Anna Swabey, 25, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was initially given three months to live in 2015 when she met Andy Bell, 26, on a dating app. The pair were due to marry on Saturday in the Yorkshire Dales, but Miss Swabey passed away earlier. She raised almost Â£80,000 for Brain Tumour Research and posted frank videos about her chemotherapy sessions. Her sister Victoria described Miss Swabey as "one of life's truly inspiring and incredible human beings." Charity spokeswoman Wendy Fulcher added that a "light had gone out." Months after her diagnosis Miss Swabey started a blog, Inside my Head, in which she openly chronicled her treatment. However, the latest blog post was from her sister Victoria, who described the moment doctors revealed the cancer had worsened and that surgeons had removed an "apple-sized" mass. "Anna's call was matter of fact and to the point. Her biopsy results showed that the tumour had now progressed to a Grade 4. In all honesty, and in typical Anna style, she was more bothered about how we all felt than what it meant for her." Ms Fulcher described Miss Swabey as "bright, vivacious, kind, and beautiful." She added: "Anna was one of those to whom others are naturally drawn. "She had a great sense of fun and a marvellous joie de vivre. "Anna was just 23 when she was told she had a brain tumour. Understandably devastated and angry, she nevertheless held her head up high and decided she would live her life, however long it might be, to the full." In her last blog post on 8 July, Miss Swabey spoke of how unwell chemotherapy had left her, but how she had been lifted by her hen party in York. She said: "I'm getting pretty fed up of feeling poorly all the time now. But I don't think it was really helped because I had my hen party two weekends ago, which was amazing." Ms Fulcher said Miss Swabey was given hope by neurosurgeon Kevin O'Neill, who leads the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Imperial College. "She left her first consultation with him in "tears of happiness" not because he had changed her diagnosis but because they would fight "Trev", as she dubbed the growth in her brain, together," Ms Fulcher said. But after her condition worsened she and Mr Bell were forced to postpone their wedding. Ms Fulcher said brain cancer was particularly cruel because it killed more children and people under 40 than any other form of the disease, but received just 1% of national, research funding. Concluding her blog post Miss Swabey's sister said: "She [Anna] has faced her illness with positivity, dignity and absolute defiance, and we couldn't be more proud of our beautiful girl and the way she has touched so many people with her amazing attitude to life, love and the whole heap of crap she has had to contend with since the arrival of Trev!! "We have all taken our cue from Anna throughout her illness and we will continue to do so through the

Summary: A woman who blogged about her battle with terminal brain cancer has died a day before she was due to get married.


The antiques, valued at between Â£2,000 and Â£3,000, were taken from Osterley Park House in Twickenham, south-west London, on 16 July. They were taken from a locked cabinet in a room that was closed to the public due to a wedding at the house. The pieces have images of Russian ruler Catherine the Great and Prussian king Frederick William II, and were made between 1770 and 1775. The cups and saucers, which are made of Berlin porcelain, are described as dark blue and painted 'en grisaille' with heavy gilding, flower sprays, finials and branch handles. Det Con Ray Swan, from the Mets Art's and Antiques Unit, said: "The cups and saucers are of significant historical value, we believe that whoever took them specifically targeted these pieces. "We would urge anyone who may know of their whereabouts to come forward as they may hold vital information to help us catch whoever was responsible for this burglary."

Summary: Two 300-year-old cups with saucers have been stolen from a country house.


Media playback is not supported on this device Asked if Saturday's opponents have scrummaged illegally during the tournament, England head coach Eddie Jones said: "100%. Terribly illegally." Jones says his side have a stronger scrum, adding if the laws are enforced England "will get an advantage". Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde highlighted England's Joe Marler is a frequent infringer at the scrum. "He definitely needs to scrummage legally otherwise we will be pointing our finger," said McBryde. Wales, who are one point behind Six Nations leaders England with two games remaining, felt harshly done by at the scrum in their 28-25 win over England in the pool stage of last year's World Cup. And McBryde said loose-head Marler had been "found out" when England lost to Australia in their next World Cup game. "There was a big focus on the loose-heads' angles, particularly with [Wales prop] Gethin Jenkins being highlighted," said McBryde. "So we were very disappointed in that England game to fall on the wrong side of decisions and we felt the problem lay elsewhere." However, Jones says he is "quite upset" by Wales' approach to the set-piece. "They play the laws very well," the Australian told BBC Radio 5 live. "They pre-engage all the time, which is against the laws of the game. "And then they get penalised one or two times at the start of the game, but the referee gets sick of penalising it. "Because if the referee keeps penalising it, you know what happens? The referee gets criticised. "We really want to have a scrum contest on Saturday - it's an important part of the game - so we are really hopeful the referee enforces the law in that area." Jones added: "If you are the referee and you keep penalising Wales for pre-engaging, then all the smart guys in the commentators' box say 'this referee is ruining the game'. "But they are not ruining the game, it's the team that is scrummaging illegally which is ruining the game. "So we want the referee to be really hard, and if he has to ruin the game, he has to ruin the game."

Summary: England and Wales have accused each other of illegal scrummaging before the Six Nations showdown at Twickenham.


Brantano employs about 2,000 staff in 140 stores and 60 concessions across the UK. Administrators from PwC are now running the Leicestershire-based business, which they said would trade normally while they sought a buyer. PwC's Tony Barrell said the chain was a victim of changing consumer habits. "The continuing challenging conditions for 'bricks and mortar' retail stores are well documented. "Like many others, Brantano has been hit hard by the change in consumers' shopping habits and the evolution of the UK retail environment." Brantano, along with Jones Bootmaker, was bought by retail investment firm Alteri Investors in October from Dutch-based Macintosh Retail Group. Jones is not affected by the administration. Brantano is one of the first sizeable retailers to fall into difficulty this year after the key make-or-break Christmas trading period. BBC business correspondent Emma Simpson said that Alteri specialise in turning around failing business, but "it appears that Brantano's trading position was worse than than expected. Christmas trading, I'm told, was also below expectations." She understands that a number of possible buyers have already approached PwC. Mr Barrell added: "The administrators are continuing to trade the businesses as normal whilst we assess the trading strategy over the coming days and weeks. "Staff will be paid their arrears of wages and salaries, and will continue to be paid for their work during the administration."

Summary: Discount shoe retailer Brantano has gone into administration, about four months after the chain was bought by an investment firm.


Media playback is not supported on this device Jean-Marc Bosman did not trademark any moments of skill, score famous late winners or carry his teams to success but he was good enough to win 20 youth caps for Belgium and break into the first team of one of his country's best clubs at 18. That, however, is not what earns him a place alongside Charlemagne, Audrey Hepburn and Hercule Poirot in a list of famous Belgians. Twenty years ago on Tuesday, Bosman emerged from the European Court of Justice with a win that turned Europe's top divisions into glorious expressions of multiculturalism and added a new noun to sport's lexicon: the Bosman. From that moment, players at the end of their contracts - David Beckham, Sol Campbell, Steve McManaman and many more - could move without a transfer fee. No longer would a player from the European Union have their opportunities in the single market curtailed by rules limiting the number of foreigners clubs could field. But for this softly spoken 51 year old, it was a case that almost ruined him. "There have been real problems but I am feeling much better now," said Bosman when I asked him how he was after a spell in prison, bankruptcy and a long battle with alcoholism. "I've had medical and psychological care and I also have blood samples taken on a regular basis. "There have been difficulties and my financial situation is not easy but life has started over. I have regained strength and feel motivated. "It has not been easy to find work after the ruling but I am not complaining. The tunnel is nearing its end." He entered that tunnel in 1990 when his contract with RFC Liege expired. With the club in financial trouble they wanted the midfielder to sign a new deal on a quarter of his former salary. Yet when Dunkerque, across the border in France, wanted to buy him, Liege demanded four times what they'd paid for him in the first place. "It was illogical," said Bosman, explaining the moment he decided to become a "freedom fighter". His lawyer thought it would take two weeks. It took five years; a period that should have been the best years of a decent career. Banned in Belgium, Bosman moved to a second division club in France, only for them to go bust. Other clubs told him they would like to sign him but could not because they already had three foreigners. He had a brief spell on the island of La Reunion and another go in the Belgian leagues, but it is an understatement to say his decision to take football's business model to court made him less attractive to club chairmen. Broke, tired and out of shape, he accepted 350,000 Swiss francs in damages for his legal victory and began a life after football that he is still trying to work out. There was a disastrous investment in a t-shirt business (he had hoped grateful footballers would buy one, only his lawyer's son did so) and problems with

Summary: A Cruyff turn, Fergie time, the Matthews final: football's icons have often entered the language of the sport but can any of those greats claim to have changed the game as much as the nervous, middle-aged Belgian sitting in front of me?


