An Egyptian-led team said on Saturday that the information was found on a cockpit flight recording. But the investigative committee said it was too early to say where or why the fire broke out. All 66 people on board died when flight MS804, flying from Paris to Cairo, crashed on 19 May. The new information appears to back up evidence from the flight recorder of smoke in the cabin. Recovered wreckage also showed signs of high temperature damage and soot on the jet's front section. Automated electronic messages sent out by the plane had shown smoke detectors going off in a toilet and in the avionics area below the cockpit, minutes before the plane disappeared. No distress call was made from the plane prior to the crash. Egyptian investigators have not ruled out any reasons for the crash, including terrorism, particularly as such catastrophic fires on passenger planes are so rare. The data recorders were taken to Paris after being found, and the cockpit voice recorder was in need of considerable repair. The investigative committee also said on Saturday that a research ship, the John Lethbridge, had finished its search for human remains, which have been transferred to Cairo for identification.

Summary: An audio recording made on board an EgyptAir flight that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea in May discusses a fire, investigators say.


The 33-year-old has not played for Celtic since Brendan Rodgers took over as manager at the start of the season, and will provide midfield cover. Hibs are currently without John McGinn and Fraser Fyvie until January, while Dylan McGeouch suffered an ankle injury in training this week. Commons could feature against Morton on Saturday. "Kris is an experienced, technically gifted player," said head coach Neil Lennon. "So him coming in at this time is of benefit to the side as the games start coming in over the festive period. "With us missing a lot of our regular midfield players, it is good to bring in someone with a lot to offer, even just on a short-term basis." Commons, who was a key player for Lennon during his time in charge of the Scottish champions, says that the deal can be beneficial for both parties. "It has come about very quickly, but I think it makes sense on both parts," he said. "I can try to get some football under my belt and give Hibs a helping hand as well. "As much as I am trying to help Hibs, the club are trying to help me out a lot, so I'm grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to play football. I'm also thoroughly looking forward to hopefully helping them on the way and putting on the jersey and doing my best." Hibs remain top of the Scottish Championship on goal difference, though the Edinburgh side have lost their points advantage over Dundee United in recent weeks. The two pre-season favourites for the title are eight points ahead of Falkirk, with Morton another three behind. Commons joined Celtic in January 2011, but his current contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Summary: Celtic midfielder Kris Commons has joined injury-hit Hibernian on an emergency loan until 15 January.


Mae cronfa a elwir yn Daliad Tai yn ôl Disgresiwn (DHP) yn cael ei roi i gynghorau sir bob blwyddyn gan Lywodraeth y DU. Bwriad yr arian yw helpu pobl lle nad yw eu budd-dal yn ddigonol ar gyfer talu rhent. Y cyngor sydd â'r penderfyniad i ddosbarthu'r arian i bobl sydd ei angen. Os nad yw'r arian yn cael ei wario erbyn ddiwedd mis Mawrth, mae'n mynd yn ôl i'r Llywodraeth ac mae Cymru yn derbyn llai yn y flwyddyn ganlynol. Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran Shelter Cymru: "I filoedd o bobl yng Nghymru, Taliadau Tai yn ôl Disgresiwn yw'r unig beth sy'n sefyll rhyngddyn nhw â digartrefedd. "Dangosodd ffigyrau yn 2015/16 bod cynghorau Cymru wedi anfon swm o £289,000 yn ôl i San Steffan." O ganlyniad, yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn lansiodd Shelter Cymru ymgyrch "Gwariwch neu fe Gollwch" er mwyn codi ymwybyddiaeth am y gronfa ac annog cynghorau i wneud defnydd llawn o'r adnodd. Meddai Shelter: "Gwnaeth rhai cynghorau fynd gam ymhellach i helpu pobl yn eu hardal gan ychwanegu arian ychwanegol i'r gronfa DHP. Gwnaeth eraill recriwtio staff ychwanegol i brosesu ceisiadau i sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn cael eu helpu. "Fodd bynnag, doedd y darlun ddim yr un peth ar draws Cymru gyda rhai cynghorau ddim hyd yn oed yn gwario'r swm yn llawn. "Pam na wariwyd yr arian hwn? Rydym yn gwybod bod y galw yn uchel ar draws Cymru. Gyda mwy na 15,000 o bobl yn cael eu gwneud yn ddigartref bob blwyddyn, yn cynnwys dros 2,800 o blant, mae'r gronfa hon yn hollbwysig. Yn ôl Shelter y pum cyngor a ddychwelodd y mwyaf o arian i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig oedd Sir Gaerfyrddin, Gwynedd, Blaenau Gwent, Ceredigion a Wrecsam. "Roedd y cynghorau hyn yn gyfrifol am tua 75% o'r tan wariant o £100,000 a gafodd ei ddychwelyd i 'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau. "Gallai'r arian hwn fod wedi helpu o gwmpas 300 o aelwydydd i aros yn eu cartrefi ac osgoi digartrefedd." Wrth ymateb dywedodd llefarydd ar ran Cyngor Gwynedd wrth Cymru Fyw: "Mae gan Gyngor Gwynedd bolisi Taliad Tai yn ôl Disgresiwn (DHP) i sicrhau fod y modd yr ydym yn dyfarnu yn gyson a thryolyw ac wedi'i seilio ar haeddiant. "Rydym yn hyrwyddo taliadau DHP mewn sawl ffordd, gan gynnwys gweithio yn agos gyda'n partneriaid megis Cymdeithasau Tai, Shelter Cymru a Chyngor ar Bopeth, ac rydym yn gwneud pob ymdrech i ddosbarthu'r dyraniad blynyddol sy'n cael ei dderbyn gan y Llywodraeth. "Yn 2016/17, roedd ein dyraniad DHP gan y Llywodraeth yn £659,887, ac fe wnaethom lwyddo i ddosbarthu £646,656 sy'n cynrychioli 98%. "Roedd ein dyraniad DHP yr ail uchaf trwy Gymru, gan fod y Llywodraeth (Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau) wedi cydnabod fod Gwynedd yn un o'r ardaloedd gyda'r poblogaeth lleiaf dwys ym Mhrydain. Mae hyn yn golygu fod yna lai o opsiynau ar gael i denantiaid lle mae eu Budd-dal Tai wedi ei effeithio gan doriadau diwygio lles." Yn y cyfamser, mae Shelter Cymru yn galw ar y cyhoedd i adael i ffrindiau, teulu a chymdogion i wybod y gallant o bosibl

Summary: Nid yw cynghorau yn gwneud y gorau o arian sy'n cael ei roi iddyn nhw i helpu pobl sy'n cael trafferth talu rhent, medd elusen, Shelter Cymru.


Addressing vice chancellors, he said he was shocked by how little teaching was valued in lecturers' promotions. Universities that relegated the importance of teaching risked "losing sight" of their mission, he said. Earlier, he defended plans unveiled on Wednesday to "raise the bar" on science research funded by the taxpayer. On Thursday, during a speech on the future of higher education, Mr Willetts said: "It remains hard to shift the impression that what really counts in higher education is research. This needs to change." He told the Universities UK annual conference he had found a report "shocking" that suggested only one in 10 senior promotions in top universities was influenced by teaching. Mr Willetts said the focus in research was due to the incentives created by successive governments' policies. "We have strengthened the incentives for everyone to carry out research with no change in the regime for teaching," he said. His comments come a day after Business Secretary Vince Cable said research funding should "screen out mediocrity" in the projects backed by the taxpayer. Universities and scientists reacted angrily to his assertion that only research that was commercially useful or academically outstanding should be funded. Tom Feilden, BBC Science Correspondent It's actually quite hard to calculate the financial return on individual research grants - how do you decide what proportion of the global market in, say, mobile phones is down to a specific study on transistors at UCL in 1973? Having said that, a recent report on the value of medical research compiled by the MRC, the Wellcome Trust, and the Academy of Medical Sciences, concluded that every pound spent on public or charitably funded research yielded a return of 30p per year - in perpetuity - from direct or indirect gains to GDP. According to the Higher Education Funding Council the number of patents granted to UK universities between 2000 and 2008 rose by 136%, and consultancy income over the same period rose by 222%. University bioscience departments have spawned over 200 spin-out companies over the past decade, and in 2007 alone these spin-outs employed nearly 14,000 people and had a combined turnover of Â£1.1 bn. There does seem to be a compelling argument that investment in scientific research can generate wealth and boost economic activity. In defence of the policy, Mr Willetts told the BBC's Today programme public spending was "running way ahead of what we can afford" and taxpayers should only fund the highest quality research. Universities are expecting budget cuts in the Comprehensive Spending Review scheduled for October. But scientific and academic leaders say funding less research would threaten the UK's status as a world leader in science. Former chief executive of the British Medical Research Council Professor Colin Blakemore questioned how research quality would be defined. "Some of it doesn't produce the results that were expected. That is the nature of research. Sometimes it doesn't work," he told the BBC. Mr Willetts said one way the government could focus spending would be to concentrate on research that scored the highest ratings in assessments by the UK funding

Summary: Science Minister David Willetts has said the research-teaching balance has "gone wrong" in universities, after defending cuts to science research.


The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said demand for property continued to outpace supply last month. This was despite a rise in the number of homes coming on to the market. The growth of interest in the Scottish property market bucked the trend across the rest of the UK. Demand for homes in the UK fell back for the first time in over a year, which Rics attributed in part to uncertainty over next month's European Union referendum. The latest Rics UK residential market survey found sales remained steady across Scotland last month, with growth in activity expected to continue. A net balance of 36% more respondents predicted an increase in Scottish property sales over the next quarter. More surveyors also said they expected prices to rise over the next three months. Rics in Scotland director Sarah Speirs said: "We are seeing a welcome increase in properties coming on to the market and we hope this will continue in coming months. "However, as demand also continues to grow, this supply will not meet market needs and we call on the newly-elected Scottish government to make the increase of housing supply across all tenures a priority."

