The UK firm will get $17.1bn (Â£10.7bn) cash and a 12.84% stake in Rosneft, enabling BP to continue to share in Russia's vast energy resources. BP has agreed to eventually use some of the cash to buy further Rosneft shares, taking its stake to 19.75%. Rosneft is also buying the other half of TNK-BP from the AAR consortium of Russian billionaires for $28bn. Companies active in Russia's energy sector have come under political pressure in the past. However, this deal has the blessing of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said state-controlled Rosneft had made a good deal at a good price: "This is a good, large deal that is necessary, not only for the Russian energy sector but also the entire economy." The acquisition of the stake in TNK-BP, one of Russia's biggest oil firms, will give Rosneft about half of Russia's energy sector and make it the world's largest publicly-traded oil group. BP said that once the proposed transaction gets the necessary shareholder and regulatory approval, it will use $4.8bn of the cash received on buying a further 5.66% of Rosneft shares. BP already holds 1.25% of Rosneft. Although BP's involvement in the Russian joint venture has been lucrative, paying billions of dollars in dividends to the UK company, relations with its partners have often been fraught with disagreement. In 2011, the AAR consortium attempted to block a drilling joint venture in the Arctic between BP and Rosneft through the courts. The plan was eventually dropped. As well as internal wrangles, BP employees at TNK-BP have fallen foul of Russian authorities. While serving as head of TNK-BP, Bob Dudley - now the head of BP as a whole - had his office bugged and raided by the police and met with onerous back-tax demands, legal action and visa problems. He eventually fled the country in 2008. A tie-up with Rosneft would keep BP in Russia, allowing it to continue to explore and exploit the country's vast energy resources, including in the Arctic region. Rosneft would be able to tap into BP's expertise in exploring in difficult and potentially hazardous conditions. Rosneft said it would have two BP representatives on its board and that it would "benefit from BP's significant experience and successful track-record of applying best international practices in Russia".

Summary: Oil giant BP has agreed to sell its 50% stake in TNK-BP to Russia's Rosneft in return for cash and shares.


You'd expect such a statement from a player who had played for 11 different clubs in three different countries, but how many players have done that at the age of 23? Meet Jake Jervis, one of Plymouth Argyle's five summer signings, who is preparing for a campaign in League Two having played in Turkey, Scotland and all three tiers of the Football League. "It's made me a better player to have played in different leagues and different places," he tells BBC Sport as he settles into the final week of pre-season at his new club. Jervis began his career as a promising youngster at Birmingham City - he once played against Didier Drogba, David Luiz and Frank Lampard as the Championship club held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup in 2012. After three years of trying to make the Blues first team, he left St Andrew's in January 2013 for Turkey, where he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with top-flight side Elazigspor. But it was a move that did not go according to plan. Jervis said: "Teams like Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have a crazy atmosphere and it was definitely something that helped me in terms of my football. "But after three games, having started so well, I broke my foot." The Turkish club stopped paying Jervis, but when he tried to leave they held on to his registration and he could not join another club until January 2014, a period of six months where he was not able to play the game he loves. "It was the most difficult thing I've had in my life," he says. "I was at Sheffield United and I was going to sign there, and I trained with a few other teams as well, but I couldn't get it through because of international clearance due to the old club. "I was a handful to be around with my girlfriend and my family because I wasn't happy at all not being able to play football." It was eventually sorted out and Jervis signed a six-month deal at Portsmouth, before moving to Ross County that summer, where he linked up with current Argyle boss Derek Adams for the first time. "He's 23 and he's only at the start of his career, but he's had a lot of experience," Adams told BBC Sport. "We're hopeful of progressing him. He did very well for me at my last club and, although I was only there for a short space of time with him, you could see the potential." Jervis signed a one-year deal at Plymouth in June, so is now the time to try and settle with one club? "You always look to do that," he said. "But it's got to be right and you've got to be able to enjoy it. Hopefully we can settle here and go on and do well."

Summary: "The good of football, the bad of football, I've seen all of it."


Dame Vera, 99, became known as the Forces Sweetheart for entertaining the troops during World War Two. One of her best-known songs, The White Cliffs Of Dover, featured in a list of the Queen's favourite pieces of music, released earlier this week. Despite this, Dame Vera, who lives in Sussex, said she "never expected" this accolade and was "greatly honoured". She has been made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to entertainment and charity. Dame Vera said: "I was very surprised... I felt very greatly honoured to be given a Damehood and never expected to receive anything else. "So for Her Majesty to bestow a further accolade on me is very unexpected and I feel even more honoured." In her 20s, Vera Lynn played a huge role in keeping British spirits up during the Blitz. She travelled thousands of miles, often at great personal risk, to entertain troops. Her hits included We'll Meet Again, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings. In 1941, she was given a BBC radio programme, Sincerely Yours, with a peak-time evening audience. After the war she retired from the stage to bring up her daughter, Virginia, at their home in Ditchling, Sussex, but remained in demand across the world. Dame Vera once said: "I have never been terribly ambitious. I never wanted to be a Judy Garland. "If work came along I liked, I would do it. If it interfered with home life for too long or took me away, I wouldn't." Her accolades include an OBE in 1969, a DBE in 1975, and in 1978 she was given the Freedom of the City of London.

Summary: Dame Vera Lynn has been recognised for services to entertainment and charity in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.


Only a detailed investigation can uncover what vital clues may have been missed as to the extremist leanings and murderous intentions of the killers. These are some of the questions that need answers. What happened to the tracking of the killers by the police and security agencies? Two were known to the authorities. It is also believed that there were links with extremists in the UK and Yemen. It is reported that the police decided to stop tracking them six months earlier. What were the reasons behind this decision? Were vital clues lost when it came to sharing information between the French authorities and other international agencies? How organised were the attacks? What was the precise level of co-ordination and planning? Was it a "home grown" terror attack, with inspiration and training coming from elsewhere? Or was it planned and instigated through a wider network? The claims of the perpetrators themselves have to be treated with caution until more is known about the detailed planning of the attacks and the training and travel movements of the individual terrorists. How and where did the killers obtain the weapons to carry out the attacks? How did they manage to conceal their arms cache without someone becoming suspicious? Are there others still at large who may have helped? The acquisition and transport of the weapons seems to have slipped past the radar of the police. What role did Hayat Boumeddiene play? The Turkish foreign minister said the widow of the Jihadist in the deli siege flew to Turkey on 2 January, well before the Charlie Hebdo massacre. She is now said to be in Syria. We simply don't know enough about her role at this stage but some reports say she helped plan the attacks. Pictures have emerged in recent days appearing to show her engaged in terror training. Why is so much of France's Muslim population behind bars? No official figures exist because there appears to be no formal monitoring of numbers. But some reports have spoken of around 70% of the prison population being made up of Muslims. It is known that French prisons are a major source of radicalisation, so what are the authorities doing to combat that?

Summary: In the days and weeks ahead, the French police and intelligence agencies will be picking through every aspect of the terror attacks in Paris.


The Ibrox side were outclassed by their Glasgow rivals, only really threatening in the closing stages while 2-0 down. Caixinha also admitted he changed his pre-match team talk on the advice of assistant Helder Baptista to ease tension among the players. "By respecting the opponent we dropped off too much. It wasn't what we prepared during the week," he said. Caixinha said he did not believe his game-plan had been unclear to his players, but he gave an uncommon insight into his pre-match approach. "Helder came to me just at the end of the warm-up and told me 'please, in your speech, don't be so tough. They need to feel a little bit more freedom'," the Portuguese added. Media playback is not supported on this device "When you don't feel that freedom you don't enjoy and you don't perform the way you need to. "We were a little bit 'blocked' and if you're blocked - even if you have the best organisation and the best ideas - you can't perform." Caixinha said Baptista felt the players were tense, but stressed he did not believe they were frightened by the occasion or their opponent. The Portuguese was asked about his tactics for the game, prompting a detailed response, outlining what he had hoped his players would execute. "We organised our defending in three ways. The first one was to try to place a high block - if you see they were trying to build from the back - they open the centre-halves and Scott (Brown) is always in the middle. We had three players down there," he explained. "In the middle of the park what we were trying to get them to play the ball to (Mikael) Lustig, block it, block Brown who was making the triangle with the centre-halves, and with this block we could have space to explore after we regain possession. "We could not do it in this match because we were a little bit lower on the pitch. In the lower block, we were expecting not to allow them to divide the game. "We just played wide when the spaces were inside. The idea was for our wingers to come inside and fill the space." Despite seemingly thorough planning, Caixinha accepted his strategy had failed to work. "The game-plan is one thing, what we put in practice was a totally different thing," he acknowledged. "So it wasn't our day. We couldn't perform the way we prepared. We expected more from our players but we need to keep going. "After tomorrow's day off we need to get back to Murray Park to start preparing the next match and we still have five matches to go until the end of the season."

Summary: Pedro Caixinha felt his Rangers team gave Celtic too much respect as they lost the Scottish Cup semi-final 2-0.