Dear President Tusk On 23 June last year, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. As I have said before, that decision was no rejection of the values we share as fellow Europeans. Nor was it an attempt to do harm to the European Union or any of the remaining member states. On the contrary, the United Kingdom wants the European Union to succeed and prosper. Instead, the referendum was a vote to restore, as we see it, our national self-determination. We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe - and we want to remain committed partners and allies to our friends across the continent. Earlier this month, the United Kingdom Parliament confirmed the result of the referendum by voting with clear and convincing majorities in both of its Houses for the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The Bill was passed by Parliament on 13 March and it received Royal Assent from Her Majesty The Queen and became an Act of Parliament on 16 March. Today, therefore, I am writing to give effect to the democratic decision of the people of the United Kingdom. I hereby notify the European Council in accordance with Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw from the European Union. In addition, in accordance with the same Article 50(2) as applied by Article 106a of the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, I hereby notify the European Council of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw from the European Atomic Energy Community. References in this letter to the European Union should therefore be taken to include a reference to the European Atomic Energy Community. See the letter as published by Downing Street (PDF) This letter sets out the approach of Her Majesty's Government to the discussions we will have about the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union and about the deep and special partnership we hope to enjoy - as your closest friend and neighbour - with the European Union once we leave. We believe that these objectives are in the interests not only of the United Kingdom but of the European Union and the wider world too. It is in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the European Union that we should use the forthcoming process to deliver these objectives in a fair and orderly manner, and with as little disruption as possible on each side. We want to make sure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and is capable of projecting its values, leading in the world, and defending itself from security threats. We want the United Kingdom, through a new deep and special partnership with a strong European Union, to play its full part in achieving these goals. We therefore believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the European Union. The Government wants to approach our discussions with ambition, giving citizens and businesses in the United Kingdom and the European Union -

Summary: Here is the full text of Theresa May's letter to European Council president Donald Tusk, beginning the start of Brexit negotiations.


The Suffragette Oak in Kelvingrove Park won a public vote from six trees shortlisted in the Woodland Trust Scotland competition. It was nominated and championed by Glasgow Women's Library. The oak will now compete with entries from 15 other countries to decide the 2016 European Tree of the Year. Wendy Kirk, from Glasgow Women's Library, said she was "thrilled" the Suffragette Oak was chosen as the winner. She said: "I'm sure that the suffragettes would have been delighted to know that nearly 100 years on the tiny sapling they planted has become the Scottish tree of the year." Carol Evans, director of the Woodland Trust Scotland, said: "One of the reasons for holding the competition is to uncover the hidden history that many trees represent and to encourage people to value and care for them."

Summary: An oak tree planted in Glasgow nearly 100 years ago as a tribute to the city's suffragettes has been named Scotland's Tree of the Year.


It proposes the line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank should be improved and extended via Hawick to Carlisle. The report, produced by the Campaign for Borders Rail (CBR), said that could provide a "new strategic link" in the national network. Extending the line is already being examined as part of a wider study of transport issues in southern Scotland. "We believe that the Borders needs a through route to the south to maximise the region's economic potential," the CBR report states. "For Hawick, a rail link is vital." The Summary Case for a New Cross-Border Rail Link adds: "CBR is committed to making the case for further rail-led economic and social regeneration of the Borders and a transformative new cross-border rail link." Now it is time for Hawick and other communities in the southern Borders to benefit directly. The briefing sees the vision for an extended Borders Railway as an "exciting opportunity". "This document will help inform the debate on preparing for the proposed railway through the Scottish Borders to Carlisle and beyond," said Allan McLean, chairman of the CBR. "The economies of Edinburgh, Midlothian and the northern Borders have all gained demonstrably from the opening of the Borders Railway. "Now it is time for Hawick and other communities in the southern Borders to benefit directly." The briefing document sets out the CBR's commercial, social and economic cases for a new railway linking the existing Tweedbank terminus to the West Coast Main Line at Mossband, just north of Carlisle. "The completed railway would allow through trains between Edinburgh and Carlisle, serving intermediate settlements including Hawick," the report states. "Communities not directly served would benefit from access by connecting bus services and park and ride stations." The report claimed that extending the railway was the "only realistic proposal" to adequately address economic and social problems faced by the Scottish Borders and release the route's full potential. It said detailed studies indicated benefits for passengers and freight that could be realised by the investment. The report has been presented to Transport Minister Humza Yousaf. Earlier this year it was announced a new study would look at the possibility of extending the Borders Railway. The findings will feed into the Scottish government's nationwide strategic transport projects review.

Summary: A new report has been published detailing the advantages of enhancing and extending the Borders Railway.


So what happens next? If the politicians are not in a position to produce a budget, the civil service could take over. Legislation allows the permanent secretary in the Department of Finance to take control if a budget act has not been passed at least three working days before the end of the financial year. The official can access a sum of money not exceeding 75% of this year's budget and direct how it is spent. If we get to the end of July and there is still no deal that official then has the right to spend an amount equivalent to 95% of this year's budget. So that implies significant in-year cuts at Stormont unless a budget is produced by either an Executive or a direct rule minister. This contingency plan was mooted during a previous budget crisis but was described by the then Finance Minister Arlene Foster as "dramatic and draconian." The current finance minister, MÃ¡irtÃn Ã“ Muilleoir, has emphasised that the legislation means "monies will continue to flow". However the TUV leader Jim Allister, who is also a senior barrister, said his reading of the law suggests it will not be so straightforward. He believes that the Executive must at least issue a draft budget before the permanent secretary is empowered to take control. Short of that, he thinks it could require emergency amending legislation at Westminster. Whoever is correct, the budget uncertainty will have an impact. Voluntary and community groups which rely on Executive will shortly have to put staff on notice of redundancy as they cannot be sure what funding they will get in the coming financial year.

Summary: The political crisis means that the Northern Ireland Executive still has not agreed a budget for the 2017/18 financial year.


The details were revealed after a five-year-old Nottinghamshire boy recently returned to the classroom as a girl. The Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) said 969 under-18s have been referred in the UK in 2015-16, including nearly 200 aged 12 or under. This compares to just 94 in 2009-2010. *2015-16 figures, available for April-Dec only The statistics also showed one three-year old and three four-year-olds were referred to GIDS since April last year. In the Nottinghamshire case, letters were sent to classmates and parents at the start of the current term explaining the five-year-old's wishes to be treated as a girl. Her family told the Nottingham Post the decision was not taken lightly and they had received support. Nottinghamshire County Council admitted transgender issues were a new area for many schools but said it "supported head teachers on a range of equality issues". Colin Pettigrew, the authority's director for children, families and cultural services, said: "Transgender is a characteristic protected by law and therefore head teachers across England continue to, and are required to, agree a clear plan to support the needs of transgender children and young people." Updates on this story and more from Nottinghamshire GIDS, based in north London, is the NHS's dedicated gender identity development service for children and takes referrals from GPs, paediatricians, mental health services and schools across the country. Its director, Polly Carmichael, said in recent years more younger children were making gender transitions and there was no "right or wrong approach", with many families reporting their child was happier living in another gender. However, she said research published in the Netherlands suggested that "for some young people who make an early social transition it may be difficult to de-transition if their gender identity develops in another direction". In terms of the general increase in referrals, GIDS said there could be a number of reasons, but increased awareness and acceptance of gender issues - particularly via the media and social networks - was a likely factor. Whatever age a child is referred, no physical changes can be made until the young person is in puberty, it said. Bernard Reed from the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) - a charity which works to improve the lives of gender non-conforming people - said many young people still did not feel confident speaking about gender issues. "There are several hundred cases each year and they are quite often referred for medical support" he said. "But because society is often not supportive in such cases, usually these young people do not seek publicity".

Summary: The number of children referred to the NHS with gender identity issues has increased significantly in recent years, according to figures obtained by the BBC.


The pair are expected to be charged with financing terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years' jail. The man was previously arrested during Australia's largest counter-terrorism raids in September 2014. He is the 14th and final person to be put before the courts as a result of the mass arrests, police said. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn reiterated concerns about the girl's age. "I previously said that it was disturbing that we continue to deal with teenage children in this environment. And today's arrest hasn't altered that position," she told reporters in Sydney.

Summary: A teenage girl and a 20-year-old man are accused of sending money to the so-called Islamic State from Australia.


Mansfield District Council stopped people riding around the market place to combat "anti-social" cycling. However, it said "responsible" cyclists were welcome in the same place for the Tour of Britain on 6 September. Campaign group Cycling UK said Mansfield hosting the race was illogical. The group is currently supporting six cyclists who are challenging the council over a public spaces protection order (PSPO), issued a year ago, which prohibits people from cycling in the pedestrianised market place area. Anyone who fails to dismount when asked could be fined. Cycling UK spokesman Duncan Dollimore said: "They are marketing the town as cycle friendly, but not to people who want to shop there. "We would never defend cycling anti-social behaviour, but why not deal with those being stupid and not responsible cyclists. "They are effectively saying cycling is anti-social." He also criticised the council's own promotional video showing a cyclist riding through areas which are prohibited. In a statement, Mansfield District Council said it welcomed responsible cyclists to the town to view the race, but with care and consideration. Riders have been encouraged to dismount, but "normal" rules concerning the PSPO will not be in operation for the "special event". Mansfield's mayor Kate Allsop said: "This is about safety. This event will be properly monitored and managed. "What we don't want is people dashing through the town centre on their bikes frightening or upsetting people. "This is a special event and it would have been a dreadful shame if we were so inflexible that we would not host this amazing opportunity."

Summary: A council has been accused of double standards for allowing a stage of a major cycle race to start in a town centre where cyclists have been banned.


