The Dutch Sunweb rider began Tuesday with a two minutes 41 seconds advantage but stopped temporarily 33km from the finish to deal with "stomach problems". Controversially, the rest of the riders did not wait for him and carried on. Italian Nibali's stage win takes him third in the overall standings, behind Dumoulin and Colombian Nairo Quintana. The defending champion held off Team Sky's Mikel Landa in a sprint finish after escaping from Quintana during a high-speed final descent into Bormio. Dumoulin said he was "very disappointed" and "very angry" immediately after the race, but later wrote on Twitter that he was not upset that the "other teams didn't really wait". "A day to quickly forget! Good legs, but very disappointed that I lost two minutes because nature called," he added. "It was not the moment or the time in the race anymore to come to a complete shutdown because nature called me." Wednesday's stage 17 is a 219km race from Tirano to Canazei. 1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Bahrain) 6hr 24min 22sec 2. Mikel Landa (Spa/Team Sky) same time 3. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +12secs 4. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +24secs 5. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus/Katusha) +32secs 6. Davide Formolo (Ita/Cannondale) +1min 26secs 7. Bauke Mollema (Ned/Trek) +1min 35secs 8. Bob Jungels (Lux/Quick_Step) same time 9. Adam Yates (GB/Orica) 10. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) 1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Sunweb) 70hrs 14mins 48secs 2. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +31secs 3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Bahrain) +1min 12secs 4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +2mins 38secs 5. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus/Katusha) +2mins 40secs 6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +3mins 05secs 7. Bauke Mollema (Ned/Trek) +3mins 49secs 8. Bob Jungels (Lux/Quick-Step) +4mins 35secs 9. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/LottoNL) +6mins 20secs 10. Adam Yates (GB/Orica) +7mins

Summary: Tom Dumoulin saw his overall Giro d'Italia lead cut to 31 seconds after an unscheduled toilet stop during stage 16, which was won by Vincenzo Nibali.


Watson, world ranked 110th, was beaten 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 by the Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who is the world number 99. The 24-year-old faced 18 break points - compared to just one for her opponent - on the way to losing. World 124 Broady was beaten 6-4 6-2 by German Julia Goerges, who is 46 in the women's rankings.

Summary: British pair Heather Watson and Naomi Broady were both knocked out in the first round of the Biel Bienne Open in Switzerland.


Duns, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk saw numbers rise with a regionwide increase of 1% last year compared with 2015. There was a drop in footfall recorded in Galashiels, Jedburgh, Kelso and Melrose. Eyemouth - which has only been included in the figures for the past five years - also saw its figures decline compared with last year. Stuart Bell, executive member for economic development on Scottish Borders Council, said the results painted a "very mixed picture". However, he said it was good to see a "substantial increase" in Hawick where the council was working with a range of partners on an action plan to boost the town's economic fortunes. "The co-operation of local community groups and businesses is a key element of that work, and particularly so in areas around tourism and positive promotion of the town, which would hopefully drive even more people to visit," he said. "The recently-established town centre resilience index uses a range of statistics, including footfall and retail vacancies, to help us target council resources for maximum impact in the towns in greatest need. "These latest figures confirm that we must extend our efforts in Jedburgh and Eyemouth to help their economies." Ron Smith, executive member for planning and environment, said the results, when read with other indicators showed "consolidation" which he said was positive in itself in "tough economic times". "However, there are certainly indications that some of our town centres are struggling, particularly Jedburgh with a further fall in footfall and an increase in vacant shops, and we are already investigating steps to address such issues," he said. "The council alone cannot revive our high streets and our partners, community groups, businesses themselves and the public have a role to play in ensuring that bustling Borders towns are not a thing of the past. "On a personal note, I must welcome the improvement in the figures for Hawick, which brings with it an optimism that a corner may be turning."

Summary: A town centre footfall study across eight main Borders towns has recorded its highest figures since 2012.


Their remains were found in a single grave in Coghalstown, County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland in June. Mr McKee's sisters said they were glad that 43 years after his death they can bury him with their mother. The Disappeared are victims murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Northern Ireland conflict. Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright were both IRA members who were abducted and murdered by the organisation in 1972. Their bodies were found unexpectedly during a search for another of the Disappeared, Joe Lynskey. After the official identification, Mr McKee's sisters, Maria and Philomena, told the BBC: "It is bittersweet news that our brother's remains have been identified. "The news has hit us with the shock of reality, even though we were expecting it. "We are so so glad that, after 43 years, he will now be buried with our mother who never recovered from his disappearance." Over the past 16 years, the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) has searched for 16 people who were officially listed as the Disappeared. The remains of 12 of the victims have been recovered and formally identified to date. In a joint statement, ICLVR commissioners, Sir Ken Bloomfield and Frank Murphy, said they had received the results from DNA samples. "The results positively indicate that the remains are those of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee," the statement said. "Dr Brian Farrell, coroner for the City of Dublin, has accepted this as evidence of identification and will shortly authorise the release of the remains to the families." Sinn FÃ©in leader Gerry Adams said the news would "bring an end to the uncertainty for the McKee and Wright families". "I want to appeal again for anyone with any information on those remains still not found to bring that information forward to the families, to the commission or myself," he said.

Summary: Confirmation that bodies found in a bog were Disappeared victims Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright is "bittersweet news", the McKee family has said.


The teenager was arrested outside a takeaway in Heywood in August 2008 for being disruptive. She alleged one of the workers had groomed and then raped her. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) investigated Kabeer Hassan and another man, aged 59, but it was nearly a year later when a CPS lawyer decided to drop the case. According to Nazir Afzal, chief prosecutor for the North West, the lawyer had viewed six hours of video testimony from the girl and also had DNA evidence, but decided "she would not be viewed as a credible witness by a jury". Hassan and the other man, who cannot be named, have been convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court with seven others, all from Greater Manchester, who groomed young girls for sex by plying them with drink and drugs. The file of the girl's allegations was one of the first on Mr Afzal's desk when he started his new job in the summer of 2011 and he took "an immediate decision" to prosecute Hassan and the 59-year-old man. By then GMP's Operation Span, launched in December 2009, was under way investigating allegations from other under-age girls in the Rochdale and Heywood areas relating to the other defendants. However, Mr Afzal maintains he would have charged both men even if the only evidence available had been that which led to the original case being dropped. "I took the view that a jury would have found her a credible witness," he said. "I regret that the wrong decision was made." Mr Afzal said his decision to prosecute was based on 20 years experience including expertise in rape cases. The CPS's dropping of the original case led police to stop all investigations, a decision that is now the subject of separate inquiry. The original lawyer, whose decision was reviewed and backed by a CPS unit manager, has been taken off rape cases and is undergoing retraining. The way GMP treated the 2008 allegations is at the centre of a managed investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). It was only after a second girl made similar claims in December 2009 that detectives began Operation Span. Police went on to find more than 40 vulnerable and at risk girls across Rochdale and Heywood subjected to on-street grooming by a network of men, mostly takeaway employees and taxi drivers. All five girls who were witnesses in the gang's conviction were known to social services at some stage in their lives. GMP is not commenting directly on the IPCC inquiry, but Assistant Chief Constable Steven Heywood concedes the force has made mistakes. "We apologise to anyone that has suffered due to any failing on our part, " he said. "We probably could have done things better. "We and other agencies are on a journey, we know more about this kind of crime than we did in 2008."

Summary: Three years ago, a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer dropped a rape case involving an under-age girl which could have left a sex grooming ring undetected for years.


Judge Aaron Persky has been heavily criticised for giving student Brock Turner six months for assaulting an unconscious woman last year. Two other petitions have reached 115,000 and 175,000 signatures each. The petitions have no legal force but organisers hope they will increase pressure on politicians to act. Mr Persky, a Superior Court judge in Santa Clara County, California, has reportedly received death threats in the wake of the case. The jail sentence he handed down to Turner has been widely criticised as too lenient. Prosecutors had called for six years. Turner was seen by two other students sexually assaulting his victim, now 23, behind an outdoor rubbish bin. He tried to flee the scene but was caught and later admitted to the assault in court. Rights activists and members of the general public have accused Mr Persky of being influenced by Turner's upbringing in a wealthy, white family, and his achievements as a college swimmer. The petition, posted on Change.org, says that Mr Persky had "failed to send the message that sexual assault is against the law regardless of social class, race, gender or other factors". The judge said in his remarks that he was concerned about the "severe impact" a longer sentence would have on Turner's life. Turner's father was also criticised after issuing a statement to the court saying his son was paying a steep price for only "20 minutes of action". Turner, who was a promising swimmer expected to compete for the US at Olympic level, has been banned for life by USA Swimming, the governing body for professional swimming in the US. The victim, who has not been named by the press, read an impact statement in court which was later read by millions. US Vice-President Joe Biden, who is involved in a campaign against campus assaults, wrote her an open letter praising her for her courage and saying he was "filled with furious anger" at the course of events. The cast of the TV show Girls have also made a video backing the woman and other victims of sexual assault.

Summary: More than a million people have signed a petition calling for the judge in the controversial Stanford University sexual assault case to be sacked.


The former Manchester City man, 30, won 61 caps for England after making his senior debut in 2009. He was a squad member at two World Cups and two European Championships but played just three minutes at Euro 2016. "The decision we've reached is about common sense. I wish Sam [Allardyce], the players, staff and supporters success in the future," Milner said. Milner also holds the record for the most capped England Under-21 player, picking up 46 caps after making his first appearance in 2004. He scored his first, and only, international goal in England's 5-0 victory over Moldova at the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

Summary: England and Liverpool midfielder James Milner has retired from international football.


