The American, who cannot be identified, said the therapy for Charlie Gard would be "treatment but not a cure". A decision whether to turn off his life support machines is being considered by the High Court. Connie Yates and Chris Gard want to take their son who has progressive muscle weakness to the US. A crowdfunding campaign for the trip is now less than £60,000 short of its £1.3m target. The judge is analysing medical evidence at a hearing in the Family Division before deciding what option is in Charlie's best interests. The neurologist who would oversee the treatment told the court that while Charlie was in the "terminal stage" of his illness, treating him would be compassionate. He said the therapy, which would be tried for six months, would provide a "small chance" of a meaningful improvement in Charlie's brain function. "[Charlie] may be able to interact. To smile. To look at objects," he said. Sophia Roper, representing Charlie's parents, also told the court there was "no evidence that he is on a regular basis in pain". Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital said the baby receives 24-hour care and should be allowed to die with dignity. But the couple, who live in London, believe seven-month-old Charlie may have a chance of surviving if he receives treatment abroad. "We just want to have our chance. It would never be a cure but it could help him live. If it saves him, amazing," Miss Yates said. "I want to save others. Even if Charlie doesn't make it through this, I don't ever want another mum and their child to go through this." Though born healthy in August, Charlie began to lose weight and strength by the time he was eight weeks old. He was admitted to Great Ormond Street in October after developing aspiration pneumonia and was diagnosed with mitochondrial depletion syndrome. Last month, his parents told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme they would continue to fight for their child's survival. They said: "He can move his mouth, he can move his hands. He can't open them fully, but he can still open his eyes and see us, in response to us." An online campaign raised an initial £1.2m, but an extra £100,000 is now needed to help pay fees on the GoFundMe website and extend Charlie's stay in America. While it is free to host a campaign on GoFundMe.com, fees are deducted from each donation. In the UK 5% of each donation goes towards supporting GoFundMe, while 2.68% is charged for processing fees plus VAT. Those paying towards UK-based campaigns from outside the European Economic Area can expect up to 9.48% of their donation to go towards these fees, the website says. Charlie is thought to be just one of 16 children in the world to have mitochondrial depletion syndrome. Earlier this month, a spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust said it had "exhausted" all proven treatment options. "We cannot imagine how hugely distressing this is for his family," they added. "We continue to support them

Summary: The doctor who would give experimental treatment to a baby who has a rare genetic condition has admitted the case was "uncharted territory".


The success put the Clarets second, with Middlesbrough not in action and Brighton thrashed 4-1 by Cardiff City. Vokes gave them the lead from the spot in the first half after debutant Lloyd Doyley brought down George Boyd. Rotherham frustrated the hosts for much of the game but Arfield ended lingering fightback hopes with a late second. Joe Newell had the Millers' best chance in a rare raid forward, but failed to beat goalkeeper Tom Heaton from close range. Sean Dyche's side dominated but did not fully capitalise on the chances that came their way, with Andre Gray's header brushing the crossbar and goalkeeper Lee Camp making good saves from Boyd and Stephen Ward to keep the score down. Burnley are now unbeaten in nine Championship games, but the size of Warnock's task in dragging Rotherham out of danger was evident as they mustered just one shot on target at Turf Moor. The defeat left the visitors third from bottom and five points adrift of MK Dons, the team immediately above them. Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "It was hard work. Neil (Warnock) being Neil has got a new group and has got a bit of fervour to them. They came here, I imagine, with no expectation and tried to play on that. "They broke the game up and it was a disjointed game. But as ever, I like the fact we can win games in different ways. "We have won it outrightly with the chances with have made, we have deserved victory." Rotherham manager Neil Warnock: "I am really happy, they can't be too down. "You don't play Burnley every week. We have got some tough games but teams that we will play against will have some tough games. "We are looking forward to the challenge." Have you added News Alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the My Alerts menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add score alerts for your favourite football team, the Six Nations, and more. Match ends, Burnley 2, Rotherham United 0. Second Half ends, Burnley 2, Rotherham United 0. Sam Vokes (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Greg Halford (Rotherham United). Attempt missed. Sam Vokes (Burnley) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Stephen Ward with a cross. Substitution, Burnley. Matthew Taylor replaces George Boyd. Substitution, Burnley. Rouwen Hennings replaces Andre Gray. Stephen Ward (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United). Goal! Burnley 2, Rotherham United 0. Scott Arfield (Burnley) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Andre Gray. Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Scott Arfield (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United). Attempt missed. Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Foul by George Boyd (Burnley). Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the

Summary: Goals from Sam Vokes and Scott Arfield sealed a Championship victory for Burnley to extend Neil Warnock's wait for a first win as Rotherham boss.


The damning report found a "worrying loss of confidence and competence" within the federation and a "serious loss of influence" outside. It said the way the federation, which represents officers, had opposed police reforms and launched personal attacks were "strategic failures". The review was set up after criticism in the wake of the "plebgate" affair. Meanwhile the federation's chairman has apologised to the former cabinet minister, Andrew Mitchell, for the actions of an officer who has admitted lying over his involvement in the saga. The federation, which represents about 127,000 officers at the rank chief inspector and below, set up the review under former Home Office permanent secretary Sir David Normington last year. Its report said the federation had faced a "perfect storm" of challenges for its members, including job losses, pay being "held down", increased pension costs and changes to working conditions, as well as major policing reforms. By Dominic CascianiHome affairs correspondent, BBC News But there was an "almost universal perception" among members that it had been a "weak voice" during the changes, tending to "oppose rather than engage" and putting forward ideas "too late to be influential". The report also found the federation had reserve funds of Â£64.5m - about Â£35m held by local branch boards, which it said operated "almost as separate businesses". A survey carried out for the review found 91% of federation members wanted it to change. It also found: Sir David said there was an "urgent need" for the federation to "regain the trust of its members" and its "culture of secrecy" over money had to change. The review panel made 36 recommendations. These included: The "plebgate" row began in September 2012 when Andrew Mitchell, then Tory chief whip, was accused of calling officers "plebs" after they refused to let him cycle through Downing Street's main gates. Three weeks later, Mr Mitchell met three Police Federation officers who afterwards claimed he had not elaborated on the row. But a secret recording of the meeting made by Mr Mitchell showed he had in fact denied using the word "pleb". The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is now investigating the three officers amid accusations they lied about what was said. But the federation has called the probe "unlawful" and responded by announcing legal action against the IPCC. The federation's chairman, Steve Williams, has apologised to Mr Mitchell for the actions of PC Keith Wallis, who falsely claimed to have witnessed the row in Downing Street. PC Wallis sent an email to his local MP John Randall, the then Conservative deputy chief whip, wrongly saying that he had seen the altercation. He has pleaded guilty to a charge of misconduct in public office, and offered to resign. Mr Mitchell said he was "grateful" to Mr Williams for his apology, and would "welcome the opportunity to meet with him for a constructive discussion in the very near future". On the report by Sir David Normington, Mr Mitchell said he believed the conclusions were "right". The report said the case highlighted the "extent to which some representatives feel they can

Summary: The Police Federation of England and Wales should be changed from "top to bottom", an independent panel has said.


The new Â£59.5m distribution centre and regional offices are based at Capital Business Park in Wentloog. Around 400 more jobs could be in the pipeline as the company plans to open new stores across south Wales. Aldi is the UK's fifth largest supermarket with more than 700 stores and 29,000 employees. A Â£4.5m Welsh Government grant helped support the new development. Dan Oakenfull, managing director of new the hub, said: "South Wales and the south west of England continue to be areas of significant growth for us, and the new distribution centre will help support our immediate and future expansion across the regions." Economy Secretary Ken Skates said the opening of the centre was a mark of confidence in the Welsh economy.

Summary: Supermarket chain Aldi has opened its new warehouse on the outskirts of Cardiff, creating 422 jobs.


BAE Systems blamed the closure plan for the former Vickers plant in Scotswood on fewer Ministry of Defence orders. Now neighbouring defence and construction giant Reece Group has signed a deal with BAE to take on the factory for an undisclosed sum. Reece plans to transfer work from existing sites into Scotswood. Reece already employs about 500 people and hopes to expand the workforce at its new premises over time. The Group includes Pearson Engineering, which designs and manufactures a range of military equipment for customers, including BAE Systems. It also produces equipment for oil and gas fields. Chairman John Reece said: "This landmark site will be fully used as a manufacturing facility. We have also acquired plant and machinery no longer required by BAE Systems which will be used to support our activities in the oil and gas, and the subsea markets. "We believe that engineering and manufacturing still has a valid and prosperous future in the North East. "We place great emphasis on research and development and our investment in Scotswood will include the establishment of the Reece Innovation Centre, whose focus will be to design the group's next generation of innovative engineering products."

Summary: A former tank factory in Newcastle, which closed last year with the loss of 300 jobs, has been bought by a rival engineering firm.


Outsourcing firm Capita was the leading gainer, up by 4% after a reassuring trading statement. The company, which in February warned of lower margins, said it was on track to meet expectations for 2016 revenue growth. The statement was described as "unusually numbers light" by one broker. The FTSE 100 was up 38.92 points at 6,153.73. Shares in Easyjet, which reported a loss - largely thanks to adverse currency movements - fell 0.4% after its gain of 3.8% on Monday. There was the usual volatility in mining stocks. On Monday the index was dragged down by these with Anglo American losing 13.8%. Morning Tuesday trade sees them recover 3.4%. On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.21% against the dollar to $1.4438 but was flat against the euro to â‚¬1.2669.