The 82-year-old, who has had health problems in recent years, reportedly does not wish to remain emperor if he has to reduce his official duties. But a palace spokesman denied that there is any official plan for the monarch to abdicate in what would be an unprecedented move in modern Japan. Crown Prince Naruhito, 56, is next in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. An unnamed government source told Japan's Kyodo news agency that the emperor, who plays a largely ceremonial role but is respected deeply by many Japanese, has been contemplating the move for about a year. His family had accepted his decision, an unnamed palace source told NHK. However, both palace and government sources say the Imperial Household Law would have to revised to allow for the abdication to take place. A change to the Imperial Household Law, which stipulates the rules of succession, would require approval by Japan's parliament. Despite a categorical denial of the reports by imperial palace spokesman Shinichiro Yamamoto, the emperor's reported wishes are being given prominent attention in the Japanese media. Emperor Akihito has been admired for distancing the monarchy from its association with the aggressive nationalism of World War Two. In 1989 he succeeded his father, Hirohito, who had had the status of a living god in Japan until he was stripped of that role by the victorious Americans who wrote the country's post-war constitution. Emperor Akihito had surgery for prostate cancer in 2003 and a heart bypass operation four years ago. In 2011, he took the highly unusual step of making a televised national address following the devastating earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima. Five things about Japan's emperor:

Summary: Japan's Emperor Akihito has expressed his desire to abdicate in the next few years, public broadcaster NHK reports.


Thai officials said the event, which was halted minutes before it was due to start, could have affected relations between the two countries. The HRW report focuses on the treatment of a Christian group in Vietnam. The group said the Thai response showed how freedom of speech had been eroded since the army seized power last year. Thai police said the event at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand could "have an impact on the country's security or could affect the friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam". It is the third human rights event at the venue that has been halted by authorities in the past month. The HRW report describes what it says is the persecution of Montagnard Christians in Vietnam's central highlands. Their religious practices have been described by the Vietnamese government as "evil". Sunai Phasuk, Human Rights Watch's senior researcher in Asia, said the decision to cancel the report's launch was "very disappointing". "Thailand is now going to be known as the defender of human rights violators in [Southeast Asia], which adds more damage to Thailand's already tarnished international reputation under the military rule," he added. Thai authorities have launched a crackdown on critics since the military seized power from a civilian government in May 2014.

Summary: Thailand's military-run government has forced Human Rights Watch (HRW) to cancel an event in Bangkok to launch a report into alleged abuses in Vietnam.


The school has stopped the game, also known as "tag" or "you're it", to allow the children "some time to settle down a bit", according to the headmaster. The ban is the latest in a line of stories from around England of educational establishments outlawing everyday activities, many of which are remembered fondly from people's own school days. BBC News looks back at other forbidden school pursuits that have made headlines: We start off with a perhaps unsurprising measure many schools enforce. British Bulldog involves charging towards fellow pupils, a drop of the shoulder to fool the 'bulldogs' and a rapid dash to the safety of the other side of the yard. These figures are a little old (like the above image), but over a quarter of 653 school staff surveyed by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in 2011 said it had been banned from their school. One secondary school teacher said it was "because of the number of broken bones it generates!" Schools in Wiltshire, Cumbria and Clackmannanshire introduced a ban on conkers over fears the horse chestnuts could trigger anaphylactic reactions. The Anaphylaxis Campaign said a "common sense approach" would be better, where conkers are put in a safe place after battle and all involved give their hands a good wash. Some schools took to allowing their children to take part in conker fights provided they were wearing protective goggles. A Carlisle headteacher said it was a "sensible" step to shield children's eyes from pieces of flying horse chestnut. In January, birthday cakes were banned at a Blackpool primary school as teachers "do not have time" to check ingredients for pupils with allergies. Parents of children at Norbreck Primary Academy were told cakes taken into school would be "sent home uneaten". The headteacher wrote: "I hate to be a killjoy... there are many reasons for this, some of them serious." Pupils in Birmingham had to leave school after teachers said they were wearing the wrong kind of shoes. Baverstock Academy, in Druids Heath, sent out letters informing families of new rules making plain black shoes compulsory. One parent reported the "ridiculous" decision led to "chaotic" scenes, with about 300 children being sent home. The school later relaxed the rule slightly, according to parents. It wasn't the pupils but their parents who were making a scene at a primary school in Darlington. Grown-ups on the school run were asked by the headteacher of Skerne Park Academy to wash in the morning and to not drop their kids off while wearing pyjamas. The final straw came when parents were turning up to parents' evenings and even the Christmas show in their PJs, the head said. A West Yorkshire head teacher banned books containing stories about pigs from key stage one classrooms in case they offended Muslim children. The literature was removed from classes for under-sevens at Park Road Junior Infant and Nursery School in Batley. Head Barbara Harris said the books would remain in the school library for children to read, but added: "We try to be sensitive to the fact

Summary: A primary school in Leeds has introduced a temporary ban on children playing "tig" during break times after "clothes were torn" and pupils were left "upset".


The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty at Durham Crown Court to three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and another of grooming. The winger, who has played 12 times for England, was arrested in March. Johnson, from Castle Eden, County Durham, was released on conditional bail ahead of his trial on 24 August. The three counts of sexual activity relate to a single night in January at two locations in County Durham, while the grooming offence was said to have happened between December and February. Born in Sunderland, Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then Sunderland for Â£10m in 2012.

Summary: England and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has appeared in court to deny charges of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.


For this has been the worst year on this, or indeed any other, commissioner's watch. As the league closes in on an annual revenue of £16bn ($25bn), expansion plans into Europe and specifically London, continue apace. And as Goodell tops up his bank balance with a yearly income in the region of £26m ($40m), the professional game of American Football is more popular and yet, some would argue, more contemptible than ever. Fifty NFL players were arrested in 2014 for a wide degree of offences - from Tennessee's Shonn Greene, who parked in a disabled parking bay, to Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, who was arrested over child abuse. There were five cases of domestic violence, including that of Baltimore's Ray Rice, who was filmed by hotel security punching his then fiancee - now wife - in a lift. Goodell himself became personally embroiled in the Rice case in an argument over what the NFL did or did not know. There was also a far-reaching report chaired by the former director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, which highlighted the fundamental mismanagement of the situation by league officials. And the bad news kept on coming for the embattled commissioner. Just 30 days into 2015, there have been four fresh player arrests, including two for domestic violence and one for rape. Elsewhere, it is a sorry tale: Yet despite all this mayhem and chaos the NFL, as a product, is flourishing. The moral outrage surrounding the cases of Rice and Peterson calmed down fairly quickly and audiences flocked yet again to stadiums around the country. More than 17m attended the 256 regular season games, the highest figure since 2008, while television audiences hit record highs. Media playback is not supported on this device While youth participation figures are down over concerns surrounding long-term brain damage caused by concussion, NFL fans are embracing the game like never before, both within the United States and globally. The annual Harris Report, which tracks the popularity of American sports, says the NFL is still number one by a huge margin - double the popularity of Major League Baseball and College Football. A report released this week by the sports market research group Repucom also makes some interesting claims, notably that: Most of the television networks that broadcast the NFL had audiences tuning in in greater numbers than in 2013, while the figures for both Thursday and Monday Night Football were up significantly. More than 47m people watched the NFL's annual College Draft, yet not one pass was thrown or one tackle made. There were also 9.6m tweets about the event across its three days. Nielsen, who gather audience ratings in the US, reported extremely strong numbers for the very first 9.30am EST kick-off between Detroit and Atlanta in London, so much so that the NFL will repeat the experiment next season. Although some fans showed their disdain for Rice, Peterson and others arrested last year by returning their replica shirts, many still turned up wearing Rice's number 27 jersey and Peterson's number 28 long after their cases made the national

Summary: As National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell stepped to the podium for his annual pre-Super Bowl address, he could have done worse than invoke the Queen's speech of 1992 in which HRH Elizabeth II referred to the events of the previous 12 months as an 'annus horribilis'.


The Fiji international missed Ospreys' 33-27 Champions Cup loss in Bordeaux. Prop Nicky Smith is also available after injury for a match coach Steve Tandy expects to be one to savour. "The weather dictates a fair bit, you can't be throwing the ball around if it's greasy, but if there's any casual supporters at that game, it won't lack in intensity and physicality," he said. Ospreys have been involved a series of entertaining matches in Europe, the latest being their narrow defeat by Bordeaux-Begles, a match that produced eight tries. That was in stark contrast with the Scarlets' try-less 9-6 loss at home to Glasgow on Saturday. "Our game in Bordeaux was really pleasing to the eye and a huge physical effort," added Tandy. "But I'm sure there'll be some physicality and intensity in the game (on Boxing Day) and I'm sure it'll be a spectacle either way." His side start 14 points behind their west Wales rivals in the Pro12 table, with just four wins compared to the Scarlets' eight after a slow start to the season. "It would go a long way to closing that gap on them, but we've got three games now in the Pro12 where we need to put in positive performances," said Tandy. "The Scarlets have had a real good start to their season but we've got a bit of momentum in the way we're doing things at the minute." New Zealand scrum-half Brendon Leonard remains doubtful with a shoulder injury.

Summary: Ospreys hope to have centre Josh Matavesi available for their Boxing Day derby match with Scarlets.


