The 50-year-old from Felstead in Essex rowed the Atlantic two years ago in the Woodvale Challenge. The 3,000-mile (4,800km) voyage took him 52 days - 10 of which were spent going backwards. Despite this, he set a new UK solo and race record. In January, Mr Pitcher plans to do it all again. This time, he has his sights set on the 40-day trans-Atlantic solo rowing world record. He will live aboard his rowing boat, the Soma of Essex. Made of carbon fibre, it is 6.5m (21ft) long and weighs just 460kg (1,014lb). Each day he will have to eat about 7,000 calories and make his own water to drink from sea water. Asked why he would row the Atlantic a second time, Mr Pitcher said: "The first time, it was an adventure. I stumbled across that adventure and ended up rowing across the Atlantic in a race from the Canaries to Antigua. "But we had very bad weather and it wasn't really what what I had bought into. "When I got to Antigua I decided I wanted to do it again, hopefully with the right weather. "I want to experience those famous trade winds which blow of the coast of Africa towards the Americas. "Of course, I also want to try and break the world record to be the fastest solo rower across the Atlantic. "Last time I spent 10 days going backwards and that is very mentally challenging," he said. "But if we get good weather and I don't go backwards for 10 days, I think there's a possibility of breaking the record." His days will be divided into 16 hours of rowing, four hours sleeping and the remaining four hours will be spent on boat management. Mr Pitcher will sleep on the floor of his compact cabin, which has a carbon fibre seat. For entertainment, Mr Pitcher has a number of audio books to listen to and more than 4,000 songs on an iPod. His music includes a mix of music from classical to hard rock and Abba. The Soma of Essex has been designed to be self-righting in the event of a capsize. "It's designed to come up very quickly if it turns turtle," he said, "and as long as I hold on tight I will be alright - even if I'm like laundry in a tumble dryer." "Those people who think I'm crazy don't really know me. "There's a risk and there's an assessment of that risk. And we reduce those risks as much as possible." The plan is to get the rowing vessel to Tenerife and then to the island of La Gomera. Once there, Mr Pitcher will wait for the the right conditions. Asked what he was expecting on the open ocean, he said: "You only need a tropical storm and it can be very bad. We are not departing in tropical storm season, though there is still a risk. It is less than 10%. "But there are other things which can go wrong. I have a water machine that turns salt water into drinkable

Summary: Charlie Pitcher says people who call him "crazy" do not know him very well.


Legally, it needs at least 5% of local electors for a referendum to go ahead. Those behind the petition say a mayor would offer more dynamic leadership and "rise above party politics". Council leader Tim Warren said it felt "unnecessary" so soon after the elections. If successful, a directly elected mayor would replace him. The council announced on Monday that it had received 6,818 valid signatures. A further 2,789 signatures were ruled to be invalid. Directly elected mayors were created by the Local Government Act 2000 as one option for local government, as long as the idea was backed in a referendum. Bath & North East Somerset Council said the threshold set out under the 2000 Act had been reached and "it is anticipated that the referendum will be held early next year". In Bath, the council is run by a leader and cabinet system. Philip Raby, one of the team working for a referendum, said they favoured holding it on 5 May 2016, the day of the police and crime commissioner elections. He felt a directly elected mayor would offer "visible and accountable leadership" for the wider area - something he felt the current system did not offer. Mr Warren said there were "challenging budgetary issues" to concentrate on and questioned whether there was much public appetite for a referendum. Local petitions sparked referendums which resulted in elected mayors in Salford, Greater Manchester in 2012 and in Copeland, Cumbria in 2015. The Localism Act 2011 allowed central government to trigger referendums for elected mayors - but of the ten held in May 2012, only Bristol voted in favour of getting a mayor.

Summary: A referendum on an elected mayor for Bath and North East Somerset will be held in 2016, after a petition reached the threshold of 6,437 votes.


The march from Camberwell, south London, to Downing Street has been called to raise awareness of vulnerable people who used the service. The charity was closed following a row over funding. Kids Company has denied allegations of financial mismanagement. The prime minister said the government had been right to give the charity one more chance. Before it shut its doors on Wednesday, Kids Company provided practical, emotional and educational support to some of the most deprived and vulnerable inner-city children and young people in London, Liverpool and Bristol. It was founded in 1996 by Camila Batmanghelidjh. David Cameron said he was sad at the closure of the charity, which had been given a Â£3m government grant last week. He said: "The government thought it was the right thing to do to give this charity one last chance of restructuring to try and make sure it could continue its excellent work. "Sadly that didn't happen, not least because of the allegations that were made and private donors withdrawing their money but I think the government was right to say let's have one last go trying to keep this charity going, given the work it's done for so many young people." Some 150 people gathered outside the charity's former centre in Camberwell to take part in the march to Parliament. Lisa Moodie, who has been a youth worker with the charity for seven years, said: "Today isn't about Camila, it's about love, it's about making sure the children's voices are heard. "I agree people need to be accountable for what happens to our young people, it's not acceptable that we just leave them discarded. These are very vulnerable young people, they live chaotic lifestyles. "When they mess up, we're here for them just as your parents would be. It's very difficult to measure success in a hospital - it would be how many broken bones do you have. How we measure success can be in small things. It might be learning how to use a knife and fork." Anita Ebirim, who brought her eight-year-old daughter to the charity, said: "Why did they close Kids Company? It's a place we come to save our lives. "Every day we come here to eat our lunch... we get breakfast, we get clothes. A lot of young men come who don't work, but it stops them messing around and getting into drugs." Kids Company employs 600 paid staff, as well as working with a pool of about 8,000 volunteers and 500 students. Marie, a 30-year-old volunteer from Wimbledon, said: "It makes no sense, it hasn't really sunk in yet. The kids keep coming and find out by the notice on the gates . We didn't have time to say our goodbyes to the kids." The charity has been beset by problems, including allegations of financial mismanagement and accusations by former staff that the charity failed to deal with allegations of serious incidents. Kids Company is also being investigated by the Met Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command. Ms Batmanghelidjh has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Summary: Supporters of the closed charity Kids Company are taking part in a march in London.


The boards are forecast to over spend by £146m this year. In one case - Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) - the financial outlook is said to be "extremely challenging". The health board, which covers Swansea and Bridgend, said it was attempting to cut agency staff costs. As well as ABMU there are overspends at Betsi Cadwaladr in north Wales, Cardiff and Vale board and Hywel Dda in mid and west Wales. Betsi Cadwaladr's deficit is now forecast to be £30m, Hywel Dda £49.9m, ABMU £35m and Cardiff and Vale £31m for the 2016-17 financial year. The health boards will not face a bill to repay the money, but they will be expected to balance their books in the next financial year. In the previous year, Betsi Cadwaladr and Hywel Dda had a combined deficit of £50m while Cardiff and Vale and ABMU both broke even. Betsi Cadwaladr has been under direct control of the Welsh Government since June 2015. The other three boards were placed under an increased level of scrutiny from ministers last September due to doubts about their ability to tackle the financial challenges they face. Health Secretary Vaughan Gething told BBC Radio's Good Morning Wales programme he was "pretty certain" services would not be cut "simply because of money". "We'll change services but that's because we should change some of our services, because they currently don't deliver the right value and the best quality," he added. He said the health service had a responsibility to provide "high-quality care" and at the same time "to do more to live within its means". A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: "The position in these four health boards is unacceptable, and we have made it clear that we expect them to take action to significantly improve their financial position." She said ministers will not approve financial plans "that do not deliver such improvements". "Individual organisations that exceed their allocated resources, have not - and will not - be bailed out," she said, adding that the government is "working alongside all organisations to improve their respective positions" and that the "overall health budget will be balanced for the 2016-17 financial year". ABMU has gone from a break-even position to a forecast deficit of £39m this year, and another forecast deficit of £53m next year. The health board has average running costs of £3m a day, so a £39m deficit is equivalent to the cost of running the board for 13 days. It said it was focusing on an intensive recruitment drive to cut down on the cost of agency staff, as well as reducing waste in prescription medication. A spokeswoman said: "There are many challenges facing us when trying to identify savings that won't compromise patient safety and quality of care, at the same time as demand on our services increases." A spokesman for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: "We have worked hard throughout the year, and worked closely with Welsh Government, to address our challenges, and we will continue to do so going forward." Stephen Foster, of Hywel Dda

Summary: Four health boards which are due to see their overall budget deficits triple in size will not be bailed out, the Welsh Government has said.


Mr MacAskill made the announcement at HMP Shotts, one of two pilot sites for the technology. The move follows legislation allowing the Scottish Prison Service to interfere with mobile phone signals. The technology should enable prison authorities to detect and prevent prisoners' use of contraband phones. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) awarded contracts for the installation of the technology at HMPs Shotts and Glenochil. The two pilot sites are expected to be operating the technology by the end of the current financial year. Mr MacAskill said: "This government made it a criminal offence for a prisoner to possess a mobile phone and the Scottish Prison Service has already invested considerably in the use of technology and intelligence capability to detect and prevent the use of mobile phones in our prisons. "This new legislation will allow SPS to further extend their technology to disrupt the use of mobile phones by prisoners and is scheduled to be operational in a matter of weeks." The Scottish Prison Service has linked mobile phone use in prison to criminal activities including the supply of drugs, organised crime and harassment. Possession of a mobile phone by people in custody has been illegal since 2010. The SPS said 1,988 mobile phone handsets had been detected in Scottish prisons since 2011 - 212 of them in HMP Shotts. In 2012 the Scottish Parliament agreed to extend the provisions of the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act, which was passed by the UK Parliament, to Scotland and allow prison governors to use jamming equipment.