Summary: Scottish house prices are expected to continue rising over the next few months after climbing in April, according to surveyors.


The number issued to people in Northern Ireland also doubled, in the largest monthly increase since the Brexit vote. June's result has sparked a marked rise in the number of people applying for Irish and European Union passports. November is normally one of the quietest months of the year for passport applications. But the total number from Northern Ireland - 4,569 - was up by more than 600 from October. Some 6,855 people people in Great Britain applied for an Irish passport in November 2016, a significant jump from 3,133 last year. Applications from Northern Ireland went up from 2,267 in November last year to 4,569 last month.

Summary: More than twice the number of Irish passports were issued to people in Great Britain last month than in November 2015.


Media playback is not supported on this device The Hartlepool fighter, celebrating her 21st birthday, secured a 17-15 victory. She told BBC Sport: "I was only 12 when I walked into a boxing ring, I loved it ever since and now I'm world champion." Earlier, Nicola Adams had to settle for flyweight silver after being outpointed 14-10 by China's Ren Cancan. This was Savannah Marshall's second successive world final appearance after taking a silver medal as an 18-year-old at Barbados in 2010. Marshall, who had qualified for the Olympics on Friday, nudged 7-5 ahead at the halfway stage but had to hold on through a tough third round when an excellent uppercut from Vystropova gave her a bloody nose. With Marshall still holding her two-point advantage heading into the final round, Vystropova came on strong again but a neat combination in the dying seconds from the Briton helped edge her to an historic win. "It hasn't even sunk in that I'm going to the Olympics yet. It's crazy," Marshall added. Leeds boxer Adams started slowly in her bout against Cancan, who she had also lost to Ren in the 2010 final in Bridgetown, and trailed by two points after the first round. Although Adams enjoyed increasing success with her right hand in the remaining three rounds, Ren scored consistently to stay ahead. The 29-year-old was unhappy with the judges' verdict and told BBC Sport: "I thought the scoring was a bit wrong, but that's boxing for you. " I believe I won it but didn't get the decision." Media playback is not supported on this device The Yorkshire fighter is now aiming for revenge at this summer's London Olympics, having secured her place in the Great Britain Olympic squad by reached the semi-finals in Qinhuangdao. "This hasn't dented my confidence. It's been a great experience and I've had an amazing time," added Adams. "I qualified for the Olympics and that's what I came to do. In London, it'll be on my own turf so the score will be different then. "I'll be going for gold. I'll get a bit fitter and have a bit more technical ability." Women's boxing will feature at the Olympics for the first time at London 2012.

Summary: British middleweight Savannah Marshall won the gold medal at the Women's World Boxing Championships in China, after defeating Azebaijan's Elena Vystropova in the final in Qinhuangdao.


Leading Seaman Timothy Andrew MacColl, 27, from Gosport in Hampshire, was last seen getting into a taxi at 02:00 local time on Sunday after a night out. The ship had arrived in Dubai on Saturday and left on Thursday. The family of the father-of-two, who is originally from Killin, Stirlingshire, said they were "completely at a loss and going crazy with worry". Leading Seaman MacColl, known as Timmy to family and friends, was last seen by a shipmate getting into a taxi alone. He had just left the Rock Bottom Cafe at the Regent Palace Hotel, in the Bur Dubai area, which is about a 15-minute drive from Port Rashid where his ship was docked. His wife Rachel, who is expecting the couple's third child in October, said there had been no sightings of her husband and that checks with hospitals, prisons, police stations and mortuaries had so far found no record of him. "I last spoke with Timmy at midday on Saturday and he was in really good spirits and looking forward to speaking with the children on Skype on Sunday," she said. That call never happened, she said, adding that it was "completely out of character" for him not to contact his family. "We are appealing to the people of Dubai and reaching out to the large expat community to help us find Timmy and raise awareness in that area," she said. "Wherever Timmy is, I know that he wants to be found, he will want us to find him, we need people to help us do that." The couple's two children are aged six and four. Leading Seaman MacColl is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build, with short brown hair cropped with a flicked fringe, and speaks with a broad Scottish accent. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a red MotoGP T-shirt, dark-coloured long shorts and white trainers. A spokesman for the Royal Navy said the service was working with local authorities and British Foreign Office staff to try to find the missing sailor, and providing support to his family, he said. "Everything is being done to ensure that he is located safely," the navy spokesman said.

Summary: A British sailor has gone missing in Dubai while his ship, HMS Westminster, was docked, the Royal Navy has said.


One senior police officer was reduced to tears in his office as he recalled in an off-the-cuff chat, the cold-blooded way the gunmen picked through their victims' belongings, forced them onto the floor face down, then gunned them down. Kenyans are hard-working people who deeply care about security but many express a sense of being hamstrung. As one man I spoke to in Garissa put it, there is "a sense of disconnect between the government and its people" and its ability to provide security in the face of an al-Shabab threat. Key to this is a deep mistrust of authority. Kenyan whistle-blower John Githongo, who in secretly recorded tapes exposed corruption under a previous administration, has been talking on social networks of "chickens coming home to roost". He is not alone in that view. Porous borders, allegations of widespread corruption within the security services and even claims by the Muslim community of "extrajudicial killings" all sound remarkably familiar to Kenyan ears. It was no surprise then that many rolled their eyes in dismay, rather than marched in anger on the streets, at reports that the plane that was meant to bring commandos to storm the building during the deadly siege in Garissa, was delayed by several hours. It had apparently been diverted, sent to collect a police chief's family, from their holiday on the coast. The police are yet to comment on the allegation. Intelligence reports and parliamentary committees have warned of a tactical shift in the Somali Islamist group's recruitment campaign. The evidence that al-Shabab is hiring in the "Kenyan homeland" shows it is exploiting the country's Achilles heel - what people here call "graft". A thoughtful Kenyan businessman of Somali origin I met in the arid north-east of the country told me bluntly that for a government to win the fight against terrorism, it needed to win its people's trust first. The scramble to woo the Muslim community in the past few days in these remote dusty parts, by a posse of government envoys, appears to be a frank admission that it needs to make friends. Ali (this same Kenyan businessman whose name I have changed because like many others he fears his candour will lose him his job) told me he had spent a lot of time in the US and the Middle East since the 9/11 attack and had devoted much time to pondering about security. Building elaborate "fences" to seal the border with Somalia, a programme which got under way this week, sounds to many like Ali more like a money-making scam than a concerted effort to control cross border attacks by al-Shabab. What is needed, he believes, is not walls and fences but robust "intelligence gathering" and covert operations, which cannot be sabotaged by "graft". As President Uhuru Kenyatta talks tough in the fight against corruption, one is left with a sense of missed opportunities to win the confidence of some in the Muslim community here. In 2007 I stood on the border between Somalia and Kenya, as the US and Kenyan military bombed camps in

Summary: There is no doubt that Kenya has been deeply scarred by the attack on the University in Garissa, in which at least 148 people were killed.


The Office for National Statistics said there were 3.5 million such households in the UK between April and June this year, about 17.1% of all households including a working age adult. This was down from 3.7 million, or 17.9%, a year earlier. The highest percentage of workless households was in north-east England. Some 23% of households including a working age adult were workless in the region. The lowest was in south-east England, where 13% of households were in this category. Workless households are defined as homes where no-one aged from 16 to 64 is in employment. This could be because they are looking for work, or they have chosen not to work, or they are unable to work. People may choose not to work because of family commitments, early retirement or study. They may be unable to work because of sickness or disability. The data shows that the number of workless households in the UK dropped by 182,000 over the year. This means that 4.9 million people aged 16 to 64 lived in workless households. The ONS said this was the first time the figure had dropped below five million since 2008. Some 14% of all children in the UK, or 1.6 million, were living in these households. About two-thirds of them were in single-parent households. Children's charities - Barnardo's and The Children's Society - said they welcomed the fact that the number of children living in workless households was falling. However, a move into work did not necessarily mean a move out of poverty, they argued. They said it was imperative for the government to reduce childcare costs for families on low incomes. The proportion of workless households was at its highest in 1996, when comparable records began, when it stood at 20.9% in the UK. This fell steadily to 17.3% in 2006 before rising to 19.2% in 2010. It has fallen relatively sharply in the past three years. In 2013, there were 297,000 households in which no adult has ever worked, down 43,000 on the previous year. If student households are excluded, this figure drops to 224,000. Mark Hoban, the Minister for Employment, said: "Helping people off benefits and into work is one of this government's top priorities, so it is good news that the number of workless households has fallen by more than 425,000 since the coalition took office. "By reforming the welfare system to ensure that people are better off in work than on benefits, and through schemes such as the Work Programme and Youth Contract we are giving people the support they need to get a job and fulfil their aspirations of looking after themselves and their families." Stephen Timms, Labour's shadow employment minister, said: "Any fall in worklessness is welcome, but the truth is Britain's unemployment crisis is far from over. "Underemployment is at record highs, long-term unemployment is at its highest level for 17 years, the number of young people out of work is edging back towards a million, and millions are working harder for less. It is becoming harder and harder for millions to

Summary: The proportion of UK households where no adult aged 16 to 64 is in work is at its lowest since comparable records began in 1996, official figures show.