Owners of the company said the tough decision had been made due to falling ticket sales and high operating costs. "As far as this great American institution, it is a sad moment," ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson said. For the performers, it also means the end of a tight-knit community that lived on a train in between shows. TAP HERE to read and watch how performers are dealing with the end of the circus. The final performance of what the company described as "the greatest show on earth" was streamed live online. Just before the show, David Vassallo, a clown at the travelling circus, told Reuters: "For every artist it's a dream to be part of this show, the greatest show on earth. "I cannot even describe how happy it was for me to be part of that and I'm sad of course to wake up from this amazing dream." Ringling Bros was the last American circus that travelled by rail. Until Sunday, the company's train was the primary residence for most of the performers, who hail from 13 different countries. "I learned to walk on the train, my parents were living on the train when I was born," Ivan Vargas, a sixth-generation circus performer, told the BBC earlier this month. Vargas, 26, whose family is originally from Mexico, was born in between Sunday performances. The final blow was delivered on 14 January 2017, late one night after the last in a "six pack" of performances in Orlando, Florida. Posters printed in English, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Mongolian had gone up earlier in the day announcing a mysterious, mandatory all-staff meeting. So when Feld Entertainment executives delivered the news that the circus was shutting down completely, it landed hard. "You watched hundreds of people burst into tears at the same time," recalls ringmaster Kristen Michelle Wilson, Ringling Bros' first female ringmaster. She had just given up her job, apartment and car to join the circus four months earlier. But the show had to go on. "The next day, we came in and did two more shows." The five months leading up to the final performances haven't been easy. Feld set up career counsellors at each stop. One by one, performers who found new gigs dropped off the tour. Foreign performers without new jobs will lose their work visas shortly after the final show, and the Felds are covering plane tickets and reimbursing mileage for road trips home. Animal rights campaigners - who had been accusing the Ringling Bros of animal abuse - have welcomed the decision to shut the company. They held a protest in New York, carrying placards "We shut you down!" and "Bye-bye animal abusers".

Summary: After 146 years, America's most celebrated circus Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus has staged its final performance in New York.


The victim, named locally as Aqib Mazhar - who was in his 20s - was stabbed in the back after being targeted by the gang, said the woman. They left him outside her home in Nottingham on Wednesday evening. She tried to help Mr Mazhar but said his blood went "all over the pavement" as she turned him over. Nottinghamshire Police said he died in hospital. Updates on this story and more from Nottinghamshire The witness said: "They were throwing bricks, they had poles." "They were smashing the car window and this guy jumped into the back seat because they had smashed his side window, and as he jumped into the back the guy opened the door and [put a] knife into his back and he collapsed out on our driveway. "The guy who was in the car with him ran off up the road and shouted to us 'Call an ambulance' and just left him on his own on our driveway to die." She said there were several young men in three cars, which all stopped outside her house. "They were just trying to smash the car but I was just thinking drive off, you know, lock your doors, and you're safe there," she said. She dialled 999 and went outside to try to help Mr Mazhar. "As I turned him onto his side all the blood just [went] all over the pavement," she said. Police, who were called to Russell Road in Forest Fields at 20:35 BST on Wednesday, believe his fatal injuries were caused by a knife. Another witness who lives in the road said she watched police doing first aid as they tried to save Mr Mazhar's life. "I just heard a bang and I thought it was two cars crashed or something," she said. "When I went to look out the window everything was going on. "I wasn't surprised [he died] because I saw the police doing CPR on him and they didn't wait for the ambulance to come so it must have been serious." The Jamia Masjid Sultania mosque in Sneinton wrote in a tribute on its Facebook page: "Please remember young brother Aqib Mazhar in your duas. "He sadly passed away in the evening." Officers are keen for anyone who witnessed what happened to come forward.

Summary: A gang of men armed with bricks and poles smashed their way into a man's car before leaving him dying on a driveway, according to a witness.


More than 80 people attended Save Newcastle Wildlife's protest at the Havannah Nature Reserve in Hazlerigg to oppose the Banks Group's plans for a new estate across the road. Campaigners said the homes would mean more pets attacking the squirrels. Banks' surveyors suggested several schemes to minimise any impact. A spokesman for Save Newcastle Wildlife said: "Such a high density development is likely to attract grey squirrels to the area, as many people feed grey squirrels in their gardens, threatening the existing red population and increasing the likelihood of predation from domestic pets. "If approved, this development will see a steep incline in disturbance from human activity within the nature reserve." Amec Foster Wheeler carried out a survey of the squirrels for Banks. Their report concluded that the squirrels already suffer some disturbance from visitors to the nature reserve and, while acknowledging nearby homes could mean more people going to the site, extra disturbance could be mitigated by footpaths keeping people away from the squirrels' habitats. The report also said there would be no "direct impact" on the squirrels but there could be "indirect effects" such as the squirrels going to the houses for food. The surveyors suggested planting hedgerows suitable for red squirrels to forage in closer to the reserve to negate the need for them to hunt further afield for food. About 290 people have written to the council to object to the plan while 29 have written in support. More than 6,500 people have signed an online petition opposing the development. The plans are being considered by Newcastle City Council but no date has been given for a decision.

Summary: Wildlife campaigners are opposing plans for 460 new homes near Newcastle amid fears they could harm neighbouring red squirrels.


Firefighters took more than three hours to douse the blaze in Balaghat district on Wednesday evening. Senior local official Bharat Yadav said the exact cause of fire was not known, but suspected that "someone might have thrown a burning beedi (cigarette)". Accidental explosions are common at Indian fireworks factories. Mr Yadav told PTI news agency that the rescue operation was over, and nobody was trapped inside the factory. "Of the seven injured, five have been rushed to Nagpur [in Maharashtra] for treatment, while two are being treated at a hospital in the district," he said. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a compensation of 200,000 rupees (Â£2,396; $3,104) to each the families of each victim. He said the government would also pay for the medical expenses of the injured.

Summary: At least 23 people have died and seven others were injured in a massive explosion at a fireworks factory in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.


The year, of course, was 1996. With England's European Championship campaign ending in penalty defeat, it was tournament debutants the Czech Republic who claimed a place in the hearts of a nation. From 66-1 outsiders at the start to almost upsetting Germany in the final, the Czechs had come so close to completing the perfect underdog story. And it all began at Bamber Bridge. "I was mowing the pitch when I was called in to take a call from a nearby hotel," remembers Russ Rigby, former groundsman, secretary and kitman at the non-league side, who are in FA Cup action this weekend against Kettering Town. "It was the hotel's manager and he just asked if we would be interested in playing the Czech Republic in a warm-up game for the European Championship." Rigby recalled he almost dropped the phone in surprise. After all, it is not every day that a team that has never played higher than the sixth tier of English football gets presented with the opportunity to play an international side. Needless to say the offer was quickly accepted, but why exactly did a team containing emerging talents like Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky and Patrik Berger sound out a non-league side from the north west of England for a friendly? "They were playing Germany in their opening game of Euro '96 at Old Trafford a few days later, so they were based close by," adds Rigby. "Preston North End had been approached initially but didn't want the game for some reason or another, so they passed on my number." Dusan Uhrin, the Czech Republic manager, travelled to the Lancashire village to check out the facilities and complete the formalities of arranging the friendly. "We'd had the pitch relaid. It wasn't perfect but it was all right," says Rigby. "The Czech manager didn't speak any English so we had to go through an interpreter, but he was happy with the surface. "He warned us, though, that he didn't want a physical game, otherwise he'd take his players off if it got out of hand." Back in the Czech Republic, there was plenty of interest in the game. The country's national team was playing in a major tournament for the first time since Czechoslovakia split in 1993 into two independent countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. As a result, television cameras descended on Bamber Bridge's modest 2,200 capacity ground - then called Irongate but renamed Sir Tom Finney Stadium in 2014. "The game was being broadcast live and all the newspapers were in touch," continues Rigby. "The Czech Republic team was sponsored by one of their local breweries too. One of the stands wasn't really a stand, just a shed really, and this brewery got in touch to say they would bring a bar over. "So a temporary stand was built which included a bar that served their beers. I still have some of the fancy glasses they brought over." The game itself was sold out. Bunting lined the streets while a brass band played as Bamber Bridge's opponents arrived. For a

Summary: Britpop was big, Spice Mania ruled Britannia and football came home.


The Scottish Gamekeepers' Association said the latest employment figures showed the sector was outperforming other areas of the economy. North Highland College in Thurso reported that every one of this year's Higher National Certificate students has secured a job on a sporting estate. Country sports are thought to be worth Â£240m a year to the Scottish economy. The gamekeeping and wildlife management course was designed to provide students with training in conservation as well as traditional gamekeeping skills, including snaring and the use of firearms. North Highland College gamekeeping lecturer Richard MacNicol said: "The modern gamekeeper has to have a rounded, balanced approach to land management. "Our graduates are helping to support the rural economy and a diverse, well managed countryside." Borders College and Scotland's Rural University College in Fife also said the skills obtained by their students were proving valuable to landowners. The Scottish Gamekeepers' Association has welcomed the news. SGA chairman Alex Hogg said: "This is a major success story and the three colleges deserve immense credit. "We are creating youth jobs at a time when the economy is faltering and young people, especially in remote areas, have few other opportunities." There is real frustration amongst landowners and the gamekeepers they employ about the profession's image. Political and media attention often focuses on cases of wildlife crime, most notably the illegal persecution of birds of prey. Gamekeepers believe they do not get the credit they deserve for the stewardship of our countryside, while landowners argue the economic benefit of country sports is often overlooked. They are hoping the new generation of gamekeepers being trained by Scotland's colleges will help change that. Angus McNicol, of Cawdor Estates near Nairn, told BBC Scotland: "It's a highly-trained profession these days. It's very different to how things were in the past."

Summary: Colleges across Scotland are reporting strong demand from sporting estates for newly-trained gamekeepers.


