The plant was connected to the grid on Tuesday, Press Trust of India reported. In May, India's Supreme Court ruled that the power station could start operations as it was "safe and secure". Opponents of the plant, which is on the coastline hit by the 2004 Asian tsunami, fear a disaster similar to the one at Fukushima in Japan in 2011. Last year, Kudankalum was the scene of mass protests over safety concerns. But the government says the joint Indo-Russian project, which is seen as critical to India's energy needs, is "necessary for the welfare and economic growth of India" and is "completely safe". The plant is one of many that India hopes to build as part of its aim of generating 63,000 MW of nuclear power by 2032 - an almost 14-fold increase on current levels. The plant became operational during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to Moscow. Mr Singh was expected to finalise a deal with Russia for more reactors for the plant, but it fell through as Russia has refused to sign India's nuclear liability law. The law stipulates that nuclear firms aiming to set up plants in India will have to pay huge sums of money in case of an accident and Delhi and Moscow have not been able to agree on this clause.

Summary: The controversial Kudankulam nuclear plant in India's Tamil Nadu state has begun producing electricity after years of delays and protests, officials say.


It seems like only yesterday that the garages were locked and helmets hung up, as the sport emerges from one of the shortest winter breaks in its history. Lewis Hamilton's world title has barely had time to collect dust. The Mercedes driver and his winning team are this year's favourites too. Here's our guide to the 2015 season, with a little help from a former pit lane engineer. For the first time in five years, James Lyons will be watching the opening race at home with his dad. "I was senior electronics engineer at Marussia, I looked after everything from the lights in the garage to the control units in the car," explained the 30-year-old. James lost his job last November when the team entered administration. "I travelled the world but I won't be in the pit lane this time, I'll be sat on my mum and dad's sofa. It feels weird. "I'm really looking forward to the season." Alongside Lewis Hamilton, there are four other former F1 champions on the grid; Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button. "I'm almost sure it will be either Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes to win the title this year," said James. "They're likely to run away with it." Fernando Alonso, who has switched Ferrari for McLaren, will not be in Melbourne after being advised by doctors not to risk a second bang on the head. His place at Ferrari has been taken by Sebastian Vettel. "With a better engine and aerodynamic package they (Ferrari) could pull it out of the bag this year." Red Bull's junior team, Toro Rosso, have handed 17-year-old Max Verstappen his debut. The Dutchman is the youngest driver in F1 history. Mercedes are the reigning constructors' champions after winning 16 of 19 races last season. Their advantage seems to have been maintained if pre-season is anything to go by. Williams, Ferrari and Red Bull will be competing just behind them. It's McLaren you have to feel sorry for. Engine problems have hampered them after teaming up with Honda at the end of last season. "The Honda guys have got a big job on their hands trying to get that engine up to spec because the other teams have had much longer to work on theirs," said James. The 2014 season was littered with off-track drama. Caterham and Marussia entered administration which led to hundreds of job losses, as James knows only too well. "We had a big meeting at the factory in Banbury and the administrator said, 'This is it, we're closing the doors.' "I was absolutely devastated." While Marussia are back this season under the new name of Manor Marussia, there are clues the sport's finances have not been fully repaired. More just patched up with some sticky-back plastic. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has given struggling teams an advance on their prize money, but Sauber, Lotus and Force India have all suffered cash flow issues during pre-season. "If the TV money was shared out a bit better then small teams like Marussia would stand

Summary: Formula 1 is back this weekend.


The family of Joseph Mulhern, who was shot by the IRA in 1993, believe his death will feature in the inquiry, but they are bitterly divided over whether or not it should even take place. Mr Mulhern met a lonely, untimely death in July 1993. The 23-year-old was abducted and shot by the IRA, who alleged he was a police informer. His body was found on a remote hillside on the border between counties Tyrone and Donegal, dressed in a blue boiler suit and his hands tied with cable. Those were the tell-tale signs that he had been tortured before he was shot. For a long period during Northern Ireland's Troubles, Stakeknife was running the IRA's internal security unit, otherwise known as the 'nutting squad'. Stakeknife has been been named by the media as Freddie Scappaticci. But the west Belfast man denies the allegation. The secret agent is to be investigated in connection with the murders of up to 50 people. It is an inquiry that Joseph Mulhern's father Frank fully supports. "Stakeknife was employed by the state," he said. "Stakeknife knew when a lot of these murders were going to take place. "He obviously reported to his handlers and they did nothing to stop these murders. "The IRA have pulled the trigger but the state authorities could have prevented it as they would have known about it a number of weeks before [Joseph] was taken away. "Why did they not act?" But that is not the view of the entire family. One of those who carried Joseph Mulhern's coffin was his younger brother Fran, then aged 18. Not long afterwards, he left Belfast to study law in England and settled there. He feels the Stakeknife inquiry is focusing on the wrong people. He said: "The thing that I feel is really strange is that everyone is talking about Scappaticci, but ultimately what about the people who actually pulled the triggers? "It just seems like they are getting a free pass. "So, to me, the whole thing just smacks of being almost this inquiry to use as a political football to beat the British government with." Asked if he would welcome an inquiry that could shed light on what happened to his brother, he replied: "No, because it is not going to bring my brother back. "It keeps dragging up the past," he said. "And the second thing it does, is its just money that Northern Ireland does not have." It has been suggested the inquiry could cost Â£5m a year for five years. But those who have argued for it, like Joseph Mulhern's father Frank, say that figure has been deliberately inflated. "That sum has been mentioned, probably by the state authorities here, to try to make up excuses why they should not have an investigation," Frank Mulhern said. "They don't need to spent Â£35m because they have all their information and files in Castlereagh or Whitehall or wherever they keep their files." Fran Mulhern said he believes the way the government is dealing with past - by holding inquiries into

Summary: The activities of the army's most high-ranking agent, codenamed Stakeknife, are to be investigated but a date for the inquiry has yet to be set.


Robinson, 21, who previously had two loan spells at the Lilywhites, turned down a new deal with Villa and joins for an undisclosed compensation fee. Newcastle-born former Rotherham man Pringle, 26, signs for an undisclosed fee after one year with the Cottagers. Pringle made nine league starts during a short loan spell at Ipswich in 2016. Robinson told the club's website: "It was obviously a big decision for me leaving Aston Villa, I've been there since I was eight-years-old. "But, if there was ever a club for me to settle down with and sign permanently with, it would be Preston North End." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Championship side Preston North End have signed Aston Villa forward Callum Robinson and Fulham midfielder Ben Pringle, both on three-year contracts.


It found children from deprived backgrounds were twice as likely to face police action than better-off children who commit the same crime. Living in poverty also increased the likelihood of violence among both boys and girls. The government has said Scotland is becoming a safer place to live. The study was carried out by University of Edinburgh researchers. They found that a history of being in trouble with the police was the strongest predictor of whether a young person was not in education, employment or training by the age of 18. Poorer young people were also about five times more likely to be placed on statutory supervision than their better-off counterparts. And household poverty was identified as an exacerbating factor that increased the likelihood of young people offending. This was the case even when a range of other risk factors have been taken into account, the researchers said. They found that people who lived in extreme poverty were much more likely to be the victims - and perpetrators - of crime. The study also identified gender as one of the most powerful predictors of violence, with boys being three times more likely than girls on average to engage in violent acts. Girls from poorer backgrounds were twice as likely as girls from more affluent households to be involved in violent crime, the authors said. This was the case even after other factors - such as truancy, substance abuse and poor parental supervision - were taken into account. The findings from the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime, by the University of Edinburgh's School of Law, has been published in the latest edition of the Scottish Justice Matters journal. The study has tracked 4,300 young people in Edinburgh since 1998 to better understand changes in their behaviour and lifestyles. It has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the Nuffield Foundation and the Scottish government. Report author Prof Lesley McAra said: "Our findings highlight a very destructive dynamic - poverty increases the risks of violence. Contact with juvenile justice system increases the risks associated with poverty. "As a result, contact with the very agencies meant to stop offending is inadvertently reproducing the conditions in which violence can flourish." Scottish Justice Matters also published a report that showed the recent fall in crime rates in Scotland has not benefitted areas with the most chronic rates of crime. A study by Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN) Research Centre - also based at the University of Edinburgh's Law School - suggested that victims experiencing the most crime continued to be within the most deprived communities. Half of the communities with the highest crime rates were found in the top 20% of areas with the highest levels of chronic health problems, the report showed. A third of the communities with the highest rates of crime were in the top 20% of areas with the highest levels of unemployment. Lead researcher Prof Susan McVie said: "The findings are important as they suggest that crime tends to be highly concentrated amongst poor people and within poor

Summary: Scotland's criminal justice system punishes poorer people and makes it difficult for them to escape poverty, according to an academic study.


