald Crichton, vice chairman of the comhairle's sustainable development committee, said: "Over the last year we have made a strong case to the minister and civil servants for increasing and strengthening the grant as one of the best mechanisms for sustaining our crofting communities. "This further consultation demonstrates that the minster has been listening and taking on board our views and we are encouraged by the proposals that are emerging."

Summary: Crofting Minister Aileen McLeod has said the government is willing to look at the potential of reintroducing loans for building croft houses.


Eric, as it was called, was originally built in 1928, and was the UK's first humanoid robot, impressing audiences with his movement and speech. He travelled the globe as a showcase for futuristic technology - but disappeared in the 1930s. Now, the museum is trying to raise Â£35,000 to rebuild him and has received more than Â£6,000 in four days. Eric was created by British duo Captain William H Richards and Alan Reffell. Made mostly from aluminium and weighing 45kg, he could stand, move his limbs and rotate his head. Perhaps most impressive for the time, Eric could apparently respond to voice commands and "speak" - but only in carefully stage-managed appearances. "Eric holds a unique place in our history. He was everything we now imagine a robot to be - a talking, moving mechanical person," Museum curator Ben Russell said. The team behind the project tracked down relatives of Eric's inventor to collect as many documents as possible, including photographs, drawings and technical diagrams. Working with robotics artist Giles Walker, the plan is to reconstruct Eric as faithfully as possible using modern components. "It's one of our human instincts to anthropomorphise; we've built machines that look like us," Russell said in an interview with Wired Magazine. "Robots are almost like mirrors, they reflect back on ourselves, tell us who we are and how we are and what we think is important. When you take that long view you realise the places where you tend to find robots say a lot about the time and why they were important." Eric was first built at short notice for the London Engineering Exhibition of 1928, when the keynote speaker dropped out of his opening address. Instead, the robot was scheduled to make the opening speech. Writing about the unveiling at the time, Popular Science Monthly said: "The Thing's enormous size and the stark immobility of his face gave him a really terrifying quality... [the crowd] returned his lifeless gaze. "They felt subconsciously that here was some strange symbol of relentless Fate itself." Eric stood up and began his speech as any human might: "Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking, it gives me great pleasure..." Robots, at the time, were a relatively new concept. Mechanical automatons had existed for many years, but the term "robot" was coined in a 1920 play "RUR" by Czech writer Karel Capek. Those letters - for Rossum's Universal Robots - appeared on Eric's chestplate. The mechanical man proved a hit with audiences and Eric went on tour to technology exhibitions across the world, from Germany to New York. Some time in the 1930s, however, he disappeared without explanation: lost, dumped, or possibly recycled. If the museum's project is completed, Eric will form the centrepiece of a new robotic exhibition, which is due to run from February to September 2017. The exhibition will showcase the evolution of modern robotics from a 1582 iron manikin to the toy robots of the 1950s.

Summary: London's Science Museum has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the rebuilding of one of the first robots.


Rose Morelli, 17, said it was "hugely distressing" to see the photo of Alex Elliot on the leaflet by the right-wing Fratelli d'Italia. Gay rights activist group Arcigay alerted her after she posted it online. Fratelli d'Italia tweeted an apology for its "improper" use of the photo. Ms Morelli took the photo as part of an art project. She and Alex Elliot chose the image after being moved by the case of US teenager Leelah Alcorn who took her own life in December. Leelah was born a boy but wanted to live her life as a girl. She is now taking legal action after her lawyer said Alex's image had been "misrepresented" and may have breached copyright issues. Mr Elliot, 17, said: "After the tragedy of Leelah Alcorn we wanted to get out the message, 'that can't happen again', and that what happened, was in my opinion, so horribly grotesquely moving." Ms Morelli said: "It struck me as hugely ironic at first but after I got over that initial sense of irony, it was hugely distressing. "The last thing we ever wanted to do was inflict harm on the members of the LGBT community. "To find out it was being used against them in such a malicious way was horrible." Italian law does not currently legislate against crimes motivated by the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victims. On its website, the Trentino branch of the Italian gay rights group, Arcigay, described Fratelli d'Italia's use of Ms Morelli's photo as "an insult". Ms Morelli's Italian lawyer, Alexander Schuster, said he planned to bring a civil action against Fratelli d'Italia and claim for damages. In a message on Twitter, Fratelli d'Italia said the use of the photo had been "improper". It said: "We did not want to offend the memory of Leelah." However, the party maintained that "it is right to campaign against gender teaching in school". Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) is currently opposing a civil partnership bill being debated by the Italian parliament. It is also known for its anti-immigration stance.

Summary: A student from Bristol is taking legal action after a picture of her friend was "misrepresented" by an Italian political party campaigning against transgender education in schools.


Swansea West MP Geraint Davies said it was vital for a "greener future", and accused ministers of "back-pedalling" on their commitment to the lagoon. The company behind the scheme warned in October that building work was being delayed by a year to 2017. Tidal Lagoon Power said it was still negotiating with ministers over an agreed price for the energy generated. Press reports on Thursday said the company had cut workforce numbers at its base in Gloucestershire. Swansea council said it would exert all the pressure it could to make sure the project stays on track. Council leader, Rob Stewart, said he had written to the prime minister to request a "positive and speedy decision". Labour MP Mr Davies said: "The chancellor specifically mentioned and supported the lagoon in his pre-election budget, and the prime minister came to Swansea during the election campaign on the pretext of supporting the lagoon. "Now we face this back-pedalling from the government as we fast approach the Paris COP (Conference of Parties) climate change conference where all governments must show willing to engineer a sustainable future. "It is important that the government gives its full backing to the Swansea tidal lagoon, as the first step for lagoons around Britain and a major export opportunity to help play our part to deliver lower emissions. "Having said he's for it a year ago, if the chancellor pulls the plug on it, it'll be a disgrace." Tidal Lagoon Power said in a statement: "Our short-term priority is the construction of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and the progression of plans at Cardiff and Newport to harness the country's best tidal range resource in the Severn Estuary. "Our team needs to align with these objectives and regretfully that involves some redundancies. "Our vision is to provide 8% of the UK's electricity from six tidal lagoons and we have grown quickly so as to take forward these plans. "However, our first project is now scheduled to start on site one year later than planned and that inevitably impacts the development of the fleet." A spokesman for the Department for Energy and Climate Change said negotiations on the tidal lagoon were ongoing.

Summary: An MP has urged the UK government not to "pull the plug" on plans for a £1bn tidal power project in Swansea.


Seven Shi Tzu puppies and two full-grown lurchers were taken from the property in Glendevon Park, Winchburgh, between 07:30 and 18:00 on Wednesday. The Shi Tzu puppies are tan and white in colour and are worth about Â£650 each. The lurchers have pale gold rough coats and are working dogs. Police officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Con Rachel Royan, of Police Scotland, said: "At eight weeks old the puppies are too young to have left their mother, who was not taken, and the owners are extremely concerned for their welfare. "We would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in or around Glendevon Park on Wednesday to please get in touch as we are keen to reunite them with their owners."

Summary: Nine dogs including seven puppies have been stolen from a garden in West Lothian.


It had already been announced the 30-year-old would leave the Warriors when his contract expires this summer. The South Africa-born forward becomes Sale's first new signing for next season. "Josh is a world class ball-carrying forward," said Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond. "He has been performing well for both Glasgow and Scotland over the past five years and will complement the squad in the ball-carrying department." Strauss joined Glasgow from Super Rugby side Lions in 2012 and, after three years of residency, qualified to play for Scotland in time for the 2015 World Cup. Number eight Strauss has been sidelined by a kidney injury sustained during the Six Nations defeat by France, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament. "Since coming to the UK I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to play in the Premiership," said Strauss. "I have really enjoyed my time with the Warriors, but I asked my agent to look around for me. He came back with Sale Sharks who have a good name, a good record in the Premiership and looked an attractive proposition."

Summary: Premiership side Sale Sharks will sign Scotland and Glasgow back row forward Josh Strauss on a three-year deal from next season.


Colonel Christopher Garver said Iraqi forces had cleared only a third of the city and the rest remains contested. Iraqi commanders insist that 80% of Falluja is under their control. Iraq's prime minister announced Falluja's "liberation" on Friday, after the city council building was retaken. Haider al-Abadi claimed that remaining pockets of IS fighters would be "cleaned out within hours". But clashes between government forces and IS militants continue and the militants have dug in in residential neighbourhoods in the north of the city. Falluja: Why the embattled city matters Devastated Falluja remains a battleground Fight to drive IS from Iraq far from over Islamic State group: The full story Iraqi forces moved into the centre of the city on Friday, raising the national flag from the city council building. But Colonel Garver warned that the troops would encounter more resistance as they moved out from the centre of the city. He said: "What it looks like is (an IS) defensive belt around the city with not as stiff defences inside. That could be their toughest fighting." Iraqi commanders said on Tuesday they had pushed IS out of two northern neighbourhoods of the city. They say the battle for Falluja has killed 2,500 militants, but the figure has not been independently backed up. The operation to retake the city has pushed thousands of residents to flee, overwhelming refugee camps. More than 83,000 people have fled since the government launched the assault and up to 25,000 more are likely to be on the move, according to the UN. The Norwegian Refugee Council said reception camps for the displaced were overwhelmed, and there was insufficient water, food, shelter and medical care. Falluja, only 50km (30 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, has been held by IS for longer than any other city in Iraq or Syria. The jihadist group overran the predominantly Sunni Arab city in January 2014, six months before it seized control of large parts of northern and western Iraq.

