The airline has been loss-making in all but two years since 2003, when it was bought by the States for £5m. Previously the Treasury and Resources Department had expected Aurigny to return to profit by 2016, but that has now been revised to 2018. Its report, which will be voted on next month, said the "ongoing loss-making position" was a "cumulative result of a number of key factors". Cabernet Ltd, the holding company for Aurigny Air Services and Anglo Normandy Engineering, operates through borrowing guaranteed by the States. The debt to be written off is £19.9m accumulated from 2003 to 2014 and the expected £5.3m loss up to 2017 - £2.3m in 2015, £1.5m in 2016 and £1.5m in 2017. It will be paid out of the island's capital reserve. Aurigny performance in 2014 Aurigny has borrowed more than £50m, guaranteed by the States, to support its business and the purchase of new aircraft. The proposals also include allowing the department to be able to provide short-term borrowing to Cabernet to cover the annual losses. The department's report said it was "firmly of the view" retaining the company "remains overwhelmingly in the Bailiwick's strategic interest", although it said this included recognising the "risk that ongoing financial support will be required". Treasury Minister Gavin St Pier said it was a "strategic asset" acquired to secure the route to Gatwick, which "is as important now as it was in 2003".

Summary: Aurigny could have debts of more than £25m paid off by Guernsey's government.


Manager Chris Coleman says he does not know when Ledley will be available to play in France. Adam Matthews, Paul Dummett, Emyr Huws and Wes Burns were cut from Chris Coleman's training camp group. Coleman dismissed concerns over the fitness of Gareth Bale after suffering cramp in the Champions League final. Three players - forwards Tom Bradshaw and Tom Lawrence and defender Adam Henley - were not considered because of injuries. Wales begin their campaign against Slovakia on 11 June, before facing England five days later. Media playback is not supported on this device Ledley, 29, missed the FA Cup final after being injured playing for Crystal Palace on 7 May. Manager Chris Coleman, who recently signed a new deal after leading Wales to a first major tournament in 58 years, says Ledley 'is looking good' and should be back to play his part in the group stages. "We can't say he is going to be ready, we don't know that," he said. "He's included because of what he brings to the squad. "He deserves the chance. The conversation is, what stage of the group games will he be available for? "He is in the squad because he is looking good. "In the last three or four years he has been fantastic for us." Coleman also said striker Hal Robson-Kanu is suffering with a 'leg issue' while Joe Allen is also struggling for fitness ahead of Wales' final warm-up game in Sweden on 5 June. Wales Euro 2016 squad: Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Danny Ward (Liverpool), Owain Fon Williams (Inverness). Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Neil Taylor (Swansea City), Chris Gunter (Reading), Ashley Williams (Captain, Swansea), James Chester (West Brom), Ashley Richards (Fulham), James Collins (West Ham). Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace), David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest), Joe Allen (Liverpool), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), George Williams (Fulham), Andy King (Leicester), Dave Edwards (Wolves). Forwards: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Simon Church (MK Dons), David Cotterill (Birmingham City) Pick the XI that you think can take Wales to the final of Euro 2016 - and then share it with your friends using our team selector.

Summary: Joe Ledley has been selected in Wales' squad for Euro 2016 after returning to training less than a month after breaking his leg.


Fletcher Porrit, was injured by the Cleveland Police dog when it was called to an unrelated incident. He was hurt near Farleigh Close, Billingham, at about 20:00 GMT on 3 March, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said. Commissioner Carl Gumsley said it was "vital that we collate all the relevant information".

Summary: A witness appeal has been launched after a 10-year-old boy was bitten by a police dog.


Laurent Blanc's runaway leaders moved on to 92 points with two games of the 38-match season remaining. Uruguay forward Cavani, 29, broke the deadlock with a perfectly placed header before his clinical finish made it 2-0. He completed his hat-trick with another header before Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed the rout in stoppage time. The win keeps PSG 27 points clear of nearest rivals Lyon, who thrashed third-placed Monaco 6-1 and have played one game more. Forward Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat-trick for Lyon, while former Newcastle United defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa got two and midfielder Rachid Ghezzal also found the net. PSG's last two league games are away to mid-table Bordeaux on Wednesday before they host Nantes on 14 May. Blanc's side, who have also won the French League Cup, meet Marseille in the Coupe de France final on 21 May.

Summary: Edinson Cavani scored a hat-trick as champions Paris St-Germain set a new record points total in Ligue 1 after an easy win against Ajaccio in Corsica.


Media playback is not supported on this device The Frenchman, who reaches the qualification age of 50 in May, famously squandered a three-shot lead at the final hole of the 1999 Open. But he insists he is looking forward to playing the Angus links again. "I came to peace with it a long time ago," he said. "It never wakes me up in a cold sweat." Seventeen years ago, Van de Velde teed off on the 18th knowing even a double-bogey six would result in him lifting the Claret Jug. But, after a risky drive, an ill-advised approach and a fluffed recovery, a global audience of millions were watching him remove his spikes and socks, roll up his trousers, wade shin-deep into the middle of the Barry Burn, and consider hitting his next shot from the water. Minutes of toe-curling agony followed before he talked himself down and took a penalty drop. But he was already unravelling. He dumped his next shot into a green-side bunker and scraped his way into a play-off with American Justin Leonard and Scotland's Paul Lawrie thanks to a brave putt - for a triple-bogey seven. Mind surely scrambled, Van de Velde faded predictably and Lawrie capitalised to secure victory. Van de Velde would be forgiven for feeling nauseous at the very mention of the day he tormented himself, and astonished the golfing world. "I don't," he says, chuckling. "Luckily for me it's not the subject of conversation with most people I see. Having said that, I think it's part of the history of the Open Championship and my life, and my history as a golfer. No, I'm not sick of it. "The only time I think about it, is when someone brings it up." He has been back to Carnoustie more than a dozen times since, competing in the Dunhill Links and on trips with friends. Having stopped playing on the European Tour in 2011, Van de Velde will need to find his competitive edge quickly ahead of July's major championship. Apart from the likely ring rust and any historical hangover, this year's Senior Open will offer the double challenge of the star-studded field and the infamously exacting course. More than 30 former major champions and Ryder Cup captains will show up in pursuit of a first prize of just over £213,000. Among them will be Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie - all serial winners on the seniors' circuits. Van de Velde will enjoy rookie status, among other relative 'youngsters' such as former Open winners John Daly and Todd Hamilton. And then, there is the course: majestic, handsome, frugal. Carnoustie is generally regarded as one of the finest and most challenging tracks on The Open circuit and Van de Velde agrees the links presents an "enormous" challenges. "The wind is always a factor, as is the rough, and with the huge tee areas, they can make the course long, or more approachable," he explains. "You need to have great knowledge of the course, and be a great putter. It's hard to hit it close

Summary: Jean van de Velde will return to the scene of one of sport's most notorious meltdowns when he makes his debut in July's Senior Open at Carnoustie.


Sarah Sands, 32, is accused of murdering Michael Pleasted, 77, weeks after finding out he was charged with sex assaults on two children under 13. Mr Pleasted was stabbed at his Canning Town home while awaiting trial. Ms Sands told the Old Bailey she was frightened by his behaviour. She denies murder. The court heard Ms Sands befriended the pensioner and regularly cooked for him but on learning about the charges went to advise him to plead guilty to avoid the children having to testify. She said she had drunk two bottles of wine and a small bottle of brandy before visiting Mr Pleasted's flat on 28 November and took a kitchen knife, hammer and wrench with her "for safety". She told the Old Bailey that when Mr Pleasted opened the door he "smirked" and said his accusers were liars. Ms Sands told the court: "He was so cold. The man that I thought I knew never behaved like that. "I was frightened. He was meant to listen to me." She said she took the kitchen knife out of her handbag and held it to "show him he could not talk to me like that, that I knew him, that I loved him". She went on: "I just had it in my hand and I poked him with it in the front and that's when we both realised at the same time what had happened and he grabbed me. "He was frightening me and I pushed him away and I left. That was it." When asked whether she intended to cause Mr Pleasted "serious harm" she replied, "No. I did not stab him, I didn't". The court heard Mr Pleasted crawled into his hallway before collapsing and bleeding to death. Ms Sands handed herself in to police the following morning. The trial continues.

Summary: A woman stabbed her elderly neighbour eight times after he "smirked" at her when she confronted him about child sex charges, a court has heard.


The Soyuz rocket carrying Fyodor Yurchikhin, Karen Nyberg and Luca Parmitano lifted away from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 02:31 local time on Wednesday (20:31 GMT Tuesday). Russian Yurchikhin and American Nyberg have both been into space before. Italian Parmitano is a first-timer. They arrived at the orbiting platform five hours and 46 minutes later. Their Soyuz capsule was using a new flight profile that dramatically reduces the rendezvous time from the traditional two days. It is technically more difficult and requires some very precise orbital adjustments, but it is deemed to be easier on the crew because it means they do not have to spend so long inside their cramped vehicle. Leak and pressure checks were conducted following docking at the station, with a hatch opening at 04:14 GMT. The trio, whose designation is Expedition 36, were greeted with hugs and smiles by the three individuals already on the ISS - Russians Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Misurkin, and American Chris Cassidy. The new crew members will be given a week of light duties in which to acclimatise to their weightless surroundings. Work will then begin in earnest. Luca Parmitano's participation in this expedition is particularly notable. At 36, he is the youngest person to get a long-duration (six months) stay on the station. He is also the first of the European Space Agency's (Esa) new intake of astronauts to get a flight assignment. Selected in 2009, the former fighter pilot has a packed schedule ahead of him. ISS crews are now completing about 70 hours a week of science, conducting experiments that exploit the unique microgravity environment on the platform. Parmitano has a package of specific European activities to work through, which cover fields as diverse as fluid physics and materials science. The Italian will see all of the vehicles now used to service the station come and go during his time in orbit, including possibly the new Cygnus freighter which is made in part in the Italian city of Turin. He is also scheduled to make two spacewalks to work on the exterior of the platform. "I've dreamt of doing that. Being an astronaut is about walking in space. For me, they are one and the same thing," he told BBC News. One of the spacewalks will help prepare the ISS for the arrival of Russia's big science laboratory, which will grow the 420-tonne complex still further. The lab will come up with Europe's major robotic contribution to the platform - a large arm that is able to move around the station to conduct work wherever it is needed. Born in the Sicilian town of Paterno, Parmitano expects to bring a strong Italian flavour to his stay in orbit - literally. Italian chefs have prepared a range of special astronaut foods for him, including lasagne and risotto. These will be delivered to the ISS in the coming weeks on the European robotic freighter Albert Einstein. Fyodor Yurchikhin, Karen Nyberg and Luca Parmitano are due back on Earth on 10 November. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

Summary: Three new crew members have arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) after launching from Kazakhstan.