Sky Mobile will offer flexible monthly payment plans and the ability to roll over unused data each month for up to three years. Sky will become a "quad play" provider, offering broadband, television fixed-line telephone and a mobile service. And existing Sky TV customers will not have to pay for calls or texts and can compile playlists of their favourite shows to watch on their mobiles. According to Sky, some 46,000 have pre-registered for the service. The service comes with three data plans: Non-Sky TV customers can add on unlimited calls and texts for £10 per month, or pay for calls and texts on a pay-as-you-use (PAYU) basis. According to Sky, UK consumers use less than half of the mobile data they buy from mobile network operators, adding up to an annual £2bn of wasted data. Stephen van Rooyen, UK and Ireland Sky chief executive, said: "We felt it was time to shake up the mobile market and give customers a completely new way to manage their mobile plan. "We've designed it based on what people told us they want - it's easy, flexible and transparent and it puts the customer in control." Ewan Taylor-Gibson, a telecoms expert at uSwitch said: "Sky's first mobile offering is very competitive, as long as you're already a Sky TV customer." He compared Sky's Sim-only deal with that already offered by giffgaff, another service that piggybacks on O2's network and allows customers to alter their package depending on their usage. "The key differences between the two are that Sky ties you in for 12 months, while giffgaff users can cancel anytime, and giffgaff also offers unlimited everything for £20 a month, beating Sky's top package, which delivers 5GB," said Mr Taylor-Gibson. Sky's decision to let people roll over data and store it for three years was "both unique and compelling", he said, but it may have to offer bigger data bundles.

Summary: Broadcaster Sky is launching its own mobile phone service.


He was involved in an accident while providing medical cover at a Skerries 100 practice session, the Motorcycle Union of Ireland said. He died in hospital in Dublin on Saturday. Dr Hinds, 35, from Tandragee, and his colleague Dr Fred McSorley were dubbed "the flying doctors" of Irish motorcycle sport. He was a consultant at Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh. He regularly worked at the North West 200 motorbike races in County Antrim. Dr McSorley told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster on Monday that an investigation into the cause of the accident was under way. "John was not racing, he was riding his road bike. He was not in a race, we do not race," he said. "He was travelling with the marshals after the race. He had been on the circuit that day. It was not a tricky corner. He was a highly skilled rider and we really don't understand what happened," he said. Paying tribute to Dr Hinds, he said his death was "profoundly difficult for everyone". "In road racing, he was revered and adored by so many riders. "But our thoughts also go to staff in Craigavon where he was revered for his wonderful work. He was a natural teacher and wonderfully inspirational. "He was hugely dedicated to improving the care of critically ill people." Dr McSorley said Dr Hinds was exceptional. "He not only saved people's lives but effectively, particularly with head injuries, he saved their brains. "The fact they are able to walk and talk normally, get to work, pick up their children and give them a hug is because of the excellent care that he provided." Harris Healey from the Motorcycling Union said Dr Hinds was "always a gentleman". "He saved a lot of people's lives in racing accidents and people had a better outcome because he was there," he said. Dr Hinds had led a campaign for an air ambulance service to be introduced in Northern Ireland and had met the health minister, Simon Hamilton, to discuss it. He said Dr Hinds was a "lovely guy who will be sadly missed". TUV MLA Jim Allister, who backed the air ambulance campaign, said the death of Dr Hinds was deeply shocking. "He was one of our leading trauma experts. He was driven with a great passion to try and improve the chances of those involved in serious accidents. My thoughts are with his family. "I do hope as a lasting tribute to him, the government will now push ahead with his ambition to have a proper air ambulance service for Northern Ireland." Members of the medical profession have also paid tribute to the Tandragee man. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) tweeted: "Saddened to hear reports of the untimely death of Dr John Hinds - a friend to many in NIAS." Members of London's Air Ambulance service said Mr Hinds "was a true friend and advocate of the air ambulance community".

Summary: Tributes have been paid to Dr John Hinds, one of the "flying doctors" of Irish road racing.


The government wants some households to pay more to raise money for education, and finance secretary Derek Mackay gave evidence to committee backing the plan. The committee formally recommended the scheme to parliament after members voted four to two in favour of it. Members also rejected an amendment from Green MSP Andy Wightman noting "concerns" about wider local tax plans. The proposals would see the average band E household pay about £2 per week more, and the average household in the highest band (H) about £10 a week more. Parliament has to pass an order, a piece of secondary legislation, to change the bands, and Mr Mackay has now won the formal backing of the committee for that. Members will submit a report to parliament, before the order is voted on by all MSPs at a later date. Putting forward a motion to have the committee recommend the move to parliament, Mr Mackay told its members that his plans would lead to a "more progressive" and "fairer" system of local taxation. Mr Wightman lodged an amendment to the finance secretary's motion to "note concerns" about the fact the council tax base has not been updated since 1991 and recognising the recommendation of the Commission on Local Tax Reform that "the present council tax system must end". Labour's Elaine Smith backed Mr Wightman, saying the committee should "reflect the evidence" heard from members. But SNP and Conservative members united against the amendment, with Tory Graham Simpson saying there "isn't much point" to adding it to the debate. Mr Simpson also opposed Mr Mackay's original motion, saying it represented a "fundamental change" to the way local services are funded, and undermined local accountability. The motion ultimately passed by four votes to two, with Ms Smith joining the three SNP members and Mr Wightman abstaining. The committee will now compile a report on the issue for parliament, while it will be down to the parliamentary bureau to decide if there needs to be a further chamber debate on the issue as well as a vote. The government was only saved from a chamber defeat over council tax in September when Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's vote failed to register. Opposition members had successfully amended a government motion promoting its council tax reform strategy, changing the wording to condemn the approach as undermining local accountability. But the final vote on the amended motion was tied after Ms Dugdale's vote was not counted. Mr Wightman had also called for a revaluation of council tax bands during the committee debate, pointing out that the current bands were based on property values dating back to 1991. The Green MSP said he had a constituent whose flat was in band E, but was worth £20,000 less than neighbouring flats in band B. Labour's Elaine Smith pointed out that some council tax payers weren't even born when the council tax values of their properties were determined. Mr Mackay said a "costly" revaluation would "take time" and could be a "shock" to many households - with some potentially facing "astronomically high" tax increases

Summary: Holyrood's local government committee has backed plans to raise the council tax for the four highest bands.


Forty workers have been made redundant at Nelson Packaging's factory in Lancashire. Managing director Michael Flynn said it was mainly due to "the English bag legislation and corresponding impact on customer and retailer demand". He also blamed "aggressive overseas competition". The 5p charge for bags was introduced in England in October and followed the introduction of charges in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. One worker told BBC Radio Lancashire they believed the legislation had a "slight but not a massive impact" on the business, which has been operating since 1975 and was taken over by Cheshire-based packaging firm Intelipac three years ago. 7.6 billion Number of plastic bags issued by supermarkets in England in 2014 140 Equivalent per person 40 bags on average in every home Â£780m expected economic benefit over 10 years because of the charge Â£60m savings in litter clean up costs by 2025 80% expected reduction in bags Union representative Robert Copeland, who had been with the firm since 1986, said staff were told last Wednesday that they were being made redundant and were told to leave the factory immediately. "It's daunting as I have no interview skills. I'm 49 years old and I've got to now go into a new working environment and start again. It is scary. "I was 19 when I started andâ€¦ you were seeing the children of people you have been working with for 30 years starting to come through so you had parents and children [at the factory]." Campaigners argue that plastic bags blight streets, spoil the countryside and damage wildlife, seas and coastline. Wales was the first UK nation to introduce the bag charges, followed by Northern Ireland and then Scotland. A report in 2015 found the number of single-use carrier bags handed out by shops in Wales fell by 71% since charges were introduced in 2011. Scotland and Northern Ireland introduced their charges in 2014 and 2013 respectively and also saw significant drops in usage. The number of plastic bags handed out in Scottish stores was slashed by 80% - the equivalent of 650 million carriers - in the first year of the 5p charge. Similarly, in Northern Ireland in 2014 there was a 42.6% annual reduction following a previous drop of 71%, after charges were introduced. Does the charge include all carrier bags?

Summary: The introduction of a 5p charge for plastic bags in England has been blamed for a packaging firm going into administration.


The vital vote focused on the proposed £140m plan - backed by £50m from businessman Sir Ian Wood - to transform the historic Union Terrace Gardens. In a referendum earlier this year, there were 45,301 votes in favour with 41,175 votes against. New proposals from the Independent Alliance Group were backed by 22, with 20 against and one abstention. Improvements to Union Terrace Gardens, and landmark buildings, are instead proposed. There were heated exchanged afterwards between some business leaders who supported the City Garden Project and councillors who voted against it. Sir Ian's £50m offer has now been withdrawn. He said he was dismayed. Callum McCaig, leader of SNP group, had called for the City Garden Project to be backed. He said he was "bitterly disappointed" at the decision. Conservative Alan Donnelly said the amendment was an "almighty fudge". However, Mike Shepherd, chairman of Friends of Union Terrace Gardens, said: "There is no doubt that our councillors made the correct decision. "This is the end of the City Garden Project debacle. "Union Terrace Gardens is at the heart of our city. Let's nurture them with the care and attention they deserve. We can restore them to a place of pride and glory. Let's go ahead and do it." The abstention was from Liberal Democrat Ian Yuill. Various delegations had addressed the full meeting of Aberdeen City Council during the day. One of the first to speak among earlier delegations was Leo Koot, managing director of oil firm TAQA Bratani, who said Union Terrace Gardens was a "dark hole". However, that claim was contested by Iain Richardson, from Common Good Aberdeen. Prominent Aberdeen hotelier Stewart Spence said the city needed to attract tourists, and required more than a spruce up. Dan McCroskrie, speaking on behalf of the young people who support the scheme, said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which would help attract more young people into the city. The cost of the winning Granite Web design was £140m. The council administration's senior coalition partner, Labour, had vowed to scrap the scheme.

Summary: Aberdeen's controversial City Garden Project has been narrowly rejected after a council debate.