Summary: Mobile phone signal blocking technology will go live in Scottish prisons within weeks, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced.


Media playback is not supported on this device Paul Heatley was sent-off in the 41st minute following an off-the-ball incident with Lyndon Kane. James McLaughlin turned the ball home from six yards midway through the second half after Sean O'Neill had parried Ruairi Harkin's initial shot. Jordan Forsythe was dismissed for a crude two-footed challenge on Kane. The precious point keeps Stephen Baxter's champions within four points of Premiership pacesetters Linfield. Crusaders went into the game on the back of five straight league wins while the Bannsiders' record of just two wins in their previous 21 matches against their visitors suggested they faced an uphill task. Rodney Brown directed a header straight at O'Neill and then Forsythe headed wide and saw a close-range effort cleared off the line by Steven Douglas. Heatley had a low shot parried by Coleraine stopper Michael Doherty, while Jamie McGonigle raced clear and found himself one-on-one with O'Neill, who blocked the Coleraine player's shot with his legs. Heatley was shown the red card by referee Keith Kennedy and when McLaughlin broke the deadlock, Oran Kearney's side looked to be in control. Forsythe's 71st-minute sending-off appeared to seal the Crues' fate but O'Flynn's late intervention after a Craig McClean free-kick earned a last-gasp draw.

Summary: Substitute Stephen O'Flynn's final minute diving header salvaged an unlikely point for nine-man Crusaders against Coleraine at Ballycastle Road.


Since the discovery of the bodies in 2009 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been tracking down potential relatives in the hope of identifying them. The remains were spotted during construction work near the French village of Beaucamps-Ligny. They were found alongside five other bodies which are yet to be named. All the soldiers were with 2nd Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment, and are believed to have died in battle on 18 October 1914. The men are due to be given a funeral with full military honours in October, while investigations continue to try and track down relatives for the remaining bodies. Retired computer programmer Peter Hague, 70, of Chinley, Derbyshire said he was "astonished" to find that his cousin twice-removed Cpl Francis Carr Dyson was among those identified. "It is always strange, and poignant moment when you discover you are related to someone like this, I suppose the sadness of his death is mitigated when you know they died during service for their country," he said. The investigation team is particularly interested in speaking to the families of the following six soldiers who potentially could be among those yet to be named, they are: Anyone who thinks they may be related to these soldiers should contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre team on 01452 712612 (Ext 6303) Source: Ministry of Defence Mr Hague, who is widowed with two children, said some years ago he had researched his own family background and was aware of the existence of Cpl Dyson. And after posting details on a genealogy website, Mr Hague said he was contacted "out of the blue" by a genealogist working on behalf of the MoD. "I gave a DNA mouth swab about six months ago, and it has led to this, it's amazing really," he said. Defence minister Lord Astor of Hever said: "Our thoughts remain with all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. "Although these soldiers fell almost a century ago, the Ministry of Defence still takes its responsibility extremely seriously to identify any remains found, trace and inform surviving relatives and to provide a fitting and dignified funeral so they rest in peace." The funeral of the men has been organised by the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, which traces its history back to The York and Lancaster Regiment. The 10 soldiers who have been identified are: A DNA sample from retired BT manager Barrie Richmond was able to identify his great-uncle Pte Richmond. Mr Richmond of Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire said: "We are surprised and amazed and excited - and humbled. He was a great-uncle we didn't know anything about - perhaps it was the grief, that people didn't want to speak about it. "We have found out so much about him. He enlisted in October 1904, signed on for three years, served in India, then worked in the lace making industry before being recalled in 1914. "He was from Radford, Nottinghamshire, and married wife Ellen, but they had no children." For 69-year-old retired teacher, Marlene Jackson of Garstang, Lancashire,

Summary: Ten soldiers who died in World War One and whose bodies were found in France five years ago have been named after DNA analysis of samples from relatives.


The British Embassy in Rabat said Roger and Mathilde Lamb from Pensham, near Pershore, died in separate falls. A spokeswoman said Mrs Lamb fell from a window of an apartment in the resort of Essaouira while Mr Lamb fell downstairs at a different building a few days later. They both died in hospital. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spokesman said the exact circumstances of the deaths were being investigated. The FCO is providing consular assistance to the family. In a statement, the couple's families said they were "deeply shocked and saddened by their tragic deaths". The couple, who have four sons aged between 11 and 17, were staying in the Moroccan resort of Essaouira. Mrs Lamb's brother-in-law, Mark Rogerson, said the children were back in the UK being looked after by relatives. He said they knew very few details about what happened, but were aware of Mrs Lamb's death last Thursday and then heard about her husband's death on Monday. "We heard first of all that he was badly injured. And then on Monday we heard that he had died," he said. Mr Lamb, who was an engineer and a graduate of the University of Birmingham, was working in Christchurch, New Zealand, while his family remained at home in Worcestershire. The families said their main concern was for the couple's children. "Roger and Tilly's families have been deeply shocked and saddened by their tragic deaths while on holiday in Morocco," the statement said. "Our principal concern at the moment is to provide love and support to their four sons who have had to suffer the loss of both a mother and a father in swift succession. "The boys are being well cared for by relatives. "We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the British consular authorities in Morocco for their invaluable assistance." The mayor of Pershore, John Grantham, said people who knew the couple had been saddened by the news. He said: "They're clearly very upset, it's been quite a shock." Mrs Lamb, who was known as Tilly, had relatives in Wiltshire. A spokesman for Wiltshire Police confirmed that her body was being repatriated to the county.

Summary: A couple from Worcestershire have died on holiday in Morocco.


Pupils aged 11 will be expected to know their tables up to 12x12, and will be tested using an "on-screen check". The checks will be piloted to about 3,000 pupils in 80 primary schools this summer, before being rolled out across the country in 2017. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said maths was a non-negotiable aspect of a good education. The "on-screen check" examination will involve children completing multiplication challenges against the clock, which will be scored instantly. The Department for Education says it is the first use of on-screen technology in National Curriculum tests. Ms Morgan has also said teachers will be judged by the results of the tests: "Since 2010, we've seen record numbers of 11 year olds start secondary school with a good grasp of the three Rs. But some continue to struggle. "That is why, as part of our commitment to extend opportunity and deliver educational excellence everywhere we are introducing a new check to ensure that all pupils know their times tables by age 11. "They will help teachers recognise those pupils at risk of falling behind and allow us to target those areas where children aren't being given a fair shot to succeed." In 2015, 80% of Year 6 pupils achieved Level 4 in maths, reading and writing, up from 78% last year. But Labour says standards are being threatened by a shortage of teachers, and in the past some teaching unions have warned additional tests can place unwelcome pressure on teachers and pupils.

Summary: Every pupil in England will be tested on their times tables before leaving primary school, under government plans.


Media playback is not supported on this device Against a competitive field including four-time Olympian Jo Pavey, Isle of Wight-born Andrews beat her personal best by 83 seconds on Saturday. The 23-year-old, who now lives and trains in Andorra, had previously run shorter distances and cross-country. "I've got three months until Rio, so for now I'm just taking everything in," she told BBC South Today. "The reaction has been incredible. I've had tweets and social media messages from people back home including old teachers and family friends." Andrews, from Shanklin, is engaged to Irish road cyclist and Olympic contender Dan Martin. Media playback is not supported on this device A former Aldershot & Farnham District club member, she teamed up with a new coach a year ago after choosing to relocate to Andorra with Martin. Eventually she decided to train for the 10,000m and her win at Parliament Hill, 17 seconds inside the GB qualification time, came in only her second track event at the distance. "I've not really been telling people what I've been up to while living here," Andrews added. "I haven't been racing on the British scene recently, so that's why it's come as quite a shock. "I'll allow myself some time to take it a bit easy and then I'll sit down in the next week with my coach," she added. "We'll start to plan the build-up, the training and the races I'll compete in before Rio."

Summary: Distance runner Jess Andrews admits she "still can't believe" she has qualified for the 10,000m at the Rio Olympics.


The PM was chomping on the Â£1.80 snack on an Easyjet flight to Portugal - sparking incredulity on social media. Fellow passenger Ashleigh was amazed too, telling her Twitter followers: "Guys I'm crying he was eating Pringles." "I found the experience humbling," she told BBC News. The eagle-eyed teenager also managed to grab a selfie with the apparently oblivious Mr Cameron to liven up the holiday flight she was taking with her boyfriend. The prime minister, who was sitting with his bodyguards, can be seen playing with - or possibly working on - his iPad in an economy seat. He is believed to have been flying out to Portugal to join wife Samantha and their three children on holiday. Twitter users were quick to flag up other examples of snack-related Cameron trivia - such as a curious picture of him eating a hot dog with a knife and fork during the election campaign. Others wondered why the prime minister was using a budget airline, suggesting he was trying to burnish his "man of the people" credentials. Britain's political leaders have been wary of being pictured eating since then Labour leader Ed Miliband was snapped by a press photographer having difficulties with a bacon sandwich. Why do politicians try so hard to eat like voters?

Summary: A teenage girl has added a new chapter to the politicians-eating-things file after filming David Cameron tucking into a tube of paprika Pringles.