Witness D, now in his 40s, told the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry he was too scared to report the abuse he suffered to the authorities. He was in the home from 1981 until he left care in 1984. His testimony suggested there was widespread abuse of residents by other residents. Much of his evidence was too graphic to repeat but on two occasions he said he witnessed violent sexual attacks on female residents. The perpetrators were older male residents and in one attack, were accompanied by an older male, Witness D said. He said he was sexually abused by two members of staff, William Gilbert and Phil Le Bais, and was also physically abused by Morag Jordan. Gilbert and Le Bais were never charged and are both dead while Jordan was jailed in 2010 for other abuse offences at the home. Witness D said he left care a broken child and the incidents he described were the tip of the iceberg. Consensual sex between teenage residents was so common that it made abuse easy, he said. He told the inquiry: "It was a normal thing that was happening. You'd see it happening and little was done about it." He said he was also regularly abused by an older male he called Child X, but had never reported him to police. The man said he still refuses to name his attacker because he remains scared of him. Asked if there was anything he would like to say to the authorities now, Witness D said: "The general public do not realise how bad it was at Haut de la Garenne. "I hope they have learned that just because you are in a care home does not mean you have done something wrong." The inquiry continues.

Summary: Consensual sex and sexual abuse were both common at the Haut de la Garenne children's home in the 1980s, a care inquiry has heard.


The men turned up at the pensioner's house in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, at about 12:30 on Wednesday, offering to carry out repair work at his home. After agreeing to the work, the man paid the conmen in cash but they made off without carrying out any repairs. One of the men was white, aged 50 to 59, about 6ft tall, of heavy build and spoke with a Scottish accent. The other man was white, about 5ft 8in, and of slim build. It is believed they may have used a small white van. Det Insp Kevin Jamieson, of Police Scotland, said: "These people are the scourge of society who prey on the elderly or vulnerable for their own gains. "My officers are currently reviewing CCTV footage and carrying out door-to-door inquiries to glean any information about these two men who are responsible for this despicable crime." He asked anyone who had seen two men matching the descriptions, a white minivan or anyone who may have had the conmen knocking on their doors, to come forward with any information. "I understand that victims find it difficult to come forward but these people are very expert conmen who can appear to be genuine tradespeople as they can talk in detail about repairs required to properties," Det Insp Jamieson said. "I must urge people to be on their guard when answering the door to people purporting to be genuine workmen. "To prey on vulnerable people and defraud them of significant sums of money is appalling and I will do everything to find those men responsible."

Summary: A 91-year-old man has been conned out of a four-figure sum of money by two bogus workmen.


The former Real Madrid youth player has been on goalscoring form for Atletico Malagueno, Malaga's reserve team, who top Group 9 of the Spanish third tier. Kilmarnock's Greg Taylor and Celtic's Jamie McCart, on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, are the new additions in defence. St Mirren's Stephen Mallan is among the new crop of midfielders. Motherwell's Dom Thomas and Celtic's Joe Thomson are rewarded for their loan spells with Queen of the South in the Scottish Championship by being included in the squad for the friendly at Paisley 2021 Stadium on 28 March. St Mirren's stadium will be a familiar venue for Celtic's Paul McMullan, who had a spell there on loan before his present stint with Dunfermline Athletic, and the Buddies' Lewis Morgan, who are the new forwards along with Harper in Scot Gemmill's squad. Wolves' Jack Ruddy, who began his career with Real Murcia, is one of two uncapped goalkeepers. The other is Devlin Mackay, who is on loan to Berwick Rangers in Scotland's League Two from Kilmarnock. Goalkeepers: Ryan Fulton (Liverpool, loan to Chesterfield), Devlin Mackay (Kilmarnock, loan to Berwick Rangers), Jack Ruddy (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Defenders: Alex Iacovitti (Nottingham Forest), Zak Jules (Reading, loan to Motherwell), Jamie McCart (Celtic, loan to Inverness CT), Jordan McGhee (Hearts, loan to Middlesbrough), Liam Smith (Heart of Midlothian), Greg Taylor (Kilmarnock) Midfielders: Chris Cadden (Motherwell), Liam Henderson (Celtic), Stephen Mallan (St Mirren), James Jones (Crewe Alexandra), Dominic Thomas (Motherwell, loan Queen of the South), Ruben Sammut (Chelsea), Joe Thomson (Celtic, loan to Queen of the South) Forwards: Ryan Hardie (Rangers, loan to Raith Rovers), Jack Harper (Malaga CF), Oliver McBurnie (Swansea City), Paul McMullan (Celtic, loan to Dunfermline Athletic), Lewis Morgan (St Mirren), Craig Wighton (Dundee)

Summary: Malaga forward Jack Harper is among 10 uncapped players named in the Scotland Under-21 squad to face Estonia.


The assessment, to be published in mid-October, will be used to inform parties at Northern Ireland's political talks. In a statement on Friday, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she is also to establish a fund to tackle organised crime associated with paramilitary groups. The two unionist parties now say they will join cross-party talks on Monday. Unionists had said the issue of continued paramilitary activity was crucial to their involvement. Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson said he was "content" with the announcement. "Policing and security in Northern Ireland is not just the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive, the secretary of state has a particular responsibility as well," Mr Robinson said. The National Crime Agency (NCA) became operational in Northern Ireland in May. Given its wide-ranging remit and resources, it would be reasonable to assume it knows the extent of paramilitary involvement in organised crime in Northern Ireland. It should be in a position to provide an assessment of paramilitary involvement to the Northern Ireland Secretary and political parties. So, it seems unlikely that the review to be published by the independent panel in October will tell Theresa Villiers and political parties anything they could not be told today by the NCA and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Read more He said "permanent and statutory steps" to address paramilitary activity and links should be determined within the talks process. The Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt described Ms Villiers statement as a "positive step forward". Ms Villiers said the assessment of paramilitaries would be carried out by UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and would be reviewed and checked by three people whose names would be announced early next week. "I also intend to establish dedicated funding aimed at increasing the capability of agencies working to tackle criminality and organised crime associated with paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland," she said. "It will support agencies to enhance specialist capabilities such as forensic accounting to strengthen their capacity to seize criminal assets. "Lastly, I am planning to discuss with the Northern Ireland justice minister and the Irish justice minister how we can work best together in our efforts to tackle cross-border crime." Read more on how the crisis unfolded In response, Sinn FÃ©in's Martin McGuinness said: "Obviously with today's developments and the response of unionist leaders, as we hoped all-party talks will resume on Monday. "We're entering the talks on Monday in a positive and constructive spirit." But on the subject of the assessment, the deputy first minister added: "I don't think anybody is going to learn anything over the next four weeks that they didn't know over the last 20 years." The Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said he welcomed the "clear focus" on organised crime that the assessment would provide. Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said it would be a "once-off exercise". He added that it was intended to assist the political parties in considering "how the impact and legacy of paramilitary activity should best be addressed". Alliance Party leader David

Summary: The government has commissioned an independent assessment of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.


Russian bantamweight Vladimir Nikitin will not box American Shakur Stevenson after being left bloodied by Conlan. "The injury suffered by Vladimir is too serious," said Russian official Igor Kazikov. Stevenson will fight Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana in the final after the Cuban beat Uzbekistan's Murodjon Akhmadaliev. Nikitin, meanwhile, will still receive a bronze medal. Media playback is not supported on this device Belfast boxer Conlan said after Tuesday's contentious decision that his Olympic dream had "been robbed". Nikitin's face was badly bloodied after the quarter-final, which most observers felt had been conclusively won by the Irishman. Immediately after the bout, Conlan made clear his annoyance at the verdict in an expletive-filled live TV interview with Irish broadcaster RTE. Thursday's development may increase the the pressure on amateur boxing's world governing body, Aiba, which has faced criticism from boxers and coaches in Rio after a number of contentious judging decisions. On Wednesday, the international body announced that it had dropped a number of officials after a review of their decisions at the Olympics. Aiba said that, after 239 bouts in Rio, "less than a handful of the decisions were not at the level expected". The body has admitted it is in a "transition process", but said results of bouts already contested will stand.

Summary: The boxer who controversially beat Ireland's Michael Conlan in the Olympic quarter-finals has pulled out of his Olympic semi-final because of injury.


The injured pedestrian - a young man - is thought to have been walking with a group of people from a graduation ceremony at the Caird Hall. The incident took place on High Street at about 18:00. The man's injuries are believed not to be life-threatening. The driver of the taxi is thought to be uninjured.