Summary: (Open): London's FTSE 100 started higher on Tuesday.


Shelly Wu, six, and Lily, seven, were hit near the Grove Lane and Antrobus Road junction, Handsworth, last June. Michael Junior, 35, from Handsworth, admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, at Birmingham Crown Court. Junior will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday. The crash caused serious injury to Shelly and Lily's mother, Zhulan Wu, and her other two children. More on this story and others on Birmingham and Black Country Sgt Steve Newbury from West Midlands Police said: "This tragedy rocked the local community and devastated a family. Lily and Shelly's mum continues to recover from serious head injuries." He added the children who survived have recovered from their injuries but continue to suffer "emotional trauma". Judge Murray Creed imposed an interim driving ban on Junior, of Copthall Road, and granted him bail until Thursday, when he will reappear in court.

Summary: A man has pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of two sisters in a road crash in Birmingham.


Massaro, 31, who took time out after suffering from fatigue in February, beat New Zealand's Joelle King 11-6 11-2 11-7 in Hull. England's Nick Matthew is in the last four of the men's event. The 34-year-old, seeking a fourth title, beat Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet 11-7 11-7 11-7. Massaro will play defending champion and world number one Nicol David, after the Malaysian beat England's Sarah-Jane Perry 11-6 11-8 12-10. Matthew's preparation had been interrupted by an ankle injury, but he was pleased with his performance which sets up a semi-final against world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy. "I guess if you'd offered me a place in the semi-finals before the tournament I'm sure I would have taken it because it means I would have been feeling healthy," he said. Colombia's Miguel Rodriguez plays Gregory Gaultier of France in the other men's semi-final, while in the women's competition, Camille Serme of France will meet Delia Arnold of Malaysia.

Summary: England's former world champion Laura Massaro is through to the semi-finals of the British Open in her first tournament after a break from squash.


Nurul Islam Marzan and a second unidentified man were killed in the early hours of Friday in Dhaka. The deaths happened when anti-terrorism police raided a building in the Rayer Bazar area, police told AFP. The cafe hostages were shot or hacked to death in what was Bangladesh's worst terror attack. Commandos stormed the Holey Artisan cafe in the Gulshan neighbourhood after a 12-hour siege, rescuing 13 people. Two police officers and six militants were also killed in the 1 July attack. Police said Marzan was a senior figure in the banned militant group Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and was believed to have been the operational commander of the attack. They say he planned it with Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a Canadian of Bangladeshi descent, who was killed in a police raid near Dhaka in August 2016. There is no independent confirmation of what happened. In August there were accounts suggesting Marzan was being held in police custody, even as the authorities said they were trying to arrest him. The so-called Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the cafe attack, posting online images of the attackers with a black IS flag. But Bangladeshi authorities have long insisted IS has no presence in the country and that JMB was solely to blame. Since the attack, authorities have led a crackdown on militants, leaving dozens dead, many of them senior members of JMB. Police said Marzan, who was about 30, joined a branch of JMB in 2015 after dropping out of Chittagong University, where he was an Arabic student.

Summary: One of the suspected masterminds of the cafe attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh in July in which 20 hostages died has been killed in a shootout, police say.


Italian diplomat Filippo Grandi, who took over the post from Portugal's Antonio Guterres this year, was speaking on a visit to Lebanon. Mr Grandi also urged the EU to do more for Syrian refugees outside Europe. EU leaders have warned of a crisis after more than a million migrants entered illegally last year. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told the BBC this week: "If Europe can't protect its own borders, it's the very idea of Europe that could be thrown into doubt." On Friday, his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, warned: "When spring comes and the numbers quadruple, we cannot as the EU cope with the numbers any longer." The new UN High Commissioner for Refugees has been meeting refugees in camps in Lebanon and Jordan. Speaking to the BBC's Quentin Somerville, Mr Grandi said: "Europe can absorb more genuine refugees if it would be better organised among the different member-states. "However, we understand the predicament. It is a social and political predicament which is very serious." The EU is drawing up plans to share the "burden" of refugees more evenly among member states, scrapping a controversial rule that means they must claim asylum in the first country they arrive in. Hungary, one of the most vocal critics of migration policy, has dismissed the crisis as a "German problem" since Germany is where those arriving in the EU "would like to go". Mr Grandi also urged the EU to "do more for the countries of first asylum" so there would be "less motivation for people to flee further away". Katya Adler: Germans struggle to cope with influx Teaching migrants how to behave Migrants feel chill of tighter borders Europe's migrant crisis

Summary: EU states could take more genuine refugees from Syria if they worked together better, the new head of the UN refugee agency has told the BBC.


The first of the four separate attacks happened on Monday, with the latest on Saturday afternoon. The offences in Birmingham and Solihull are not linked, but have raised fears about knife crime in the area. David Jamieson, the region's police and crime commissioner, said knife crime was a "major concern and has been for quite some time". Timeline of attacks: Mr Jamieson said: "There has been a growing trend that's particularly prevalent in the warmer weather, The warm weather does bring out more crime, particularly crime that happens on the streets. "It's desperately worrying. Any increase in any violent crime is worrying. "The police are there to tackle the violence so people will have the full weight of the law thrown at them." Elsewhere, a 19-year-old man was arrested on Saturday in connection with a stabbing at Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill at about 11:15 BST. A man was injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

Summary: Four men have died in a week of stabbings in the West Midlands.


The exception may come on Wednesday, when the Lib Dem Leader, Tim Farron, takes the unusual step for a party boss, of presenting a 10-minute rule bill calling for a referendum on the terms of the UK's divorce deal with the EU.... It does not, or course, stand a prayer of becoming law, both because 10-minute rule bills hardly ever do, and because there is virtually no support in the Commons for the idea, and even those who do want a second referendum may balk at backing a bill from the Lib Dems. But beyond that, just imagine the scene, with the staunchly pro-Leave DUP behind him, and Labour MPs, increasingly infuriated by the way the Libs are seeking to outflank them as the party of Remain, to his right, this could very quickly turn into something resembling parliamentary bear-baiting, even before the Conservatives get involved. And it might be quite a test for the not noticeably Farron-friendly Speaker, as well. So will we see a masterpiece of pro-Remain performance art, or something rather messy? Parental Advisory; may contain scenes of disorder and bad language. Watch out for responses to the Scottish Parliament's decision on whether it wants to hold a second independence referendum. Elsewhere there's a lot of finishing-off on not very controversial bills - with the biggest contested legislation probably the Digital Economy Bill, where there are a number of major issues in play - including new "fit and proper person" tests for the individuals running companies involved in media mergers and acquisitions, and the creation of new offences around online ticket-touting. Here's my rundown of the coming week: The Commons opens (2.30pm) with Education questions - and any post-weekend urgent questions or ministerial statements will normally follow at 3.30pm. The main debate is on the second reading of the Prisons and Courts Bill - which aims to reform the prison system, strengthening safety and security, improving efficiency and services for users in courts and tribunals, and reforming the claims process for minor whiplash injuries resulting from road traffic accidents. It also provides for greater use of mobile phone blocking technology in prisons. In Westminster Hall (4.30pm) MPs debate e-petition 166847, which complains that insurance companies are making it harder and harder for people aged 18 to 25 years of age to start driving. Premiums for first year drivers can be Â£2,500 or more - completely unaffordable for many. The petition has attracted 185,175 signatures. On the committee corridor, Public Accounts has a headline grabbing session (3.30pm) on ambulance services - they will quiz Department of Health Permanent Secretary Chris Wormald about evidence that half a million hours of ambulance time are wasted every year, as ambulances queue outside Accident and Emergency departments. There's also a ground-breaking meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee (1.15pm) in what is effectively a joint session with the Scottish Parliament's Social Security Committee, to look at the impact of devolving control of disability benefits to Holyrood. In theory the MSPs will be witnesses, but they will be sitting around the same table as MPs and

Summary: After the sound and fury of the Brexit Bill, the Westminster agenda seems rather more quiet in the coming week, with much of the most significant action taking place on the committee corridor.


Vicki McNelly, 29, thought she heard the baby moving when she used the Doppler kit but her daughter was stillborn the following day. Manufacturers say the kits are safe and should not be linked to stillbirths. Experts who have been "specially trained" regularly use the monitors but discourage the use of them at home. Mrs McNelly, from Mortimer near Reading, is calling for the Doppler devices to be banned. She had used the kit - which can be bought over-the-counter from about Â£25 - in June 2015 to help her husband bond with their baby. However, after waking and "feeling something was wrong" in the middle of the night, she used it to check for a heartbeat and movement. "Because I heard something, I convinced myself I must be okay and that everything would be fine," she said. "If the Doppler wasn't in the house I would have only been able to rely on my own instincts. I think the Doppler gave me a false sense of security." Mrs McNelly said a hospital sonogram revealed her child, who she had named Evie, had died in the womb. Dr Alison Wright, Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said she "strongly discourages" the use of Dopplers at home. "These devices can cause huge anxiety among pregnant women if they are not able to hear their baby's heartbeat and therefore understandably worry until they can see their doctor or midwife," she said. "Also, potentially, women may be falsely reassured as hearing a heartbeat is not necessarily an indication that it is well with the baby. "Unlike doctors and midwives who are specially trained to use foetal heart monitors, women who use Dopplers themselves may easily mistake their own heartbeat for their baby's." Mrs McNelly has now joined stillbirth charity Kicks Count to call for the devices to be banned - with a petition reaching more than 11,000 signatures. CEO of Kicks Count, Elizabeth Hudson, said Dopplers "create a barrier between the mum and seeking medical help". She said many brands were marketed to expectant mothers, but should only be used by trained professionals such as midwives and doctors. "Women are using Dopplers and being reassured by them, and unfortunately that leads to missed opportunities to save babies who may be in distress," Ms Hudson added. The BBC contacted several Doppler manufacturers, which said their devices should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care.