Defending her policy on migrants at the annual conference of her CDU party, Mrs Merkel said that Germany was standing by its humanitarian duties. But she said the flow of migrants would be reduced - a step that some members of the party have been calling for. More than one million migrants and refugees have come to Germany so far this year, officials there say. Profile: Angela Merkel Will Germans embrace or shun refugees? EU migration: Crisis in graphics Her decision to welcome refugees fleeing Syria's civil war has not been popular within her own party. Mrs Merkel told the conference in Karlsruhe that the influx would be "noticeably reduced" - the wording of a compromise agreement reached on Sunday with her CDU colleagues. Such a reduction was in the interest of Germany and in the interest of the migrants themselves, she told the conference. Mrs Merkel has rejected the idea of an upper limit on migrant numbers, sought by some in her own party and by the leader of the CDU's powerful Bavarian sister party, the CSU. Despite the tensions of the weekend's discussions, Mrs Merkel appeared relaxed and smiling as she arrived at the conference to address her party, and her speech was repeatedly interrupted by applause. She described 2015 as "an unbelievable year". The German leader said the decision by Germany and Austria to allow in migrants stranded in the Hungarian capital, after many started walking towards the border on 4 September, was a humanitarian imperative. "Something that was far away from us - that we have seen on television - is now literally at our front door," she said. "The war in Syria, the barrel bombings by (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad, the spread of IS in Syria and Iraq, the fact that Libya has no functioning government, the situation in Afghanistan - all that is no longer far away but has come to us." Quoting her Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, Mrs Merkel said the migration crisis was Germany's "rendezvous with globalisation". Mrs Merkel, who has led Germany for 10 years, was named Time magazine's Person of the Year last week. The US news magazine cited her role in Europe's crises over migration and the Greek debt crisis, saying she had provided "steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply". Meanwhile, authorities in Greece have been struggling to cope with growing numbers of migrants in its capital, Athens, as Balkan countries block their route further north. An agreement to provide subsidised accommodation for migrants was due to be signed on Monday. The deal between the Greek government, the UN Refugee Agency and the European Commission will help to provide housing for 20,000 new arrivals in Athens. The UN agency will assist in paying rental costs in private, unoccupied flats. Another 80,000 migrants are due to be accommodated across Greece and the Balkans, mostly in heated tents.

Summary: The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has described the migrant crisis as a "historic test" for Europe.


Cristian Montano was a constant threat, testing Magpies goalkeeper Scott Loach with an early shot, before bursting into the box to score before half-time. Notts had gone close through Wes Atkinson and Izale McLeod, but Lee Brown got Rovers' second after the break when he fired in from 18 yards. McLeod missed with a header as the hosts made a late fight-back. The defeat comes days after chief executive Julian Winter left the club for Huddersfield, while angry home fans raised a banner in the Kop that was removed by stewards.

Summary: Bristol Rovers kept up their League Two promotion bid by consigning Notts County to a fifth game without victory.


General Gilbert Diendere's mea culpa - however sincere it may be - contains, perhaps, the first lesson of this coup. "Human lives were lost," he said, admitting that seizing power had been "a waste of time and resources for Burkina Faso." Between 10 and 20 people were killed (the exact death toll is still unknown) and more than a hundred more were left injured with bullet wounds. Coups often have a human cost that is unnecessary. Burkina Faso's coup: Who's who? Gen Diendere explained that the coup was precipitated by the interim authority's decision to prevent associates of former President Blaise Compaore from taking part in the elections, and by a plan to disband the elite presidential guard. It remains to be seen whether the transitional government will now allow Mr Compaore's allies to contest the elections, while the role of the presidential guard within the army will certainly be redefined. "The biggest mistake was to carry out this coup," he said, "because nowadays, when we talk about democracy, we can't afford such acts." This was Gen Diendere's third coup. He helped Thomas Sankara take power in 1983 and he then overthrew him, along with Mr Compaore four years later. Whether you look at Cpt Sankara's popular support or at the 27 years that Mr Compaore spent in power, you may conclude that Gen Diendere's first two coups were successful. This one was not. "We have taken lessons for the future," Gen Diendere went on to say. What is behind the coup? Why presidential guards stage coups This is the second time in less than a year that the people of Burkina Faso have succeeded in ousting those who they saw as trying to confiscate power. In October last year, when former President Compaore tried to change the constitution so he could run for another term in office, people took to the streets and forced him out. Civil society groups, and the youth in particular, have shown that in one of the world's poorest countries, democracy may come from grassroots initiatives rather than built by a power-hungry elite. The 'heroes' of Burkina Faso's revolution In today's Africa, there are military coups and what many call "constitutional coups". The Burkinabe example has certainly spread democratic hopes and actions in Africa. Benin's President Thomas Yayi Boni has since abandoned plans to change the constitution. Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville has just announced that he will hold a referendum over the very same issue. Let's see whether the vote is free and fair. Of course, it doesn't work everywhere on the continent yet but citizens are mobilising. Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza violently resisted months of popular discontent earlier this year. He eventually got his third term in office but at a bloody cost - dozens have been killed. His move sparked anger within the international community, including some African countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, grassroots activists have received support from their counterparts in Burkina Faso and Senegal but some of them have been jailed. President Joseph Kabila is widely believed to want to

Summary: BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy looks at the lessons we can learn from the coup in Burkina Faso, which has been reversed just a week after the presidential guards seized power:


Stephen Ngila has been arrested for allegedly attacking Jackline Mwende almost two weeks ago, reports say. Kenya has high levels of domestic abuse but Mrs Mwende's case was "particularly shocking", activists added. Mr Ngila has not yet commented. Mrs Mwende, 27, said a drunk Mr Ngila, 34, told her "today is your last day" before he attacked her at her parents' home in a village in southern Machakos County, Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reports. This was despite the fact that doctors told them she was fertile and he was impotent, Mrs Mwende was quoted as saying. A video of her with stitches on her head and stumps where her hands once were, wrapped in bandages, has also been shown by Kenyan media. The couple were living separately when Mr Ngila allegedly attacked Mrs Mwende, reports said. Reuters news agency quotes Kenyan women's rights group Equality Now as saying that Mr Ngila has been charged with attempted murder, but there has been no independent confirmation of this. "This is a particularly shocking case for Kenya... even though domestic violence is rampant," Naitore Nyamu of Equality Now told Reuters. "We can't afford to let the perpetrators act with impunity - which has sometimes been the case in recent years," she added. The chairwoman of Kenya's Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Josephine Mong'are, said cases of violence against women had been "escalating" and police should ensure that "all culprits are brought to book". "FIDA Kenya reiterates that violence against women is unacceptable and must not be condoned in society," she said.

Summary: A Kenyan man accused of chopping off his wife's hands and hacking her head with a machete after blaming her for their childless marriage should face the full force of the law, rights activists have said.


Emergency services were called at 14:50 BST on Tuesday to a river at Aberglaslyn, near Beddgelert. Formal identification is expected to take place later today. Specialist police are supporting the man's family. Ch Insp Mark Armstrong said: "Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of the person involved." He said the operation to recover the body had been complex and involved police, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Aberglaslyn and Ogwen mountain rescue teams and the regional police underwater search teams.

Summary: A body has been recovered in the search for a canoeist who got into difficulty in Snowdonia, police have said.


The 19-year-old victim became aware that a man was inside the property in Pier Place at about 12:15 on Friday. A struggle between the pair resulted in the woman suffering a dislocated elbow and a minor injury to her face. She fled and got help from a neighbour who contacted police. The suspect was thin, about 6ft and wore a tracksuit. He also spoke with a local accent. Police are conducting local enquiries to trace the man and asked anyone who can help identify him to come forward. Det Sgt Mike Leask said: "The victim sustained painful injuries to her arm and face, which required medical attention and left her incredibly shaken."

Summary: A woman has been injured by an intruder during a break-in at her Edinburgh home.


Two-time major winner McIlroy, 25, and Danish former world number one Wozniacki, 23, announced their engagement on New Year's Eve. Media playback is not supported on this device "The problem is mine," McIlroy said. "The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails." The couple had been together for more than two years. McIlroy is currently at Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour's flagship event which starts on Thursday. Wozniacki is set to compete in the French Open in Paris starting on 25 May. In a statement issued through his management company, McIlroy added: "There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people. "I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we have had." "The news has shocked the worlds of both golf and tennis, particularly with the timing of the split. McIlroy is due to start a crucial run of tournaments, while Wozniacki is playing the upcoming French Open." Speaking at Wentworth on Wednesday, McIlroy said the decision to end the engagement had been mutual and amicable. He said it was a difficult time, but that the move was best for both of them. McIlroy won the US Open in 2011 and US PGA Championship the following year. Wozniacki, who has reached the final of one grand slam tournament - the US Open in 2009 - is currently ranked 13th in the world. When McIlroy announced their engagement, he tweeted: "I have a feeling it is going to be a great year."

Summary: Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy has broken off his engagement with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.


They reveal that a few minutes before the plane went down, the pilots asked to move a few nautical miles north of their flight path because of weather conditions. The Dutch Safety Board says its preliminary report was based on the contents of the flight and cockpit data recorders, other communication with the plane, as well as forensic examination of the wreckage where possible. These are its key findings.

Summary: Dutch investigators say the damage to Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which crashed in eastern Ukraine on 17 July, suggests it was pierced by a large number of objects from outside the plane.