Summary: A pedestrian has been struck by a taxi in Dundee after it mounted the pavement.


The monarch was speaking as she formally opened the fifth session of the Scottish Parliament. She stressed the need for political leaders to make "room for quiet thinking and contemplation". It was her first major address since the UK voted for Brexit in last month's referendum. The result has ignited calls for a new referendum on Scottish independence, with Scotland facing the prospect of having to leave the European Union despite voting by 62% to 38% in favour of remaining. The Queen told the Holyrood chamber that the world was "increasingly complex and demanding" and that developments can take place at "remarkable speed". She added: "Retaining the ability to stay calm and collected can at times be hard. "As this parliament has successfully demonstrated over the years, one hallmark of leadership in such a fast-moving world is allowing sufficient room for which can enable deeper consideration of how challenges and opportunities can be best addressed." The chamber also heard from Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who said MSPs had been given the "precious opportunity to contribute to building a better country - and build it we will". Ms Sturgeon added: "To do so we must be bold and ambitious. We must show courage and determination. Our collective commitment to the people of Scotland today is that we will not shy away from any challenge we face, no matter how difficult or deep-rooted." If you are the first minister, you can make your point directly. And so Nicola Sturgeon concluded her remarks at Holyrood today by urging MSPs and Scotland more generally "to play our part in a stronger Europe and a better world." If you are the presiding officer, you can say what you mean to say, without challenge. And so Ken Macintosh, in a notably well-structured speech, urged optimism in these troubled and uncertain times. However, if you are Her Majesty the Queen, you have to be more circumspect. The palace reacted furiously when one newspaper purported to know the views of the monarch upon the EU referendum question. Further, although she is the sovereign, she operates within a careful power balance in which she is not supposed to interfere in decisions taken by elected representatives. Did she interfere today? She did not. Did she, however, contrive to convey an overview upon the events of the past week? She did, albeit in the context of urging calm, cool heads. Read more from Brian The first minister, who has pledged to do all she can to maintain Scotland's place in the EU, also spoke of the parliament's duty to "enhance and never diminish our place in the world", and said Scotland was determined to remain "open and inclusive". She said: "Whether we have lived here for generations or are new Scots, from Europe, India, Pakistan, Africa and countries across the globe we are all of this and more. We are so much stronger for the diversity that shapes us. "We are one Scotland and we are simply home to all of those who have chosen to live here, that is who and

Summary: The Queen has acknowledged the difficulty of "staying calm and collected" in an "increasingly challenging world".


The first was for the development of tidal arrays in Alderney's waters. The second involves the development of an electricity interconnector cable between France, Alderney and Britain. Paul Clark, chief executive officer, said it was a move towards the creation off Alderney of one of Europe's largest tidal stream developments. Alderney Renewable Energy (ARE) was set up in 2004 and holds an exclusive licence to commercially develop tidal and wave power around the coast of the northern most of the Channel Islands. The first agreement was signed with French industrial group DCNS and the second with ARE, its partner Transmission Capital and the French grid operator RTE. ARE said the electricity interconnector cable between France, Alderney and Britain would enable the export of up to four gigawatts of tidal power from Alderney. It said the cable, known as the FABLink, could also be used as a power trading link between the two countries. The agreements were signed at the Anglo-French summit held in Paris, with the French Industry Minister Eric Besson and the UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey signing on the behalf of their governments. Mr Davey said: "We are determined to promote the potential of marine energies. We welcome the plan for a tidal turbine farm off Alderney in the Channel Islands." He said: "We believe this project could encourage the emergence of industrial co-operation between France and the UK, while opening up new international prospects. "We acknowledge the importance of developing new electricity interconnectors between our two countries in order to strengthen further the linking of our grids, improve the security of our energy supplies and facilitate the integration of intermittent energy sources."

Summary: Two agreements have been signed aimed at creating one of the most significant tidal power sites in Europe, Alderney Renewable Energy has announced.


The Gunners lost 3-2 at Old Trafford and 2-1 at home to Swansea to slip six points behind leaders Leicester. "Sometimes we lack the mentality that we are already winning 1-0 when we go out on to the pitch," Sanchez told Directv Sports before the United match. "We lack this hunger to believe that we can be champions." Sanchez added: "If we go out onto to the pitch with hunger to become champions, to win the Premier League or the Champions League we can achieve it. "I remember a game against Manchester United last year. The lads looked hungry for silverware as we took to the pitch. "We crushed them in the first 20 minutes and went 3-0 up. We were hungry and brimming with confidence that day." Arsenal have only three wins from 11 games in all competitions and are third in the league. Speaking after Wednesday's loss to Swansea, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger also said his side's loss of form "looks a bit" like a confidence issue. "I am worrying about our results," he said. "We don't dream. We have to be realistic and come back to what we do well... the basics. "The players are very down but we have to respond. We have to focus on our job and remind ourselves that we have some quality as well."

Summary: Alexis Sanchez said Arsenal lacked the self-belief to win the Premier League even before their back-to-back defeats by Manchester United and Swansea.


One sign depicted a woman above the word "kitchen" and another showed a man alongside the word "stadium". Lyon's president said on Twitter the club were investigating the incident. Lille have since confirmed their home match against Lorient on Saturday will be free for all women, saying: "Ladies, you are welcome with us." Lyon's women's team have won the French title 14 times and their captain Wendie Renard highlighted the banners on Twitter, saying: "Lyon supporters... can you give me an explanation for that banner? The men at the stadium, the women in the kitchen?" Club president Jean Michel Aulas replied: "The club will get tough and will file a complaint against the creator of this banner." Lyon, who are fourth in the league, lost the match 2-1 at Parc Olympique Lyonnais. This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser

Summary: Lille have offered free entry to women after sexist banners appeared in the home crowd in Saturday's Ligue 1 match at Lyon.


The Welsh government says the idea is "open for discussion" but cites the potential cost. It is part of plans to reform Wales's eight Community Health Councils (CHCs). The health minister wants to make membership more diverse but the Conservatives said she has spread confusion. There is currently one community council to shadow each local health board, except in Powys which has two. A 12-member Board of Community Health Councils was also set up in 2004 to advise CHCs and represent their views nationally. Health Minister Lesley Griffiths commissioned a report by Professor Marcus Longley from the University of Glamorgan's Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care. It recommends the next chair of the board should be appointed through the public appointments process for a four year term and suggests giving the chair the title "patients commissioner". There are already children's and older people's commissioners appointed in Wales. "This will place them alongside other key figures in Welsh public life whose role it is to 'speak truth to power' on behalf of important sections of the community whose interests might otherwise be neglected," it says. In a consultation document published on Wednesday, the Welsh government says changes could give the board a "stronger voice". "Whether his or her role extends to that of a Patient's Commissioner is open for discussion, not least over the cost, role and the need to change primary legislation," it says The consultation says Powys should be served by one CHC, but that its work should be divided between separate committees for the north and south of the county. It also calls on the Board of CHCs to produce a report by June next year suggesting ways to increase the diversity of councils. Ms Griffiths said: "As local health boards engage with communities on proposals for reconfiguration of health services, it is more important than ever that a broad range of people are involved in the work of CHCs. "I believe CHCs need to look to involve groups such as the unemployed, mothers with young children, and people with full time jobs. "They should also look at different ways of working so that people who find it difficult to attend meetings can participate." The consultation is open until 14 January. Earlier in the year Ms Griffiths was accused by the Welsh Conservatives of trying to "gagging" CHCs in a speech which said they "cannot be parochial". In its consultation, the Welsh government says the Board of CHCs should have the ability to "direct individual community health councils". For the Conservatives, party health spokesman Darren Millar AM said CHCs should be free to voice the views of local people who are concerned about plans to reconfigure hospital services. "I urge as many people as possible to take part in this consultation in order to make sure CHCs remain a pivotal part of healthcare in Wales," he said.

Summary: A patients' commissioner should be created as part of a shake-up of health watchdogs, a report by health economists suggests.


Media playback is not supported on this device Plenty about those days, growing up as teenage boy in north London who weighed more than 20 stone, must have been difficult. But without that experience, Davis says he would never have learnt the skills that last month saw him become Great Britain's first European champion in fencing. "I was 132 kilos. I was always a big lad. But that didn't stop me being good," Davis, who turned 23 at the start of this month, told BBC London. "The speed of my hand was good. It's a sport where you can learn the basics whatever size you are. "I always knew I had it in me, I always knew I could do it, but perhaps some people around me didn't. Perhaps when they lost to me they would think 'how did I lose to this big kid'." When the World Championships begin in Kazan on Tuesday, hopes are high that Davis can go on to become the first Briton to make it onto the podium in the event since 1965. While being overweight on the junior circuit might not have been a barrier to success, to really make it in the sport Davis realised he had to prioritise fencing over food. "I was technically very good but the fitness wasn't there. I would get to a certain point and then I would start to die," he said. "I had to make a choice. Do I want to be successful in this sport? The answer was yes. so I had to lose this weight. "I lost it through working with my strength and conditioning coach Jon Cree at Middlesex University, who were supporting me on their scholarship scheme when I was not part of the World-Class programme. "I started eating well, cut out all the rubbish and just started drinking water. Since I've turned professional I've trained every day and it pays off. "There is no way someone my size could have made it onto the senior circuit, but it's a sport that does offer something for everyone who is starting out. "I'd encourage anyone to give it a go. I learnt so much in those fat days that is still relevant today." Last month at the European Championships in Strasbourg, Davis, who nowadays stands at 6ft 4in (1.94m) and weighs 98kg (15st 6lbs), beat Russia's Alexey Cheremisinov 15-11 in the foil final. It was his first championship gold medal and his country's first European title. While Britain's Gwendoline Neligan originally won European gold back in 1933, that event in Budapest was later re-classified as a World Championships and Neligan was awarded the world title instead. Davis, who grew up and lived in Barnet until the end of last year, puts his recent success down to his relocation to San Francisco. Last November he moved out to California to train with some of the top-ranked US fencers. Davis continued: "Immediately I thought 'wow, something's working here'. "Training is amazing out there, the guys are incredible. They are world class and they have such a big

Summary: James Davis calls them his "fat old days".