Summary: A grieving mother has warned pregnant women not to use a home foetal listening device that gave her "false reassurance" her unborn baby was alive.


The study by Duke Health in the US and published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at 4,274 babies born between 22 and 24 weeks. Compared with those born a decade earlier, a larger percentage were now toddlers without signs of moderate or severe cognitive and motor delay. Changes to care are being credited with the improvement. About 30% of children included in the study who were born between the years 2000 and 2003 survived, but that rate increased to 36% for babies born in 2008 to 2011. The proportion of survivors who did not have a neurological impairment rose from 16% to 20%. The best outcomes were for children born at 23 to 24 weeks. Researcher Prof Noelle Younge called the findings "encouraging". "We see evidence of improvement over time. But we do need to keep an eye on the overall numbers, as a large percentage of infants born at this stage still do not survive. "Those who survive without significant impairment at about age two are still at risk for numerous other challenges to their overall health." Full-term babies are born at 37 to 40 weeks. Prof Michael Cotten, one of the other lead researchers, said changes in the culture of neonatal intensive care units were behind the improvement. "We've taken a big focus on preventing infections, and there's a lot more encouragement and support for the use of mothers' milk than there was 15 years ago, which has also been linked to better outcomes." There has also been a decrease in infection rates in neonatal intensive care units over the past two decades, which Prof Cotten said was important. The greater use of steroids in mothers at risk of premature birth to help the baby develop in the womb is also thought to have contributed to the increase in survival and fewer signs of developmental delay, he added.

Summary: More babies born extremely prematurely are surviving without neurological problems, according to a new study.


Motorists who persistently share dashcam video could be accused of voyeurism, according to the motoring organisation. It said too many drivers post videos on social media without considering the impact on the motorists shown. In many cases drivers are pilloried for actions that are not their fault, the AA said. As many as 15% of British motorists now use a dashcam, according to a poll of AA members, with one in a hundred planning to share their footage on social media like YouTube. Edmund King, the AA president, told The Times: "While most drivers with dashcams fit them to protect themselves from 'crash for cash' fraudsters or dangerous drivers, there is an element of vehicular voyeurism from some individuals." The motoring organisation said it was not in favour of banning dashcam use, but said the next government should consider tighter rules, like those in force in other European countries: On the other hand, the AA said sharing footage of bad driving can have its advantages. Such publicity can send a warning to stupid and irresponsible drivers, it said. The organisation recommends sending such footage to the police, who can investigate any incident fairly.

Summary: New rules may be needed to control the use of video taken by dashboard cameras, the AA has warned.


The Slovenia-born 26-year-old beat 30-year-old Czech Rosol 6-2 6-3 in just over an hour. Spaniard Nadal, 29, is the fifth seed and received a bye into round two. British number one Andy Murray also enters at the second round and will play French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 25, on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Scot is also competing in the men's doubles, where he and partner Dom Inglot progressed to the second round by beating Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-4. Murray and Englishman Inglot next play Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France and Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic.

Summary: British number two Aljaz Bedene will play Rafael Nadal at the Monte Carlo Masters after beating Lukas Rosol in round one.


Lady Butler-Sloss has been under pressure to quit from MPs and victims concerned about her family links. Her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s. Home Secretary Theresa May said she did not regret appointing the peer, adding that she would "not hang around" in naming her successor. Lady Butler-Sloss said she "did not sufficiently consider" whether her family links would cause difficulties in the inquiry. Downing Street said it would "take a few days" to appoint a new chairman and appeared to indicate that whoever was chosen would not be so closely linked to the establishment. Mrs May told MPs that she believed Lady Butler-Sloss was the "right person for the job" despite what she suggested was a lot of "rumour and innuendo" about her appointment. "I do not regret the decision I made. I continue to believe that Elizabeth Butler-Sloss would have done an excellent job as chair of this inquiry," she told the Home Affairs select committee. Asked about her successor, Mrs May said she still favoured appointing a single individual to head the over-arching inquiry rather than a panel of experts urged by Labour and some abuse victims. She said she hoped to name a new candidate "within a reasonable amount of time" but said whoever was approached would need to "think carefully" about the nature of the role. Keith Vaz, chairman of the committee, which is also investigating historical child sex abuse, said the handling of the issue had been "somewhat shambolic" and raised issues about Mrs May's judgement. In a statement, Lady Butler-Sloss said she had been "honoured" to be asked to chair the inquiry and had hoped to "make a useful contribution". But, she added: "It has become apparent over the last few days, however, that there is a widespread perception, particularly among victim and survivor groups, that I am not the right person to chair the inquiry. "It has also become clear to me that I did not sufficiently consider whether my background and the fact my brother had been attorney general would cause difficulties. "This is a victim-orientated inquiry and those who wish to be heard must have confidence that the members of the panel will pay proper regard to their concerns and give appropriate advice to government. "Having listened to the concerns of victim and survivor groups and the criticisms of MPs and the media, I have come to the conclusion that I should not chair this inquiry and have so informed the Home Secretary." The inquiry was set up to examine how state institutions handled their duty of care to protect children from paedophiles. What next? By BBC political correspondent Iain Watson Most public bodies at least claim they appoint people because of what they know, not who they know. But it was Lady Butler-Sloss's family and political connections - not her experience and knowledge - which led to her resignation. There will be no rush to appoint her successor - it could take several days. That's because while her resignation was unfortunate, a second controversial appointment

Summary: Retired judge Baroness Butler-Sloss has stepped down as head of a probe into child sex abuse saying she was "not the right person" for the job.


Rob Hughes, 31, of Croydon, south London, has no memory of the assault in Crete in June 2008, but an eyewitness identified Joseph Bruckland, 22. Mr Bruckland, from Hookwood in Surrey, and five other British men deny charges of grievous bodily harm. Mr Hughes suffered severe memory loss and did not remember his family. He was left with brain damage after being beaten and left for dead outside a nightclub in Malia. Neil Philippart, who was called as a witness by the prosecution, told the court he saw Mr Hughes being hit with a bottle and fall to the ground. Mr Philippart was asked by the judge to identify which of the defendants struck that blow. He turned round, looked at Mr Bruckland and said it was him. Mr Bruckland shook his head when the allegation was made. He will be called to give evidence later. The other defendants are Curtis Taylor, Daniel Bell and Sean Branton, of Horley; Surrey; Benjamin Herdman, of Worth, West Sussex; and George Hollands, of Reigate, Surrey. The trial in Heraklion, Crete, continues.

Summary: One of six men accused of beating a former Oxford United footballer into a coma has been identified in court in Greece as the main offender.


Froch, 37, will make his screen debut in a film called Once Upon a Time In London. The Nottingham fighter has consulted industry legends such as Samuel L Jackson for tips and said he will play a "tough guy or a villain". "I'll probably be chucking someone in the River Thames," said Froch. Froch, who admits he is "in a bit of a dilemma" whether he should continue his boxing career, would not be the first fighter to swap the sweat of the gym for the glare of the camera. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson played a cameo role in recent Hollywood hit The Hangover, while Irish former middleweight champion Steve Collins held a minor part in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. "I'm by no stage of the imagination an actor, I don't think you're listening to the next Robert De Niro," Froch told BBC Radio 5 live. "[Former footballer] Vinnie Jones did well out of it, I think [former Commonwealth diver] Jason Statham did well from no real experience and they've gone on to have good careers. "When I was on the Jonathan Ross Show I met Sir Ben Kingsley - acting royalty - I've met Samuel L Jackson, Michael Douglas. I've been talking to them and asking how they got into it. Nobody became a superstar overnight. "A lot of the time they play themselves, so that was the advice: be yourself." Froch, who has 33 wins from 35 fights, last competed when he knocked out George Groves at Wembley Stadium in May 2014. He has since appeared on BBC gymnastics show Tumble and said he was envious of former Manchester United striker Dion Dublin, who has landed a role presenting Homes under the Hammer. He vacated the IBF world title earlier this year and fellow Briton James DeGale will now fight American Andre Dirrell for the belt on 23 May. Froch added: "The only two things left for me to do would be to fight at the Nottingham Forest City Ground that'll hold 30,000 and they'll be all loyal my fans, or in Las Vegas. "[Mexico's] Julio Cesar Chavez Junior is fighting in April and that's a fight that could still happen for me in August or September." You can listen to Carl Froch's interview on BBC 5 live in short.

Summary: WBA super-middleweight champion Carl Froch is set to take his first steps on the road to Hollywood stardom while he considers his future in boxing.


