Media playback is not supported on this device Last year's final was won by Ronnie O'Sullivan after a thrilling 9-5 comeback victory against Australia's Neil Robertson. The schedule of play and scores will appear below, with detailed BBC coverage information available here. All times GMT. Final (best of 17 frames) Stuart Bingham (Eng) 9-8 Judd Trump (Eng) 69-45 (69), 65-64 (Trump 64, Bingham 65), 74-1 (74), 61-21, 35-63, 0-130 (68 & 58), 87-0 (87), 50-61, 1-91, 63-48 (63), 0-69, 36-74, 62-52, 31-66, 46-64, 71-57, 79-25 (55) Semi-finals (best of 11 frames) Judd Trump (Eng) 6-3 Scott Donaldson (Sco) 131-8 (131), 71-26 (55), 57-47, 1-75 (75), 69-7 (65), 0-82, 50-74 (74), 105-5 (82),74-14 (60) Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-0 Robert Milkins (Eng) 127-0 (127), 81-19 (67), 58-55 (Milkins 55), 71-33 (71), 81-6 (61), 101-4 (101) Quarter-finals (best of nine frames) Scott Donaldson (Sco) 5-0 Zhou Yuelong (Chn) Judd Trump (Eng) 5-4 Barry Hawkins (Eng) Stuart Bingham (Eng) 5-3 Stuart Carrington (Eng) Kurt Maflin (Nor) 2-5 Robert Milkins (Eng) Fourth round (best of seven frames) Mark Davis (Eng) 3-4 Scott Donaldson (Sco) Zhou Yuelong (Chn) 4-0 Lee Walker (Wal) Barry Hawkins (Eng) 4-0 Craig Steadman (Eng) Igor Figueiredo (Brz) 1-4 Stuart Carrington (Eng) Judd Trump (Eng) 4-1 Hossein Vafaei (Irn) Stuart Bingham (Eng) 4-0 Robbie Williams (Eng) Robert Milkins (Eng) 4-2 Mei Xiwen (Chn) Kurt Maflin (Nor) 4-1 Yan Bingtao (Chn) Third round (best of seven frames) Mark Davis (Eng) 4-2 Fergal O'Brien (Ire) Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 0-4 Scott Donaldson (Sco) Zhou Yuelong (Chn) 4-1 Ross Muir (Sco) Graeme Dott (Sco) 2-4 Lee Walker (Wal) Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha) 1-4 Barry Hawkins (Eng) Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 2-4 Craig Steadman (Eng) Dominic Dale (Wal) 1-4 Igor Figuiredo (Bra) Stuart Carrington (Eng) 4-0 Robin Hull (Fin) Judd Trump (Eng) 4-0 Jackson Page (Wal) Allister Carter (Eng) 1-4 Hossein Vafaei (Irn) Stuart Bingham (Eng) 4-0 Ian Burns (Eng) Michael White (Wal) 2-4 Robbie Williams (Eng) Josh Boileau (Ire) 0-4 Robert Milkins (Eng) Mark Allen (Nir) 2-4 Mei Xiwen (Chn) Kurt Maflin (Nor) 4-2 Mitchell Mann (Eng) Yan Bingtao (Chn) 4-1 Mark Selby (Eng) Second round (best of seven frames) Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 3-4 Mark Davis (Eng) Stuart Bingham (Eng) 4-2 Rory McLeod (Eng) Kurt Maflin (Nor) 4-3 James Wattana (Tha) Mike Dunn (Eng) 2-4 Mark Selby (Eng) Judd Trump (Eng) 4-2 Alex Borg (Mal) Mark Allen (NI) 4-1 Boonyarit Kaettikun (Tha) Peter Ebdon (Eng) 0-4 Mei Xiwen (Chn) Thor Chuan Leong (Mas) 3-4 Yan Bingtao (Chn) Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 4-2 Chris Wakelin (Eng) Zhou Yuelong (Chn) 4-1 Paul Davison (Eng) Graeme Dott (Sco) 4-1 Adam Stefanow (Pol) Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha) 4-1 Ryan Day (Wal) Jamie Cope (Eng) 1-4 Anthony Hamilton (Eng) Craig Steadman (Eng) 4-1 Sam Baird (Eng) Stephen Maguire (Sco) 3-4 Ian Burns (Eng) Jamie Jones (Wal) 2-4 Dominic Dale (Wal) Mark King (Eng) 2-4 Scott Donaldson (Sco) Ross Muir (Sco) 4-0 Marco Fu (Hk) Lee Walker (Wal) 4-3 Neil Robertson (Aus) Jackson Page (Wal) 4-3 John Astley (Eng) Hossein Vafaei (Irn) 4-2 ChristopherKeogan (Eng) Andy Hicks (Eng) 3-4 Robbie Williams (Eng) Igor Figueiredo (Bra) 4-2 Anthony McGill

Summary: The 2017 Welsh Open takes place at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff from Monday, 13 February to Sunday, 19 February, with live television coverage of every day's play on BBC Two Wales and the BBC Sport website.


Mr Cairns said it would be "completely wrong" to remain in the EU's single market as both major UK parties told voters they wanted to leave. But he played down differences with the Welsh Government over Brexit. The UK government is under pressure to change its approach to leaving the EU, which critics call a "hard Brexit". Mr Cairns's predecessor, Stephen Crabb, claimed the election had changed the terms of the Brexit debate. The Preseli Pembrokeshire MP is backing calls from Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson for Theresa May to adopt a more flexible approach that achieves a consensus across parties. Mr Crabb told BBC Wales: "The majority of business opinion in Wales and the UK supports Britain staying in the single market and staying in the customs union but still coming out of the European Union legally. "And I think that argument needs to get looked at far more closely and if we can't achieve a satisfactory deal based on membership of the single market we need something that is pretty close to it if it's going to achieve the consensus that it needs to across the parties." Wales Office Minister Guto Bebb said the process of listening to devolved governments had begun. "It is seven times more important now because of the result of the election that the devolved countries have a real voice in the process of leaving the European Union," he said. Mr Cairns, newly re-appointed to his role, said he wanted Brexit negotiations, due to start next week, to focus on the right outcome with businesses trading freely. "We've talked about frictionless trade, the Welsh Government have talked about unfettered access. These are one and the same things," he said. "Even the Labour Party don't want to remain part of the single market so it would be completely wrong to stay in the single market when the two largest parties are opposed to that." But Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart echoed Mr Crabb's call for cross-party consensus. He said he did not buy the idea that because Theresa May has had "an unquestionably difficult time for which she takes some of the blame" it means "it's game over".

Summary: Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has rejected calls for a "softer" Brexit after the general election result led to a hung parliament.


This time, Charlotte in North Carolina is a focal point of unrest, after a black man was killed by officers this week. There have also been peaceful protests in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a police officer has been charged with manslaughter. This is a recurring cycle of violence in the US. According to one research group, over 100 unarmed black people were killed by the police in 2015 and a string riots have occurred following similar shootings in 2016. But what can be done to resolve this? Five US experts share their thoughts on rebuilding trust between black American communities and the police. Like any social problem, the first step is to simply acknowledge that a policing problem exists. I think one of the difficulties Americans are facing right now is that there is some disagreement as to whether there is a problem at all. One practical thing that needs to be done immediately is to push towards more community policing. It really changes the dynamic, the cultural dynamic, because officers are members of the communities they operate in. If a citizen shops at the same grocery store as his local police officer, they will recognise each other as human. I think a lot of the problems we see have to do with geography. You have to put people in the same geographical spaces, to occupy the same spaces. When you do, people see each other and interact with each other, not necessarily in the structured work environment, but in the unstructured social environment. That's why I think community policing works. Christopher Bracey is an expert on US race relations, individual rights and criminal procedure. He is professor of law at Georgetown University in Washington DC. There's always a tendency to say let's train the police and they're not going to be prejudiced and the problem will go away. Well, no. That's obviously important and needs to be done. But clearly, as we've seen in some of the shootings, even the officers have been black. I think the patterns of tension we are seeing now are rooted in long-term inequality and disadvantage. Violence has, for a long time, been concentrated in poor communities, especially segregated communities and minority communities that have been subject to disinvestment on the part of the state. So in some sense, when you look at it scientifically, it's not really a surprise when you see occurrences of conflict between these people and the police. Criminal justice, housing and education reform really need to be coupled to address this issue. That is the message I see from the data. Robert J Sampson is director of the Boston Area Research Initiative and professor of social sciences at Harvard University. Source: Mapping Police Violence/NPR Courts routinely award damages totalling hundreds of millions of dollars to citizens who have suffered injuries or rights violations from the police. Taxpayers pay most of those costs. But as the bills pile up, there is no sign that police acknowledge, analyse or learned from their costly mistakes. In other public service domains - transportation, medicine, child welfare

Summary: The relationship between black Americans and the police is once again in the spotlight.


The Japanese firm expects net profit in the year to March of 1.7 trillion yen ($15.1bn; Â£12.1bn), compared with a previous forecast of 1.55 trillion yen. That is despite losing its top-selling carmaker status to Volkswagen in 2016, Meanwhile, Toyota said it had begun formal talks to work with Suzuki on projects including safety technology. Analysts said the partnership - which could also involve collaboration on vehicles that were less damaging to the environment - would give Suzuki access to Toyota's technology. Benefits for Toyota are likely to include tapping in to Suzuki's strong market position in India. The forecast for 2016-17 profits is still below the 2.1 trillion yen profit it recorded a year earlier. But with Japan's yen weakening against the dollar, it will benefit from sales overseas which are worth more when converted back into the local currency. Like other Japanese carmakers, Toyota is watching closely for any trade tariffs introduced by the new US administration. At the moment, only about half of the cars it sells in the country are manufactured locally. Last month, US President Donald Trump criticised it for making vehicles in Mexico to sell over the border. The US is its biggest market, and it is struggling to meet demand for bigger vehicles such as sport utility vehicles. Lower petrol prices have made such models more affordable to drive.