The building has been closed for two years after it was declared unsafe. The film's producers want to use the main entrance for around six weeks as a location when filming begins in July. Campaigners have arranged for engineers to survey some of the damage around it but hope work could enable the foyer and main hall to stay open. Ian Hill, the director of Save The Coal Exchange, said any remedial works would allow the building's front entrance, foyer and main hall to continue to be used once The Crow has finished filming. "We are taking the opportunity to make sure that when the door opens, it stays open," he said. "The Crow will be on site for around six weeks. When they leave, we hope to be able to keep the front door open, and give the public access to the foyer and main hall." The fee paid by the film's producers should cover the cost of making the entrance safe. The Crow will be shot on location in south Wales, and at the Pinewood Wales studios in Cardiff. The owners of the Coal Exchange went into liquidation last year, with around £5m currently owed to Cardiff Council and two banks. The building is considered to be one of the capital's most significant historical landmarks, and was the place where the first ever £1m cheque was signed. In recent years it had been used as a concert venue and office space until its closure in 2013. Discussions have already begun with the hope of transferring the ownership of the Coal Exchange to the charity which is campaigning to save the building. It plans to raise around £15m to fund the restoration of the building over the next three to four years, if the initial works are successful in partially reopening the venue. THE COAL EXCHANGE - TIMELINE Actor Jack Huston is widely reported to be in talks to take on the lead role in The Crow, which will be filmed at Pinewood studios on the outskirts of Cardiff. It will be the first multi-million pound A-list film to get made at the new facilities. The original 1990s film starred Brandon Lee, who died on set after being accidentally shot.

Summary: The Hollywood remake of The Crow, which will be filmed in south Wales this summer, could help reopen Cardiff's historic Coal Exchange.


Leonid Papachin, 51, from Lithuania, is alleged to have performed the manoeuvre on Thursday after missing an exit slip-road near Lichfield. Other vehicles are said to have been forced to slow down to avoid his articulated lorry. He appeared at Cannock Magistrates' Court charged with dangerous driving but did not enter a plea. Mr Papachin was remanded in custody to appear at the same court on Tuesday.

Summary: A lorry driver has appeared in court accused of doing a U-turn on the M6 toll motorway.


His British Bloodhound Super-Sonic Car (SSC) is aiming for 800mph (1,290km/h). To achieve this extraordinary speed, the RAF man will depend on many cutting edge technologies and components - not least the actual "floor" itself. This piece of titanium panelling will be one of the hardest working engineering elements on the vehicle. It has to protect the underside of the car from the blizzard of dust and grit that will be produced as Bloodhound streaks across the dry lake surface of Northern Cape's Hakskeen Pan. One of the strongest primary shockwaves will form right between the supersonic vehicle's front wheels. This will turn and churn the dried mud, and, with the help of the spinning wheels, shotblast Bloodhound's body. When Andy Green set the existing record of 763mph (1,230km/h) in 1997, his Thrust machine was badly eroded by the playa it kicked up in its path. Thrust's aluminium floor was polished to a high-sheen finish and rubbed wafer thin in places. The new titanium floor just finished at Bloodhound's technical centre in Bristol hopes to perform much better in even more demanding circumstances. "At Swansea University, we set up a test rig where we took the same material from Hakskeen and fired it at different panels to find the material that would cope in this high-speed eroding environment - and that was titanium," explained Conor La Grue, the components chief on the Bloodhound project. The new floor was assembled by a team from 71 Squadron, whose normal day job is to keep the jets of the Royal Air Force in a state fit to fly. The structure contains about 240 primary parts and has required roughly 1,000 worker hours to put together. As well as two broad titanium skins, the floor structure incorporates a multitude of other sections, including ribs, stiffeners, stringers, edge members, straps, buttstraps, doublers, brackets and cover plates. And the whole structure is held together by 54 anchor nuts, bolts, washers and bushes, and 4,547 aerospace grade rivets. These rivets require immense patience to emplace. Each rivet hole involves pilot drilling, de-burring, pinning, drilling out to full diameter, de-burring again, pinning again, counter sinking and de-burring a final time. "71 Squadron have been incredible. Their skill of hand is quite extreme, and they're amazing to watch," observed La Grue. And yet, all of this exquisite work will essentially be seen by no-one because it will be hidden under the car. But work, it must. It is quite possible that the shockwave created between the front wheels will travel ahead of the car, pulverising the desert surface layer fractions of a second before Bloodhound arrives, creating even more mess for the floor to deal with. "There's an interesting premise here that the shock energy will travel faster through a solid than through air," said La Grue. "So, potentially, the ground ahead of the car could already be coming apart before the car gets to it. We won't know that for sure until we start running, but it would only make the scenario worse because you'd already have loose material available

Summary: When Andy Green "floors it" in the South African desert later this year, he expects to be able to break his 18-year-old land speed record.


The 59-year-old spent last season at the Daggers under boss John Still, whom he worked with at Luton. Harris has become Wood boss Luke Garrard's number two on an undisclosed-length contract. "I can bring experience with me because I have been very fortunate during my time with John Still," Harris said. He added to the club's official website: "If you are a number two then you are the eyes and ears of the players and you certainly have an input into the coaching side and an input into the game management side and, as I said, I have been fortunate in the clubs that I have been with. "With Dagenham, for instance, we got out of the Ryman league and then we got out of the Conference, as it called then, and we then took Dagenham into League One in the Play-off final against Rotherham."

Summary: National League side Boreham Wood have named former Luton, Stevenage and Dagenham coach Terry Harris as the club's new assistant manager.


Boston beat domestic competition from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC to be put forward. "Our goal is to host Olympic and Paralympic Games that are innovative, walkable and hospitable to all," said Boston mayor Marty Walsh. The deadline for cities to apply to host the Games is 15 September. The International Olympic Committee are due to make a decision in 2017. The last time the USA hosted a summer games was in Atlanta in 1996, although Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. "I very much want to bring the games to the United States to share the incredible spirit of the games with another generation of Americans, and advance the Olympic and Paralympic movements," said American IOC executive board member Anita DeFrantz. The US is the third country after Germany and Italy to officially launch a bidding process. At an IOC meeting in Monaco in December, a 40-point action plan was voted on to revamp the sporting showpiece. Potential hosts will find it easier and cheaper to bid under the "Olympic Agenda 2020" reforms and events can be held outside the host country or city. The 28-sport cap for future summer Olympics has been removed - although there will be no changes to the Rio 2016 schedule. Instead of a 28-sport limit, each summer Games will be restricted to 10,500 athletes and 310 events.

Summary: Boston has been selected by the United States Olympic Committee as its candidate city to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.


Robinson, 33, who was released by relegated Bolton Wanderers at the end of last season, has signed a one-month deal that runs until 26 October. Clark said: "I'd like to thank the board for allowing me to bring in Paul. "He is an experienced defender who will enhance our playing squad." Already without injured skipper Stephen Carr, who has a career-threatening knee injury, Clark last week lost season-long loan signing Paul Caddis, who is expected to be out until Christmas at the earliest once he has had shoulder surgery. The injuries have left us with just two fit senior defenders And, after losing David Murphy with a torn hamstring midway through the first half of Saturday's 5-0 home defeat by Barnsley, the Blues boss is now also without Pablo Ibanez, who is expected to be out for four weeks after breaking a bone in his foot. "While I have been impressed with the progress of our young defenders, the injuries have left us with just two fit senior defenders," added Clark. "So the acquisition of Paul was one we needed to make. "As a senior professional, Paul will give us that added experience which is always useful in this competitive division." Former England Under-21 international Robinson began his career with home-town club Watford before being signed by Gary Megson for Albion in 2003. After six years at The Hawthorns, a season-long loan move to Bolton was made permanent in 2010. But Robinson, who is expected to make his Blues debut in Saturday evening's clash with leaders Brighton at the Amex Stadium, has not played since finishing last season out on loan with Leeds United.

Summary: Birmingham City boss Lee Clark has responded to his side's string of defensive injuries by bringing in former West Bromwich Albion left-back Paul Robinson on a short-term deal.


Fans ran on to the pitch and scuffles broke out as England celebrated a and Euro 2013 qualification. Rose, 22, said he was subjected to monkey chants throughout the game, starting in the warm-up. He told Sky Sports: "I had two stones hit me in the head when I went for a throw-in." Media playback is not supported on this device Connor Wickham's 94th-minute goal secured a 2-0 aggregate victory in the second leg of the qualifying play-off. Sunderland's Rose was sent off after the final whistle for kicking the ball away in reaction to the abuse he was receiving. Prime Minister David Cameron led the calls for Uefa for to impose "tough sanctions" on racism while sports minister Hugh Robertson has written to Uefa president Michel Platini following "extreme provocation and racism" following Tuesday night's game. Rose described how the chanting started in the warm-up and gradually got worse as the match went on. "After 60 minutes my mind wasn't really on the game. I was just so angry and it was so hard to concentrate," he said. "Then we scored and after 90 minutes' worth of abuse, I expressed my emotions as soon as we scored. "Next thing I know, all the Serbia players were surrounding me, pushing me. I remember getting slapped twice. I got ushered away and that's when I kicked the ball - and then the referee sent me off. "I don't understand - the game had finished. And then there was more monkey chanting. They should be banned." The Football Association reported "a number" of racist incidents to Uefa. England defender Nedum Onuoha was racially abused during the 2007 Under-21 European Championship game against Serbia in the Netherlands, for which Serbia were fined £16,000 by Uefa. Professional Footballers' Association chairman Clarke Carlisle said Serbia should received a "significant" international ban, adding that it was "farcical" that Rose was sent off for reacting to being racially abused. "Serbia should be banned because it's a repeat offence," he told BBC 5 Radio live. "Banning them for a start, from any tournament, would be progress but I think if it's significant - if it's a couple of tournaments - then that would cause that nation to address the issue that has deprived them of international competition." PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "The PFA condemns the appalling racist abuse endured by our Under-21 team in Serbia which evoked memories of scenes we all hoped had been consigned to the past. "Fifa and Uefa need to get tough and deduct points or disqualify teams from competitions." Former England midfielder Paul Ince, whose son Tom played in the game, told ESPN: "It's disgraceful to see these scenes. "If it was me, they [Serbia] would be kicked out for the next five tournaments - European, World Cups - but they will get a little ban and that will be it." Sunderland's chief executive Margaret Byrne said: "The scenes in Serbia last night shocked everyone and Sunderland Football Club wholeheartedly backs the Football Association's stance on the matter." Reading striker Jason Roberts told

Summary: England Under-21 defender Danny Rose called for Serbia to be banned after claiming he was racially abused by fans in Krusevac.