Doctors say it is too early to predict whether he will play football again. But Dr Tobin said he is amazed by the 23-year-old's recovery so far. Media playback is not supported on this device In an emotional interview, Dr Tobin said: "It was 48 minutes when he collapsed to reaching hospital and a further 30 minutes after that. He was, in effect, dead at that time." He added: "We were fearing the worst and didn't think we would get the recovery we had. It's incredible." Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest in Wanderers' FA Cup tie Dr Tobin told BBC Sport's Dan Roan how Bolton physio Andy Mitchell was the first to spot the player had collapsed. The doctor recalled: "He screamed, 'Get on the pitch, get on the pitch'. It was obvious something major was happening." Dr Tobin said Muamba was given two defibrillator shocks on the pitch, one in the players' tunnel and a further 12 in the ambulance on the way to hospital but none worked. The doctor said it was only when medics at London Chest Hospital took over that the situation began to sink in. He added: "I went into the corridor and cried. "This is Fabrice, not someone who has gone down in the street. I know him, know his family, joke with him every day." Tottenham club doctor Shabaaz Mughal was among those who rushed to Muamba's aid. He said: "He appeared to take a couple of gasps but was then unresponsive." The pair were further helped by Dr Andrew Deaner, Consultant Cardiologist at London Chest Hospital, who was at the game as a fan, and ran on to the pitch to lend his expertise. He said: "As soon as I saw them start CPR, something twitched in me. You always hope that, if you have a defibrillator and get there quickly, they will respond to at least two or three shocks. The longer the resuscitation, the less the chances of survival. But this is a very fit 23-year-old and those attending him are trained in CPR. Media playback is not supported on this device "If I was ever going to use the term miraculous it could be used here. He has made a remarkable recovery so far. "Two hours after [regaining consciousness] I whispered in his ear, 'What's your name?' and he said, 'Fabrice Muamba'. I said, 'I hear you're a really good footballer' and he said, 'I try'. I had a tear in my eye." The consultant added: "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves but, as things stand, his life is not in danger at this time. "It is early days so it is not possible to say [if he will play again]." Dr Sam Mohiddin, the Consultant Cardiologist now looking after Muamba, said: "Fabrice has continued to demonstrate positive signs of recovery. "His outcome has been extraordinary as a result of extraordinary care. "He has exceeded our expectations but this remains very early in what could be a very lengthy recovery period. "The critical thing was the rapid, prompt and

Summary: Fabrice Muamba was "in effect dead" for 78 minutes following his on-field collapse, the Bolton Wanderers club doctor Jonathan Tobin has revealed.


In a no-holds-barred email to the board seen by the BBC, Cyrus Mistry says he had become a "lame duck" chairman and alleges constant interference, including being asked to sign off on deals he knew little about. He also warned the company risks huge writedowns across the business. Tata said it currently had no response to the allegations. The Bombay Stock Exchange has sought clarification from Tata on the contents of Mr Mistry's letter. Karishma Vaswani: It's the stuff Bollywood blockbusters are made of Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Group, unexpectedly replaced Mr Mistry with his predecessor Ratan Tata on Monday, giving no explanation or details about its decision. But analysts say there was a clash over strategy, with the Tata family unhappy at Mr Mistry's policy of looking to sell off parts of the business - including Tata's European steel business - rather than holding on to assets and extending the firm's global reach. Whatever the reasons, Mr Mistry has come out fighting. In his blistering five-page attack, he wrote that the board had "not covered itself with glory" and that the nature of his dismissal had done "immeasurable harm" to both his own reputation and that of the firm. And he said that when he moved from being a non-executive director to chairman in 2012, he did "not have a clear grasp of the gravity" of problems he had inherited. While saying that he did not want to "air a laundry list", Mr Mistry went on to unleash a brutal assessment of many aspects of the business, warning the firm may face 1.18 trillion rupees ($18bn) in writedowns because of five unprofitable businesses he inherited. Issues he raised included: Mr Mistry said there was no sign of profitability on the Tata Nano project - which had been launched as the world's cheapest car - and criticised a failure to face up to the reality of its consistently losing money. "Any turnaround strategy for the company requires to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from that crucial decision," he said. Tata's foray into the aviation sector was also criticised, with Mr Mistry suggesting he signed up to joint ventures under pressure from the former chairman. He claimed he was asked by Ratan Tata to sign off quickly on a tie-up with Malaysia's Air Asia to create Air Asia India and that "my pushback was hard but futile". And he wrote that Tata's 51% stake in Vistara - a venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines - was also foisted upon on him "without the benefit of time and experience to fully evaluate the proposal". Cyrus Mistry had been hand-picked as a successor to Ratan Tata as the second chairman from outside the Tata family and with high hopes that he would be the right man to steer the company. He was the sixth chairman in Tata's 148-year history and the first chairman in nearly 80 years to come from outside the Tata family. But Mr Mistry did not come into the job cold. His family has

Summary: The ousted chairman of India's Tata Group has lashed out at the way his sudden departure was handled.


The boy, Julian Hernandez, disappeared when he was five and is now 18, living with his father in Cleveland. Bobby Hernandez, 53, was arrested and is being held at a jail in Ohio. The FBI received a tip on 30 October that this teenager may be the long-missing child after problems he had applying for college. The agency worked with Alabama police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to confirm the boy's identity. His mother has been notified of his recovery, AL.com reports. His father is also charged with tampering with records in Ohio so he could obtain a driver's licence in 2012. He is being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail in Ohio with a $250,000 (Â£164,100) bail. Authorities suspected around the time of the boy's disappearance that his father was possibly the culprit, according to AL.com. A missing persons database shows that Mr Hernandez said he was taking his son to pre-school in August 2002 but then fled.

Summary: A child missing in Alabama since 2002 has been found safe in Ohio with his father, who has been charged with abduction, authorities have said.


The military said the driver was taken into custody after the incident near the Jewish settlement of Ofra. It brings to 41 the number of Israelis killed in knife, gun and car-ramming attacks since October 2015. Local media have named the driver as 22-year-old Malek Hamad, from the West Bank town of Silwad. Witnesses told Israeli media that the car approached a bus stop at the Ofra junction, on the Route 60 highway north-east of Ramallah, and then accelerated towards the two Israelis waiting there. Sgt Elchai Teharlev, 20, died at the scene, while the second victim, aged 19, was reportedly lightly injured and taken to hospital in Jerusalem for treatment. The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, praised what it called the "heroic" attack. In late 2015 and 2016, such attacks by Palestinians or Israeli Arabs happened with near-daily frequency but the rate has dropped in recent months. At least 242 Palestinians - 162 of them attackers, Israel says - have also been killed in that period, Reuters news agency reports. Others have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops. Israel has accused Palestinian leaders of inciting the attacks, but they have blamed frustration rooted in decades of Israeli occupation.

Summary: An Israeli soldier has been killed and another Israeli hurt in a Palestinian car-ramming attack in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military says.


They will consider plans by Third Energy to frack a well at a site near the village of Kirby Misperton in the district of Ryedale. Campaigners say approval would set a "dangerous precedent". But the company says its operations are no risk to people or the environment. Fracking involves injecting water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into rocks deep underground to unlock trapped gas. The process was banned in 2011 after the shale gas firm Cuadrilla caused minor earth tremors when it fracked a well in Lancashire. Third Energy has licences to produce gas in North Yorkshire and offshore in the North Sea. In 2013 it drilled an exploratory well near the village of Kirby Misperton, close to the North York Moors National Park. It now wants to frack the well to test whether it can unlock shale gas from rocks up to 10,000ft (3,000m) underground. "All we want to do is test whether gas will flow from an existing well using hydraulic fracturing," says Rasik Valand, chief executive of Third Energy. "What we are planning is safe. There is no risk to the environment or the public." But there has been strong opposition to the plan from the local community and environmentalists. Hundreds of anti-fracking protesters are expected to gather outside the council meeting in Northallerton on Friday. The council has received more than 4,000 representations, the vast majority against the proposal. Green campaigners fear that approval here would open the door for fracking elsewhere. "It risks setting a dangerous precedent for Britain," says Craig Bennett, chief executive of Friends of the Earth. "We strongly urge councillors to reject this planning application which is clearly deeply unpopular with the local community." Others are concerned about the impact on the local economy as Kirby Misperton is also home to Flamingo Land, one of Yorkshire's top tourists attractions. "This place is beautiful," says retired bishop, the Right Reverend Graham Cray, who lives in the village. "The economy is based on tourism and agriculture. Tourists don't come to a gas field and that is what we will turn into if we get the scale of fracking that is intended." Last year Lancashire County Council rejected Cuadrilla's plan to carry out exploratory drilling and fracking at two new sites on the Fylde. A planning inquiry into that application took place earlier this year. A recommendation will be sent in the summer to the communities secretary for a final decision. The Third Energy application involves an existing site that has produced gas since the 1990s. The well has already been drilled. The shale gas produced will also be sent through a network of pipes to a nearby power station. That will avoid air pollution caused by flaring gas. So the company expects the fracking activity to be completed within eight weeks. The council's planning officer has recommended that the application be approved. But it is now down to the 11 councillors on the planning committee to take the final decision. That decision may not come until Monday due to the number of people who have

Summary: Councillors in North Yorkshire will on Friday consider whether to approve fracking in England for the first time since a ban on the technique was lifted in 2012.