Summary: Toyota says its full-year profits will be better than expected thanks to a pick-up in sales and a boost from currency fluctuations.


A firmer dollar in the aftermath of the first Clinton-Trump presidential debate helped send gold prices lower. The Dow Jones Average was up 0.74% to 18,174, while the more tech-related Nasdaq rose 0.92% to 5,284. The broader S&P 500 index gained 0.64%. Stronger consumer confidence data helped to boost retail stocks. High street firms Macy's and Best Buy gained 1% and 2% respectively. Technology shares were strong, with Facebook and Google parent Alphabet both rising 1.1%, and Amazon adding 2.1%. Oil-related shares retreated on lower crude prices, with Anadarko Petroleum losing 0.5% and Halliburton down 1%.

Summary: (Close): US markets closed higher, led by technology and consumer sectors, while oil prices fell on fading hopes of an Opec deal to limit output.


Tandridge District Council leader Martin Fisher gave planners a shortlist of five areas for such a scheme. He said one new Surrey village is better than "scatter-gunning" homes and cramping the current infrastructure. But Andrea Watson from Lingfield Parish Council said it will not solve infrastructure problems and there has been "poor local consultation". Areas around Godstone, Blindley Heath, Redhill Aerodrome, Chaldon and Lingfield are all in the running under the new Local Plan. The district is 94% greenbelt and Mr Fisher said the council cannot meet the government's housing targets without building on some of it. In January, the government announced Longcross as the site of one of 14 garden villages across the country. Councillor Fisher said: "The key is infrastructure. If you do the scattergun approach you may put 300 houses somewhere and that might deliver you half an extra classroom. "Whereas if you put 4,000 house in a new village you can actually plan the proper infrastructure in for the village [and] it's relieving the pressure on the health centres and the schools in other parts of the district." But Mrs Watson claimed most people interested in the new homes will be London commuters, where the most pressing housing shortage lies, and so "London needs to solve the problem it is now trying to devolve to us". She added: "The new settlement will not solve the infrastructure problems, and the infrastructure will not come until many houses have been built, if it comes at all." The site chosen will depend on which can deliver the best mix of able housing, infrastructure gains and highways opportunities.

Summary: Four thousand new homes could be built on greenbelt land in a new garden village development for Surrey.


The Military Reaction Force was the subject of a BBC Panorama programme last November. Former members said the unit had shot people who may have been unarmed. The PSNI investigation has found none of the men featured "admitted any criminal act or being involved in any of the incidents portrayed". In a statement, the PSNI said: "Detectives from Serious Crime Branch have studied the contents of a BBC Panorama programme broadcast last year into the activities of the MRF. "Although there does not appear to be any admission to criminality by individuals featured in the programme, it will form part of an HET review into all deaths linked to soldiers. "This review will begin when HET resumes its work in the near future." The unit was disbanded in 1973, after 18 months. The plain-clothes soldiers carried out round-the-clock patrols in Belfast in unmarked cars. Three former members of the unit talked to Panorama. They said they had been tasked with "hunting down" IRA members in Belfast. When asked if on occasion the MRF would make an assumption that someone had a weapon, even if they could not see one, one of the former soldiers replied "occasionally". "We didn't go around town blasting, shooting all over the place like you see on the TV, we were going down there and finding, looking for our targets, finding them and taking them down," he said. "We may not have seen a weapon, but there more than likely would have been weapons there in a vigilante patrol." One of the soldiers said they were "not there to act like an army unit, we were there to act like a terror group". Solicitor Padraig Ã“ Muirigh represents families who believe their relatives were killed by the MRF. He said police should further investigate the soldiers' claims. "They very openly and brazenly admitted that they were in a terror gang, that they acted outside the rule of law, that they also acted outside of the yellow card rule," he said. "They also admitted being involved in fatal incidents in which people may not have been armed. "I think all of that and that very high-profile Panorama programme pointed in the direction that there should have been further investigation of these matters. "Unfortunately it appears that the PSNI have not done that, despite the request from the director of public prosecutions."

Summary: Families of people allegedly killed by an Army undercover unit have been told former members of the unit who appeared on TV admitted no crimes.


But his killing in an air strike is a grievous strategic error - militarily insignificant but diplomatically disastrous. Towards the end of April, Nato states made a number of operational innovations. Three member states - Britain, France, and Italy - injected military advisers into rebel-held eastern Libya. Another, the US, began continuous patrols of armed drones. Third, and most important, air strikes began to target command, control, communications and intelligence networks (known, in military parlance, as C3I). The Bab al-Aziziya compound includes all three such networks, and it was presumed that their disruption would disorient regime soldiers on the front line, cut off field commanders from Tripoli, and sow confusion in the ranks. But was the strike also an assassination attempt? Assassination of a head of state is illegal under international law, and forbidden by various US presidential orders. On the other hand, the targeted killing of those woven into the enemy chain of command is shrouded in legal ambiguity. Given the personalistic nature of the regime, and the "all means necessary" clause in UN Resolution 1973, it might be argued that killing Col Muammar Gaddafi and certain members of his family - such as his son Khamis, commander of an elite military brigade - would be permissible, even if it posed a risk to those non-combatants around the regime. Legality, though, indicates neither legitimacy nor prudence. This strike, and the death of Saif al-Arab, have produced little military result at the greatest diplomatic and symbolic cost to Nato. Saif al-Arab was, unlike his brothers, not a senior military commander or propagandist. His death is redolent of the 1986 US strike on the same compound. That raid killed a girl who Col Gaddafi later claimed was his adopted daughter and, in the scarred buildings and craters, furnished him with a long-lasting symbol of defiance. The propaganda value of such unintended deaths is potentially severe. In the 1991 Gulf War, a US stealth bomber directed two bombs at what was claimed to be a command-and-control bunker, but was in fact an Iraqi civilian shelter. The result was 315 deaths, including 130 children. Col Gaddafi, like Saddam Hussein before him, will take every opportunity to exploit such errors to paint Western powers as indiscriminate aggressors. Moreover, this is no longer a conventional war in which top-down direction is crucial. Pro-Gaddafi forces in both the besieged western city of Misrata and in the east have adapted to Nato's air power and are using increasingly unorthodox tactics. They need not rely on a stream of detailed orders from Tripoli, and can cause considerable harm to civilians without this guidance. Nato is understandably frustrated at the diminishing returns of air strikes, since it has destroyed most accessible targets. But killing commanders and disrupting communications is far less important than the key task of degrading heavy military equipment, such as tanks and artillery. If the strike had killed Col Gaddafi himself, would it then have been at least a military success? One of the greatest mistakes of the Iraq war was assuming that, with the departure of Saddam

Summary: The death of Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, if confirmed, is likely to have come as a consequence of Nato's increasingly aggressive tactics, undertaken by the alliance to shake up a stalemate in the conflict.


A selection of your pictures of Scotland sent in between 3 January and 10 February. Send your photos to scotlandpictures@bbc.co.uk or our Instagram at #bbcscotlandpics

Summary: All pictures are copyrighted.


Seven firms, including major supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice and IKEA, have been asked declare they are not doing so within a week. The forest fires in Indonesia have deteriorated Singapore's air quality, causing a blanket of haze in the city. FairPrice has said it removing products from one Indonesian firm. The state-owned supermarket giant said that it was removing all paper products sourced from Asia Pulp and Paper Group (APP), following the notification from the government. APP has been named by Singapore authorities as one of the companies suspected of contributing to the haze. What is behind the South East Asia haze? In a joint statement, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said they had asked the retailers to declare that they have "not procured or used wood, paper and/or pulp materials" from firms accused of contributing to the fires. The SEC said retailers were "a good starting point" for firms to show their commitment to sustainable procurement processes and "for consumers to show their support for brands that have environmentally friendly practices" The haze has caused hazardous air quality across the region. It has led to the cancellation of public events and schools closure over the past month, in Singapore as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia. Anger has been rising in the region, with increasing pressure on the Indonesian government to control the annual burning of forests to clear land for palm oil and rubber plantations.

Summary: Singapore is putting pressure on major retailers in Singapore to not use or sell materials produced by firms linked to fires in Indonesia.


Michael Coe, 35, saw the two 16-year-olds hugging in the street in Newham, east London, in April and demanded to know if they were Muslims. Southwark Crown Court heard the Muslim convert then called the girl a "whore", before throwing the boy to the ground. Coe also attacked a passing teacher who had tried to help the couple. Judge Michael Gledhill QC said the two children had denied they were Muslim when challenged by Coe. "Why? Because they were frightened of what you would do if they told you the truth, that they were in fact Muslim," Jude Gledhill said. He added: "At the time of these offences you either held extremist views or views that were getting very close to extremist views." Coe had admitted "shoving" the boy - who is half his size - claiming he was acting in self-defence, but was convicted in August of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery. The court heard the father of two was radicalised in prison by al-Qaeda terrorist Dhiren Barot in 2007 while serving an eight-year term for firing a shotgun at police during an arrest. Coe was also convicted of religiously aggravated harassment in 2013 after seeing a Muslim woman talking to a group of men and telling her that it was against Islam. The defendant, also known as Mikaeel Ibrahim, became a close associate of convicted hate preacher Choudary, founder of the banned organisation al-Muhajiroun, of which Coe was a member. Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay read a victim impact statement from the boy. "He feels the offence has affected his life quite a lot," My Polnay said. "He doesn't see his friends outside of school. "He has also split up with the girl who was his girlfriend at the time."

Summary: An associate of convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary has been jailed for 28 months for knocking a boy unconscious because he was cuddling a girl.