Media playback is not supported on this device She was beaten by Finland's Enni Rukajarvi, who scored a combined 176.33 from her two best runs out of three. Ormerod, who won her first World Cup competition last month, scored 146.33 in Innsbruck. In the men's competition, Rowan Coultas and Billy Morgan finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Summary: British snowboarder Katie Ormerod claimed a silver medal as women made their debut at the Air and Style big air competition in Austria.


The Â£14.8m scheme will transfer heating and hot water between the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals. Officials have questioned whether officers should have been allowed to grant a licence for roadworks. The scheme is already in limbo after problems over planning permission. County councillors are demanding a review into the type of decisions officers are allowed to make. In December, Vital Energi started the project for Oxford University Hospitals Trust but work was halted in January when it emerged planning permission was needed. A retrospective application was ruled "invalid" by Oxford City Council. Oxfordshire County Council had granted a Section 50 street works licence but county councillors and residents were not consulted. The county's scrutiny committee, which met on Thursday, recommended a review of which decisions could be made by officers and which should be decided by councillors. The committee was told officers had not viewed the roadworks as a single project. Headington councillor Roz Smith said: "Some decisions do have to be made by officers... but when it's something as big as this, that's going to affect so many people... for officers to say it's not a significant decision is absolutely incredible." A report by Sue Scane, director for environment and economy at the council, said while county staff "acted within their powers and remits" the "exceptional nature" of the project and "level of disquiet expressed" meant the authority should consider reviewing its processes in future. The Hospital Energy Project is an 18-month scheme to install a 1.6 mile-long (2.2 km) pipeline in Woodlands Road, Sandfield Road, London Road, Latimer Road, All Saints Road, Stapleton Road, Old Road and Churchill Drive.

Summary: Oxfordshire's councillors are calling for a review into how decisions are made after the installation of a pipeline between two hospitals had to be halted.


Sciver's single came from her first ball as England reached their target of 131 for the loss of six wickets. A partnership of 75 between Charlotte Edwards (28) and Sarah Taylor (51) was the backbone of England's innings. Katherine Brunt took 2-15 to help restrict New Zealand to 130-6, with Sophie Devine top scoring with 40.

Summary: Natalie Sciver hit the winning run off the final ball as England women beat New Zealand by four wickets in a warm-up game for the World Twenty20.


Surveillance camera footage showed people walking past the girl as she lay bleeding and unconscious. It sparked a wave of condemnation and soul-searching on China's social networking sites. Doctors had earlier said Wang Yue, who had been in a coma since the incident on 13 October, was unlikely to survive. Anger and debate over toddler Police have detained the drivers of both vehicles involved in the incident, which happened in the city of Foshan in southern Guangdong Province. Wang Yue was knocked down by a van while wandering through a market, where her parents run a shop. The driver sped off without checking on the girl's condition. Over the following minutes, 18 people walked past the bleeding toddler, and another van ran over her legs, but no-one stopped to help. The distressing footage was shown on television. A rubbish collector who finally moved the toddler to the side of the street was hailed as a national hero, but the incident led many online commentators to question the state of Chinese morality. By Martin PatienceBBC News, Foshan Other than the two chalk circles marked "1" and "2" on the road, there was little to suggest anything out of the ordinary. The hardware stores selling irons, light fittings and taps were all open. Shopkeepers sat around chatting to each other. But what happened on a covered street of this huge wholesale market last week shocked China. A shopkeeper close to where the incident took place said she had been sickened when she saw the footage. "Every time I watch it, my heart breaks," said Hu Haiou. "I catch the news every night to see if she'll survive. The people who walked by were shameful." Another shopkeeper, Chen Guilin, said it had been raining hard the night of the incident. "The raindrops sounded like drumbeats on the roof," she said, "We had no idea what happened outside." Passers-by were 'shameful' A spokesman for the hospital told the AFP news agency that Wang Yue had died of "systemic organ failure", adding that no expense had been spared to try to save the girl, whose parents are migrant workers. There have been millions of internet comments about how to encourage good Samaritans - and many more expressing outrage that so many people refused to help. Her death was one of the most remarked on topics on China's Weibo - a micro-blogging site similar to Twitter - on Friday as people expressed sorrow and anger over the incident. "Farewell to little Wang Yue. There are no cars in heaven," wrote one micro-blogger. Guangdong province is debating the introduction of a law to force people to help others in obvious distress. Initial online polls, though, suggest most people are against it. "Talk about being civilised first. Is anyone paying attention to that?" read one posting. Organisations in Guangdong are also looking at other ways to encourage people to act with compassion when faced with an emergency. The provincial government's political and legal affairs committee is using its micro-blog site to gather opinions about how to "guide brave acts for

Summary: A two-year-old girl in southern China, who was run over by two vans and ignored by 18 passers-by, has died, hospital officials say.


The man cycled towards the girl in Enfield saying she had been caught shoplifting and he would search her. As he did so, he raped her and threatened her with a knife, the Met Police said. A 32-year-old man has been arrested. The attack in Sandhurst Road at 17:30 GMT on Wednesday has been linked to an earlier incident with a 12-year-old. The 12-year-old girl was approached by a man on a bike on Shirley Grove, near Sandhurst Road, at about 16:30 on the same day. He told the girl he was a police officer and that she fitted the description of a girl he needed to arrest. He told her she needed to go to a van with him and when she refused he grabbed her by the wrists. He eventually let go and she managed to run off. The arrested man remains in custody. Det Insp Tracey Cormack urged anyone who "may have witnessed these offences or think they may have been approached by this man" to contact the police.

Summary: A man claiming to be a police officer raped a teenager at knifepoint after stopping her on a street in north London and accusing her of shoplifting.


Norfolk-based Gardline, founded by the Darling family in 1969, employs 750 people and has been bought by Dutch firm, Royal Boskalis Westminster. Gardline's activities include marine geophysical surveys, offshore geotechnical services and environmental surveys. Boskalis has taken on the firm's assumed debt as part of the deal. In a joint statement, the firms said there were "significant synergies" between them. Gardline operates 40 vessels, including crew transfer ships and survey catamarans. Its head offices are in Great Yarmouth, with further activities in the USA, Brazil and Singapore. Boskalis has a fleet of more than 900 vessels and floating equipment and 11,700 employees, operating in more than 90 countries across six continents. "With the acquisition, Boskalis strengthens its position as marine services provider in north-west Europe," it said. Gardline's profits have fallen in recent years, and Boskalis said the company had suffered from the downturn in oil and gas. It said it was not forecasting Gardline's finances would be turned around in the short-term but that the acquisition "positions Boskalis well for when end-markets recover". Earlier this month, Gardline secured contracts worth £6m with Scottish Power Renewables to carry out a range of pre-construction surveys across East Anglia offshore wind farm sites. Boskalis has yet to respond to questions on whether jobs will be affected by the takeover.

Summary: A British family-owned marine services company has been sold outright in a deal worth £40m.


The campaign is expected to be a head-to-head between MSPs Kezia Dugdale and Ken Macintosh. Mr Macintosh has launched his campaign with a promise to shake up the party organisation, including moving the headquarters from Glasgow to Edinburgh. He said Scotland must be more accountable and responsive to the needs and wants of Scottish people. Ms Dugdale will launch her leadership campaign on Saturday. She has said she will offer the party a fresh face and fresh thinking. Mr Macintosh said that if he became leader he would begin negotiations with the new national Labour leadership to establish a formal relationship with Scottish Labour that recognises its autonomous role within the UK party. He said that was one of several fundamental changes to the way Scottish Labour operates that were needed before the party could win back voters' trust. The MSP for Eastwood's reforms would include: Launching his leadership campaign at the headquarters of East Kilbride and District Engineering Group Training Association, Mr Macintosh said: "I want to make it quite clear - I see myself as the change candidate. Yes we could manage the situation we are in. We could lurch from election to election as we have done in the past. "But I want to change the whole way the Labour Party operates. I want to move away from the machine politics of the past, to give the party back to its members and to the people we want to represent." He added that his leadership would seek to assert the "identity, authority and autonomy of the Scottish Labour Party". "I've never been interested in standing for Westminster and I don't look over my shoulder or seek permission to say what I want to say on behalf of the people of Scotland. "The Welsh Labour party seems to have had no difficulty in establishing its own identity, with significantly less devolved power or responsibility than we enjoy here in Scotland." He said: "We will be entirely in charge of our own affairs and our own decision-making, but it is important to us that we have a partnership of equals with party colleagues in the rest of the UK. As I heard it described recently, our future will be one of both self-rule and shared-rule." On his plan to move the party's head office to Edinburgh, he added: "It is time the structure of the Labour Party reflected that the focus of political attention in Scotland is Holyrood. "This will be the head office - we will opt in to the Labour Party, we will choose to be members of something bigger, but control rests with members here in Scotland." He said he was committed to devolution and wanted to devolve responsibility within the party to eight regions reflecting the list regions of the Scottish Parliament, with membership and campaigning organised at that level. Speaking about his plan to put all elected representatives on an equal footing within the party, he said: "I want to broaden our appeal, not narrowly focus on an ever declining audience of Scots with so-called traditional

Summary: Nominations have closed in the contest to replace Jim Murphy as Scottish Labour leader.