Danny Rose scored twice for the Stags to inflict a sixth successive defeat on the home side. Rose gave the Stags the lead after four minutes when he drilled a low shot past Barry Roche from 12 yards. The Shrimps were level three minutes later after a mistake in the Mansfield defence. Roche's long clearance was not dealt with by Rhys Bennett and Paul Mullin took advantage to run on goal and stroke the ball calmly past the helpless Jake Kean. The visitors then took advantage of some sloppy defending at the other end to regain the lead after 33 minutes when Rose profited from a mistake from Michael Rose to beat Roche from 12 yards as the ball somehow squirmed under the keeper's body. The Stags then added a third after 39 minutes through another swift counter attack. Shaquile Coulthirst did well to hold the ball up and delivered the perfect pass for Ben Whiteman to slide the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal from the edge of the area. The Shrimps started the second half sharply with Aaron Wildig forcing Kean into a good save just seconds after the restart. From there Mansfield were happy to soak up pressure and hit Morecambe on the break, with Danny Rose denied his hat-trick by a superb save from Roche with 51 minutes gone. Match support supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Morecambe 1, Mansfield Town 3. Second Half ends, Morecambe 1, Mansfield Town 3. Lee Molyneux (Morecambe) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town). Attempt missed. Aaron Wildig (Morecambe) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Attempt blocked. Michael Rose (Morecambe) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Foul by Luke Jordan (Morecambe). Hayden White (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing. Kevin Ellison (Morecambe) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Alfie Potter (Mansfield Town). Attempt missed. Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick. Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Michael Duckworth (Morecambe). Attempt saved. Alex Whitmore (Morecambe) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Attempt blocked. Luke Jordan (Morecambe) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Attempt missed. Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt blocked. Benjamin Whiteman (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Alfie Potter replaces Alexander MacDonald. Hand ball by Kevin Ellison (Morecambe). Dean Winnard (Morecambe) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Dean Winnard (Morecambe). Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Kevin Ellison (Morecambe) header from the left side of the box is too high. Substitution, Mansfield Town. James Baxendale replaces Matt Green. Foul by Paul Mullin (Morecambe). Kyle

Summary: Mansfield maintained their quest for a League Two play-off spot with victory over struggling Morecambe at the Globe Arena.


The All Blacks were almost out of sight at half-time, Julian Savea scoring two tries and Brodie Retallick and Nehe Milner-Skudder one apiece. A try by Louis Picamoles had kept France afloat but when he was sent to the sin-bin French hopes evaporated. Savea completed a fine hat-trick and Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (two) also crossed. France had hoped to draw inspiration from their World Cup upsets over the All Blacks in 1999 and 2007, when they beat them in the quarter-finals in Cardiff, as well as their near-miss in the 2011 final, when they narrowly lost 8-7. But New Zealand, who have now beaten France nine times in a row and equalled Australia's record of 12 consecutive World Cup wins, never looked like losing against a Philippe Saint-Andre side forced to deny they are in outright rebellion. And while the French simply did not have the requisite talent or a game-plan to trouble New Zealand, the performance of Steve Hansen's side was undoubtedly the most impressive of the tournament so far. New Zealand started in breathless fashion and Dan Carter translated their pressure into three points after Thierry Dusautoir was penalised for not releasing. France were level almost immediately, full-back Scott Spedding slotting a penalty from inside his own half, before second-row Retallick charged down a Freddie Michalak clearance kick and romped over for New Zealand's first try. The All Blacks were nullified for a while by some stout French defence, until Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, playing their 60th Test together in the centres, fed the ball to the brilliant Milner-Skudder, who conjured a try from nothing, stepping off his right foot and leaving the French defence for dead. And when Savea went over for New Zealand's 300th World Cup try, after a wonderful back-of-the-hand offload from Carter, France looked doomed. Picamoles, France's inspirational number eight, had other ideas and latched onto a loose pass in front of New Zealand's posts and barged over, but when he was sin-binned for putting his fist in a prone Richie McCaw's face soon after the restart, the French challenge evaporated. Savea had already grabbed his second just before half-time, the 6ft 4in, 17-stone wing displaying great strength to smash through three tackles and score his seventh try of the tournament. And after Picamoles' departure Kaino trotted over unopposed before Savea finished from 40 metres out to equal Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana's record of eight tries in an individual tournament and make it 38 tries in 39 Tests. Some cute interplay between Charlie Faumuina and number eight Read ended with the latter touching down next to the posts, before replacement scrum-half Kerr-Barlow came off the bench to grab a clinical double as the world champions ran riot. New Zealand rarely clicked despite topping Pool C, but four competitive matches appear to have been exactly what they needed in terms of sharpening them up for the knockout stages. South Africa, who were shocked by Japan in their opening World Cup game, have mounted a stirring recovery and are battle-hardened after a

Summary: Defending champions New Zealand hit top gear to demolish France and set up a semi-final against South Africa.


Avon's Parisian office says only current orders will be guaranteed and it is unsure if its self-employed representatives will be able to get supplies after the end of October. Avon has been in France for almost 50 years. It employs about 120 staff in Paris, supporting 11,000 representatives who visit customers in their own homes. Angry workers in France have accused Avon of keeping them in the dark for months and not acting in line with Avon's publically stated values of being a socially responsible company that upholds values of trust, respect and integrity and a culture of "open and candid communication". Estelle Croissant, an Avon employee responsible for supporting the direct selling representatives, told the BBC that a workers' council representing Avon staff in France was challenging the company for not following the correct redundancy process. "They have not respected all the processes according to their own rules and values," she said. "We now know an administrator has been in place since May this year, but no scheme to assist the workers is yet in place. We just feel abandoned. "We knew that the business was not good, but we have all been very committed and worked relentlessly over many months to help the company to try and become profitable." Further meetings are taking place between workers' representatives and the management. Avon is one of the world's largest beauty companies and sells most of its products through direct selling by self-employed representatives who visit customers in their homes. The US parent company has been through a string of reorganisations and management changes. Two years ago, it turned down a takeover offer from rival cosmetic company Coty. Asked by the BBC about events at its French subsidiary, a spokesman for the parent company refused to make any comment or even confirm the closure was taking place.

Summary: The French operations of the US cosmetics giant Avon Products are to be closed by the end of the month.


On everything from music to microwaves, and taxis to train tickets. Consumers save money by doing their transactions on a computer or mobile phone. But not when it comes to banking. Customers of UK banks who use the internet pay just as much for overdrafts and fees as everyone else. These low-maintenance customers rarely need to call their bank, let alone visit the local branch. From the bank's point of view, they are cheap to look after. Yet they get no price reductions. On the face of it, digital customers are getting a raw deal. Lloyds - the UK's biggest retail banking group - boasts that is has 10 million customers who access its services via the internet. In effect, those 10 million are paying for the other 12 million customers who still want a premium and personalised service; namely the ability to go in to a centrally-heated, business-rate paying, well-decorated and well-staffed High Street branch, to speak to a human being. "If I'm just using online, and never go into a branch, or never ring a call-centre, I would expect to get a better price, because otherwise I am subsidising those people who go into a branch," says Kevin Mountford, head of banking at MoneySupermarket. No bank will say how much its branch network really costs them. But Lloyds has no fewer than 1,300 such branches in England and Wales alone. And Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) spent £400m last year on refurbishments. Either way, transactions on the internet cost banks a tiny fraction of those in-branch, or compared to the cost of processing a cheque. "As a customer, if I am seeing that my behaviour brings down the operational cost, what's in it for me?" says Mr Mountford. "I would expect something back. But unfortunately it doesn't happen." None of the big High Street banks offer their customers separate internet banking directly. However HSBC and The Co-operative Bank do so under separate brands. One of them is Smile, the first full internet bank to be set up, in 1999, and owned by the Co-op. Smile customers borrowing £500 for a month benefit significantly. The cost is just £7.34, as opposed to £17.40 with the Co-op. The other is First Direct, which - as a telephone and internet bank only - has much lower running costs than its parent brand, HSBC. Yet First Direct charges £83.05 to fund a £500 overdraft for a month, only marginally cheaper than HSBC's £87.52. Mark Mullen, the former chief executive of First Direct - and now boss of Atom Bank - is not impressed. "I think it is astonishing that you can have banks with very different cost bases, very different sizes of banks, and very different histories of technology, yet somehow miraculously they price just about the same." Others might wonder why, if Smile charges £7.34 for an overdraft, and HSBC charges £87.52 for exactly the same thing, more customers aren't switching; or why the self-evident benefits of internet banking aren't available more widely. The banks concerned argue that customers are unlikely to be

Summary: Around the world, and across different industries, the internet has cut the cost of doing business.


Reprinting the anti-Semitic book was banned after WW2 by Bavaria's regional government, which held the copyright. The copyright has now expired and Munich's Institute of Contemporary History is to publish a new edition. New versions are expected in many countries. Historians say the book helps academics understand what happened in the Nazi era. Its annotated version, with thousands of academic notes, will aim to show that Mein Kampf (My Struggle) is incoherent and badly written, rather than powerful or seductive. Many Jewish groups have welcomed this particular publication, saying it is important to have access to a critical edition to help explain the Holocaust, reports the BBC's Damien McGuinness in Berlin. Mein Kampf was originally printed in 1925 - eight years before Hitler came to power. After Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945, the Allied forces handed the copyright to the book to the state of Bavaria. The local authorities have refused to allow the book to be reprinted to prevent incitement of hatred, although the book was so widely printed during the war that it remained relatively easily available. Under European copyright law, the rights of an author of a literary or artistic work runs for the life of the author and for 70 years after his death - in Hitler's case on 30 April 1945, when he shot himself in his bunker in Berlin. Those rights cease on the first day of January 70 years after the author's death, and so publishers now have free access to the original text. However, German officials have said they will limit public access to the text amid fears that this could stir neo-Nazi sentiment.