The man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The arrest took place by appointment at a north London police station; the man is in police custody. He has been bailed to a date in mid January 2012. He was arrested by officers from Scotland Yard's fresh investigation into phone hacking, Operation Weeting. On Tuesday, a 71-year-old Stuart Kuttner, an ex-News of the World managing editor, was rearrested and bailed as part of the phone-hacking probe. Mr Kuttner was originally arrested on 2 August on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and corruption, and bailed. He has now been bailed to a date in September, the Metropolitan Police said. The Met's Operation Weeting is investigating illegal hacking of the mobile phone voicemails of public figures by the now-defunct News of the World newspaper. The latest arrest is the 15th to be made on suspicion of phone hacking since Operation Weeting was launched in January. It happened just after midday. BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said the age of the arrested person suggested someone more junior compared to some of the more senior executives who have been arrested by the police so far. It is a long-running investigation and there would almost certainly be further arrests, our correspondent added. Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and ex-Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson are among those who have already been arrested as part of the inquiry. The scandal has led Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Assistant Commissioner John Yates to resign, and the News of the World to close down after 168 years.

Summary: A 30-year-old man has been released on bail after being arrested by police investigating phone hacking at the News of the World.


It was taken to the castle in a procession led by a giant King John figure. The city holds one of four remaining original copies of the charter, which was signed by King John at Runnymede in 1215. Schoolchildren who helped make the facsimile also joined the procession. A trail of 25 decorative sculptures have also been installed in Lincoln - each representing one of the barons who were present at Magna Carta's sealing. Organiser David Hill said: "We've got a 20m-long parchment - which is a facsimile of the original - and on top of it are words and designs from schoolchildren in the city." Emma Tatlow, from Visit Lincoln, said the anniversary was helping attract tourists to the city, with more than 70,000 visiting the charter at the Lincoln Castle since April. Magna Carta outlined basic rights with the principle that no one was above the law, including the king. It charted the right to a fair trial, and limits on taxation without representation. It inspired a number of other documents, including the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Only three clauses are still valid: the one guaranteeing the liberties of the English Church; the clause confirming the privileges of the City of London and other towns; and the clause that states that no free man shall be imprisoned without the lawful judgement of his equals. The British Library has two copies of the 1215 Magna Carta. Source: The British Library

Summary: The 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta has been celebrated in Lincoln with a delivery of a facsimile of the parchment to Lincoln Castle.


The Spanish 14-time Grand Slam champion has played in the Wimbledon warm-up event on six previous occasions, winning the title in 2008. The 29-year-old said the grass-court tournament offered "perfect conditions" to prepare for Wimbledon, which will start a week later on 27 June. Last month Andy Murray confirmed he will defend his Queen's title in June. The 28-year-old, whose wife Kim has given birth to a girl this week, will attempt to win a record fifth title. The Aegon Championships will be held from 13-18 June in London.

Summary: World number five Rafael Nadal will compete at the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club this summer.


The ministry of information said it has "successfully jammed the signals" of the station. However, the BBC's Abdussalam Ahmed in Enugu says Radio Biafara is still broadcasting. It is not clear where it is based but it mainly broadcasts to the Igbo-speaking south-east of the country. The first republic of Biafra declared its independence from Nigeria in May 1967, but was eventually defeated after a three-year civil war that cost more than one million lives. Our correspondent says the station hosts phone-in programmes with listeners calling to talk about issues affecting their region and their desire to break away from Nigeria. It also attacks and ridicules President Muhammadu Buhari and other government officials. Although the Biafra uprising was quelled by the military, a group called the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) has attracted the support many young people in the region. They feel they have been discriminated against by those in power in Abuja and demand independence. Several of their leaders and sympathisers have been detained by authorities and accused of treason.

Summary: Nigeria's government has vowed to shut down an illegal radio station operated by people sympathetic to the breakaway state of Biafra.


Theme park bosses were informed of the accident on Tuesday at 13:57 BST but ambulance crews said the 999 call was not made until 14:08. Alton Towers said one of its first responders was soon on the scene and security staff would have called 999 as soon as an assessment had been made. Sixteen people were hurt, four seriously, when the Smiler crashed. Crews from the West Midlands Ambulance Service arrived on the scene at 14:35 and they called the fire service at 14:41. Fire crews were not initially requested by Alton Towers but the park's staff did put their own call in requesting their assistance at 14:45, the fire service said. In a statement, Alton Towers said: "Our community first responders, based on site at Alton Towers, are trained by West Midlands Ambulance Service and form part of our security and medical teams. "Once the incident occurred, a member of the ride staff would have called our first responders who arrived at the scene within minutes. "After instant assessment they call our security department who then call 999 straight away." The crash saw two carriages collide on the Â£18m ride, leaving people trapped 25ft (7.6m up) at an angle of 45 degrees for up to four-and-a-half hours. Alton Towers said its staff built a platform to reach the injured people, although first responders initially used ladders so they could begin treating patients as soon as possible. Joe Pugh, 18, and his girlfriend Leah Washington, 17, both from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, suffered "significant leg injuries" in the crash. Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton in Derbyshire, and 19-year-old Vicky Balch, who is believed to be from Leyland in Lancashire, were also seriously injured. Mr Thorpe is being treated at University Hospital Coventry where his condition is described as stable. The other three victims are being treated at Royal Stoke University Hospital. Mr Thorpe is the assistant manager at The Izaak Walton Hotel in Dovedale. Shura Prince, the general manager, speaking on behalf of the hotel, said they were "shocked" by what had happened. "Dan was taking a well earned day off following a busy weekend and it's awful to hear that what should have been a relaxing and fun day has ended in horror. "Dan is an amazing friend and colleague who I have known for many years. Dan is hugely popular and has many close work friends. We are like a big family at The Izaak Walton and Dan's absence whilst he recovers from this awful ordeal will leave a huge hole here. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan and the other passengers at this difficult time." A statement from University Hospital Coventry on behalf of Daniel Thorpe's family said: "We would like to thank everyone for their wishes at this time and would ask for some privacy while Daniel recovers." 1 billion rides a year taken at fairgrounds & theme parks 1 death in the UK since 2006/07 1.5 injuries per million rides in Europe each year 5% of accidents caused by technical problems 1 in 24m chance of being

Summary: Emergency services were not called until 11 minutes after the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash, it has emerged.


Margaret Rhodes said the monarch, who holidays at Sandringham in Norfolk, can imitate the distinctive local brogue "beautifully". The Queen, who turns 90 this week, is still "full of laughter", Mrs Rhodes told BBC Radio 4. She also has a sense of humour when things go pear-shaped, and enjoys telling amusing tales, her cousin said. "She can tell very funny stories of things that have happened to her where things might have gone just a fraction wrong," Mrs Rhodes told the PM programme. One such tale might include the time she met a shopper in Sandringham who did not recognise her and declared that she looked just like the Queen, prompting the monarch to remark: "How very reassuring". Ms Rhodes said the Queen's vocal talents were not confined to the East of England, and years spent at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire meant she is also able to do an impressive Scottish accent. Follow updates on this story and other news from Norfolk A guide to the Norfolk accent Source: Friends of Norfolk Dialect She will spend her birthday, on 21 April, at Windsor Castle, where she will unveil a plaque on the Queen's Walkway. Gun salutes will be held at all saluting stations across the UK at 12:00 BST, and members of the Army cadet force will take beacons to the top of the highest peaks of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Summary: The Queen is a "very good mimic" with a knack for imitating regional accents, her cousin has said.


Connolly settled a tight first meeting between the clubs with his first goal since returning for a second spell with the Red Devils. Crawley midfielder Billy Clifford put a shot across the face of the goal early on before Adi Yussuf should have hit the target for the hosts but fired over from a good position. Blackpool winger Danny Philliskirk threatened when his header was saved by goalkeeper Glenn Morris after a ball into the area by Jack Payne. More good work by Payne later set up striker Armand Gnanduillet, but the Frenchman headed wide. Crawley had a let off just before the interval when Philliskirk shot wastefully wide after being set up by Kyle Vassell. Dutch midfielder Enzio Boldewijn, put through by James Collins, was denied by visiting keeper Dean Lyness 11 minutes after the break. But Crawley struck with 21 minutes left when a Clifford corner was flicked on by Joe McNerney and Connolly glanced home a header. Blackpool applied some late pressure but could find no way through a stubborn home defence. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Crawley Town 1, Blackpool 0. Second Half ends, Crawley Town 1, Blackpool 0. Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Mark Connolly. Substitution, Crawley Town. Alex Davey replaces Billy Clifford. Substitution, Crawley Town. Bobson Bawling replaces Enzio Boldewijn. Attempt missed. James Collins (Crawley Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Billy Clifford (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Will Aimson (Blackpool). Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Jason Banton. Foul by Enzio Boldewijn (Crawley Town). Colin Daniel (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Andre Blackman (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Armand Gnanduillet (Blackpool). Andre Blackman (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Bright Samuel (Blackpool). Foul by Jimmy Smith (Crawley Town). Jamille Matt (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Brad Potts (Blackpool) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Foul by Jason Banton (Crawley Town). Brad Potts (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Billy Clifford (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Armand Gnanduillet (Blackpool). Foul by James Collins (Crawley Town). Will Aimson (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Enzio Boldewijn (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Jim McAlister (Blackpool). Goal! Crawley Town 1, Blackpool 0. Mark Connolly (Crawley Town) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joe McNerney following a corner. Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Colin Daniel. Corner, Blackpool. Conceded by Glenn Morris. Attempt saved. Armand Gnanduillet (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Substitution, Blackpool. Bright Samuel replaces Danny Philliskirk. Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Kelvin Mellor. Substitution, Blackpool. Jamille Matt replaces Kyle Vassell. Lewis Young (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Danny Philliskirk (Blackpool). Substitution,

Summary: A second-half goal from defender Mark Connolly secured Crawley their third win in the past four games with a 1-0 home victory over Blackpool.