Daran Hill, director of the 2011 Yes for Wales referendum campaign, said bills passed had been mainly "managerial". AMs are expected to pass the last of 26 government laws for this assembly term on Wednesday. Labour's Jane Hutt said the term was a success, with pioneering laws passed. The National Assembly for Wales gained primary law-making powers after the result of the 2011 referendum, which the Yes side won. If the Public Health Bill passes as expected on Wednesday on the last day of business, the government will have completed its legislative programme. The Senedd AMs have passed 25 government bills into law so far. They have included: Mr Hill, managing director of Welsh public affairs company Positif, said the bills had been "mainly managerial and unambitious", and were "aimed at the public sector and not individuals". He said: "I don't think they ever intended to be particularly ambitious with this new system to start with." Mr Hill said: "I remember somebody from the Labour camp telling me back in 2010, 2011, that Labour's first legislative programme would be as dull as the one Alex Salmond had done in Scotland, when he had a minority government from 2007 to 2011... proving you can use the system and making law but not necessarily particularly dynamic law either." He added the government had handled getting its law plans through "pretty shrewdly". Jane Hutt, Welsh Government business minister, refuted his claim the programme had not been ambitious. She said there had been "pioneering legislation" passed by the assembly, such as the law on violence against women. Ms Hutt said the legislative term had been a success for the Welsh Government because it had "got through policies into legislation with financial backing at a time of austerity when our budgets are being cut". Asked if the government had been assisted in its legislative programme by a lack of unity among the opposition, Plaid Cymru North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said: "I don't think we should be in a position to vote legislation down just because we want to have a go at the government." Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives said there had been "opportunities missed" for the opposition to work together, but said the government had not put forward "tough decisions" to vote on.

Summary: The first laws passed by the assembly have been largely unambitious, a leading figure in the campaign for law-making powers in Wales has said.


Goals from Conor McLaughlin and Devante Cole stunned the Blades and extended the Cod Army's unbeaten run in the league to an impressive 11 games, moving them to within six points of second-placed Scunthorpe. It was a thoroughly deserved three points as Uwe Rosler's men impressed from the off, taking the lead in the 20th minute when McLaughlin drilled in Bobby Grant's cross that was meant as a shot at the far post. They should have been 2-0 up at the break, but Simon Moore denied Wes Burns with an instinctive save when the striker went through on goal. Billy Sharp was United's main threat as they chased an equaliser early in the second half, but Fleetwood killed the game when Cole latched on to Ethan Ebanks-Landell's weak header to lob Moore. The Blades, who paraded new signings James Hanson and Jay O'Shea before kick-off, pressed for a way back into the game but could not find it and have now taken just one point from their last three games. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Sheffield United 0, Fleetwood Town 2. Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Fleetwood Town 2. Foul by John Fleck (Sheffield United). Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution, Sheffield United. Matt Done replaces Daniel Lafferty. Attempt blocked. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Attempt missed. Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Attempt blocked. Ashley Hunter (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Ethan Ebanks-Landell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Cian Bolger (Fleetwood Town). Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Cian Bolger (Fleetwood Town). Foul by Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United). Cian Bolger (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt saved. Ethan Ebanks-Landell (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Cian Bolger. Attempt blocked. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Cian Bolger. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by George Glendon (Fleetwood Town). Jack O'Connell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by David Ball (Fleetwood Town). Foul by Billy Sharp (Sheffield United). Ashley Eastham (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick on the left wing. Substitution, Fleetwood Town. George Glendon replaces Markus Schwabl. Attempt missed. Cian Bolger (Fleetwood Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Stefan Scougall. Substitution, Fleetwood Town. David Ball replaces Devante Cole. Attempt missed. Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Ethan Ebanks-Landell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Ashley Hunter (Fleetwood

Summary: Fleetwood highlighted their credentials as automatic-promotion candidates in League One by beating table-toppers Sheffield United.


The Royals secured their play-off place with a 1-0 win over Wigan on Saturday and are third with a game left to play. "For us, it's important to stay up there and be happy with where we are going into the semi-final," Stam said. "It's going to hard and a big battle as all the teams up there are good and have quality individuals." Stam, who took charge of Reading in the summer, praised the squad's achievement in finishing in the top six. "I'm very proud of the players," he told BBC Radio Berkshire. "A top six finish is something you hope for at the beginning of the season, but that depends on the progress of the team. "It's a big achievement and a big compliment to the squad in how they've done this season." Reading travel to Burton for their final game of the regular season on Sunday and would face sixth-placed Fulham in their play-off semi-final as things stand. But, former Manchester United defender Stam is not too concerned with who they might face. "We're going to give it our best shot," he said. "We want to finish the final game well as we don't want to go into the play-offs with a disappointment."

Summary: Reading manager Jaap Stam believes momentum rather than a highest-placed finish will be most important going into the Championship play-offs.


In a letter sent to the court that convicted him, he says it would be easier - and less expensive - for his family to visit him in Africa. He also said he feared being attacked in a British prison. Taylor was convicted of aiding rebels who committed atrocities in Sierra Leone during its civil war. Last week, a UK minister confirmed that Taylor would be transferred to a British prison. He was convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), but his trial was held in The Hague in case it sparked renewed unrest in West Africa. The Netherlands only agreed to host the trial if he was imprisoned elsewhere. In a letter seen by the BBC, Taylor wrote: "My position is that serving my sentence in Rwanda, in my home continent of Africa, would be substantially more humane not only on my own account, but also on account of the impact on my family." He noted that the court's statutes said access for prisoners' relatives should be taken into account when deciding where they should serve their sentence. • 1989: Launches rebellion in Liberia • 1991: RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone • 1997: Elected president after a 1995 peace deal • 1999: Rebels take up arms against Taylor • June 2003: Arrest warrant issued; two months later he steps down and goes into exile in Nigeria • March 2006: Arrested after a failed escape bid and sent to Sierra Leone • June 2007: His trial opens - hosted in The Hague for security reasons • April 2012: Convicted of aiding and abetting the commission of war crimes - later sentenced to 50 years in jail Charles Taylor profile Why Taylor will be jailed in UK He said that it would be cheaper and easier to travel to Rwanda - and that Liberian nationals could obtain visas at the airport, unlike in the UK. Taylor, 65, was convicted on 11 crimes including terrorism, rape, murder and the use of child soldiers by rebel groups in neighbouring Sierra Leone during the 1991-2002 conflict, in which some 50,000 people died. He was found to have supplied weapons to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in exchange for so-called blood diamonds. The rebels were notorious for hacking off the limbs of civilians to terrorise the population. Taylor has always insisted he is innocent and his only contact with the rebels was to urge them to stop fighting. He is the first former head of state convicted by an international war crimes court since World War II. In his three-page letter, dated 10 October, Taylor continued: "My name is now associated with horrendous atrocities. Prison inmates, whether from the region or not, are likely to be inclined to inflict their own brand of justice by attacking me." He pointed out that "a significant number of individuals from Sierra Leonean background are in detention in prisons in the UK" and noted that in 2011, Bosnian war criminal Radislav Krstic was attacked in a British jail by three Muslim men, apparently in revenge for

Summary: Ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor has asked to serve his 50-year sentence for war crimes in Rwanda, rather than the UK.


A lawyer for the families of two unarmed republicans shot dead by the RUC in 1982 said they believed the PSNI is trying protect the RUC's reputation. The claim was made on the first day of a two-week review into some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles. The review is looking at 56 cases involving 97 deaths. They include killings by police officers and soldiers, and others where there are allegations of state collusion. A senior judge, Lord Justice Weir, is assessing what more needs to be done before inquests can be held to establish what happened. In his opening remarks, the judge said he hopes the review "will shed some light on the cases without producing too much heat". The review began with a discussion about so-called "shoot to kill cases", when RUC officers shot dead six unarmed republicans. A number of lawyers said the time taken by the police to disclose classified documents was the reason inquests had not yet taken place. A barrister for the PSNI said it simply does not have the resources to deal with the vast amount of material relating to legacy cases. But, a lawyer for the families of two of the men who were shot dead said they believe the PSNI is deliberately dragging its heels. Barry McDonald QC said the lack of disclosure of material by the PSNI was the biggest single impediment to the inquests taking place. "Any time there is light at the end of the tunnel for the families, the PSNI extends the tunnel," he told the court. The killings of 10 unarmed Catholic civilians by the army in Ballymurphy in August 1971 were also discussed on Monday. It was revealed that the Ministry of Defence has told lawyers representing the families of those who were killed that it cannot identify the soldiers who were on duty in Ballymurphy at the time of the shootings. The court was told that so far, the Army has only managed to trace one soldier. Lord Justice Weir stressed the importance of the army witnesses being found. "At the end of the day, we want to hear about the circumstances in which these people were shot, and those best placed to do that are those who shot them," he said. The judge said it was in everyone's interests that the soldiers who were there and fired shots came forward and explained why they did so. Lord Justice Weir has been asked to report on the state of readiness of each of the 56 legacy cases, and to identify which, if any, can proceed to inquest hearings. It will then be up to the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, to decide what happens next. Likening the legacy inquests to spinning plates, the judge said "there simply aren't enough resources to spin all of the plates all of the time". He said he hopes the two week review will lead to an agreement about "which plates need to spin more urgently".

Summary: Police in Northern Ireland have been accused of blocking progress on inquests into controversial killings during the Troubles.


Swimming is England's most popular mass-participation sport, ahead of athletics or cycling, but a 2016 survey found a drop in adult swimming numbers. The strategy - titled 'Toward a Nation Swimming' - aims for a "significant increase" in participation. This includes encouraging young people to try other types of aquatic sport. The strategy document cites six areas of focus: It details how Swim England will support its 200,000 members and the thousands of young people who take part in weekly swimming lessons, as well as the workforce that teaches and coaches them. Young people will be encouraged to try diving, water polo and synchronised swimming, and swimmers supported to reach their potential. Find out how to get into swimming with our fully inclusive guide. Jane Nickerson, who was confirmed last week as Swim England's chief executive, said: "Our vision is a nation swimming and our strategy sets out how we will bring together organisations from across the swimming, health and physical activity sectors to work towards this. "Leadership and support for our partners are key parts of our strategy and, as such, we have changed from a local delivery organisation to one that is more strategically-focused. 'Toward a Nation Swimming' is the first strategy that focuses solely on swimming in England. Click on the following links to find out more about swimming in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Summary: The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has been rebranded Swim England as part of a four-year strategy to strengthen the sport and boost participation.