Joseph Fox photographed the mudlarkers who comb the shore of London's River Thames. Originally a term for the city's poor who scraped a meagre living by scavenging in the river's mud, it has been adopted by a new breed of treasure hunters, often armed with metal detectors. These men and women show off their favourite finds, and discuss the joys of mudlarking. Dave Hiddleston, Limehouse Long fascinated by history and collecting, Dave first discovered mudlarking while he was working on Cannon Street and saw people on the foreshore in wellington boots. His favourite find is an English community cloth seal, which he believes was used to stamp cloth bags coming through London in about 1618. It was inside a lump of burnt cinder. Dave said: "I am always encouraging others to go mudlarking. It is a great escape from the humdrum of modern life, and interesting doing research on your finds. "Plus you get to meet some really interesting like-minded people." Edward Sandling, Vauxhall Ted discovered mudlarking by chance. "I was walking along South Bank," he said, "and I just hopped over a gate and came down to the foreshore. You get a sense of quietude and the perspectives on the city are so different, just by that small change of level." He then noticed the objects at his feet, such as this pipe stem shaped like a horse's hoof. He said: "I have finds that are older and perhaps more beautiful, but this is the one that set it all off. "It's absolutely beautiful. To hold it and know that someone else was smoking it 150 to 200 years ago is amazing." Ted believes that London's beauty lies in the fact that it hasn't all been embanked, and its tides allow these things to be found on the beaches: "It churns up discoveries every day. Every tide there are new things to be found." The one item he is holding out for is a Bartmann jug, decorated stoneware from Germany that was used to transport food, drink and goods. For Ted, "they inspire thoughts of darkly forested mountains". Andrea Smith, Rotherhithe Although she began only in October last year, Andrea makes time to go to the shore up to six times a week. She uses a metal detector, alongside her eyes and a trowel, to find shards of pottery such as this, painted with a willow pattern. Andrea said: "It does not happen often that a shard contains both doves. "I have found great joy, serenity and peace with my soulmate and best friend, my husband Iain. This shard represents this to me." Sara Cannizzaro, Vauxhall It's the unexpectedness of mudlarking that drew Sara to it, in contrast to the routine of London life. "I feel the excitement when I'm walking along the bank," she said. "It's a way of making order out of chaos." Sara has managed to find a piece of Bartmann jug, which - from the splashes of cobalt blue glaze - she has dated to 1600-20, made in Frechen. She said: "The face that was impressed on

Summary: All photographs taken by Joseph Fox.


20 November 2015 Last updated at 14:22 GMT A special vote was launched on the CBBC website to see if kids think it's better to help bullies or punish them. More than 2, 400 children voted and 47% thought that bullies should be punished for their actions, with 53% saying bullies should be helped. We spoke to Alex Holmes, who is an anti bullying specialist, to get his advice for anyone who is being bullied.

Summary: As part of national Anti-Bullying week Newsround has been asking kids about the best way to stop it.


Seven members have not yet turned up, allegedly because of transport issues. But there are suspicions the Algeria team wanted to boycott the match against Israel because of longstanding tensions between the two countries. Goalball is a sport for the visually impaired involving a ball with bells. Algeria had been due to play the US on Friday, and Israel on Saturday, and the seven team members were scheduled to leave a training camp in Poland for Rio last Monday. The IPC says the team claims to have missed a bus which led to them missing a flight. They allegedly did not manage to rebook it in time because of a public holiday in Algeria. "It's an interesting account they have delivered to us," IPC spokesman Craig Spence told the BBC. "To have five days travelling to Rio, it's a long time. I've missed connections in the past, and you usually get there within 24 hours," he said. Goalball at the Rio 2016 Paralympics: All you need to know A beginner's guide to goalball The Times of Israel suggests the Algerian absence is "likely to avoid an Israel draw". "It is a great shame that politics has also seeped into the Paralympics," the paper quotes the head of the Israeli Paralympic Committee, Danny Ben-Abu, as saying. The issue has received some reaction on social media too. The IPC says it will check the facts and act accordingly. "If, as many people believe, this is a political protest, we can take some form of action against them," Craig Spence says. "It could be a slap on the wrist, or we could remove the goalball team from the tournament altogether," he added. In the meantime, both the US and Israel have been awarded a 10-0 win and three points each for the unplayed matches. Goalball is played by two teams of three visually impaired players, using a ball with bells inside. The object of the game is to throw the ball into the opposing team's net, while defenders attempt to block it with their bodies.

Summary: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has said it is investigating why the Algerian women's goalball team failed to arrive in Rio in time for matches against the US and Israel.


The petition.parliament.uk site is designed to help people get issues on the political agenda and open up a "new dialogue" with MPs and ministers. E-petitions will initially be considered by a cross-party committee of MPs chaired by Labour's Helen Jones. The first e-petition tabled called for increased taxes on foreigners buying UK property worth more than Â£3.5m. Under the previous system, petitions were directed to government departments rather than MPs, with 10,000 signatures required for an official response and 100,000 needed for a petition to be considered for a debate in Parliament. More than 40 petitions passed the 100,000 signature threshold during the last Parliament. A number of them were subsequently debated in Parliament although critics say not enough of them were given parliamentary airtime. The thresholds for a petition getting a response or being considered for a debate have not changed in the revamp of the old website which launched in 2011. The new site will be jointly run by the House of Commons and the government. The Petitions Committee, made up of 11 MPs from different parties, said it would enable every British citizen and UK resident to start or a sign a petition electronically. The committee, whose creation was recommended in a report by MPs last December, said its role was to liaise with petitioners, seek information from government about issues raised and, in some cases, refer petitions to specialist parliamentary committees. "First and foremost, it is an easy way for people to let MPs and ministers know they care about," Ms Jones said. "What's more, it gives us a chance to open up a new dialogue between the public and Parliament. I very much hope that the petitions committee will be able to bring forward issues that wouldn't otherwise have been debated or investigated in Parliament. "For the most pressing petitions, we will be able to schedule debates...It is an exciting step for Parliament and a visible demonstration of its commitment to improving public engagement with what goes on here." Deputy Commons leader Therese Coffey said the new website would further improve public engagement with politics.

Summary: Members of the public can once again digitally petition MPs on issues with the launch of a new website.


Sakho, who is currently on loan at Crystal Palace, tested positive for the fat burner higenamine in March 2017 and served a provisional 30-day suspension. Uefa dismissed the case in July. European football's governing body blamed "gaps in communication" between Wada and two of its laboratories. A Uefa report released on Thursday said it was "clearly not possible" for anyone to tell whether higenamine is a prohibited substance by reading Wada's banned list. "The fact that the Cologne laboratory tested for higenamine but had to check with Wada before making a determination indicates a problem, as does the fact that the Lausanne laboratory does not test for it," it added. "The onus is clearly on Wada to communicate to its laboratories what is and what is not on the prohibited list. "There are clearly gaps in communication with regard to higenamine, something which also tends to support the suggestion that Wada's own internal procedure and analysis in respect of this substance is incomplete." Sakho, 27, admitted taking the substance without Liverpool's knowledge but contended it was not on the banned list, which was supported by the report into the case by Uefa's control, ethics and disciplinary body. The France international has not played for Liverpool since testing positive and moved to Palace on loan in February.

Summary: Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho was suspended last season for taking a substance that was not on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) banned list, according to a Uefa report.


University College London researchers found just 51% of the 6,500 children they monitored achieved the recommended hour of physical activity each day. For girls, the figure was just 38%, compared with 63% for boys. Half of the group also spent more than six hours being sedentary each day, although some of this would be spent in class, the researchers acknowledged. The study, published in the online journal BMJ Open, found levels of activity varied among groups. For example, children of Indian origin and those living in Northern Ireland were among the least physically active with 43% achieving the recommended levels, compared to 53% in Scotland. But the most marked difference was between girls and boys. Researchers said this suggested there needed to be a focus on making sport and other activities more attractive to girls. Prof Carol Dezateux, one of the lead authors, said: "There is a big yawning gap between girls and boys. We need to really think about how we are reaching out to girls. "The school playground is an important starting point. Often you will find it dominated by boys playing football." But she said there should still be concern about the activity levels across the board. "The findings are particularly worrying because seven-year-olds are likely to become less active as they get older, not more." To achieve the one hour recommendation children have to take part in moderate or vigorous activity, which includes everything from brisk walking and cycling to playing football and running. The UCL research is not the first to suggest children are not active enough, but most previous studies have relied on self-reporting by children or parents estimating levels of exercise, whereas the latest one involved real-time monitoring. During the study, which took place during 2008 and 2009, youngsters wore an accelerometer to measure exercise levels which was attached to an elastic belt around their waist. It was removed only when bathing or when the children went to bed. In total, the experts were able to record more than 36,000 days of data based on the children wearing the accelerometer for at least 10 hours a day over the course of a week. Dr John Middleton, of the Faculty of Public Health, said more research was needed into why certain groups were less active. "We need our children to grow up to be fit and healthy adults, not just because it's what any civilised society would want for its children, but it's also best for our economy too," he added. Dr Ann Hoskins, of Public Health England, agreed. She said: "This study highlights that there is still much to do to keep children and young people active as they grow older, especially girls. "The new school year is the perfect time to make healthy changes, swapping short car or bus journeys with walking or scooting to school."

Summary: Half of all UK seven-year-olds do not do enough exercise, with girls far less active than boys, a study suggests.