Media playback is unsupported on your device 29 July 2015 Last updated at 05:00 BST Microsoft is rolling out access to the latest version of its operating system in waves, to make sure everything runs smoothly. The first people will be notified that an update is available on 29 July, while everyone else will have to wait. The BBC's technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones was given a crash course in Windows 10 by product manager Ian Moulster. He showed Rory some of the operating system's new features, including its voice controlled assistant Cortana. Find out more about Windows 10

Summary: The first early adopters will be able to get their hands on Windows 10 from Wednesday.


The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) are set to take over the Dragons as well as their Rodney Parade ground, but the deal will not be completed until 1 July. 75% of Newport RFC shareholders must still ratify the deal which chairman Martyn Hazell called for them to back. "Until something gets sorted above, we've got to get on with our jobs," Evans told BBC Radio Wales. He continued: "The future for Dragons rugby is positive and as players we've got to make sure it happens on the field and whatever goes on off the field is down to the bigwigs. "Whatever goes on at the top, hopefully it moves in the right direction and we get a positive future." Evans made his 200th appearance for the region in their 17-27 Pro12 defeat by Ulster and is proud of his record. "They all merge into one and it's something I'm proud of. Running out [against Ulster] was really emotional," he said. "It's nice to be able to come out in the last game of the season at Rodney Parade which I was really looking forward to. "I felt good going into this game and unfortunately it didn't quite go our way and I thought the performance was there. "We want to play attacking and attractive rugby and get some wins."

Summary: Newport Gwent Dragons captain Lewis Evans says their players are uncertain about the future of the region.


The 25-year-old is set to have a medical at the Premier League club on Tuesday. Gabbiadini, who has six caps for Italy, joined Napoli from Sampdoria in 2015 and has scored 15 goals in 55 league appearances. However, he has struggled for a first-team place in recent weeks and has not started a Serie A match since November. Southampton are looking for extra forward cover, with Charlie Austin expected to be out for another three months with a shoulder injury. Keep up to date with all the Premier League transfers in January as we track and profile all the players leaving or joining a club this month. This site is optimised for modern web browsers, and does not fully support your browser

Summary: Southampton have agreed a fee of about £14m for Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini.


From April 2015 millions of people reaching retirement age will be able to spend their pension pot in any way they want. In effect, the move will remove the requirement on many people with defined contribution pensions to buy an annuity, a financial product that guarantees an income for the rest of your life. The government says that the overhaul will give retirees more flexibility to do what they want with their pension savings, but Labour says this policy has the potential to be "reckless". So what are the potential hidden consequences? This scenario has been much discussed immediately after the chancellor's Budget speech, but George Osborne says that new pensioners can be trusted to organise their own finances. Some people might decide that their pension pot, locked up during their working life, will provide a nice lump sum to use to celebrate retirement with a holiday of a lifetime, a massive party, or - as the pension minister admitted - a Lamborghini sports car. But it will be clear to all that in doing so, they take away the option of using those savings when money is tight in retirement, especially if they underestimate how long they will live for. The new flat-rate state pension will provide just over £7,000 a year of income to fall back on - described by the chancellor as "generous", but much lower than the vast majority of people are used to during their working life. At times, individuals will receive this years after they have access to their defined contribution pension pot. In Australia, where people are already able to withdraw lump sums easily, recent evidence suggests that most retirees invest the money or use it to clear debts, but a few choose to buy holidays or cars. Freed of the need to put their pension savings into an annuity, new pensioners may decide to use the money to invest in property instead. Mark Giddens, partner of accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, says: "With pensioners no longer being railroaded into investing in annuities, they will be looking for other higher-yielding investments - that inevitably means a huge boost to buy-to-let investments. "Unfortunately, it is often the case that the higher the yield, the higher the risk." There is also one other big hole in this theory. The City watchdog's recent review of annuities found that the average pension pot was only £17,700. That is hardly enough for a deposit, let alone a house or flat. Anyone who decides to take all their money in one go will not escape the taxman. Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here "This [plan] gives people the key to unlock their pensions and take money out, but they must remember that there are tax implications," says Anne Redston, professor of law at King's College, London. Put simply, the money will be categorised as income, and so will be subject to income tax. Anyone taking out a large amount in one go might find 40% income tax is levied on

Summary: A huge change in the way people fund their retirement is expected following the chancellor's "pension revolution".


The bill, which will give the Senedd new powers, has been revised from its original draft amid worries it may reduce assembly powers. But Mr Jones has expressed "considerable concern" that four months after the law's publication a number of issues have not been resolved. The Wales Office said discussions would continue with the Welsh Government. The Wales Bill has already been debated in the House of Commons and is now being considered by the House of Lords as part of the process of the law entering the statute book. It will establish a new system for how the assembly makes laws, defining what is held back to Westminster in a list of reservations. Ministers had revised the bill from a previous draft following criticism that it would reduce the assembly's powers, but AMs have warned that even the revised version threatens a roll-back in capabilities. The committee stage of the proposed law's passage through the House of Lords is due to start on 31 October. Ahead of the debate, the Lords Constitution Committee suggested the Wales Bill could create a "recipe for confusion" and could lead to more Welsh bills ending up in the courts. AMs could refuse their permission for the Wales Bill to become law by voting against a legislative consent motion (LCM). The convention is not legally binding. In a letter to Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns, Mr Jones wrote that "the UK government has publicly acknowledged" the bill can only proceed to royal assent if the assembly has resolved to give its legislative consent to the UK Parliament. He said: "I will be looking to you to use your influence within the UK government to secure the necessary amendments so that the Welsh Government can commend the bill to the assembly. "We are certainly not yet in that position, but I stand ready to discuss further with you as necessary." Mr Jones said the issues included addressing those around a Welsh legal jurisdiction, and the number and breadth of reservations. In particular, Mr Jones called for reservations on teachers' pay along with alcohol licensing, sale and supply to be removed from the bill. "The judgement on whether to recommend that the assembly should give its legislative consent will inevitably be heavily influenced by the way the UK government deals with these matters at committee and report stages in the Lords," he said. The Lords Constitution Committee said changes are needed to make sure the assembly's powers are not "inadvertently reduced". Lord Lang, the chairman of the committee, said: "The list of reservations is so extensive, and the legal tests that govern the assembly's powers so complex and vague, that it could be a recipe for confusion and legal uncertainty. "The outcome is likely to be increased litigation as the courts are asked to decide exactly where the boundaries of the assembly's authority lies." A Wales Office spokesman said: "The Wales Bill provides a historic opportunity for the Welsh assembly to secure more powers and create a stronger, clearer fairer devolution settlement for Wales. "Discussions will continue with the

Summary: The Welsh Government is not yet ready to commend the Wales Bill to AMs, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said.


Scotland was classed as "average" for the first time in a major international study of education. Meanwhile, the Scottish government is carrying out a major review of school governance. So just how are schools and the education system run at the moment? In a nutshell, there is a national school system in Scotland which councils are responsible for delivering. School buildings are the responsibility of councils - they decide how many schools are needed and where they should be built, open or closed, although they have to observe national rules and guidance. The system for closing rural schools was overhauled a few years ago. The government also helps fund some new school buildings through its Schools for the Future programme. Councils also employ teachers and decide how many there should be. However the Scottish government took steps to reverse the long-term decline in teacher numbers across Scotland. This year, teacher numbers were maintained or rose in 20 of Scotland's 32 council areas. The most recent funding deal with local government made it plain that the government expected the ratio of teachers to pupils to be maintained. This happened in all but 12 areas. However, councils are currently responsible for deciding just how much to spend on schools overall - this could be set to change. The government intends to hold a consultation a "national funding formula" for schools. It also plans to give Â£100m straight to head teachers from next year. This all fits into a bigger debate about school governance. The question is over just what powers individual head teachers should have, what powers councils should retain and what powers should be given to planned new regional education boards which will work across council boundaries. The consultation closes on 6 January. Two national agencies also have important responsibilities - the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Education Scotland. The SQA is, by far, the better known to the public. Because of its profile, its staff can sometimes feel they are being blamed by headline writers and critics for things which it cannot reasonably be held to account for. The main role of the SQA is to set exams and mark them. It took the organisation years to recover its public reputation after a debacle in 2000 when thousands of youngsters received the wrong exam results. The SQA is also responsible for some of the paperwork which teachers may find frustrating - but some "SQA-related workload" is not actually the direct responsibility of the authority. The unit assessments that currently form mandatory parts of courses, and the Added Value Units candidates some National 5 candidates complete so they can get a lower qualification if they fail the exam, have been cited by critics. But was the issue the assessments and units themselves, or how they were sometimes being used locally? Decisions on how many qualifications youngsters should routinely be allowed to study for have been taken by individual schools and councils. Some concerns about workload came about because S4 students at some schools were being given the opportunity to study for seven or eight

Summary: The political debate around education has intensified in recent weeks.


There was little corporate news about to excite the market, but in the FTSE 250, shares in laundry services group Berendsen jumped 11% after it looked set to be taken over. France's Elis said it had reached an agreement in principle with the UK firm on key terms of a Â£2.2bn offer. Shares in Flybe rose 1.5% despite the airline reporting a Â£20m loss. The regional carrier has suffered after previous expansion plans proved too ambitious, but the company said the current year was going well. On the currency markets, the pound slipped 0.14% against the dollar to $1.2943, but edged up 0.2% against the euro to 1.1535 euros.