The 18-year-old will provide cover for Luke Daniels, who starts a three-match ban for his red card in the opening day defeat at Burton on Saturday. Watson, who is yet to make his Tigers debut, could feature for the Iron in Tuesday's League Cup tie with Barnsley. He tweetd: "Delighted to have joined Scunthorpe on a month's loan. Looking forward to getting started tomorrow." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Scunthorpe United have signed Hull City goalkeeper Rory Watson on a 28-day emergency loan.


It follows on from the hugely successful first movie, reuniting stars including Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Marvel villain Ultron is a rebellious artificial intelligence which creates an android that attacks the Avengers. Whedon revealed the name after footage of the latest Thor film was shown. The footage was introduced by actor Tom Hiddleston - who played villain Loki in the first Avengers film - in full costume, according to Hollywood Reporter. Hiddleston stayed in character, making his speech and rallying members of the audience as they chanted the villain's name. Comic-Con, which has been running since 1970, celebrates "the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture". It holds conventions and events featuring comics and related popular artforms - not least films featuring comic-book characters and computer games.

Summary: Director Joss Whedon has revealed the title of his 2015 Avengers sequel - Avengers: Age of Ultron - at the Comic-Con convention in San Diego.


"The US is an extremely diverse society and attitudes toward LGBT people differ hugely across the country," a travel advisory from the UK reads. Newly passed laws in both states allow businesses to refuse service to LGBT people. The advisory comes from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In North Carolina, legislation passed by Governor Pat McCrory invalidates previously passed legislation from Charlotte, that state's largest city, that enacted LGBT protections. His new law states that transgender people must use public bathrooms according to the gender on their birth certificates. Mississippi's law has a similar bathroom provision and also protects dozens of forms of businesses and services from being prosecuted by the government for refusing to serve LGBT people. It is "both frightening and embarrassing that one of our nation's staunchest allies has warned its citizens of the risks" of travelling to the US, said Ty Cobb of the Human Rights Campaign. "It is now more clear than ever that these terrible measures are not only harming individuals and taking an economic toll on the states, but are also causing serious damage to our nation's reputation, and the perceived safety of LGBT people who travel here." Companies are curtailing their businesses in the states because of the law, and several entertainers have cancelled performances in both states over the law. More than a dozen US states have passed or considered "religious liberty" laws, sparking controversy and protest across the country. Supporters argue the the bills protect religious beliefs, but most critics say they are actually legalised discrimination in the face of gay marriage becoming legal last year. Republican front-runner for the US presidential race Donald Trump has weighed in on the bathroom provisions of the laws, saying people in North Carolina should be allowed to use the bathroom they feel is appropriate. Asked whether reality television star Caitlyn Jenner could use any bathroom in Trump Tower in New York City, he said "That is correct." "North Carolina did something that was very strong," Mr Trump told ABC's The Today Show. "And they're paying a big price." Senator Ted Cruz has said he supports North Carolina's law.

Summary: The UK government has warned gay and transgender travellers to be careful in the US due to legislation in North Carolina and Mississippi.


The Swans dropped back into the bottom three after losing to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday - their third defeat in their last four games. Clement's side were leading 1-0 after 88 minutes but a remarkable late turnaround saw Spurs triumph 3-1. "The fact we've come out with nothing is heart-breaking," said Clement. He continued: "The players know the situation. We're in the bottom three and there are seven games to go, and West Ham [Swansea's next opponents] are a team who've had their own troubles recently so we have to go there believing we can get a result. "We need to get a result, especially in the next two games because the games are running out now." While Tottenham's stunning victory kept alive their title challenge, defeat at the Liberty Stadium was a damaging blow to Swansea's hopes of survival. Their misery was compounded by a win for relegation rivals Hull over Middlesbrough, which leaves the Swans 18th in the Premier League table and two points adrift of safety. They are five points behind West Ham, who are in 15th place, and Clement is hopeful of having top scorer Fernando Llorente back from an ankle injury in time for Saturday's game against the Hammers. "Things are very tight still. There are seven games to go and a lot of points to play for," Clement added. "We have to be encouraged by our performance for long periods of that game. The players put in a good physical effort and we have to dust ourselves off and go again - we have to be professional. "We have to know how to deal with defeat and go again on Saturday."

Summary: Swansea City head coach Paul Clement says his side are running out of time in their bid to avoid Premier League relegation.


The red-throated diver was photographed by a visitor to a lochan in a remote part of North Uist. The birds are on the RSPB's amber list after a recent decline in numbers. Jamie Boyle, site manager of the RSPB's Uist reserves, said plastic bags can kill birds if they eat, or become entangled, in one. He said: "We urge people to take great care in the way they dispose of plastic bags or, indeed, any other rubbish, particularly balloons and Chinese lanterns. "They pose a direct threat to our wildlife and it is depressing to think that plastic bags are even reaching remote lochans in a place like North Uist." Mr Boyle added: "Marine birds such as red-throated divers are particularly at risk both at sea and on their breeding grounds where they can mistake the bags for fish or mistakenly use it for nesting material."

Summary: RSPB Scotland has urged people to discard unwanted plastic bags carefully after a rare bird was photographed with one caught in its beak.


A 'Time To Go, Massimo' poster appeared on an advertising board outside the East Stand on Thursday. The poster was paid for by supporters angry that Cellino has not sold his 75% share in the Championship club. "He has been very positive even through the dark days and bad performances," Raynor told BBC Radio Leeds. "People will do what they want - they'll protest or they won't protest. If we win some football matches there will be less people protesting." Cellino agreed in principle to sell his majority share to supporters' group Leeds Fans United in at the end of last October, but changed his mind a week later. Fans have also been left angry about a 'pie tax,' which saw the club raise the price of Championship tickets in the South Stand by £5. Cellino is currently appealing a ban from the Football League that would prevent him running the club. "(Cellino) has talked about the future. He has been supportive in bringing in the three players we've already brought in," Raynor added. "The biggest frustration for us is that we haven't been winning as many games as we should and that doesn't help matters." Leeds, who are currently 16th in the Championship, have won just one of their last eight league games.

Summary: Leeds United's assistant head coach Paul Raynor has said that chairman Massimo Cellino is still positive, despite fan protests at Elland Road.


Welsh language minister Alun Davies told AMs it would help efforts to reach that goal stay on the right track. Targets to meet growing demand for Welsh-speaking teachers and public sector workers will also be set. Culture committee chairwoman Bethan Jenkins said AMs had been told 70% more Welsh-medium teachers were needed. Mr Davies responded that around a third of teachers in Wales could speak Welsh, and that the challenge was to see if more of them would be willing to teach through the medium of Welsh. Earlier this month, Welsh language commissioner Meri Huws called for "radical change" in the education system to ensure all children under the age of seven were "immersed" in Welsh.

Summary: The Welsh Government will set a "framework" of five-year targets in its attempt to ensure a million people speak Welsh by 2050.


But for one group of passengers - those who use wheelchairs - flying often turns into an upsetting and nerve-wracking experience, whatever the time of year. From problems getting on the plane, to difficulties checking in equipment, and even being unable to go to the toilet onboard, there is always something to worry about. But there is one issue that can really ruin a holiday: damage to the wheelchairs which are our mobility lifelines. My wheelchair has been damaged multiple times, including on a recent EasyJet flight to Portugal at the end of July. So I set out to uncover the scale of the problem. I use a powerchair to get around; my cerebral palsy means my arms are too weak to propel a manual wheelchair. The chair is custom-built, heavy and extremely expensive. When I fly, my chair goes in the hold. On two successive trips in 2013, to Dublin and Barcelona, it came off the flight home making a foreboding rattling sound. A few weeks later, it stopped working. The repairs were costly and left me stuck in my university room, entirely reliant on others. If I was going to continue travelling, I needed another plan. I thought I'd solved the problem when I invested in another chair, which is specifically designed for travelling by air. The expensive piece of kit consists of a manual chair and an attachable motor. When flying, the motor can be stored in a suitcase. The idea is that breakable parts are kept safe. And yet, when I came to reassemble my chair after I arrived in Portugal last week, the motor had been bent out of shape. Five of my friends could not reattach it to the manual frame. (EasyJet says it is "very rare" for its ground handling companies to damage wheelchairs. When it does happen, they say, they arrange for repairs and a replacement chair. The airline also points out its customer satisfaction amongst passengers with reduced mobility was 84% in 2016). I spent the whole holiday in Portugal unable to move independently more than a few metres. And it turns out that my experience is far from unique. After flying more than 40,000 miles all over the world this year, Dan Dorszynski's wheelchair was broken on a short flight from Philadelphia to Detroit. "The cargo guys couldn't fit it into the cargo door so they crammed it in and broke the backrest, armrest, and a few other things on my chair," he says. Although his chair was "drive-able", Dorszynski says it couldn't be fixed in time for his next trip. He bought a used version of the same model to take instead. "Upon leaving Sweden on the way to return home, the airline insisted that I check this chair at the ticket counter instead of taking it to the gate because it was too heavy. "I argued a bit... however it was fruitless and I just decided to let them have it so it would not be an issue. "I get to Chicago and after all that, my back-up chair never

Summary: The stress of air travel has increased this summer, with long queues reported across Europe because of tighter security and immigration checks.


The 23-year-old, whose brother Sam has returned to the Rabbitohs after a spell in rugby union, said in May that he was keen to play in the NFL. Jarryd Hayne, another National Rugby League player, left Parramatta Eels to join the San Francisco 49ers this year. It is understood the Giants hold weekly trials, and that Burgess was one of many to take part on Thursday. Burgess, born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, began his career at Super League side Bradford Bulls, but only spent two seasons there before moving to NRL club Rabbitohs where he joined his brother Sam and twin George. The England international was part of the Rabbitohs side that beat St Helens 39-0 to win the 2015 World Club Challenge.