Up to 40mm (1.5in) could fall, with a yellow be aware warning in place until 22:00 BST. Forecasters are uncertain about how heavy and persistent the rain will be. The warning covers Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan. A moist southerly airstream is set to bring the bulk of the rain in a four-hour period, with the Met Office saying it will issue further updates to the warning throughout Monday. It said it could lead to standing water and spray on roads, making travel conditions tricky.

Summary: Outbreaks of heavy rain will hit parts of south, mid and west Wales through Monday, the Met Office has warned.


In August, Scott initiated the investigation into a "disappointing" Olympic campaign that produced three medals from a target of five to seven. A key finding of the report required Australia-based Scott to relocate to Britain, something he was unable to do. Scott, who has been performance director since 2007, will step aside at the end of the month. The Australian's removal allows British swimming to begin the search for a new performance director as attention turns to the next Olympics in Rio in four years' time. "I respect this conclusion from the performance review I initiated following our results in London," Scott said. "I wanted to make sure we left no stone unturned in understanding why we didn't achieve our goals. "One of the key findings of the review requires a change to my current working practice by being based in Britain. However, for personal and family reasons, I'm unable to meet this recommendation and therefore offered my resignation."

Summary: British Swimming's performance director Michael Scott has resigned following a review into results at London 2012.


As part of a three-year package, London and Manchester will also host legs of the World Grand Prix series in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Steve Flynn, director of GB Taekwondo, said the events would give the sport "a chance to drive real growth". The GB Taekwondo team includes two-time Olympic champion Jade Jones. Rio silver medallist Lutalo Muhammad, bronze medallist Bianca Walkden and Mahama Cho, who finished fourth, are also in the Manchester-based squad. The bid team - which beat competition from American city Houston - is also discussing the possibility of hosting the World Para Taekwondo Championships alongside the Grand Prix event at the Copper Box Arena in London next year.

Summary: Manchester will host the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships - after a record-breaking medal haul for Britain at this summer's Olympic Games in Rio.


Citizens Advice Scotland said the number of employment cases it had seen had risen by 12% in the last four years and was now at its highest level. It said the most common issues involved low pay, withheld wages and unfair dismissal, as well as bullying and discrimination. CAS has highlighted the issues in a report to MSPs. Holyrood's Economy, Energy and Tourism committee is exploring how employment and job quality has changed since the 2008 recession. CAS said it had gathered evidence showing workplace problems were growing in Scotland. Staff across its 61 sites reported that they were increasingly advising clients who were in work but struggling to pay for essentials. Delivering the report to the Scottish Parliament, the charity's spokesman Rob Gowans said: "What our report shows is the collected evidence of all the work-related cases that people have brought to the Scottish CAB (Citizen Advice Bureaux) service over the last few years. "While we don't give away the identities of any of our clients, our evidence shows real-life experience. There is a growing crisis of low pay and poor conditions in Scotland. "Around half of Scots who are in poverty are actually working. This reflects the fact that the minimum wage is not in fact keeping up with inflation, and many of the benefits that are meant to supplement low wages are being cut. He added: "With wages falling in real terms, families are becoming trapped in poverty, less secure terms and working hours, and with basic employment rights becoming harder to enforce." Mr Gowans also raised concerns about "too many rogue employers" who were "exploiting" workers under this environment. "The growth in zero hours contracts has become a huge problem, which leaves thousands of Scots in huge financial uncertainty. And meanwhile it is becoming harder than ever to challenge unfair treatment," he added. SNP MSP Christina McKelvie described the CAS report as "worrying" and called for the Scottish Parliament to be given more powers over employment policy. She said: "This Citizens Advice Scotland report outlines the shocking impact of austerity, social security cuts and worrying examples of employers flouting employment law."

Summary: Scotland's workforce is "caught in a cruel trap" of low pay and poor conditions, according to a charity.


30 May 2017 Last updated at 08:04 BST Well, that's what happened to pupils at a London school when David Walliams turned up one morning. The author and Britain's Got Talent judge surprised a hall of 200 children and gave some top tips for becoming a writer. He also read extracts from his books, including Gangsta Granny and Windy Mindy from The World's Worst Children - the follow-up has just been released. Watch the clip to see more.

Summary: Ever wanted a famous author to surprise your school assembly and give you writing tips?


Former organiser The British Heart Foundation announced last week it was pulling out due to the Â£40,000 event no longer being viable. However the council says it is "pulling out the stops" to ensure the fundraiser goes ahead as planned on 11 October. The Save the Children charity has also announced it could "take up the baton", but only with financial support. The council was working to reduce the cost through options such as changing the route or moving it to a completely different venue, such as Lydiard Park. Last year, the race attracted more than 1,500 runners.

Summary: Swindon's half marathon could still be saved for the long-term by reducing its cost, the borough council has said.


Strikes planned for Christmas were suspended after the new offer was made but members rejected it by 7-1. The strike affects "mixed fleet" staff who joined after 2010 and account for 15% of the total cabin crew. BA said it planned to "ensure that all our customers travel to their destinations". It said further details for customers would be published on Friday 6 January, once it had finalised contingency plans. "We are extremely disappointed that Unite has once again chosen to target our customers," the company said. "We are now focused on protecting our customers from this unnecessary and completely unjustified action." The dispute concerns about 4,000 staff who have joined the airline since 2010 on "mixed fleet" contracts, who do not feel they are paid enough. About 2,500 of them are Unite members. Earnings were advertised between £21,000 and £25,000 but, in reality, start at just over £12,000 plus £3 an hour flying pay, Unite said. The union said its members rejected the new offer by 7-1. "British Airways is needlessly provoking strike action by refusing to extend the mandate of the strike ballot and allow meaningful talks to take place," Unite's national office Oliver Richardson said. "Instead of listening to why its mixed fleet cabin crew rejected the offer negotiated at Acas, British Airways has sought instead to try and bully a workforce of young men and women who are trying to eke out a living on poverty pay." However, he added that the union was "hopeful that a negotiated settlement which meets our members' aspirations can be achieved" and urged BA to "engage constructively".

Summary: British Airways cabin crew will stage a 48-hour strike from 10 January after rejecting a new pay offer, the Unite union says.


Josh Hadfield, 10, from Frome in Somerset, developed narcolepsy after receiving the Pandemrix vaccine six years ago. He was awarded the money after appealing against the government which had initially refused to pay as he was not "severely disabled" enough. His mother Caroline Hadfield said winning was a "huge relief". Families are entitled to £120,000 through the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme, but only if they can prove "severe" disability. Josh's narcolepsy was triggered after he was given the H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine, known as Pandemrix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, in January 2010. He also suffers from cataplexy, which affects muscle control, but he had shown no symptoms of the illness before being vaccinated. Ms Hadfield said: "It will help secure Josh's future. It's just a shame we had to jump through this amount of hoops to get this far." She said her son was "coping" and had to have "one to two sleeps" during the school day. "Josh has had to work incredibly hard because he misses lessons due to sleep and medical appointments," she said. She added he had also had a large weight gain caused by the condition and his medication. The Hadfield's solictor Suzanne Williams said she was "incredibly pleased" for Josh: "To succeed in the appeal, we had to satisfy the tribunal that he had a 60% disablement or more and they, in fact, concluded that he was 72% disabled based upon his present symptoms. "They were also critical of the medical evidence provided by the secretary of state which they considered had not taken into account the whole picture." Pandemrix was most widely used in the UK during the 2009-10 flu pandemic and given to almost a million British children between six months and five years old. A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline said: "We remain committed to carrying out additional research into the potential role of Pandemrix in the development of narcolepsy. "We are also supporting ongoing work from other experts and organisations investigating reported cases of the condition." The vaccine, which is no longer used, has also been linked to narcolepsy in children from Finland, Sweden and Ireland. Matthew Hill, Points West Health Correspondent The link between Pandemrix and narcolepsy was first suggested by studies in Finland and Sweden where a review of 75 children who developed the disorder had a tenfold increased risk of the condition within six months of having the jab. This was confirmed by another study in 2012 in Ireland showing a 13-fold increase in youngsters between five and 19 years of age. There are about 100 other cases in the pipeline, so it seems the awarding of £120,000 to Josh Hadfield is only the start. Narcolepsy facts • Narcolepsy is a rare illness, with around 10 new cases per million people every year • The main symptom is falling asleep suddenly • The cause of narcolepsy remains unclear • Some people may be predisposed to the condition by their genetics • Suggested initial triggers include infections such as measles or mumps, accidents and the hormonal changes that take place in puberty • It

Summary: A boy with a rare sleeping illness caused by a swine flu vaccine has won £120,000 in damages.