Summary: The London market edged lower, with the FTSE 100 index down 28.64 points to 7,449.98 at the close.


The 25-year-old victim had to have blood transfusions after being struck on the head at a pub in Stirchley, Birmingham. Luke Pinder, 21, of Millfield Close, Hawkinge, Folkestone, Kent, has been jailed for eight years. He admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Read more news for Birmingham and the Black Country Pinder, who was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court, was in the Horseshoe Arms last September when security staff asked everyone to leave at closing time. He threw a bottle at full force, hitting the other man as he stood up to leave, causing a deep gash on the back of his head, police said. He was celebrating with his girlfriend after just being told he was in remission from acute myeloid leukaemia. Pinder's image was circulated and he was identified.

Summary: A man who threw a bottle that struck a man celebrating being told he was in remission from leukaemia has been jailed.


He is the second Belgian cyclist to die in as many days after Antoine Demoitie was struck by a motorbike during Belgium's Gent-Wevelgem race. Myngheer, who turned professional last year, had been in an induced coma. His team, Roubaix Metropole Lille, said in a statement: "He lost his last race after fighting like a champion." Myngheer pulled up in difficulty 20 miles from the line in the first stage of the race at Porto-Vecchio on Saturday. He suffered the heart attack while in an ambulance, before being transferred by helicopter to hospital, where he was put on artificial respiration and fell into a coma. According to his team, Myngheer's organs have been donated. British cyclist Mark Cavendish tweeted: "Such a terribly sad few days in the professional cycling world. Another tragic loss. "RIP Daan Myngheer. My thoughts are with your loved ones." The Trek-Segafredo team added: "The cycling family loses another young talent. Our thoughts go to the loved ones and team members of Daan Myngheer." The latest tragedy comes after Demoitie, 25, was killed when he was hit by a motorbike on Monday. The accident happened after several riders crashed as they passed through northern France during Sunday's Gent-Wevelgem one-day race. Demoitie, who was riding for the Wanty-Gobert team, was taken to hospital in Lille but died some time later. In January, six racers from the Giant-Alpecin team, including German John Degenkolb and Frenchman Warren Barguil, were injured in a collision with a car during a training ride south of Valencia.

Summary: Cyclist Daan Myngheer, 22, has died in hospital after suffering a heart attack during the first stage of the Criterium International in Corsica.


The streets of Sur - the city's old town - are slowly filling with people again but there is still a sense of unease in the air. There was little mood to celebrate the Kurdish New Year last week, known as Newroz. "People are waiting something to happen," says cafe-owner Mustafa, summing up the feelings of many in Diyarbakir. "We feel like we are in purgatory, either there will be peace again or a full-on war." It was during Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakir in 2013 that a statement was read out by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for a cease-fire with the Turkish state. Ocalan's message of ideas and politics rather than guns and bombs was relayed by Kurdish officials to some two million people who had gathered in the city. There was dancing in the streets adorned in yellow, green and red - the Kurdish national colours. It raised hopes for an end to a decades-long conflict that has claimed some 40,000 lives. But the peace process that followed was short-lived, and collapsed last July, plunging south-east Turkey back into violence. Mustafa's cafe is in the Hasanpasa Hani, a 16th-Century inn and market normally bustling with shoppers, students and artists. Despite the end of a three-month curfew, only a handful of people are sitting in Hasanpasa Hani's shady courtyard, sipping tea. "This place used to be full of people," he says. The district of Sur has been at the centre of some of region's fiercest battles between the security forces and the PKK. The Turkish military says it killed 279 militants in Sur. Activists say some of the dead were civilians. Thousands fled their homes, and some neighbourhoods are still cordoned off by police barricades. Lorry-loads of rubble are being removed from residential areas. The violence has also spread to big cities outside the southeast, including two car bombs in the capital Ankara that left dozens of people dead. Critics have accused the Turkish government of responding with an authoritarian clampdown on all Kurdish dissent. Recently, three academics were arrested after calling for an end to the security operations. Young locals in Diyarbakir are also feeling the government's tight grip. "We censor our lives a lot. We're scared to share anything on social media," says Bahri, 28, one of four young residents sitting around a table in Hasanpasa Hani. "We have friends who were detained for posting tweets." Sevket, a university student, says young people have been pushed towards the PKK by the government's "heavy-handed approach". For Ozge, the end of the peace process has meant dashed hopes. "Politics has failed us: both the government and the Kurdish political movement," she says. The fighting is over for now, but the police presence in Sur is very prominent, and visitors trying to enter are searched at checkpoints. The district is full of shops but there is little trading to be seen. "Sur is part of me, it makes me sad to see it like this," says Dilek, a painter and teacher buying painting supplies. "I don't think the city will heal

Summary: The mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, in southeast Turkey, appears shell-shocked after three months of fighting between the security forces and the militant Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).


Councils will decide next week whether to conduct feasibility studies for the radioactive repository. Protesters from all over the country carried banners for 2.5km (1.5miles) through the valley of Ennerdale to lobby against the plans. A petition against the proposals now has more than 17,000 signatures. Unite, which represents staff at the Sellafield plant, gave its backing ahead of a public meeting in Carlisle on Friday. Allerdale and Copeland borough councils and Cumbria County Council are due to vote on 30 January on whether to proceed to "Stage 4" of the process that could see the repository built. The proposed facility could be up to four times the size of Sellafield and take 15 years to build.

Summary: Hundreds of people have taken part in a march against the possibility of building an underground nuclear waste site in Cumbria.


Murray, the world number one, will meet Swiss third seed Wawrinka in the opening match on Philippe Chatrier Court at 11:45 BST. It is a repeat of last year's semi-final, which Murray won before going on to lose in the final. "Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do to win," said the Scot. "It's not always about how well you play or the level that you play at." Spain's nine-time champion Rafael Nadal will play Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem in the second semi-final. Murray, 30, arrived in Paris short of wins after a season interrupted by illness and injury, but has found his form over the course of five matches at Roland Garros. However, the other three semi-finalists are yet to drop a set, while Murray has lost three so far. "They are all obviously playing extremely well," said Murray. "Rafa's had a great clay-court season, as has Thiem. Stan, this tournament, has played great. He won in Geneva [before Paris] so is obviously confident. "I came in playing garbage. I'm the odd one out in the semis, but hopefully I can keep it up." It will be the 18th time Murray has played Wawrinka, with the Briton having won both last year's meetings at the French Open and ATP Finals. An added dimension to the contest is the fact that both men have won three Grand Slam titles, with Murray yet to win in Australia and France, and Wawrinka missing a Wimbledon victory. The Swiss, 32, has won majors in each of the last three years and has been in scintillating form, hitting as many forehand winners (70) as Murray in three fewer sets, and six more aces at 30. "Hopefully a different result," was Wawrinka's response when asked to look ahead to a repeat of last year's semi-final. "That's what I expect and I hope. "I think he's probably a bit less confident. He's a bit more hesitant. Hopefully I can take advantage of that and find solutions to beat him." Seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe: "Andy's much tougher to beat in best of five, he's worked so hard on his conditioning. "He exerted so much energy and effort to get to number one at the end of last year, I wasn't surprised that he tailed off for a while. "I think he's been pointing towards the French for quite a while and he's acting like the player that we look at and go 'that guy's ranked number one in the world right now.' "You've got to live up to it." Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash: "I think Andy's done really well. Grand Slams excite him. He puts the hard work in throughout the year. "Stan's the guy who's a danger to everybody. "Once he gets rolling he can just hit winner after winner and nobody can do anything about it, nobody can stop him. "It doesn't matter who you are, including Rafa."

Summary: Britain's Andy Murray will try and "find a way to get the win" when he takes on in-form Stan Wawrinka in the French Open semi-finals on Friday.


Contractions in the construction and production industries were balanced out by a growth in services. UK GDP grew by 0.4% over the same period. Scottish GDP per person - which takes population changes into account - was also flat during the first quarter of 2016. During the first three months of the year services in Scotland grew by 0.4%, while production contracted by 1.2% and construction by 1.5%. On an annual basis, Scotland's economy grew by 0.6%, compared with UK growth of 2%. The figures were compiled by Scotland's chief statistician. The GDP figures were released on the same day as official data showed that unemployment in Scotland fell by 18,000 between March and May. A leading economic forecaster described the two sets of figures as "a mixed bag" for the Scottish economy. Graeme Roy, director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, said growth had been "stagnant" over the first three months of the year. "While the all-important services sectors grew, there was a sharp fall in production and construction," he said. "Of greatest concern was the fall in manufacturing, which was down 2.6% over the three months and 5.4% over the year. This was the sharpest fall in annual manufacturing output since the 2008/09 financial crisis. "On the plus side, revisions to the data paint a rosier picture of growth last year. The Scottish economy is now estimated to have grown in each and every quarter of 2015, with growth of 1.4% in 2015 up from the previous estimate of just +0.9%. "Despite that, Scotland continued to lag behind the UK as a whole." Responding to the GDP figures, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce called for "a concerted government response to Scotland's growth problems and swift clarification of the position of EU nationals working in the UK". Chief executive Liz Cameron said: "Scotland's growth has now been at a fraction of that of the UK as a whole for a full year and there are few signs of a major improvement in sight. "In the light of the EU referendum result, the Scottish and UK governments must take all steps necessary to support businesses at this time and help them to invest for the future and get our economy back on the path of growth." The Federation of Small Businesses said the growth figures presented a challenge. Scottish policy convener Andy Willox said: "These pre-referendum figures demonstrate that the Scottish economy was underperforming before the vote. "Business surveys and feedback suggest that some investment plans and deals have been put on hold as a consequence of recent economic and political turbulence. "As Number 10 and Bute House draw up plans to restore business confidence, they must think about community firms as well as the stock market. "They must shelve proposals that would give business owners headaches and think about local infrastructure as well as large national projects." In a report released last week, accountancy firm PwC downgraded its growth forecasts for Scotland's economy. It suggested house prices were set to fall north of the border amid

Summary: There was no growth in the Scottish economy in the first three months of this year, according to official figures.