Stacey Burrows, 16, and Lucy Pygott, 17, were killed while on a training run in Aldershot, Hampshire, on 8 November. Judge Phillip Gillibrand revealed he had lost his own brother in a car crash as he expressed sympathy for the girls' relatives. Michael Casey, 24, is charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Mr Casey, of St Paul's Road, Tottenham, London, was bailed to appear at Winchester Crown Court on 13 April. Addressing the teenagers' relatives, Judge Gillibrand said: "I do not know the incident but I myself lost my brother in a road traffic accident. "I know the trauma and the anguish you must be going through." He was interrupted by a member of the public knocking on the window of the public gallery. The judge asked them to leave the court and for people to "respect the rule of law" in a case where "emotions are flying high". During the short hearing, Mr Casey spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He did not enter pleas but the court was told he was likely to do so when the case is next heard. The girls, who were members of Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club, were warming up for an evening run when they were hit by a black Ford Focus in Queen's Avenue. Lucy Pygott, who was from Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, had won a 3,000m bronze medal at the European Youth Championships in July. Stacey Burrows, from Farnborough, was the Hampshire under-17 3,000m champion.

Summary: A judge has told a court he understood the "trauma and anguish" of the families of two teenage athletes who died after being hit by a car.


It follows the Aslef, TSSA and Unite unions calling off their action over pay, the Night Tube and station rotas. The RMT said the suspension would allow for "further consideration and consultation on the current offer". However, it said further industrial action was still planned. The proposed agreement includes a 2% pay rise in year one, RPI inflation or 1% (whichever is greater) in years two and three, and RPI plus 0.25% or 1% (whichever is greater) in year four, plus a Â£500 bonus for staff on lines where the night Tube will run. General Secretary Mick Cash said: "The union makes it clear that we remain in dispute and the strike action scheduled for February remains on. "The union is finalising the details for the continuation of that industrial campaign and the on-going fight over the threat to jobs, services and safety." The Night Tube was due to begin last September but was delayed after the unions raised concerns over pay and conditions and went on strike over the dispute. Two more 24-hour strikes have been arranged for 15 and 17 February. An additional strike on 7 February has also been called in a separate RMT row over jobs and station staffing.

Summary: A 24-hour Tube strike planned to start on Tuesday evening has been called off after the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union agreed to suspend it.


Tour operator TUI has been accused of failing to vet security at the hotel in Sousse where a gunman killed 38 people. Andrew Ritchie QC said the families of those who died believed TUI's "utter complacency" amounted to neglect. TUI's lawyers had argued against a neglect finding, saying "matters could have been worse" during the attack. Islamist Seifeddine Rezgui attacked the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel on 26 June 2015, before he was shot dead by police. The inquest into the deaths of the Britons heard that "part of the attack or most of it could have been prevented" had security been tighter. Who were the British victims? What exactly happened on the day? Mr Ritchie said it was the victims' families' submission "that TUI's utter complacency in the face of the risk posed to its customers in Tunisia and its abrogation of responsibility for security was the very essence of neglect". He told the inquest at London's Royal Courts of Justice that the Tunisian government had been taking the terror risk seriously, but TUI and the hotel operators had not. Guests were "dependent" upon hotel owners, operators and travel companies for their safety, he added. He went on to say the guards at the Riu Imperial Marhaba had not been an effective deterrent and the lack of CCTV had made it a target. Mr Ritchie argued the coroner, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, should consider a "neglect" conclusion, saying there had been "gross neglect" on the part of TUI. But Howard Stevens QC, counsel for TUI, told the inquest: "It's relevant to note that some steps were taken, even if [in] your conclusion of these steps you incline to the view that perhaps more could have been done or things could have been done better." He said even if there had been additional CCTV cameras or guards it "cannot be said that any of these measures would probably have made a difference". A suggestion the beach gate should have been shut or locked to stop the attacker entering did not amount to a "gross failure", he submitted. He said "matters could have been worse" because people on the beach would not have been able to escape through the gate had that been the case. Mr Stevens also told the inquest there had not been any "gross failure" to contact the police by hotel staff, and TUI acted in line with other operators in sending tourists to Tunisia. Counsel to the inquest, Samantha Leek, had said she did not agree with incorporating "neglect" in the conclusion and unlawful killing verdicts were the only ones open to the coroner. The Foreign Office's counsel, Andrew O'Connor, called for a "neutral and non-judgmental" conclusion, saying a neglect verdict was "not available" on the evidence heard. Coroner Judge Loraine-Smith indicated he would not accept the neglect submission and would give his conclusions on Tuesday.

Summary: A coroner has rejected a request to rule that neglect played a part in the deaths of 30 Britons killed in the Tunisia resort attack in 2015.


5 February 2016 Last updated at 13:30 GMT Mobile phone footage of the Toffees boss showing off a series of slick moves at the Jason Derulo gig has been shared thousands of times on Twitter. Martinez later confirmed he was at the event and said he was a "big fan" of the American pop star. And he said: "I have better moves, believe me. Probably that [seen on the video] was the worst move."

Summary: Everton manager Roberto Martinez has been spotted dancing the night away at a concert in Manchester.


The men, who are in their mid 20s, were caught in squally conditions after they left Raasay at about 20:00 on Sunday to paddle across about a mile of sea. The mother of one of the men raised the alarm before later finding them on the shore of The Braes peninsula on Skye. The Coastguard said the men were "very cold" and needed medical attention. The Portree RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Team had been looking for the two men. After the kayakers were found, the lifeboat crew took them to Portree Hospital where they were treated for hypothermia and cuts and scrapes. The Coastguard team escorted the mother and another woman safely back home. Coastguard watch manager Martin Collins said: "These kayakers have been very lucky. "We have had wintery squalls across the area this evening with winds gusting to over 40mph at times and if they hadn't made someone aware of their plans they could have been exposed to the elements for a lot longer. "If you are heading out to sea in a kayak the Coastguard recommends that you check the weather forecast and tidal conditions before you head out, wear a buoyancy aid and carry distress flares are in date and stowed where you can reach them." He added: "For remote locations carrying a personal locator beacon is highly recommended."

Summary: Two kayakers got into difficulty after their craft capsized in bad weather while making an evening crossing between the isles of Raasay and Skye.


The talks will focus on the practical measures needed to reopen embassies in Havana and Washington. Although relations have improved in recent months a US trade embargo remains in place. Last month President Barack Obama said Cuba would be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. Havana had said it needed to be taken off the list before talks to reopen embassies could begin. In a statement the State Department said it will host a Cuban delegation on 21 May. "A US Embassy in Havana will allow the United States to more effectively promote our interests and values, and increase engagement with the Cuban people." In April, President Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro, the first sit-down talks between the nations' leaders since 1956.

Summary: The US State Department has said that US and Cuban negotiators will meet next Thursday to discuss re-establishing embassies in each other's capitals.


The former Dr Feelgood guitarist, 67, was given 10 months to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but was given the all clear in April. Johnson, who lives in Southend, says he now hopes to fulfil ambitions including playing with Bob Dylan. "I'm finding it hard to mentally adjust to the idea that I can plan," he said. Johnson underwent 11 hours of radical surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge to take out the 3kg tumour. The operation also involved removing his pancreas, parts of his stomach, spleen and small and large intestines. He told BBC Essex: "You go in and see someone and he says three words that take about three seconds - you've got cancer. "Bang, your universe has changed, absolutely and irrevocably." After being given his terminal diagnosis, Johnson embarked on a farewell tour last year and recorded an album with The Who's Roger Daltrey. But medics found he had a rare and curable form of the cancer when one of his doctor friends started to question why he was still feeling fairly well several months after he had been told he had less than a year to live. Johnson said despite finding it tough to grasp the concept that he could think about the future, he does hope to tour again next year and release more music. "I was very, very weak when I came out and slowly coming to terms with the idea that the end is not nigh - that I'm not facing the end," he said. "Previously there wasn't a future so I was living in the moment. "People would ask when I was going to die, have you fulfilled all your ambitions and I would have to say 'yes'. "But perhaps one thing, I would love to play with Bob Dylan... because I worship him. "I'm almost fit again and in the new year I will start playing again, doing gigs, and hopefully I'm going to sit down, scratch my head and write some songs and make some records. "But it's all a bit vague." The past four years have been fulfilling professionally. Julien Temple's 2009 documentary Oil City Confidential reminded people of Dr Feelgood's legacy and introduced a new audience to their music. A stint as an actor in the hit US TV series Game of Thrones has also been a highlight for Johnson. "I went over to Ireland to do the first part of filming and realised, 'man, this is a big, huge production," he said. "There's one guy and his sole gig is to make sure the candles haven't burnt down. "This is so different from rock 'n' roll - for one thing you get up much earlier in the morning."

Summary: Wilko Johnson says he has found it "difficult" coming to terms with still being alive after being told he had terminal cancer.


Bloc Blinds of Magherafelt specialises in made-to-measure roller blinds, and its major customers include the John Lewis department store chain. It currently employs 69 staff but aims to add 93 jobs over the next two years. The expansion is being supported with a £465,000 grant from Invest NI. The investment includes new manufacturing facilities and market development activities to help increase export sales. Cormac Diamond , the firm's managing director, says the move "underpins our ambition to increase sales particularly in Europe and the US". He said a new manufacturing facility brings all the firm's production under one roof which will "help increase production and operating efficiencies." Mr Diamond, whose background is in mechanical engineering, founded the business in the depths of the recession. He developed easy-to-install, customisable blinds and got his first John Lewis order when a buyer spotted the his products at a trade show.

Summary: A County Londonderry-based blind manufacturer is more than doubling its workforce in a £4m investment.