Summary: South Sydney Rabbitohs prop Tom Burgess has had a trial with the New York Giants American football team.


The 36-year-old was taken to a London hospital in a critical condition at about 03:45 after he became unwell at an address in Carshalton Road, Mitcham. He died in hospital shortly after 07:00 GMT and his next of kin have been informed. A police spokesperson said they were treating the death as "unexplained" and enquiries at the home were ongoing. It is not believed that any other person was involved. The spokesperson added that there was "no evidence to suggest that the incident is linked to extremism or terrorism". Surrounding roads were closed as emergency services including fire engines carrying specialist chemical detection equipment attended the scene. However, these have since reopened.

Summary: A man has died after he "came into contact with chemicals" at a house in south London, police said.


Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, 25, an ex-Royal Marine from Barnsley, died near the Syrian city of Qamishli on 2 March, Kurdish officials have said. His coffin was handed over to his father and uncle in a ceremony involving hundreds of Syrian Kurds. Mr Scurfield's father, Chris, said the ceremony had been "overwhelming". He told BBC Middle East correspondent Jim Muir the emotional ceremony was "very special and very comforting" to his family. Our correspondent said the ceremony was also a "big moment" for the Kurds, who had turned out to pay their last respects to the Briton who came "halfway round the world to fight - and die - in their struggle against IS militants". Hundreds of people - including Kurdish fighters, women and foreign fighters in the region - watched as Mr Scurfield's coffin was loaded into an ambulance, where it will be transported to Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The coffin was decorated with flowers and was draped with a Kurdish flag and a Union Jack. Some time would be needed in Erbil to complete the necessary paperwork before Mr Scurfield's body can be flown back to the UK, our correspondent added. Mr Scurfield, an expert in battlefield medicine, is believed to have travelled to Syria three or four months ago. He is said to have gone to Syria because he was "horrified by the atrocities being carried out" there. Kurdish commander Redor Khalil said the Briton had been killed while fighting alongside Kurdish forces in the frontline village of Tel Khuzela. His family has paid tribute to his "courage, conviction and honour". In a statement, they said: "We are devastated to confirm the death of our son Konstandinos Erik Scurfield in Syria where he went to support the forces opposing Islamic State. "His flame might have burned briefly but it burned brightly with love, courage, conviction and honour and we are very proud of him." The family's friends and neighbours described news of Mr Scurfield's death as "heartbreaking". The Home Office says there are about 600 people in the region "of interest" but have not given a breakdown of what groups they may be associated with. The BBC understands about 100 Western volunteers - including some Britons - are fighting as part of the 30,000-strong Kurdish forces. More than 500 Britons are believed to have travelled to join IS.

Summary: The body of the first Briton to be killed while fighting against Islamic State (IS) has been handed over to his family at the Syrian-Iraqi border.


Media playback is not supported on this device Meet former rally champion David and his shooting star son, Ben. Back in the mid-1990s, a BBC Wales camera crew was filming at the home of two-time British Rally Champion David and a toddler - complete with denim dungarees - can be seen with his mum outside on the family farm. That toddler is now 22 - and aiming to win a Commonwealth shooting gold medal. The calm and calculated sport of shooting may seem a world away from the speed and risk of rallying, but both Ben Llewellin and his father believe there are similarities between their two sports. "Here he's judging the speed of the clay and how fast the target's moving. In a car you're judging the speed and how far away the corner is," says David. "It's hand-eye co-ordination isn't it?" It's not as if Ben turned down the chance of following in his father's footsteps. He often races with his dad in the off season - and is said to be very quick. But - out on the range he built in the garden with his 18th birthday money - qualified carpenter Ben has long been committed to the sport of shooting instead. "It's the success," he says, when asked why he loves it so much - and with a British title, two Welsh titles and a World Cup silver medal he's had plenty of that already. "When you're on that peg, when it all comes down to shooting the next target, the feeling you get - the adrenaline buzz - is like nothing else." Ben competes in Olympic skeet - one of the shotgun categories. From each of eight bases around a semi-circle, he must hit either one or two clay targets fired out at 60mph. The time between the targets being released and Ben shooting them is often under a second. Out on his practice range on the family farm near Haverfordwest, he's often accompanied by his dad. There not only to release the bright orange clays - but to offer a fatherly word of support too. "I had a very disappointing year in 2014 - having missed out on the Commonwealth Games by one target," says Ben. "I was very disheartened and not sure what to do with myself. But he (David) was able to give me the advice that that's what happens in sport and you have to move on to your next target. "He's been a massive part of getting where I want to be in the sport." Ben's enjoying his most successful season of his career so far. He's representing Great Britain at every senior competition for the first time and next month travels to Baku, Azerbaijan, for the European Championships. With the next Commonwealth Games just 10 months away, both Llewellin generations are confident Ben will be there this time - and on the podium too. "Ben is a pretty determined young man," says David. "He chose this discipline [of shooting] to take him up to the world level which he's achieved

Summary: For the Llewellin family, when it comes to sporting success, the apple does not fall far from the tree.


Clwyd West Tory MP David Jones said he backed proposals for "English votes for English laws" but it was important to define clearly what those issues were. He said many of his constituents used public services in England and many voters there relied on Welsh hospitals. The UK government said it was bringing about constitutional reform to serve people living in all parts of the UK. The House of Commons rule changes would also limit some votes to English and Welsh MPs only. Speaking during a Commons debate on the Queen's Speech, Mr Jones said of the policy: "I strongly approve of that commitment, since it will restore fairness that has been eroded in the wake of the 1999 bout of devolution. "However...I say that we should treat that proposal with caution and what is most important is that defining what are English or English and Welsh issues is of paramount importance." Mr Jones said many of his constituents used hospitals in the north west of England. "The people of north Wales have an absolute right to expect that that their representatives in this place should be able to speak in this House on those issues that concern them." He added: "I would say to my right honourable friends on the front bench that this is extremely important if the fairness that we seek to achieve by creating by English and Welsh votes for English and Welsh laws, or English votes for English laws, is not to be brought into disrepute." Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "As a one nation government we will revise the rules to make the law-making process fair - bringing about constitutional reform that serves people living in all parts of the United Kingdom. "The introduction of English votes for English laws will do just that for England." He was challenged by Delyn Labour MP David Hanson, who said he represented a part of Wales that uses English hospital services, transport, employment and airports. "I want to know from you, why I can't speak or vote on those issues," he said.

Summary: Plans to restrict the role of Welsh MPs should be treated with caution, a former Welsh secretary has warned.


Just like its aquatic inspiration, the robotic tentacle has no rigid skeleton; it can bend, stretch and switch between flexible and rigid states as required. Its movement is driven by inflatable compartments and its stiffness by a central tube containing a specially selected granular medium: coffee. When suction is applied, the granules "jam" to create the desired rigidity. The design is published in the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics and is the product of a collaborative EU project called Stiff-Flop. The latest work was done by engineers in Italy - one of twelve teams involved in the consortium, which is coordinated by King's College London. Ultimately, the researchers hope to develop the device so that it can be used in "minimally invasive surgery" - operations performed via a body cavity or a keyhole-type incision. "The human body represents a highly challenging and non-structured environment, where the capabilities of the octopus can provide several advantages with respect to traditional surgical tools," said the paper's lead author Tommaso Ranzani, from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa. Dr Ranzani and his many collaborators set out to build a tentacle that could, for example, wind its way into an awkward target area and then hold delicate organs out of the way with one stretch of its length, while another part of the arm operates. "Traditional surgical tasks often require the use of multiple specialized instruments such as graspers, retractors, vision systems and dissectors, to carry out a single procedure," Dr Ranzani said. He believes the robotic tentacle could trim that number of instruments and simplify operations. The current prototype is 14cm long and 3cm across and split into two sections. Running the length of each section are three cylindrical chambers that can be pumped full of air to varying degrees, lengthening or bending the arm. At the centre is another chamber, packed with coarse-ground coffee. When air is sucked out of this compartment, the granules jam together and the arm becomes more rigid. Other robotics engineers were impressed by the tentacle's performance but emphasised that it is still a long way from the surgery. There are many laboratories and companies working on special surgical robots, and this effort is still at an early stage. "The concept has a great deal of potential and the implementation is clever," commented Ravi Vaidyanathan, a senior lecturer in bio-mechatronics at Imperial College in London. He told the BBC it was "a wonderful initial proof-of-concept" with some distance to travel. "There's a great deal of testing and refinement to be done before it's ready for the operating theatre," Dr Vaidyanathan said. Follow Jonathan on Twitter

Summary: Engineers have constructed a robotic arm, aimed at improving surgical operations and inspired by the octopus.