The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) says the current proposals are "unnecessarily complicated". Their report says that bans in Ireland and Wales were simpler and have significantly reduced the impact of plastic bags on the environment. Over eight billion disposable carrier bags are used in England every year. Last September, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced plans for a single use plastic bag charge in England that would come into effect after the 2015 election. Mr Clegg highlighted the threat of plastic bags to marine life and the countryside. The money raised by the levy would go to charity, he said, and the time to act was now. "This is not a new problem. We've waited too long for action. That's why I am drawing a line under the issue now. The charge will be implemented sensibly - small businesses will be exempt." But it is the planned exemptions and other rules that have raised the hackles of the EAC. The proposals have been drawn up by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). They want the 5p charge to apply only to supermarkets and larger stores. Most small shops and takeaway outlets would not have to pay the cost. Defra says that the charge should not be a burden to small businesses. As well as this exemption, Defra does not want the charge to apply to biodegradable bags. Paper bags and reusable "bags for life" will also avoid the levy. But the EAC believe these rules are making the proposal too complex. "Ministers have managed to make a complete mess of their planned carrier bags charge by making it unnecessarily complicated," said Joan Walley MP, chair of the committee. "Carrier bags litter our streets and harm wildlife, and the government is right to want to reduce their use. But Defra seems to have made decisions about the design of this scheme that were based more on wishful thinking than hard evidence." The MPs' report said many trade bodies representing small retailers were opposed to the exemption as it was confusing for consumers. The Association of Convenience Stores said the best way of tackling the issue was to ensure that every shop charged for plastic bags. "We urge the government to listen to the recommendations of the Environmental Audit Committee and ensure that convenience stores are not left out of the carrier bag charge," said ACS chief executive James Lowman. The EAC said that exempting paper bags was also misguided as it would weaken the message that consumers should recycle their plastic. The idea that biodegradable bags should avoid the charge was also a bad idea, said the EAC, as they say they are not as green as they sound. In evidence before the committee, Jessica Baker from the British Plastics Federation recycling group, said an exemption on biodegradable bags would be "disastrous." There were also concerns that biodegradable material still presented a threat to wildlife, as it took time to decay. A Defra spokesman defended the planned exemptions, saying: "Paper bags make up only a small proportion of carrier

Summary: A cross-party committee of MPs says the government's plans for a 5p charge on plastic carrier bags in England are a "complete mess".


The British pair won gold in the synchronised 3m springboard at Rio 2016 last year and are also the European and Commonwealth champions. Their best Worlds result came two years ago, when they finished third in Kazan. "It would be sensational and really amazing to add to the titles we already have," Laugher, 22, told BBC Sport. The pair are part of a 12-strong British diving squad for the World Championships, which begin in Budapest on Friday. Laugher, 22, and Mears, 24, are set to compete on Saturday. Laugher and Mears both considered quitting the sport after achieving their lifetime dream of becoming Olympic champions, but are now focused on claiming further honours. "It was an open secret that after I'd done my event [in Rio] I was going to retire," said Mears, who is also a music producer and songwriter. "But I came back into training to see how it felt and I'm still passionate about diving and there are still things I want to achieve." Laugher added: "I always said that if I was to win the Olympic Games, I would retire instantly so I could quit at the best level. "Having to compete in the individual event stopped that, but also I have that spark again." Laugher and Mears were furious earlier this year when long-term coach Ady Hinchcliffe became Diving Australia's head coach - with British Swimming having initially failed to offer him an improved contract. But, under the guidance of Adam Smallwood, they have battled through several injury problems to win silver medals - behind Chinese pair Cao Yuan and Xie Siyi - in three of the four World Series events this season. "Jack and Chris are very experienced in that field and they've done plenty of World Series which has helped me transition into the role and they've been really successful," Smallwood told BBC Look North. Mears, who has struggled with a long-term back injury added: "It's not been ideal over the past few months, but if I was competing without an injury or little niggle it would be quite rare, so it's normal and I'll work through it." Laugher said: "We're so close as a pair as we've been through so much together and been there for one another at our darkest times. "You need someone you trust, so having Chris beside me is just brilliant and although it won't be easy at the Worlds we're going to go out all guns blazing and really try to succeed." Media playback is not supported on this device Laugher also claimed Olympic silver in the individual 3m springboard event and is hoping he can now match the success he has enjoyed in synchronised events. "I really want to be the person who changes the sport and progresses it," he said. "I want to be remembered as one of the greatest in the sport and that's my aim now to try and remain within the top ranks and prove it wasn't just a one-off." Laugher and Mears will compete in the synchronised 3m event on Saturday, with Laugher

Summary: Olympic champions Jack Laugher and Chris Mears are looking to complete their set of major diving titles with World Championship gold this weekend.


Paramedics found Ellie Butler lying beside a low child's stool at her home in Sutton, south-west London. Her father Ben Butler claims she fell, but the prosecution said her injuries were caused by being thrown against a wall or hit with a "blunt weapon". The 36-year-old denies murder and a separate charge of child cruelty. At the Old Bailey, prosecutor Ed Brown QC said a post-mortem examination revealed the child suffered skull fractures from at least two severe impacts. Read more updates on this story and other news from London He said the doctor who carried out the examination and a neurological pathologist agreed her injuries were unlikely to have been caused by an accidental fall. A third expert, a forensic pathologist, believed Ellie's major head injury was "the result of one or more very forceful blunt impacts, arising through being thrown against a wall or the ground, or struck with a heavy blunt weapon", the court heard. "A domestic accident could not have given rise to these complex, catastrophic and rapidly fatal injuries," Mr Brown added. The court has heard how Ellie's parents, Mr Butler and Jennie Gray, summoned an ambulance two hours after her injuries were believed to have been caused. Mr Butler and Ms Gray, also 36, deny child cruelty over an untreated broken shoulder Ellie suffered weeks before her death. Ms Gray has admitted perverting the course of justice. Mr Brown told jurors it was a "distressing case" of a father accused of murdering his daughter and failing to seek medical help for her earlier injury. Ms Gray had been "determined and persistent" in trying to protect him by hiding and destroying evidence, he said. On the day of Ellie's death, on 28 October 2013, Mr Butler and Ms Gray exchanged a series of phone calls and texts, records show. He tried to call her at her office at 12:46 but reached a voicemail message and sent a text asking her to "answer". Her colleague Tracey Bernstein said in a statement that the way Ms Gray got up and left the office was "just not right". Another former workmate, Victoria Harris, said she had seen Ms Gray looking "agitated" on the phone. "It did appear to me it was more than just a secret conversation," she added. Minutes later Ms Gray was caught on CCTV dashing out of her office, near the Old Bailey. She sent a text to her manager to say she had left for home as she was "feeling unwell". But taxi driver Derek Greenwood, who drove her back to Sutton, overheard her on her mobile phone saying loudly "you have done what?", "you have gone where?" and "you're joking". The court also heard from their neighbour, Lucy Jackson who recalled hearing arguments and a raised male voice coming from their home. Jurors have previously been told that Mr Butler has had a conviction for assaulting Ellie as a baby quashed. Her parents then won a High Court ruling to return her to the family from foster care. The trial continues.

Summary: A six-year-old girl's "catastrophic" head injuries could not have been caused by an accidental fall, as claimed by her father, a court heard.


The 69-year-old man was cut free from his white Ford Transit van after the collision on the southbound carriageway at Cilfynydd at 12:25 BST. The Wales Air Ambulance was called and the road was closed in both directions, causing delays between the Abercynon roundabout and Pontypridd town centre. The man is in a "stable condition". The northbound carriageway of the A470 re-opened at about 14:05 while the southbound lanes opened at about 18:20.

Summary: A man is in hospital with serious injuries following a crash between a lorry and a van on the A470 in Rhondda Cynon Taff.


The report, based on data from 5,000 patients in England and Wales, said awareness of the early symptoms of the condition must improve. However, most patients said they were happy with the care they received. In the UK, one million people suffer from inflammatory arthritis and 700,000 of those have rheumatoid arthritis. The condition affects the joints, causing pain, stiffness and swelling. The hands and feet are often the first joints to be affected. Those with a severe form of the condition may not be able to dress or bathe themselves, and some will have to stop working. This is the second audit of rheumatology services across England and Wales by the British Society for Rheumatology. It assessed experiences of patient care against the standards set down by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. It found that as well as delays in early referrals, fewer than half of the patients analysed were seen by a specialist with three weeks, another target set by NICE. But the report acknowledged there could be a number of reasons for the delays, including staffing levels, the number of specialist consultants in the area, the level of detail contained in referral letters from GPs and whether or not a patient rescheduled their appointment. For example, in London, the average waiting time for patients to be seen by a specialist was 23 days, compared with 34 days in Wales. But patients in Wales only had to wait an average of five days to be referred. Across England and Wales, the average wait was 20 days. The report said a number of providers had made changes in the way care was provided based on the findings in the first audit, but concluded it was too early to see the impact of many of these recent changes. There were signs of improvement in arthritis care too. Around 95% of patients who responded to questions about their experience of care said it was good, the report found, an increase on the last audit. And 86% received steroid therapy to alleviate their early symptoms and more than two-thirds of patients had started taking anti-rheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis within six weeks. Dr Liam O'Toole, chief executive officer at the charity Arthritis Research UK, said results of the audit were disappointing. "We urge that immediate action is taken to improve access to these services, so that people with inflammatory arthritis get the treatment they need and the quality of life they deserve."

Summary: Only 20% of patients who see a GP with suspected inflammatory arthritis are referred to a specialist within the target three days, an audit suggests.