If you leave your mobile phone somewhere do you worry you will not be able to check it? If any of this sounds familiar, there is a chance you could be spending too much time on social networks. An exclusive online Newsbeat poll suggests that a quarter of 15 to 18-year-olds in the UK feel happier online than they do in real life. Dr Radha from The Surgery on Radio 1 has dealt with patients who have displayed "a lot of social anxiety" because they are using social networks too much. "Being online can provoke a sense of 'I'm not good enough, everyone else is having an amazing life'," she explained. "It doesn't give us a sense of reality and actually what you will find is most people are probably doing the same thing as you are." The survey, carried out last month, also suggests a third of 15 to 18-year-olds have met someone in person they originally met through social media. Dr Radha has said it is important people carefully consider what information they share with the online community. "What this survey showed is a lot of people go online alone," she said. "In terms of our personal details and how we respond to messages from other people, we need to make sure we are looking after all of that safely." Dr Radha was concerned that some people feel safer dealing with people online, rather than in person. "The more time we spend online, the less we are able to develop our social skills," she explained. "When you are online you're not getting eye contact with people or perceiving how body language is changing, so as a result what people are saying can be misinterpreted. "Physical contact, like a hug and a kiss, is really important. You don't get that kind of emotional confidence from being online." If your online activity is leaving you feeling anxious, Dr Radha has advised that you should "slowly try to wean yourself off it". She said: "If you are worrying, 'what's going on? What am I missing?' It's a sign that being online too much is quite bad for you. "Give yourself some rules by saying, 'I'm only going to check things three times a day for this amount of time'." BBC Radio 1's The Surgery with Aled and Dr Radha is on Wednesday's at 9pm. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Do you ever feel lonely, stressed or jealous when you are online?


Steve, who presents Deadly 60 on CBBC, says "it's pretty crazy that the word 'bullying' was bandied around." "It's not a word that should be used lightly and certainly not one that I ever used," he said. The pair dismissed claims earlier this month and Ola's husband James Jordan attacked Strictly producers over it. Ola has now said that she knows people will believe how it was reported by the Daily Mail even if it wasn't true. "Yes they do think it's true," reflects Ola, "and it is hard being on a show for nine years and suddenly being called names, it's very hard". Steve and Ola were in the bottom two on Strictly at the weekend and then lost the dance off so have now left this year's competition. "It's been weird for me," says Steve, "that the job I do has very little press and tabloid attention and all of a sudden having all these stories coming out and not really knowing what to do with it and how to handle it has been probably the biggest learning experience of Strictly for me". In a joint interview, Steve went on to say that "the best thing" to do when the bullying claims surfaced "was to show that we were unified, that we were together as a team and to make sure that we just carried on smiling and carried on dancing and carried on doing our thing." "And in some ways not to dignify it with a response," he added. "In other ways when it's decisively brought up to answer it as truthfully as we can and I think that we've done that and it will blow over." If you've been affected by bullying and want to find out about the help that's available, go to The Surgery's homepage on the BBC Radio 1 website. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Steve Backshall has spoken about his disappointment that it was reported he was bullied on Strictly Come Dancing by his dance partner Ola Jordan.


He was charged after catching West Ham's Winston Reid with his left arm as they waited for a free-kick in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. The incident was not seen by the match officials but was caught on video. Schweinsteiger, 31, will miss games against Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke, and return in time to play Chelsea. Referee Mark Clattenburg spoke to both players after the incident, but did not mention it in his post-match report. A panel of three former elite referees each reviewed the video footage independently of one another and unanimously decided it was a sending-off offence. "He knows what he's done - he's elbowed me in the face," Reid said following the match. West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said it was "a clear red card - a straight red without any doubts". He added: "It was a moment of madness. He deserved to be sent off, but the referee told me he didn't see it. Fair enough, I believe it. It was an elbow." Germany captain Schweinsteiger, who was part of their 2014 World Cup-winning side, joined United from Bayern Munich during the summer and has made 24 appearances for the club, scoring one goal.

Summary: Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be banned for three matches after accepting a Football Association charge of violent conduct.


The owners said their planned £80m development at the site in Bewdley, Worcestershire, would create between 300 and 500 jobs. Wyre Forest District Council granted planning permission for the water park, including seven slides. The park said it hoped this would open by 2017. The hotel was given outline planning permission. Some people living in Bewdley have raised concerns about traffic congestion and the impact on the environment. Managing director Ivan Knezovich said: "If we see the safari park as a destination, the whole idea of creating a destination is for people to say 'well let's go to Bewdley, let's go to the safari park and we'll have a two or three days stay'. "(That) means it'll encourage people to travel out into the Wyre Forest, to the River Severn." Stephen Williams, who chairs the planning committee on the council, said the positives outweighed the negatives. He said: "This is a very, very major development and it will bring a great deal of employment."

Summary: Proposals for an indoor water park and a hotel at West Midland Safari Park have been approved by councillors.


Luke Durbin, 19, of Hollesley, Suffolk, failed to return home after a night out in Ipswich on 12 May 2006. His mother Nicki said when a police team took over the case and interviewed her for six hours she was able to put more emphasis on the car. She had always believed the owner of the Volvo car was significant. "I am hopeful someone will now come forward and I am convinced there is someone out there with relevant information," she said. "Despite the disappearance being nine years ago I am sure someone locally knows something. "It's a relief to know the team is now looking seriously at the importance of the car." Police know the silver or white Volvo 440 was seen in Orwell Place in Ipswich at 04:19 BST on Friday 12 May 2006, just minutes after the last CCTV images of Luke . Officers are keen to trace the driver and any occupants of the vehicle. Mr Durbin had spent part of the evening in Zest nightclub on Princes Street before leaving in the early hours. The last sighting of him was on CCTV walking across Dogs Head Street in the direction of the bus station. Det Supt John Brocklebank said: "Someone locally knows what happened to Luke, however we are still waiting for the crucial piece of information that can solve the mystery. "We're releasing the CCTV images of a Volvo seen in the area. Despite appeals we have not been able to trace the occupants of this car. "We'd like to hear from anyone who knows someone who had access to a silver or white coloured Volvo 440 around May 2006 who may have been in Ipswich around 04:00 BST that day."

Summary: The family of a teenager who vanished nine years ago has welcomed a police appeal for information about a Volvo car seen on the night he went missing.


Matching Models in London describes itself as "an international temp agency for beautiful and talented people". It advertised for a personal assistant with "a classic look, brown long hair with b-c cup". The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) called it "appalling, unlawful and demeaning to women". Rebecca Hilsenrath, chief executive of the EHRC, said it would be writing to Matching Models "asking for them to clarify their hiring practices immediately". Meanwhile, women's equality campaigners said its ads were "straight out of the 1970s". Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: "It is extraordinary that they are taking this approach and almost certainly falls foul of equality legislation. "If we ever wonder why the battle for gender equality hasn't been won, this is a timely reminder." The agency's founder Nathalie Jansen said: "Our clients are important to us - and looks are important." Another job advert on the agency's website asks a "sexy female driver" to drive a Porsche Cayenne two days a week for between £40,000 and £50,000-a-year for a Knightsbridge-based businessman and polo team owner. Employment lawyer James Lynas, partner at Winckworth Sherwood, said the advert was "clearly unlawful", adding anyone could complain to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, who have powers to intervene. He said an employment tribunal could find the use of phrases such as "beautiful and attractive" were really code for "young", and in reality discriminatory against older women. He added: "A male driver who genuinely wanted the job could submit an application and sue for sex discrimination if rejected. Compensation for such claims is unlimited. " A statement on the agency's website states: "It is almost politically incorrect to request someone to work for you that is both attractive as well as professionally equipped with the right set of skills. "However, our company understands the importance of having the right people representing your company, because after all, first impressions count." But Ms Hilsenrath said: "Matching Models are right about one thing; first impressions count, but the important stuff is not about your hair colour. "If they wish to maintain their reputation, they should act like a business in the 21st Century and consign this type of sexism to the history books." Under the 2010 Equality Act, it is against the law to say, or imply, that you will discriminate against anyone - including saying that you are unable to cater for disabled workers. Employers are also not allowed to question a candidate's age, sexual orientation, marital status, number of children or plans to have children, disability, race or religion. As for specifying clothing sizes, an employer has to be able to show that it is essential to the nature or context of the work. Talking about the personal assistant advert, Ms Jansen said: "The client who wants the specific cup size is an older gentleman - he has a specific outfit he designed with Christian Dior. He wants a "Jackie O" look. And he wants a lady with a smaller cup size to fit into the outfit." "I recently had an Indian businessman

Summary: A recruitment agency has been criticised for advertising jobs only for "attractive women", as well as specifying bra size.


While 7% of people underpay and could be fined, 13% are paying too much. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) wants train companies to refund passengers who accidentally buy tickets that are too expensive for their journey. Train operators said that vending machines were designed for simple ticket requirements. They say plans to simplify fares will help them to give clearer information on ticket machines. The ORR employed mystery shoppers to buy rail tickets from machines. "Despite investment in new technology and the removal of jargon from ticket machines, our new research shows passengers may be paying more for their journey than necessary," said John Larkinson, ORR director of railway markets and economics. "We are calling on train companies to commit to refund anyone who finds that they could have bought a cheaper ticket for the same journey," he added. Rail operators C2C and Scotrail already have a price guarantee in place for when passengers overpay. Earlier this month, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators, announced a trial scheme to simplify fares. It said the 16 million fares on offer were "baffling" for passengers. As part of the trial, which begins in May, ticket machines on stations will also be updated, to make sure they show the cheapest fares available. "To quickly benefit passengers, the Rail Delivery Group must set out what improvements to ticket machines will be made in the short term," said Mr Larkinson. Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG, told the BBC that operators were aware that there was a problem with machines, and that they had formulated a 10-point plan to improve them. Yet he pointed out the machines were designed as "queue-busters" for passengers with relatively simple requirements, but "expectations [of passengers] had evolved". He said that the system of fares was far too complicated. The RDG also added: "Complex, decades-old government rail fare regulations make it more difficult for train companies to offer the right, simple options on ticket machines. "Simplifying the number and types of fares in the system will let train companies provide customers with clear information and help them to make better informed choices," they added. by Ben Morris, business reporter In the British Rail era, rail fares were a relatively simple affair, with ticket prices worked out on a cost-per mile basis. But in the 1990s, in an effort to make the network more efficient, the operation of rail services was handed to private train operating companies (Tocs). The Tocs were given some freedom to set ticket prices, with advanced ticket bookings particularly important to them, as it helps them to keep their trains full. To protect passengers, other fares were regulated, including season tickets and off-peak fares. The result is a patchwork of fares, that becomes even more complicated when a passenger wants to cross several train regions. Savvy travellers have been taking advantage of this by splitting their journey into several tickets, rather than one through-ticket.