Graham Keddie told the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) that Tourism Ireland needed to change its work in Northern Ireland. The airport boss criticised the all-Ireland body in a strongly-worded letter obtained by the BBC's The View. Tourism Ireland promotes Northern Ireland and Ireland abroad. Graham Keddie also told Mr Kenny that the Brexit vote was not an "a la carte" exercise. He said different parts of the UK cannot remain in the EU and do what he termed "solo runs". As Belfast International Airport's managing director, Mr Keddie was invited by the taoiseach to take part the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit in Dublin earlier this month, but was unable to attend. Mr Keddie said the changed economic times required a shift in emphasis. Graham Keddie said a weaker pound made Northern Ireland more attractive to tourists from Great Britain and a strong euro made the Republic more expensive. "Just as Tourism Ireland aggressively marketed and promoted the Republic of Ireland through Dublin, we expect no less an effort now that the situation is reversed," he told Enda Kenny. "Perhaps that is something you and your colleagues could impress on Tourism Ireland in the interests of fairness and equality." Graham Keddie also said that Belfast needed to be a greater priority. "Now for the first time we can say to an important market that they can use Belfast as the gateway to not only Northern Ireland, but the island as a whole," he wrote. Mr Keddie's letter has been commended by North Antrim MP Ian Paisley, who this week raised the issue of tourism and travel in the House of Commons. The DUP MP told The View: "I think it is very clear that the agenda of Tourism Ireland has been very much Dublin focused. "Here we have an international airport operating in Northern Ireland and its CEO spelling out loud and clear that it wants a fair crack of the whip, it wants Tourism Ireland to do its job and to see Northern Ireland as the gateway into the island of Ireland - not Dublin airport." Earlier this month, US airline United announced it was to stop flights between Belfast and New York, months after a Â£9m rescue deal. Two thirds of the money, which was to be given to United over three years, was to come from the Northern Ireland Executive. The flight is the only direct air link between Northern Ireland and the US. The European Commission has said EU rules do not allow public authorities to grant a specific airline an "undue advantage". SDLP MLA Sinead Bradley said it is unrealistic to suggest that Belfast International Airport could become the gateway to Ireland. "We can only judge people on their past record," she said. "We don't have to look too far back to see the saga that United Airlines and our only transatlantic flight that has been lost. "And then to make bold statements such as this does not really have much credibility that is unfortunate. "I would love to see that would be the day but we

Summary: The head of Belfast International Airport has told Enda Kenny that Belfast should become "the gateway to Ireland".


Lon Snowden told journalists in Moscow he felt "extreme gratitude that my son is safe and secure and he's free". He later met his son, local media say. Edward Snowden was granted asylum in Russia in August after weeks spent in a transit zone at Moscow airport when the US revoked his travel documents. The 30-year-old leaked many thousands of US intelligence documents. The information, published in The Guardian and Washington Post newspapers, revealed extensive internet and phone surveillance by both US and British intelligence. In the US, Edward Snowden faces charges of theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified intelligence. Each of the charges carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. Meanwhile, Edward Snowden met four former US security officials in Russia late on Wednesday, it has emerged. The officials - who now campaign against what they describe as the misuse of state secrecy - said they had presented Mr Snowden with the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence award. The award is given annually by a group of retired CIA officers. The officials told Russian media Mr Snowden had no regrets about leaking the classified files and was convinced he had done the right thing. "He's remarkably centred," ex-FBI agent Coleen Rowley told state-funded RT television. 'Legal options' Lon Snowden, arriving at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Thursday, was met by his son's Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena. "I'm here to learn more about my son's situation," Mr Snowden told reporters. "My hope is to learn more about his circumstances and his health and to discuss legal options." "If the opportunity presents itself, I certainly hope that I have the opportunity to see my son," he said in televised remarks. "I'm not sure that my son will be returning to the US. That's his decision, he's an adult." Lon Snowden later visited his son, but the place and time of the meeting "are not being been revealed for security reasons", said Russia's state-run TV channels Rossiya 24 and Channel One. Lon Snowden has in the past praised his son for speaking "the truth" and making great sacrifices, and has spoken of his concern that he would not face a fair trial if he returned to the US. Edward Snowden accessed many of the documents while working for the defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton in Hawaii, where he had been living with his girlfriend. As the revelations became public, Mr Snowden fled to Hong Kong where, with his consent, The Guardian revealed his identity in June. To escape US attempts to extradite him, Mr Snowden moved on to Russia where he remained in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo airport until Russia granted him asylum. Russia's move added to already tense relations with the US. Washington cancelled a bilateral summit in September.

Summary: The father of fugitive former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden is in Russia to visit his son.


The disorder at HMP Erlestoke began on Saturday when two inmates escaped their cells and threatened staff. No-one was hurt and those involved in the incident are being investigated by police, the Ministry of Justice said. The Prison Officers' Association said the issues surrounded a lack of regime due to insufficient staffing levels. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said "two separate incidents" involving three prisoners had been "successfully resolved" on Saturday. He added the prison was now "running as normal" and said there had been "some minor structural damage". He said: "We are absolutely clear that prisoners who behave in this way will be punished and can spend significantly longer behind bars." The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said order was restored overnight on Saturday but said "both wings were destroyed and were now out of commission". The POA spokesman added this was "another example of a failed benchmark process brought about by savage and unnecessary government cuts that has seen staffing levels decrease to an unsafe level". Relatives of inmates also got in touch with the BBC saying prisoners were kept locked in their cells for three days, without hot food, hot water and no prison officers on some wings. Conservative MP, for Devizes, Claire Perry said: "I was saddened to hear of the disturbances at Erlestoke Prison over the last few days. "These incidents are wholly and utterly unacceptable, and I understand that these matters have been referred to the police to consider charges against the perpetrators."

Summary: A disturbance at a prison saw 130 inmates transferred to nearby jails after two wings were put "out of commission", a union has said.


Syrian state media says toxic gas was contained in shells that rebels have been firing at government-held areas in the divided city. Russian news agency Interfax says seven people died and more than 20 were hospitalised after Tuesday's attack. There has been no independent confirmation of the claim. It comes after reports from a rebel-held town in Idlib province that chlorine gas was dropped on it late on Monday after a Russian military helicopter had earlier been shot down nearby. A battle has continued since the weekend in Aleppo, as rebels attempt to break a government siege of a rebel-controlled area. It is expected to be decisive for the future of a city that was once a commercial heartland but has been destroyed by five years of war. About a quarter of a million civilians are living under siege since government forces cut them off last month. The latest reports from the area are that the government, backed by Russian jets, has regained some ground. It is not clear exactly which territory has returned to government control but a reporter for a Beirut-based TV station said the army had regained control of two out of three villages that it lost near Aleppo earlier this week. Russian and Syrian forces say they have been operating seven so-called humanitarian corridors, allowing hundreds of people to leave the besieged area peacefully. On Wednesday, Russian state television ran pictures of civilians and fighters leaving. Smoke was seen billowing over the city in the footage, and gunshots were heard. The UN's Children's Fund (Unicef) said it is "extremely" concerned for the safety of children caught up in violence in the city. Saad Houry, of the fund, said children make up a third of the population trapped in the siege, and called for unhindered humanitarian access and for children to be protected. The New York-based Physicians for Human Rights group said the last week of July was the worst week for attacks on medical facilities in the region since the Syrian war began in 2011. In a statement, the group said it has verified six deadly air strikes against hospitals in Aleppo governorate, all perpetrated by Syrian government forces. Widney Brown of Physicians for Human Rights said: "Destroying hospitals is tantamount to signing thousands of death warrants for people now stranded in eastern Aleppo."

Summary: The Russian military says it has informed the US that it believes rebels in the Syrian city of Aleppo have deployed "toxic substances".


Gales and heavy rain swept across large parts of the UK, causing devastating flooding in Cumbria and Lancashire, as well as parts of southern Scotland. On the first anniversary of Storm Desmond, experts say November to January were the wettest three months since UK records began in 1910. Review author Terry Marsh said flooding was "extensive and repetitive". Storm Desmond began battering parts of the UK on 5 December, depositing a record month's worth of rain on Cumbria in just one day. About 5,200 homes were flooded in Cumbria and Lancashire, while tens of thousands more lost power after an electricity sub-station in Lancaster was flooded. The storm caused an estimated insurance bill of more than Â£1.3bn. Major storms "Abigail", "Frank" and "Gertrude" also hit the UK last winter. A study by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), in collaboration with the British Hydrological Society, found many rivers across northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland saw record peak flows during the three-month period. It found the rivers Eden, Tyne and Lune in England saw record peaks of around 1,700 cubic metres per second. Experts say such levels could fill London's Royal Albert Hall in less than a minute. Although last winter's floods were more extreme in scale, flooding in 1947 had a greater impact in terms of homes flooded and crops destroyed, the appraisal found. However, lead author Terry Marsh from CEH said the national scale of last winter's floods were "the most extreme on record". "The associated flooding was both extensive and repetitive, and total river outflows from Great Britain following the passage of Storm Desmond in December exceeded the previous maximum by a substantial margin," he said.

Summary: Flooding across parts of the UK last winter was the most extreme on record, experts have said.


Cameron Stewart missed a great first-half chance for Linfield but they had to battle hard to repel pressure from the home side in the second period. Aaron Burns also wasted a second-half chance but the visitors had some nervous moments before progressing. Linfield will host Celtic in their first leg on Friday 14 July. It is estimated that the second qualifying round tie against the Scottish champions could earn the Irish Premiership winners up to £1million in Uefa prize money, gate receipts, television revenue, advertising and merchandising. Security concerns around the tie led to agreement that any potential first leg between the clubs at Windsor Park would be moved from the normal midweek slot to the Friday because of the clash with the 12th of July marches in Northern Ireland. Celtic also announced they would not take supporters to Belfast because of safety worries. Linfield had the better of the possession in the first half with Andrew Waterworth having an early chance stopped by La Fiorita keeper Gianluca Vivan before Stewart headed his great opportunity over the crossbar on 37 minutes after a superb Jamie Mulgrew cross. However, the home produced intense pressure immediately after the restart and, for the most part, Linfield retreated into their own half during the remainder of the contest as they held on to the first-leg lead secured by Jordan Stewart's late goal. A dreadful clearance by keeper Vivan gifted a lobbed chance to substitute Burns in the 70th minute but he pulled his shot badly wide. La Fiorita, aiming for a first win in a European tie at the sixth attempt, produced intense late pressure but their only clear opening came two minutes from time when substitute Adrian Ricchiuti had an effort blocked. The San Marino champions continued to press during the four minutes of injury-time, although Mulgrew did produce a late break into the La Fiorita penalty area before being handed a yellow card after being adjudged to have dived in the box. Linfield manager David Healy told the club's website: "I'm delighted. Our main objective was to get through into the second round. We've done that and we've earned the right to play a fantastic club in Celtic. "The players worked their socks off. Was it pretty? No it wasn't, but it was effective. The players were organised and they gave everything in their bodies tonight." Match ends, La Fiorita 0, Linfield 0. Second Half ends, La Fiorita 0, Linfield 0. Jamie Mulgrew (Linfield) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Substitution, La Fiorita. Tiziano Mottola replaces Danilo Rinaldi. Substitution, La Fiorita. Adolfo Hirsch replaces Tommaso Zafferani. Substitution, Linfield. Aaron Burns replaces Cameron Stewart. Substitution, Linfield. Andrew Mitchell replaces Paul Smyth. Substitution, La Fiorita. Adrián Ricchiuti replaces Marco Brighi. Marco Gasperoni (La Fiorita) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Second Half begins La Fiorita 0, Linfield 0. First Half ends, La Fiorita 0, Linfield 0. Mark Haughey (Linfield) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Tommaso Zafferani (La Fiorita) is shown the yellow card for a bad

Summary: Linfield secured a money-spinning Champions League tie against Celtic as a goalless draw in San Marino earned a 1-0 aggregate win over La Fiorita.