The Arsenal midfielder had knee surgery two weeks ago to repair an anterior cruciate ligament injury and expects to be back playing early in 2018. "I got a bit emotional originally but got over it quite quickly," she said. "My thoughts are on the World Cup qualifiers that begin after the Euros." Little made her Scotland debut in 2007 and has since gone on to win 121 caps. Her absence, along with that of Jen Beattie, Lizzie Arnot and Emma Mitchell, will be keenly felt by head coach Anna Signeul as she prepares the Euro 2017 squad for the Netherlands finals where Scotland play England, Spain and Portugal in the group stage. Little, who had three years at Seattle Reign before a stint at Melbourne City preceded her move to Arsenal, will be a pundit for broadcaster Channel Four at the finals. "It was very bad timing but these things happen in sport," she said of her injury, which she sustained training with Arsenal. "It's obviously very disappointing for me, Jen and Emma and Lizzie but we're all young and we'll be back, I'm sure. "I've been very lucky not to have been on the sidelines before. "It is nice to have a different perspective because when you're playing you are so absorbed in that. "I'm just excited now to watch the girls who have the opportunity to play." Little feels there is now a good mix of players in the Scotland squad. She highlighted the veteran goalkeeper Gemma Fay, who won her 200th cap in Friday's 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, a clutch of players in their mid- to late-20s with five years' international experience, and younger players to have emerged such as Chloe Arthur, Sophie Howard, Erin Cuthbert and Fiona Brown. Little told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound that she will be sorry to see Signeul depart to take over the Finland women's team after the Euros but welcomes the arrival of Shelley Kerr "in the new era" as they strive to reach the World Cup in France in two years' time. Scotland will take on Switzerland, Poland, Belarus and Albania in their qualification campaign, which runs for a year from September. "She has been the manager for as long as I've been in the team," she said. "Anna has improved the game a lot in Scotland, with the national academy that has been set up, and the improvement of us physically has helped us qualify for our first national tournament."

Summary: Kim Little has got over the disappointment of missing Scotland women's first major finals through injury and is looking ahead to the 2019 World Cup qualifiers instead.


It was the final major barrier to building an additional 20,000 homes in the city over the next decade. The Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out where new houses can be built, based on a forecast that the population will grow by a quarter over 20 years. Cardiff council said the city was in "dire need" of the plan, to help it manage its growth. A final decision will be made by the local authority in the coming weeks, but it is expected to be rubber stamped by the council. Under the plan: The inspector has not given as much protection to the greenbelt on the edge of the city as a number of councillors and residents had campaigned for. The process has been long and controversial. Supporters say the expansion is needed to deal with the shortage of housing in the city, while opponents claim the city's infrastructure will not be able to cope. The plan is based on projections of a growth in the population from the 320,000 to nearly 400,000 over the period between 2006 and 2026. The last time Cardiff grew at this scale was at the height of the coal industry a century ago. Cardiff council cabinet member for planning and sustainability Ramesh Patel said the city was "in dire need" of the plan. "The last plan was approved 19 years ago and has led to insufficient land being made available for urgent housing needs," he said. "When the new plan is finally adopted at the end of January, we will ensure that developments in the city are managed effectively with new transport infrastructure, schools, health facilities and other community facilities. "The plan gives us the control to guide development and manage the growth of the city."

Summary: A controversial plan for the biggest expansion of Cardiff in a century has been approved by a planning inspector.


The O's lost 5-0 at Accrington on Tuesday, six days before a winding-up petition is due to be heard. "It was a very hurtful night - certainly my lowest night in football," Webb, 33, told BBC London. "I'm trying to take on a lot, carry a lot of things on my shoulders. It's hard." Newport's win at Morecambe on Tuesday saw Webb's side go bottom of the fourth tier for the first time this season. Orient have lost five of their last six games and are seven points from safety with nine matches remaining. Webb, who is in his first management job, added: "I'm trying to reassure players about winding-up orders, and reassure myself really because I haven't got a clue what's going on either. "The whole thing's testing, but really all we should be worrying about is setting the team up to try and win a football game. "Unfortunately, your heart sinks when it goes to 2-0 because then it really is game over when you're down the bottom." Orient will present a "funding plan" at the High Court to stave off Monday's winding-up petition, according to the English Football League. The club met with EFL officials and said they would be able to clear the debt, believed to be around £250,000, owed to HM Revenue and Customs. "We were advised that a funding plan is in place to clear the petition debt and to complete their remaining nine league fixtures," an EFL statement said. "We remain in regular dialogue with the club and, as the competition organiser, the EFL will continue to offer whatever practical assistance is available to us as the club continues to navigate itself away from their current position. "The issue of the ownership of the club is not a matter for the EFL, as long as our regulations are met and any sale of the club is a matter for its shareholders, at this stage." President Francesco Becchetti said last month he would consider selling Orient, but it is understood a number of potential offers have not been considered sufficiently financially attractive.

Summary: Leyton Orient manager Danny Webb says the club's off-field problems are weighing on him heavily after they slipped to the bottom of League Two.


With the Windies chasing 261, pace bowler Perry took a wicket in each of her first three overs to reduce the Caribbean side to 41-3. Merissa Aguilleira and Deandra Dottin briefly threatened some fireworks, but after both fell to Lisa Sthalekar, West Indies limped to 145 all out. Rachael Haynes (52) and Jess Cameron (75) had earlier made half-centuries for the Aussies, with some late-order hitting from Perry and Jodie Fields taking them to 259-7. By contributing with the bat and then starring with the ball, Perry made a dramatic return to the Southern Stars' line-up after three games out with an ankle injury. The last of those was an eight-run defeat by West Indies, their first win over Australia and the result that sealed their place in a maiden final. Because of that victory, Windies skipper Aguilleira said her side had a "psychological advantage" over the team that had lifted the trophy on five previous occasions. But Australia were too clinical for a West Indies side that were sloppy in the field, wayward with the ball and unable to keep up with the run chase. In reclaiming the trophy they last won in 2005, Australia add to the World Twenty20 they won in October and the Ashes they will try to defend in England in August. It is the first time they have held all three of women's cricket's major titles simultaneously. Only once in the match were they under pressure, as four wickets fell for 28 runs around the batting powerplay. "If an emerging sport needs a star to help raise its profile, then women's cricket has struck gold with Ellyse Perry. An international in both cricket and football, the 22-year-old also somehow manages to find time to present shows on radio and television as well as studying for an economics and social sciences degree." Read the rest of our feature Before that, Haynes, who added 52 for the first wicket with Meg Lanning, shared a second-wicket stand of 64 with Cameron. With fielding mistakes and ill-disciplined bowling hampering the Windies, powerful right-hander Cameron played some particularly eye-catching strokes, going past 50 with two sixes in one Tremayne Smartt over. By this point, Haynes had been well held by Kyshona Knight, running back at mid-wicket to give impressive leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne her first wicket, and Alex Blackwell had fallen cheaply to Smartt. Cameron dominated a fourth-wicket partnership of 55 with Sthalekar but, when Cameron slapped a Shanel Daley full toss to deep mid-wicket, Australia lost their way. With the bowlers finally able to gain some control, Sthalekar, Sarah Coyte and Erin Osborne all found ways to hole out to West Indies fielders. However, from 209-7 Fields and Perry combined to add 50 exactly, Perry hitting a maximum over long on and skipper Fields improvising with sweeps and pulls. The Windies batters were always likely to have to deal with movement in the Mumbai night, but openers Natasha Mclean and Kycia Knight looked comfortable until the introduction of Perry. With no small sense of theatre, the right-armer twice aborted attempts to

Summary: Ellyse Perry ripped through the West Indies top order to help Australia to a 114-run win in the Women's World Cup final in Mumbai.


However, it has faced fierce and sometimes violent opposition in various parts of the world. In some of the latest trouble in South Africa, Uber drivers have complained of intimidation and harassment by their rivals for business. Here is what you need to know about the upstart transport firm. Founded just six years ago, the San Francisco-based Uber "seamlessly connects riders to drivers", as the company puts it. Users download an app which uses GPS technology to locate available drivers. You tap the screen to hail a cab and pay automatically on arrival with a credit card. Fares are usually lower than with traditional firms. It operates in 57 countries, but Uber's ambitions go beyond providing taxis - it has also trialled courier and fast food delivery services. Uber takes a cut of each fare. Since it does not directly employ drivers, or own the vehicles, costs are kept low. Growth has been fast - some forecasts put revenues this year at around $2bn (Â£1.2bn). It has also attracted huge amounts of funding. A recent valuation estimates the company as worth over $50bn (Â£31.7bn). At this level, should Uber go public, it would be the biggest start-up flotation since Facebook. The service needs a large pool of drivers to provide a reliable service, and is keen to stress how easy it is to join. You will need your own car for starters, and to cover the costs of fuel and servicing. The company also conducts background checks on potential recruits. For drivers, despite the lower fares, there are obvious perks, such as being able to choose your own hours. Uber's growth has been matched by protests around the world. Canada, France, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, the US and UK have all seen demonstrations. Such protests have brought gridlock to major capital cities. Occasionally, like in France, they turned violent. The firm has had to provide security to protect its drivers in South Africa after threats from traditional drivers. Broadly, taxi drivers accuse Uber of unfair competition, undercutting prices by allowing unlicensed drivers to escape regulation required for the professionals. An Indian woman who says she was raped by an Uber driver in Delhi has filed a lawsuit against the firm, accusing it of failing to ensure her safety. Uber said it was co-operating with the authorities. Its vetting process has also been put under the spotlight by allegations of sexual assaults by drivers in the US and Canada. The company has been accused of aggressive business practices, including poaching drivers from rival Lyft. And Uber executive Emil Michael said he was "plain wrong" for suggesting hiring researchers to dig up dirt on journalists who wrote negative reports on the company. Uber's popularity makes it hard to see it disappearing soon. History has looked more kindly on disruptive technology than its critics, whether it be mechanised looms in the Industrial Revolution or audio downloads. But the firm does face challenges. Local regulations could bite, raising fares - a court in California last month ruled in favour of an Uber driver who argued

Summary: The taxi-hailing app Uber has expanded rapidly since its launch and gained popularity with users as fares are generally cheaper than with traditional taxis.