Summary: Rail ticket machines cause so much confusion that one-fifth of passengers who use them buy the wrong ticket, according to the rail regulator.


The woman, 37-year-old Wu Shuoyan, is alleged to have been killed last May simply for refusing to hand over her phone number to cult members. The murder, filmed on CCTV and on mobile phones, sparked outrage. The Church of the Almighty God cult is banned in China but claims to have millions of members. Following the brutal killing in May, Chinese authorities said that they detained hundreds of members of the cult, reports the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing. Interviewed in prison later, one of the defendants, Zhang Lidong showed no remorse. He said: "I beat her with all my might and stamped on her too. She was a demon. We had to destroy her." The group had entered a small McDonalds branch in Zhaoyuan in Shandong province last May soliciting phone numbers and hoping to recruit members to their cult. Ms Wu was waiting in the restaurant with her seven-year-old son and when she refused to give her number, an act which prompted the beating while they screamed at other diners to keep away or they would face the same fate. The public face of the Church of the Almighty God is a website full of uplifting hymns and homilies. But its core belief is that God has returned to earth as a Chinese woman to wreak the apocalypse. The only person who claims direct contact with this god is a former physics teacher, Zhao Weishan, who founded the cult 25 years ago and has since fled to the United States, says BBC China Editor Carrie Gracie. No-one knows exactly where he is, but much of the website's message of outright hostility to the Chinese government is delivered in English as well as Chinese. The cult complains that religious faith has suffered from persecution by the Communist Party. Since the McDonald's murder, public outrage has forced the authorities to increase pressure on the Church of the Almighty God with almost daily arrests and raids.

Summary: The trial of a group of cult members in China who beat a woman to death at a McDonald's restaurant has opened in the city of Yantai in Shandong province.


Andreas Von Knorre and Elton Hinz pleaded guilty to entering a train depot and spraying graffiti on a train. Singapore has strict laws on vandalism, and has caned and jailed foreigners in the past for the offence. These include a Swiss national in 2010 and US teenager Michael Fay whose 1994 caning sparked global controversy. Von Knorre, 22, and Hinz, 21, had flown into Singapore from Australia in November last year and vandalised a train during their stay. They left the country afterwards and were eventually arrested in Kuala Lumpur in neighbouring Malaysia. Both men expressed remorse in court, and called their acts "a stupid mistake". Caning in Singapore involves being struck with a wooden stick on the back of the thigh, which can leave permanent scars. The maximum penalty for vandalism is a fine of S$2,000 (Â£958: $1,461) or up to three years in jail, in addition to three to eight strokes of the cane. In 2010, Swiss software consultant Oliver Fricker was jailed and caned for spray-painting graffiti on a train in Singapore. American Michael Fay made international headlines when he was sentenced in 1994 for damaging cars and public property. Despite an appeal from US President Bill Clinton, Singapore authorities went ahead with the caning but gave Fay a reduced number of strokes.

Summary: Two German men have been sentenced to three strokes of a cane and nine months in jail in Singapore for vandalism and trespassing.


His signing follows the news that the Stags could be without injured striker Alex Fisher for four weeks. Oliver, 23, signed his first professional contract with his hometown club Sheffield Wednesday. He left the Owls in 2012 and made an immediate impact at Lincoln City, scoring 14 goals in 41 matches, before joining Crewe last summer. Oliver could make his debut at York on Saturday.

Summary: Forward Vadaine Oliver has joined Mansfield Town on an emergency one-month loan from Crewe Alexandra.


Knight Frank found transaction volumes in the Granite City fell from over £600m in 2014 to only £55m last year. Investment in offices alone slumped from £500m in 2014 to £30m in 2016. Knight Frank said the low oil price "continued to take its toll" in the north east, with few deals going through in 2016. But it added that market conditions could improve in the year ahead, with crude prices making a recovery. The report found investors spent nearly £1.8bn last year across all sectors in Scotland, including offices, hotels, shops, student accommodation and industrial units. The figure was 12% down on the previous year but above the 10-year average of £1.72bn. Edinburgh registered a particularly strong year for investment, with almost £1.2bn transacted across all sectors - 92.5% up on 2015. But Glasgow saw a "more muted" 12 months, with transaction volumes down by 59% at £280m. Alasdair Steele, from Knight Frank, said: "Overall, the Scottish commercial property market remained resilient, despite an unstable 12 months. "Across the country, political uncertainty has influenced investment levels over the last year. "However, there's a general feeling beginning to emerge that Scotland offers good value and strong fundamentals - an attractive proposition for investors seeking solid returns at an especially turbulent time. "We'd hope to see that reflected in transaction volumes picking up in 2017, provided the political climate remains stable." Meanwhile, a separate report has suggested that investor interest in Scotland's commercial property market has failed to pick up despite an increase in occupier demand. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said both domestic and foreign investment inquiries stayed in negative territory in the last quarter. At the same time, the supply of property for investment purposes fell across all sectors. Some surveyors described market conditions as "challenging". The latest Rics UK commercial market survey suggested increased demand from occupiers in the office and industrial sectors. But it was a different story for retail in the fourth quarter, with a net balance of 14% more chartered surveyors reporting a fall in demand for retail space. Gavin Anderson, from Montagu Evans in Glasgow, said: "The current economic outlook isn't looking great and consumer spending on the high street is feeling the effect of growing fears about the economy. "Hopefully, the anticipated reduction in the rateable value of retail premises from April 2017 will act as a catalyst to help retailers' profit margins across their shop portfolios and increase their confidence to expand and take more stores next year." Rics chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said: "The results for the survey suggest that the commercial property market in Scotland has failed to attract investor interest despite an increase in occupier demand for commercial property in the last quarter. "This may be due, in part, to the prospects for the economy and the political situation more generally."

Summary: Investment in commercial property has plummeted in Aberdeen in the last two years, according to a report by a consultancy.


It comes in a shake-up of UK military buildings and resettling of regiments. Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative MP Chris Davies condemned the closure, saying there had been a barracks in Brecon since 1805, home to troops who fought the Zulus at Rorke's Drift. "This decision is abhorrent and I shall be fighting it every step of the way," he said. "The government has a great deal of questions to answer over why it is proposing to close a well-loved and historic barracks in a vitally important military town. "Brecon Barracks has served our country with distinction over its long history, with soldiers from the site fighting in every conflict since the early 19th century. "This decision shows a blatant lack of respect for that history." Mr Davies said he was launching a petition against the decision, saying the Brecon area had some of the highest unemployment levels in Wales. He also hoped the closure would not damage the town's "thriving" military tourism industry. Brecon barracks has about 85 civilian staff and 90 military but it is not thought jobs are at risk. Mr Davies said he understood the nearby Sennybridge training ground and infantry school at Dering Lines would not be affected. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon told the Commons on Monday the reorganisation in Wales would see a specialist light infantry centre created at St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan. Cawdor Barracks, Pembrokeshire - whose closure was previously announced in 2013 - will now shut in 2024, while a storage depot at Sennybridge will go in 2025. Responding for Labour, Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said the ministry was "right to restructure its estate". But she warned closing bases would affect the livelihoods of many people who would face "gnawing uncertainty" over their future.

Summary: The Ministry of Defence is to close the British Army's Welsh headquarters at Brecon, Powys, in 2027.


There have been incidents reported at scenic spots where public conveniences are lacking or have been closed down. In Uig, where many of the complaints have been raised, the local authority-run toilets have been out of order since the beginning of the year. Highland Council said it was seeking quotes for the repair work needed. The availability of toilets on Skye has been raised previously. In 2011, Highland Council received complaints about people urinating and defecating outdoors at Staffin where public toilets were closed as part of cost cutting.

Summary: Islanders on Skye have demanded greater availability of public toilets after complaints some visitors to the isle are relieving themselves outside.


He argued that only another "stable and strong" coalition involving his party could save the country from a re-run. He said "everybody knows that no-one will win this election", even if the two major parties fail to admit it. "Politicians will have to work together to put the country first," he said. Mr Clegg spoke out during a "two-day dash" from Land's End to John O'Groats in the final hours of the election campaign. He said the hardening position of Labour and the Conservatives on coalition deals meant a minority government after 7 May would be more unstable - and "controversial" policies would cause it to fail. "Everybody knows that no-one will win this election - even if David Cameron and Ed Miliband won't admit it publicly," Mr Clegg said during a campaign visit to Cardiff Central where the Lib Dems are fighting off a Labour challenge for the seat. "The Liberal Democrats have shown that coalitions can be strong and stable. But instead of creating stability, Labour and the Conservatives will create a shambles. "If they try to stagger through with a messy and unstable minority government instead of putting the country first, then they will risk all the hard work and sacrifices people have made over the last five years. "The last thing Britain needs is a second election before Christmas. But that is exactly what will happen if Ed Miliband and David Cameron put their own political interest ahead of the national interest." Earlier Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was not in principle opposed to a referendum on EU membership - claiming other issues like the NHS and "balancing the books" were bigger priorities than the EU poll. He also predicted his party would do "better than people think" on 7 May. 'I don't run a sect' Insisting his MPs could be "the guarantors of stability at a time of great uncertainty", he insisted: "We'll do no deals, no pacts, no arrangements with either UKIP on the right or the SNP on the left. "The great risk of not having the Liberal Democrats in Parliament, in government, is we lurch off into this blue-KIP alliance between David Cameron, UKIP, the DUP and the rest of them cutting, cutting, cutting way beyond what's necessary, or reckless borrowing as Ed Miliband and Alex Salmond are in some kind of deathly embrace on the left." Main pledges But Mr Clegg refused to be drawn on claims by Lib Dem peer Lord Scriven that David Cameron had privately told him before the election campaign that he did not believe the Conservatives would win a majority. "In the same way I don't control the tweets of Liberal Democrats - I run a political party, I don't run a sect - I'm not going to provide a running commentary on private conversations," he said. Describing the Conservatives as "panicky" about the outcome of the election, he added: "The claim they can win a majority by 23 seats is false - it's wrong - it's a big fat fib. They need to

Summary: The UK could be poised for a second general election by Christmas if either Labour or the Conservatives try to form a minority government after 7 May, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has warned.