The 19-year-old Dane has made nine Championship appearances this season. He scored his first career goal in the 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest in February. Town boss David Wagner told the club website: "We are proud he is our player. He has taken his opportunity in the team recently, showing he can bring his performance to the pitch."

Summary: Huddersfield Town midfielder Philip Billing has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2019-20 season.


The UN says the arms were part of legitimate consignment for its mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Drugs tests carried out on a substance found around some of the UN vehicles were negative, the police said. The vehicles were allowed to be reloaded on board before the ship left, but the police have retained the arms. The rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, which were among the weapons found inside the UN vehicles, would be delivered under Kenyan escort to Indian peacekeepers in DR Congo, Mombasa County police commander Francis Wanjohi said. He said it would be too dangerous for the MV Hoegh Transporter to continue its journey if it was common knowledge there were weapons aboard, because of the threat of piracy. The ship had been sailing from Mumbai in India, but its final destination is unknown. The BBC's Ferdinand Omondi in Mombasa says the dramatic midnight raid on the vessel after it had docked on Thursday night involved several elite Kenya police units, including the narcotics squad and the criminal investigation department. The whole port was shut down and people asked to leave as it searched the ship, he says. The UN's Nairobi office said the misunderstanding over the weapons, often stored in vehicles for to avoid damage in transit, was down to a clerical error. It said although the weapons were not declared in the manifest, a separate declaration accompanying the military vehicles was attached. A UN spokesman further explained new vehicles often had anti-humidity powder put around tyres for long shipments. Hoegh Autoliners, the owners of the ship, were contemplating suing the state for damages and defamation, a lawyer representing them in Kenya, said. "The hullabaloo was so much ado about nothing," Cliff Ombeta told Kenya's Star newspaper. UN's mission in DR Congo is one of the organisation's biggest peacekeeping operations, with nearly 20,000 personnel.

Summary: A Norwegian ship detained in Kenya's Mombasa port for more than a week on suspicion of carrying drugs and illegal weapons has been released.


In a statement, Pyongyang warned that South Korea's ultimatum would "lead to no good results". On Thursday, Seoul gave the North 24 hours to agree to talks on the Kaesong Industrial Complex, warning of "grave measures" if its offer was ignored. South Korea's president later held a meeting with top officials to discuss next steps, Yonhap reported. The stoppage was taking a heavy toll on South Korean firms, the agency quoted her as saying. A statement from the Unification Ministry was expected shortly, a separate report said. North-South tensions are high following Pyongyang's nuclear test in February and the subsequent imposition of expanded UN sanctions. The Kaesong complex, launched in 2003 as a sign of North-South co-operation, is located just inside North Korea. It is the biggest contributor to inter-Korean trade and provides the North with much-needed hard currency. Q&A: Kaesong Industrial Complex Analysis: The North Korea threat Missile defences in the region Picking apart the bluster But Pyongyang blocked South Korean access to the site and pulled out its 53,000 workers earlier this month, amid a series of threats and strong rhetoric from the communist state. "Pyongyang will be the first to take tough action if the South insists on worsening the situation at the border town," North Korea's National Defense Commission said in a statement. "The kind of ultimatum made by the South the day before will only lead to no good results". The remaining 175 South Koreans still in the complex are believed to be running out of food and medicines, because the North has refused to allow fresh supplies from the South into the industrial park. The South Korean government has refused to spell out what measures it may take, but there is speculation that it may be considering pulling out its remaining citizens, the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul reports. But that would leave South Korean assets open to seizure by the North Korean authorities, as happened before at a moth-balled tourism site run by the two countries, our correspondent adds. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was aware of the South's call for talks, and "sincerely [hoped] the operation of the complex [could] return to normal as soon as possible through dialogue," a UN spokesman said on Thursday.

Summary: North Korea has rejected Seoul's call for talks on resuming operations at a joint industrial zone.


The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed a price cap for all households using pre-payment meters. It has also proposed that the regulator, Ofgem, keeps a database of customers that have been on a standard rate for three years. This database will then be opened up so these customers can be targeted directly by other suppliers. The proposals are designed to reform the energy market and increase competition to help consumers save money. The CMA also proposed: They follow an 18-month investigation into the energy market by the CMA which found that, in total, customers may have been paying about £1.7bn a year more than they would in a competitive market. The CMA believes that those households using pre-payment meters, currently numbering four million, need protecting until smart meters are rolled out in 2020. Those using pre-payment meters tend to be the poorer and more vulnerable customers who have difficulty setting up accounts with suppliers. Roger Witcomb, chairman of the CMA's investigation, told the BBC that the price controls would lower bills by £300m in total, the equivalent of about £90 per household. Analysis: Simon Jack, BBC business editor The customer discontent over energy bills has rumbled on for years. After countless Ofgem probes, the issue of stubbornly high prices was referred to a body with real teeth, the Competition and Markets Authority and this morning, after two years of inquiry, they bared them. The question is, how sharp are they? Inertia costs customers well over £1bn a year - 70% of all customers are on their supplier's standard tariff. If they were to move, the CMA estimates they could save £300-£400 a year. Some people find it much harder to switch - those on pre-payment meters or those in debt to their existing suppliers. Here we will see price controls: namely, a transitional price cap for four million customers until 2020. The existence of price controls in a market that was deregulated 20 years ago will be seen by some as evidence of failure of that market. More from Simon: Inertia the big enemy Energy report: A spammers' charter? Should energy prices be regulated? Energy Secretary Amber Rudd said: "This is a wake-up call to the big six [energy providers]. "Energy customers should get a fair deal from a market that works for them. That's why we called for the biggest ever investigation into the energy market and won't hesitate to take forward its recommendations." Her Labour counterpart Lisa Nandy countered: "While a safeguard tariff for customers stuck on expensive pre-pay meters is welcome and will protect some households, we will need to go much further to make sure bills are fair and transparent for everybody else too." "We have found that the six largest suppliers have learned to take many of their existing domestic customers - some 70% of whom are on default standard variable tariffs - for granted, not just over prices, but with their service and quality," said Mr Witcomb. He said that, if implemented, these proposals would "shake up the industry". He added: "Given the scale

Summary: Millions of low-income households could see power bills cut after a watchdog's report into the UK's energy sector.


Swansea's 1-0 win over Everton, after Hull had lost 2-0 at Sunderland, saw the Welsh side climb out of the bottom three with two games remaining. But the Swansea boss says there is still work to do and his side must remain focused. "It can swing so quickly the other way," Clement said. "We have to really focus on making sure we do a good job at Sunderland. "We know that Hull have got a difficult game with Crystal Palace still not out of it and that's going to be hard. "But the most important thing is to do a good job when we go to Sunderland." The Swans were bottom with only 12 points from 19 games when Clement was appointed in January. Clement says keeping Swansea City in the Premier League would be the highlight of his career and eclipse winning the Champions League. Media playback is not supported on this device Clement was Carlo Ancelotti's assistant when Real Madrid won the Champions League in 2014. He was also the Italian's number two when Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010. "I've been in a very privileged position in the past to have worked with some fantastic teams and different players and got my hands on some unbelievable silverware," Clement said. "But this will be the best by far if we manage to stay in this league, because I'm the one making the decisions. "I'm the one in charge and because of the position when I came into this club. "It was difficult for the supporters and for the players. I was the third coach in one season, so it will be a fantastic achievement if we do it." Fernando Llorente scored the only goal against Everton as Swansea's win combined with Hull's defeat against already-relegated Sunderland saw Clement's side move out of the bottom three. Swansea travel to Sunderland next Saturday and the club's players will cover the cost of 3,000 away tickets. "We have picked up seven points from games against Stoke, Manchester United and Everton and that's a tough run," Clement added. "Now we go to Sunderland and I am glad they won. "One because it helped us, but also because it shows we can not underestimate them."

Summary: Paul Clement says Swansea City cannot waste their opportunity after moving out of the Premier League relegation zone.


A police officer told the BBC that two people were killed after a gunman believed to be the killer of a policewoman in Montrouge entered the supermarket near Porte de Vincennes. Armed police have flooded the area. In Dammartin-en-Goele, 35km (22 miles) north-east of Paris, the Charlie Hebdo suspects are also holding a hostage. The Islamist militants are inside a small printing business and have reportedly said they are prepared to die. Twelve people were shot dead and 11 were injured in Wednesday's attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine which freely mocks religion. The unprecedented attack shocked France and there has been an outpouring of sympathy and solidarity worldwide. Armed anti-terror teams have surrounded the Hypercacher supermarket on avenue de la Porte de Vincennes in eastern Paris, where a gunman is said to be holding five hostages. He knew at least one of the suspected Charlie Hebdo attackers, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, a source told AFP news agency. The gunman has threatened to kill his captives if police seek to capture the brothers, reports citing police say. Schools near the supermarket are under lockdown. Separately police have ordered the closure of all shops in the Marais, a traditionally Jewish area in the heart of Paris's central tourist district. The gunman in eastern Paris is also suspected to be behind the shooting of a policewoman in the southern suburb of Montrouge on Thursday. French police have issued an appeal for witnesses to that shooting. They said they were looking for two people: a man called Amedy Coulibaly, 32, and a woman called Hayat Boumeddiene, 26. The two were thought to be "armed and dangerous", French police said. The Charlie Hebdo attackers, linked by intelligence officials to militant groups, shouted Islamist slogans during the shooting at the magazine office on Wednesday and then fled Paris in a hijacked car, heading north. Shots were fired during a high-speed car chase earlier on Friday. It appears the suspects had hijacked another car in the town of Montagny-Sainte-Felicite before travelling on to Dammartin. The car's owner is said to have recognised them as the Kouachi brothers. In a televised statement, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve confirmed the men being sought on Friday were those wanted for the Charlie Hebdo attack and said they would be "neutralised". The suspects have been surrounded in a small printing business named CTD, a source close to the investigation told AFP. Officials from the town council say pupils from three schools are being evacuated to a nearby gymnasium, where they will be reunited with their parents. Christelle Alleume, who works near CTD in Dammartin, said a round of gunfire had interrupted her morning coffee break. "We heard shots and we returned very fast because everyone was afraid," she told French broadcaster iTele. "We had orders to turn off the lights and not approach the windows." People in the area say police helicopters began arriving around 08:45 (07:45 GMT) followed by convoys of armed officers. Sharpshooters could be seen taking up position on rooftops. The security situation has affected

Summary: A gunman has seized hostages at a kosher supermarket in Paris as police have cornered the two Charlie Hebdo massacre suspects further north.