Media playback is not supported on this device Accies survived some nervous moments before Ash Taylor headed the Dons ahead after 34 minutes. But the lead only lasted four minutes as Dougie Imrie scored from the penalty spot after Danny Redmond was challenged by goalkeeper Joe Lewis. Rooney pounced when Gary Woods parried a James Maddison shot, before Accies' Scott McMann was shown a late red card. The win - thanks to the Irish striker's 11th goal this season - takes Aberdeen to within four points of second-placed Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table. Accies remain second bottom without a victory in 10 games since beating the Dons in October. Aberdeen were fluid and dangerous from the off, exposing Accies' weakness on the left flank, with Louis Longridge inexperienced in a full-back role against Jonny Hayes. Mark Reynolds netted early on, but referee Andrew Dallas saw pushing and ruled it out, perhaps a touch harshly as the Dons defender didn't appear to be the culprit. It seemed only a matter of time for the home side, with visiting defenders struggling to cope with the recurring threat. One corner in particular caused chaos involving a Reynolds header that was saved, an overhead kick clearance and a follow up effort from Andrew Considine with the ball eventually forced behind. Chances and corners flowed. Perhaps one criticism that could be levelled at Aberdeen was how they had not managed to score before they did. The breakthrough came from a set piece. Hayes floated a great free-kick to Taylor, whose header was equally accurate and found the corner. Incredibly, Hamilton were almost immediately handed a route back into the match. Taylor blundered to let Redmond in on Lewis, who appeared to hesitate, allowing the midfielder to nick the ball. The goalkeeper got a touch on the ball, but it was not clear whether he had taken the man first. No matter, the referee gave the penalty, which Imrie fired home confidently. Aberdeen responded well to that set-back, with Woods superbly tipping Taylor's drive over before Rooney appeared to be pushed in the box, but pleas were ignored. The Dons went forward relentlessly. Manager Derek McInnes made a positive move, bringing on Maddison for Considine and it proved decisive. It was Maddison's shot that Woods palmed back into play perfectly for the onrushing Rooney to net. McMann prevented a third, hauling Hayes to the ground just outside the box that earned a red card with the winger in on goal. No-one could realistically argue Aberdeen did not deserve the win. What is unclear is how they did not make it far more comfortable It was a fourth successive defeat for Hamilton, albeit in a very tough run of fixtures. What will be more alarming for manager Martin Canning is the lack of wins in the last two months. At times, the visitors were hanging on by a thread, struggling to contain the attacking threat they faced. They had a fabulous chance for a second shortly before Rooney's goal and that would have made a huge difference. Shay

Summary: Adam Rooney gave third-top Aberdeen a Scottish Premiership victory over stuffy Hamilton Accies.


The friends of Muhammad Wisam Sankari told a Turkish gay rights group, kaosgl.org, that they had been threatened by violent male gangs. "I am so scared," one of them said. Mr Sankari, a refugee, arrived in Istanbul a year ago. His body was found in Yenikapi, a central district, on 25 July. No arrests have been made. Kaosgl.org reported that Mr Sankari had been trying to get to another country as a refugee because his life was in danger. One of his housemates, called Rayan, said a male group had kidnapped Mr Sankari about five months ago, beaten him up and raped him. "We complained to the police headquarters but nothing happened," he said. Another of Mr Sankari's friends, Diya, said the United Nations was also failing to protect the gay community in Turkey. "I get threats over the phone... It does not matter if you are Syrian or Turkish, if you are gay you are everyone's target. They want sex from you and when you don't they just tag along... Who is next?" Diya said. In June, Turkish police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse gay activists who tried to hold an LGBT rally in Istanbul, despite a ban on the Gay Pride parade. Unlike in many Arab countries, homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey but analysts say homophobia remains widespread. Cagil Kasapoglu of the BBC Turkish Service says hate crimes against LGBT individuals in Turkey mostly go unreported. According to kaosgl, there has been a rise in human rights violations based on sexual orientation in recent years. Under the heading "hate crimes" the organisation recorded five murders, 32 attacks and three suicides in Turkey last year. It believes the number of such murders over the past six years is more than 50. Syrian gay refugees in Turkey suffer even more, as their legal status is precarious - they are usually undocumented and most are reluctant to report assaults to police, our reporter says. The Turkish authorities cited "safeguarding security and public order" as the reason for banning Gay Pride in Istanbul this year. The parade was also banned last year. Assaults on LGBT people in Turkey have mostly been blamed on ultra-conservative Muslims and an ultra-nationalist youth group, the Alperen Hearths. The harassment is also related to a rise in homophobic rhetoric in conservative media and social media, Cagil Kasapoglu says. Such rhetoric was used by Turkish ultra-conservative media when reporting the murder of 49 people in June by a gunman in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, she says. Gunman Omar Mateen, a US citizen, appeared to have an interest in Islamist extremism.

Summary: The headless, mutilated body of a gay Syrian man has been identified by gay housemates in Istanbul who say he had been gang-raped previously.


Bell, 23, can play at either fly-half or full-back and has scored 72 points in 10 appearances in all competitions for the Tigers this season. A former England Under-18 and Under-20 international, Bell kicked 23 points against Irish in a 28-16 Premiership victory at the start of the season. The younger brother of Chris, he began at Sale Sharks before joining Wasps. "I'm delighted to be joining London Irish next season," said Bell. "Having met the coaches, there's a clear vision of where they want to take the club, which is exciting."

Summary: London Irish have agreed a long-term deal to sign Leicester Tigers back Tommy Bell from next season.


Torquay almost took the lead just before half-time when defender Sam Chaney was denied his first goal of the season as he struck a post. That near-miss looked even more important when the deadlock was broken in the 62nd minute as Portuguese midfielder Andrade capitalised on a mistake in the home defence and slotted home his first goal in 11 matches. Torquay had chances to equalise, but David Fitzpatrick curled a free-kick over the crossbar and Brett Williams fired over on the turn. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Torquay United 0, Boreham Wood 1. Second Half ends, Torquay United 0, Boreham Wood 1. Substitution, Boreham Wood. Ben Nunn replaces Bruno Andrade. Femi Ilesanmi (Boreham Wood) is shown the yellow card. Matt Paine (Boreham Wood) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Torquay United. Brett Williams replaces Jamie Reid. Angelo Balanta (Boreham Wood) is shown the yellow card. Goal! Torquay United 0, Boreham Wood 1. Bruno Andrade (Boreham Wood). Substitution, Torquay United. Shaun Harrad replaces Sam Chaney. Substitution, Boreham Wood. Matt Paine replaces Mark Ricketts. Second Half begins Torquay United 0, Boreham Wood 0. First Half ends, Torquay United 0, Boreham Wood 0. Aman Verma (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Boreham Wood. Ricky Shakes replaces Jason Williams. First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Summary: Bruno Andrade's second-half goal was enough to end Boreham Wood's six-match run without a win as they clinched a 1-0 victory at Torquay.


Fellow centre Duncan Taylor, of Saracens, is back after missing the autumn Tests through injury. Uncapped Edinburgh forwards Simon Berghan and Cornell du Preez are included but David Denton is not fit. Alasdair Dickinson is also absent through injury, while fellow Edinburgh prop WP Nel is listed but is a doubt with a neck problem. Nel lasted just 27 minutes of his return from a long injury lay-off at the weekend and is awaiting the results of a scan. This year's championship will be New Zealander Cotter's last in charge of the national side. He will take over as Montpellier coach this summer and will be replaced by Glasgow Warriors' Gregor Townsend. The Scots open their Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland on 4 February before facing France away eight days later. With Dickinson missing and doubts over Nel, Newcastle front-rower Jon Welsh returns for the first time since the 2015 World Cup. John Hardie, who started all five matches in last year's tournament, is another Edinburgh player in Cotter's plans working his way back to fitness. Edinburgh lock Ben Toolis is also selected having not appeared since the Six Nations of 2015. "It's a well-balanced and exciting group that have played a lot of rugby together, know each other well and are ambitious to do well in a Scotland jersey," said Cotter. "I think if we get our mind-set right we can be competitive and push for wins in every game in this campaign." Last year, Scotland finished fourth in the championship after victories against Italy and France. In November's autumn Tests, the Scots beat Argentina and Georgia after a narrow defeat by Australia. BBC Scotland's Tom English The competition in Scotland's midfield is now fierce. This is probably - almost certainly - the best set of centres the country has ever had. Cotter has named five - Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Huw Jones, Matt Scott and Duncan Taylor. Alasdair Dickinson's injury is a blow. Scotland could do with his experience at loosehead. Scotland squad: Forwards: Alex Allan, Zander Fagerson, Gordon Reid (all Glasgow Warriors), Simon Berghan, Allan Dell, Willem Nel (all Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford, Stuart McInally (both Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Toulouse), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby), John Barclay (Scarlets), Cornell Du Preez, John Hardie, Hamish Watson (all Edinburgh Rugby), Rob Harley, Josh Strauss, Ryan Wilson (all Glasgow Warriors) Backs: Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell (all Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Edinburgh Rugby), Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Huw Jones (Stormers), Matt Scott (Gloucester), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Harlequins) 4 February - Scotland v Ireland (14:25) 12 February - France v Scotland (15:00) 25 February - Scotland v Wales (14:25) 11 March - England v Scotland (16:00) 18 March - Scotland v Italy (12:30)

Summary: Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has recalled Gloucester centre Matt Scott to his squad ahead of the Six Nations.