Summary: A US military commander in Baghdad has openly contradicted the Iraqi army's claim last week that it had liberated the key city of Falluja and driven out IS militants from most of the city.


Deila will leave Premiership champions Celtic after Sunday's match against Motherwell. The Norwegian led the club to two titles and a League Cup win, but they were unable to reach the Champions League group stage this term and last. "We did not play as well as was needed," said Sweden player Lustig. "Of course Celtic always want to be in the Champions League, but at the same time, he is not to blame. The players are the ones out there. "When we went out of the Champions League, we should have been the better team, but we were not at that standard." Lustig feels it would be "a little bit harsh" to regard Deila's reign as a failure and said: "Hopefully the manager gets a good reception on Sunday. "He's been here for two years now and obviously we wanted something more, but he has brought titles to the club and I think he's going to get a good send-off. "We want to have a good win for the manager and make sure the last game is memorable." Deila announced after a Scottish Cup semi-final defeat on penalties to Rangers that he would be moving on at the end of the season. He will leave behind a large squad, of which Lustig said: "There is a lot of players in the same positions and that's maybe one of the weaknesses that we have. "We don't have 11 to 15 players who are always in the first team - there have been a lot of changes between games. "Of course everyone wants to play, but when you try to keep everyone satisfied, it ends up them maybe starting one game but then the next they are not in the squad. "Or, from not being in the squad one week, you start the next game. "As a player, you want to know if you're a first-team player or if your role is to come on for the last 20 minutes. "So maybe there has been a little bit too much changing about. "We will see what the new manager wants to do with the club. Maybe some will have to go, maybe he will bring in some new players as well."

Summary: Celtic defender Mikael Lustig insists Ronny Deila is "not to blame" for the club missing out on Champions League football under the manager's tenure.


Southwark Crown Court was told that Mr Clifford exposed himself to the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons. She claims Mr Clifford forced her to perform a sex act on him and that she thought he would "rape or kill" her. Mr Clifford denies indecent assault in his London office in the 1980s. The prosecution has finished its case and the trial was adjourned until Monday. The court heard that Mr Clifford was asked about the allegation in his police interview. Det Sgt Jason Price, giving evidence, asked whether Mr Clifford remembered coming out of his office, blocking the alleged victim's access to a stairwell and exposing his penis. Mr Clifford said: "No comment." Det Sgt Price then said in the interview: "You gyrated around, so one would assume by that it means moving your hips around." Mr Clifford replied: "What? Dancing or something? No comment." The alleged victim claimed that he put her hand on his penis and she said "I don't want to" but she "did as she was told" and only stopped when they were disturbed by a knock on the door. At the start of the interview, Clifford gave a statement in which he denied the allegation. His statement said he had never engaged in sexual relations with someone without their consent and "neither have I ever needed to coerce someone". After his statement was read out in the interview, he answered "no comment" to the majority of the questions and said of the allegation: "Everything about it is totally untrue." Some of the biggest names in show business, including pop mogul Simon Cowell, late reality TV star Jade Goody and boxer Muhammad Ali, were represented by Mr Clifford, of Hersham, Surrey, during his career Mr Clifford will give evidence on Monday.

Summary: Former celebrity publicist Max Clifford "gyrated" in front of a 17-year-old girl, a court has heard.


European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the UK may want to be more "obliging" to certain countries to secure future commercial advantages. The EU is keen to maintain a united front and conduct central negotiations. Meanwhile, a leading candidate to be France's next President says he will take a "pretty tough" line on Brexit. Emmanuel Macron, who opinion polls suggest could win May's election, told Channel 4 News the UK should not be punished for voting to leave the EU but the EU's interests had to be paramount into the upcoming negotiations. "We have to preserve the rest of the European Union and not to convey the message that you can decide to leave without any consequence," he said. Official discussions on the terms of the UK's exit and its future relationship with the EU are expected to begin in the Spring once the UK has triggered Article 50 - notifying the union of its intention to leave. Prime Minister Theresa May has made clear that the UK will leave the EU's single market and wants bespoke commercial and customs agreements based on tariff-free and "frictionless" cross-border trade. She has also made clear that she is prepared to leave the EU without a formal deal rather sign up to a bad one. The final agreement on the UK's exit will need the approval of 20 out of the EU's 27 other member states as well as the support of the European Parliament. However, a future trade deal could need the backing of all EU states. There have been suggestions the UK could potentially exploit divisions within the EU over how hard a bargain they are willing to drive. Several EU leaders have insisted the UK cannot expect a better deal outside the EU than it has now and their priority is to protect the interests of the remaining 27 members. Others have advised against "punishing" the UK. Speaking after holding talks with Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, Mr Juncker said there would be no parallel negotiations and the UK would not be allowed to conduct bilateral discussions in key areas such as finance, telecommunications or chemicals. "A situation could arise whereby the UK might attempt to or wish to be obliging to certain member states in certain economic zones and certain sectors whereby those countries might wish to provide certain advantages to the UK," he said. "It is in our interests therefore that we don't have any special discussions... with certain individual countries." Mr Kern said that Europe would not "capitulate" to the UK by granting it a better status than it would enjoy if it was still an EU member. "If you want to be a member of a club you have better conditions, obviously, than if you want to be outside the club," he said. The EU's negotiating team will be headed up by former commissioner Michel Barnier. Speaking during a visit to Finland his UK counterpart, Brexit Secretary David Davis, said he wanted an outcome which was good for the EU as well as the UK. "We're not talking about

Summary: The UK should not try to play different EU states off against each other or pursue "special discussions" in key areas, a top EU official has warned.


He has frequently expressed his dislike of social media sites - including YouTube and Facebook - believing they are being used to attack him. However, the Twitter ban has drawn widespread criticism, including from Turkish President Abdullah Gul who tweeted his disagreement. But Mr Erdogan's troubles go far beyond social media. He is also facing allegations of corruption and is embroiled in a feud with a former ally. Here's a look at some of the battles he is currently fighting. Last month, an audio recording posted on an anonymous Twitter account appeared to show Mr Erdogan talking to his son about hiding large sums of money. Mr Erdogan denounced it as a fake. "I don't care what the international community says at all. Everyone will see the power of the Turkish Republic," Mr Erdogan said on Thursday. However, millions of Turkish internet users continued to access Twitter, using proxy servers and other means. Twitter itself posted instructions, while in Istanbul, graffiti appeared with details of how to sidestep the ban. Many of the prime minister's harshest critics have used Twitter to co-ordinate protests against him and circulate damaging information. A law passed last month tightens government controls on the internet, allowing the Turkish authorities to block websites without first seeking a court ruling. It will also force internet providers to store data on web users' activities for two years and make it available to the authorities. The opposition and human rights organisations have criticised the move as an assault on freedom of expression. The BBC also expressed concern after a reporter for BBC Turkish was attacked on social media by the mayor of Ankara. Protesters and politicians defy Turkey's Twitter ban Turkey tightens internet controls BBC reporters 'intimidated' by Turkey The recorded phone call posted on Twitter appears to show Mr Erdogan asking his son Bilal to dispose of millions of euros in cash from a house. Mr Erdogan says the allegations are a plot by his enemies to oust him. In December, three Turkish government ministers resigned after their sons were taken into custody by police investigating allegations of bribery for construction projects. All three sons were later released. One of the ministers later said a great number of the construction projects had been approved by Mr Erdogan himself and he called on the prime minister to resign. Erdogan's private phone call goes viral Turkish ministers resign amid scandal Once an ally of Mr Erdogan, Fethullah Gulen is an Islamic scholar who founded an influential social and cultural network which now includes more than 900 schools in Turkey. Mr Gulen himself has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999. Followers of his Hizmet movement - whose name means "service" - are said to hold senior positions in the Turkish police, the judiciary and Mr Erdogan's AK Party itself. However, Mr Gulen's critics believe Hizmet's aim is to gain power, to spread socially conservative Islamic attitudes on issues like marriage and alcohol around the globe, and to suppress any opposition. Mr Erdogan has accused him of running a "state within

Summary: Turkey has blocked the social networking site Twitter following Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's vow to "wipe out" the service.


At least 11 people died in Wednesday's 8.3-magnitude quake - the strongest in the world this year - that sent tsunami waves as far away as Japan. The coastal town of Coquimbo, close to the epicentre, saw waves of 4.7m (15ft) hit the shore. Hundreds of people spent Thursday night in temporary shelters, while tens of thousands are without electricity. About one million people had to leave their homes after Chile sounded a tsunami alert when the quake struck, although most are reported to have returned. Tsunami waves also hit the coast further north and south of the quake's epicentre, with waves half a metre higher than usual as far north as La Punta. Gloria Navarro, who lives in the coastal town of La Serena, said people were "running in all directions". "Everything is a mess," restaurant owner Melisa Pinones told Reuters from the city of Illapel. "It was a disaster, a total loss." Across parts of central Chile, residents began clearing up after what was the country's sixth most powerful recorded earthquake. Large parts of the sea front in the fishing village of Tongoy were destroyed, and more than 500 homes were badly damaged across the region, according to emergency response teams. Emergency powers mean aid will reach Coquimbo quicker, and allow troops to be deployed on to the region's streets. Visiting Coquimbo on Thursday, President Michelle Bachelet paid tribute to people's response, saying that the death toll, "while unfortunate, was not very high considering the strength of the earthquake". The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the tremor struck off the coast of Coquimbo, 46km (29 miles) west of the city of Illapel at 19:54 local time (22:54 GMT). The USGS said it was at a depth of 25km, while Chilean seismologists calculated its depth at 11km. Small tsunami waves were felt along the west coast of the US and Canada. A one-metre (3ft) wave also reached in Hawaii. The earthquake struck as thousands of Chileans were travelling to the coast ahead of a week of celebrations for independence day. President Bachelet said some of Friday's official festivities would be cancelled.