Speaking at London's Science Museum the scientist also says he believes the future of humanity depends on living on other planets. "The long-term future of the human race must be space and that it represents an important life insurance for our future survival," he says. "It could prevent the disappearance of humanity by the colonisation of other planets." Professor Hawking made the comments while escorting an American visitor around the museum as part of a guest of honour prize. "Sending humans to the moon changed the future of the human race in ways that we don't yet understand," he went on. "It hasn't solved any of our immediate problems on planet Earth, but it has given us new perspectives on them and caused us to look both outward and inward." Adaeze Uyanwah, 24 and from California, won the tour after producing a blog and video describing a "perfect day" in London. She asked Prof Hawking what human failings he would alter. "The human failing I would most like to correct is aggression," he says. "It may have had survival advantage in caveman days, to get more food, territory, or partner with whom to reproduce, but now it threatens to destroy us all. "A major nuclear war would be the end of civilization, and maybe the end of the human race." The scientist then got a bit spiritual when he told her: "The quality I would most like to magnify is empathy. It brings us together in a peaceful, loving state." Ms Uyanwah says she was blown away by the meeting. "It's incredible to think when my grandchildren are learning Stephen Hawking's theories in science class, I'll be able to tell them I had a personal meeting with him. "It's something I'll never forget." Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Stephen Hawking says space travel will save the human race.


12 January 2017 Last updated at 12:52 GMT The lifelike robot was made to look and move like a meerkat but there was just one problem, to be accepted by the group he had to smell like one too. Hear how people working on the show 'Spy in the Wild' had to use poo to help him fit in. The first episode of Spy in the Wild is at 8pm on BBC1 on 12 January.

Summary: This may look like a meerkat on first glance but it's actually an undercover spy camera used to film meerkats in their natural habitat.


The country's Central Election Commission said that there had been a record turnout of 95.11% for the poll. The result, giving 74-year-old Mr Nazarbayev a fifth consecutive five-year term, had never been in doubt. The president has promised economic and social stability in the oil-rich Central Asian state. He ran virtually unopposed as his two opponents were both seen as pro-government. Human rights groups accuse the authorities of systematically repressing the opposition. Mr Nazarbayev cast his ballot to loud cheering in the capital Astana, saying he was sure that the people of Kazakhstan would support his campaign. "I am sure Kazakhstan's people will vote primarily for the stable development of our state and the improvement of people's lives, as well as the stability of the state and in support of the policies the country has implemented under my leadership," he told journalists. "I am confident of this." Many voters waited in long queues at polling stations in Astana and in the largest city, Almaty - with many citing a "civic duty" to vote. Correspondents say that the vote has taken place against a faltering economy in recent months in Kazakhstan, which is the richest of the five former Soviet Central Asian states. Domestic producers have been dismissing workers as they struggle to compete against Russian imports made cheaper by the weakening of the sanctions-hit rouble. Elections had been due in 2016, but President Nazarbayev announced they would be held a year early in what some see as a move intended to halt speculation about any possible successor. A former Communist politburo member, Mr Nazarbayev has been president of Kazakhstan since before it became independent in 1991 following the break-up of the former Soviet Union. Some 9.5 million people were eligible to vote in the vast country, which has extensive borders with both Russia and China.

Summary: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has had a widely expected crushing election victory, with early results showing he has won 97.7% of the vote.


The 18-year-old was walking through Cardonald Cemetery at about 15:30 on Friday when she was attacked. Police have said she was touched inappropriately by a man who approached her from behind. She managed to push him away and he ran off towards Corkerhill Road. The woman was not injured and did not require medical treatment but is said to have been very distressed by the experience. The suspect is described as white, between 40 and 50 years of age, slim and of gaunt appearance. He had a Glasgow accent. He was wearing a navy and blue waterproof jacket, black shorts and trainers which may also have been dark in colour. Det Con Lauren Docherty said: "The young woman... had taken a shortcut through the cemetery. "She had come in to the grounds from the Mosspark side and was nearing the exit at Tarfside Gardens when the man came up to her and indecently assaulted her. "He then grabbed her roughly but she managed to push him off and he ran off towards Corkerhill Road. Ms Docherty added: "The cemetery is used by a lot of local people as a shortcut between Mosspark and the Tarfside flats and I am sure at this time of day there would have been people about who may have seen this happen. "It was also quite cold yesterday, so if you saw someone wearing shorts - the man didn't look like he was going to or coming from a sports centre - it may have looked out of place." Anyone with information has been asked to call police on the 101 number or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Summary: A young woman has been indecently assaulted in a Glasgow cemetery.


George Osborne will consider that he has scored not one but two direct hits - no cuts to working tax credits and no cuts to police budgets. The former, of course, is largely due to the defiance of the House of Lords (Mr Osborne was ridiculed by Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, describing it as a climb-down). The latter may or may not be connected with that leaked letter from an unnamed police chief to the Home Office warning about the dire consequences of cuts in police budgets of 20% just at a time when community policing and intelligence-gathering were at a premium because of the counter terrorism agenda. The chancellor was equally determined to present himself as George (if not Bob) the Builder with his Â£4bn push for private developers to deliver 400,000 new affordable homes to buy. There will be some scepticism about this, and not just on the Opposition benches. Could this be yet another missed target bearing in mind that, as Mr McDonnell pointed out, the construction industry is in recession? In the Midlands, building developments are severely hampered by a shortage of bricklayers. One major local initiative which will receive a general welcome from all sides in politics will be Mr Osborne's confirmation that the long-awaited 670-bed super hospital in Sandwell is on the list of three new hospitals. It will take over services currently provided by Birmingham City and Sandwell hospitals. A "flat cash" settlement for local authorities guarantees that the agony for local councils will extend throughout the lifetime of this parliament. This will be the stark backdrop for councils preparing to set their budgets for next year. Labour MPs including Gisela Stuart (Birmingham Edgbaston) complain that local government is being redefined, forced by budget cuts to withdraw from important areas of their work, with only the voluntary "third sector" left to fill the gap, or so it's hoped. Will this be offset by his further encouragement for the local leaders who signed up in Coventry last week for the West Midlands Combined Authority's "devo deal"? The chair of the shadow authority which paves the way for it, the Conservative leader of Solihull Council, Bob Sleigh, told the BBC he is delighted the Â£8bn of devolved spending power already announced will enable the new authority, complete with elected "metro" mayor, to deliver the "big ticket" items - transport, housing, skills and business growth. It will certainly concentrate the minds of councils outside the "core" authority area who have so far stood aloof from the West Midlands Combined Authority. Places like Warwickshire, where nearby Coventry and the Coventry and Warwickshire enterprise partnership have signed up for it while the county council has not. The government clearly believes its "Devolution Revolution" is finally gaining momentum towards its vision of the new authority at the centre of a bigger Midlands "economic engine", connecting the East and West Midlands in the way that the Northern Powerhouse is connected from Merseyside to Humberside. The Treasury's official map of its regional spending settlements shows East and West Midlands united, together, joined-up,

Summary: Chancellors love springing surprises, especially if they manage to shoot some of the opposition's foxes at the same time.


Alien: Covenant, which is out in the UK on Friday, is the sequel to Scott's 2012 Prometheus and stars Michael Fassbender and Katherine Winterston. The Guardian said the "parasitic space alien has returned for this watchable if unoriginal sci-fi thriller". But The Telegraph said the film was "grandiose" and "exhilarating". "To want more Alien after this... would be to want to see something very odd indeed," Robbie Collin continued. "But Covenant leaves the mythos feeling riper and more vitalised than ever." In The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw went on to say: "The vu has never been so deja: It's a greatest-hits compilation of the other Alien films' freaky moments. "The paradox is that though you are intended to recognise these touches, you won't really be impressed unless you happen to be seeing them for the first time." The Independent described it as a "mightily impressive piece of cinematic engineering". "Every second here is tinged with dark foreboding, with the relentless tension that marked the 1979 original," the paper's Clarisse Loughrey said. The Mirror was equally effusive, saying: "Scott's final theatrical flourish sends the franchise spinning out in a new direction. This is screamingly great cinema." In the US, where the movie comes out on 19 May, Variety magazine was firmly on the fence, saying the film was "more of the same, which is both a relief to fans and a letdown to those hoping it might pave new ground". Its reviewer Peter Debruge concluded: "As acts of creation go, Scott has made an Alien movie for that segment of the audience that has always rooted for the monster." In the Hollywood Reporter, the verdict was considerably more enthusiastic, saying the film was "gripping through its full two hours and spiked with some real surprises". "This beautifully made sci-fi thriller will immeasurably boost fan interest in the run of prequels which Scott has recently said will consist of at least two more films until the action catches up to the 1979 original," it said. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Ridley Scott's return to directing a film in the Alien franchise has received mixed reviews ahead of its UK and US release.