The words for Be Mery were found "doodled" in the back of a monk's prayer book dating back to about 1500. It is the only surviving book of its type from the East Sussex abbey, built on the site of the Battle of Hastings. Visitors will be able to hear a recording of the song for the first time since the Reformation. The carol was found by English Heritage historian Dr Michael Carter while he was researching the history of Battle Abbey. Live: More news from Sussex The service book is now in the library of Trinity College, in Cambridge. Dr Carter said: "This carol is clear evidence that the Battle monks were very much part of the thriving devotional culture of Catholic England, a culture brutally cut short by the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries which extinguished 500 years of religious life at Battle. "Our new exhibition has been designed to reveal insights into that life, the importance of prayer and worship, the tremendous power and wealth of the abbey and what it was like to be an ordinary monk there." Be Mery has been performed and recorded for English Heritage by Schola Gregoriana: The Association for Gregorian Chant. The new permanent exhibition opens on Saturday in the abbey gatehouse. Source: English Heritage

Summary: A long-forgotten medieval carol has been set to music for the first time in 500 years as part of an exhibition about monks at Battle Abbey.


The National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures showed an increase of 31,700 (0.6%) people over the year to the end of June 2016. It said the increase was due to migration, with 31,700 more people moving to Scotland than leaving. The number of deaths exceeded births by 800, while other changes resulted in an increase of 800 people. These other changes included variations in the prison population and in the number of armed forces personnel stationed in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate figures for 2016 show: Scotland's population has increased by 6% since 1996 (when it was 5,092,190)

Summary: Scotland's population continued to increase last year, rising to a record 5,404,700.


The company blamed the general election for contributing to a sharp fall in demand in the second half of its financial year. It now expects its underlying annual profits to be between Â£82m-Â£87m, below the Â£94.4m it reported in the previous 12 months. Its share price tumbled by 55.25p to 196.75p DFS said the market-wide trend was linked to uncertainty regarding the general election and "uncertain macroeconomic environment". It said it had seen "significant declines in store footfall leading to a material reduction in customer orders". Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital, said that the slowdown reported by DFS was "not surprising" given recent economic data. "CPI inflation has accelerated to 2.9%, while wage growth is slowing. Real wages are falling. If the gap continues to widen then the likes of DFS could suffer further as spending takes a knock. Undoubtedly the uncertainty around the general election and Brexit means people are delaying big ticket purchases," he said. DFS said it experienced short-term fluctuations to demand and, confident of longer-term growth, had maintained its investment levels. But Mr Wilson said: "The relative resilience of the UK in the six months after the referendum, and comparative slowing thereafter, seems to be mirrored in the fortunes of DFS."

Summary: Shares in DFS Furniture have plunged by 22% after the sofa specialist issued a profit warning.


Today, alongside her friend and fellow campaigner Najate Nait Ali, she became the first woman in France to receive a fine for covering her face in public. Ironically it is a punishment she welcomes. After six months campaigning against the new law she now has a platform on which to challenge it. Tomorrow Ms Ahmas and her supporters will appeal against the decision in the Court of Cassation. It will take months, possibly years, to exhaust the legal process here in France, but the path could lead all the way to a challenge in the European Court of Human Rights. Today's ruling carries implications not only for the French government but for other countries in Europe. Belgium, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland have all introduced, or are planning to introduce, similar legislation. Ms Ahmas's parents were not strict Muslims. She put on the niqab for the first time six years ago. She claims she once wore mini-skirts and liked to party before she rediscovered her faith. Her parents are moderates. The point is, she says, there is no-one who is "forcing" her to wear it. "I respect all the French laws but not this one," she said. "My life has become a living hell since April. I have been verbally and physically abused. I no longer have access to public services. Every day I have to fight for my basic rights." She is denied access to banks, shops and government offices. Bus drivers have refused to pick her up, she cannot find work. When she leaves home she carries a panic alarm and a pepper spray. "About a week after the law came into effect, I was peacefully walking down the street with my daughter, when a couple confronted me," she said. "The woman began to insult me, and my religion. This I could not accept. I answered back and her husband punched me in the face. All of this while my daughter was standing beside me." Secular France has a complicated relationship with religion. In recent years there has been a long-running debate on how far it is willing to go to accommodate Islam, without undermining the long-standing tradition of separating church and state. The bill that was passed in April had overwhelming cross-party support and was popular in polls across the country. It has proved equally popular in other countries. Those who support the bill say the fundamental part of integrating into Western society is showing your face. And yet what is surprising given the furore that surrounded the implementation of the bill, is that fewer than 100 women have so far been stopped by the police. No-one has yet received the maximum 150-euro fine. There are fewer than 10 cases currently in the courts. Is that because the justice system does not attach as much importance to the bill as the public? "The police have better things to do than hunt veiled women," said Nicolas Comte from the SGP police union. "Not to mention the damage it can do to police relations in certain communities. "I think my

Summary: Hind Ahmas is a French citizen, a 32-year-old divorced mother and a defiant wearer of the full-face veil - the niqab.


Many larger firms offer to "match" additional pension saving by their employees, by adding a contribution when workers save more. But insurer Royal London said that many workers were unaware of the option, and failed to take advantage. This could make a difference of hundreds of pounds in retirement income, it said. Despite having to make a number of assumptions in calculations, Royal London has estimated that an estimated £2bn of employer pension contributions would be available if workers took up the option of saving to a maximum rather than minimum level. It estimated that 3.2 million workers could receive an extra £650 per year each. That would mean somebody on average earnings who chose to take up an additional 3% matched contribution to their pension pot would receive a retirement income of £22,500 rather than £19,050, thanks to the extra contribution and tax relief. The Nationwide Building Society has changed its default level to a maximum, rather than a minimum contribution. Steve Webb, a former pensions minister and now director of policy and Royal London, said more could be done to make workers at other businesses aware that their employer might add to their pension if they were willing to contribute at a higher level. "At a time when money is tight for many people and pay rises may be limited, getting your employer to contribute more to your pension can be a very cost-effective strategy," he said. "When individuals are thinking about where to put their money to get the best return, the chance to more than double your money through an employer contribution and tax relief from the government takes a lot of beating." Graham Vidler, director of external affairs at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said; "If your employer offers a workplace pension, you should certainly consider joining and putting in as much as possible as if you don't you will miss out on free money in the form of employer contributions as well as the tax relief. "This research highlights how much UK employees could be missing out on each year. It is also vitally important that people start saving into a pension as soon as possible as the longer you save, the bigger your final pot is likely to be and the more you can benefit from your employers 'matching' contributions."

Summary: Workers are missing out on pension top-ups from their employers by only saving at a minimum level, research suggests.


Patterdale terrier Taz became trapped beneath a concrete terrace at Bath City FC on Thursday night. Crews from Bath Fire Station had to remove part of the stand at the Twerton Park ground to get to the dog. A spokesman for Avon Fire and Rescue said: "Once crews reached the terrier they found he was still pinched between the bottom of the stand and soil and rubble below." The spokesman added: "Firefighters were able to dig out the ground around Taz before pulling him to safety through the gap. "Once free, he was reunited, unhurt, with his extremely grateful owners." Bath City have been approached for comment.

Summary: A dog has been rescued after getting stuck under a football stand.


Ms Perry told MPs she was "mystery shopping" the 10 busiest rail services in the country to find out for herself the extent of overcrowding. It was "unacceptable" that people were unable to board trains on commuter routes because they were already full. Fellow Tory MP Dominic Raab said his constituents expected answers about why they were been treated like "sardines". Mr Raab, the MP for Esher, raised conditions on the 07:32 Woking to London Waterloo service during a Westminster Hall debate on value for money on services operated by South West Trains. He said the train, dubbed the "Sardine Express" in the media, was regularly carrying 500 passengers more than its capacity and was "packed to the gunnels" long before it reached its final destination. Mr Raab said passengers were seeing their fares rising every year while having to put up with "cattle-class" travelling conditions. "EU rules stipulate that calves, adult goats and unshorn sheep must be transported by train in an area of space of at least 0.3 metres squared per unit of livestock," he said. "But the new governing standard for commissioning commuter services for humans is now 0.25 metres squared, significantly less." While demand for rail services was particularly acute in the south of England, Mr Raab said such overcrowding was not limited to the area but "systemic" across the network. Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage said overcrowding was not the only problem in the south of England and that journey times on busy routes were unsatisfactory. She said it took as long to travel from Portsmouth to London as it did from Doncaster to London, which is more twice the distance away from the capital. Ms Perry said the railways were a victim of their own popularity, with passenger numbers doubling since privatisation and demand increasing by 10% each year in some parts of the country. While the railways were the "safest and most punctual in Europe" and the government was investing billions in new lines and capacity, she acknowledged that conditions were not improving for some users. "Passengers in many cases do not feel they are getting value for money," she said. "They are travelling on crowded, slow trains and cannot understand why timetables get messed up and the whole resilience of the network can go down if we have a fatality." A train's capacity is defined as all seats, plus a standing allowance if passengers are standing for less than 20 minutes. Figures published last month showed that during the high peak between 08:00 and 09:00, 38% of London services were over capacity, and 81% had passengers standing. Ms Perry said rail services were not like the London Underground, where trains run every couple of minutes, and people were "late for work if they could not board their trains". "There is a very strong expectation that nobody who is travelling for more than 20 minutes should be standing beyond that point," she added. "(That is) Not always achieved but those are the kinds of standards we are looking for."