Summary: Chile's government has declared a state of emergency in a central region struck by a powerful earthquake.


Mr Natzler has served as acting Clerk since the retirement of Sir Robert Rogers last year. A panel led by Mr Bercow initially recommended that Australian Carole Mills take the role but MPs objected and she has since withdrawn. News of Mr Natzler's appointment was met with cheers by MPs in the Commons. The recruitment of a new Clerk, Parliament's most senior legal and constitutional adviser, has been dogged by argument over the past nine months. MPs said Ms Mills, the original choice of the House of Commons commission who works in the Australian Parliament, did not have the relevant constitutional experience and accused Mr Bercow of a "stitch-up". Mr Bercow insisted that the appointment must have the confidence of MPs and "paused" the recruitment process before re-starting it. As part of a modernisation of procedures, the current responsibilities of the Clerk will now be split, with a new post of Commons director-general taking over responsibility for the day-to-day commercial and administrative functions of the Commons. Announcing Mr Natzler's appointment in the Commons, Mr Bercow said he had been chosen from a field of four candidates. Welcoming the appointment, David Cameron joked that Mr Bercow had "gone to the ends of the earth" to find the most qualified candidate and he was "very glad he found the right answer right here in Britain". Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mr Natzler's appointment was "well deserved". Before Sir Robert's retirement, Mr Natzler served as Clerk Assistant for many years.

Summary: David Natzler has been named as the next Clerk of the Commons, ending a controversial process which pitted Speaker John Bercow against some MPs.


"The documentary for me started with the questions: 'Is this the end of film? Is digital going to replace it? What are we losing if that happens and what are we gaining?,'" says Keanu Reeves. The actor serves as producer, narrator and interviewer on Side by Side, in which he sets out to examine cinema's transition from film to digital formats. It seems a niche subject, but Reeves and director Chris Kenneally say they were conscious about making the film for a mainstream audience. "We wanted to take something that was quite specialised and share enough information so people could understand what we'd be speaking about," Reeves says. But does the average cinema-goer care or notice what format the film they're watching is in? "If you're not an aficionado, probably not, as long as it was working," admits Reeves. "If you go and expect to see a Hollywood studio movie and it looked terrible you'd go like, 'what is that?' So I think it could impact in that sense. "But a perfect film print projected is something that is remarkable and unique." Side By Side makes no assumptions that audiences will know the technical aspects of filmmaking, so spends some time explaining how cameras work, the photochemical process of developing film and how the introduction of digital cameras has led to the progression of editing and special effects. And helping to explain is a cast that reads like a Who's Who of cinema. Directors Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, David Lynch, James Cameron, Danny Boyle, George Lucas and cinematographers Wally Pfister (Inception, The Dark Knight) and Roger Deakins (Skyfall, True Grit) are all present. Female filmmakers are represented by the likes of legendary editor Anne Coates, who worked on movies like Lawrence of Arabia and The Elephant Man and Lena Dunham, one of Hollywood's hottest talents thanks to her TV show Girls. Reeves conducted a large share of the interviews himself, which not only helped the filmmakers gain such unprecedented access but also made for a series of relaxed, open conversations. "I can't say it didn't help that I've been in the industry for however many years - I was a known quantity in that sense," he says. It took around 18 months to round up and interview all the film-makers. Luckily, a large number of contributors attended an annual cinematography festival in Poland. However others weren't so easy to get. Directors such as Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino are notably absent. "There were people who weren't available or who didn't want to speak," he says. "We got turned down a few times which sucked." Although mainstream Hollywood films have been shot digitally for about the last 12 years, the first digital film to win an Oscar for best cinematography was Slumdog Millionaire in 2009. Cinematography Oscars followed for Avatar in 2010 and Hugo in 2011 - also shot digitally. Some see this as a shift in the attitude towards digital film, which had previously been considered inferior in quality. Filming on celluloid is an expensive and time consuming process. Reels

Summary: Documentary Side by Side looks at the history of film-making and whether the advent of digital technology spells the end of celluloid.


Media playback is not supported on this device Shavers lost a 15-round decision to Ali in 1977, although he was a friend before the fight and has remained so in the intervening 35 years. "The Klitschkos are big guys but they're not in the same league as Ali," Shavers told BBC Sport. "Ali would have picked them apart. All us guys in the '70s would have." Shavers, 66, first befriended Ali in 1973, when 'The Greatest' invited him to his Deer Lake training camp in Pennsylvania to prepare for Shavers's impending fight against Jimmy Ellis. "When I was getting ready to fight Jimmy Ellis, Ali gave me the use of his camp for free, never charged me a dime, and gave me some advice [Ali beat Ellis in 1971]," said Shavers. "Ali was a very nice man who treated me well. He was an easy-going guy, an easy guy to talk to. When the cameras came he put on a show, but away from the cameras he was a very quiet guy." When Shavers fought Ali four years later, he rocked 'The Greatest' with a huge right hand in the second round - a blow Ali said "shook my kinfolk in Africa" - but it was Ali who was awarded a unanimous decision. However, Ali's subdued performance, and the amount of punishment he absorbed from Shavers, led many in the media to call for his retirement. "As time goes on you're going to lose some of your sharpness, which is why I thought I had a good chance of beating him," said Shavers, who until recently lived and worked in England. Ali doesn't want you to feel sorry for him, but you can't help it because you love the guy. It's sad to see him in the shape he's in now "I had mixed feelings [before the fight]. I didn't want to beat Ali - he was a great guy - but I was fighting for the championship. I had to give my best. "I thought he was faking it [in the second round], trying to suck me in, but he was hurt. If I'd have gone in I might have stopped him." While Shavers also fought Joe Bugner, Larry Holmes, Ron Lyle and Ken Norton - all of whom called him the hardest puncher they faced - in a stellar career, he says Ali is the one opponent everyone wants to talk about. Shavers, who now makes his living signing autographs in Las Vegas, said: "I get asked every day about the Ali fight. Ali won the fight but it worked out well for both of us. "Anyone who fought Ali and did well, they were basically made. I think I did quite well; I went 15 rounds with him. He won the fight but I kept my name clean. Media playback is not supported on this device "When Joe Frazier fought Ali, he made Joe Frazier. Joe Frazier was a good fighter but Ali made the whole thing." Shavers remains close to Ali, meeting up once a year at a

Summary: Earnie Shavers said modern heavyweights "were not fit to carry Muhammad Ali's gym bag", on the occasion of his old rival's 70th birthday.


Johnson scored 15 goals in 41 games for the Heed this season, having signed in July 2015 following his release by Championship side Cardiff City. The 23-year-old has also previously had spells with Stevenage and Tranmere. "If you have someone who is capable of scoring goals, then it's important that you re-sign him," manager Neil Aspin told the club website. "At the age he is, I believe he can get better, too." Gateshead finished ninth in the National League, 13 points outside the play-off places.

Summary: Gateshead striker Danny Johnson has signed a two-year contract extension with the National League club.


Three operators have been shortlisted for the Northern Rail franchise and three for First TransPennine Express (TPE), with the winners due to be announced in October 2015. The Campaign for Better Transport and the RMT transport union are concerned rail services could be cut. But, rail minister Claire Perry promised a "world-class rail network". The franchises connect passengers travelling between the key strategic cities of Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle and Carlisle and onwards to Edinburgh and Glasgow. The companies competing for the Northern franchise are Arriva, Govia and Abellio, which has held the contract in a joint venture with Serco since 2004. The three shortlisted for TPE are FirstGroup, Keolis and Stagecoach. FirstGroup and Keolis currently operate TPE in a joint venture. The government said franchise bidders would need to improve customer service and passenger satisfaction on the two networks which carry more than 110 million passengers last year. Ms Perry said: "Building a railway that is fit for the 21st century is a vital part of our long-term economic plan, connecting businesses and communities, generating jobs and boosting growth." Over the next five years, more than Â£1bn will be spent on the rail network in the north, the government has said. This includes Â£600m for the Northern Hub project and electrification projects in the north-west and across the Trans-Pennine routes. The RMT held a protest outside Westminster on Monday opposing plans for the Northern and TPE franchises. Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: "This was just round one of the fight to stop the carve up of jobs and services on Northern and TransPennine Express."

Summary: The shortlist of companies bidding to run rail networks in the north of England has been announced.


Mr Yanukovych flew from China to Sochi in southern Russia for the meeting. He also cancelled a visit to Malta. Last month he shelved a partnership deal with the EU, triggering angry protests in Ukraine's capital Kiev. Jailed opposition politician Yulia Tymoshenko has reportedly called off a prison hunger strike. The former prime minister's daughter, Eugenia, said her mother had accepted a request from protesters in Kiev to stop the fast. She had reportedly begun the hunger strike on 25 November in protest at Mr Yanukovych's failure to sign the EU deal. Thousands of anti-Yanukovych protesters remain outside the government building on Kiev's Independence Square, braving bitter cold. They are furious that he made an 11th-hour U-turn in relations with the EU, refusing to sign the association agreement that had been prepared during years of negotiations. In Sochi, Mr Yanukovych discussed "preparation of a future treaty on strategic partnership" with Russia, his press service said. The talks covered various economic issues, the statement said, without elaborating. Mr Putin has been urging Ukraine to join Russia's customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan - a union whose entry terms are far less demanding than the EU's. In recent months Russia has put Ukraine under economic pressure, imposing long customs delays at the border and banning imports of Ukrainian sweets. Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a Tymoshenko ally and leader of the main opposition faction in parliament, condemned the talks in Sochi. "Their attempts to sell Ukraine to Russia have not ended in any way," he said. "If Yanukovych tries to sign anything with Russia about the customs union it will lead to a bigger wave of protests."