Abels Shipbuilders at Albion dockyard on Bristol's Floating Harbour is to cease trading because its owner is retiring. Bristol City Council said it will continue to partly lease the site as a repair facility. The final boat 'Forth Hope', set sail on Wednesday afternoon for Edinburgh, where it will become a medical vessel. Two firms Bristol Classic Boat Company and Slipway Co-operative will continue to build smaller boats in the city. There is uncertainty over the future of the dry dock, and owner David Abels, 66, hopes it is not redeveloped because it is "the last one left". Mr Abels has leased Albion Dockyard, which has been in operation since 1820, for 37 years. Mr Abels voiced concerns it would be redeveloped into residential apartments and said: "Once you lose it, it's gone. The dock is an essential part of Bristol being Bristol". The Bristol Ships Board said there would no longer be a dry dockyard in Bristol if the Albion closes. Bristol City Council confirmed the lease had gone out to tender and the authority is gathering expressions of interest, including one from the SS Great Britain Trust. Robert Orrett, from Bristol City Council, said: "Anyone that takes the new lease will have a contractual obligation to us to make sure the larger vessels in the harbour that need to be maintained continue to have a facility." Inside Out West will feature David Abels' story on Monday, 3 October. The programme followed the construction of the ship over the past six months.

Summary: The last builder of large ships in Bristol has closed after its final vessel sailed out of dock.


It will house the town's library, a cafe, community space, and Anglesey's local history collection. Built in 1855, it was home to assembly rooms and a court. Last month, the Welsh Government successfully applied for a compulsory purchase order on the former owner of the market hall and the work is being funded by a Â£2.3m lottery grant.

Summary: Holyhead's Grade II-listed market hall is to be restored after standing derelict for 10 years.


Researchers discovered it after looking back at some fossils found in the late 2000s in Morocco, North Africa. Two of the fossils were in such good condition that the team were able to make this amazingly detailed reconstruction. You can clearly see its small mouth filled with hundreds of teeth and the prickly spines which cover its body. This slug like creature also had a built in, helmet like, shell to keep it safe from predators. It might look a little terrifying but it was only four inches long and scientists think it survived by eating algae off rocks. Molluscs first appeared on earth around 520 million years ago, Calvapilosa is an ancient relative of modern molluscs. A mollusc is a type of animal that doesn't have a spine, there are lots of different kinds including slugs, snails, oysters and squid. Jakob Vinther who was the lead researcher on the project said "This discovery brings a neat solution to how the ancestor of all molluscs may have looked."

Summary: This is Calvapilosa, a prehistoric relative of modern sea slugs.


That left him having to raise some of the less well-known taxes. There's an honourable mention for the bringing forward of payments of corporation tax, which raises an impressive £4.5bn in 2017-18, but by the end of the parliament it would be raising very small amounts. So, here are the top four tax increases, ranked according to the amount of money the Treasury reckons they will raise in 2020-21. Did you know all of these taxes even existed? Top of the pile is the change to the way dividends on shares are taxed. The government is doing away with the current system of dividend tax credit in favour of a tax-free allowance. The first £5,000 someone earns in dividends will be tax-free. After that, any dividend income will be taxed at 7.5% for basic rate taxpayers, 32.5% for higher rate taxpayers and 38.1% for additional rate taxpayers. And the Treasury reckons that will raise just under £2bn in 2020-21. Second on the list is the rise in insurance premium tax. From November, the standard rate of insurance premium tax will rise from 6% to 9.5%. The standard rate is charged on most forms of insurance you might be considering, except for travel insurance and insurance on electrical appliances, which are charged at a higher rate of 20%. There are also some forms of insurance that are exempted, such as long term insurance products including life insurance and any forms of reinsurance. The hike in tax rates will raise about £1.5bn a year for the Exchequer. Vehicle excise duty (VED) is what you used to know as your tax disc before they were abolished. At the moment there are lots of different bands of charges. For cars registered after 1 April 2017 it will be £140 a year with a few exceptions. Zero emission cars don't pay any VED at all. The amounts charged in the cars' first year are divided into 13 bands depending on how much carbon dioxide they emit, from £0 for zero emission cars to £2,000 for the most polluting vehicles. On top of that, if you have a car that had a list price of over £40,000 when new, you have to pay an extra £310 supplement on top of your standard VED for the first five years. This one was widely mentioned during the election campaign. At the moment, you get the tax back on any contributions you make to a pension scheme up to a limit of £40,000 a year. From April next year, the amount you can save tax-free will fall if you are earning more than £150,000 a year. For every £2 that you earn above that amount, you lose £1 of your tax-free pension savings allowance, down to a minimum of £10,000. Bear in mind that these predictions of tax revenue are pretty uncertain. The OBR gives a verdict on how uncertain they are. Pensions tax relief is rated as the most uncertain ("very high" uncertainty) because of the likelihood that high earners will change the way they save in order to avoid

Summary: Chancellor George Osborne faced a tricky challenge when trying to raise taxes in this Budget, which was that his party had already promised not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT.


The move comes as the Scottish government continues its investigation of tower blocks in Scotland. The local government and communities committee said it would review building safety standards "in full, particularly in highly-dense urban areas". At least 79 people are believed to have died in the Grenfell Tower blaze. Cladding is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. The Scottish government announced last week that it was working "intensively" with councils to establish the safety of high-rise flats. On Friday, it said no local authority or housing association high-rise properties in Scotland had the cladding used in Grenfell Tower. At the weekend, the UK government reported that cladding on 34 tower blocks in 17 council areas in England had failed fire safety tests. Local government and communities committee convener Bob Doris said: "There are thousands of families and individuals living in high-rise accommodation across Scotland and they are understandably looking for reassurances at this deeply worrying time. "Whilst both the Scottish government and our social housing providers have moved quickly to take action and to allay fears, it is important that our committee provides an additional layer of scrutiny both in terms of fire safety and building standards. "That is precisely what we intend to do. "All parts of the UK must learn from the disaster at Grenfell Tower and we must do all we can to ensure no-one has to experience the loss of a loved one in such tragic circumstances. "Our committee will be reviewing building safety standards in full, particularly in highly-dense urban areas with many high rises. "We will speak to local authorities, landlords, tenants and of course the Scottish government as part of this inquiry." Councils across Scotland have moved to reassure high-rise residents over safety in the wake of the Grenfell fire. In Aberdeen, the local authority is holding drop-in sessions this week for people living in 20 properties across the city, offering them a chance to raise any concerns. One tower block resident in West Dunbartonshire said he welcomed news that building standards and conditions would be subject to further scrutiny. Thomas Sellers, 52, who lives on the eighth floor of a high-rise property in Dumbarton, told BBC Scotland that he and other residents were still looking for reassurance. He said: "There has been no clarification about whether the building I stay in is safe enough. There are no sprinklers and no main fire alarm for the building and we have no access to the roof as an exit in the event of a fire. We are just looking for answers."

Summary: The safety of Scotland's high-rise flats is to be examined by a Holyrood committee following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London.


With her adorable charm and blonde curls, she was one of the most popular stars of the 1930s, in hit movies like Bright Eyes and Stand Up and Cheer. After retiring from films in 1950 at the age of 21, Temple returned to the spotlight as a politician and diplomat. She died on Monday at home in Woodside, California, from natural causes. "She was surrounded by her family and caregivers," a statement said. Born in 1928, Temple soon became a major star after getting her first film role at the age of three. Her singing, dancing and acting won over fans worldwide. She was given a special juvenile Oscar in 1935, when she was just six years old. To this day, she is still the youngest person to receive an Academy Award. With the nickname "America's little darling", she was ranked as Hollywood's biggest draw for four years running from 1935 to '38 in an annual poll of US cinema owners. Her rendition of the song On the Good Ship Lollipop in the film Bright Eyes was among her most famous performances. Sources: Shirleytemple.com/IMDB Her other films included Curly Top, The Littlest Rebel, Baby Take a Bow and Little Miss Marker. She was such a hit that US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt dubbed her "Little Miss Miracle" for raising morale during the Great Depression and she was credited with helping save 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy. Temple starred in a total of 43 feature films - but found it difficult to sustain her career in adulthood and left acting behind in 1950. She continued to appear on television, but that work dried up and she eventually stepped away from the spotlight. When she came back into the public eye, it was in a new guise. Under her married name Shirley Temple Black, she ran as a Republican candidate for Congress in 1967 but lost. Richard Nixon later appointed her as a member of the US delegation to the United Nations General Assembly before President Ford named her the US ambassador to Ghana in 1974. In 1989, she was made the US ambassador to Czechoslovakia shortly before the fall of the country's Communist regime. She considered her background in entertainment an asset to her political career. "Politicians are actors too, don't you think?" she once said. In a statement announcing her death, her family said: "We salute her for a life of remarkable achievements as an actor, as a diplomat, and most importantly as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and adored wife for 55 years of the late and much missed Charles Alden Black." Actor George Clooney was among those to pay tribute. He said: "Watching clips of her, it's so amazing that she was such a part of our film history from the very beginning. "I'm sure it wasn't easy being a child star, although she went on to become an ambassador, so she re-invented herself along the way. But it's a great loss. I wish all the best for her family and thank her for her contribution." Actress Whoopi Goldberg wrote

Summary: Former Hollywood child star Shirley Temple has died at the age of 85.