Such is the case with American swimmer Dana Vollmer, who claimed her seventh Olympic medal in Rio last year. But she has had to adapt her preparation for Tokyo to cater for, in her words, the "bowling ball" in her stomach. In her first race since Rio on Thursday, Vollmer was six months pregnant. The first obstacle was finding a swimming costume that worked for her - up from the size 26 she wore in Rio to a size 32 at Thursday's race in Mesa, Arizona. "It kind of holds everything in," she said, in an interview on the Team USA website. "We had to go up a few sizes to hold the belly." Vollmer raced with her doctor's permission, and has amended her training programme while pregnant by doing more strength training. In an interview before the race with ESPN, she said training was a welcome distraction. "As hard as people think this is, the race is only 30 seconds long as opposed to the entire day I spend holding and chasing around a 35-pound two-year-old," she said. "This will feel like a break." After winning gold in the 100m butterfly in the 2012 London Olympics, Vollmer took time off to have her first child, son Arlen, and returned in time to qualify for Rio. But this time around, she has made the decision to continue training. Baby number two, a boy, is due in July. "Putting the health of the baby first doesn't just mean sitting on the couch," the 29-year-old said. Why it's OK to run when you are pregnant Vollmer isn't the first woman to race while heavily pregnant - in June 2014, Alysia Montano competed in the 800m quarter finals of the US track and field championships while eight months pregnant. Plenty of women have also taken part in the Olympics while pregnant, though none did in Rio, due to concerns over the effect of the Zika virus on unborn children. The website of the US Swimming Masters, an organisation helping promote the sport, advises that women can carry on swimming even while heavily pregnant, but that each case is different. Competing in the 50 metres freestyle only three months before giving birth did present one particular challenge for Vollmer. "I don't think I've ever done a 50 where I took four or five breaths," she said. "A 50 felt long for the first time in my life." In the end, Vollmer finished 55th in the preliminary round in Mesa, with a time of 27.59 seconds (last year, she swam the same race in 25 seconds). Not that her time was a problem. "Time didn't matter, place didn't matter," she said. "I've loved being here. I've loved seeing all my teammates, all the people from Rio. The race felt great."

Summary: With a little more than 1,000 days to go until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics begin, preparation - even at this stage - is key.


The 19-year-old left-back made his debut for the Bees in April and has made a total of five appearances. "We are really pleased that Tom has committed this stage of his career to Brentford," head coach Dean Smith said. "He has already shown great potential and we can help him become an established Championship player."

Summary: Brentford youngster Tom Field has signed a new contract, which will keep him at the Championship club until the summer of 2020.


The adaptation will be based on the critically-acclaimed first book in the Noughts and Crosses series, set in a dystopian society where black people are the ruling class. It tells the forbidden interracial love story between Sephy, a "Cross" and politician's daughter; and Callum, a "Nought" and member of the underclass. The drama is expected to air next year. Blackman, who was the children's laureate from 2013-15, said she was "beyond thrilled" her book was being dramatised. "Callum and Sephy seem to have meant a lot to readers over the years and I'm excited at the prospect of watching them on my TV," she said. The series is being produced by Mammoth Screen, the company behind hit BBC drama Poldark. The commission was announced at the Edinburgh Television Festival by director of BBC Content Charlotte Moore as part of a new raft of programming designed to "reflect the diversity of modern Britain". Also announced were three new original drama series and two factual programmes: Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Malorie Blackman's young adult novel Noughts and Crosses is to be made into a BBC One drama series.


The book was compiled by the fleet's senior medical officer as a ninth birthday gift to his son in 1943. Autographs include Flt Cdr Henry Melvin "Dinghy" Young, second in command of the raid, who was shot down and killed on his return. The book was sold in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The seller's father collected the signatures at the RAF base at Scampton, Lincolnshire, where Squadron 617 - better known as the Dambusters - was formed in March 1943. Bombing raids on three major dams in Germany's industrial Ruhr Valley took place in May using Barnes Wallis' bouncing bomb. Of the 19 planes that went, eight were lost. Henry Young - known as "Dinghy" because he survived two crashes into the sea in an inflatable boat - flew an Avro Lancaster, codenamed A-Apple, in the first wave, which attacked the Möhne Dam. There are signatures from members of other squadrons based at Scampton, including Gp Capt Robert McFarlane, who later led a Lancaster Bomber squadron at the height of the Battle of Berlin, and Flying Officer Chas Walker, an Australian professional cricketer who was killed in action in December 1942. Some added illustrations to their signatures, including a detailed drawing of a Lancaster in flight, a picture of a kangaroo by an Australian airman and a pair of cartoon airmen, captioned, "Jolly good show, what?!!". James Brown, who sold the album, was also selling a silk map which was rescued from a burnt-out Lancaster bomber and the official warrant appointing his father as flying officer.

Summary: An album containing autographs of members of the World War Two Dambusters squadron has sold at auction for £5,800.


Her best-known films include 1938's Quai des Brumes (Port of Shadows), in which she starred alongside Jean Gabin. She also appeared in Carol Reed's The Fallen Idol and opposite Humphrey Bogart in Passage to Marseille. In a statement, French president Francois Hollande said she "personified elegance and grace". He said: "Michele Morgan was more than just a gaze. Her legend left its mark on many generations." Morgan's Cannes award came in 1946 for her role as a blind woman in La Symphonie Pastorale (Pastoral Symphony). In later life, she received lifetime achievement accolades at the Venice Film Festival and the Cesar Awards, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Morgan was considered for the role of Ilsa Lund in Casablanca, but lost out to Ingrid Bergman when film studio RKO refused to loan her to Warner Bros. Her film career faded with the arrival of the French New Wave in the 1960s, although she continued to work in television and on stage. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Michele Morgan, the French screen star and glamour icon who won the first best actress prize at the Cannes film festival, has died at the age of 96.


The move is part of Police Scotland's cost-cutting plan to centralise control rooms. If a decision is taken at a board meeting on 22 March it is thought likely that the centre will close quickly afterwards. SPA chairman Andrew Flanagan said he had been consulting widely on the move. He told BBC Scotland: "I think there are a number of local concerns about the closure. It's important we take account of local concerns. "We need an assurance it's going to be effective."

Summary: The chairman of the Scottish Police Authority has said Aberdeen's emergency control room will only be closed if it is safe to do so.


The product will offer teachers new ways to use the world-building video game in a range of subjects. Microsoft paid $2.5bn (Â£1.8bn) for Mojang, Minecraft's Swedish creator, in 2014. And late last year, it bought the four-year-old MinecraftEdu version of the game from Finland-based independent developer TeacherGaming. It is now promising to add features, but schools may face extra costs. It says more than 7,000 classrooms around the world already use Minecraft in some form. "Teachers are using Minecraft to do so many things, including teaching maths, science, religion and poetry," Anthony Salcito, Microsoft's vice-president of worldwide education, told the BBC. "Once we make the tools easier for schools to get access to and employ, I think you'll see that number [of classrooms] grow quite quickly." MinecraftEdu already allows teachers to modify content in the game and use a shared library of education-themed assets. Microsoft is promising to improve the experience by: To access the service, children and teachers each need their own Office 365 ID, which can also be used to provide access to the Microsoft's cloud-based productivity software. Microsoft says this will help teachers minimise the number of online accounts they need to manage. But it may also help the company promote its word processing, email, and file-sharing apps over rival services from Google and others. Microsoft intends to charge an annual fee of $5 (Â£3.50) for each teacher and child. That could prove more expensive than the current basic set-up, where schools pay a one-off fee of $14 multiplied by the maximum number of people they want to be able to log in at once, plus an additional $41 for server software. "We believe we are bringing added value," said Deirdre Quarnstrom, director of Minecraft education. "On top of having a persistent identity, they will also have access to the most current version of the game. "MinecraftEdu, along with other Minecraft mods, was one to two releases behind by nature of the development process. "We are also replacing the need for schools to have and maintain separate server hardware." The new features were welcomed by Leigh Wolmarans, the head teacher of Lings Primary School in Northampton. His school already uses MinecraftEdu to teach pupils about A Midsummer Night's Dream by asking them to create a performance of Shakespeare's play within the game. However, he said other teachers should be aware the software had its limitations. "Technology can lead to exceptional learning, but it has to be used in conjunction with other tools," he said. "If all you are doing is sitting them down and leaving them to experience Shakespeare through Minecraft, you would be doing something wrong. "Dance, art, drama and music remain the best ways to teach kids. "But technology can add to that as an additional tool." Microsoft said it would allow teachers to start "beta-testing" Minecraft's education edition at some point "in the summer" without charge, ahead of its formal rollout.

Summary: An "education edition" of Minecraft is to be launched by Microsoft.


Earlier today George Osborne said he had no plans to do so - but he refused to completely rule out the move. The coalition government reduced the highest income tax rate from 50% to 45% in 2013. Ed Balls, Labour's shadow chancellor, criticised Mr Osborne's refusal to rule out a further cut. Asked on Sky News's Murnaghan programme if there were plans to cut income tax by 5% for those earning over £150,000, George Osborne said "that's not our plan". Challenged as to whether he would explicitly rule the move out, the chancellor replied: "You can judge us by what we say we want to do. And what we want to do is increase the tax-free personal allowance to £12,500 so people full-time on the minimum wage don't have to pay income tax and millions of people are better off. "And when it comes to higher-rate tax payers, our priority is increasing the threshold at which you pay that higher rate to £50,000. "Those are our big tax commitments for the coming Parliament." When asked later if he would cut the top rate of tax, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It's not our policy. It's not our plan. "Our plan is to raise to £12,500 the basic rate threshold, so that we take another million people out of income tax altogether and cut tax for 30 million people. That's the plan." But Ed Balls said: "When George Osborne cut the top rate of income tax from 50p down to 45p we know that he and David Cameron wanted to go further and actually cut it to 40p - which, if they were to do that, would mean hundreds of thousands more in tax cuts for the richest people in our society." He added: "They need to tell us is that their plan - they won't rule it out, they should do so now." This election issue includes income tax and national insurance levies and business taxes. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat minister David Laws has accused the Conservatives of "unbelievable cheek" in taking credit for personal tax allowance rises. Mr Laws, a former chief secretary to the Treasury, said the prime minister and chancellor had failed to push for the move in talks with Lib Dems. His party will spell out plans to "go further and faster" in increasing the allowance in the coming days, he said. George Osborne said raising the level was one of his "big tax commitments". The tax-free personal allowance is to rise from £10,600 in 2015-6 to £10,800 in 2016-7 and £11,000 in 2017-8. Mr Laws told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 live that was down to his party. "What I can tell you is that there hasn't been a single Budget or Autumn Statement in this parliament where the prime minister or the chancellor have ever made this a Conservative ask," he said. "The discussion they've had with Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander have always been on the basis that it's the Lib Dems pushing for this and it's the Conservatives pressing other policies which usually don't

Summary: Labour is calling on the Conservative Party to vow that it won't lower the top rate of income tax if it wins the election.