Summary: Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have held surprise talks on a "strategic partnership treaty".


Police were called after reports of the attack between 17:00 GMT and 18:40 on Monday. The victim was walking near East Park Road at its junction with Shearbank Road when he bundled into a car. Two men have been arrested following the incident and police are appealing for more information. The boy was driven away in a red or maroon car after he was approached and threatened. Police say the boy was questioned about his relationship with a young woman. The boy was taken to Beechwood Court, Blackburn, where he said four men assaulted him leaving him with cuts and bruises to his head. He was later able to call for help from an address in New Bank Road before being taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment. Det Sgt Ben Hodgkinson, of Blackburn Police, said: "The circumstances would suggest this assault is linked to honour-based violence."

Summary: A 16-year-old boy has been kidnapped, assaulted and robbed in an attack linked to suspected "honour violence" in Blackburn.


It began on Friday when Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the southern Russian republic, labelled opponents of President Vladimir Putin "enemies of the people" and called for such "traitors" to be prosecuted for subversion, claiming they were working in league with the West. Mr Kadyrov has now re-asserted his claims and gone even further in an online editorial for pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia. Referring to a "half-witted rabble", he offered opposition activists the services of a Chechen psychiatric hospital to treat their "mass psychosis". "I promise we won't spare the injections. We can do double," he wrote. A boxer-turned-insurgent and now a self-styled "foot soldier" of President Putin, the man known simply as Ramzan is not someone many in Russia dare criticise openly. Human rights groups have long accused him of presiding over widespread abuses in the Russian republic, and the key suspect in last year's shock shooting of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov beside the Kremlin walls had been deputy commander of one of his elite battalions. He was referred to by Ramzan as a "true patriot". This time, the Chechen leader's comments appear to have touched a nerve. The most dramatic response came from a little-known independent politician in Siberia, who raged against Ramzan on his Facebook page as the "shame of Russia". "Why don't you get lost?" Konstantin Senchenko told him, and let "normal, honest people" work for the good of the country. But the Siberian was soon eating his "hasty" words. The next day, he apologised profusely on Facebook for his "discourtesy", apparently after multiple calls from Chechnya. Cartoons of his sudden change of heart soon spread on social media, depicting him begging forgiveness with a gun to his head. In an ultimate humiliation, the shamefaced politician was seen in a video clip apologising personally to Ramzan for his "emotional outburst". Activists on Twitter then took up the Siberian's insult with the hashtag #KadyrovshameofRussia. Well-known opposition journalists followed that by filming themselves making fake, grovelling apologies to Ramzan "for existing". One was filmed running on a treadmill with no trousers, just as a young Chechen man was forced to do recently after criticising Ramzan Kadyrov on Instagram. Meanwhile, a group of prominent Russian liberals has begun gathering signatures demanding his resignation, and a St Petersburg politician has called on prosecutors to examine his statements for extremism. But the backlash has only increased the tirade from Chechnya, where local politicians have been falling over themselves to express devotion to their leader. None has outdone the speaker of parliament, Magomed Daudov, who posted a photograph of his boss holding back his huge, fierce dog on a leash and warned that Tarzan's teeth were "itching" - naming four well-known opposition figures whom the hound would presumably love to sink them into. "Tarzan has become very frisky. We can barely restrain him," wrote the speaker in an Instagram post that attracted over 6,000 likes. "Just imagine what would happenâ€¦ If it weren't forâ€¦ Democracy." There is some talk that this is all a show of strength by the Chechen leader: a reminder of the considerable

Summary: Traitors, jackals and vile liberals are just a few of the choice descriptions of Russia's opposition emerging from Chechnya in recent days, in a war of words that threatens to escalate.


1914 - Cyprus annexed by Britain, after more than 300 years of Ottoman rule. Britain had occupied the island in 1878, although it remained nominally under Ottoman sovereignty. 1925 - Becomes crown colony. 1955 - Greek Cypriots begin guerrilla war against British rule. The guerrilla movement, the National Organisation of Cypriot Combatants (EOKA), wants enosis (unification) with Greece. British authorities arm a paramilitary police force made up of Turkish Cypriots. 1956 - Archbishop Makarios, head of enosis campaign, deported to the Seychelles. 1959 - Archbishop Makarios returns and is elected president. 1960 - Cyprus gains independence after Greek and Turkish communities reach agreement on a constitution. Treaty of Guarantee gives Britain, Greece and Turkey the right to intervene. Britain retains sovereignty over two military bases. 1963 - Makarios raises Turkish fears by proposing constitutional changes which would abrogate power-sharing arrangements. Inter-communal violence erupts. Turkish side withdraws from power-sharing. 1964 - United Nations peacekeeping force set up. Turkish Cypriots withdraw into defended enclaves. 1974 - Military junta in Greece backs coup against Makarios, who escapes. Within days Turkish troops land in north. Greek Cypriots flee their homes. Coup collapses. Turkish forces occupy third of the island, enforce partition between north and south roughly along the "Green Line" ceasefire line drawn up by UN forces in 1963. About 165,000 Greek Cypriots flee or are driven from the Turkish-occupied north, and about 45,000 Turkish Cypriots leave the south for the north. The UN Security Council unanimously passes a resolution calling on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyrpus. Turkey refuses to do so, despite repeated UN Security Council resolutions making the same demand over the following decades. Glafcos Clerides, president of the House of Representatives, becomes president until Makarios returns in December. 1975 - Turkish Cypriots establish independent administration, with Rauf Denktash as president. Denktash and Clerides agree population exchange. 1977 - Makarios dies. Succeeded by Spyros Kyprianou. 1980 - UN-sponsored peace talks resume. 1983 - Denktash suspends talks and proclaims Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It is recognised only by Turkey. 1985 - No agreement at talks between Denktash and Kyprianou. 1988 - Georgios Vassiliou elected Greek Cypriot president. 1989 - Vassiliou-Denktash talks abandoned. 1992 - Talks resume and collapse again. 1993 - Glafcos Clerides replaces Vassiliou as president. 1994 - European Court of Justice rules that a list of goods, including fruit and vegetables, are not eligible for preferential treatment when exported by the Turkish Cypriot community directly to the EU. 1996 - Increased tension, violence along buffer zone in which two Greek Cypriot men were killed. 1997 - Failure of UN-mediated peace talks between Clerides and Denktash. 1998 - Clerides re-elected to a second term by narrow margin. EU lists Cyprus as potential member. Clerides' government threatens to install Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles. Turkey threatens military action. Clerides decides not to deploy the missiles. 2001 June - UN Security Council renews its 36-year mission. Some 2,400 peacekeepers patrol the buffer zone between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. 2001 July - Dozens of police officers are injured as protesters attack a British military base

Summary: A chronology of key events:


The corporation had charged users subscription fees to watch programmes via the app in Western Europe, Australia and Canada. However, it never came to the US. Reports suggest American pay-TV operators had threatened to drop the BBC America channel if the app had launched locally because they believed it would cost them viewers. Both BBC America and the international edition of iPlayer screen some of the corporation's best known programmes, including Doctor Who, Top Gear, Sherlock and David Attenborough's natural history documentaries. Press releases had always described the online facility as a "pilot" meant to provide "consumer insights". BBC Worldwide - the broadcaster's commercial arm - first announced it intended to pull support for the Global iPlayer app in October 2013, saying it would instead focus on making material available via the BBC.com website. The corporation repeated the point in its annual review last July, but until now had not provided an exact shut-off date. "As announced in July 2014, the service will be closing this year as planned," said a spokeswoman. "The service will close on 26 June." She declined to provide usage statistics. The global iPlayer app was first made available as an iOS app in July 2011 but was never extended beyond Apple's platform. European users were charged a €5.99 (£4.30) monthly fee, while Canadians and Australians were offered a slightly cheaper rate of 6.99 Canadian dollars (£3.70) and 7.49 Australian dollars (£3.80). The content provided was distinct from that offered via the UK version, including older shows from the corporation's library in addition to recently broadcast programmes. In total, more than 2,000 hours of shows were on offer on the global edition of iPlayer, including Gavin and Stacey, Fawlty Towers, Planet Earth and "classic" episodes of Doctor Who. Users have been notified of the switch-off, and auto-renewing subscriptions are being cancelled. "We would like to thank all of our subscribers for using the service. We are now developing plans to launch new digital services across multiple devices," reads a statement on BBC Worldwide's site.

Summary: The BBC has confirmed the "global" version of its iPlayer on-demand service will close next month.


Cuadrilla's plans for fracking at its Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton were approved in October. The firm says it will put Lancashire first for creating jobs, new skills, investment, and community initiatives. Opponents said they were surprised by the news since a legal challenge to the government's decision is outstanding. Preston New Road Action Group issued formal legal proceedings at the High Court in November. Cuadrilla said an "independently audited tracker" will monitor its pledges to Lancashire. Chief executive Francis Egan said the shale gas industry would be good for the county's economy. "We expect that in the exploration phase alone we will spend in the order of Â£50m - clearly all of that will not go to Lancashire... but we would hope that up to half of that money could get spent in Lancashire," he said. The firm also said Bolton-based civil engineering firm AE Yates Ltd has been awarded the site's Â£1.5m building contract. Work is expected to start early next year, Cuadrilla said.