The group All Stars has just released a peace song entitled Dafa Dafa which means revenge in the local Arabic. "Revenge will finish us," MC Lumoex, who came up with the idea for the song, told the BBC. In June, troops loyal to South Sudan President Salva Kiir clashed with those of his deputy, Riek Machar. The two had fought a civil war which killed tens of thousands until Mr Machar returned to the capital, Juba, in April under a peace deal. The latest violence began when five Kiir loyalists were killed at a checkpoint, before escalating into confrontations that left hundreds dead. Listen to Dafa Dafa The wounds of war in South Sudan Africa Live: More on this and other news stories "I'm calling upon all of us to leave revenge behind, and forgive each other," MC Lumoex said. "Forgiveness is what we need for this nation to go forward." Another artist, Linus the Genius, backed his call: "The only way we can send our message to people is through music. "We can't hold a gun and fight - but this is how we can bring peace in South Sudan - through music." The song combines a myriad of styles, and a mix of local languages: Juba Arabic, Bari and Zande are represented, as well as Dinka and Nuer, the languages of Mr Kiir and Mr Machar, respectively. The musicians come from different bands based in Juba. "I wish my talent could be a weapon," goes one of the lines sung by Mandari, from the Hardlife Avenue Stars. "I would use it to protect my people." One of the most haunting lyrics is sung by Nicky Prince, who worries about the future of the country. "We don't know how our country's going to develop because the people who are meant to develop it are just dying," it goes. Dafa Dafa is already getting radio airplay in Juba. The band says it will not make money from the song, but hopes to reach the ears of the men in charge. "We don't even know why they're fightingâ€¦ We just wish that they listen to our song and hear the message," says Mandari.

Summary: A group of South Sudanese artists has warned against the revenge culture following the recent conflict which led to hundreds being killed.


The Night Wolves had planned to enter next week as part of a ride across Europe to commemorate the 70th anniversary of World War Two. Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz had called the plan a "provocation". The Night Wolves' vice-president, Felix Chernyakhovsky, has insisted the bikers still intend to make the trip. "Everything remains the same. We're starting tomorrow as planned," he told Interfax news agency. The Night Wolves are subject to US sanctions for alleged active involvement in Crimea and for helping to recruit separatist fighters for Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russia's foreign ministry said it was "outraged" at Poland's decision. The Night Wolves' planned road trip through Poland stirred such controversy because of the group's close association with Vladimir Putin and its support of Moscow's annexation of Crimea and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. They are viewed in Poland as the "Kremlin's Hells Angels". The day after news of the trip appeared earlier this month many Polish newspapers illustrated the story with a photograph showing a sunglass-wearing, helmetless Russian president riding an enormous three-wheeled Harley-Davidson Lehman Trike with the club in Crimea in 2010. A Facebook page entitled "No to the Russian bandits' ride through Poland" quickly garnered support from more than 10,000 people. The page's co-host Jarek Podworski, a biker from Krakow, told me the Night Wolves were not motorcycle enthusiasts but criminals, some of whom had taken part in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. Besides, he added, Poles remembered the Soviet occupation of Poland. Warsaw has been a strong critic of Moscow's actions in Ukraine. The Polish foreign ministry said three other Russian biker groups would be allowed into the country. But it said it was notified of the group's plans only on Monday, and without details of the route or number of participants. The ministry added that it had informed the Russian embassy in Warsaw that the lack of information meant "it could not ensure proper security for the participants". However, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement: "It is clear that the decision that was taken has a political motive." The Night Wolves intend to cross several countries, following a path taken by the Red Army in World War Two, with the aim of arriving in Berlin in time for 9 May Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. The 6,000km (3,720 mile) road trip would take them through Russia, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, before reaching Germany.

Summary: The Polish foreign ministry has banned a biker gang linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin from entering the country.


Five-time world champion O'Sullivan took the first three frames and won 4-1 after White had beaten Ryan Day without losing a frame. Home favourite Higgins beat compatriot Scott Donaldson and fellow Scot Stephen Maguire defeated Fergal O'Brien. Neil Robertson and Judd Trump were among Wednesday's other winners. Robertson overcame Gary Wilson, while Marco Fu beat Liam Highfield and Trump defeated Igor Figueiredo, with Ali Carter losing to Chris Wakelin. Scots Graeme Dott and Anthony McGill lost to Mark Davis and Mitchell Mann, respectively. Mei Xi Wen eliminated Peter Ebdon and will play four-time world champion Higgins on Thursday. Trump will face Noppon Saengkham and Robertson takes on Joe Swail. The latest event in the Home Nations Series, the tournament is the first World Snooker ranking event held in Scotland since the World Open in 2010.

Summary: Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Adam Stefanow to set up a third-round tie against Jimmy White at the Scottish Open, as John Higgins also progressed in Glasgow.


Last summer ministers said they would invest an additional £143m in the services this financial year. The Mental Health Network suspects the funding has been used to support other NHS services. NHS England says it can show where the money has been allocated. The additional funding was part of a £1.25bn investment over five years announced by the chancellor in the Budget in March 2015. While campaigners expected £250m to be made available this year, the Department of Health said in August that only £143m would be spent, as providers did not have the capacity to spend any more. However, the body representing mental health trusts says it has seen little of even that reduced amount. How the £143m was allocated: Source: NHS England Stephen Dalton, chief executive of the mental health network which represents NHS providers, said: "Providers of mental health services and most importantly children and families are struggling to see the difference. "It doesn't seem to have turned into posts on the front line. We are not hearing any reports of any significant investment at a local level around children's services. Indeed, some services are still experiencing cuts in services." NHS England says it has provided £75m to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), but NHS providers fear some of the money has been siphoned off to pay for other services. Acknowledging that is a possibility, CCGs have told BBC News they want NHS England to ring-fence the money, specifically for children's mental health services. Dr Phil Moore, chairman of the NHS Clinical Commissioners Mental Health Commissioners Network, said: "Despite our commitment to better mental healthcare for young people, it has to be acknowledged that CCGs are dealing with increasingly financially challenging times and a myriad of competing demands on budgets. "This, combined with the fact that children and young people's mental healthcare is in desperate need of heavy investment having historically been treated as a 'Cinderella service', is why we believe this is a rare case where funding should be ring-fenced." Some trusts say they have seen additional funding - the South London and Maudsley, for instance, said they had received an additional £1.8m from four separate CCGs. And several CCGs told us they were committed to spending the money on new services. But some children's mental health services are also being cut, especially those provided by councils. Dr Marc Bush, senior policy adviser at the charity Young Minds, said: "Our expectation is that overall spending on children's mental health services this year may either be flat or fall slightly in real terms." Former care minister Norman Lamb, who helped secure the extra funding, said he was concerned about the lack of progress. "Given the pressure on the whole system including local government, there is a real risk that funding intended for children's mental health ends up elsewhere or simply replaces other funding cuts. "There is an absolute moral imperative to address the very serious underfunding of children's mental health. Failure to invest this money now would be unforgivable." An NHS England spokesman said: "As a society we must make

Summary: Some mental health trusts in England have seen "no significant investment" in psychiatric services for children despite government plans to overhaul provision, say experts.


They show emissions in 2015 were 41% below the levels for 1990, a benchmark against which targets are set. Last year saw a record reduction of 45.8% which not only met the annual target but exceeded a medium-term aim to reduce emissions by 42% by 2020. It means total emissions since 2014 are 1.8% higher. The statistics appear to support claims from environmental groups that the 2020 target was only met because of an unseasonably mild winter. The latest statistics will be a disappointment to ministers who have positioned Scotland as a world leader in tackling climate change. Earlier this year, Scotland's Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced a new target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2020. She also announced plans to decarbonise the electricity sector and increase the amount of woodland to offset carbon. The figures for all years are adjusted annually to reflect the increased understanding of greenhouse gas emissions. They are also adjusted to reflect Scotland's participation in the complex EU-wide Emissions Trading Scheme. A second set of figures, on source emissions, shows a fall of 3% since 2014. Until last year, the annual target had been missed on four consecutive years. When it comes to source emissions, transport has overtaken energy supply as the biggest contributor. This is attributed to a decrease in the amount of coal being burnt at the Longannet Power Station. There has also been a shift in reliance on nuclear power, which represents 34.7% of demand compared with 25.7% in 2007. The largest shift is in forestry which has seen a significant fall in the amount of carbon soaked up by trees. A shortage of planting around the 1980s means there are more trees being felled annually than are reaching maturity. But Ms Cunningham said Scotland remained "comfortably on track" to meet its 2020 target. She added: "The statistics also show that we continue to outperform the UK as a whole, with our efforts to drive forward transformative change in our energy system clearly paying off. "We always knew meeting our ambitious targets would be tough and that they bring a number of challenges, as well as opportunities. "Our draft Climate Change Plan sets out a package of measures across transport, heat, electricity generation and energy efficiency which will help us go further." Jim Densham, from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said the figures showed real progress was being made towards securing a "clean energy revolution". "To hit future climate change targets we now need to build on the early successes to supercharge action on key areas," he said. "These include homes, farming and particularly transport, which is for the first time the largest source of emissions. "Transport pollution has been stubbornly high for decades and we need significant action to catch up with other nations such as India and Norway which are planning to end the sale of fossil fuel cars by 2030."