Summary: For the first time in 70 years, Adolf Hitler's Nazi manifesto Mein Kampf is to be available to buy in Germany.


Haig's side have won the past six European Nations Cup (ENC) titles - the division below the Six Nations - finished third in their 2015 World Cup pool and completed an unbeaten Pacific Islands tour this summer. There is no imminent prospect of a change to the Six Nations format, despite alterations to rugby's international calendar after the 2019 World Cup. But Haig believes the status quo is hampering Georgia's development, and their World Cup preparations. "Absolutely, we've outgrown the ENC," Haig told BBC Scotland. "You're not being disrespectful to the other teams - you're saying the obvious. "That's why we've started being public about our desire to get into an expanded Six Nations. Not a promotion/relegation system, that's never been our standpoint, it's always been that the Six Nations gets expanded to seven or eight teams, depending on what the current partners feel is applicable." The New Zealander argues: Almost every Tier Two nation agitates for more frequent fixtures against the Six Nations and Rugby Championship heavyweights, but Georgia's case for greater challenges is compelling. The glaring extent of their supremacy in the ENC can be outlined thus: in the last six championships, they've lost just two matches from the 30 played. Their cumulative points difference reads: for 948, against 264. Georgia have lost only once since last year's World Cup - a narrow defeat by Japan - and completed an unbeaten Pacific tour of Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa this summer. Last weekend, they beat the touring Samoans in Tbilisi. A Tier One nation has never played a Test in Georgia, and outside World Cup pool matches, their fixture with Scotland on 26 November will be only the fourth time in 13 years the Lelos have had the opportunity to pit themselves against top-class opposition. "How can you improve [in that situation]? You can't," says Haig. "The Test schedule for the Tier Ones is already done up to 2019, and the big boys sit around the table and work out a deal. "Effectively there are a couple of weekends free to be filled with Tier Two teams. Then we go to a meeting, all the Tier Two guys go into a room and everybody scraps over what's left. "We all have fisticuffs about who's getting what. I'm being facetious to some degree, but that's not too far away from what happens. "It's not easy - that's the summary of that conversation. It's just not easy for Tier Two teams to get more than one or two Tests every year against Tier One teams. "I'm not saying World Rugby doesn't look after us, they've been very good to us and helped us develop, but we need more. "The challenge is that every Tier Two team says they want more, but it's how you prioritise that that's going to be key." Alterations to the present Six Nations format have long been mooted - outgoing World Rugby president Bernard Lapasset called for a promotion/relegation play-off, with the ENC winners playing the team that finishes bottom in the Six Nations, as he left office in

Summary: Georgia head coach Milton Haig believes his side merit a place in an expanded Six Nations Championship, and says Tier Two nations are "fighting for scraps" in the battle to earn fixtures against top opposition.


Sergei Lavrov said the US had broken its promise to separate the powerful Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra Front) and other extremist groups from more moderate rebels. And he defended the bombardment of Aleppo by Russian and Syrian forces. Jabhat Fateh al-Sham is linked to al-Qaeda. Mr Lavrov was speaking to Stephen Sackur on BBC World News TV on the first anniversary of the beginning of the Russian air campaign in Syria. "They [the US] pledged solemnly to take as a priority an obligation to separate the opposition from Nusra," he said. "They still, in spite of many repeated promises and commitments... are not able or not willing to do this and we have more and more reasons to believe that from the very beginning the plan was to spare Nusra and to keep it just in case for Plan B or stage two when it would be time to change the regime." Watch the BBC interview in full. Mr Lavrov says that it is US policy towards Syria that is floundering, insisting that American officials have lost control of both events and of themselves. There is an element of truth here - at least in policy terms. The US has no real alternative to Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to deal with the Russians. There is no credible "plan B". Mr Lavrov's central message - that Washington has refused to press its allies to separate themselves from the Islamists of al-Nusra ignores the fact that it is Russia's air campaign that is pushing rebel groups into al-Nusra's arms. Mr Lavrov's contention that the US is preserving al-Nusra, hoping eventually to use it to change the regime, will prompt gasps of condemnation in Washington. But Mr Lavrov implicitly highlights a perennial difficulty for Washington - its search for a moderate opposition of sufficient critical mass to influence the battlefield. Who are Jabhat Fateh al-Sham? How Moscowâ€™s Syria campaign has paid off Aleppo remains thorn in government's side Why truce was doomed to fail A recent US-Russian deal was meant to lead to joint Russian-US air strikes on the Islamic State group and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. But many of the more moderate rebel groups that the US backs have formed a strategic alliance with the more powerful Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and now fight alongside it. Mr Lavrov said: "We believe that the Russian-American deal must be put into effect. For this the only thing which is necessary is to separate the opposition from Nusra. If it is supported by the United States, not on paper but in real life, and then we will insist on an immediate cessation of hostilities." The United Nations says 400 civilians, including many children, have been killed in the besieged city of Aleppo during the past week as a result of bombardment by Russian and Syrian government forces. Mr Lavrov insisted Russia was helping President Assad's forces to "fight terrorists". And he accused the West of staying quiet about civilian suffering in Aleppo when it was expecting the city to fall to the rebels after

Summary: The US is trying to spare a jihadist group in its attempts to unseat Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, Russia's foreign minister has told the BBC.


Lee Nicholson, 39, from Newcastle, was enlisted by Clare Humble to help dispose of Peter Hedley's body in Newburn Riverside Park in November. Humble, 50, was jailed for life in May for murdering Mr Hedley, 49. Nicholson, of Lydford Court, was jailed for three years and six months after admitting perverting the court of justice at Newcastle Crown Court.

Summary: A man who helped his murderer ex-girlfriend bury her boyfriend's body in a Newcastle park has been jailed.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 23-year-old is one of six Scots featuring in a 31-strong British Athletics team heading to Belgrade. Muir will be joined in her races by Eilish McColgan, while Olympians Eilidh Doyle and Steph Twell will also feature on the track in Serbia. Also competing will be 800m runner Guy Learmonth and high jumper Allan Smith. Last weekend, Muir shaved a second off Dame Kelly Holmes' British indoor 1,000m mark, also setting a new European record with the second fastest run of all time. That followed her European 3,000m indoor record and the British 5,000m indoor record, after beating Holmes' British outdoor 1500m mark last summer. British Athletics performance director Neil Black is pleased with the "blend" of the team. Scots named in British Athletics team: Men: 800m: Guy Learmonth High Jump: Allan Smith Women: 400m: Eilidh Doyle 1500m: Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan 3000m: Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan, Steph Twell 4x400m: Eilidh Doyle

Summary: Laura Muir will bid to become double European Champion next month in the 1500m and 3000m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships.


The Good Fight star said: "The reason I'm doing so well is our training, our work ethic... we learn our lines. "Why are we not trying to keep that here... and tell the whole world that we are the best rather than letting people slip through the net?" Jumbo was speaking to a Labour Party inquiry into access and diversity. She said she would love to find a job in Britain, but has had to take roles in the USA because there is more work on offer across the pond. "I would like nothing more than to be working on television and in film in this country," said the 31-year-old. Jumbo compared her experience with US drama The Good Fight and its predecessor The Good Wife with her role in ITV drama Vera. She said she stuck out "like a sore thumb" on the set of Vera and added: "I was the only person of colour. "You take the cast picture at the end of the season and you look back at it and you're the one sticking out brown face in a group of people and it hurts." Jumbo said Britain was "pulling the plug" on its talent. She told Labour MPs Gloria de Piero and Tracy Brabin: "I didn't go to America, I didn't run to America, I didn't even ask for America, I just took a plane there and suddenly everyone was telling me you're so talented, would you like 52 jobs?" The London-born actress said: "I'm just going to go over to Amazon because they will (cast me in a lead role) and they pay for it. Then they offer you another one and another one and, because I write as well, there's opportunities to write there as well. "And it becomes less and less attractive to come back because you're coming back to nothing. She also said that students from diverse backgrounds were quitting drama school "because of how they are being treated". Samuel L Jackson criticised Hollywood for casting black British actors in films about US race relations earlier this year. British actor David Oyelowo said last year that he moved to the US because of the lack of opportunity for black actors in the UK. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: English actress Cush Jumbo says British black actors are being given roles in America over their US counterparts because "we are better".


Back-row forwards Horstmann, 35, and Salvi, 31, have agreed one-year deals, while lock Atkins, 26, has extended his contract by two years. Six team-mates, including Phil Dollman, Michele Campagnaro and Olly Woodburn, signed new deals last week. "It's fantastic to have all three guys with us again next season," said Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter. Exeter are currently second in the Premiership, six points behind leaders Wasps, and travel to face Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Friday.

Summary: Exeter Chiefs trio Kai Horstmann, Julian Salvi and Ollie Atkins have signed new contracts with the club.