Summary: The company behind the UK's first horizontal fracking operation has announced six "commitments" which it claims will ensure Lancashire benefits.


The news has prompted headlines around the world, and Politicians and city leaders have taken to Twitter to congratulate him, including the left-leaning mayors of New York and Paris. Congratulations also came from Ahok Basuki Purnama, the governor of Jakarta. He became Jakarta's first Christian governor in 50 years when he was elected in 2014. Jemima Goldsmith, the sister of Conservative party rival Zac Goldsmith, congratulated Mr Khan on his victory. The ex-wife of Pakistani cricketer and politician Imran Khan also appeared to criticise her brother's campaign. The New York Times describes Mr Khan's victory as "striking" and leads with the fact that he is London's first Muslim mayor. It described London as a city with an acute shortage of affordable homes and a creaking, overcrowded mass transit network. A commentary in German news magazine Der Spiegel describes Mr Khan's win as a "victory over Islamophobia", and says London is breaking new ground. "The mayoral election shows that London is more liberal, clever and tolerant than the Conservative mudslingers would like to think," it says. Qatari daily Al-Sharq says: "Once again, the British capital enters history, this time through the gate of democratic victory by electing a Muslim of immigrant descent as its mayor." Pakistan's Dawn newspaper says that Khan should see himself as a role model for millions of Muslims living in Europe. With the rise of increasingly popular right-wing parties across the continent, the paper's Brussels correspondent Shada Islam writes that "Khan's story should help set the record straight on immigration, integration and European Muslims". History Professor Juan Cole points out that Mr Khan is by no means the first Muslim in charge of a European city. In a popular blog post he traces the history of Muslim rule in Spain, Greece, the Balkans, and Sicily. "Not to mention that Constantinople/Istanbul is one of the larger European cities... the mayor there is a Muslim," he says. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former co-chair of the UK Conservative Party, and Business Secretary Sajid Javid congratulated Mr Khan and pointed out their similar backgrounds. "Bus drivers are clearly the new Etonians" quipped writer and conservative activist Tim Montgomerie, referring to the elite public school attended by Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr Goldsmith. In France's Le Figaro, London-based French essayist Laetitia Strauch-Bonnart says "two images of the United Kingdom" faced each other in this election: The "exemplary success story" of Mr Khan's life and "the billionaire's son", Mr Goldsmith. "In order to appeal nowadays, it is better to have a disadvantaged background, a personal history made of difficulties and social mobility," she told the paper. "It's the spirit of the time, and Goldsmith was not on the right side." Finally, before the result was in, former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt tweeted a warning about how Mr Khan could possibly be treated if Republican hopeful Donald Trump was to become US President.

Summary: Labour's Sadiq Khan has been elected Mayor of London, becoming the city's first Muslim mayor.


Wales Under-21 international Burns has scored one goal in 17 appearances for the Robins this season, but has started in only three games. The 21-year-old has previously had loan spells with Forest Green Rovers, Oxford United and Cheltenham Town. Burns could make his Fleetwood debut in the League One game against Scunthorpe United on Saturday. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: League One side Fleetwood Town have signed Bristol City striker Wes Burns on a youth loan deal until 8 May.


Flood water swept through Linen Green, near Dungannon. Several vehicles were damaged at a nearby Road Service depot. Twenty four people were helped to safety as flooding affected parts of Northern Ireland. Counties Tyrone, Londonderry and Fermanagh were worst affected, as Storm Desmond brought high winds and heavy rain on Saturday. A number of roads remain closed due to flooding and fallen trees. Gareth Bell, whose shoe shop was one of 31 units affected by flooding at the Linen Green complex, said there were "a lot of people in disbelief". "As retailers, it's hard to fathom just how much it can ruin things over Christmas for everybody," he said. Rivers Agency chief executive David Porter said the flooding was caused by a blocked culvert grille that caused the water to overflow. He said the grille had been cleaned on Friday as part of weekly maintenance checks, but the sheer amount of rainfall brought down debris to block it. "We were just hit by nature and a very significant rainstorm, although I would say that what we have seen, particularly in the west of the province, is a very good multi-agency approach to dealing with the flooding," he said. The Fire and Rescue Service said it dealt with 31 flooding incidents. Most of those rescued were in vehicles that had become stranded in flood waters. In one incident in Strabane, County Tyrone, 10 people were rescued from flooded properties at a housing development. "We used ladders and inflatable rescue sleds to take them to safety, and other agencies have been involved in providing emergency accommodation," said Group Commander Andy Sinclair. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Alan Walmsley said it had been a busy night for them. "We started receiving our first calls for assistance to flooding incidents late in the afternoon, and those calls continued throughout the evening, spiking in the early hours of Sunday," he said. A "high volume pumping team" worked for 13 hours in Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, to "try and hold back flood water from impacting on the local community", he said. He said the worst affected areas were "around the Strabane area, also Fintona and Enniskillen, and in the early hours it moved inward to around Cookstown". In Clady, County Tyrone, an elderly man trapped by rising flood waters was rescued by a team that used a mechanical digger to reach him. Gerard Foley, who lives in Clady, said on Sunday morning that the village was still badly affected by flooding. "There are houses on the hill, and the rest is just water - Clady is a complete river," he said. "You couldn't even pinpoint where the river is." Road users have been warned about the risk of surface water flooding, as well as the risk of fallen trees or branches and other debris. Stormont Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said households affected by flooding can apply to local councils for an emergency payment. Mr Durkan said: "Individual householders will be eligible for a Â£1,000 payment as an offer of practical assistance to those who have suffered severe inconvenience, to

Summary: A shopping complex in County Tyrone has been flooded, causing stock damage thought to be worth millions of pounds.


The case revolved around a horn "hit", which was allegedly lifted from the Salsoul Orchestra track Love Break. But the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the sample lasted less than a second, and would not have been recognisable to the general public "Without careful attention, the horn hits are easy to miss," it said. Producer Shep Pettibone worked on both Vogue and Love Break. The one-note horn sequence in contention lasted just 0.23 seconds, the court heard. You can hear the original at 4'40" in this clip, and at 1'02" in Madonna's track. "After listening to the recordings," wrote judge Susan P Graber, "we conclude that a reasonable jury could not conclude that an average audience would recognise the appropriation of the composition". However, the court's decision was not unanimous, with Judge Barry G Silverman arguing that the uncredited sample, if proven, would amount to theft. "It is no defence to theft that the thief made off with only a 'de minimis' part of the victim's property," Silverman wrote. He said a copyright of a recording amounted to a "valuable property right, the stock-in-trade of artists who make their living recording music and selling records". The ruling could lead to short samples becoming more commonplace. However, as The Hollywood Reporter points out, the California court's decision directly contradicts a 2006 case presented in the 6th Circuit (Tennessee). That revolved around an NWA song that sampled a riff from George Clinton's band Funkadelic. At the time, a 6th Circuit judge wrote: "Get a license or do not sample. We do not see this as stifling creativity in any significant way."

Summary: Madonna's Vogue did not break copyright law, even though it contained a snippet of another artist's song, a US court has ruled.


South Wales Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Butetown tunnel just after 01:00 BST. Two crews from Cardiff Central, two from Ely and a crew from Penarth went to the scene. South Wales Police said the A4232 westbound tunnel remained closed after parts of it were damaged in the crash. A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said the woman had been taken to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales with unknown injuries.

Summary: A woman has been taken to hospital following a crash in Cardiff in the early hours of Monday morning.


A video uploaded on Facebook showed Callum Clatworthy-Robins, 22, from Port Talbot, consuming a fish won at a fair in Bridgend county in March. Clatworthy-Robins admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at Swansea Magistrates' Court. He was barred from owning animals for three years and ordered to pay Â£200 in fines and costs on Thursday. RSPCA Cymru said the actions of Clatworthy-Robins, of no fixed abode, would have caused the animal "quite an unpleasant death".

Summary: A Neath Port Talbot man has been banned from keeping animals after he was filmed swallowing a live goldfish.


The visit comes after Myanmar opened up to international trade and investment following decades of military rule. The delegation includes temporary power company Aggreko and oil and gas firms Wood Group, Asco and Bibby Offshore. Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary David Mundell is in Texas to try to boost support for the North Sea oil sector. The UK government minister said he was flying to the US to build links with the country's oil industry. The Myanmar delegation is being led by Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson. Ms Wilson also chairs Scotland's Energy Jobs Taskforce, set up last year by the Scottish government to help tackle the challenges facing the sector following the sustained fall in oil prices. The delegation will meet Myanmar's new minister for energy and electricity, Pe Zin Tun, as well as local and international oil and gas companies already active in the country to "explore key opportunities in the local supply chain". Scottish Enterprise said Myanmar had vast underdeveloped oil and gas reserves in deep waters similar to that of the North Sea. According to the economic development agency, the Myanmar government is also keen to develop its own oil and gas industry and wants to capitalise on foreign investment and technology to build local capacity and expertise. Ms Wilson said: "Scotland and Myanmar have strong historic connections going right back to the 19th century when Scottish owned Burmah Oil Company became the first company to drill for oil in the country in 1886. "Myanmar now stands at exciting phase of its own oil and gas development - much like Aberdeen did in the 1970s - with huge natural resources to capitalise on. "But to grow its local industry, it will need access to technology, skills and expertise across the whole supply chain from seismic surveying and engineering design right through to project management, health and safety and training and education. "These are all core strengths of Scotland's oil and gas industry built up through 50 years of experience of working in the North Sea. "We have a real opportunity now to show how Scotland can help support Myanmar to build the capacity it needs while at the same time providing much needed international opportunities for our own industry." The trade mission follows a visit by a Myanmar delegation to Offshore Europe in Aberdeen last year, which visited a number of Scottish companies including Wood Group in Aberdeen and ASCO's supply base in Peterhead. Following the visit to Myanmar, Ms Wilson will then travel to Vietnam along with some of the Scottish companies to identify potential opportunities in what is seen as a more established oil and gas market which is still relatively untapped by Scottish companies. During his trip to the US, Mr Mundell will meet senior figures in the oil centres of Houston and Dallas to encourage ongoing investment into the North Sea. The talks will involve firms such as Maersk, BP and the Weir Group, he will also seek to find new ways in which Scottish companies could export their expertise in the industry. Mr Mundell

Summary: A delegation of Scottish companies is heading to Myanmar this week in an effort to tap into opportunities in the country's oil and gas sector.