Summary: Greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland have risen but the statutory target for 2015 has been met, according to the latest figures.


Mountazar Drissi said there were numerous cases of multiple voting, while people were bussed in from the countryside to vote in cities. He was speaking after thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday to demand further political changes. Mr Drissi says that King Mohammed VI still wields too much power. "He can control everything - we want the power to belong to the people," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. The demonstrators marched through cities such as Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier, chanting slogans such as "The interior minister is a liar", Reuters news agency reported. They carried empty boxes to symbolise that they thought the turnout was far lower than the 73% announced by election officials. There were also pro-government protests, which officials said outnumbered those organised by Mr Drissi's 20 February Movement. The king announced that he would give up some of his powers following previous protests but his constitutional reforms have been dismissed by some as "window-dressing". The concessions come after protests inspired by the so-called Arab spring. Popular uprisings have toppled Presidents Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. All the country's main political parties, unions, civic groups, religious leaders and media urged Moroccans to vote in favour of the new constitution. If the results are confirmed, the king will remain the head of state, the military, and the Islamic faith in Morocco, but the prime minister - to be chosen from the largest party elected to parliament - will take over as head of the government. The king has pledged that the reforms will reinforce the independence of the judiciary, boost efforts to tackle corruption, guarantee freedom of expression and gender rights and make Berber an official language, alongside Arabic. Mr Drissi stressed that he did not want the monarchy to be overthrown but he wanted a democratic constitution. The reform plan has been welcomed abroad, with the European Union saying it "signals a clear commitment to democracy". Many activists have been sceptical about the king's promises of change, saying Morocco's 400-year-old monarchy has a long history of enacting superficial reforms. Morocco has been facing severe economic challenges with high unemployment and rising levels of poverty. King Mohammed, 47, acceded to the throne in 1999 following the death of his father, Hassan II, and now heads the Arab world's longest-serving dynasty.

Summary: The official figures showing that 98% of voters backed Morocco's reform referendum are "unbelievable", a democracy campaigner has told the BBC.


"It's surreal, man, it really is," said Gennett, the first Reds player to achieve the feat and who also tied a club record with 10 runs batted in. "I'm truly blessed. Being from here, born here. It's an honour for sure." No player has ever hit more than four in a game - Bobby Lowe was the first, for Boston Beaneaters on 30 May, 1894. Josh Hamilton was the most recent to tie the record, for Texas against Baltimore on 8 May, 2012.

Summary: Cincinnati's Scooter Gennett became the 17th player to hit four home runs in a Major League Baseball game in Tuesday's 13-1 win over St. Louis Cardinals.


Dumfries Sheriff Court was told that the dangerous contraption could have caused damage, a fire or injury. Tessa Banks, 33, denied making or knowingly having the device in a flat in Queen Street between November 2015 and March last year. But a jury found her guilty of the charge at the end of a three day trial. The court heard that the alarm was raised by a friend of Banks, who told police she had been shown the device. She said she was concerned over what might happen or that someone might get hurt. A bomb disposal expert travelled from Edinburgh to make the device safe. Sheriff Brian Mohan deferred sentence on Banks for a month for background reports.

Summary: A bomb disposal expert called to a flat in Dumfries discovered a homemade device made from three fireworks wrapped in a sock, a court heard.


Assistant boss David Weir and sporting director Frank McParland will also depart the Bees, who are currently seventh in the Championship table. Former City trader Warburton took charge in 2013 and guided the club to promotion from League One last season. "Every decision I take is intended to be in the best long-term interests of the club," said owner Matthew Benham. "Some of the decisions taken, like this one, have been extremely hard." Warburton became Brentford boss 14 months ago following Uwe Rosler's departure to Wigan, having previously been sporting director since 2011. Media playback is not supported on this device Despite challenging for promotion to the Premier League this term, the 52-year-old's future at Griffin Park came into question last week following a newspaper report that he was set to be replaced as manager in the summer. The Bees released a statement last Tuesday which said Warburton would "continue to lead the club", but Benham subsequently tweeted that he would explain the situation further in due course. "Matthew, a Brentford fan since 1979, has decided to make changes in order to ensure the long-term prosperity of the club," a club statement said. "As part of a remodelling of the club's football management, a head coach will be appointed to work alongside a new sporting director. "The club want the new structure to be a long-term way of working which is independent of whoever is in the head coach role. "Frank, Mark and David have decided, following long discussions with Matthew, that they feel unable to work under the changed structure and approach as it differs from their football philosophy." Warburton and Weir will continue to coach the first-team until the end of the season, but McParland has been placed on gardening leave. The trio all signed rolling one-year contracts at Griffin Park last summer. Benham said it was difficult to implement change when things appeared to be going so well, but added: "I am single-minded in my resolve that we can leave no stone unturned in our quest for sustainable Premier League football." And Warburton said he was "relieved we now have clarity". He continued: "In my remaining time at the club we shall move heaven and earth to get the promotion that the players, fans and Matthew deserve. "I have enormous respect for Matthew and his investment in the club and he has the absolute right to run the club in the manner he deems most appropriate and beneficial. "David and I remain totally focused on supporting this squad of players and ensuring they are best prepared for each and every remaining fixture this season." "Clearly Mark Warburton felt he couldn't operate under the new "European" system which owner Matthew Benham wants to impose at Griffin Park. So the man who guided Brentford to promotion last season and has turned them into a force in the Championship this year will find himself out of work. "You would imagine the former City trader will be relatively confident that his reputation emerges from all this unscathed. Brentford, however, are taking a huge

Summary: Brentford have confirmed manager Mark Warburton will leave the club at the end of the season.


Archaeologists are racing against changing tides to record and excavate the find in peat at Borth, which gives a snapshot of a time when the shore lay further west. The team believes the footprints could be 3,000 to 4,000 years old. Staff and students from the University of Wales Trinity St David are carrying out the work. As well as the footprints, a line of post holes has been found, which could have been a causeway. They lie across an area that would have been salt marsh when the footprints were made. The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments is providing survey support, mapping the extent of the peat and other exposed features. Submerged forests have been found further north on the beach and nearby in the past. Dr Martin Bates is one of the archaeologists leading the excavation team, and it was his father, retired geologist Denis Bates, who discovered the footprints last month. Dr Bates told BBC Wales' news website: "My father has had an interest in submerged forests for many years. "He was down in February as this part of the beach was very clear. "For various reasons the patterns of sand movement have been temporarily altered and it means this area of beach has been stripped of sand. "He noticed the marks and told me they didn't look natural." He estimates they have a window of a few months to log the discoveries and take samples away for environmental testing before the sands shift again and cover the footprints up. "In the context of Ceredigion and west Wales, it's the first time we have found this type of evidence. "The submerged forests [nearby] are probably the most significant in the UK. "What we have never had before is documented evidence of human habitation." 'Quite special' Dr Bates added that there were a range of footprints discovered, including cattle, sheep or goat and possibly a bear. However the one which resonates with him is a print which belonged to a young child. "We have got a footprint of a four-year-old's foot where we can see the toes and everything. "I can stand where this child was standing about 4,000 years ago and even though we would have been seeing different things, the intimacy of that is quite special." Work in previous years on submerged forests found on the area to the north has established that a forest was growing in the area between 3000 and 2500 BC. The area was gradually waterlogged with peat growth. A number of finds in the area included a Mesolithic composite tool of antler, two flints, an auroch (extinct ox) skeleton and a piece of antler.

Summary: Human and animal fossilised footprints that may be from the Bronze Age have been exposed on a Ceredigion beach.


She said the Games would bring "honour and pride" to the country. Ms Rousseff, who has seen her popularity plunge amid a serious economic crisis, says the country will rise to the challenge and will organise a safe and successful Games. She said 12,000 people would be chosen to carry the Olympic torch through some 300 Brazilian cities next year. "We are now 399 days from the opening of the Olympic Games and on August 5 the whole world will look at us, will see the Olympic flame light up," Ms Rousseff said at a ceremony in Brasilia. The torch relay will begin in the Brazilian capital in May and will end at Rio's Maracana stadium in August, at the Olympic's opening ceremony. The Olympics organising committee and sponsors will choose the torchbearers in the next few months. Each person will carry the torch for 300 metres. The relay will take the torch through the Federal District, where Brasilia is, and 26 states during 90 to 100 days. Ms Rousseff has promised security will be a priority, inviting the thousands of fans who travelled to Brazil for the football World Cup to return for the Rio Games. Members of the International Olympic Committee have expressed concern over delays in the works for the Games. Another major concern has been pollution in the waters of the Guanabara Bay, where the sailing and windsurfing events will be held. The authorities say they understand athletes' concerns but insist that water pollution will not pose a major health risk during the Olympics, which will be held in August 2016. "We are confident that we can meet the challenge before us," said Ms Rousseff. "We will put on a historic Olympics." Rio de Janeiro will be the first South American city to host the Olympics.

Summary: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has unveiled the torch to be used at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.