The five-time African champions have been draw in a pool with SuperSport United, Horoya and Mounana in the expanded group stage. Three-time winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia will face South Africa's Platinum Stars, debutants Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland and Mouloudia Alger from Algeria. Moroccan side FUS Rabat, who won the tournament in 2010, face two sides making the debuts in the group stages in Rivers United of Nigeria and Uganda's KCCA. The group is completed by Tunisia's Club Africain, who were crowned continental champions in 1991 and runners-up in this competition 20 years later. Rivers United were the last team to qualify for the group stage with a 2-0 aggregate win over Rayon Sports after a goalless draw in Rwanda on Saturday. The first leg of the tie was postponed due to the the commemorations for the genocide in Rwanda. First group matches due to be played on the weekend of 12-14 May. The top two from each group will progress to the quarter-finals with the final set to be played over two legs in November.

Summary: TP Mazembe of DR Congo face trips to South Africa, Guinea and Gabon as they bid to defend their Confederation Cup title.


Its snapshot survey of 900 heads found 90% were struggling to recruit. The government says it is investing Â£1.3bn up to 2020 to attract new teachers where they are most needed. But three-quarters of respondents to the survey said it was now tougher to recruit than 12 months ago. And nearly nine out of 10 said the situation was creating extra work and stress for staff. While some 70% were using more support staff, about a fifth had worked with other schools to share or recruit teachers. Some 41% of those surveyed had arranged for more lessons to be taught by the head or deputy head. The biggest areas of subject shortage were in the key subjects of maths, science and English. Some schools faced difficulties in attracting languages, geography and history teachers. ASCL general secretary Malcolm Trobe said: "Teacher shortages leave schools with no option other than to use stop-gap solutions. "Schools have to put teachers in front of classes. "If they cannot recruit the staff they need, this means using supply staff and non-specialists to cover the gaps. "While these staff often do a very good job in difficult circumstances, it is no substitute for having permanent teachers who are experts in their subjects. "Without this supply of teachers, there is a danger that some of the progress which has been made will be lost. "It will certainly be extremely difficult if not impossible to raise standards further." He said schools that struggled to find enough maths or science teachers, for example, would cut down on the number of ability groups they offered. "This is being done because schools cannot find enough teachers not because it is desirable," said Mr Trobe. He urged the government to do more to make teaching a more attractive profession. A Department for Education spokesman said: "The government is investing hundreds of millions in teacher recruitment, offering generous bursaries and scholarships in Stem [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] subjects, plus backing schemes like Teach First and the National Teaching Service to get great teachers where they're most needed - and... we've given schools unprecedented freedom over staff pay, allowing them to attract the brightest and the best. "We are committed to raising the status of teaching and want to work with ASCL and the profession to make it an attractive career choice." The survey comes after the government missed its teacher recruitment targets in England for the fourth year in a row, leading to shortfalls in many subjects. This followed a shake-up of teacher training in which the numbers to be recruited on traditional post-graduate routes were initially reduced as a new school-based training scheme was introduced.

Summary: Head teachers in England are having to share staff with other schools as they try to find "stop-gap solutions" to fill vacancies, the Association of School and College Leaders says.


GSA established a Phoenix Bursary scheme to help those affected by the blaze which ripped through its iconic Mackintosh building in May last year. Of the 100 students given grants, 90 are exhibiting at the Reid Building. The show has paintings, video work, multi-media installations, sculptures, interactive pieces and photography. It will open to the public on Friday. An investigation by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service concluded the fire was caused by flammable gases from a canister of expanding foam. The report, released in November, said the gases ignited as they came into contact with the hot surface of a projector in Studio 19. In the aftermath of the blaze, GSA launched a Â£20m fundraising drive to pay for the restoration of the Mackintosh and its contents. The art school confirmed earlier this year that Glasgow-based Page\Park Architects would lead the restoration project.

Summary: Students who lost work in the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) fire are showing new work made possible through a special programme set up to help them.


Alfie Hyett was found by his mother Louise Hembrow at home in Hereford last March. Police told the inquest they found no evidence to support a claim he was copying a choking game that encouraged people to block their airways. A verdict of accidental death was recorded at Hereford Town Hall. More on this and other stories from Hereford and Worcester When the inquest opened in June, Mark Bricknell, senior coroner for Herefordshire, heard Alfie died of vagal inhibition, which causes the heart to stop through the stimulation of the vagus nerve in the neck. Before the inquest, Ms Hembrow told the BBC she believed her son had taken part in the game where the brain is starved of oxygen to create an adrenalin rush. However, Det Sgt Mark Jinks, from West Mercia Police, said there was no evidence he had researched the game or discussed it with friends. Mr Bricknell said he believed Alfie had tied the scarf around his neck out of childhood curiosity or experimentation without realising the potential consequences, and had not meant to take his own life.

Summary: A 10-year-old boy found hanged in his bedroom "did not understand the risks of putting a scarf around his neck", a coroner has said.


Jannette Black, head of Springhill and Auchenback Primary School in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, was seen at a minor injuries unit on Wednesday. East Renfrewshire Council confirmed that the incident had taken place and said an investigation into the circumstances was ongoing. Police Scotland said the incident had not been reported to them. A council spokesman said: "We can confirm that an incident took place at the school [on Wednesday]. "No serious injuries were sustained and the member of staff involved did not require hospital treatment, however, did attend a local minor injuries unit as a precaution. "Incidents of this nature are extremely rare in our schools and we have a zero tolerance approach to violence at work." The local authority rejected claims that the incident was the latest one linking the school with anti-social behaviour or a lack of action by the council's education department. A statement said: "Any incident relating to violence which is reported to us is investigated thoroughly and the appropriate action taken. "We do not accept the claims that have been made about the management of either our schools or the education department. "In fact, a recent Education Scotland report on this school highlights a number of areas of improvement which have been achieved under the current management."

Summary: A primary school head teacher was taken to hospital following an attack by a pupil.


Esther Kidemba died after apparently jumping from a building during a drill at the private Strathmore University in the capital, Nairobi. Gunshots were fired during the drill, causing panic on the campus. Militant Islamist group al-Shabab killed some 150 people in an attack on Garissa University College in April. Strathmore University Vice-Chancellor John Odhiambo said he offered his deepest condolences to the family of Ms Kidemba, who was a staff member, and an "unreserved apology to every student, parent, family, colleague and stakeholder for the unfortunate outcome of the security drill". Strathmore would pay for the medical expenses of 30 students and staff injured during the drill, and would arrange post-traumatic counselling, he added. The drill had been carried out by the university's security team in co-ordination with local police to assess how they would deal with any attack, a statement by the university said. On Monday, Nairobi police chief Japheth Koome said all the proper procedures had been followed for the mock security exercise, Reuters news agency reports. But in his reaction, police chief Joseph Boinett said: "This must not happen again." Kenya's security forces were on high alert to deal with threats, and drills should be conducted only with the authorisation of the "highest security office in the country", he added. April's day-long assault on Garissa University College in north-eastern Kenya was the deadliest by al-Shabab in the East African state. In 2013, at least 67 people were killed in an attack by the al-Qaeda-linked group, which is headquartered in neighbouring Somalia, on the upmarket Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi. Al-Shabab says it is opposed to the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia. The troops are part of an African Union (AU) force helping the weak Somali government fight the militants who want to establish Islamic rule in the country.

Summary: Kenya's police chief has warned universities not to carry out security drills without his approval following the death of a woman on Monday.


The 18-year-old scored 88.40 to make history in what was the fifth and the final stop of the World Cup season. She came ahead of Sweden's Emma Dahlstrom and Swiss Mathilde Gremaud. Boston-born Atkin, who initially competed for the US before switching to Great Britain aged 15, was making her 15th appearance at a World Cup event. Atkin will be competing at the Freestyle World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain (9-19 March). The event will be live on the BBC Sport website, app, connected TV and red button.

Summary: Izzy Atkin became the first British woman to win a World Cup ski slopestyle event as she took gold in Silvaplana, Switzerland.