Media playback is not supported on this device Since dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf last November, the Briton has resembled a runaway lorry - smashing through road blocks and red lights, skittling well-meaning people frantically waving warning flags, and only slowing down to shout obscenities and honk his horn, the louder the better. But that can happen when your mind is scrambled and you don't know what's what: you might be in the driver's seat but your hands aren't on the wheel, your feet are up on the dashboard and there's a brick on the accelerator pedal. Another way of looking at it is that Fury's crash actually came on that fateful night in Germany and he has been spewing smoke ever since. The morning after the Englishman's stunning upset of Klitschko and his acquisition of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, he admitted he might struggle to cope. But not even those closest to him could have anticipated how true that would prove. Having beaten the various boxing authorities to the punch and relinquished the belts before being banned, stripped or both, it's anyone's guess as to when - if ever - he'll have his keys back and his engine revving again. Fury has been speaking about his mental health struggles for years, with disarming and often alarming frankness. So his pronouncement immediately after his victory over Klitschko and the recent news that he was withdrawing from the scheduled rematch because of depression was not a shock. When I interviewed him in 2013, he described himself as "an all-action man in anything I do. If I'm drinking, I'm drinking until I can't stand up. If I'm going out for Chinese, I'm going to an all-you-can-eat Chinese. If I'm eating cake, I'm eating the whole cake. I don't know what you'd call me. An idiot, maybe?" Hardly surprising, then, that having fulfilled his dream of winning the world heavyweight crown, Fury would lose focus. Most people having fallen down drunk or eaten a whole cake would steer clear of booze and Battenbergs for a while. But Fury is not most people. Fury is not the first boxer to lose motivation having reached the pinnacle of the sport, and he certainly won't be the last. Not many people climb Everest twice. The repeated claims from Fury's camp that his victory was downplayed by the British media, and that they had an agenda against him from the outset, are delusional After pulling off one of the greatest shocks in sporting history by beating the seemingly invincible Mike Tyson in 1990, Buster Douglas didn't train much, got fat and lost the world heavyweight crown to Evander Holyfield in his first defence. The American promptly retired, almost doubled in weight, then nearly died after falling into a diabetic coma before being struck down by depression. Same old, same old. Jess Willard's victory over the great Jack Johnson in 1915 was almost as unbelievable as Douglas's upset of Tyson, and his reign even more shameful. Willard clearly didn't fancy fighting much, defending the world heavyweight crown once

Summary: For a man often described as capricious, Tyson Fury's chaotic reign as world heavyweight champion was strangely predictable.


The seven men had been given six-year jail sentences after an earthquake devastated the medieval town of L'Aquila in 2009, killing 309 people. The verdict triggered alarm, with some saying that science itself had been put on trial. On Monday an appeals court cleared the group of the manslaughter charges. Judge Fabrizia Ida Francabandera ruled that there was no case to answer. "The credibility of Italy's entire scientific community has been restored," said Stefano Gresta, the president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. The seven men - all leading scientists or disaster experts - had been members of a committee convened in L'Aquila in March 2009 following a series of tremors in the region. Days after they met, a 6.3 magnitude quake struck the town in the middle of the night. Many of L'Aquila's medieval buildings were destroyed, and some locals blamed the disaster committee for not providing adequate advice. Prosecutors in the subsequent trial said the experts had offered falsely reassuring information to residents. According to Reuters, they noted that one committee member had said there was "no danger" from the tremors. Following the guilty verdicts, more than 5,000 scientists signed an open letter to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in support of the experts. Many argued that the convictions represented a fundamental misunderstanding of earthquake science. Monday's decision to overturn the verdicts came after a month-long appeal process. The prosecution can still seek to have the original verdicts reinstated via a higher court.

Summary: A group of Italian scientists convicted of manslaughter for failing to predict a deadly earthquake have had the verdict quashed.


Peter Halliday accused the councillors who prompted a scrutiny meeting next Tuesday about the Holland Haven-to-Clacton defences of "scaremongering". Councillor Pierre Oxley, who called in the meeting, said Mr Halliday's accusation was "garbage". "We're not against the project because we want it to happen," he said. Mr Oxley claimed the council had been unclear about how much of the beach would be sand, and how much would be shingle. "We want to know what the mix is," he said. "Residents are saying they want to be able to lay on the beach and play on it, but if it's all stone or shingle that will be an issue." The Conservative-run council last week submitted its application to the Environment Agency, which it hopes will contribute £22m towards the project. If successful, 25 groynes will be installed and the beach will be recharged. Mr Oxley said the council could have avoided the scrutiny meeting if they had "put all the percentages in the report". Mr Halliday said: "We have been completely open and transparent throughout the entire process. "Samples of the sand and shingle mix were available to all councillors at last Tuesday's council meeting and the report clearly stakes the composition of the material being proposed for the beach recharge." The council will discuss the concerns at the council chamber, Weeley, on Tuesday evening.

Summary: A £30m sea defence project in Essex is being jeopardised by questions over the materials being used, the leader of Tendring District Council has said.


The Scot dug deep to claim a 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory in a match that lasted two hours 59 minutes. He recovered from two breaks of serve in the third set, his opponent serving for the match at one point. Murray now faces Austria's Dominic Thiem in the last four. Ramos-Vinolas, who is at a career-high world ranking of 19, capitalised on a string of unforced Murray errors to take the first set but was pinned back in the second as the Scot battled back to level. In Monte Carlo, Murray had led 4-0 in the final set before capitulating to a defeat to Ramos-Vinolas. In Barcelona, it was the Spaniard who held a final set lead, winning the first two games before injuring his foot attempting to receive a volleyed return, which led to a lengthy period of treatment. The incident initially benefited Murray, who won the next three games, but Ramos-Vinolas steadied the ship and looked set for victory after breaking in the ninth game. However, Murray dug deep and immediately broke back before taking the match to a tie-break that he largely dominated and clinched on his second match point. "It was obviously a very tough match," said Murray. "It was kind of the opposite of the match we had last week where probably today he deserved to win. He created a lot more chances, he served for the match and couldn't quite get it. "Last week I had 4-0 [in the third set], I felt like I had all of the chances. Sometimes on clay matches happen this way, so very happy to get through." Rafael Nadal, a 10-time winner in Barcelona, joined Murray in the last four courtesy of a 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 win over Korean qualifier Hyeon Chung. The Spanish 14-time Grand Slam champion, 30, takes on Russia's Karen Khachanov or Argentine Horacio Zeballos in the last four. Britain's Aljaz Bedene continued his winning run with a straight-sets win over second seed Ivo Karlovic to reach the Hungarian Open semi-finals. British number four Bedene broke the Croat's serve early in both sets on his way to a 6-4 6-3 victory, and a 15th-straight win. The 27-year-old, ranked outside the top 100 at the beginning of March, has climbed to world number 68. He faces fourth seed Fernando Verdasco or fellow qualifier Laslo Djere next. Bedene came through qualifying in Budapest to reach his first ATP Tour semi-final since January 2016. He also won back-to-back titles on the second-tier ATP Challenger Tour earlier this month. The clay court specialist has now won 22 of his past 23 matches, with the only defeat coming on hard courts at the Miami Masters.

Summary: World number one Andy Murray gained revenge for last Thursday's defeat by Albert Ramos-Vinolas in Monte Carlo by beating the Spaniard to reach the last four of the Barcelona Open.


The Acting Up report suggests the high audition costs for drama school is one of several factors deterring people from working class backgrounds from entering the arts. It also recommends more school trips to the theatre to encourage young pupils. The government said it was a "priority" to ensure everyone can take part in the arts and culture, including in schools. Former Coronation Street and EastEnders actress Tracy Brabin, who was first elected as an MP in by election last year, led the inquiry along with fellow Labour MP Gloria De Piero, who worked as a presenter on GMTV before becoming a politician. Ms Brabin, whose best-known role was as single mother Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street from 1994 to 1997, said there was a "diversity crisis on our stages and screens". The report, commissioned by Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, looked at what more could be done at school level to encourage young people to consider a career in the arts. It said that drama, and other related subjects, are often treated as inferior at some schools - and that students are sometimes discouraged from studying them. It also suggested there are poor drama facilities, few arts excursions and a lack of awareness about arts career opportunities in many schools. Ms Brabin, who also worked as a TV writer in her pre-political life, said: "Our performing arts are some of the best in the world and they should represent our whole nation, not just a privileged section of it. "But the systematic eradication of arts education in schools, sky-high drama school audition fees, chronic low pay and a lack of diversity behind the scenes are all contributing to a diversity crisis on our stages and screens." The publication of the report follows comments made by presenter Anita Rani last week, who said the pay gap among the BBC's top talent was as much about race and class as gender. A government spokesman said it was investing Â£300m between 2016 and 2020 to encourage young people to participate in music and arts. He said: "We are completely committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to take part in arts and culture, including in schools." Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: The arts industry is suffering from a "class-shaped hole", a Labour Party inquiry says.