While that might be true of clouds in the real world, those in cyberspace are turning out to be very different entities indeed, especially when it comes to security. Some of them are downright dangerous. The captivating idea behind using a "cloud" of computers is that it does away with having a dedicated data centre. Instead, companies get their number crunching done by a benevolent source of computational power that sits out there, somewhere, anywhere, on the net. It's the word cloud itself that is responsible for making this sound much more ephemeral than it actually is, said Martin Borrett, IBM's cloud security adviser. "There's a misconception that clouds are one thing and they are all fluffy," he said, "but clouds do not have to be nebulous." Researchers have shown that clouds are anything but misty and mysterious. The computer servers providing that on-tap processing power can be identified, enterprising scientists in Germany and Finland have found. Software tools written by these researchers identified individual servers making up a cloud and interrogated them to find out which chip that computer was running. That was important, they found, because more powerful chips get processing done more quickly. Given that many on-demand cloud services price by the hour, that could add up to a considerable saving. The researchers estimate up to 30%. Interrogating a cloud to work out how to save money sounds good on face value. But cyber-clouds are not as insubstantial as their name suggests. Unlike their wispy namesake, they can be found and become a target. That's bad because, as cyber-thieves and hackers know, there is a fine line between interrogating a computer and bullying it into coughing up details that help control it or can aid another attack. Researcher Yingian Zhang at the University of North Carolina and colleagues from Wisconsin and security firm RSA have already shown how this can provide a route to attacking and hacking a cloud. The technique developed by the team is complicated, but involves finding out how hard servers are being worked in a particular cloud. "Because we're sharing the resources there's a possibility some information will leak," Mr Zhang told the BBC. That's significant because many cloud providers run the computational jobs from different clients on the same hardware. There's no way for one company to know who its data is sharing memory with. It could be a bank, a bookshop or a bad guy. "Using the same resources is key to the cost and business model of cloud firms," he said. Knowing how hard those servers work under different conditions can give hints about the types of jobs they are being asked to do, he said. "How much resource is being allocated is dependent on the length of a cryptographic key," said Mr Zhang. Knowing how hard a server is working helps infer all kinds of useful information about what type of key is being used. That information is useful to attackers as it could radically cut down the number of possible combinations they have to try to unlock data encrypted or

Summary: The word cloud evokes images of all things soft and gentle; the kiss of a kitten or the soft touch of a lambswool mitten.


Works on show at the Royal Pavilion include a painting of liger cubs given to King George IV, which will be on public display for the first time. The cubs - a cross between a tiger and a lion - were born at Windsor in 1824. The exhibition also tells the story of the first living giraffe in the UK, given to the king as a diplomatic gift. The young female Nubian giraffe arrived in the UK in August 1827 after a long journey from Africa. Two Egyptian cows were drafted in as wet nurses but she died less than two years later. The Exotic Creatures exhibition in the Prince Regent Gallery runs until 28 February 2016.

Summary: A new exhibition in Brighton is exploring how animals considered exotic by the Georgians and early Victorians were depicted, kept and presented.


Media playback is not supported on this device Seven players remain from last season, including Kieron Assiratti, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Morgan Sienawski, Rhun Williams (all Cardiff Blues), Reuben Morgan-Williams, Kieran Williams (both Ospreys) and Declan Smith (Scarlets). "The players are excited to defend the trophy and work towards going beyond the achievement of previous years," said coach Jason Strange. Forwards: Kieron Assiratti (Cardiff Blues), Callum Bradbury (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues), Chris Coleman (Newport Gwent Dragons), Max Davies (Newcastle Falcons), Alex Dombrandt (Cardiff Met), Will Jones (Ospreys), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues), Tom Mably (Cardiff Blues), Morgan Morris (Gloucester), James Ratti (Ospreys), Morgan Sienawski (Cardiff Blues), Corrie Tarrant (Cardiff Blues), Steff Thomas (Scarlets), Ellis Shipp (Newport Gwent Dragons), Aled Ward (Cardiff Blues). Backs: Corey Baldwin (Scarlets), Dane Blacker (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets), Connor Edwards (Newport Gwent Dragons), Joe Goodchild (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues), Phil Jones (Ospreys), Cameron Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Nicholas (Scarlets), Arwel Robson (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jared Rosser (Newport Gwent Dragons), Declan Smith (Scarlets), Will Talbot-Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons), Kieran Williams (Ospreys), Rhun Williams (Cardiff Blues), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys).

Summary: Wales U20s have named their 32-man squad for the Six Nations as they bid to impress following their Grand Slam campaign last year.


The Dow Jones rose 78 points, or 0.44%, to 17,918.62. The wider S&P 500 index was up 11.18 points to 2,099.73, while the tech-focused Nasdaq climbed 36.26 points to 4,859.16. Data from the Institute for Supply Management showed the US services sector, which accounts for two-thirds of the US economy, picked up in June. The US trade deficit however increased by 10% as the stronger dollar led to decreasing exports. Pharmaceutical companies led the market gains. Horizon Pharma climbed 4.7%, while Progenics Pharmaceuticals was up 9.3%. Biotech firms AbbVie and Biogen each rose 2.3% after European regulators approved a new multiple sclerosis drug. Tech firms also had a strong day. Facebook's shares climbed 2.4%. Google's parent company Alphabet was up 0.6%.

Summary: (Closed): US stocks shook off early losses to close higher on Wednesday led by gains in tech and health care.


Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has 285 full-time vacancies across three sites, which cover Surrey and Berkshire. The high cost of living in the south of England is said to be a factor affecting recruitment. Each successful applicant will receive a maximum of £1,340 in subsidies. Nurses will be offered accommodation at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Frimley Park near Camberley and Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot. Marko Novosil moved from Croatia to become a nurse at Wexham Park after hearing about the incentive. "The crucial thing for coming here was the support. I realised that when I started I would get the free accommodation which helped me settle in", he said. Wexham Park Hospital matron Helen Noakes said: "Rental prices are higher in this area, which means people do struggle and the one thing that we can offer people is the free accommodation when they start. "Longer term we would look to help them find somewhere in the local area to live." Currently the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom property in Slough is £897, whereas the average for the same sort of property in Camberley is £930. The average cost for a room in both areas ranges from £500 to £550.

Summary: Nursing job applicants are being offered two months free accommodation in a bid to quell staff shortages at a hospital trust.


If it does it won't be without a fight. Thousands of villagers have been taking to the streets every day in a brazen challenge to the authorities. At the time of writing there has not yet been an attempt to smash these demonstrations but special police are moving into the area by the busload. The Guangdong Government has been urging us to leave. There are really only two possibilities. One: They think that without media coverage some of the steam will come out of the protests, allowing the nearby city government to come up with some sort of negotiated settlement. Two: With no international media to observe and record, the riot police can be sent in to bring Wukan under control the hard way. We asked government official Chen Jiasheng, if we left, how likely it would be for this second option to occur and he told the BBC: "As head of the Guangdong provincial press office I can guarantee you that your fantasy will never happen." Local Communist Party Secretary Lin Zuluan is seen as a hero to the villagers. He's now in custody but people here want him released. He was one of the leaders in the rebellion of 2011 when the former government was overthrown. Elections were permitted as part of the deal to end the conflict nearly five years ago and he was chosen as village chief in a landslide. But recently he had threatened to re-start the protest movement as a way of pushing yet again for these people to receive compensation for the land they say was stolen from them in the past by corrupt officials. Yet, before he could make good with this threat, the 72 year old was taken away. In an interview with the BBC, Shanwei City Chief Prosecutor Yuan Huaiyu said, following a tip off from "someone on the internet or maybe even a villager", Lin Zuluan was being held in custody and investigated in relation to kickbacks on several infrastructure projects including roads and a school library. The prosecutor wouldn't say how much money was allegedly involved. He said they have received evidence from developers giving bribes and some documents. Asked about the timing of Lin Zuluan's detention he said: "We've had a preliminary investigation lasting more than three months. Possibly the timing is a coincidence but this is a judicial process and we're doing our job". Even though their former leader has been shown on television in a recorded "confession", the villagers of Wukan think these are trumped up charges to shut down an effective campaigner. Prosecutor Yuan says the villagers don't yet understand what their leader has done but said he expects they'll change their mind once they see the evidence. Asked by the BBC if there was any chance that Lin Zuluan could be released, Prosecutor Yuan laughed out loud and said: "We need to see how this case develops". The election of Wukan's government had given people in villages right around the country great hope for what might be possible under the Chinese system as it stands

Summary: This has been a place which - unlike anywhere else in China - had a genuinely elected government but many here are wondering if the so-called "Wukan experiment" is about to die.


Aided by dancers, confetti cannons and a man in a mirrored suit, the Canadian band revived revellers' spirits with a series of arms-aloft anthems. "In a lifetime of pretty much impossible things that have happened to our band, this is the highlight," said frontman Win Butler. Earlier, every stage at the event was closed after lightning struck ground. Dance act Rudimental were escorted off the main stage mid-set, and had to abandon their planned encore - Feel The Love, with guest vocalist John Newman. "We're quite upset," musician Amir Amor told the BBC, "but we had a great time anyway". Metallica's Lars Ulrich was flying into the site by helicopter as the storm descended. "It was kind of frightening," he said. "When we landed, all the people picking us up were going, 'we didn't expect you were going to fly in this weather'. "But the pilot didn't say anything about that. We saw the lightning up there. I thought it was pyrotechnics for Arcade Fire." The thunderstorm heralded a brief but torrential downpour, and the power cut took BBC coverage off the air. Music resumed on the main stage at 19:00 BST with Lily Allen, who dedicated an expletive-laden song to FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Other performers on Friday included Blondie, who proved so popular it became impossible to enter or leave The Other Stage at lunchtime, and Paolo Nutini, whose soulful ballads were a fitting soundtrack as dusk fell over Somerset. Sophie Ellis-Bextor sneaked some disco into her set at the largely-acoustic Avalon Stage, while the pulsing synthpop of Glaswegian band Chvrches made for a steamy atmosphere in the John Peel tent as fans danced off the downpour. Arcade Fire took to the stage shortly after 22:00 BST, their arrival heralded by a man dressed from head-to-toe in a mirrored suit. Bravely, considering the weather conditions, the 12-piece band were largely dressed in white, but if they were worried about laundry bills, it didn't show. They threw themselves around the stage, thrashing and spinning as though plagued by a swarm of invisible bees, each member switching instruments between - and often during - songs. As well as guitars, they played steel drums, xylophones and even a hurdy gurdy. Frontman Win Butler made frequent excursions into the audience and, during the song Flashbulb Eyes, plucked a camera from a press photographer and carried it on stage to capture the band's performance. The set list was evenly spread across their four albums, with highlights including No Cars Go, Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) and Rebellion (Lies). The group's recurring subject matter of suburban despair and alienation might have seemed like an odd fit for Glastonbury's peace and love ethos, but there is an optimism and belief in humanity at the core of their music. Plus, they have really catchy choruses. The band's willingness to embrace all walks of life was displayed on Friday night during the song We Exist - about a teenager whose father struggles to accept his sexuality. As the opening chords rang out, a troupe of transgender and cross-dressing dancers joined the

Summary: Arcade Fire brought a party atmosphere to Glastonbury on Friday, hours after an electric storm stopped the festival.