Farah added the 5,000m to his 10,000m title at the World Championships - a feat he also achieved at the London Olympics in 2012 and the 2013 Worlds. Foster said: "Mo is the greatest sportsman that Britain has ever had." Farah, 32, responded: "We have had so many legends and to be in the same category as them is amazing." Farah has now gone ahead of Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele who is the only other person to claim an Olympic and world 'double-double' in the distance events. Farah now has five World Championship golds, two Olympic golds and five European golds, and is unbeaten on the track outdoors in a major championships since finishing second in the 10,000m at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. Foster, working as a BBC commentator at the championships, explained why he put the British runner on such a pedestal. "He's Great Britain's most prolific winner of global golds and he's put former British athletes like Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson behind him," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "Former rower Sir Steve Redgrave [who won five Olympic golds] was part of a team. Mo is on his own and it's lonely out there. He's ruthless and we've not seen that. We should be enjoying the moment. We'll never see his like again." Farah named Redgrave, ex-footballer David Beckham and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as his three greatest British sportsmen. "We have had so many legends and to be in the same category as them is amazing," he said. Multiple Olympic and world sprint champion Usain Bolt - who has won gold in the 100m and 200m in Beijing, as well as anchoring Jamaica to the 4x100m relay title - is a friend of Farah and added his praise. "When it comes to Mo I'm never worried," the 29-year-old told BBC Radio 5 live. "When you are used to winning and dominating it comes easy. "He knows what it takes to win and I had no doubt Mo would win."

Summary: Olympic medallist Brendan Foster has described Mo Farah as Britain's "greatest sportsman" after claiming the first distance 'triple-double'.


Petra Atkinson, 42, died in hospital after what Humberside Police described as a "domestic incident" at a property in Heather Avenue, Withernsea. Tony Jobling, of Heather Avenue, appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court charged with murder. Mr Jobling was remanded in custody to appear at Hull Crown Court on 8 September. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Summary: A 51-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder following the death of a woman in East Yorkshire on Sunday.


The deal with GlaxoSmithKline will enable the vaccine to be rolled out "this year", easing one of the "biggest worries" for parents, he said. It follows a long-running stand-off over its cost. Advisers recommended last year that all UK children over two months old should be given the vaccine on the NHS. Campaigners have warned the Department of Health that delays are putting children's lives at risk. Scotland's health secretary, Shona Robison, said the vaccine would be introduced to the immunisation programme for all infants in Scotland "as quickly as possible" following the deal - which was also made on behalf of the devolved government. Mr Hunt said he was "delighted" to have secured an agreement with GSK - the company that now manufactures the vaccine. It follows lengthy negotiations with another supplier - Novartis - which used to own the vaccine, called Bexsero. GSK acquired the vaccine from Novartis, which resulted in the price of the vaccine being reduced and the deal being struck, Mr Hunt said. Announcing the agreement, he said: "I think that this is something families across the country - particularly ones with young children - will particularly welcome." The vaccine has been available privately in the UK - but the deal could mean the jab is offered as part of a routine childhood vaccination programme. It comes after charities called for urgent action from the prime minister and Mr Hunt to conclude negotiations with manufacturers. Meningitis is a bacterial infection that usually affects children under the age of one. There are about 1,870 cases of meningitis B each year in the UK. Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches. Most children will make a full recovery with early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment. It is fatal in one in 10 cases. About one in four of those who survive is left with long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties. Q&A: Meningitis B vaccine

Summary: An agreement has been reached with the drug manufacturer GSK to provide a meningitis B vaccine for all UK babies, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.


Rita King, 81, who had dementia, died after being shot at De La Mer House, in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, in December. Her husband, Ronald King, who has a mental health condition, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Judge Charles Gratwicke, at Chelmsford Crown Court, told him: "This was not a mercy killing." He added: "This was without a doubt a carefully planned killing." Killer told care home: 'I just killed the wife' Follow updates on this story and other Essex news The trial was told Mrs King's severe dementia had worsened in the months before her death and her husband had Alzheimer's and another mental health condition called paraphrenia which affected his ability to form judgements. King, of Cedar Close, Walton-on-the-Naze, denied murder at an earlier hearing, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. During the trial, the jury heard King also considered shooting his older sister Eileen, who is a resident at the care home, as well as himself. Mr King was sentenced to six years for manslaughter, five years for firearm possession and 12 months for possessing ammunition. All three terms will be served concurrently. The judge ordered he be treated for his mental health condition at a secure hospital unit in Northampton. Consultant psychiatrist James Warner said paraphrenia was an older person's version of schizophrenia in which people lose contact with reality.

Summary: An 87-year-old man who shot his wife dead at a care home has been sentenced to six years in prison.


Lukaku scored 16 goals as the Toffees finished fifth to qualify for Europe for the first time in five years. Osman, 33, is desperate for the Belgium international to be back at Goodison Park in time for his testimonial game against Porto on Sunday, 3 August. "It would be good to have Romelu back - we know the quality he's got," he said. "There might be a bit more to do to get him back here but it would be great if he could come back in time to play in the game." Everton's only signing of the summer is Gareth Barry, who also spent last season on loan with the club, although they are close to completing a deal for Ferencvaros midfielder Muhamed Besic. Osman hopes manager Roberto Martinez can make further signings. "We try not to be distracted by speculation, but sometimes you can't help but hear the rumours about who the manager wants to bring in to the club," he said. "Besic should be completed in the next few days and we're aware of the rumours about a couple more coming in. It would be good if any new arrivals could play in my testimonial."

Summary: Everton midfielder Leon Osman hopes striker Romelu Lukaku will return to the club after impressing on a season-long loan from Chelsea.


In the last week, 94.8% of patients were seen within four hours compared to 95.6% the week before. The target is 95%. The figures cover all centres - major A&Es, smaller minor injury units and urgent care centres. Waiting times are worst in the major units where only 92.2% were seen within four hours. The figures show two thirds of the 144 trusts with major units are missing the target. It is the first time since April the target has been missed overall - although the major units have been below the 95% mark since July. It is not unusual for performance to drop in December. For the last three years individual weekly figures have fallen below 95% before Christmas. Last winter the NHS was consistently below the 95% figure overall from January to April. Hospitals are given a 5% leeway to allow doctors to prioritise the sickest patients. By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent This was always going to happen. Every winter the NHS will miss the A&E waiting time target from time to time. What is important is where the NHS goes from here. The government has thrown extra money at the system - about Â£400m in total - to try to stop a repeat of last year when the waiting time target was consistently missed after Christmas. There are a number of factors that are out of everyone's hands, including the weather. But there is a worrying picture developing. The number of patients that come to A&E and then are admitted into hospital - ie the most serious cases - are high. What is more, hospitals are finding it difficult to discharge its frailest patients. These people often need support once they leave and the numbers show there are increasing delays in arranging that. The extra money was meant to ease these two problems in particular, but there is little to suggest that has happened. The worry now is that hospitals get clogged up and pressures continue to build. NHS England chief operating officer Dame Barbara Hakin said it was "disappointing" performance had dropped, but said last week was the busiest so far this winter with more than 415,000 people attending A&E, while the numbers that needing admitting to hospital for further treatment - emergency admissions - hit its highest level since 2010. She added: "We know the A&E standard is ambitious and that is only right. This is the first week since April the 95% standard has not been met, however we do know that sometimes this will happen. "Every year we see a dip in the figures for December, with week on week variations which is why we fully assess how local systems are coping with winter pressures over a longer period. "We knew this winter would be difficult but it is important to stress the NHS continues to deliver a good service. This is thanks to the hard work and dedication of our frontline staff." The drop in performance comes despite the government giving the NHS extra money to cope with winter - Â£250m was announced in the

Summary: The NHS in England has missed its four-hour A&E waiting time for the first time this winter, figures show.


The flight was from Aberdeen to Wick. More follows.

Summary: A flight is returning to Aberdeen International Airport after an emergency was declared.


None of the four nations is achieving any of its three key targets for A&E, cancer or routine treatments, such as knee and hip replacements. All have developed plans and strategies to deal with the common challenges - rising demand, squeezes on funding and the ageing population. But each has found this winter to be particularly difficult. Spending: £2,057 per person Key fact: Just one hospital trust hit the four-hour A&E target in the first week of January. The system: The NHS is split between providers of services, known as NHS trusts, and commissioners, working for clinical commissioning groups. Social care, covering care homes and help in the home, is organised by councils and is means-tested. The story so far: The first week of January was the most difficult since the four-hour target was introduced in 2004. The proportion of patients being treated or discharged in time fell below 78%, with nearly half of hospitals declaring major alerts because of a shortage of beds. An estimated one in five patients ended up facing long delays for a bed after an emergency admission - double the normal rate - while ambulance crews reported problems handing over patients to A&E staff. It comes after a gradual increase in pressures in recent years. The winters have been getting progressively worst, while the 62-day target for cancer treatment to begin following an urgent GP referral has been missed for 11 months in a row. The number of people on hospital waiting lists for a routine operation has also been rising. NHS bosses set out a five-year vision for the NHS, which involved a greater emphasis on keeping people well in the community. But savings also have to be made - there is a £22bn target for 2020. This has led to the development of 44 local plans to overhaul services - some of which involve closing hospitals and cutting staff. Spending: £2,125 per person Key fact: 63% of A&E patients were seen in four hours over the Christmas period. The system: There are five integrated health and care boards that run hospitals, community services and social care. The over-75s get free care in their own home if they have high needs. The story so far: Northern Ireland has some of the worst performance figures in the UK. During the Christmas period, the number of patients seen in four hours in A&E departments dropped to 63%. Exactly the same proportion started their cancer treatment within 62 days, according to the latest statistics, while the numbers waiting longer than they should for a routine operation have almost doubled in the past four years. In response to the growing pressures, ministers have already set out a new vision for the health service, which they acknowledged was at "breaking point". A 10-year plan was published in the autumn, which called for greater investment in general practice as a way of coping with the rising demands on hospitals. The plan was widely criticised for its lack of detail and costings. It did not mention hospital closures, but there is a general

Summary: No matter where you live in the UK, you will find local NHS services are under immense pressure.