The magnitude-7.3 quake hit at a depth of 10km (six miles) at 01:25 on Saturday (15:25 GMT on Friday) in Kyushu region. At least three people died and hundreds were injured. A village has been evacuated after a dam collapsed, media reports say. A tsunami warning was issued, and lifted some 50 minutes later. Japan is regularly hit by earthquakes but stringent building codes mean that they rarely cause significant damage. This new earthquake in Kyushu was much bigger and hit a wider area than the one that struck Kumamoto on Thursday night, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo. In one town near the coast, the city hall has been so badly damaged there are fears it could collapse. A hospital has been evacuated because it is no longer safe. Thousands of people have fled on to the streets and into parks - where they are huddled under blankets looking dazed and afraid, our correspondent says. But there are numerous reports of people trapped inside buildings, including at least 60 inside an old people's home. Public broadcaster NHK says the dam collapsed in the Nishihara village. Television pictures showed thousands of people filling streets and parks, looking dazed across the region. NHK had warned of sea waves of up to 1m (3ft). Japan's nuclear authority said the Sendai nuclear plant was not damaged. The quake was originally assessed as magnitude 7.1 but revised upwards to 7.3 later. Gavin Hayes, a research geophysicist with the US Geological Survey (USGS) in Colorado, told the BBC that the latest earthquake would hamper the earlier rescue operation that was already under way. He said more damage could be expected as the earthquake had been shallower and the fault-line had been much longer. "The ground surface would have moved in the region of 4-5m. So, you are talking very intense shaking over quite a large area. And that's why we'll probably see a significant impact from this event." The Associated Press news agency said guests at the Ark Hotel near the Kumamoto Castle, which was damaged, woke up and gathered in the lobby for safety. Thursday's magnitude-6.2 quake caused shaking at some places as intense as the huge earthquake that hit the country in 2011, Japan's seismology office said. That quake sparked a huge tsunami and nuclear meltdown at a power plant in Fukushima. Most of those who died in Thursday's quake were in the town of Mashiki where an apartment building collapsed and many houses were damaged. More than 1,000 people were injured. Some 40,000 people had initially fled their homes, with many of those closest to the epicentre spending the night outside, as more than 130 aftershocks had hit the area. Japan is one of the most seismically active areas on Earth, accounting for about 20% of global quakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater. Seismometers are recording some kind of event every five minutes, on average. It is through bitter experience that Japan has learnt the strategies to mitigate damage, injury and death. Not only does it implement some the best building construction practices

Summary: A more powerful earthquake has rocked the southern Japanese city of Kumamoto in the middle of the night, a day after an earlier tremor killed nine people.


Councillors are unhappy Ordnance Survey (OS) maps only refer to Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog by that name. But it is also know locally as Traeth Morfa Bychan - after the village next to the shoreline. OS told the authority the name was adopted after consultation with the council, and they had been told the English version was most commonly used. "During the council's Language Committee, members declared their commitment to protecting indigenous Welsh names and places in Gwynedd," said a council spokesperson. They said they would continue to collaborate with agencies such as OS to "ensure that the correct names are used wherever possible". "In this case, the discussion with the OS will continue regarding the possibilities for changing the name that appears on their maps," added the Gwynedd official. "In the meantime Gwynedd council will consult with community councils in the specific area, to gather evidence that will enable the council to submit robust evidence to the OS for changing the name that appears on their maps."

Summary: Officials have said they will push to get the Welsh name of a Gwynedd beach on maps.


The researchers have examined ocean sediments laid down during the so-called Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum - a dramatic warming event some 56 million years ago. They find the amount of CO2 going into the air at its onset was four billion tonnes a year at most. Today's figure is 10 times as big. The work is published in the journal Nature Geoscience. The PETM has been extensively studied by scientists because it is regarded as a possible "analogue" for what is happening on Earth now. But the team argues that the scale of human-produced carbon emissions means that the lessons we could learn from the ancient event may actually have limited relevance. "We have effectively entered an era of a no-analogue state, which represents a fundamental challenge to constraining future climate projections," they write in their paper. The PETM was an extraordinary occurrence in Earth history. Previous research has shown that ocean surface temperatures rose by about five degrees in a relatively short timescale, in the geological sense. This phase of global warming drove a rapid turnover in species, both in the sea and on land. CO2 concentration in the atmosphere very probably went above 1,000 parts per million by volume, compared with the 400ppm it stands at today. The big pulse in emissions has been attributed to a range of factors, including a comet impact and prodigious volcanism. Some scientists suspect buried methane stores on the ocean floor were also released, amplifying the warming. In their paper, Richard Zeebe and colleagues do not concern themselves with the cause; what they wanted to pin down was simply the rate of emissions. The team achieved this by studying the remains of tiny marine organisms from the PETM known as Foraminifera. The different types, or isotopes, of carbon and oxygen atoms in these fossils can be used to reconstruct likely CO2 levels and temperature 56 million years ago. Analysis of this chemistry, together with some modelling work, suggests that temperature during the PETM rose in lock-step with carbon emissions. Contrast this with the modern era where carbon emissions are rising so fast the "equilibrium temperature" lags behind. Zeebe and colleagues calculate that it took at least 4,000 years for the PETM warming to take hold, with carbon going into the atmosphere at a rate of between 0.6 to 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon per annum. At present, human emissions of CO2 are approaching 40 billion tonnes a year. "If you go back to the [impactor] that killed off the dinosaurs (66 million years ago) - that was obviously an incredibly quick climate change," observed co-author Andy Ridgwell from Bristol University, UK. "It wasn't driven by carbon emissions per se, but it was still an incredibly quick climate change. And so there has been a lot of searching around for what was the next most rapid event, and people have latched on to the PETM because it has all the characteristics of current warming and anthropogenic emissions - except it turns out the emissions in the PETM were actually an order of magnitude slower than they

Summary: We are now putting carbon into the atmosphere at a rate unprecedented since at least the age of the dinosaurs, scientists say.


Restoring the function of the organ - which helps control blood sugar levels - reversed symptoms of diabetes in animal experiments. The study, published in the journal Cell, says the diet reboots the body. Experts said the findings were "potentially very exciting" as they could become a new treatment for the disease. The experiments were on mice put on a modified form of the "fasting-mimicking diet". When people go on it they spend five days on a low calorie, low protein, low carbohydrate but high unsaturated-fat diet. It resembles a vegan diet with nuts and soups, but with around 800 to 1,100 calories a day. Then they have 25 days eating what they want - so overall it mimics periods of feast and famine. Previous research has suggested it can slow the pace of ageing. But animal experiments showed the diet regenerated a special type of cell in the pancreas called a beta cell. These are the cells that detect sugar in the blood and release the hormone insulin if it gets too high. Dr Valter Longo, from the University of Southern California, said: "Our conclusion is that by pushing the mice into an extreme state and then bringing them back - by starving them and then feeding them again - the cells in the pancreas are triggered to use some kind of developmental reprogramming that rebuilds the part of the organ that's no longer functioning." There were benefits in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the mouse experiments. Type 1 is caused by the immune system destroying beta cells and type 2 is largely caused by lifestyle and the body no longer responding to insulin. Further tests on tissue samples from people with type 1 diabetes produced similar effects. Dr Longo said: "Medically, these findings have the potential to be very important because we've shown - at least in mouse models - that you can use diet to reverse the symptoms of diabetes. "Scientifically, the findings are perhaps even more important because we've shown that you can use diet to reprogram cells without having to make any genetic alterations." BBC reporter Peter Bowes took part in a separate trial with Dr Valter Longo. He said: "During each five-day fasting cycle, when I ate about a quarter of the average person's diet, I lost between 2kg and 4kg (4.4-8.8lbs). "But before the next cycle came round, 25 days of eating normally had returned me almost to my original weight. "But not all consequences of the diet faded so quickly." His blood pressure was lower as was a hormone called IGF-1, which is linked to some cancers. He said: "The very small meals I was given during the five-day fast were far from gourmet cooking, but I was glad to have something to eat" Peter Bowes: Fasting for science Peter Bowes: Intermittent fasting and the good things it did to my body Separate trials of the diet in people have been shown to improve blood sugar levels. The latest findings help to explain why. However, Dr Longo said people should not

Summary: The pancreas can be triggered to regenerate itself through a type of fasting diet, say US researchers.


Nearly a third of those making applications wanted to put all their debts in one place, a survey for Lloyds Bank suggested, with another third wanting to buy cars and bikes. It said 84% of borrowers were confident about making future repayments. Debt charities urge debtors to budget for interest rate rises. People should also consider how they would repay were they to have a significant change in their life, such as the addition of a child or the loss of a job. Lloyds said that while major purchases might prompt loan applications, there was a fall in the share of loans used to fund home improvements. It added that borrowers were more confident in the second quarter of the year than the first when it came to making repayments on unsecured loans. The proportion rose from 81% to 84%. The bank said that this signalled that people were increasingly "in control" of their finances. Many analysts have warned that this confidence could take a knock when the Bank of England raises interest rates. Such a move could come as early as the start of the new year.

Summary: Borrowers are applying for personal loans mostly to consolidate existing debt or to buy cars and bikes, a lender has suggested.


City Quays 3 has a proposed cost of £46m and will be 16-storeys tall. With a target completion date of late 2019, it will provide Grade A space for 3,000 staff. The harbour said it will support 600 jobs during its construction phase. It will be situated beside a hotel, which is currently being built, and two other office developments. Graeme Johnston, the harbour's property director, said the move "is a reflection of how strong the demand for quality office space in Belfast is". He added that at 250,000 sq ft, City Quays 3 will be one of the largest office developments in Northern Ireland. City Quays 1 is home to, among others, US law firm Baker & McKenzie, while City Quays 2 is nearing completion.

Summary: Belfast Harbour has submitted a planning application for what would be a third major waterfront office block.