Media playback is not supported on this device Eleven months on from their first Scottish Cup triumph in 114 years, the feel-good factor around the Edinburgh outfit continued with confirmation their three-year spell in the second-tier Championship is over. "Hopefully we will not be back here for quite a while," Lennon added. "We've handled the big games pretty well. We've been a little bit inconsistent at times, but I think next season, we have players who can play at the Premiership level. I think they'll enjoy it and flourish there. The hard bit for me was getting out of this division, because it's so competitive." So, having justified their position as favourites by sealing the title with three games to spare, how well equipped are Hibs for their return to the big-time? BBC Sport Scotland spoke to chief executive Leeann Dempster (LD) and former players Michael Stewart (MS) and Craig Paterson (CP) to assess their prospects. LD: "There are a lot of great things happening at the club. We have a fantastic academy with some of the best young players in Scotland coming through. We have got a great squad of players and a great management team, and we want to keep as much continuity as we can. We didn't get promoted in the last two years but we had a brilliantly solid base." MS: "I don't think there needs to be a major overhaul. If you look at the quality in the side it's a vast improvement on the teams Hibs had prior to their relegation. That is borne out by the fact they have done so well against top-flight opposition in the cup competitions during their time in the Championship. There definitely needs to be more goals in the side as apart from Jason Cummings it's a bit lean and he needs more support. "They have been linked with Liam Boyce and someone of that ilk would be a fantastic signing for Hibs. Louis Moult at Motherwell is another guy who has shown he can score in the top flight regularly. I'm sure they won't be far off the wish-list for Neil Lennon." CP: "I don't see a major overhaul. I don't imagine Hibs have the kind of money to do that, but certainly you want to try and cherry-pick one or two players you think can come and make an impact in the team. They also need to fend off any interest from other sides in the good players they have there. I think Hibs have shown against the likes of Hearts [in the Scottish Cup] and Aberdeen [League Cup] that they can compete at that level and I'm sure they'll be thoroughly looking forward to doing it on a weekly basis." "I'm very proud to be the manger of this club, I've really enjoyed the season, and I've had great support from people like (director of football) George Craig, (chief executive) Leeann Dempster and (chairman) Rod Petrie," said Lennon. "The board have made my job a lot easier, and the support I've had throughout the city and the

Summary: "We're back," declared Hibernian boss Neil Lennon as the strains of 'Sunshine of Leith' rang around Easter Road on Saturday in celebration of the club's return to Scotland's top flight.


The public services union said Yvette Cooper was its second choice. Initially seen as an outsider in the contest, some bookmakers now make Mr Corbyn the favourite to replace Ed Miliband. The BBC's Norman Smith said: "The Corbyn bandwagon rolls on." He added: "What people thought was impossible, couldn't happen, wouldn't happen, may well happen." Unison's endorsement does not mean its members who have chosen to be affiliated to Labour will necessarily vote for the Islington North MP, as they are free to cast their votes as they choose. But it is seen as a blow to Andy Burnham, who had hoped for union backing for his campaign. Sources in his campaign sought to present the decision as a setback for Mrs Cooper, who they said was confident of winning Unison's backing. Liz Kendall is the other candidate in the contest. At-a-glance profiles of the four contenders Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "Jeremy Corbyn's message has resonated with public sector workers who have suffered years of pay freezes, redundancies with too many having to work more for less." He told Channel 4 News nine of the union's 12 regions had nominated Mr Corbyn. The union also said it would nominate Angela Eagle in the deputy leader contest, with Stella Creasy as its second choice. Unison represents 1.3 million workers, including 28,000 Labour Party members and around 15,000 who are registered to vote in the leadership contest. The third largest union, the GMB, has said it will make no formal recommendation. Labour's new leader will be announced at a special conference on 12 September. The popularity of Mr Corbyn's campaign has sparked a row within the party, with warnings from senior figures warning against a shift to the left. Mr Corbyn, who topped a recent YouGov poll, has more nominations from local constituency parties than any other candidate, followed by Mr Burnham. Although these nominations have no direct bearing on the result, they are seen as a useful indicator of the candidates' popularity among members. Mr Burnham's team sought to counter the figures by releasing their own polling data suggesting their candidate is ahead by almost 10 points. Mr Corbyn has said he only wants the backing of "genuine Labour" supporters after claims some "hard left" sympathisers and Conservatives were registering for Â£3 just in order to back him. The party has played this down, saying careful checks are being made on everyone who has signed up. But on Twitter, Croydon North MP Steve Reed said a Trade Union and Socialist Coalition candidate who stood against Labour in May had signed up, adding: "Hard left infiltrating Labour."

Summary: Left wing MP Jeremy Corbyn has the backing of the UK's two largest trade unions after Unison followed Unite in endorsing him to be Labour's next leader.


They are young and clever, and they want to change the world - one bus at a time. "We've created the world's first bus that runs on formic acid, which is a much cheaper solution than hydrogen, yet it delivers the same environmental benefits," says Lucas van Cappellen from Team Fast, a spin-off company from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. "We're building our own future." Around 40 of his fellow students are endeavouring to develop emissions-free transport that will help in the global battle against climate change. And they're also trying to create careers for themselves. Formic acid is found in nature, delivered in the stings and bites of ants and other insects - the Latin word for ant is formica. And this simple carboxylic acid (chemical formula HCOOH) is already used in textiles and leather processing, as a livestock feed preservative, and is also found in some household limescale removers. But Team Fast has found a way the acid can efficiently carry the ingredients needed for hydrogen fuel cells, used to power electric vehicles. The fuel, which the team has dubbed hydrozine (not to be confused with hydrazine), is a liquid, which means you can transport it easily and refill vehicles quickly, as with conventional fuels. The difference is that it is much cleaner. "The tailpipe emissions are only CO2 and water," explains Mr van Cappellen. "No other harmful gases like nitric oxides, soot or sulphuric oxides are emitted." To prove the concept in the real world, an electric bus is set to hit the road in the Netherlands later this year, where it will shuttle between running on conventional bus routes and appearing at promotional events and industry fairs. The bus has an electric drive system, developed by bus builder VDL, that receives additional power from the formic acid fuel cell system mounted in a range-extender trailer, towed behind. "Our tank is around 300 litres, so we will extend the range of the bus by 200km (180 miles). However, we could of course make the tank bigger very easily," says Mr van Cappellen. Current hydrogen fuel cell buses have a range of up to 400km. But why develop a bus rather than a car? "If we built a car, we would compete with electric cars, but we believe battery-powered cars are a good solution for a lot of people," says Mr van Cappellen. "But if we prove that we can build a bus that meets the needs of bus companies, with a range of around 400km and quick refuelling, we will have shown the potential of hydrozine in a segment where there is no sustainable competition yet." Hydrozine is created through a chemical reaction between water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). More Technology of Business "In a reactor, water and CO2 are bonded using sustainable electricity. This is a direct, sustainable electrochemical process," explains Mr van Cappellen. The hydrozine is then broken down by a catalyst into hydrogen and carbon dioxide inside a piece of kit called a reformer that Team Fast is attempting to patent. Its newly

Summary: A group of students has developed a way of storing energy that could be cheaper to make, more practical and more sustainable than alternative renewable fuels.


There has been continued sniping from ministers about the level of reserves held by higher education institutions. Even the finance minister Jane Hutt couldn't resist having a swipe at the hundreds of millions of pounds in their coffers, before telling Good Morning Wales why she is rolling back on the proposed cutbacks because of concerns over part-time teaching and scientific research. Ministers stressed it was a draft budget and, like all drafts, it was open to consultation before changes were made. Be that as it may, there is clearly strong feeling within government that not only can universities afford it, but that their time has come to take a hit after further education colleges took one last year. Universities insist the reserves are needed for investment to continue and for the sector in Wales to remain internationally competitive. The stand-off between ministers and vice-chancellors was beginning to develop. Opposition parties were frustrated that while many of the higher education bosses were lobbying them heavily, they weren't doing so publicly, with the exception of Professor Colin Riordan, the vice-chancellor of Cardiff university. But nevertheless it was clear that universities weren't happy, and it was adding to the simmering resentment that had already developed over the government's university tuition fee policy. In fact, the general cut and the tuition fees policy became enmeshed because the Welsh government had argued that much of the cash reduction was in fact staying in the system because the money was being re-directed to fee subsidies, rather than going directly to the institutions. The comeback from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales was that only around 60% of the tuition fee grants will stay in Wales as the fees follow the students, wherever they choose to go. In the end, a political decision was taken not to get involved in a scrap with vice-chancellors. As we head into an election campaign, there's an argument to say it would have been a huge distraction but also a potential opportunity for the Welsh government to show it wasn't afraid to make unpopular decisions. Labour want the headlines from their latest budget to be about the extra money going into the NHS, and not a fight over funding for scientific research. It didn't work yesterday but that is one day, rather than a lingering dispute lasting weeks.