Emergency services were called to the blaze at Amcor Flexibles at Brucefield Industrial Estate just before 1200 BST. One person was taken to St Johns hospital in Livingston where they are being treated for superficial wounds. Earlier, residents were warned to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed because of fears over possible toxic fumes from chemicals. Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said the flames were eventually extinguished at about 1800 BST. At its peak, the fire created a huge plume of black smoke which could be seen for miles. Local resident Ann Mackay, 51, said: "I saw black smoke all the way from my home in Dedridge, a few miles away, and went to see what was happening. "I saw the front of the factory building and the sign was melting, but the police asked us to move back as they were evacuating the area." Neighbouring businesses on the Brucefield Industrial estate were also evacuated. Local train services between Kirknewton and Shotts were suspended as a precaution until further notice. Trains are running from Glasgow to Shotts, and from Kirknewton to Edinburgh. The main Edinburgh to Glasgow line is unaffected.

Summary: A printing factory fire in West Calder, which involved 70 firefighters and 12 appliances, has been extinguished.


The victim, in her 20s, was left "fighting for her life" after the assault in Victoria Park, Leicester, at about 23:40 BST on Monday. She was dragged into bushes and found near recycling bins about an hour later, Leicestershire Police said. The suspect was arrested on Tuesday night and detectives have renewed their appeal for information. Live updates and more stories from the East Midlands Police said the woman had been walking alone along a well-lit section of the park before she was attacked about the head and upper body. Large parts of the public space were cordoned off on Tuesday as forensic officers combed the scene for evidence. Det Ch Insp Rob Widdowson said: "This was a really brutal attack, the victim has been left with horrendous injuries and is fighting for her life. "We still need to trace anyone who may have been in the area of Victoria Park [late on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning] and who may have seen something which can help us with our enquiries. "You may not think what you saw is significant, but we still want to speak to you." Det Supt Neil Castle added: "Whilst crossing the park she was attacked and subsequently dragged into some bushes, where she was seriously assaulted. She sustained horrific injuries."

Summary: A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over a "horrific" attack on a woman in a park.


Nobbs, 80, from Ripon, North Yorkshire, also wrote for The Two Ronnies, Ken Dodd, Frankie Howerd and Radio 4's The Maltby Collection. The creator of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin also wrote 20 novels. Comedian John Cleese said he was a "lovely kind, gentle man with a delicious sense of humour". He said on Twitter: "Very sad today to hear of the death of David Nobbs. First worked with him on the Frost Report in 1966. "He wrote many top-class shows and books. His masterwork: the Reggie Perrin shows." The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, first broadcast in the 1970s, told the story of a man, played by Leonard Rossiter, desperate to escape his dull marriage, disappointing children and daily grind of his job. The British Humanist Association's chief executive Andrew Copson said: "David Nobbs was a very special talent and we were all honoured to have worked with him over his years as a patron of the BHA." Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office, also paid tribute to Nobbs, by borrowing a catchphrase from the character CJ, played by John Barron, who was Perrin's tyrannical boss. He tweeted: "I didn't get where I am today by not knowing what a genius David Nobbs was. RIP." And Little Britain star Matt Lucas wrote: "Reggie Perrin and A Bit Of A Do were masterpieces. David Nobbs leaves the world a richer place." Author Irvine Welsh, who wrote the novel Trainspotting, said: "Very sad to hear of the death of inspirational David Nobbs, who I had quite a few laughs with. "A comic genius and an excellent human being."

Summary: Writer David Nobbs, best known for creating the television character Reginald Perrin, has died, the British Humanist Association has said.


The quake happened at about 21:10 local time on Friday (04:10 GMT on Saturday) and its epicentre was 1 mile (2km) east of the town of La Habra. There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries. A 4.4-magnitude quake was felt near Los Angeles earlier this month, rattling nerves but causing no major damage. The latest earthquake was shallow at only 1.2 miles (2km) deep, according to the USGS. It was felt across four counties, from Palm Springs in the east and Ventura County to the north, Reuters news agency reported. The Los Angeles Fire Department said it was checking buildings and transport infrastructure for damage. It said the quake was a reminder for people to be prepared. The San Andreas fault, on the edge of the Pacific tectonic plate, runs directly through California, and the western US state has long braced for a devastating quake. The 1994 Northridge quake, at 6.7 magnitude, left at least 60 people dead. A 6.9-magnitude quake in San Francisco five years earlier killed 67 people.

Summary: A magnitude 5.1 earthquake has struck the Los Angeles area of southern California, the US Geological Survey says.


Work and pensions committee chair Frank Field told news agencies that he was sure Sir Philip "will be invited". Sir Philip owned BHS, which went into administration on Monday, for 15 years until selling it for £1 in 2015. The committee will investigate how the collapse of BHS will affect the Pension Protection Fund. The Pensions Protection Fund is funded by a compulsory levy on companies who have defined benefit pensions. It is there to provide compensation for pensioners when companies go bust. The BHS pension scheme has a deficit of £571m and Sir Philip has offered to make an £80m voluntary contribution. Separately, the Pensions Regulator will investigate whether BHS's former owners sought to avoid their obligations. BHS, which employs about 11,000 people, will continue trading while the administrators seek a buyer for the business. Sir Philip Green: How he took on the High Street 'What we'll miss if BHS closes' BHS: What are the next steps? Pension scheme at heart of BHS woes Simon Jack: Broken promises at BHS? Mr Field said: "We need as a committee to look at the Pension Protection Fund and how the receipt of pension liabilities of BHS will impact on the increases in the levy that will now be placed on all other eligible employers to finance the scheme. "We will then need to judge whether the law is strong enough to protect future pensioners' contracts in occupational schemes." The administration means members of the pension scheme who are yet to retire will be paid a less generous pension. John Mann, a Labour member of the Treasury select committee, called on Sir Philip to repay £400m of dividends that he took out of BHS. "Sir Philip Green and his family have made millions out of BHS and its hardworking staff. He took over a company with a healthy pension pot, yet when he sold BHS a black hole had appeared in its fund," he said. "There is a very simple and honourable solution to this crisis: repay the dividends, live up to the name he has chosen for his new yacht, 'Lionheart', or lose his knighthood." Conservative MP Richard Fuller has called on Sir Philip to clarify his involvement in the chain's demise. "Green and Arcadia need to put out a statement immediately clarifying their position. He has a responsibility, a duty," he said. "Arcadia should be made to make public the documents and correspondence between themselves and Retail Acquisitions so that we can ascertain if the correct due diligence was undertaken in terms of there being enough cash left in the business and to cover the pension liability. If it's found that the correct due diligence was not undertaken, then Sir Philip will face serious consequences."

Summary: Former BHS owner Sir Philip Green is expected to be called to appear before MPs to face questions over the collapse of the retailer into administration.


The club, which was formed more than two centuries ago, has only ever allowed men to join. A vote on proposals to change that rule is scheduled for September. The early indication is that there is great support In advance of that meeting, the Royal and Ancient has written to its members urging them to support a change in policy which would allow women members. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has been the guardian of the rules of the game since 1754, although in 2004 it devolved responsibility for the administration of the game and the Open to the newly-formed R&A. "It's a big day for the club," R&A chief executive Peter Dawson told BBC Sport. "We've done this really because of our governance role in the game. "We think it's very good for the governance of golf that we make this move. Sport has been changing, society has been changing and golf is part of that. "We think it's time this change is made." If the vote goes against women members, Dawson said that would be an "undesirable" result. He added: "The early indication is that there is great support. We will have to see what happens." Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond boycotted last year's Open at all-male club Muirfield, while Open venues Royal St George's and Troon also bar women members. However, in 2012 the Augusta National Club, which hosts the Masters in the United States every year, allowed women to join for the first time in its 80-year history.

Summary: The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is urging its 2,500 members to vote in favour of abolishing its men-only policy, the BBC has learned.


Workers for the salvage firm recovered the body from a cabin and handed it to the authorities to be identified. They believe it is Indian waiter Russel Rebello, the last of 32 victims to be recovered from the wreck. The cruise ship partially sank in January 2012 after it hit a reef off the Italian island of Giglio. The Concordia was finally raised from the sea in July and towed to Genoa to be scrapped. The captain, Francesco Schettino, is on trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship, charges he denies. This is the third time local officials have said Mr Rebello's remains might have been found. Tests on the other two occasions determined that the remains were not his. This time, his brother Kevin said on Facebook he believed Russel was now coming home to India. "I promised my family that I would bring back home my brother some day. When was the biggest question," he said. "Finally, my younger brother's body has been found. "Thanks to everyone who prayed and believed that one day he would be found."

Summary: Human remains found in the wreck of the Costa Concordia are believed to be the last victim of the cruise ship's 2012 capsize, Italian officials have said.


The Edinburgh-based start-up attracted high-profile investors such as Skyscanner founder Gareth Williams and Macklin Enterprise Partnerships founder Marie Macklin. The investment will help the firm target international markets. Appointedd said its suite of tools allowed small firms to manage their business entirely online. Its online booking software is designed to assist businesses that "sell time", such as photographers, salon owners, physiotherapists, personal trainers and consultants. The Scottish Investment Bank was involved in the investment round, which was led by business angel syndicate Equity Gap. Last month Appointedd announced it had been selected as one of 12 integrated software systems in an app platform curated by National Australia Bank. The deal will see Appointedd's software being offered to 700,000 small and medium sized firms across Australia. Appointedd founder and chief executive Leah Hutcheon, who is an ambassador for Women's Enterprise Scotland and Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: "It has been fantastic to get such a positive reaction from investors at this round. "We have felt extremely honoured to attract investment from the founder of one of Scotland's unicorn companies and experienced entrepreneurs like Marie Macklin CBE. "We look forward to using their expertise to help expand our software globally. "We are already seeing some amazing traction, and it's exciting to be working with partners like National Australia Bank." Gareth Williams said: "It's been a pleasure to watch the Appointedd product hone over time and I'm excited to be involved in the next stage of their growth. "The software has the potential to be the leader in a huge market and I look forward to watching their international expansion."