For most of US history, party nominees have been decided by political power brokers and deal-makers behind closed doors. Parties operate like private clubs - they make their own rules and are suspicious of outsiders. Only in recent history has a more open system of primaries and caucuses been grafted onto the process to give the average American a say in who appears on the general election ballot. In a close, contentious primary season, however, the veneer of accountability can rub off, exposing the sometimes unsightly gears that still power the US political system. This has prompted objection from the supporters of two candidates in particular - Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders - who feel that the party establishments are arrayed against their presidential quests. But are their concerns valid? Here are answers to four pertinent questions as the nomination battles approach its final months. 34 Number of delegates Ted Cruz received in Colorado, which held conventions to pick delegates 759 Trump total delegate count 529 Cruz total delegate count Mr Trump is leading the race for the Republican nomination, but it's starting to feel like he's not winning. While he's comfortably ahead, with 757 delegates to 529 for second-place Ted Cruz, there's mounting evidence that he's being outmanoeuvred in the behind-the-scenes political process that could come into play if he doesn't reach the magic 1,237 delegate number necessary to secure the nomination outright. In Colorado - which selected its delegates at party gatherings last week and not through primaries or caucuses - Mr Cruz walked away with all 34 delegates. Even in states that have held contests won by Mr Trump, Mr Cruz's team has been working doggedly to ensure that their people become delegates. While Mr Trump swept South Carolina's 50 delegates, for instance, the state's convention delegation will be riddled with Cruz supporters who, while bound to Mr Trump on the first few ballots, can switch to the Texas senator if there is a protracted convention battle. It has Mr Trump and his people crying foul. "This is happening all over our country - great people being disenfranchised by politicians," Mr Trump tweeted on Monday. "Repub party is in trouble!" Paul Manafort, Mr Trump's new aide in charge of managing the delegate-selection process, accused the Cruz campaign of using "Gestapo tactics, scorched-earth tactics" in Colorado. If, as Mr Trump asserted on Monday, the system is "rigged" and "crooked", however, it isn't always tilted in favour of Mr Trump's opponents. Thanks to the Republican Party's delegate-apportioning system, including Florida's winner-take-all primary, Mr Trump has secured a larger share of the delegates so far (45%) than he has of the raw primary vote (37%). If Mr Cruz manages to win the nomination at the Republican convention despite trailing Mr Trump in total delegates and share of the popular vote, Mr Trump may have reason to feel aggrieved. But before he complains too loudly, he might want to heed some sage advice attributed (incorrectly) to Albert Einstein: "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play

Summary: The United States may be a democracy, but the party presidential nomination process - upon closer inspection - is hardly a shining beacon of democratic light.


The Australian Open semi-finalist joins Heather Watson, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki in the draw. "I had a good run at the tournament last year, which was the start of a great summer for me," Konta said. "It's a really strong field which is great for the tournament and I'm hoping for more success in Nottingham." Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh will return to the Nottingham Tennis Centre to defend her title and British number three Naomi Broady is also set to play in the tournament, which will take place from 4-12 June. Never want to miss the latest tennis news? You can now add this sport and all the other sports and teams you follow to your personalised My Sport home.

Summary: British number one Johanna Konta has become the latest player to confirm her entry to the pre-Wimbledon Aegon Open in Nottingham in June.


In that time, the technology developed here has changed India immensely. Mr Modi is here to make sure it continues to do so for decades to come, but perhaps now with more benefit to those back home. His visit, which was welcomed by more than 20,000 expats on Sunday evening at a stadium reception in San Jose, comes at a time when Indian and Indian-American success in Silicon Valley is truly formidable. There's the charismatic Satya Nadella in charge at Microsoft. There's the 10-year-strong reign of Shantanu Narayen at the top of Adobe. And more recently, Sundar Pichai took over as chief executive of Google - a role many said had been years coming. Indians in California say it's the blend of temperament and competitive spirit that brings success their way. "If an old school friend starts a company in Silicon Valley," one Valley-based Indian tech executive, Mohit Aron, told me, "I'm going to start an even better one". Mr Modi continues to ride the strong waves of support back home. A recent US think-tank study suggests 87% of Indians have "favourable opinions" of the leader. Outside the stadium, that enthusiasm was on full display - though not without the accompaniment of a strong protest against his government. Those not on "Team Modi" are angry at what they see as ignorance towards Mr Modi's past. In particular, they say he did little to prevent the killing of Muslims in the Gujarat riots in 2002. And when it comes to Digital India, Mr Modi's plans to get a billion more Indians on the internet, they say that's a front to mass surveillance. A letter, signed by more than 100 academics in Silicon Valley ahead of Mr Modi's visit, backed up this concern. They believe the positivity around his leadership, particularly in the Indian press, is more to do with aggression from the government towards its critics. Yet the support for Mr Modi in the US appeared genuine - and its his tech-savvy attitude to communicating that seems to impress people most. "We're very proud," said one supporter outside the stadium. The SAP Center is in San Jose, a city that sits at the bottom of Silicon Valley, a region where Indians truly thrive. Some 26% of tech companies here are founded or run by Indians and Indian Americans. That's more than the next five immigrant groups combined. Mr Modi has come here on a mission to bring some of that success, and wealth, back to India. To do it, he needs help. Before India can even begin to think of itself as a genuinely major technology player, it needs to cover the basics. Mr Modi, effortlessly adopting Silicon Valley's obsession with buzzwords, said the country needs both highways and "i-ways", by which he meant fibre internet, connecting each and every Indian town and village. Earlier on Sunday, Mr Modi spent time with someone who could help, taking part in a Q&A with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. It was decidedly more A than Q, mind, as of 40,000 questions submitted to Mr Modi, only

Summary: It's remarkable, given the strength of the Indian expat community in California, that Narendra Modi's trip to Silicon Valley is the first by an Indian prime minister for more than three decades.


The Frenchman's agent was reported to have said he is "studying" an option for his client to move to Sevilla. Martial, 21, was United's top scorer last season with 17 goals, but his equaliser in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League home win over Middlesbrough was just his fifth strike of this season. "He is a player with amazing conditions to be a top player," said Mourinho. "Martial played, he created, he scored. He fought. He was very positive. I know he is a top talent." Media playback is not supported on this device Martial, who joined the Red Devils from Monaco for £36m in 2015, played a crucial role as his side came from behind to beat Boro on Saturday. He drilled in a finish on 85 minutes before Paul Pogba headed in the winner a minute later. Afterwards, Mourinho suggested Martial should follow the example of team-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was told to "do more" by his manager and has scored three goals in his past four games. The former Chelsea boss said : "I knew Mkhitaryan is a top talent but I was not playing him. At this moment he even plays left-back when the team is winning and we need to defend and need more balance. "Martial has to listen to me and not his agent. He has to listen to me in training every day and in every feedback I give to try and improve him. "The Mkhitaryan process I was having almost every day. His agent was calling me saying, 'Mkhitaryan with you will be a better player, keep going.' "With Martial every day I read the newspaper, 'Anthony Martial goes to Sevilla, Anthony Martial goes on loan, Anthony Martial is not happy'. Anthony Martial has to listen to me." Former United defender Phil Neville: "I think it's pretty simple. He needs to play like that consistently. He has to ask his agent why he's linking him to Sevilla and say, 'I'm at one of the biggest clubs in the world, I want to stay here'." Ex-England captain Alan Shearer: "Martial was the best player on the park. He played a big part in getting United back into the game. He was positive from the start. "He went at defenders, got into the box and created chances. The effort from 30 to 35 yards out was a brilliant strike. He should take huge confidence from that display." Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Manchester United forward Anthony Martial should "listen to me and not his agent", says manager Jose Mourinho.


North Wales Police had warned supporters to behave at the Racecourse and later confirmed there were no arrests at the match which ended 0-0. Safety fears meant Chester fans had to travel on official coaches under police escort. It is the fourth year the fixture has been marked as a "bubble match" - meaning supporters will be kept apart. North Wales and Cheshire police forces have said restrictions could be reviewed if there was no trouble at the two games this season. Speaking before the game, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said: "If things go well, it looks as if this bubble business with the restrictions on travelling fans can be lifted which would be great news." "This is now the only [current] fixture in all the tiers of English and Welsh football that is a bubble, including Premier League and Championship derby fixtures, and I think it is risk averse and disproportionate in terms of policing," he added.

Summary: Police have thanked Wrexham and Chester fans for their "good natured co-operation" at their derby match.