Visitors are being offered hot drinks, pastries, calligraphy demonstrations and discussion during the "open-house" weekend. The country's leading Muslim body, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), seeks to distance mainstream Islam from recent jihadist attacks. The initiative comes a year after the Charlie Hebdo killings in Paris. Jihadist gunmen killed 17 people at different Paris sites, including the offices of the satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine and a kosher supermarket. Marking the anniversary of the killings, President Francois Hollande unveiled a plaque on Saturday in tribute to one of those who died, policewoman Clarissa Jean-Philippe. France also remembered the four Jewish hostages killed at the supermarket. France is still under a state of emergency after November's Paris attacks, carried out by gunmen linked to the Islamic State group, which killed 130 people. Hundreds of French mosques are taking part in the open-house event, dubbed a "brotherly cup of tea". "The objective is to create a space where people can be together and meet normal Muslim worshippers and all of our fellow citizens," CFCM President Anouar Kbibech told AFP. He said the CFCM wanted to use the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks to "highlight the real values of Islam, to set straight the cliches about links to violence and terrorism".

Summary: French mosques have invited non-Muslims in to try to create greater understanding of Islam in France.


Matthew Gillard, of Connsbrook Avenue in east Belfast, pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping and false imprisonment. The defendant, 25, also denied charges of common assault, assaulting a police officer and driving dangerously. The charges relate to incidents in east Belfast and Comber on Saturday 4 April. Newtownards Magistrates Court heard that the defendant and the woman were in his car in east Belfast when he began questioning her about who she was seeing. A detective giving evidence in court said the woman tried to get out of the Seat Toledo car but the defendant allegedly drove off at speed, through a red light on Bloomfield Avenue. When the car stopped on the Belfast Road in Comber, the woman escaped along a lane but was carried back to the car by the defendant, the court heard. An off-duty police sergeant saw this and went to help the woman. When the sergeant tried to intervene, the defendant allegedly drove his car at the officer, forcing him to get out of the way. The sergeant was able to pull the keys from the ignition through the car's open window, but the defendant wrenched them from his grasp. He then drove to the Grand Parade area of east Belfast where the woman was released. He is also alleged to have sent the woman a message threatening that if she went to police about the incident he would "ruin her life in every possible way". The court heard that the defendant handed himself over to police on Wednesday, despite being aware since Saturday that he was wanted by the PSNI. But during police interviews he refused to answer questions put to him. An application for bail was made but this was refused. Mr Gillard will appear again in court on 1 May.

Summary: A man accused of kidnapping his partner allegedly drove at a police officer who tried to save her, a court has heard.


Of 72 NHS hospital trusts who responded to a Freedom of Information request, the average rate for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome was 0.2%. It is caused by women taking legal and illegal drugs while pregnant. Health experts say it is a declining trend. BBC's Look North and the English regions data unit asked NHS hospital trusts to provide details about the number of babies born who were addicted to drugs between 2011 and 2015. The figures show a wide geographical variation in the number of newborns who were dependent on harmful substances. One in 100 babies born at Bedford Hospital in 2015 displayed signs of neonatal abstinence syndrome. In contrast, Leicester General had one of the lowest rates with one in every 5,000 babies born addicted to a harmful substance. In Leeds, around one in 250 babies was born with the condition. Lisa Batty, 37, from Bradford, gave birth to four children who were addicted to heroin. "I didn't care that my kids were addicted to drugs, I was more concerned about where I was getting my next fix from. I know it's selfish but that's how it felt at the time," she said. "I remember visiting my children in hospital as they suffered withdrawal symptoms from the methadone they were being given as part of their treatment. I remember seeing them trembling and shaking in their cots. I admit I was a bad mum but I've turned my life around now". Lisa has now recovered from drug addiction and has become involved with the charity Narcotics Anonymous to help others. The data for England also shows that over the past four years there has been general decline in the number of babies being diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Those working to treat mothers and babies with a drug addiction say the majority of parents they deal with come from a disadvantaged socio-economic background, with most cases involving an abuse of drugs like heroin, cocaine or alcohol. Susan Flynn is a specialist midwife in Leeds who helps treat mothers who have a drug addiction. "I have seen the numbers begin to fall slightly in the past three years," she said. "I don't think we can say there is one single reason for the decline but maybe the message is getting out there that it's not right to take drugs or alcohol whilst you're pregnant. "There are of course people who say that women who take drugs whilst they're pregnant should have their children removed from them, but for me I believe everyone should have the chance to turn their life around." Liz Butcher, from Public Health England in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: 'It is particularly important pregnant women who use drugs get supportive, collaborative care to reduce the risks to the health of their babies. "Many places in the region have specialist staff and well-established training to make sure that happens."

Summary: Almost one in 500 babies in hospitals in England is born dependent on substances their mother took while pregnant, a BBC investigation has found.


Sannah Javid, 26, of Frank Slater House, Green Lane, Ilford, was taken to King George Hospital on Tuesday after officers were called to her flat. She died in the early hours of Wednesday. Post-mortem tests found the cause of death was multiple injuries. Metropolitan Police detectives believe Ms Javid knew her attacker. The force said a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of her murder on Saturday. Det Ch Insp Tim Duffield added: "We are appealing for anyone who may have seen or heard something suspicious on the evening of Tuesday, 2 December to call the incident room at Hendon."

Summary: A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman who was found in her east London flat with serious injuries died.


This weekend's match is the centenary of the first meeting between the two sides, and with Leicester arriving as champions there is no doubt which club is in the ascendancy at the moment. During Guscott's time at The Rec it was the West country club that ruled the roost - and he believes they are potentially on the cusp of a revival. This game is big in a lot of different ways for different generations of families and supporters, and the players that have represented both clubs through the years. Those that have followed and played for these two clubs over many years will remember the times they have been successful and the times they have not. Bath took over from Tigers as the dominant English club around 1983-84 and maintained that until the early-to-mid 1990s. Since that time Tigers have been there or thereabouts, often battling for supremacy with Wasps and have been the most consistent English club for 25 years or so. This particular fixtures is given an extra edge because of the anniversary. It evokes memories of all the great games of the past but, looking to the future, Bath are potential challengers to a Tigers team that will want to put down a marker. Throughout my career, games against Leicester - as well as local rivals Gloucester and Bristol - were the biggest games that Bath played in, perhaps because of three cup finals Bath won in 1989, 1994 and 1996. At the time, both teams were used to winning and were full of current or previous internationals players. Who wouldn't want to be involved in those games? The contests were always full of tension, particularly the 1996 final when we got a penalty try to win 16-15. At the end of the game Leicester's Neil back mistook team-mate Steve Lander for Bath's Andy Robinson and pushed him over. With a comfortable win at Newcastle on the opening weekend, Bath have got off to a good start. However, the visit of Leicester is one of the biggest tests of the season and it is good that it arrives early. The Tigers challenge will show this relatively new Bath team where they are and how much further they need to go. Fly-half George Ford ran the game well against the Falcons last week in poor conditions, he was tactically good and nailed most of his kicks. The Tigers know him well and I'm sure the likes of Julian Salvi and Jordan Crane would like the opportunity to get some tackling practice in on their former team-mate. Individually, Bath have exciting backs like Kyle Eastmond, Jonathan Joseph, Nick Abendanon, Tom Heathcote, Anthony Watson, Tom Biggs, Semesa Rokoduguni, Gavin Henson and more. We await to see what they can collectively produce, especially as there are high expectations to deal with. You have to admire the Tigers - the club, supporters, playing squad and management. Friday Harlequins v Northampton - Quins win Sale v Newcastle - Sale win Saturday Exeter v London Wasps - Exeter win Worcester v London Irish - Warriors

Summary: Jeremy Guscott fought many battles with Leicester during his years in the centres for Bath, so he knows just how strong the rivalry is between the two clubs.