Aaron Lennon is still missing but Muhamed Besic is nearing a first-team return following nine months out with a serious knee injury. Burnley midfielder Steven Defour is fit, having played only twice in 10 weeks because of various injuries. Johann Berg Gudmundsson has stepped up his recovery from knee ligament damage but might not be risked. Guy Mowbray: "Everton are hunting a new club record for successive Premier League home wins, against a Burnley side still seeking ANY away win. "The Clarets have three chances left, with the last (and furthest!) trip to Bournemouth probably their best bet - assuming both are safe from relegation by the season's penultimate weekend. "With one win in nine since January, it's testament to how well Burnley did earlier in the season that they'll surely be okay by then. "The FA Cup semi-finals line-up should mean that Everton are sitting pretty for a Europa League place, and whilst a strong finish won't get them in the top four it might prove key to keeping Romelu Lukaku." Twitter: @Guymowbray Everton manager Ronald Koeman on his players' ambitions: "If you ask the players one by one, everyone will mention they like to play Champions League: for every manager, for every player and also the fans. "Our next step is to play in Europe. It will be difficult but if we finish fifth or sixth it would be perfect as you don't play any qualification games for the Europa League." Burnley manager Sean Dyche on Michael Keane's PFA Young Player of the Year nomination: "It's a great sign for him and he deserves to be in that company. "We're not shining lights of the Premier League or a superpower, so for other players to see that and say 'hang on a minute, he's been terrific in a smaller side at a smaller club' is good, it's good of his peers to recognise that. "He's in some very good company, some players who are having absolutely fine seasons, and he's having a very strong season too." Since suffering their only home league defeat of the season, against Liverpool in December, the Toffees have won seven league games in a row at Goodison Park. I think Everton's excellent run will continue - and maybe Ross Barkley will deliver the knock-out blow. Prediction: 2-0 Lawro's full predictions v singer Sting Head-to-head Everton Burnley SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.

Summary: Everton defender Ashley Williams returns from suspension for the visit of Burnley on Saturday.


HBO tweeted the image with the message: "April #GoTSeason6 #GameOfThrones". It is the first major hint since pictures of actor Kit Harington at an airport in Northern Ireland, where the series is filmed, went viral in July. Snow was apparently murdered at the end of season five. Fans last saw him lying stricken after he being brutally stabbed by his comrades in the Nights Watch. Actress and Pitch Perfect 2 director Elizabeth Banks was one of thousands of fans who took to social media to question whether the character was really set to make a return. She tweeted: "Fired up. Ready to go. #JonSnow". Violeta Molina said: "Is he back for real? Is he a ghost? Is this all a cruel joke being played on us by HBO?" Stage musician Ben Hanlin added: "You all thought he was dead.... You know nothing!" Some fans are sceptical about the poster with Citizen D claiming: "Something feels off with that Jon snow poster. [I don't know] what kind of games HBO is playing but I don't like it one bit." Scott Crawely took a slightly more hopeful look: "The real good news, If they can bring back Jon Snow they can bring back all of my other 30 favourite characters that died." Channel 4 news anchor Jon Snow appeared to be slightly aggrieved his name was trending on social media, tweeting: "Winter is not coming: I have never been dead: I am a journalist: I am alarmed that my namesake has me trending!" Game of Thrones, which began in 2011, has won 26 Primetime Emmy awards, including this year's outstanding drama series and a Bafta audience award in 2013.

Summary: A poster of a bloodied, but very much alive Jon Snow, has appeared to end months of speculation as to whether the popular Game of Thrones character will return in the sixth series.


The Egyptian, 25, has signed a five-year deal and has been a prime target for manager Jurgen Klopp. At current exchange rates, the fee is short of the club record £35m paid for Andy Carroll in 2011 but matches the sum they spent in 2016 to make Sadio Mane the most expensive African player. Salah almost joined Liverpool from Basle in 2014 before moving to Chelsea. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said Salah has "the perfect mix of experience and potential", adding: "This is a really exciting signing for us. "I have followed him since he emerged at Basle and he has matured into a really good player. "His pace is incredible, he gives us more attacking threat and we are already strong in this area. I like that we will make it even more competitive." Salah will wear the number 11 shirt, with Roberto Firmino moving to number nine. After only six Premier League starts following his £11m move, Salah had loan spells at Fiorentina and Roma before joining the latter in a permanent move for about £15m last summer. He was a key figure as Roma finished second in Serie A last season, scoring 15 goals in 31 league appearances. Liverpool have already signed Chelsea's 19-year-old striker Dominic Solanke, who was top scorer as England won the Under-20 World Cup and will join on 1 July. That fee will be decided by a tribunal after he rejected a new contract at Stamford Bridge, with the fee expected to be about £3m.

Summary: Liverpool have completed the 39m euro (£34m) signing of Roma's former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah.


With the PM away on his EU renegotiation tour, the shadow first secretary of state clashed with the chancellor for the first time, quoting Tory MPs unhappy at his progress. Mr Osborne questioned the wisdom of quoting backbenchers in a dig at the unrest in Labour ranks. He also pledged £50m in flood relief. Mr Cameron is attempting to secure reforms to the UK's relationship with the EU before holding an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. Ms Eagle, who was greeted with loud cheers as she stood up at the despatch box, said Mr Cameron had been "jetting all over the place" on his "seemingly endless European tour", adding to laughter from Labour ranks: "Can I ask the chancellor: How's it all going?" "The good news is we have a leader who is respected abroad," replied Mr Osborne, saying the PM was "fighting for a better deal for Britain, something that would never have happened had there been a Labour government". George Osborne, the bookies' favourite to replace David Cameron as Conservative leader, was then asked whether he really aspired to be "the first post-EU prime minister" by Ms Eagle, who quoted some Eurosceptic Conservative MPs as being "pretty unimpressed by how it's going". She then imitated Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's PMQs approach of reading out questions from emails he has received. In this case it was "Donald from Brussels" - a reference to EU Council president Donald Tusk, who warned of the "destabilising" effect of uncertainty over the UK's future in Europe in a letter to fellow EU leaders this week. Mr Osborne said the UK had received the "lion's share" of EU investment since announcing its EU referendum plans. George Osborne went on to say "someone called Tony" has been writing today, referred her to comments from former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, who said in an interview published today that the current state of the party was a complete "tragedy". Ms Eagle, who is shadow business secretary, was ready with an alternative Blair quote: "Just mouth the words five more Tory years and you feel your senses and reasons repulsed by what they've done to our country." David Cameron is visiting Romania and Poland, so the chancellor - who is PMQs deputy by virtue of also having the First Secretary of State title - stepped up for his second appearance at the despatch box. Meanwhile Ms Eagle, who is shadow business secretary, was also given the shadow First Secretary of State title in Jeremy Corbyn's first shadow cabinet. This means she gets the job of deputising for her leader on such occasions, and this was her first opportunity since getting the role. Mr Osborne was given a promotion at the end of the session by Tory backbencher Peter Bone, who called him the "acting prime minister". Ms Eagle dedicated her opening questions to the flooding that has hit North West England, asking the chancellor to guarantee that money would be "no object" in the relief effort. In his response, Mr Osborne pledged £50m fund for families and

Summary: Labour's Angela Eagle poked fun at David Cameron's EU reforms as she traded jokes with George Osborne at Prime Minister's Questions.


The Real Madrid player, 23, will miss Saturday's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in Milan. The French Football Federation said scans had confirmed Varane, who has won 29 caps for Les Bleus, would be out for up to three weeks. Sevilla defender Adil Rami, 30, has been called up by manager Didier Deschamps as his replacement. France play Group A rivals Romania in the tournament opener on 10 June. France squad for Euro 2016: Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Benoit Costil. Defenders: Adil Rami, Laurent Koscielny, Eliaquim Mangala, Jeremy Mathieu, Patrice Evra, Bacary Sagna, Christophe Jallet, Lucas Digne. Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Lassana Diarra, N'Golo Kante, Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko. Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Dimitri Payet, Anthony Martial, Kingsley Coman, Olivier Giroud, Andre-Pierre Gignac. Reserves: Alphonse Areola, Hatem Ben Arfa, Kevin Gameiro, Alexandre Lacazette, Adrien Rabiot, Morgan Schneiderlin, Djibril Sidibe, Samuel Umtiti.

Summary: France defender Raphael Varane has been ruled out of the host nation's Euro 2016 campaign with a thigh injury.


Mitroglou scrambled in the decisive goal for the Portuguese champions from Luisao's header in the second half. Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a penalty straight at keeper Ederson after Ljubomir Fejsa handled. The German side were the top scorers in the group stage, but failed to find a way through a stubborn home defence. Dortmund will host the second leg on 8 March, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. Relive Benfica's win against Borussia Dortmund PSG stun Barcelona to leave Luis Enrique's side on the brink The Bundesliga side were expected to pose a greater threat to Benfica after scoring 21 goals in the group stage. Gabon international Aubameyang had contributed four of those strikes but epitomised an out-of-sorts Dortmund, scooping a close-range chance over the bar and missing his penalty before being substituted after an hour. Dortmund's form has faltered since December, with the German side winning just two of their last seven league matches. Thomas Tuchel's side suffered a shock defeat by the Bundesliga's bottom club Darmstadt on Saturday, and the malaise continued as they were held at bay by a stubborn Benfica display. The Portuguese club have never lost a last-16 tie in the Champions League - having reached that stage three times - and will have a lead to defend in Germany after scoring with their only shot on target. Benfica coach Rui Vitoria: "We fought, gave our best, and victories are also made of that. "Congratulations to Ederson too, a keeper who showed his quality once again, this time against a team that scored so many goals in the group stage." Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel: "Aubameyang is not fully fit after the Africa Cup of Nations and his body language did not suggest that he would do better after missing the penalty. "We played an outstanding game and conceded a goal with their first shot in the second half. "It is an extremely complicated result, but I am very proud of how we played tonight. Even though I am very disappointed, I am proud of how we presented ourselves." Match ends, Benfica 1, Borussia Dortmund 0. Second Half ends, Benfica 1, Borussia Dortmund 0. Foul by Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund). Ederson Moraes (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Borussia Dortmund. Conceded by Eduardo Salvio. Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund). Raúl Jiménez (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a corner. Corner, Borussia Dortmund. Conceded by Eliseu. Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Filipe Augusto (Benfica). Attempt missed. Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Julian Weigl. Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund). Pizzi (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Borussia Dortmund.