The 28-year-old centre-back spent a spell on the sidelines with a similar problem last season. He also missed the start of the season after surgery on a back injury before returning at the end of October. "It is not a recurrence of the injury which required surgery so that is a positive," said Stoke boss Mark Hughes. "Unfortunately, the negative is that he has soft muscle damage and at the moment it is looking like it will probably be three to four weeks I would think." Shawcross will now miss the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Liverpool on Tuesday. The Reds beat Stoke 1-0 in the first leg. The Potters also face an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Crystal Palace as well as Premier League games against Manchester United, Everton and Bournemouth in the next month.

Summary: Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross could be out for up to a month with the back injury that forced him off in Saturday's defeat at Leicester.


Although Gillian McCusker had fallen out with Rachel and Nyomi Fee just before the two-year-old's death she had been very close friends with the pair. She said she never suspected any wrongdoing during the time she knew the Fees. The couple were convicted of killing Liam at his Fife home in March 2014. They had blamed another boy for the murder. Ms McCusker said she would now change a "friends forever" tattoo, that she had done with the Fees, so she would not have a daily reminder of the women. She said: "I was shocked, totally shocked when everything happened. "I looked out of my window and I saw a load of ambulances and I saw them standing in the street shouting 'help'. "I didn't know what to do at the time as we weren't talking." Ms McCusker said she regretted that "nothing" could be done now that Liam was gone. Ms McCusker said that when she went into the Fee's house to feed their snakes when they were on holiday in St Andrews there was "nothing out of place" to make her suspect the pair were doing harm. She said: "They are going to be in jail for sometime but they don't even deserve a place in prison because they are still going to get everything paid for them and they are still going to get every day of their lives. "It's not fair because they are going to come out and they are still going to have their own lives to lead and little Liam, where is he? Nowhere. "He's not got a life. So it's never going to be enough, never." She said there was nothing she could have done to stop the couple as she was unaware there were any problems. The former friend also said she did not think social services could have done any more to help the children.

Summary: A former friend of the women who murdered toddler Liam Fee has told the BBC that "no sentence" could ever be enough for their crimes.


Media playback is not supported on this device Amy Wilson Hardy went over in the corner as England scored from their only chance in the first half. Ireland could not breach England's solid defence and were made to pay as the world champions ran in four tries. Forwards Laura Keates and Amy Cokayne extended the visitors' lead before backs Emily Scarratt and Lydia Thompson rounded off the win with fine tries. With the under-20 men's side having won a Grand Slam earlier on Friday, England's men will look to complete a hat-trick by beating Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. The women, who return to Ireland in the summer to defend their world title, have won their first Six Nations title since 2012. Wing Wilson Hardy completed a fine England move in the 16th minute, but then Ireland dominated play. Centre Sene Naoupu came within a metre of going over but was stopped by a superb tackle from flanker Marlie Packer, and home captain Paula Fitzpatrick was prevented from touching down by a posse of England players. England regrouped after half-time and extended their lead when replacement prop Keates drove over the line from two metres out. Ireland were reduced to 14 players two minutes before the hour when substitute Mairead Coyne made a deliberate knock-on. Hooker Cokayne burst through to increase England's advantage but Ireland hooker Leah Lyons responded to give Ireland hope. However, Scarratt finished off an excellent England move to put the result beyond doubt and then replacement winger Thompson showed her pace to score England's fifth try. Ireland: Flood, Tyrrell, Murphy, Naoupu, Miller, Stapleton, Muldoon; Peat, Lyons, Egan, Spence, Reilly, Griffin, Molloy, Fitzpatrick (capt). Replacements: O'Connor, Van Staden, O'Reilly, Cooney, Fryday, Healy, Caughey, Coyne. England: Waterman, Wilson Hardy, Scarratt, Reed, Wilson, Scott, Mason; Clark, Cokayne, Lucas, Taylor, Millar-Mills, Matthews, Packer, Hunter. Replacements: Fleetwood, Cornborough, Keates, Cleall, Noel-Smith, Blackburn, Burford, Thompson.

Summary: England completed a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam by beating a physical Ireland 34-7 at rainy Donnybrook.


A health tribunal has found Peter Sutcliffe no longer needs any treatment for any mental disorder. In 1981 he was convicted of 13 murders and seven attempted murders and given 20 life sentences. Moving Sutcliffe would need to be approved by the Ministry of Justice. The BBC understands that transferring Sutcliffe to a prison could save up to Â£250,000 a year. Between 1975 and 1980 Sutcliffe preyed on women across Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. He mutilated them and beat them to death. Sutcliffe was initially sent to Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight but after three years he was moved to Broadmoor in Berkshire, where he has remained since being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. A former lorry driver from Bradford who now calls himself Peter Coonan, he was caught when police found him with a prostitute in his car. They became suspicious and found he had a fake number plate and weapons including a screwdriver and hammer in the boot. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a diagnosis doctors use if someone is experiencing a cluster of psychological symptoms. These include "psychotic experiences, such as hearing voices or seeing things that don't exist (hallucinations) and having unusual beliefs that are not based on reality (delusions). There are different subtypes of schizophrenia - paranoid schizophrenia is one example and this is when the person experiences false beliefs of being persecuted or plotted against. Schizophrenia is a fairly common mental health condition, affecting about one in every 100 people. Dr Stephen Shaw, a retired criminal psychiatrist from Leeds who interviewed Sutcliffe after his arrest, said he was not surprised by the tribunal ruling. "I saw him in Armley [prison in Leeds] when he was on remand," he said. "He was no more a schizophrenic than I was. I thought this guy was not mentally ill." Speaking last year when it was suggested Sutcliffe may be moved, Brian Dow, director of external affairs at the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said: "There's no cure [for schizophrenia] as such. "There's no medication that will make it go away, but people will often be able to manage their symptoms to a point where they can lead a very normal life. "Presumably... he is sufficiently well that he no longer needs to be treated in a clinical setting. "That's very possible as the treatments he may have had may have got him to a point where they deem him to be able to be incarcerated in a prison rather than a high-security ward." A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Peter Coonan will remain locked up and will never be released for his evil crimes. "Decisions over whether prisoners are to be sent back to prison from secure hospitals are based on clinical assessments made by independent medical staff. "The High Court ordered in 2010 that Peter Coonan should never be released. This was upheld by the Court of Appeal. "Our thoughts are with Coonan's victims and their families." Wilma McCann, aged 28, Leeds, October 1975 Emily Jackson, aged 42, Leeds, January 1976 Irene Richardson, aged 28, Leeds, February 1977 Patricia Atkinson,

Summary: The Yorkshire Ripper is expected to move out of Broadmoor psychiatric hospital and into a prison after medical experts ruled him mentally fit, BBC News understands.


On board were 200 men and women from the United States intent on building a colony on the Caribbean island. They hoped that if enough of their fellow nationals followed their lead, eventually Cuba would be annexed by the US. Local folklore has it that after days fighting a path through the swamp, the early settlers were so happy to reach somewhere that was not knee-deep in mud or thick with swarms of mosquitoes that they proclaimed it to be "the glory". La Gloria City was born. In fact, they had been sold a lie. They had bought plots of land in a town that existed only in the blueprints of the Cuba Land and Steamship Company of New York. Upon realising the deception, many cut their losses and went home. The hardy ones stayed on and became citrus farmers, sugarcane growers and cattle farmers. The sweltering humidity is still the same as in those days. But all that remains of those early 20th Century pioneers today are the gravestones in the local cemetery. They include a store owner called William Stokes, who was just a baby when his parents chose to make the trip to Cuba. He married, raised a family and stayed in the sleepy community for the rest of his life, even after his children left and his business went broke. By the time of his death in 1974, Mr Stokes was the only original US settler still on the island, earning him the title of "the last North American in Cuba". "It's important to me to maintain this place," says gravedigger Jorge Gallardo as he leads me to the grave of Willy Stokes, as he calls him. Mr Gallardo has spent a year hacking back the encroaching vegetation from the cemetery. "This is our eternal home - for me and my children, and for our North American founders," he explains. One of La Gloria's oldest residents remembers when it was more of an American than a Cuban town. Now in her late 80s, Jeanny Martinez was fostered by William Stokes' parents and still speaks near-flawless English. "La Gloria was all American. Beautiful, American houses. The Methodist church was there and the Episcopal one was over there," she says pointing from the porch of her small tin-and-timber home. Like many Cubans of her generation, Ms Martinez speaks of her youth before the 1959 revolution with a mixture of romanticism and nostalgia. "I have to defend the Americans because lots of people were hungry and they gave them work and food in the orange and tangerine groves," she says. "Now La Gloria is not good for anything." That is not a view shared by those working at the local farming cooperative named after revolutionary hero Camilo Cienfuegos. Under more relaxed rules on agricultural production in Cuba, the cooperative has begun to grow a wider range of goods on land that previously lay idle. "Yucca, bananas, avocados, squashes, tomatoes...,"Elida Diaz lists the things which grow on the land she farms with her family. Ms Diaz disputes the idea that the town

Summary: On 4th January 1900, not even two years after Cuba had finally wrested itself from Spain's colonial grip, the steamer Yarmouth came over the horizon off the coast of Nuevitas, on Cuba's northern shore.