Ineos wants to conduct seismic surveys at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire to see if there is potential for fracking. The firm said the charity had blocked any contact for almost a year and it was considering seeking a court order. The National Trust said it opposed any activities leading to the extraction of fossil fuels, so rejected requests. Moves to look for shale gas in the Sherwood Forest area have proved controversial due to environmental concerns over extraction - known as fracking - and expansion of fossil fuel use. Ineos said it already had permission from nearby landowners for the the non-invasive survey and its ability to extract gas would be "significantly limited" if it could not get on to Clumber Park. "If the National Trust refuses to change its position, Ineos will have no choice but to write to the Oil and Gas Authority, asking for permission to seek a court order enforcing its rights to carry out these surveys on National Trust land," it said in a statement. The company said government licences gave it a legal obligation to investigate shale gas deposits around the country and criticised the charity's position as "overtly political" as shale gas had lower carbon emissions than either oil and gas. A National Trust spokesman said: "The National Trust is opposed to fracking on its land and will reject any fracking requests or inquiries. "Consistent with this, we say no to surveying on our land for fracking purposes."

Summary: A petrochemical company is threatening legal action over the National Trust's refusal to allow testing for shale gas on its land.


He had "failed the test" of leadership and South Africa needed to hold to account those who were "looting" state resources, it said. Mr Zuma has been dogged by allegations of corruption for more than a decade. The call by the NMF, which is run by colleagues of South Africa's first black president, is the latest sign of growing discontent with his rule. Its intervention came as a court began hearing a bid by Mr Zuma's legal team to prevent the release of a report by former anti-corruption chief Thuli Madonsela. She investigated allegations that he let the wealthy Gupta family wield undue influence in his government. Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing. In a statement entitled Time to account for crippling the state, the NMF said the governing African National Congress (ANC) needed to take steps to put the government back in "safe and capable hands". "Twenty years since Nelson Mandela signed South Africa's constitution into law and as the third anniversary of his passing approaches, it is painful for us at the Nelson Mandela Foundation to bear witness to the wheels coming off the vehicle of our state," the NMF added. Mr Mandela spent more than 27 years in prison for fighting white-minority rule and became South Africa's first democratically elected leader in 1994. He stepped down five years later and died in December 2013 at the age of 95. The NMF said South Africa's democracy was now under a "real threat", with key government institutions being used to advance "private interests". "We are reaping the results of a political trend of personalising matters of state around a single individual leader. This in a constitutional democracy is to be deplored," it added. Ms Madonsela's investigation was triggered by allegations in March by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had made "a mockery of our hard-earned democracy" by offering him the finance minister's post last year. Mr Jonas said he rejected the offer; the Guptas accused him of political point-scoring. Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also alleged that the family offered her the powerful public enterprise minister's post in 2010 in exchange for business favours. Ms Mentor alleged that Mr Zuma was in another part of the Gupta's family home in Johannesburg when the offer was made. Mr Zuma's office said at the time that he had no "recollection" of Ms Mentor, while the family strongly denied her allegation. Ms Mentor and opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), are challenging Mr Zuma in court, insisting that the report be released. EFF supporters are protesting outside the High Court in the capital, Pretoria, to demand its publication. Mr Zuma's court action prevented Ms Madonsela from publishing the report before she stepped down as public protector at the end of her term last month. He said it would be unlawful to release the report as he had not been given enough time to respond to the allegations. This was the second time Ms Madonsela investigated Mr Zuma during her seven-year

Summary: The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) has called for South Africa's President Jacob Zuma to be sacked.


But Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw says the process to close such schools is "inadequate". Where there is such "illegal activity", he says, the "full force of the law" should be brought to bear. Sir Michael has written to the education secretary to say 15 such schools have been found and they should be "registered or closed down". He says there are "serious concerns" about the safety of children being taught in these "so-called schools". In response, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says the government has taken "robust steps to tackle unregistered schools and improve safeguarding". "However we agree with Sir Michael that more needs to be done." As such Mrs Morgan says there are plans for "further powers to regulate settings which teach children intensively and to intervene and impose sanctions where there are safety or welfare concerns. We will be consulting on these proposals shortly". The Ofsted chief says inspectors visited 28 institutions where there were concerns and found 15 unregistered schools. The schools that are still operating have not been identified, although some are believed to be in Birmingham and London. They include some linked to faith groups. These are schools providing at least 20 hours a week of lessons, operating outside the supervision of the Department for Education, local authorities or Ofsted inspections. Ofsted accuses the operators of some of these institutions of "using the freedoms afforded to genuine home educators as a cover for their activities". But Sir Michael is calling on the education secretary for greater urgency in closing unregistered schools and in the response of councils and the Department for Education. And he warns against "bureaucracy, legislation or lack of resources" being used as a "reason for inaction". In one "deeply troubling case", Ofsted says inspectors had to return for a fifth visit to Bordesley independent school in Birmingham, which inspectors now believe has closed. Sir Michael says inspectors had been delayed from entering, but once inside had found "squalid conditions, including three single mattresses covered in filthy sheets in one room and no running water in the toilet areas". There was also "clear evidence of segregation, with separate classrooms for boys and girls" and "no evidence of appropriate vetting checks being carried out on staff". Inspectors also warned of "pupils being taught a narrow curriculum that was failing to prepare them for life in modern Britain". Sir Michael's letter says there were subsequent questions about rights of access for the local authority - and as such "I arranged for police officers from the West Midlands force to accompany inspectors to facilitate entry to the premises". Mrs Morgan said: "We understand Bordesley has now closed and are keeping in close contact with Birmingham local authority as they work to urgently ensure the children involved are safe and are receiving suitable education." The Ofsted chief has told the education secretary: "The arrangements for closing down unregistered schools are inadequate. "Too many children remain at significant risk of harm. I will continue to do all that I can to identify and inspect unregistered schools." Labour's shadow education secretary,

Summary: Ofsted is warning that pupils are being taught in "squalid" schools that are unregistered and unsupervised.


Parcels containing cannabis and so-called legal highs were removed at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool. The contraband had become lodged on the 60ft (18m) roof after attempts were made to throw it over the prison walls. A prison spokesman said the crane is now being used as a deterrent, "a bit like visible police street patrols". Dave Thompson, director of the privately-run Category B jail, said: "These items were thrown over the prison walls by criminals on the outside. "We are committed to preventing drugs coming into our prison and we are encouraged that at the same time as our seizures of banned substances have increased, the numbers of prisoners testing positive for them has come down. "Altcourse's latest independent inspection report by government monitors praised our drug intelligence work, which they said led to effective drug searches in the prison." Government figures confirmed that 290 mobile telephones and SIM cards were seized in Altcourse in 2013 - the second highest number in England and Wales.

Summary: Prison staff had to use a "cherry picker" crane to remove packages of drugs and mobile phones which had become trapped on the roof.


The singer's shared the video for Living for Love, the album's first single, on the new Snap Channel alongside a behind-the-scenes clip from the video shoot. It all follows a leak of the star's 13th studio album ahead of its planned release on 10 March. This is the first music video to be published since the launch of SnapChat's "Discover" service. We were hoping it might look like this... But it all looked a bit more like this... Snapchat has partnered with media companies to feature videos and news articles on the app. After 24 hours the stories disappear, in keeping with Snapchat's trademark feature of private messages that vanish a few seconds after being viewed by users. Snapchat, which reportedly turned down a $3bn (Â£1.2bn) buyout offer from Facebook, has been valued at around $10bn (Â£6.2bn). Madonna is set to perform at the Grammys on 8 February and at the Brit Awards on 25 February. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Madonna premieres the first music video from her new album, Rebel Heart, on Snapchat.


The Westgate development in the city centre will eventually have more than 100 shops, 25 restaurants and cafes, a cinema and 61 flats. The multi-storey car park on the site was demolished last year. It will be replaced with a 1,000-space underground car park. The development is due for completion in autumn next year. It will include rooftop terrace dining and new public spaces. Site owner Westgate Oxford Alliance, a joint venture between commercial property company Land Securities and The Crown Estate, said the development would cover 800,000 sq ft (74,322 sq m) when complete. Preparatory work began in February 2015 following planning approval by Oxford City Council.

Summary: Work has begun to demolish a 1970s shopping centre in the centre of Oxford as part of a £440m redevelopment.


A spokesperson said it had taken the move because the post violates Facebook's community standards. It comes after a series of paramilitary-style attacks in the Turf Lodge area. The PSNI said they were not linking the post to recent shootings at this stage. Police said such paramilitary style attacks in west Belfast had doubled in 2016 compared to 2015. The police figures do not take into account the Turf Lodge shootings. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, before the post was removed, Sinn Féin MLA, Pat Sheehan, said that some people on the list had already been shot. Mr Sheehan said the name of the 26-year-old, who was shot in both legs on Tuesday night, was on the list. "My understanding is that this man's name has appeared on a list on social media, a list that contains eight names and photographs of people," he said. Mr Sheehan added that the list accuses people of so-called joy riding. There have been a number of shootings since the beginning of the year. Mr Sheehan said: "A number of people on this list have already been shot and it's my understanding that police have begun to visit others whose names are on this list to warn them about their security. He said the community did not believe there was a drugs link to the attacks. "The people who have been shot, and I exclude the couple from last week, mostly have been involved in anti-social behaviour and petty crime. "It's a well-known fact that these people who are carrying out the shootings actually tax drug dealers and if these people pay up their tax, they aren't being shot. "The community is having to deal with the fall-out of all of this," he added. West Belfast People Before Profit MLA, Gerry Carroll, said he was "deeply concerned" that an "apparent hit list" of people had been published on social media, with three of those on the list being the victims of recent punishment shootings. "So-called punishment shootings are inherently undemocratic, inhumane and wrong," he said. "Nobody in west Belfast selected the individuals who compiled this list as their judge, jury and executioner. This is a community that understands the effects of repression and injustice. "People don't want an even more repressive 'punishment' system foisted upon them without their say."