Summary: If Labour are still in power after the assembly election, I get the impression it will have some unfinished business with universities.


Hibs controlled much of the opening half, but fell behind to Michael Gardyne's goal after he broke free of Mark Oxley and Liam Fontaine. Fontaine redeemed himself, scoring Hibs' equaliser just before half-time. However, it was the defender's poor clearance that allowed Schalk to score the winning goal at the death. Jim McIntyre opted to line his side up in a 3-5-2 shape that they had not used before this season, but which the coaching staff had seen other sides use well against Hibs this season. The play was frantic and urgent from the outset. Players were performing by their wits rather than any pre-planned strategy, and Jason Cummings' resourcefulness was almost telling when he lifted a 30-yard shot goalwards that Gary Woods had to move smartly to tip over the bar. A counter-attack by County saw Schalk try to play Gardyne through. The pass was misplaced, but Jackson Irvine regathered possession and he did find Gardyne. Fontaine's tackle only moved the ball away from Oxley, allowing Gardyne to prod the ball into the empty net. The goal was against the run of play, but Hibs did not allow it to unnerve them. Darren McGregor might have equalised, but headed over from a good position at the back post. Cummings also saw a hooked shot saved by Gary Woods in the County goal. A set-piece ought to have been a chance for County to rely on their organisation at the back, but there was a lack of command as a corner was fired into the penalty area and Fontaine rifled the ball into the corner of the net. The County players left the field at the interval looking dejected. Hibs would have felt that the momentum was in their favour, and Cummings and Anthony Stokes both had early chances to fire their side in front. The introduction of Brian Graham for the ineffective Liam Boyce provided County with a greater presence up front and somebody to build attacks around. The forward thought he had scored when he out-jumped Oxley to nod the ball in from close-range, but he was harshly judged to have fouled the goalkeeper. Yet in the final moments of the game, with Schalk and Gardyne having suffered from injuries, County found the means to win the final. The latter's break down the left saw Fontaine send his clearance straight to Schalk, who finished from close range to secure the first major trophy in County's history.

Summary: A 90th-minute Alex Schalk goal delivered Ross County's first piece of major silverware as they beat Hibernian to lift the Scottish League Cup.


The wing of an American Airlines plane clipped the tail of a Southwest Airlines plane, while both were on the taxiway. It happened on Wednesday at 06:05 local time (11:05 GMT) at Detroit Metro airport. Passengers had to remain on board the planes but there are no reports of any injuries or fuel leaks. The Federal Aviation Authority has said it will investigate the incident. Passenger Fletcher Sharpe spoke to the BBC from the airport where he will have to wait until the afternoon for another flight. He said other passengers commented that the planes were close to each other, but he did not believe they would hit each other until the moment of impact. "All of a sudden we heard a loud crunch and a scraping sound," he said. "I thought we had run over something. I looked up and the right wing had lost a few pieces and the back tail of the other plane was smashed off. "It was frustrating. I understand that that's a high stress job. Everyone's depending on you and you have a lot of things on your mind. But it just seems like 101 to make sure you have enough room. You learn that in a car, or when you're walking. "We just happy we weren't in the air." Another passenger, Jim Bishop, told Fox 2 News Detroit that he had been kept on board for two and a half hours and information was sparse at first. He said: "It was ten minutes of silence. Nobody said anything. "Finally it came over the radio that there had been an accident and to stay calm. A steward walked past and I asked him - he said he'd been in the job for 35 years and this had never happened before. He didn't know what to do." The temperature was below freezing and the Southwest plane was being de-iced when the accident happened. Both planes were Boeing 737s. Southwest Airlines said the plane that had been hit would now be out of service for maintenance. It had been due to fly to Dallas, the airliner said, and 95 passengers would be moved to other flights. In a statement, the airline said: "We appreciate the patience of our customers as we work diligently to get them safely to their final destinations." American Airlines apologised to customers for the inconvenience and said the 150 passengers who were on board - also due to fly to Dallas - were being put on other flights.

Summary: Two planes have collided on the ground at an airport in Detroit.


The BBC will broadcast more than 3,000 hours of coverage, including 550 hours of television on BBC One and BBC Four. BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra will have full coverage of the Olympics (5-21 August) and the Paralympics (7-18 Sept). Up to 24 live HD video streams will show every moment online. Fans will also be able to personalise their Rio 2016 experience on the BBC Sport website and in the app. 'My Sport' will enable audiences to follow their favourite sports, signing up for the latest news alerts, setting event reminders and sharing their favourite moments across social media. Redgrave won rowing gold medals at five consecutive Olympics from 1984 to 2000, while Chris Hoy is the most successful British Olympian of all time with six cycling golds from 2004 to 2012. "The BBC's coverage of London 2012 was the most watched TV event in UK broadcasting history and we are committed to bringing the same high quality, in-depth coverage to Rio 2016," said Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport. "The incredible offering across all our platforms will deliver every moment of the Games through a truly interactive, personalised experience while at the same time fully immersing audiences in this iconic sporting event just as we were so proud to do four years ago." TV and radio coverage starts with the opening ceremony on 5 August, with live action from 12:00 BST until 04:00 every day until the closing ceremony on 21 August. The BBC Breakfast sofa, which will move into the home of BBC Sport at MediaCityUK during the Games, will offer extended daily highlights from 06:00. Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who won 11 Paralympic gold medals, will be part of the Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra team which provides more than 80 hours of live coverage of the Paralympics. Along with Redgrave and Hoy, American sprinting legend Michael Johnson - winner of four Olympic golds - and some of Britain's most decorated sporting figures will provide expert opinion and insight into the 28 Olympic sports at Rio 2016. The line-up across radio and TV also includes former Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis, two-time Olympic cycling gold medallist Victoria Pendleton, marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe and England's Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward. Double Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, 2004 sprint relay gold medallist Darren Campbell, three-time world champion gymnast Beth Tweddle and Anthony Joshua, the newly crowned IBF world heavyweight boxing champion, will also be part of the BBC team in Brazil. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Olympic legends Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Chris Hoy will be part of the BBC team offering comprehensive coverage of Rio 2016.


An older generation of practitioners had traditionally relied on a long-established formula, performing illusions that were often mysterious but lacking in spontaneity and humour. Daniels brought a chirpy, cheeky persona to his act - albeit one which was not to everyone's taste - which seemed to thrive on close contact with his audience. Modern technology allowed TV cameras to home in on the close magic at which he excelled, yet on a larger scale, his illusions - most of which he devised himself - broke new ground in terms of complexity and sophistication. He was born Newton Edward Daniels in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough on 6 April 1938. His father worked as a projectionist at the local Hippodrome Theatre. His interest in magic was sparked when he read a book entitled How to Entertain at Parties and he began practising tricks for his family and friends before performing in local youth clubs. There was an added bonus in that, as a small and shy child, he finally had a skill that would boost his confidence and make people take notice of him. "From that moment," he later said, "I can safely say that all I ever wanted to do in life was to become a professional magician." After leaving grammar school, the young Daniels found a job as a junior clerk in the treasury department of the local council. He did his national service with the Green Howards, a regiment with close connections to the north-east of England. He found himself posted to Hong Kong, where he continued to hone his skills as a magician by giving impromptu performances to fellow soldiers. After he was demobbed, he began training as an accountant before joining his parents in a small grocery business. Eventually he set up his own mobile shop. But magic remained his abiding interest and his evenings were spent performing in local variety clubs. After marrying Jacqueline Skipworth in 1960, the couple often performed together as The Eldanis, an anagram of his surname. Northern club audiences had a reputation for being somewhat unforgiving and prone to heckle performers who, in their opinion, did not come up to the mark. According to Daniels, it was abuse from one heckler in Bradford that made him come up with the retort: "You'll like this - not a lot, but you'll like it," which would become his catchphrase. He developed his style of patter as a way of keeping the audience entertained and as a useful diversion when he had to perform a particularly tricky sleight of hand. His breakthrough came in 1969 when he was offered a summer season in Newquay. He sold his grocery shop and became a full-time entertainer. After an appearance on the talent show Opportunity Knocks, Daniels caught the eye of Johnny Hamp, a senior executive with Granada Television who gave him a regular slot on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, a variety show compered by Bernard Manning and set in a fictional working men's club. In 1978, ITV gave him his own Sunday night television show

Summary: Paul Daniels brought a new dimension to the art of the stage magician, mixing complex tricks with jokes and non-stop patter.


He defied the odds at every stage of his career, conjuring impossible victories at the ballot box and outmanoeuvring his political opponents with a trademark blend of mischief and guile. As he departs as Scottish National Party leader and first minister, after losing Scotland's independence referendum, it is difficult to believe we have seen last of Alex Salmond. He has bounced back many times before during his extraordinary 20 year career at the head of Scotland's independence movement. And even as he announced his decision to quit, to make way, he said, for a new generation of leaders, there were hints that we had not seen the last of him. So what was it about the ebullient, quick-witted former economist, who never seemed lost for words - except, perhaps, when he was contemplating the destruction of everything he had worked for since his student days - that made him such an effective political leader? Despite his public image, Salmond is often described as a very private person. No one has ever doubted his commitment to the nationalist cause and the incredible drive and energy he has devoted to it during the course of his long career. But where did it come from? Most look for clues in his modest upbringing. There is still "something of the chippy, working-class boy who made it to St Andrews [university] and has been determined to show how much cleverer he was than everyone else," a former Salmond aide told David Torrance in his 2010 biography of the SNP leader Against the Odds. After all, Alexander Elliott Anderson Salmond grew up on a council estate in Linlithgow, a small town in the central belt of Scotland, a traditional Labour Party stronghold. The second of four children, his father, a civil servant, voted Labour and his mother was, in Salmond's words, a "Churchill Conservative". All four of the Salmond children went to university and it was a politically aware household. In an interview with The Independent in 2008, Salmond fondly remembers how Hogmanay celebrations, which fell on his birthday, invariably ended in a political debate in the small hours. His enthusiasm for sport - and Heart of Midlothian football club - predated his interest in politics although his asthma restricted his prowess on the football field. He got his lifelong passion for golf from his father and, according to David Torrance's book, played most Saturday mornings from the age of five. The result, he told The Independent, is "a beautiful swing, a wonderful swing, but I can't chip or putt any more". Horse racing was another early passion. Salmond likes to recall his first bet, at the age of nine, when his uncle put half a crown on Arkle, the winner of the 1964 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and they crowded round the family's black and white television set to watch the race. Salmond wrote a tipping column for The Scotsman and continues to enjoy a flutter. He always cites his grandfather, who filled him with tales of Scottish history, as a source of inspiration. The family lived a

Summary: He is the man who took a rag-tag bunch of political misfits to the brink of achieving their dream of an independent Scotland.