The six-month project at Havelock Europa is expected to "follow the wealth", where market opportunities arise in the UK and globally. The Kirkcaldy-based firm also wants to extend its sourcing operation in China and grow further in Australia. The company has already focused its marketing efforts in London. Office refurbishments in the capital are among Britain's more lucrative opportunities. The firm has been through a difficult corporate turnaround in recent years. In announcing its full-year results, the Fife firm said 2016 was "challenging". Havelock Europa was back into the black, with pre-tax profits of £183,000, following a 2015 loss of £2.7m. Revenue was down in 2016, largely due to the loss of a major financial client, believed to be Lloyds Banking Group. Sales fell from £73m in 2015 to £61m. In trying to diversify its clients away from a few large banks and education refurbishments during academic holidays, the company is seeking to secure more clients from the health sector and student accommodation. It is also looking for a wider range of retail clients, which have so far included big high street names such as Marks & Spencer, Primark, Accessorize and House of Fraser. Havelock Europa employs 300 people at its Fife factory and marketing base, with offices also in China and Mansfield in the English Midlands. The company's shares fell 12% in the hours after the annual results were published.

Summary: A major Scottish interior fitter has announced "a major review of its longer-term vision, mission and strategy".


Media playback is not supported on this device The names will be announced during the One Show on BBC One between 19:00 and 19:30 GMT. A capacity crowd of about 12,000 will attend the show at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Sunday, 15 December. The programme will follow on from last year's awards where Sir Bradley Wiggins was crowned 2012 Sports Personality. Full roll of honour After Tuesday's announcement, there will be details of all the contenders and arrangements for public voting on the night at www.bbc.co.uk/sportspersonality. Tour de France winner and Olympic road cycling champion Wiggins was the latest to join an illustrious roll of honour last year when he received the coveted trophy from the Duchess of Cambridge and former England football captain David Beckham, watched on television by more than 15m people. Presenter Gary Lineker said: "It's going to be tough to follow last year, the most unbelievable sporting year in living memory, but the fact that it is the 60th anniversary, the fact that it is coming to Leeds, means it's still going to be a huge show." Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater added: "We're thrilled Leeds is to host BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013. The sporting heritage of the city is outstanding and the new arena will be a great venue from which to celebrate the very best of sport." Devised by Sir Paul Fox in 1954, the first Sports Personality of the Year was held at the Savoy Hotel in London, where it was presented by Peter Dimmock. World record-breaking 5,000m runner Sir Christopher Chataway beat four minute-mile hero Sir Roger Bannister to the award that year as the public voted for the first winner. The trophy has since been won by many of the greats of British sport, including Bobby Moore, Princess Anne, Lord Coe, Daley Thompson, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Sir Steve Redgrave, David Beckham, Dame Kelly Homes, Andrew Flintoff, Sir Chris Hoy and many more. Media playback is not supported on this device The show went on the road in 2006, taking in Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester and London. To date, more than 55,000 people have enjoyed spending a spectacular evening with the stars of the sporting year. Lineker added: "Taking the show out on the road has worked really well. It has proven to be hugely popular. You get thousands of people who can come along and enjoy the live show and it just becomes more of an event. "When you get the people there who really want to be there - the supporters, the sports fans - it just adds to the atmosphere and I'm sure it will be the same in Leeds." Most tickets for the event have been sold, although a limited number will be made available later in November.

Summary: A shortlist of 10 contenders will be named on Tuesday for next month's 60th BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.


American billionaire Michael Eisner will address fans on Thursday with details of his £5.67m offer for 100% of the promoted League Two club. Shareholders and PST members will vote on the former Walt Disney chief executive's proposals later this month. "I don't think that we should think this is our only chance," Brown said. Eisner, 75, has presented the terms of his offer before a town hall-style meeting at Portsmouth's Guildhall on Thursday. Among his proposals are a further £10m equity investment, as well as the removal of three PST members from the club's nine-strong board. The PST own 48% of the club after helping bring it out of administration in 2013. Rather than instructing shareholders to vote in favour of Eisner's deal, the PST and club presidents have told fans to make up their own minds. "What people need to do is see if it's the right option and the right person," Brown told BBC Radio Solent. "That's the difficulty for people as you're dealing with somebody you don't know. "Thursday is a chance for some people to look him in the eye in a public forum and ask him some questions and we'll see what he has got to say then. "It's a huge decision about the future of the club, one that will define the path in goes on in the next few years. The beauty is that it's the fans that are making it."

Summary: Portsmouth FC and Pompey Supporters' Trust (PST) board member Ashley Brown has urged fans to make an informed choice over a proposed takeover.


Actor Julian Lewis Jones, Bangor-born star of TV sitcom Stella, was among the team which pulled the 6ft (2m) mako out of the water near Milford Haven. It is thought to be the first ever mako shark caught in Wales. An average mako will grow up to 10ft (3m) in length. Makos swim in excess of 30mph and can weigh up to 300lbs (135kg). Jones - along with Andy Griffith, David Morris and Andrew Alsop - set off at 05:30 BST on Thursday for a day's fishing. They were around 30 miles (50km) off the Milford Haven coast, and had already caught and released two blue sharks weighing 120lbs (55kg) each, when something in the blue water caught their eye. "We saw this flash that whizzed passed the boat - it was a big white belly and it went so, so fast," said the actor. "Next thing this shark leapt 15ft in the air about 20ft off the back of the stern of the boat. "We all looked at each other and said 'that's a mako' and we knew the importance of it. "This is something that you dream of." Jones, who has appeared on angling programmes on Sky TV and Welsh-language channel S4C, said the team all worked together to bring in the shark which had been caught by Griffith. "Mako sharks are aggressive and fast animals and they have been known to actually jump inside boats," said Jones. "It was around 40 minutes before we had him on the side of the boat and he went a bit ballistic and you can't control it - it's a wild animal, it's like trying to control a rhino." The four men managed to slip a circle hook into the corner of the shark's mouth and get him to the deck of the boat. The shark weighed in at around 200lbs (90kg) and measured around 6ft (2m). Once the photographs and measurements had been taken, Alsop gave the shark a kiss on the top of his head and the team released him. Jones said: "We were so privileged, absolutely stoked to have done it and it was the first off the coast of Wales." The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) has recorded 42 mako attacks on humans between 1980 and 2010, three of which were fatal, along with twenty boat attacks. The organisation says divers who have encountered makos say that, prior to an attack, they will swim in a figure-of-eight pattern and approach with mouths open. It is not the first time Jones has had a surprising catch. In May, he saved a young wallaby while fishing off Australia's Northern Territory in the mouth of Darwin Harbour. The waters there are infested with crocodiles and sharks. Jones said at the time: "It looked like it was on its last legs. It was so scared and in the middle of the ocean. It came to our boat perhaps sensing that we would be able to help it."

Summary: The fastest shark in the ocean - and a cousin of the Great White - has been caught by a crew fishing off the Pembrokeshire coast.


The UNHCR said forced returns had "continued unabated" despite an agreement earlier this month. Under the deal, any returns would be voluntary and only "when conditions were conducive". Cameroon has rejected the accusation and said people returned willingly. According to the UNHCR, more than 2,600 refugees have been forcibly returned to Nigeria from Cameroon this year. Many are unable to go back to their villages in Borno state for security reasons and have ended up in camps for displaced people. In some cases, the UNHCR said, people had been returned "without allowing them time to collect their belongings". UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch spoke of "chaos" in the returns process and said "some women were forced to leave their young children behind in Cameroon, including a child less than three years old". Many of the returnees are now settled in the Banki camp for internally displaced people. UNHCR staff also recorded about 17 people who claimed to be Cameroonian nationals, who it said had been deported by mistake to Banki. It is common in the region to find people who have no documentary proof of their nationality. Cameroonian Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme: "I strongly deny this accusation" of forced returns. He said the Cameroonian army had been working "hand-in-hand" with the Nigerian army against Boko Haram and any civilians who had returned to Nigeria had done so of their own accord. "This repatriation has taken place willingly," he said. The Cameroonian authorities have previously said Boko Haram militants have been entering the country disguised as refugees. Militants have carried out a number of attacks in northern Cameroon in recent years, often using suicide bombers. The UNHCR said forced return constitutes a serious violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Convention, both of which Cameroon has ratified. It called on Cameroon to honour its obligations under the conventions and continue keeping its borders open so as to allow access to territory and asylum procedures for people fleeing the Islamist insurgency.

Summary: The UN refugee agency has criticised Cameroon for the forced return of hundreds of refugees to north-east Nigeria after they had fled from the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency.


Judge Thokozile Masipa did the same for the lawyers on Thursday, urging them to make good use of the upcoming fortnight break for the Easter holidays. In that spirit, here are a few questions that have been niggling me in recent days. Tweet your thoughts and suggestions to @BBCAndrewH. I will be taking a week off and then focusing on South Africa's general election before returning to the hard benches of Courtroom GD on 5 May.

Summary: Both defence lawyer Barry Roux and prosecutor Gerrie Nel have made a habit of setting "homework" for the witnesses they are cross-examining at the murder trail of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius.


The unrest began when drivers erected barricades in a protest against harassment and roadblocks by police demanding bribes. When security forced stepped in, some local residents joined the protesters and threw stones at police. Some demonstrators are reported to have been beaten up. Thirty people have been arrested. Africa Live: More on this and other news stories Zimbabwe has become increasing volatile in recent weeks with frequent protests against economic hardship and alleged government corruption. Police say they have reduced the number of roadblocks following complaints. The economy has struggled since a government programme seized most white-owned farms in 2000, causing exports to tumble. Robert Mugabe, 92, has been in power since independence in 1980. Critics accuse him of using violence and rigging during recent elections - allegations he denies. Official statistics say most citizens live on just one dollar a day.

Summary: Police in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, have used tear gas and water cannons to break up a protest by minibus drivers.