Summary: Kostas Mitroglou gave Benfica a one-goal advantage in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund.


Lead investigator Viviana Fein said the draft warrant was found in a rubbish bin in Mr Nisman's apartment complex. Mr Nisman was found dead in his Buenos Aires apartment last month, with a single bullet wound to the head. Investigators have yet to establish if he killed himself, or was murdered. Mr Nisman had been investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires which killed 85 people. He died hours before he was due to testify in Congress against President Fernandez, whom he had accused of covering up alleged Iranian involvement in the 1994 attack. President Fernandez has denied the allegation. Iran has also denied involvement in the attack. Ms Fein told a local radio station on Tuesday that the draft warrant was "on file", and that a previous statement from her office saying that no such draft had been found was "erroneous". Opposition newspaper Clarin had published a copy of the draft on Monday. The document, dating from June 2014, requested the arrest of President Fernandez and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman. However, it was not included in a 300-page report submitted by Mr Nisman to a federal court days before his death. Under Argentine law, the president and the foreign minister could only be arrested if Congress first lifted the immunity granted to them as members of the executive. Horacio Verbitsky, one of Argentina's most experienced journalists and human rights investigators, told me in his Buenos Aires flat last week: "There's no point trying to speculate who killed Nisman, because we just don't know." Mr Verbitsky is, of course, dead right. Alberto Nisman probably alienated many people as, with the zealous attitude of a man on a mission, he put the finishing touches to his controversial report into the 1994 bombing. But that does not mean any of the people he criticised in the report were responsible for his death. Having initially dramatically denied the existence of the draft arrest warrants by ripping up copies of the newspaper that first carried the reports, a government spokesman has now been forced into an embarrassing climb-down, and that does look bad for the president. So does the apparent pressure the government continues to put on case investigators and fringe players by relentlessly commenting on what should be an independent judicial investigation. What is particularly worrying here, beyond the personal tragedy of Alberto Nisman's death, is not that this happened in Argentina - such murky deeds could happen in any city in any country. It is the fact that most Argentines clearly do not expect their government or its institutions to get to the truth, just as the 1992 and 1994 atrocities remain unresolved. When Clarin first published the draft warrant, the government reacted angrily, dismissing the report as "garbage". President Fernandez had also originally described Mr Nisman's death as suicide. However, in a televised speech last week, the president suggested that rogue elements in Argentina's intelligence service had fed Mr Nisman false information and manipulated him. She announced plans to dismantle the Intelligence Secretariat (SI) and called for a special

Summary: Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman drafted an arrest warrant for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, according to the woman investigating Mr Nisman's mysterious death.


It has gained a foothold in key towns and cities in the mostly lawless North African state, prompting Egypt - seeing itself as the bulwark against Islamists in region - to launch air strikes against the group. After the two war-ravaged Middle Eastern states, IS has launched its most high-profile attacks in Libya, bombing an upmarket hotel in the capital, Tripoli, in January, and releasing a video earlier this month showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians it had kidnapped. On 20 February, it killed at least 40 people in a suicide bombing in the eastern town of al-Qubbah. For UK-based Libyan academic, Mohamed Ahdash, the emergence of IS affiliates in Libya is not surprising. "There is a study which shows that after Saudi Arabia, most of the fighters who went to Syria were from Libya," he told the BBC. Libya's internationally recognised government believes the fighters are now returning, following a shift in IS thinking to promote local jihad, and are under the command of a Tunisian named Abu Talha. The North African state, Middle East Monitor publication analyst Nasim Ahmed points out, is an obvious target for IS. It is a gateway to Europe, and has been chaotic since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Muhammar Gaddafi in a Nato-backed offensive in 2011, with two rivals governments, dozens of groups armed with weapons looted from the former regime's arsenal and smugglers who roam freely across porous borders in the desert region. "It is a failed state. Unlike other countries in the region, it does not have a semblance of government. This makes it the most vulnerable," he told the BBC. Moreover, Libya is rich in oil and, earlier this month, gunmen claiming to represent IS raided a French-run oil facility in al-Mabruk, south of Sirte city, killing at least 11 guards. "They are able to attack oil pipelines, but as of yet lack the capability to sell smuggled oil on the open market. Nonetheless, many IS-aligned fighters collect salaries from the Libyan state," Jason Pack, a researcher in Libyan history at the UK's Cambridge University, told the BBC. Libya's rival power bases Has Libya been let down by the West? Fighting for the spoils of Libya's revolution Why is Libya lawless? Mr Ahdash says Libya has become a magnet for jihadis from other parts of Africa - especially those who fled northern Mali after a French-led military operation recaptured territory from them in 2013. "They are under one umbrella, but they are very different and very divided. It is difficult to work out who is who," he says. He says Islamists had a presence in Libya during Col Gaddafi's rule, but they were heavily suppressed. So it does not surprise him that they have now gained a foothold in cities like Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolution that overthrew Col Gaddafi, and Derna, the coastal town being targeted by Egypt's military and where the first IS affiliate emerged in October. But what surprises him, Mr Ahdash says, is that they have secured a presence in Sirte, the birthplace of

Summary: The Islamic State (IS) has wreaked havoc in the Middle East, seizing vast areas of Iraq and Syria and now it is taking advantage of Libya's collapse into anarchy.


The grey and white mammal became stuck on sandbanks on Thursday at Saltney Ferry, near Chester. An RNLI lifeboat hoisted the dolphin out of the water before carrying it out to sea, according to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue. The dolphin, in the river since Monday, will be taken three miles off the coast of Rhyl. Alan Forrester, lifeboat operations manager with Flint RNLI, told Radio Wales the rescue boat was launched at Connah's Quay after the dolphin was seen "floundering" on a sandbank. It was hoisted onto the lifeboat and carried down the river towards open water. An animal welfare officer is also onboard. "We've got what we call an ambulance pouch, which is a rolled up stretcher," Mr Forrester added. "They laid that on the sandbank and rolled the dolphin into the stretcher and lifted it into the lifeboat. "It's rather a large dolphin. It's lying there nicely, they've got buckets of water to keep it cool - everything seems to be ok at the moment." The mammal was originally spotted by the public on Monday in Connah's Quay docks and became stranded briefly on Tuesday after turning to make its way to Flint and towards the sea. Liverpool coastguard wanted to hold off a rescue attempt for as long as possible to avoid coming into physical contact with the mammal in case it is rejected back at sea. A coastguard team was earlier deployed to the area to try to ensure the safety of spectators trying to catch a glimpse of the dolphin. It is thought the dolphin swam up the river during the high spring tide. It is rare for dolphins to be seen in the River Dee but a pair of porpoises were reported near Queensferry Bridge eight years ago.

Summary: A dolphin has been rescued after swimming miles up the River Dee in Flintshire four days ago.


Land is being made available by Northern Ireland Executive. One of two helicopters that will form part of the service toured Northern Ireland last week. The charity behind it says it hopes it will be fully operational by March next year. The decision to choose the Maze site has been waiting for executive approval for some time. It was given the green light following a test landing last week, which was used to assess several factors, including noise levels. Northern Ireland was previously the only area in the UK without a HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service). In March, the then health minister, Simon Hamilton said the air ambulance would be based at Belfast International Airport. But the charity behind the new service believes basing it at the Maze will be cost effective. It plans to use an existing building that was once used to check vehicles. The helicopter has arrived after a campaign for an air ambulance service by the late Dr John Hinds. Dr Hinds died in an accident in July 2015, but his partner Dr Janet Acheson continued his campaigning work. The building at the Maze will be converted into hangar space for two helicopters, as well as changing facilities for crew and an operations room. The charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland says it will need to raise about Â£2m a year to operate the service. Health officials have yet to decide if it will have doctors onboard as well as paramedics.

Summary: The new air ambulance for Northern Ireland is to be based at the Maze Long Kesh site near Lisburn, County Antrim.


Seven people were arrested by Avon and Somerset Police last week after trouble between fans in Cardiff last October. South Wales Police are investigating an assault on a steward and serious disorder which occurred at the game. Both forces said they would crack down on anyone "causing problems before, during or after the game". Insp Rob Millican, from Avon and Somerset Police, said it would "not tolerate disorder". "We have arrested a number of Bristol City fans and will now put these people before the courts," he said. "Successful convictions should result in football banning orders which will mean they will no longer be able to attend games or follow their national side abroad. "We urge all attending this weekend's match to enjoy themselves but we will not tolerate poor behaviour." Fans have been warned anyone carrying, lighting or throwing such items as flares or smoke bombs will be arrested and could be prosecuted. Saturday's Championship game between Bristol City and Cardiff City, kicks off at 12:00 GMT.

Summary: Bristol and Cardiff City fans have been warned to behave at Saturday's Severnside derby following a previous clash between the clubs.


6 February 2017 Last updated at 09:46 GMT British player Kyle Edmund was beating Denis Shapovalov from Canada, when frustration got the better of him. The 17-year-old Canadian whacked the tennis ball in anger, only to hit the umpire in the eye! As a result the match could no longer continue, meaning Great Britain won by default. Kyle will now go on to face off against France in April. Shapovalov apologised to the umpire after the match, and his coach hopes he will learn a lesson from it.

Summary: Great Britain are through to the Davis Cup quarter-finals, after a Canadian player accidentally hit the umpire with a tennis ball.