Summary: Facebook has confirmed that it has removed a post on its site which included names and photographs of people accused of anti-social behaviour in west Belfast.


After a nervous start, the Gulls grew into the game and started to apply pressure, which nearly paid off in the 14th minute when a powerful shot from Brett Williams struck a post. Luke Young forced a good save from Owen Evans and later went close with a couple of first-half free-kicks. The Gulls started the second half purposefully and finally breached the visitors' defence in the 58th minute when skipper Aman Verma headed home a free-kick after Jordan Lee had been brought down by Mark Gray. Giancarlo Gallifuoco had a goal disallowed in the 65th minute, but the Gulls ensured they will be back in the National League next season when Myles Anderson headed home two minutes from time. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Torquay United 2, North Ferriby United 0. Second Half ends, Torquay United 2, North Ferriby United 0. Substitution, North Ferriby United. Jordan Douglas replaces Owen Evans. Substitution, Torquay United. Shaun Harrad replaces Brett Williams. Goal! Torquay United 2, North Ferriby United 0. Myles Anderson (Torquay United). Substitution, Torquay United. Sam Chaney replaces Jordan Lee. Substitution, North Ferriby United. George Bell replaces Reece Thompson. Substitution, North Ferriby United. Jordan Cooke replaces Taron Hare. Substitution, Torquay United. Dan Sparkes replaces Jamie Reid. Goal! Torquay United 1, North Ferriby United 0. Aman Verma (Torquay United). Second Half begins Torquay United 0, North Ferriby United 0. First Half ends, Torquay United 0, North Ferriby United 0. First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Summary: Torquay guaranteed another season in the National League with a well-deserved victory against relegated North Ferriby at Plainmoor.


He wanted a tribunal to approve a move to a Scottish prison, but Ashworth Hospital said he had chronic mental illness and needed continued care at the Merseyside top-security facility. Brady, now 75, and Myra Hindley, who died in prison in 2002, tortured and murdered five children. He was jailed for three murders in 1966 and has been at Ashworth since 1985. He and Hindley later confessed to another two murders. Judge Robert Atherton, who headed the three-person mental health tribunal at Ashworth, said: "The tribunal has concluded that Mr Ian Stewart Brady continues to suffer from a mental disorder which is of a nature and degree which makes it appropriate for him to continue to receive medical treatment, and that it is necessary for his health and safety and for the protection of other persons that he should receive such treatment in hospital, and that appropriate medical treatment is available for him." The reasons for the tribunal's decision will be released later. By Dominic CascianiHome affairs correspondent Ashworth Hospital argued that Brady was after "a win" over the authorities. This decision, which denies him that victory, comes down to the very narrow legal remit that had to be fulfilled by his mental health tribunal. The panel had one simple duty: to assess the patient's health and what would be clinically right for him. So although we have not yet seen the full reasons, the tribunal's decision means it has decided that Brady is still suffering from paranoid schizophrenia or another treatable disorder. Once it had come to that conclusion, it could further rule that it would be appropriate to keep Brady at Ashworth, either to receive treatment or because it would be necessary for his own safety or those of others. It's going to be very difficult for him to challenge the decision because he can only launch an appeal if he can show that the tribunal got the law wrong. Brady has the right to challenge the decision. Dr David Fearnley, medical director at Ashworth, said: "We appreciate the time and effort the mental health tribunal has given to this case and its judgment is consistent with the expert opinions of our clinicians. "Mr Brady suffers from a severe personality disorder and a mental illness which still require high-quality care. "It is a testament to the staff of Ashworth Hospital that we have been able to stabilise his schizophrenia to the degree we have. However, his condition is chronic and will require this support for the foreseeable future." Asked if the tribunal, which was held in public at Brady's request, may have exacerbated the illness, Dr Fearnley said: "I think the difficulty with an individual such as Ian Brady is that he has a complex mental disorder and for many years has been able to publicise his concerns. "However, we see this as part of an overall problem which our experts are looking into and will continue to provide expert care." Brady has been on a hunger strike since 1999, and appeared at the tribunal with his feeding tube in

Summary: Moors Murderer Ian Brady has lost his legal bid to be transferred from a psychiatric hospital back to prison.


On Monday the Austin resident used a golf buggy to pick some of them up. The Sure Walk project has been set up to ensure students get back safely from campus when it is dark. McConaughey, 47, graduated from the university in 1993. He is an avid fan of its American football team. A photograph of him dressed in an orange shirt driving smiling and startled students home was posted by the university on social media. Matthew McConaughey: From rom-com star to Oscar winner "Longhorns take care of each other, and it's 'safe' to say Matthew McConaughey agrees," a post on the university's Facebook page says. "Don't forget to use Sure Walk when travelling home late at night; you never know who might pick you up!" Sure Walk - or Students United for Rape Elimination - provides students of the University of Texas at Austin with "volunteer companionship while walking home from campus". It expanded its services earlier this month from 7pm to 2am every day of the week, the university's news magazine said. It provides students with "peace-of-mind when studying late at night and ensure[s] safety for all". Canada police to punish drink-drivers with Nickelback Australian man's 'breast implant' find revealed as jellyfish New five pound note not suitable for vegetarians Born in the small city of Uvalde, Texas, McConaughey eschewed a role in the family oil pipe business to study radio, TV and film at the University of Texas. Although he is perhaps best known for his leading roles in rom-coms such as Failure to Launch and The Wedding Planner, he won an Oscar for Best Actor in the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club. In one of his latest films, The Sea of Trees, he stars as a suicidal man who travels to Japan to take his own life. Yet McConaughey has acknowledged that it is the rom-coms that have provided him with his "bread and butter", telling the Daily Telegraph in a recent interview that has no qualms about being associated with the genre.

Summary: Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has surprised students at the University of Texas at Austin by taking part in a scheme to provide them with safe late-night lifts home.


The woman was picked up from Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, near the Greyfriars Bobby's statue, at 03:30am. She was taken to a layby just past the Hillend Ski Slope, near the Boghall Farm in Midlothian where she was subjected to a serious sexual assault.. She was then left near the Sheriffhall roundabout on the city bypass. Police Scotland are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the victim or the car. The suspect was described as being of South Asian appearance, aged 35-40, about 5ft 5in - 5ft 6in, of slim build. He had dark, cropped hair and was clean-shaven. He was wearing dark clothing and spoke with an Edinburgh accent. The car was described as being a five-door saloon, which was possibly a navy colour. Det Sgt Keith Mackay said: "This was a frightening experience for the woman, who is now in the care of her family. "We are eager to trace this man and are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who recognises the man's description, or the description of the car, is urged to come forward."

Summary: A 31-year-old woman has been sexually assaulted after getting into a car she believed was a private hire taxi.


Africa will go through six human actions this year - it will stand, kneel, squat, bow, fall and then rise again. Here's how. In the group of those who will be standing in Africa in 2017 is Donald Trump. Yes, I know it's an act of treason to associate him with Africa. But when he's sworn in as president, his foreign policy (or tweetplomacy) will have a bearing on our continent. His critics warn that his isolationist stand might mean less attention will be paid to Africa. But it could just force Africans to find solutions from within, by strengthening our institutions, improving infrastructure, governance and security and trading more amongst ourselves. Another man who also takes office in January is Nana Akufo-Addo, the president-elect of Ghana. He's tried to enter Flagstaff House (the presidential residency) through the ballot box as the New Patriotic Party candidate since 2008. Now that he has the keys, Ghanaians will wait to see how he delivers his pledge of one district, one factory, lest he becomes one man, one term. And then there's the state of emergency in Ethiopia, which still stands. It was put in place last October following violent protests. The government says the security situation has improved save for some clashes in the northern part of Amhara region. Some 9,000 people detained under the state of emergency have been released and the government says it could lift the emergency before its six-month period is over. There are two prominent men who will be kneeling before voters to ask for a job. Paul Kagame has been president for the last 16 years, but Rwandans appear to want more of him and have voted to remove the term-limit barrier. In August, Mr Kagame will therefore use his constitutional right to ask for a new employment contract. In the same month, his Kenyan neighbour Uhuru Kenyatta will also be reapplying for his job. Last September, while warning the main opposition leader Raila Odinga to mind his own party and leave the ruling Jubilee party alone, President Kenyatta famously said: "â€¦ as you continue to search for a seat and salivate, we are feasting on the meat". It will be clear in August whether Kenyans will give Jubilee more time to feast or turn the party itself into mince meat. Joseph Warungu: "The Nigerian economy... enters 2017 in the squat position" The African Union has been searching for a new Chief Executive Officer and will fill the position in January. Three men and two women from Botswana, Kenya, Chad, Senegal and Equatorial Guinea will fight it out to replace the outgoing South African Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as Chair of the AU Commission. Now to some situations and people who can't decide whether to stand or sit. The Nigerian economy has caught its nastiest stomach bug in more than two decades. And so it enters 2017 in the squat position. A combination of factors including a crash in the global price of oil, which Nigeria relies a lot on, and a fall in the naira, the country's currency, contributed

Summary: In our series of letters from African journalists, media and communications trainer Joseph Warungu gives a personal guide to some of the key people, places and events to watch out for in Africa in 2017.