The fishermen aboard the St Apollo escaped into their life raft during the incident early on Monday. A rescue helicopter was sent from Prestwick but the group were reached first by the Oban lifeboat at about 03:30. They were taken ashore at Oban. It's thought no one was been injured.

Summary: Five people have been rescued after their fishing vessel ran aground and capsized in the Sound of Mull.


Pink Dot has been held every year since 2009. Attendees wear pink clothing and sit down for a mass picnic that ends with the forming of a pink dot. But this year it falls on the eve of Ramadan, prompting an Islamic teacher to start a Wear White campaign against homosexuality, which has been supported by a Christian organisation. Gay sex is illegal in Singapore. Government leaders, as well as national organisations representing mosques and churches, have in recent weeks called on both religious and gay rights groups to act with restraint. The Pink Dot rally proceeded peacefully on Saturday evening with no sign of anti-gay campaigners. Organisers said 26,000 people attended the event. Wear White issued a statement saying it discouraged supporters from attending Pink Dot, as "it should be an event that no Muslim is associated with". Some chose to go online instead to protest at the event. About 4,000 people so far have taken part in a virtual rally called FamFestSG. Its Facebook page carries a quote from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that defines the term family as "one man one woman marrying, having children". The backlash has reignited the issue of gay rights in the largely conservative city-state. In recent years, there have been two legal attempts to declare that the law banning gay sex is unconstitutional. Singapore's government has said in the past that while it will retain the law to reflect mainstream society's stand on the issue, it will not be actively enforced.

Summary: An annual gay rally in Singapore has drawn thousands amid an unprecedented backlash from religious groups.


Items including Chinese jade and rhino horn were stolen in Cambridge, Durham, Norwich and Lewes, East Sussex. The men, from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Kent, London, the West Midlands and Northern Ireland, were convicted of conspiracy to burgle. The case can now be reported after the final four were found guilty. They were described as some of the gang's "generals", who helped plan and oversee a string of offences. Richard "Kerry" O'Brien of Dale Farm, Oak Lane, Billericay, Essex, and John "Kerry" O'Brien Junior, Michael Hegarty and Daniel "Turkey" O'Brien, all from Smithy Fen, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, were found guilty by a jury after a two-month trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Ten others, dubbed the "Rathkeale Rovers" were convicted at earlier hearings. The gang was involved in two thefts and an attempted theft at Durham University Oriental Museum as well as further incidents at Gorringes Auction House in Lewes, Norwich Castle Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Jurors heard exhibits stolen in Durham and Cambridge were valued at about £17m but detectives believed they could have fetched up to £57m ($79m) on the "booming" Chinese auction market. Lead investigator Det Supt Adrian Green, of Durham Police, said the thefts "dwarfed" the Hatton Garden bank vault raid in which items worth about £14m were stolen. "If you think the Hatton Gardens break-in was big, this will blow that out of the water," he said. The most high-profile of the gang's raids involved the theft of Chinese artefacts. On 5 April 2012, a jade bowl dating from 1769 and a porcelain figurine - which were worth up to £2m - were taken from the Durham museum after thieves smashed a hole in a wall. They later "hid" the items in a field but were said to have forgotten where. These were recovered and returned to the museum. Six people were sentenced for the theft, which the judge described as "a complete farce". Eight days later, on 13 April 2012, 18 mainly jade artefacts were stolen in a raid at Cambridge University's Fitzwilliam Museum. Believed to be worth up to £15m, the items were described as being of "incalculable cultural significance". Five months later three men were jailed and a boy of 16 was given a detention order. The items have never been recovered. Despite a number of people being jailed for the various thefts, police said "it soon became apparent an international organised crime group was planning and commissioning the jobs". Some of the defendants were arrested during co-ordinated raids by officers from 26 forces and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) in September 2013. The 40 raids were made in connection with the crimes, which took place between November 2011 and April 2012. The gang was brought to justice after a four-year covert national investigation - operation Griffin - led by officers from Durham and Cambridgeshire, supported by the National Crime Agency and the National Police Chiefs Council. The 10 others convicted of conspiracy to burgle included travellers' rights campaigner Richard Sheridan, 47, of Water Lane, Smithy Fen, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire and Donald Chi Chong Wong,

Summary: Fourteen members of an organised crime gang have been convicted over their roles in stealing artefacts worth up to £57m from museums and an auction house.


Parents and carers at Camau Bach in Aberystwyth were told someone trespassed into its Green Room from the outside play area. It said police had been told and were informing nearby schools. Camau Bach shut temporarily earlier this year after a boy was left unattended on a minibus for two hours. Dyfed-Powys Police and the charity Mudiad Meithrin, which owns the nursery, have been asked to comment. The letter, signed by nursery manager Sioned Davies, said the individual did not come into contact with any children and ran away when confronted by a staff member. It said, as an extra security precaution, the height of existing gates would be raised.

Summary: Parents have been warned about an intruder at a Ceredigion nursery, according to a letter seen by BBC Wales.


A director of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute said that local authorities are forced to make a "wicked" choice between what services they provide because of austerity. Adam Scorer was speaking after it emerged that the Grenfell Tower fire started in a Hotpoint fridge-freezer. Some 79 people are feared dead. He told 5 Live's Wake Up to Money that while councils were responsible for trading standards, there was no central system to relay information about products to the public. "Consumers should be confident that most products are safe, but we do know that the regime is as strong as its weakest link," Mr Scorer said. "We don't have a central organisation of technical resources, we don't have core funding where we can be sure of who is going to be around to do this testing, and we don't have the right level of strategic communication to make sure that risks are placed on the system, flags are alerted and people are able to go in and do the right level of investigation of all the products that are concerned." Former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable told the programme that trading standards were a problem area because they were not a statutory obligation of local government. "There are some things local government is required to do - trading standards not so," he said. "So when local councils are under financial pressure it is something they can cut back on." Although the Department of Business provides Â£15m annually for national trading standards activities, the vast majority of services are funded by local authorities. The departments were once known as Weights and Measures. Sir Vince suggested imposing an obligation on local authorities to strengthen trading standards, adding: "Or you could give them some financial support, which I think is what we should be probably doing, to have some ring-fenced money that supports what is currently a declining service." He was Business Secretary when former BBC presenter Lynn Faulds-Wood was commissioned to investigate product safety. She claims the government ignored her report. "I think Lynn Faulds-Wood's concern is she made recommendations that were very modest and did not entail public cost, [but] even they have not been acted on and that was where she is enormously frustrated." Sir Vince added: "There is a tendency at the moment to look at whether the costs are to business rather than whether the costs are to society as a whole." A Department for Business spokesperson said: "Funding and prioritisation for trading standards are decisions for local authorities - accountable to local communities and the people they serve. Government recognises that consumer protection goes beyond local authority boundaries, which is why we provide Â£15m per year for coordinated Trading Standards activity in the UK."

Summary: The UK's trading standards services have been "cut to the bone", making it tougher to ensure that household products are safe.


The head of the mission, Peter Graaff, met the Ghanaian president to thank the country for hosting the agency since it was set up in September last year. A small team will stay until the end of June to co-ordinate air operations, the agency, known as Unmeer, said. Ghana has not been affected by the epidemic in West Africa, which has killed more than 11,000 people. Africa news: Tuesday 9 June as it happens Why Ebola is so dangerous Ebola basics: What you need to know The BBC's Africa health correspondent Anne Soy says the mission set up its headquarters in Accra as it was far enough away from the affected countries, where there was logistical lockdown, but close enough the epicentre of the outbreak. "By allowing us to set up our headquarter in Accra, President [John ] Mahama demonstrated extraordinary leadership and solidarity," Mr Graaff said in a statement. "He made Ghana the only open gateway to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone thus allowing the movement of thousands of Ebola responders and medical and essential supplies when they were most needed." As a result, Unmeer said Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone now had the necessary response capabilities in place to efficiently test, treat and isolate Ebola patients. 11,164 Deaths - probable, confirmed and suspected (Includes one in the US and six in Mali) 4,806 Liberia 3,912 Sierra Leone 2,431 Guinea 8 Nigeria President Mahama said the downsizing of Unmeer was a sign of success for "short and sharp interventions". Most of the mission's staff and assets have been moved to Sierra Leone and Guinea, where 24 new cases of Ebola were reported in the last week. Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Liberia free of Ebola as the country had had no new cases in 42 days. The basics: What you need to know

Summary: The UN's emergency Ebola response headquarters in Ghana's capital, Accra, is to close as the outbreak slows.


The 28-year-old was arrested following an investigation by the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). Two other men and a woman were also charged with supplying cocaine for "personal use or to on-supply cocaine to friends and colleagues". Hunt has played elite-level rugby league, Australian rules football (AFL) and rugby union. Hunt - who is due to appear in Southport Magistrate Court on 5 March - was not named by the CCC but local media have named him as the 28-year old man arrested. He was arrested on Thursday night, just days after playing for the Queensland Reds rugby team. "The CCC will allege that during an investigation focused on a cocaine trafficking syndicate operating in South East Queensland, these four individuals were identified contacting the syndicate and arranging for the supply of cocaine," a statement said. It is alleged the offences occurred between June and December 2014 when Hunt was playing AFL for the Gold Coast Suns. Hunt rose to prominence playing fullback for the Brisbane Broncos rugby league team in 2004, and was selected for Queensland State of Origin and Australian representative squads. He made a code-switch to AFL with the Gold Coast Suns in 2009. Hunt played with the team until 2014 when he made a switch to rugby union. Facing charges with Hunt are a 24-year-old man from Burleigh Waters, a 27-year-old man from Mermaid Waters and a 22-year-old woman from Mermaid Waters.

Summary: Australian rugby union star Karmichael Hunt has been charged with supplying cocaine, officials say.