Inamulhaq Anwar, 34, and Akeel Ahmed, 41, had denied stepping up religious influence in education at Park View Academy in Alum Rock, Birmingham. A professional standards panel handed the men interim teaching bans in 2015. Mr Anwar and Mr Ahmed can apply to have their new bans set aside but only after minimum terms have elapsed. The men had denied a central allegation they had agreed with others to the inclusion of "an undue amount of religious influence in pupils' education". The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) said Mr Anwar would serve an indefinite ban for a minimum period of six years. Mr Ahmed will serve a ban with a three-year minimum term. Neither man is allowed to teach in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation or children's home in England. They have 28 days to appeal against their bans to the High Court. Last November, a panel recommended teaching bans, after concluding pupils had been "immersed in orthodox Islamic doctrine" through measures including the use of the school loudspeaker system to broadcast a daily call-to-prayer to Park View's pupils. The panel also found while there was no formal agreement to change the character of the schools involved, there had been a co-ordinated attempt at the state-funded schools to include "undue religious influence". It further found no evidence of Islamic "extremism" at work in the classrooms. Thirteen former staff members including ex-head teachers at Park View Educational Trust (PVET) and Oldknow Academy have been facing misconduct hearings, as a result of the scandal's fallout. The panel said it had heard "credible" evidence from a staff member who described the two men's roles as that of "generals" in contributing to making sure pupils were "fed a diet of Islam". The panel also found their conduct tended to undermine tolerance and respect for the faith and belief of others. Separately, Mr Anwar was also found to have breached proper recruitment procedures at Park View's sister school Nansen Primary. Park View, part of PVET, was at the centre of anonymous allegations which claimed there was a wider plot by Muslim hard-liners to take control of several Birmingham schools. The allegations sparked investigations by several agencies, including the Department for Education and Ofsted. Following the scandal, Park View Academy was placed in special measures by Ofsted. It has since been renamed Rockwood Academy.

Summary: Two teachers who worked at the school at the centre of the "Trojan Horse" scandal have been banned from the classroom for life.


Willard Wigan, whose works are so small they can fit inside the eye of a needle, has dubbed the creation To See or Not to See. Smaller than a full stop in a newspaper and only viewable with a microscope, the piece took four weeks to complete. It is on display at the Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton. Mr Wigan, who was born in Birmingham, said the work "took every ounce of my skill and took a lot out of me". More on the micro-Shakespeare and Warwickshire news "Shakespeare is the greatest storyteller the world has ever known, and as I'm the world's leading micro-sculptor, I wanted to honour him in the best way I can," he said. "The most difficult aspect was getting his proportions right, but I'm really pleased with the result." The artist said he created the micro-Shakespeare from synthetic materials, painted using a floating fibre plucked from the air as a brush. It is surrounded by an 18-carat Elizabethan-style frame with the words "To see or not to see" underneath. BBC Shakespeare Festival 2016 There will be 30 microscopic pieces on show including "Noddy Holder in a Needle". Shakespeare, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564 and he died there on April 23, 1616.

Summary: An artist famed for his tiny sculptures has created a microscopic William Shakespeare to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death.


He attended a service near Bayeux with US President Barack Obama, who said the US commitment to liberty was "written in blood" on French beaches. The Queen laid a wreath at a ceremony nearby. They will gather at Sword Beach, one of five landing points for Allied troops. The landings were the first stage of the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. By the end of D-Day on 6 June 1944, the Allies had established a foothold in France - an event that would eventually help bring the war to an end. As the sun rose over Normandy shores this morning, a veteran watched, lost in memories, from the deck of HMS Bulwark. The Royal Navy flagship had sailed the English Channel overnight at the head of an international task group of ships. For former Royal Marine Corporal Bill Bryant, 89, the sight of the beaches brought back emotional recollections of the same time exactly 70 years ago, as he prepared to drive his landing craft to the shores - carrying his colleagues to their fate on land, amid a barrage of noise and chaos. The contrast with today could not have been greater as he joined many other veterans on "Gold" Beach, amid a festival atmosphere. The sunshine sparkled on the waves, and French families and tourists from across Europe gathered to watch military bands on the main square at Arromanches. This doughty but dwindling band of brothers know this may be the last time they meet on these shores. For the veterans, and those who've come to honour them, the ceremonies at Bayeux cemetery are a poignant but powerful reminder of courage and endurance, as D-Day slowly passes from living memory into history. During his speech at a US war cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer near Bayeux, President Hollande said every man who took part in D-Day was a "hero". He said France would never forget what it owed them, nor would it forget its solidarity with the US. Also at Colleville-sur-Mer, President Obama said: "America's claim - our commitment to liberty, to equality, to freedom, to the inherent dignity of every human being - that claim is written in blood on these beaches, and it will endure for eternity". Speaking earlier in the city of Caen, President Hollande said: "This day, which began in chaos and fire, would end in blood and tears, tears and pain, tears and joy at the end of 24 hours that changed the world and forever marked Normandy." In nearby Bayeux, the Queen laid a wreath at a remembrance service at Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, where she, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also met veterans. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a Royal British Legion service at Bayeux Cathedral. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend events in Arromanches, near Gold landing beach where thousands of British troops came ashore on D-Day. In other events: The day's commemorations began at midnight with a vigil at Pegasus Bridge near Ouistreham, marking the first assault of the D-Day invasion when British

Summary: French President Francois Hollande has led the D-Day 70th anniversary tributes by remembering those who died on a day that "changed the world".


Reports say at least 16 suspected militants were killed in the strikes. They come days after a militant attack on Karachi airport - 39 people were killed, including the 10 attackers. Washington agreed to suspend its drones programme in December to allow Islamabad to pursue peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). But pressure has been mounting on the Pakistani authorities to launch a ground offensive in North Waziristan amid a breakdown in peace talks. The two drone strikes took place within hours of each other, striking a compound in a village near Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan. The first attack, carried out late on Wednesday night, is said to have killed four ethnic Uzbek militants and two Punjabi Taliban. The second attack on Thursday morning targeted another 10 suspected militants. On Wednesday, Uzbek militants of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) claimed to have carried out the attack on the airport, saying it was in retaliation for Pakistani military air strikes last month. The group, which is highly-trained and has bases in North Waziristan, has previously carried out large-scale co-ordinated attacks with al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan. Washington uses unmanned drones to carry out strikes on Taliban and al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan. However, US strikes have not taken place since 25 December 2013 in response to calls by Pakistan to halt strikes and enable peace negotiations. Pakistan carried out air strikes this week as well, saying its forces had killed at least 15 militants in the north-west Khyber region on Tuesday. Who are the Pakistani Taliban? •With its roots in the Afghan Taliban, the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Taliban movement came to the fore in 2007 by unleashing a wave of violence •Its leaders have traditionally been based in Pakistan's tribal areas but it is really a loose affiliation of militant groups, some based in areas like Punjab and even Karachi •The various Taliban groups have different attitudes to talks with the government - some analysts say this has led to divisions in the movement •Collectively they are responsible for the deaths of thousands of Pakistanis and have also co-ordinated assaults on numerous security targets •Two former TTP leaders, Baitullah Mehsud and Hakimullah Mehsud, as well as many senior commanders have been killed in US drone strikes •It is unclear if current leader Maulana Fazlullah, who comes from outside the tribal belt, is even in Pakistan, but he has a reputation for ruthlessness Who are the Taliban? Pakistan's 'fanatical' Uzbek militants

Summary: The US has resumed its drones programme in Pakistan, with two strikes on militant strongholds in the North Waziristan tribal region overnight.


The book claimed 38% of an online vote, beating rivals including How Tea Cosies Changed the World and God's Doodle: The Life and Times of the Penis. The title, written by Reginald Bakeley, gives practical advice on how to banish fairies from your home. More than 1000 people voted in the poll for the website welovethisbook.com. The Diagram Prize was set up by Bruce Robinson in 1978 to prevent boredom at the annual Frankfurt Book Fair, with Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice the inaugural winner. Diagram Prize administrator Philip Stone, charts editor for The Bookseller - welovethisbook.com's sister website - said: "People might think it is just a bit of fun, but it spotlights an undervalued art that can make or break a work of literature. "Books such as A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time all owe a sizeable part of their huge successes to their odd monikers." He added: "The kind of niche, off-beat publications that often appear on the Diagram Prize shortlist might not make their writers or publishers rich beyond their wildest dreams, but the fact writers still passionately write such works and publishers are still willing to invest in them is a marvellous thing that deserves to be celebrated." Bookseller diarist Horace Bent said: "In Goblinproofing One's Chicken Coop the public have chosen a hugely important work regarding the best way to protect one's fowl from the fairy realm's most bothersome creatures. "Everyone knows well the hazards cats, dogs and foxes hold for owners of chickens, not to mention red mite, but the public has recognised the need to illuminate this hitherto under-reported nuisance." The award was accepted by the book's US editor Clint Marsh, who said: "The Diagram Prize celebrates the playfulness that is at the heart of much of the world's best book publishing. "Reginald and I take this as a clear sign that people have had enough of goblins in their chicken coops. Our campaign against the fairy kingdom continues." The other titles shortlisted for the Diagram Prize were How to Sharpen Pencils, Was Hitler Ill? and Lofts of North America: Pigeon Lofts. Previous winners include Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers, Highlights in the History of Concrete, Bombproof Your Horse and last year's recipient Cooking with Poo.

Summary: A publication named Goblinproofing One's Chicken Coop has been named as the winner of the Diagram Prize for oddest book title of the year.