Brendon Constant, 87, was accused of smothering his 86-year-old wife Jean with a plastic bag at Poppyfields care home in Eynesbury, near St Neots. He died in hospital after suffering "catastrophic" head injuries in a fall at home, Cambridge Crown Court heard. Mr Constant, of Richmond Road, Wisbech, did not enter a plea to the murder charge before his death. Cambridge Crown Court heard he had attempted to kill himself at the same time as his wife was killed last August but survived and faced court proceedings. His barrister, Sally Hobson, said he suffered a fall at home on April 27 after celebrating his grandson's birthday and that there was "no suggestion he took his own life". She said: "When he retired to bed, he spoke briefly to his great-granddaughter, then went upstairs and fell and suffered catastrophic head injuries." Mr Constant was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and his family agreed to switch off his life support machine the following day. "He had hoped to end his life together with his wife in August last year in circumstances they hoped would cause the least distress and discomfort," Mrs Hobson said. Judge David Farrell voiced concerns over the fact Mr Constant had been granted bail and fell at home. He said: "Everyone thought he was in a safe environment so I'm concerned all proper care was given to him." A post-mortem examination concluded that Mrs Constant died of asphyxia in association with heart disease. Her body was discovered by police who were called to Poppyfields care home in Chapman Way, Eynesbury, near St Neots, on August 22.

Summary: A man charged with murdering his wife at a care home has died before his court case could be heard.


The Conference Board's index of consumer attitudes fell by 8.3 points to 59.7 in March. The research group primarily blamed the fall on the US federal budget cuts that came into force at the start of this month. Separate data on Tuesday from the Commerce Department was more positive, showing a rise in durable goods sales. Sale of such long-lasting factory products rose by 5.7% in February, the biggest increase in five months. Yet the Commerce Department also said that sales of new US homes fell in February. Sale of new residential properties fell to a seasonally adjusted 411,000 in February, 4.6% lower than the 431,000 sold in January, which had been a five-year high. The government cuts - called the "sequester" cuts - came into force earlier this month. They were due to the federal government running out of funds before a new budget was finally agreed by the US Senate on 20 March. "This month's retreat was driven primarily by a sharp decline in expectations, although consumers were also more pessimistic in their assessment of current conditions," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board's economic indicators. "The recent sequester has created uncertainty regarding the economic outlook, and as a result consumers are less confident."

Summary: US consumer confidence fell sharply this month, a closely-watched report has suggested.


They include composer James MacMillan, who is to be knighted, while children's author Aileen Paterson is awarded an MBE. Motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner Gordon Aikman is awarded the British Empire Medal. John Muir, who has campaigned against knife crime following the murder of his son, receives an MBE. And Edinburgh-born broadcaster Nicky Campbell has been given an OBE for services to children. Campbell, a regular on TV and radio for years, has spoken openly about his experience of being adopted and is a patron of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF). Dr MacMillan, who wrote a new choral piece which was sung when Pope Benedict XVI conducted mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow in 2010, is being knighted for services to music. His compositions are widely played around the world by performers ranging from top international orchestras to local church and community choirs. Dr MacMillan said: "I am totally delighted to receive this honour. I am especially pleased that the world of music, and contemporary composition in particular, will receive greater focus and recognition as a result." The 55-year-old composer, who was born in Kilwinning in North Ayrshire, has previously described the high point of his career as "writing a piece for the unveiling of a statue of the founder of Celtic FC". Mr Aikman, 30, from Edinburgh, is being awarded the British Empire Medal after raising Â£300,000 to raise awareness of MND, which he was diagnosed with last year. The former Scottish Labour spindoctor, who set up his GordonsFightback.com campaign after being diagnosed, said: "Day in, day out thousands of people across this country are bravely battling this disease. "I want to share this honour with each and every one of my fellow fighters." Aileen Paterson, the creator of Maisie the kitten, is also among those to receive an honour. The author, who penned the much-loved series of books about adventures of a cat from Edinburgh's Morningside, is being awarded with an MBE for services to children's literature. The same honour has been awarded to campaigner John Muir, who led demands for tougher sentences for knife crime after his son Damian was stabbed to death in the centre of Greenock in 2007. From the sporting world, Peter Dawson, the chief executive of The R&A and secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, is recognised with an OBE. Mr Dawson will step down in September after 16 years leading the body which organises the Open Championship. Iain McMillan, who was the director of the CBI in Scotland for almost two decades, is to be knighted for his services to the economy north of the border. The same honour goes to Prof Pete Downes, who has been the principal and vice-chancellor of Dundee University since 2009, in recognition of his work in higher education and life sciences. Prof Downes is one of the UK's most distinguished and cited bioscientists, and identified the role of the drug Lithium in treating manic depression. Dr Lena Wilson, the chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, the national economic development agency, is

Summary: Scots from all walks of life have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.


She launched an "Armpit Hair Competition" on China's popular micro-blog service Weibo to get women to take ownership of their bodies. The competition attracted thousands of comments from Chinese women. You have been sharing your thoughts via @BBC_HaveYourSay on Twitter. Here is a selection of your tweets: @jen_vorhaut in Washington DC, US, chooses not to shave her armpits. @MARKDIDDY from Nigeria and @Jenn_Abrams from the US share their reasons for preferring armpits to remain hairless. But not all readers agree that shaving armpits is the best way forward. @bijubelinky in London, UK, thinks it is down to the individual to choose. @YHHSulami from Manhattan, Kansas, US, thinks that shaving armpits is a way to keep clean. @ennisorca is from Australia and says that shaving, or choosing not to shave, is a seasonal choice. And finally, @WomenAlso_ from the UK raises the point that shaving armpit hair has nothing to do with hygiene. Produced by Alison Daye

Summary: Xiao Meili is a well known women's rights activist in China.


The UK government gave Northern Ireland the power to reduce the level of the tax because it said it had a special economic case. That prompted calls from Scottish and Welsh airports for similar treatment. The UK Treasury said it had not ruled out devolving APD to Scotland and Wales in the future. A report published following a consultation on reform of APD said the government at Westminster would "continue to explore the feasibility and likely effects of devolution to Scotland and Wales". Earlier this year Chancellor George Osborne announced the duty would be cut for direct long-haul routes from Northern Ireland airports, and he would devolve control over the tax to the Northern Irish Assembly. The move came in response to fears that some routes could be scrapped due to competition from Irish airports where APD is much lower. Commenting on the UK Government's decision not to grant the Scottish government similar powers for now, Jim O'Sullivan, managing director of Edinburgh Airport, said: "APD is already costing Scotland passengers and having an impact on tourism revenues. "We know from discussions with our airline partners that it is a major factor in their decision to connect further routes to Scotland. "We would urge the Westminster Government to see Scotland as it does Northern Ireland and understand the need to both reduce and devolve this unfair and damaging tax." Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "On the question of devolution of APD, Glasgow Airport has always been supportive of this proposal given the Scottish government's more progressive approach to aviation and its greater appreciation of the role the industry plays in supporting the growth of the Scottish economy." Scottish Transport Minister, Keith Brown said the case for devolving APD was "compelling" and had been backed by all four of Scotland's biggest airports, and recommended by the Calman Commission. He added: "We need to be able to deal with the competitive and connectivity disadvantages that Scotland faces and if APD were devolved now we could provide the means to incentivise airlines to provide new direct international connections to Scotland, benefiting our aviation industry and our passengers and supporting the growth of the Scottish economy. "The UK government needs to listen to the many voices in Scotland who clearly want to see full devolution of the policy on APD."

Summary: Scottish airport operators have said they are dismayed and disappointed that the control of air passenger duty (APD) will not be devolved to Scotland.


Matsuyama shot a six-under 66 in the last round of the WGC-HSBC Champions to finish seven clear of Sweden's Henrik Stenson and American Daniel Berger. His 29 birdies at Sheshan International was three short of the PGA Tour record. Finishing on 23 under par, his total was also just one shot off the 72-hole record score at the Chinese course. The win will lift Matsuyama to a career-high sixth in the world rankings. Northern Irishman McIlroy carded a 66 to finish tied with American Bill Haas and will move up one place to second when the rankings are published on Monday. Scotland's defending champion Russell Knox fell away in the final round, shooting a two-over-par 74 to end up ninth alongside Spaniard Sergio Garcia. Englishmen Ross Fisher, Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick all posted final rounds of under 70 to finish seventh, 12th and 16th respectively. We've launched a new BBC Sport newsletter, bringing all the best stories, features and video right to your inbox. You can sign up here.

Summary: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan became the first Asian winner of a World Golf Championships event as Britain's Rory McIlroy finished fourth.


The 777-200, which was carrying 294 passengers from Paris to Vancouver, was diverted to Prestwick after taking off at 10:57 on Saturday. The airline said the plane landed "normally" at 13:20 local time. Air France added that it had sent a second aircraft to Prestwick in order to fly the passengers back to Charles de Gaulle Airport on Saturday. In a statement, it said: "Air France confirms that flight AF374 operating from Paris CDG to Vancouver on 15 July, 2017, was diverted to Glasgow Prestwick where it landed normally. "Following the appearance of a slight smell of burning on board, the cabin crew, trained for this kind of situation, took the necessary precaution and diverted to the closest airport."