At Edgbaston on Saturday, England will seek to make it three wins out of three in Group B, hosting Australia, who need to win having had two games washed out. Roy has made only 27 runs in his last five innings for England but Morgan told BBC Sport: "We believe in him. "He has been a huge part of our team and we are a very strong side when Jason Roy is firing." South Africa-born Surrey batsman Roy, 26, made his one-day international debut in May 2015 and has played in 45 matches, scoring 1,458 runs at an average of 34. He made two hundreds in three matches against Sri Lanka last year - his highest ODI score of 162 taking only 118 balls - but having made three successive half-centuries in India in January, he has reached 50 only once in his last 10 innings. Morgan, one of four England batsmen to pass 50 in the tournament thus far, said he would not be telling Roy to curb his naturally attacking instincts at Edgbaston. "I don't think anyone uses the phrase 'knuckle down' in white ball cricket anymore, I definitely won't be telling Jason Roy to knuckle down," he told BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew. "Everybody is in a bit of nick and the fact that one guy isn't and we're still winning games says a lot about this team." England, twice beaten finalists in the competition, most recently against India in a rain-reduced match at Edgbaston four years ago, have won 10 of their last 11 one-day internationals, their only defeat coming in a dead rubber with South Africa at Lord's last month. "Everybody seems to be firing, it's the type of performances you need for guys to rub off on each other because even if you're in form sometimes you won't come off but you know someone else has your back in the group," Morgan said. Having already secured qualification for the semi-finals, the skipper spoke of a potential 100% record in the group stages: "It'd be a huge confidence-booster. If we're trying to win global tournaments we need to beat sides like Australia. It's a great challenge and one we're really looking forward to." Find out how to get into cricket with our inclusive guide. Australia have won the tournament twice in addition to four of the last five World Cups and skipper Steve Smith says Saturday's match is a must-win encounter for his side. "That usually does bring out the best of the Australian team in big tournaments, but England have improved and we're certainly going to have to be at our best to beat them," he said. The Australia batsmen have faced only 25 overs in the first two matches, both curtailed by rain, and Smith said: "It's not ideal we haven't got through a full fixture yet but we can't control the weather. For us it's just about treating it as a quarter-final and playing the way we know we are capable of." Asked about the pay dispute with Cricket Australia that continues at home,

Summary: England captain Eoin Morgan says "runs are just round the corner" for opener Jason Roy in the Champions Trophy.


The 26-year-old Senegal international was airlifted to hospital after a crash on the M4 motorway in London on Sunday. The injury also means he will miss the Africa Cup of Nations in January. "He isn't having the best of times, but we're all very supportive," said Pardew. "We love Pape and can't wait to have him back." Souare is expected to be released from hospital on Saturday. When asked how much of the season Souare would miss, Pardew said: "Four, five months. Maybe six, he should be up and running again. "I don't think we have any concerns about Pape returning. It was a broken thigh, that should repair as normal." Palace are yet to learn the extent of the damage to some of Souare's muscles, but Pardew said the player was "very lucky". He added: "It was a terrible accident. We owe a huge debt to the London Air Ambulance and the surgeons who helped him." Souare, who joined side Palace from French club Lille in January 2015, has made 46 Premier League appearances for the Eagles. Palace host Stoke on Sunday (14:15 BST)

Summary: Crystal Palace defender Pape Souare will be out for up to six months after breaking his thighbone in a car crash, says manager Alan Pardew.


All 18 centrally contracted England players will appear in the competition, running from 10 August to 1 September. Hazell, 28, moves from Yorkshire Diamonds, with all-rounder Danielle Wyatt, 25, the only other England player to change clubs. Wyatt, who played for Lancashire last season, has joined the Southern Vipers. Meanwhile, four overseas players are set to make their Super League debuts, with two more to be announced at a later date. South Africa's Sune Luus and New Zealand's Sophie Devine have joined Yorkshire, West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews has been allocated to Southern Vipers, while New Zealand bowler Lea Tahuhu has signed for Lancashire Thunder. England wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Taylor, 27, has been named in Lancashire's squad after taking a break from cricket to deal with anxiety. (all England unless stated) Lancashire Thunder: Kate Cross, Danielle Hazell, Sarah Taylor, Jess Jonassen (Aus), Amy Satterthwaite (NZ), Lea Tahuhu (NZ). Loughborough Lightning: Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Beth Langston, Kristen Beams (Aus), Ellyse Perry (Aus), Elyse Villani (Aus). Southern Vipers: Tash Farrant, Danielle Wyatt, Suzie Bates (NZ), Hayley Matthews (WI), Dane van Niekerk (SA). Surrey Stars: Tammy Beaumont, Alex Hartley, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Rene Farrell (Aus), Marizanne Kapp (SA). Western Storm: Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson, Rachel Priest (NZ), Stafanie Taylor (WI). Yorkshire Diamonds: Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Lauren Winfield, Sophie Devine (NZ), Sune Luus (SA), Beth Mooney (Aus).

Summary: England spinner Danielle Hazell has been named Lancashire Thunder captain as part of the player allocations for the Women's Cricket Super League.


After hosting the British Science Festival last year the university wants to capitalise on its success. Visitors will be able to see demonstrations and workshops based on everyday science through to the latest cutting-edge innovations. "We continue to inspire the next generation of scientists," said Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott. The university's senior pro-vice-chancellor added hosting the British Science Festival was an "enormous success" and she wants it to create a "science legacy for Swansea". It brought tens of thousands of people to the city to celebrate developments and talk about issues affecting our culture and society. The new festival will be held at the city's National Waterfront Museum from 8-10 September.

Summary: Swansea University will celebrate its achievements and research by holding a new science festival in September.


The Mid-Ulster Mail reports that Maud Kells from Cookstown was escorted on flights by two nurses, but that there were no other special measures in place for her journey. Ms Kells was shot twice in the shoulder by bandits at her home in Mulita in the north east of the DRC last month. She has served in DRC since 1968. Ms Kells received an OBE in the New Year Honours List. She spends half of the year in DRC and the other half in Cookstown. The Mid-Ulster Mail reports that she is not staying at her home in Cookstown. Ms Kells was originally a missionary nurse and now works for the WEC International mission agency.

Summary: A County Tyrone missionary who was injured after being shot in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has returned to Northern Ireland.


Cook, 31, said he has "questions" over his role after England went 3-0 down after the fourth Test to lose the five-match series against India. Despite suffering five defeats in the last seven Test matches, Stokes told BBC Sport: "As a leader he's been brilliant and he still will be. "He doesn't want anything except success for the team." Stokes, who has played all of his 31 Tests under Cook, added: "Over the last two years, he's been absolutely fantastic. "He has been part of the driving force of getting us to be the team we are today. Albeit we're 3-0 down, we've made huge strides since Australia (in 2013-14). "Whatever happens, I'll have a lot of respect for him and whatever decision he makes - but I hope he sticks with what he's doing, because I think he's doing a great job." Cook, who turns 32 on Christmas Day, took over as captain from Andrew Strauss in 2012 and has led England in a record 58 Tests. He presided over the Ashes series wins of 2013 and 2015, but came under intense pressure after the whitewash in Australia in 2013-14 and the following summer when England suffered defeats by Sri Lanka at Headingley and India at Lord's. After the latest loss, Cook said batsman Joe Root is "ready" to take over as captain, but the left-handed opener will discuss his role with now director of cricket Strauss. Coach Trevor Bayliss said the speculation was a "pain in the backside".

Summary: All-rounder Ben Stokes hopes Alastair Cook stays on as England captain because he is doing "a great job".


Hanson UK had applied to use Sutton village to prevent mixer lorries getting stuck in A40 roadworks. A county council report said lorries bound for the new Westgate Centre had been seen using the route before permission had been given. The firm has apologised for the breaches. In September 2015 the company was given planning permission by Oxfordshire County Council for a mobile concrete plant at Dix Pit in Stanton, on condition lorries used the A415 and A40 and avoided Sutton. In November, Hanson said lorries bound for the new Westgate Centre were spending so much time in roadworks that 100 tonnes of concrete, worth more than Â£22,000, had been lost through prematurely setting while still in mixer lorries. It applied for a change in the planning permission conditions to allow it to use the B4449 through Sutton. However, council officers reported lorries were using the route before the request was approved, with a driver stopping to ask a council officer directions on one occasion. The authority said it was "extremely disappointing" Hanson UK had not stuck to the agreement. The council report said Hanson had apologised for the breaches and insisted it had warned drivers not to use the route. County councillor for Eynsham, Charles Matthews, said the measures taken by the company "clearly hadn't worked". "The trouble is the roads are not brilliant because its very narrow, the verges have been driven over and drain covers are sunk into the road," he added If the council approves the request, 10 loaded mixing trucks could use the route each day until November 2016.

Summary: A contractor supplying concrete for Oxford's new shopping centre has been criticised for breaching an agreement not to drive lorries through a village.