Ian Stewart, 56, denies murdering Helen Bailey at their home in Royston, Hertfordshire, in April. Her body was found in July, dumped in a cesspit under the garage. St Albans Crown Court heard Mr Stewart told a psychiatric nurse he had thought about taking his own life. Follow updates on this story and other Hertfordshire news The nurse Sarah Tooley told the jury she had spoken with Mr Stewart on the phone in May. He had been to visit Broadstairs in Kent where Ms Bailey had a holiday cottage. "He'd had thoughts of jumping off a cliff while he was down there," said Ms Tooley. Earlier, the court was told Mr Stewart had tried to divert a police search of the garage. According to a statement from Det Con Hollie Daines, read to the court, Mr Stewart said: "If searches are going to take place, you wouldn't find anything in the garage." When they arrived, DC Daines said Mr Stewart told her he had considered suicide. She said: "He appeared to be anxious and uncomfortable with what we were asking of him." On the day of Ms Bailey's disappearance, Mr Stewart claimed he found a note from the Electra Brown author saying she had gone to the holiday cottage in Broadstairs. According to a statement read to the court, he told police: "If Helen does come back, I don't think I want to be with her any more." Mr Stewart, of Baldock Road, Royston, Hertfordshire, denies charges of murder, preventing a lawful burial, fraud and three counts of perverting the course of justice. The trial continues.

Summary: The fiancÃ© of a children's author considered throwing himself off a cliff two months before he was charged with the killing her, a court has heard.


Ronald Chigunwe worked for Wessex Heartbeat, which supports the cardiac centre at Southampton General Hospital. The 40-year-old, of Breadels Field, Basingstoke, pleaded guilty to four offences of fraud and money laundering. However, he denied four other charges of money laundering. The Crown Prosecution Service will now decide whether he should face trial. A decision is due within the next 14 days. The fraud was uncovered when a new chief executive took over at the charity and became suspicious after asking Chigunwe for financial information. The chief executive's wife - an accounts expert - was asked to look at the records and discovered the fraud.

Summary: A former financial controller has admitted stealing more than £440,000 from a hospital charity.


Activities also include wife carrying, husband dragging, gravy wrestling, Russian egg roulette, backward running, worm charming and ditch racing. The games, in Llanwrtyd Wells, continue every weekend until 29 August. Bog snorkelling has taken place in the town for 31 years and in 2012 other activities were added as a Wales-focused alternative to the Olympics. Economy Secretary Ken Skates said it was "a credit to Wales" which "puts a smile on faces". There will be 60 different activities and the bog snorkelling takes place on 28 August.

Summary: The World Alternative Games and bog snorkelling championships take place in Powys from Friday.


California's court also ordered him to pay $80,900 (Â£47,160) in damages, serve five days of community service and complete an anger management programme. Bieber, 20, was not present in court for the sentencing. The singer faces two other criminal cases in Florida and Toronto. "Justin is glad to get this matter resolved and behind him," Bieber's representatives said in a statement after the verdict by Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys. "He will continue to move forward focusing on his career and his music." Investigators searched Bieber's Calabasas home in California in January for evidence after the egging apparently caused serious damage. One of the singer's friends was arrested on drug possession charges after that search. The LA County Sheriff's Office say they were looking for surveillance video tapes when they spotted the drugs "in plain view". Surveillance footage seized from the home appears to show Bieber high-fiving friends and celebrating after throwing eggs at his neighbour's home, police said. The pop star could have faced a more serious felony charge if the damage to the home had been greater than $20,000. He has since moved out of Calabasas to Beverly Hills. Two previous investigations into Bieber's conduct by the sheriff's department did not lead to charges. Prosecutors declined to charge him last year after a neighbour complained he drove recklessly through the area, and in November 2012 after a paparazzi photographer accused Bieber of assault. He was arrested by police in Miami in January and charged with driving under the influence and driving without a valid licence and Toronto prosecutors have accused Bieber of assaulting a limousine driver in December.

Summary: Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has pleaded no contest to misdemeanour vandalism in connection with the egging of his neighbour's home and has been sentenced to two years' probation.


The motoring organisation also called for extra funding for road repairs in the chancellor's Budget next week. The Local Government Association (LGA) said there was a £12bn backlog in road repairs that would take councils "more than a decade" to clear. The UK government said it was providing "unprecedented levels of investment". In an AA survey of 25,208 drivers, 39% said their tyres, bodywork or other parts of their vehicles had been affected after hitting a pothole in the past two years. AA president Edmund King called on local authorities to "get to grips with fundamental road maintenance" such as poor drainage and crumbling surfaces. He also said Chancellor George Osborne should allocate extra funding for road repairs to "reverse the toll on vehicles and their owners' pockets". LGA transport spokesman Peter Box said current funding levels and the repairs backlog meant councils "can only keep pace with patching up our roads and filling potholes". "Long-term and consistent investment in local road maintenance is desperately needed," he added. Road maintenance is devolved to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Transport Minister Andrew Jones said the government had allocated a "record £6bn to councils in England to improve local roads over the next five years". "We topped this up with £250m last year specifically to tackle the blight of potholes," he said. A Scottish Government spokesman said in the last financial year more than £220m was allocated for the maintenance of motorways and trunk roads, which it said was 20% more than five years ago. The Welsh and Northern Irish authorities have been approached for comment.

Summary: The AA is calling on councils to "get to grips" with road maintenance after a survey found 39% of UK drivers reported pothole damage in the past two years.


Mark Anthony Barlow, 48, of Grendon, Atherstone, Warwickshire, was struck by a grey Audi on Bolebridge Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, on 13 January. "Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene," a spokeswoman for Staffordshire Police said. Officers are appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened at about 07:00 GMT. The driver of the car was not injured. For more on this story and other Staffordshire news

Summary: A jogger who died when he was hit by a car has been named by police.


At the Election Court - part of the High Court - in London, four voters alleged mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman had committed electoral fraud. Independent Mr Rahman was elected for a second term in May 2014. His lawyer said the claims were a "mixture of unfounded and false allegations". The group of voters wants the poll declared void and rerun. Evidence is to be outlined to Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey - a senior lawyer sitting as a judge - over a number of weeks. The group of voters mounted the challenge under the provisions of the 1983 Representation Of The People Act. Andy Erlam, who stood as a councillor on an anti-corruption ticket and is heading the group, said there were "serious questions" which "need answers". Francis Hoar, representing the group of four, told Mr Mawrey his clients were accusing Mr Rahman of election fraud. He said there had been "personation" - where people pretend to be someone else to cast a vote - in postal voting and at polling stations. He added people had registered themselves or others to vote at addresses at which they did not live and there had been tampering with ballot papers. Mr Hoar also alleged Mr Rahman had used "undue influence through intimidation at polling stations" and "interference with voters" - including in polling booths. The court heard one presiding officer reported there was a "constant battle" to stop men entering polling booths with women and telling them how to vote. He said there had been "bribery" through "unlawfully diverting public funds to organisations in order corruptly to procure their political support". Mr Hoar told Mr Mawrey that his clients aimed to call almost 100 witnesses who "know about corruption" and "know about Lutfur Rahman". Mr Mawrey told the court that, if he found allegations had been proved, he could declare the election "void" and rule that Mr Rahman had not been declared mayor. Allegations against returning officer John Williams have been withdrawn by lawyers for the group, the court was told. Timothy Straker QC, for Mr Williams, said it had been accepted his client had "acted properly throughout the election". Mr Williams said, outside court, in a statement: "This was a hotly contested election run in challenging circumstances. "As returning officer I am politically neutral and my only concern is to run an efficient, free and fair election." Duncan Penny QC, for Mr Rahman, described the petition as "a rich and elaborate mixture of unfounded and false allegations" and its one aim was to unseat a directly elected mayor. He told the court: "There is little, if any evidence, of personal wrongdoing by Lutfur Rahman" and described the group's claims as "invention" and "exaggeration". He said Mr Rahman did not want to be elected as a result of fraudulent activity and had been anxious that electoral law was observed. Mr Penny said: "He has consistently called for anyone with suspicion of malpractice to report them and has been a public proponent of reforms to the postal voting system." The hearing continues.

Summary: The mayor of an east London borough has been accused of "corrupt and illegal practices", at a special court hearing.


13 July 2012 Last updated at 11:50 BST They were first laid down way back in 1863 and it's fair to say they've come a long way since then. Find out how the rules have changed through the years. Check out more great Match of the Day Kickabout stuff on their website

Summary: Football the beautiful game - but without the rules the game we know and love would be ugly.


6 March 2017 Last updated at 14:51 GMT The window was smashed before accelerant was poured inside and it was set alight at 03:30 GMT on Sunday at the Park Regis Hotel in Broad Street, Birmingham. Mayweather was appearing in the city, meeting fans as part of a tour. An eyewitness who filmed the damaged vehicle but did not wish to be named said: "He [Mayweather] was actually outside when the van was set on fire, then he ran back in. More on this story and others around Birmingham and the Black Country. "There was panic inside the whole hotel. Nobody was allowed out of the hotel for a couple of hours. They had the whole hotel on lockdown." There is no sound on the video.

Summary: A van used by retired world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather has been set on fire, police said.


Colchester Hospital was rated as inadequate after a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection found it was relying on "unsuitable" agency staff. Norman Betchley died in 2009 after he was mistakenly fed a pill by an agency nurse. The hospital said the CQC report did not reflect improvements it has made. Inspectors said the hospital demonstrated "poor leadership" and "only a limited capacity to improve". Staff were let down by agency workers, who were not as committed and were "unsuitable in terms of their skills and knowledge". Mr Betchley's daughter Linda said she feels angry that "nothing has changed" since he died. More on this story on BBC Local Live in Essex She added: "At the time they said there was a deficit in trained staff and there was a breakdown in management and the girl was thrown in at the deep end. "Many of the items raised in this most recent report were raised back then. I don't see them being addressed soon. "There is no leadership, there is no support for the actual nurses on the wards." Chief executive Frank Sims, who started in the role last month, admitted its biggest challenge is "reducing our dependency on agency staff." "We have got more staff employed now than we have ever had, and since September we have recruited 75 more qualified nurses but we have still got a long way to go." The trust which runs the hospital has been in special measures since 2013. The CQC has recommended it remains in special measures for the next three months, during which time it must submit a weekly improvement plan. Mr Sims said his intention is to "focus entirely on getting out of special measures this year".