Media playback is not supported on this device The U's are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, while League One side Rochdale, who knocked out Nottingham Forest, welcome Stoke City. Holders Arsenal visit Brighton, and Chelsea will play Bradford City, who defeated Millwall in a reply. Manchester City host Middlesbrough and Bournemouth travel to Aston Villa. Ties will be played 23-26 January. "It's a game to look forward to," said Cambridge United head coach Richard Money. "It is reward for everyone's hard work at the club. "Everyone's suffered during nine years out of the Football League but a lot of people have worked hard and now we've got a draw like this." Liverpool face a home game against Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers, while West Ham will travel to Bristol City. Sheffield United, who beat Queens Park Rangers in the third round, visit fellow League One side Preston North End. Manchester United, 2-0 winners at Yeovil on Sunday, have won the FA Cup a joint-record 11 times. Cambridge, who are 14th in League Two, beat Luton 2-1 at the Abbey Stadium in the third round. Manchester United and Cambridge last met in the League Cup in 1991, when the Reds won the two-legged tie 4-1 on aggregate. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: League Two side Cambridge United have been drawn at home to Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup.


Samuel Ward scored a goal either side of half-time to set up the victory, before Henry Weir made sure of the result in the final quarter. Jackson went close to scoring, shooting after the Dutch had pushed their keeper outfield, but Weir deflected it in. The result follows Thursday's 1-1 draw against hosts Germany. Britain face Belgium in their final match on Sunday (10:30 BST).

Summary: Great Britain beat the Netherlands 3-0 in the Ergo Masters Four Nations Invitational in Dusseldorf as Ashley Jackson won his 100th cap.


Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, is charged with 30 counts related to the bombings, which killed three people and wounded more than 260 in April 2013. As part of the prosecution's summing up, medical examiners gave graphic details of the injuries suffered by those who died in the attack. Mr Tsarnaev could face the death penalty if found guilty. Massachusetts Chief Medical Examiner Henry Nields testified that the youngest victim of the attacks, eight-year-old Martin Richard, received injuries to every part of his body. The testimony was illustrated by autopsy photos and the child's bloody, torn clothing. Mr Nields said one piece of shrapnel appeared to have gone straight through Richard's body. "It would be difficult to say the precise location due to the size of the openings in the abdomen," he testified, according to Reuters. The defence began calling its own witnesses later on Monday. Earlier in the trial, the defence made the surprise admission that Mr Tsarnaev had participated in the attacks. But defence lawyers argue that his 26-year-old brother, Tamerlan, had been the driving force behind the attacks. By doing so they hope to spare their client the death penalty. Mr Tsarnaev is charged with 30 counts related to the bombings. The brothers set off a pair of homemade pressure-cooker bombs at the race's crowded finish line. Mr Tsarnaev is also accused of fatally shooting a police officer three days later. The prosecution says Mr Tsarnaev, who emigrated with his family from Chechnya, had extremist views and wanted to hit back at the US in revenge for military action in Muslim countries.

Summary: The prosecution has rested its case in the trial of a man accused of carrying out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.


Defence ministry spokesman Lt Gen Sergei Rudskoi said the Syrian army was poised to defeat IS militants there. But US officials said Russia staged no air strikes in Syria in the past week. The strikes come days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of most Russian forces from Syria. IS militants captured the ancient city of Palmyra last May. Since then it has blown up monumental temples, arches and statues in the Unesco World Heritage site, bringing global condemnation. Meanwhile, IS claimed on Friday it had killed five Russian soldiers in fighting around Palmyra in recent days. Russia has not commented on the claim and there is no independent verification. In recent months, IS has been losing ground to President Bashar al-Assad's forces, rebel groups, and Kurdish militia fighters. Gen Rudskoi told reporters in Moscow that the Syrian army had also seized key hilltop areas near the city of Aleppo and cut supply routes leading to the IS-held city. US Central Command spokesman Patrick Ryder said there had been some bombardments in the Palmyra region but that they were thought to be made by Russian artillery. Russia had withdrawn most if not all of its strike aircraft and there had been little movement of its ground forces, Col Ryder said. Indirect peace talks aimed at resolving the Syrian conflict have been taking place in Geneva for the past week, but so far shown no progress.

Summary: Russia says its warplanes are carrying out up to 25 air strikes a day around the Syrian city of Palmyra in support of Syrian forces trying to oust so-called Islamic State (IS).


The party won 33 seats on Thanet District Council, Kent, in May, making it the first authority in the UK to have a UKIP majority. UKIP councillor Jeff Elenor announced on Tuesday he was defecting to join the Democratic Independent Group. He joins four other UKIP councillors who defected last month saying they were unhappy with the council's lack of action over Manston Airport. They also said they were unhappy about what they felt was insufficient focus by the council on issues such as housing, mental health and disabilities. Mr Elenor said he did not feel the council was fulfilling its election pledge on Manston. In May, UKIP won 33 seats, the Conservatives 18, Labour four, and independents one - 29 seats were needed for a majority. UKIP now has 28 members, but remains the largest party on the council. Earlier this week, the US company seeking to purchase and reopen Manston Airport accused the council leader of holding up the process. The airport closed in May 2014 and was sold to a private consortium that plans to build homes on the site. RiverOak said it had offered the money to help with a compulsory purchase order (CPO), and in an email to the council leader, it accused Chris Wells of "throwing one road block after another in front of us in order for you to carry out whatever your real agenda might be". "Whatever it is, that agenda does not appear to recognise the will of your constituents, which is that Manston Airport be opened and operating at the earliest possible moment," chief investment officer George Yerall said. Mr Wells said the council was seeking further assurances that RiverOak could afford to purchase the site. The matter is due to be formally discussed at a cabinet meeting later this month.

Summary: The UK Independence Party has lost overall control of its only council.


Tettey, who scored a "toe-poke" against Manchester United last month, side-footed home to give Norwich a 1-0 win. "If I score a goal it will be talked about. Today it was nice to do a Yaya Toure," he told BBC Radio Norfolk. "I was happy, when I made contact with the ball I looked up and it was just going in, it was a great goal." Victory at Carrow Road against the Saints was Norwich's third win in their last four Premier League matches and left them 15th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone. That followed a run of one win in 11 in all competitions - and the upturn in form has coincided with goalkeeper Declan Rudd coming into the first team for the last six matches. "For the defenders and Declan as well, he's come into the team and got two clean sheets in a row now," said Tettey. "For the whole team we are really pleased - where we are, if you're letting in goals you are going somewhere you don't want to be. "And if you win and don't let in goals you are looking forward - that's what we all want."

Summary: Norwich City midfielder Alex Tettey has likened his winner against Southampton on Saturday to those scored by Manchester City's Yaya Toure.


Bianca Nikol Roberson, a recent school graduate, was driving near West Goshen when her car veered off the road. Police responded to what they initially thought was a fatal collision, but then discovered that Ms Roberson had been shot in the head. Investigators believe another driver shot her as she attempted to merge into the same lane as a red pickup truck. The road on which Ms Roberson was driving narrows to a single lane where it joins another main route. "Her car started jostling with a red pickup truck - not actually hitting - but both of them trying to merge together," prosecutor Tom Hogan told reporters. "And then she was shot. The man in the red pickup truck shot her directly in the head." "This was a senseless and brutal act of violence," he added. Ms Roberson was pronounced dead at the scene. The case is now being treated as a homicide. Police have issued a call for help in tracing the pickup truck and the suspect, who is described as a white male aged between 30 and 40 with blonde hair and a medium build. Mr Hogan said "every cop in three states" is looking for the vehicle. Ms Roberson's father, Rodney, spoke to NBC News about his daughter, telling them she was preparing to attend university. "We were all excited for her," he told the station. "She was excited. We were just happy for her." Her brother, Dontae Arburg, said she was "very loved." "She always smiled. Always wanted to entertain and make you smile," he said.

Summary: Pennsylvania police are hunting a man who shot and killed an 18-year-old girl in a "road rage incident".


The one-year-old was handed in to the Dogs Trust near Darlington in December after being found wandering the streets as a stray. Following an appeal on social media, the canine with "a heart of gold" has found a new forever family. The trust said Fester would be leaving the charity's kennels early next week. Fester was born with a narrow jaw which causes his lower teeth to stick out - creating some "unique features", a trust spokeswoman said. "We were concerned that fun-loving Fester may have ended up being over-looked by potential new owners due to his unusual eye-catching appearance," she added. "He is a gorgeous boy with an amazing character, so we couldn't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to have him as part of their family. "He's had a rough time and it is fantastic news he will have a new home where he can settle and hopefully his character will shine through."

Summary: Abandoned because of his bizarre looks, Fester the boxer dog, who is blind in one eye and has a protruding lower jaw, has finally been found a new home.