Summary: An Air France passenger jet has made an emergency landing at Prestwick Airport after fumes were detected on board.


In an interview marking five years as first minister, Carwyn Jones said people accepted Welsh ministers were not "miracle workers" on NHS matters. He said Labour had "kept our promises" on health and other issues. But a Conservative spokesman said the "greatest threat" to Welsh public services was an Ed Miliband government. Discussing austerity, Mr Jones told BBC Wales: "If we see the Tory plans, we are going to have this until 2020. "I do not know what the NHS in Wales would look like by 2020, or the education services, if we see those levels of cuts. "We are just not going to be able to do what we all want to do, so I hope things will change or at least there will be hope in 2015." In relation to problems in the NHS, he said: "If you are straight with people and say 'look there are problems in some parts of the NHS, money is not there as it was five or six years ago', they accept that. "They know you are not miracle workers. "But what you say to people is, we have prioritised those areas we think are important and also, of course, we have kept our promises on health and other areas," Mr Jones added. A Welsh Conservative spokesman responded: "The greatest threat to Welsh public services is an Ed Miliband government increasing spending and borrowing, leading to crippling interest payments on the national debt, which would significantly reduce the money available to invest in schools and hospitals."

Summary: It is not known what the state of the NHS or education in Wales will be 2020 if the Conservatives win the general election, the first minister said.


The small aircraft came down in a field at Steve Powell's farm at Cwmbach, Builth Wells, Powys, just before 12:00 BST on Sunday. The men from Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, have been named locally as Scott Penlington and Nick Jefferies. Mr Powell said the aircraft appeared to have "fallen out of the sky into our field". "It is a terrible tragedy and we've never had anything like this before," he added. "The police are examining the wreckage but we don't know exactly what happened." Dyfed Powys Police said recovery work has now been completed and the emergency services left the scene on Tuesday. A spokesman for the Independent Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which is leading the investigation, said the wreckage was being recovered to its headquarters at Farnborough for a more detailed examination. He added safety recommendations may be issued to prevent similar accidents in the future, if any issues were identified. One Direction singer Harry Styles is a family friend of Mr Jefferies after he once dated his daughter Emilie, also 22. They remained friends with her father taking him up in his single-engine two-seater Cosmik plane.

Summary: The owner of a farm where a microlight crashed killing two people has said the men had "no chance" of survival.


Anh Nhu Nguyen, 52, of Beckenham, south-east London, is accused of defrauding charities and Kensington and Chelsea Council by posing as a victim of the fire for nearly two weeks. He pleaded not guilty to both counts at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. He was remanded in custody and his trial is due to take place in December. Westminster Magistrates' Court heard last month that Mr Nguyen claimed he lived in the North Kensington block, and that his wife and son had died in the blaze. The court also heard he was given a hotel room, clothing, food, electrical items and cash after he went to the Westway Sports Centre, where he allegedly claimed to have lost all his possessions, The centre had been set up as one of the focal points for the local relief effort. The tower block fire on 14 June killed at least 80 people and made hundreds homeless.

Summary: A man accused of claiming almost Â£10,000 after allegedly pretending his family died in the Grenfell Tower fire has denied two counts of fraud.


8 May 2014 Last updated at 05:05 BST What's less well known is that 3% of men also suffer from the condition. Researchers in Birmingham say new dads can find it hard to seek help. BBC Midlands Today's Kevin Reide spoke to Lee and Becky Plummer at their Telford home.

Summary: Latest figures show in the year after their baby is born, 13% of women suffer from post natal depression.


West Berkshire Council is setting up an emotional health academy to train psychology graduates and health professionals. The local authority said, once trained, its staff will work with children, families and schools. It wants to greatly reduce the wait mental health patients face from 12 months to less than a week. The council also hopes the new academy will stop problems escalating to the stage where they require attention from more highly trained mental health specialists. Director of Children's Services Rachael Wardell said: "It works better if you get in there sooner, when people are waiting for help their condition gets worse. "There are lots more things you can do early on without needing to go to a very high-level with a psychologist or psychiatrist. "It is a way of bridging the gap." Plans were submitted to the Department of Health in October and the council hopes to launch the academy in April while contributing about Â£120,000 a year, with local schools matching its total. Local NHS commissioning groups could also contribute Â£100,000 a year and local businesses are being asked to help out financially as well.

Summary: A council plans to employ its own staff to help young people with mental health problems.


The event takes place at East Kirkcarswell Farm near Dundrennan on 25 and 26 July. Dizzee Rascal will headline the opening night in his only Scottish festival appearance of the year. Organisers have also unveiled a string of other acts including Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, The Zombies, Big Country and The Feeling. Wickerman Festival co-ordinator Helen Chalmers said she was "thrilled" to be revealing the first acts. "We are delighted that Dizzee Rascal will be joining the party this year, his live performances are incredible and I can't wait to see the crowd's reaction to his headline set," she said. "From hip hop, pop, folk to Motown and alternative rock, this year's line-up will once again be a truly diverse offering. "We look forward to announcing further exciting additions including our Saturday night headliner over the coming weeks."

Summary: Rapper Dizzee Rascal has been announced as one of the headline acts at this year's Wickerman Festival.


Oberon was one of three animals mauled by a dog in their field in the eastern part of the New Forest on 22 December. Owner Susan Sears said she was "devastated" Oberon's wounds had not healed, and, despite further surgery, he was found to be "beyond recovery". The two other injured animals have received further treatment for their wounds. Mrs Sears said: "After nearly two weeks of round the clock monitoring and nursing, poor Oberon's wounds were not healing as well as hoped and, despite further surgery, were found to be beyond recovery. "As alpha male, it is likely that Oberon would have put himself between his herd mates and the attacking dog," Another alpaca had also been the victim of a dog attack in the same field earlier last year. Oberon was part of a herd of about 80 animals which Mrs Sears and her husband have bred for their wool for the past six years. A crowdfunding appeal to help pay for the animals' treatment raised more than Â£1,900.

Summary: An alpaca which was seriously injured in a dog attack has been put down, its owner has said.


Mr Putin defended the meeting - a coup for Ms Le Pen - saying that he was not seeking to influence France's election. Ms Le Pen has garnered widespread support at home but her extreme views have deterred most foreign leaders. Russia was accused of meddling in the US election in support of Donald Trump. "Of course I know that the election campaign in France is actively developing," said Mr Putin. "We do not want to influence events in any way, but we reserve the right to talk to representatives of all the country's political forces," he added. Ms Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front (FN) party, called during her visit to Moscow for the lifting of EU sanctions against Russia, arguing that they were "counterproductive". When Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, the US and EU imposed travel bans and asset freezes on individuals and companies linked to Russia's ruling elite. "I believe that barring parliamentarians from speaking to each other, working together is an infringement of democratic rights," Interfax quoted Ms Le Pen. Speaking at Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, she vowed to push for the so-called "blacklists" of targeted individuals to be abolished. Ms Le Pen has previously stated her approval of Russia's annexation of of Crimea. She also said that Russia and France should work together to save the world from globalism and Islamic fundamentalism. Moscow likes what Marine Le Pen has to say. It likes her call for EU sanctions imposed on Russia to be scrapped. It likes her claim that "Crimea has always been Russian" and that "there was no Russian invasion of Crimea". It likes her commitment to forge a strong partnership with Moscow. Which explains why the Kremlin leader took the decision to meet her in Moscow. It's rare for Vladimir Putin to receive a presidential candidate from abroad. I asked President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov whether any Russian banks or financial institutions intend to provide financing for Ms Le Pen's campaign. "I don't have that information," he replied. Coverage of her in the Russian state media has been favourable. There is little doubt Russia would be happy to deal with a President Le Pen. However, today, the French far-right presidential candidate was less than happy to deal with the media. Journalists crowded into the lower house of parliament, the Duma, for a le Pen press briefing. She never showed up. FN Treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just has said Ms Le Pen's visit is not a cash-raising exercise, though party members have said they are seeking millions to fund the presidential and later the parliamentary election campaigns, the Associated Press news agency reports. Recent opinion polls in France put Ms Le Pen neck-and-neck in the first round with centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, with Mr Macron slated to win the run-off.

Summary: Russian president Vladimir Putin has met France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in Moscow, saying she represents a "fast-growing element" of European politics.


Zimbabwe's nine-wicket defeat by Group A winners India on Monday ensured Ireland's place in the top three. The Irish lost to India and hosts Sri Lanka but beat Zimbabwe and Thailand. Ireland retain their one-day international status by making the Super Six, from which the top four qualify for the World Cup this summer. Sri Lanka finished second in the group while tournament favourites India boasted a 100% record from their four games. Ireland are are also joined in the Super Sixes by South Africa, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Their next game is on Wednesday when they face Bangladesh, before taking on Pakistan on Friday and South Africa two days later. Zimbabwe required a victory over India in Colombo, along with a significant improvement to their net run rate, to overtake Ireland and make the last six. Ireland completed their group matches on Saturday with a 46-run win against Thailand, who ended bottom of the group. Kim Garth hit an impressive 98 and Laura Delany added 50 while seamer Lucy O'Reilly took 3-28. All matches played in Colombo & start at 04:30 GMT. CCC = Colombo Cricket Club; MCA = Mercantile Cricket Association Ground; NCC = Nondescripts Cricket Club; PSS = P Sara Oval

Summary: Ireland have progressed to the Super Six stage of the Women's World Cup Qualifier after finishing third in their group in Sri Lanka.