Summary: The daughter of a man who died after a hospital failed it its "duty of care" said lessons have not been learned.


The call comes after the RCN collected scores of anecdotes of therapy-animals, and sometimes pets, helping recovery. Some young patients found having trained dogs accompany them to the anaesthetic room reduced their anxiety before and after surgery. The RCN is working on national advice to encourage more animal visitors. In a recent RCN survey of 750 nursing staff, 82% said animals could help patients be more physically active and 60% said they believed animals improved physical recovery. But many nurses said animals were not allowed where they worked. The main reasons behind this, according to Amanda Cheesley, who is putting together nationwide guidelines on animals in hospitals, are concerns that furry companions spread infections and other "myths around the dangers" of allowing animals on wards. But she says she knows of examples where hospitals allowed dogs and other animals on wards safely, making a "remarkable difference." She mentioned one young cancer patient who was too scared to have a life-saving procedure in theatre. The patient finally had the treatment she needed after a therapy dog accompanied her to the anaesthetic room and stayed with her afterwards. Ms Cheesley said: "The dog calmed her down, making it so much less traumatic for her and her parents. Ultimately it allowed the staff to do a life-saving job." Another example involved a man who had had a brain injury that left him with difficulty walking. After he was discharged, he found going for a walk with his pet donkey helped with his balance and, over time, he was able to walk more easily. Ms Cheesley says more trained animals could help with mobility and physiotherapy - for example, by asking patients to walk towards a dog at the end of a walkway and gradually increasing the distance. Dogs could also help divert a patient's attention - for example, if a child is scared of needles, a therapy dog could act as a distraction. To collect more evidence on the benefits and challenges of bringing animals on to wards, dog handler Lyndsey Uglow who has worked with therapy-animals in hospitals for five years, has started a research project at Southampton Children's Hospital. Together with Ms Uglow, the Humanimal Trust, infection control specialists and hospital managers, the RCN aims to put together simple rules that could work across wards, clinics and hospices. Concerns that pets might pass on infections for example, could be addressed by making sure animals do not wander from room to room or patient to patient, but are instead booked for a specific patient at a specific time. Owners would also have to ensure the animal's vaccinations were up-to-date. And handlers could clean paws with hospital-grade wipes.

Summary: Hospitals should let more dogs and other animals on to wards and even into operating theatres to help patients, the Royal College of Nursing says.


The club reports that most of the squad have been able to train on Friday, and are planning for the match as normal. "Majority of the squad are in to train this morning ahead of Saturday's match with the Dons," Motherwell tweeted. "On that basis, the club have informed the SPFL there will be no requests made and tomorrow's game is good to go." Motherwell were forced to postpone an under-20s game against Celtic on Tuesday after the vast majority of the squad were laid low. "We had to shut down the club yesterday," manager Mark McGhee said on Thursday. "If we had another three or four showing these symptoms and unable to train then it would leave me with no choice. "I might only have nine players including the entire under-20s. I can't go into a football match with eight or nine players." However, enough of first team squad have now recovered sufficiently to allay fears of the match being postponed.

Summary: Motherwell will not ask the SPFL to postpone Saturday's Premiership match with Aberdeen, despite the outbreak of a virus at Fir Park.


It comes after one was found hiding under a water tank in a garden at Kirton Holme, near Boston, Lincolnshire, over the Easter weekend. Inspector Becky Harper said: "While he is very cute, we'd like to stress that raccoon dogs don't make good pets." "They are wild animals and we would strongly discourage people from buying or keeping one," she said. "They need a great deal of space, and their needs cannot be met in a typical domestic environment." More on this and other local stories from across Lincolnshire The RSPCA said it had dealt with a number of call-outs in recent years to stray pet raccoon dogs that have escaped, or been deliberately released to the wild. Ms Harper added that the animals posed a high level of threat to our native wildlife. The raccoon dog - now nicknamed Cedric by RSPCA staff - is being cared for at a specialist centre after efforts to trace its owners failed. He is due to be re-homed to a specialist keeper.

Summary: The RSPCA has issued a warning against what it says is a growing trend for keeping raccoon dogs as pets.


Following the announcement of the new global calendar in March, Premiership Rugby confirmed the 2019-20 domestic season will start in early September and finish at the end of June. Leicester's Tom Youngs had said the proposal "fills players with dread". The RPA has now said a shortened two-month off-season will be "seriously detrimental to player welfare". Premiership Rugby has previously said the 10-month campaign will allow clubs to become "more sophisticated" in their management of players, with chief executive Mark McCafferty insisting player welfare remains the priority. But an RPA statement on Monday read: "The Premiership season is already longer than comparable contact sports, including Super League, NFL and AFL. "Extending an already arduous season from nine months to 10 has serious implications for players, given the potential increase to the game, training and psychological loads they face. "The physical and mental strain placed on participants of professional contact sport cannot be underestimated." England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland will all be playing international matches in June this summer, while the British and Irish Lions are also touring New Zealand. The RPA has concerns that an extended season could overwork any players involved in future international summer tours - a worry shared by Tigers captain Youngs. "Perhaps most worryingly is the incredible strain these proposals would place on international players," the statement continued. "If the Premiership season retains its current start date, the addition of a July tour schedule will lead to an 11-month season for these players. "This cannot be avoided unless these players start their domestic season later, which brings into question the need for the season extension."

Summary: The Rugby Players' Association has "unanimously rejected" proposals for an extended 10-month Premiership season.


He said the Bank took "timely, comprehensive and concrete" action, which acted to "support, cushion and help the economy to adjust". Last month's rate cut to an historic low of 0.25% helped support house prices and the wider economy, he added. He added he was "absolutely serene" about the Bank's preparations for the impact from the Brexit vote. Mr Carney was being questioned by MPs on the Treasury Select Committee about how the Bank handled the referendum outcome and its decision to cut interest rates to a record low. The Bank was criticised by Brexit supporters for saying the economy would be hit from a vote to leave the EU. But Mr Carney said the Bank's decisions had so far been "validated". The "extraordinary preparations" made by the Bank "cushioned" the economy and will help the UK "make a success of Brexit", he told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee. He said the Bank's actions were made in an effort "to help make the leaving of the EU a success as quickly as possible". "This financial system, under the oversight of the Bank of England, sailed through what was a surprise to the vast majority of financial market participants," Mr Carney said. MPs questioned whether the Bank was too aggressive in supporting the economy after the vote. The UK's services, manufacturing and construction industries have all showed signs of recovery in August after taking a hit in July. However, Mr Carney said he was "absolutely comfortable" with the Bank's decision to cut interest rates to 0.25% and pump billions of pounds into the economy. He added that it is "welcome there is a rebound" in the economy. Mr Carney said there has been quite a considerable improvement in mortgage borrowing costs "and we are seeing pass through of our actions". When Labour MP Rachel Reeves raised concerns that the majority of lenders had yet to pass on the full cut in rates, Mr Carney said the Bank expected "virtually" all the rate cut to be passed on to borrowers in the next few months.

Summary: Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has defended his action to mitigate the impact of Brexit.


The 20-year-old has only started one game for the Canaries since joining from Coventry City in January 2016, but has spent time back on loan with the Sky Blues and Aberdeen. Maddison told the club website: "Last season was a big learning curve for me. "I went on loan and then came back. I made a few appearances and I've only been looking forward since then."

Summary: Midfielder James Maddison has signed a contract which keeps him at Norwich City until the summer of 2021.


Many developing countries will try to curb carbon emissions by setting aside forested areas as reserves. But experts are worried that creating national parks often involves removing the people who live in these areas. The study indicated designating forest reserves in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo could displace as many as 1.3 million people. With funding from Norway, Liberia has proposed 30% of their forests become protected areas by 2020. DR Congo, funded by Germany and the Global Environmental Facility, aims to set aside 12-15% of their forested lands. Consultants TMP Systems concluded: "Governments have targets to expand their protected areas, and now with new climate funding being available the risk is they will use this to expand in a way that doesn't respect local rights," said Andy White, from the Rights and Resources Initiative, the campaign group that sponsored the research. "It could result in the displacement of millions of people." Analysts say that this type of displacement has already happened in sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia and Latin America, and sometimes caused violent conflict. "I don't think the international community wants to displace rural dwellers in Liberia - but I think if we go about it in the way we are talking about it right now, that is going to be the result," said Constance Teague, from Liberia's Sustainable Development Institute. "We need to recognise that indigenous communities respect the forest and they have worked on [it] for hundreds of years. "It may not look like what the international community may expect, but this effort to conserve the land does exist." Liberia had the largest forest space left in West Africa, largely because of the indigenous communities, she added. The report also looks into the costs of compensating people for the loss of their lands in both Liberia and DR Congo, which range from $200m (Â£137m) to more than Â£1bn. The main argument for setting up reserves is to: And Mr White said: "We need to make evidence available that makes it clear that the woods are full of people, and it makes more sense to help them rather than kick them out. "Where indigenous peoples rights are protected, and they are able to use their forests for their own livelihoods, they have more carbon per hectare than protected areas. "They are active protectors, you don't have to pay a park guard, because they protect their forests, and that is what the world needs." Some 1.5 billion indigenous people inhabit or claim most of the land in the world - but, according to a study released last year, they have legal rights to just 10%. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc and on Facebook.