Summary: Rail passengers should not have to stand for more than 20 minutes during a journey, minister Clare Perry has said


Footage captured Simon King's camera showed a man climbing over a fence and making off across a garden at a property in Herne Hill, south London. Nigel Batton, 43, was convicted of one count of burglary and one count of attempted burglary at Woolwich Crown Court. Batton, of Marischal Road, Lewisham, was sentenced on Monday. The burglary took place at a property in Hollingbourne Road in Herne Hill. The footage, which showed Batton in a nearby property's garden, was captured on Mr King's camera, which streams live on his website, at about 03:45 BST on 12 January 2014. After it was released by police, a number of people contacted officers and identified Batton. Police said a scarf left at the scene of the crime contained Batton's DNA and a cardigan worn by the burglar in the video was also found at Batton's home address, Det Con Marie Hamilton, from Southwark police, said: "The images from the fox family camera were brilliant and together with the forensics we have been able to ensure that Batton has been brought to justice." Mr King has featured in various BBC programmes including Springwatch, Big Cat Diary and Planet Earth.

Summary: A burglar who was filmed by a BBC wildlife presenter's "fox camera" has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.


This means the number of extra deaths from December to March fell to traditional levels after the spike seen during the winter of 2014-15. The extra deaths last winter represent a 15% increase on the average for the rest of the year, according to the Office for National Statistics data. Death rates rise in the colder weather because of more respiratory illnesses. The winter before last there were nearly 44,000 extra deaths - the highest since 1999. Experts blamed that on the flu vaccine being less effective than previously. But during the most recent winter, flu attacked younger groups. Dr Anne Campbell, of the ONS, said: "One of the key factors behind the lower excess mortality this winter was a fall in the number of deaths among the elderly. "This was mainly due to the most prevalent strain of the flu virus impacting younger people rather than older people, who are more at risk."

Summary: There were 24,300 excess deaths in England and Wales last winter - about half the number of the previous year.


The former Scottish first minister will be in the Belgian capital to collect the first Coppieters Award. A spokesman for Mr Salmond said last week that he would meet Mr Juncker ahead of the awards ceremony. It comes as the Scottish government prepares to publish its proposals for keeping Scotland in the single market after Brexit. Mr Salmond's successor as first minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon met Mr Juncker in Brussels in June. Speaking at the time, Mr Juncker said Scotland had "won the right to be heard in Brussels" and that he would listen carefully to what Ms Sturgeon had to say. But he stressed that he would not "interfere in an inner British process". The request for a meeting with Mr Juncker was made by Mr Salmond, who will receive the Coppieters Award in recognition of his "dedication and advocacy for Scotland's right to redefine its political future among a European family of nations". The Scottish government is exploring potential options for keeping Scotland in the European single market even if the UK as a whole leaves, with its proposals expected to be published next week. The EU has previously said it will only negotiate a deal with the UK government once Article 50 is triggered and the formal process of leaving the EU begins. The UK Chancellor, Philip Hammond, said earlier this month that a special Brexit deal for Scotland was "not realistic". He also said he wanted to work closely with the Scottish government and the other devolved administrations in order to "secure the best possible deal" for all parts of the UK.

Summary: Alex Salmond is expected to meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels later.


The 38-year-old's body was found by her father at a house on Shearman Street in Trowbridge last Thursday. A 78 year old man - who is not related to Ms Barker - was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and actual bodily harm, police said. He has since been bailed until the end of November, pending further enquiries. In a statement Ms Barker's family said it had been "left devastated" by her "untimely death". "She was much loved and will be greatly missed by us all. "She was a bright young woman who, in addition to her attainment of a BSc degree in Dental Technology at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, was a talented artist and an accomplished cook, having appeared on the Masterchef television programme. "It will be difficult to come to terms with her loss, but this is being aided by the kind words and messages of support we have received and for which we are very grateful."

Summary: The family of Masterchef contestant Helen Barker have paid tribute to "a talented artist" after she was found dead at her home in Wiltshire.


The 29-year-old spent the latter half of last season on loan at McDiarmid Park from Coventry City. He signed for Hearts after being released by the English League One outfit but made only nine appearances for Saints' Premiership rivals. The former Berwick Rangers, Dundee United and Peterborough United winger has signed an 18-month contract. Swanson had been released by Hearts on Monday and was signed by Saints as a replacement for Michael O'Halloran, who had been sold to Rangers the same day. He made 12 appearances in his previous spell with the Perth club, scoring twice.

Summary: Winger Danny Swanson has returned to St Johnstone after a frustrating five months with Hearts.


Every Chinese New Year as people board trains, planes, buses, cars and mopeds to head home for the warmth of the family reunion, they arrive battered and beleaguered, each with their own tale of travelling woe. The 20-hour journeys with standing room only. The pickpockets. And just the sheer overwhelming numbers of people, thronging every platform, forming every queue. So when the whole country seemingly becomes one large crowd it might seem unlikely that China would be shocked by pictures of a large crowd. But then the Guangzhou Railway Station crowd was a particularly special one. The snarl-up began on Monday with bad weather further north causing the cancellation or delay to some services out of Guangzhou. As word spread of the increasingly large throng of waiting passengers, even more people began turning up extra early for their trains and the problem only intensified. At the peak, 100,000 people were crammed shoulder to shoulder on the giant square in front of the station, spilling out into side roads. "We are like dumplings in a bowl," one man told me. He faced a three-hour wait to clear security and then, once finally aboard his train, an eight-hour journey home. "I am very tired," another young woman said "but when I think about my mother and father at home I feel warm and I want to be with them sooner." Despite the extraordinary scenes of congestion, this was as much a picture of railway efficiency and resilience, as chaos and delay. Despite more than 1,000 extra police officers being drafted in for the crowds, there was little trouble for them to deal with. I saw one passenger slugging a uniformed police officer with his bag, enraged that he had been stopped from climbing over a metal barrier, but for the most part, there was that old, resigned acceptance that all this is part of the fabric of Chinese New Year. And, by Wednesday, the authorities had begun to get to grips with the problems on the network itself, bringing in extra trains, or diverting passengers to other train stations, and all the while thousands upon thousands of new passengers continue to arrive, shepherded through the concourse in long, snaking lines, through security and onto trains which, for the most part, were kept running to time. This year, for many of the migrant workers who make up a large proportion of the crowds, there is another, far deeper concern than the issue of just another hectic trip home. China's industrial landscape is changing. The factories, once the centrepiece of the economy, are relocating to countries where wages are lower and, in addition, many migrants now see increasing opportunities in the smaller towns and cities closer to their homes. So, many migrants are packing their bags for the last time and deciding that, after travelling home this year, that is where they will stay. China manufacturing shrinks for sixth month in a row Factory bosses report that, at the same time as they face falling demand for their products, they find it increasingly hard to man

Summary: For many millions it is an unavoidable ritual, something to be tolerated with as much patience as one can muster because the reward at the end is worth it.


McCormack had 61 seconds to spare from Deirdre Byrne as she won in 33 minutes and 30 seconds as Maria McCambridge completed an all-Irish podium. Wicklow woman McCormack ran the Olympic 10,000m mark in the US last weekend. Britain's Andy Maud won the men's race in 29:55 ahead of Irish pair Mick Clohisey and Kevin Maunsell. Olympic Games marathon hopeful Clohisey was five seconds behind Maud with Maunsell a further 23 seconds in arrears as the athletes had to battle windy conditions at the Phoenix Park. Sunday's event, which attracted almost 8,000 runners, honoured the memory of late Ballymena & Antrim athletics club great Sean Kyle. Great Ireland Run organiser, former Irish international athlete Gareth Turnbull came up with of incorporating a team match into the event which would pay tribute to the renowned coach, who formed a remarkable partnership with his wife, the three-time Olympian Maeve Kyle at the Ballymena & Antrim club. The team component saw an Ireland line-up which included McCormack, lifting the inaugural Sean Kyle Cup, as they defeated a Commonwealth select The mixing of the sport's grassroots and elite athletes is something that would have delighted Ballymena athletics doyen Kyle, who died after a long illness last November. Sunday's meeting also included a Great Ireland Mile event won by Irish international John Travers in four minutes and 11 seconds which left him ahead of British runners John Ashcroft (4:13) and Phillip Sesemann (4:16). Thomas Frazer and Kerry O'Flaherty took the victories at the Titanic Quarter 10K in a windy Belfast on Sunday. Belfast man Frazer, who will run the London Marathon in two weeks in the hope of booking his Olympic Games Rio, had five seconds to spare from Gary Murray as he triumphed in 30 minutes and 48 seconds. "I am really happy with that. I am in the form of my life and will be adopting an all or nothing stance in London to make the team for Rio," said Frazer, 34. Lisburn's Chris Madden finished third in 31:31 which left him eight seconds ahead of fourth-placed Conor Duffy, who won last year's men's race. Olympic Games-qualified O'Flaherty won the women's event in 34:17 which left her 14 seconds ahead of runner-up and last year's winner Ann-Marie McGlynn. Laura Graham took third in 35:21 with Olympic Games marathon hopeful Gladys Ganiel fourth in 36:07. "I knew this would be tight especially as 10K is over my distance," said O'Flaherty. "However I have really been working on my stamina to assist in the last kilometre of the steeplechase and it paid off today. "I am now going to altitude training in France in preparation for track races in June in the build-up to Rio."

Summary: Fionnuala McCormack clinched a comfortable victory in the women's race at the Great Ireland run as Britain's Andy Maud won the men's event.