Summary: The Paris climate agreement could make millions of forest dwellers homeless, according to a new analysis.


The game came to life in the second quarter with Tom Grambusch and Marco Miltkau netting for the hosts. Ireland hit back quickly through Shane O'Donoghue's close-range finish and Alan Southern swept into the German net to level on 30 minutes. Eugene Magee finished a fine team move to make it 3-2 before Sean Murray tapped in to seal victory. There was very little to differentiate the two sides in the opening half and the teams went in level at half-time. Grambusch got the scoreboard ticking in the 19th minute with a fine drag flick to David Harte's left. Moments later Moritz Trompertz forced a turnover and sent a reverse shot towards goal for Marco Miltkau to get the faintest of touches to take it past Harte. But 30 seconds later O'Donoghue brought Ireland back into it as he deflected in a shot from close range to leave Tobias Walter with no chance. Murray did well as he drew Walter before releasing the pass to Sothern on the penalty spot, who slotted into an open goal to equalise. Magee put Ireland in front in the 34th minute with a phenomenal goal that started with Paul Gleghorne rifling the ball into the sky for O'Donoghue to snatch at pace and fire across the circle to Magee. Germany continued to rack up the chances and had no fewer than six penalty corners but their shots went either wide or were calmly dealt with by the Green Machine defence. The game was put to bed by Murray two minutes after Germany had taken off their goalkeeper as he tapped into an open goal. Ireland opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Spain before hammering Austria 7-2 on Friday. Germany: T Walter, M Muller, L Windfeder, M Trompertz, T Herzbruch, JP Rabente, T Grambusch, C Ruhr, M Zwicker (Captain), B Furk, N Wellen. Subs: J Gomoll, TO Prinz, DE Linnekogel, M Miltkao, J Meyer, F Weinke, M Appel. Ireland: D Harte, J Jackson, J Bell (Captain), C Cargo, A Sothern, E Magee, S O'Donoghue, J McKee, P Gleghorne, S Loughrey, S Cole. Subs: J Carr, M Bell, M Nelson, N Glassey, S Murray, J Duncan, L Cole.

Summary: Ireland fought back from two goals down to beat Germany 4-2 and secure the Hamburg Masters title on Sunday.


The concept will be known as Vulcan, and it is expected to start operations in 2019. United Launch Alliance - the joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin - currently flies the Atlas and Delta rockets. These are routinely used to loft Nasa science probes, spy satellites and other US national security missions. In time, both vehicles will be retired as the new Vulcan components come on stream. The first element to be introduced will be the first-stage booster, which will feature an all-new, all-American liquid-fuelled engine. This will enable ULA to end its use of Russian-made RD-180 rocket motors – something Congress has mandated. Politicians on Capitol Hill dislike the fact that American national security missions are launched with the aid of Russian propulsion technology. ULA's preference is to incorporate a liquid methane-oxygen power unit currently being developed by Blue Origin, the space company run by Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos. When the new Vulcan booster makes its debut, it will initially be married to the current Centaur upper-stage of the Atlas. But early in the 2020s, this too will be replaced by a bespoke upper-stage that should give the new rocket a performance that allows it to exceed even the Delta IV Heavy – the biggest, most powerful rocket in the world today, capable of putting upwards of 25 tonnes in a low-Earth orbit. Critically, though, the Vulcan will be substantially cheaper to build and operate. "A Delta IV Heavy at today’s launch rates costs about $400m, give or take, depending on the mission and its complexity. I fully expect the Next Generation Launch System to be less than half that," said Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance. Some cost savings will be made by recovering and reusing the engines on the first-stage booster following a flight. The idea is that after separation from the upper-stage, the engines would detach from the propellant tanks and fall back to Earth, deploying an inflatable shield to protect them from burning up on re-entry into the atmosphere. Parachutes would then deploy and a helicopter would swoop in to pluck the engines out of the air and return them safely to the ground for servicing and re-integration into a new booster. ULA will not say how much the Vulcan development programme is costing, but it will run into the billions of dollars. ULA has to modernise, however. The priority status it has enjoyed with government contracts is coming to an end, and it is facing increasingly stiff competition – at home, from a bullish SpaceX company, whose low-cost rockets are winning favour with Nasa and commercial satellite operators; and abroad, where Europe and Russia are both moving to new-generation rocket systems that aim to reduce their launch prices also.

Summary: The company that conducts most of America's rocket launches has released details of its next generation vehicle.


The League One club have also signed Norwich City midfielder Ebou Adams on loan until January. Adams, 21, signed from non-league Dartford in February 2016, will be making his second loan move from Carrow Road, having had a brief three-game stint with Braintree last season. Jules, 20, did not play a first-team game for the Royals. But he did make 10 Scottish Premiership appearances for Motherwell during a loan spell last season, and he was a member of the Scotland Under-20 squad that finished third at the recent Toulon tournament. Shrewsbury have now made five summer signings, having previously brought in strikers Lenell John-Lewis and Arthur Gnahoua and midfielder Jon Nolan. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Shrewsbury Town have signed teenage Reading defender Zak Jules for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract.


The Weston-super-Mare Bemusement park was originally due to go to the so-called "Jungle" camp in Calais, France. It has now been donated to Aid Box Convoy, which is taking it to a smaller camp where conditions are said to be "horrendous". The fixtures and fittings will be used to build shelters and cooking stations. More than 150,000 people visited the Dismaland exhibition at the disused Tropicana site in Weston. Now, eight vehicles and 20 volunteers will take leftovers from Bristol to the camp in northern France. They are also taking with them five tonnes of donated firewood and some 300 aid boxes containing food, toiletries and cooking equipment. Co-founder of Aid Box Convoy, Imogen McIntosh, said the camp only has basic sanitation and has "grown from 400 people three weeks ago to more than 1,000, with families turning up every day". Ms McIntosh said Dismaland organisers changed their mind about sending the camp to Calais when they heard there were other camps in France which hadn't received any aid. She added: "It has all been taken down now and we are left with huge sheets of wood which we can use to build the shelters. Dismaland is also sending a team of chippies and builders out to the camp, who will be creating any structures that we need with the materials." The group has also been supported by Bristol-based Arcadia Spectacular - known for its festival fire-breathing spider - which has donated a vehicle and trailer. "People have been so fantastic, it's been such a brilliant response and so much better than we could ever have imagined," added Ms McIntosh.

Summary: The dismantled Dismaland theme park is on its way to a refugee camp in France after Banksy donated it to a group of Bristol volunteers.


Amanda Thompson, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, collapsed after eating the strawberry dessert, the court heard. Recording a verdict of accidental death, North Manchester coroner Simon Nelson concluded that something in the sorbet had triggered a fatal reaction. Holiday company Thomson offered its "deepest sympathies" to her family. Rochdale Coroner's Court heard Mrs Thompson, a 50-year-old mother of two, knew eating eggs, milk or apples would make her seriously ill. When she went on holiday to Rhodes in 2012 with her family, she told the hotel's management about her concerns. Her husband Ian told the hearing that shortly after eating the dessert his wife complained of a tingling sensation in her mouth and feared she was having a severe allergic reaction. He said she went to the hotel room and collapsed. She never regained consciousness. The inquest heard a Greek pathologist later concluded she died of natural causes, probably due to heart failure. Mr Thompson said he always believed his wife died as a result of anaphylactic shock. A British pathologist later confirmed that was indeed the cause of her death, the hearing was told. Mr Nelson said he found it "astonishing" that neither the hotel management nor holiday company had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mrs Thompson's death. Thomson said in a statement: "We note the verdict of the inquest today and we'd like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family at this extremely difficult time."

Summary: A woman who died after eating a sorbet on holiday in Greece had warned her travel agent and hotel about her food allergies, an inquest has heard.


RIT Capital announced it will not make a formal bid, after confirming reports last week that it was in the early stages of informal talks about merger. Alliance Trust invests nearly Â£3bn worth of shareholder assets. It will continue to face a fundamental review of what it does during this summer. That could still lead to a sale, or outsourcing investment to other asset management firms. And following the review, it is still possible that a deal could be done with RIT. But the announcement on Tuesday takes Alliance Trust out of the stock market's formal takeover and mergers procedures and oversight by the Takeover Panel. Activist investors last year forced a change of strategy, aimed at reducing the discount of company value to underlying assets, which involved replacement of board members and chief executive Katherine Garrett-Cox. A statement from RIT Capital said: "Following careful analysis and constructive discussions with representatives of Alliance Trust, RIT has concluded that it would not be in the best interests of its shareholders to make an offer for Alliance Trust and accordingly announces that it does not intend to make an offer to acquire Alliance Trust. "The board of RIT respects the process which Alliance Trust are going through and wishes them well with their strategic review." In response, the Alliance Trust statement said: "The board of Alliance Trust is implementing a series of changes to enhance shareholder value. This process is well under way and has already started to make good progress, lowering costs, narrowing the discount and allowing for the creation of a fully independent board of directors. "This process of development continues and includes a strategic review of the group, encompassing a broad range of potential courses of action." Alliance Trust was buying shares on the stock exchange on a daily basis, as part of its strategy to increase shareholder value. Its announcement stated that practice is to be stopped until the review is complete.

Summary: Talks about a possible takeover of Alliance Trust in Dundee by the asset fund linked to the Rothschild banking dynasty have been called off.