Summary: Online booking firm Appointedd is to expand its operations after raising £595,000 in a funding round.


The star, who is of Egyptian heritage, won the prize for his role in the USA Network drama Mr Robot. He said he hoped his win would open the door for more ethnic minority actors. "For me to stand here as not the typical leading man and to have come home with this speaks a lot about where we're headed," he said. "I think we can keep going a lot further in that direction, not just in entertainment, but socially and politically, and strive to be as progressive as possible." Malek held off competition from actors including bookmakers' favourite Kevin Spacey, who was nominated for House of Cards, The Americans' Matthew Rhys and Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk. The last non-white winner to win the trophy was Andre Braugher for Homicide: Life on the Street in 1998. Since then, the winners have included James Gandolfini for The Sopranos, Damian Lewis for Homeland, The Shield's Michael Chiklis, Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom and Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston. In his acceptance speech, Malek said: "I'm honoured to stand here and represent my family and every single person who's helped me get this far." Reacting to his surprise win, the actor - whose character sees things that are not real - joked to the audience: "Please tell me you're seeing this too." Malek was born in Los Angeles in 1981 to Egyptian parents. He went to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California - graduating in 1999 along with fellow actor Rachel Bilson. In 2004, Malek got his first major TV role in Gilmore Girls and went on to appear in 24, The Pacific, Over There and The War at Home. His film roles to date include Larry Crowne, Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, a recurring role in the Night At The Museum series. Malek began starring in Mr Robot in 2015, a role that has also netted him a Critics' Choice Award. Malek was one of several ethnic minority actors to triumph at Sunday's ceremony. Courtney B Vance and Sterling K Brown, who both appeared in The People vs OJ Simpson, won the best leading actor and supporting actor in a limited series categories respectively. And Regina King was named outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for her role in American Crime. Meanwhile, Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari called for better Asian representation on screen after winning the Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series for Netflix series Master of None. Host Jimmy Kimmel made several references to diversity during the ceremony in light of the "Oscars So White" controversy earlier this year. "Here in Hollywood the only thing we value more than diversity is congratulating ourselves on how much we value diversity," he said in his opening monologue. "The Emmys are so diverse this year the Oscars are now telling people we're one of their closest friends." He joked that the ceremony was almost too diverse - with other notable winners including Susanne Bier, who was the only woman nominated in her category of best limited

Summary: Rami Malek has become the first minority actor in 18 years to win the Emmy Award for best leading actor in a drama series.


Kayla Mueller was abducted when working in Aleppo, Syria and died last year. The woman charged - 25-year-old Nisreen Assad Ibrahim Bahar, known as Umm Sayyaf - is currently in Iraqi custody. Prosecutors say Sayyaf kept Ms Mueller captive, allowing her to be repeatedly raped by IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Nisreen Bahar's husband, Abu Sayyaf, is described in an affidavit as IS minister for oil and gas, reporting directly to Baghdadi. Abu Sayyaf died last May when his compound in Syria was raided by US special forces. His widow was handed over to the Iraqi authorities for prosecution. A US justice department statement said they supported the prosecution but would "continue to pursue justice for Kayla". "We will always be relentless in our efforts to identify, locate and arrest those who are responsible for the kidnappings and murders of American citizens," said the FBI's Assistant Director in Charge, Paul Abbate. Mueller had travelled to Syria as an aid worker when she was kidnapped in 2013.

Summary: The widow of a former senior leader in the Islamic State (IS) group has been charged with conspiracy in the death of a US hostage, US authorities said.


Newcastle University said the killing of its students Neil Dalton and Aidan Brunger, both 22, was a "huge shock". Malaysian police said the men were killed at about 04:15 local time on Wednesday. There had been an argument between a man and one victim before the killings, and four men have been arrested over the murders, police added. Mr Dalton, from Ambergate, Belper in Derbyshire, and Mr Brunger from Hempstead, Gillingham in Kent, were in the final week of a six-week work placement at a hospital in Kuching, a city in one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. In a statement, Malaysian police said the two victims had a drink in a tea shop, where one man rebuked them for being noisy. "This gave rise to an argument," police said, between the man and one of the victims before they left the shop. Police said four men then pursued the students in a car, before one man got out and attacked them with a knife. The police added three suspects were arrested at about 06:00 local time and a knife was also found, and a fourth suspect was arrested at 16:45. "The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction," the police statement said. The area is said to be known for its popular nightlife among tourists. Police said Mr Dalton and Mr Brunger had been due to complete their placement in Kuching on Friday. Professor Tony Stevenson, acting vice-chancellor of Newcastle University, said: "We were informed this morning of the very sad news that two of our fourth year medical students working at a hospital in Kuching, Borneo, have been tragically killed. "Neil Dalton and Aidan Brunger, both 22, were on a six-week work placement along with five other medical students to put the skills they had learnt during their time here at the university into practice. "This has come as a huge shock to us all and our thoughts are with their families and friends at this very difficult time. "Two of our members of staff are flying out to Kuching as soon as possible and we are working closely with the British High Commissioner to support the other students and to co-ordinate their return to the UK." The Foreign Office said it was aware of the deaths of two Britons and was "providing consular assistance to their families at this difficult time".

Summary: Two British medical students have been stabbed to death in Borneo, local police have said.


The front page of Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has the headline "Storm over London", above a picture of a High Court judge with his wig flapping around in the air. "Judges put the brakes on Brexit," reads a front-page headline in Italy's Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica has "Brexit: Surprise ruling", and French business paper Les Echos says "Brexit: London's dramatic turn of events". For Frankfurter Rundschau's London correspondent, Sebastian Border, the decision is "a heavy blow for May's government", and he sees the Brexit schedule "faltering". The Hungarian tabloid Blikk believes the latest developments are worthy of Shakespeare, with the headline "To Brexit or not to Brexit, that is the question - parliament will decide". French paper Les Echos, says Theresa May's government "hit an iceberg called the High Court of Justice". "Enough to sink the Brexit ship? Or just rock it slightly?" it wonders. An article in German tabloid Bild shows a picture of a kissing couple bearing EU and Union Jack face-paint, along with the headline "Is this the exit from Brexit?" But few commentators believe the ruling is likely to overturn June's referendum result. L'Express describes the ruling as a "thunderbolt from across the Channel", but adds that although a delay is now likely, Brexit will still go ahead in the end. In Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore, London correspondent Leonardo Maisano, says the High Court "detonated a new bomb" under Brexit, but believes MPs will ultimately not go against the "popular will expressed in the referendum". Instead, most think the ruling only complicates an already tricky situation even further. "Here comes the big mess," declares a headline in Germany's Zeit, whose London correspondent, Sascha Zastiral, describes the ruling as "a severe setback" for Theresa May's Brexit plans. France's Liberation sees the decision as "not a setback for Brexit, but a stinging rap on the knuckles" for the government. In Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, London correspondent Marcus Theurer writes that this "bitter defeat" for the PM and Leavers will "poison the political debate" in the UK, and increase the "uncertainty around Brexit even further". Spain's El Pais also highlights the unprecedented nature of the situation, which it says takes the country into "the tricky uncharted waters of Britain's unwritten constitution". Italian paper Il Messaggero describes the ruling as "a spoke in the wheels of Brexit" and emphasises that it is hard to predict what will happen next, as we are now "in completely new territory". "It is not by chance that Collins dictionary has chosen 'Brexit' as the word of the year," it concludes. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.

Summary: European press commentators have been taken aback at the UK High Court's ruling that Parliament must be consulted on Brexit, with many predicting further uncertainty for the UK and the rest of Europe as a result.


The two firms should be barred from any US mergers and acquisitions, according to a House Intelligence Committee report. The panel says the firms failed to allay fears about their association with China's government and military. Huawei and ZTE denied the accusations in front of the panel in September. On Monday ZTE issued a statement insisting its equipment met all US standards and posed no threat. "ZTE has set an unprecedented standard for co-operation by any Chinese company with a congressional investigation," China's Xinhua news agency quoted the firm as saying. How China became the US election bogeyman Huawei's vice-president, William Plummer, said the latest accusations were "dangerous political distractions". "Purporting that Huawei is somehow uniquely vulnerable to cyber mischief ignores technical and commercial realities, recklessly threatens American jobs and innovation, does nothing to protect national security." While the House Intelligence report stopped short of calling for a boycott of the firms' mobile phone products, it was highly critical of the two companies. "China has the means, opportunity and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes," the report says. "Based on available classified and unclassified information, Huawei and ZTE cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence and thus pose a security threat to the United States and to our systems." The panel said their investigation had received credible allegations from current and former Huawei employees of bribery and corruption, discriminatory behaviour and copyright infringement. Republican committee chairman Mike Rogers said they had passed on information to the FBI to investigate the allegations. "We've come to the conclusion, unfortunately, they are not private entities," Mr Rogers said on Monday. On Sunday, Mr Rogers delivered a blunt verdict to the 60 Minutes programme on US network CBS. "If I were an American company today... and you are looking at Huawei, I would find another vendor if you care about your intellectual property, if you care about your consumers' privacy, and you care about the national security of the United States of America," he said. Among the report's recommendations were to exclude any Huawei or ZTE equipment or component parts from being used by government contractors, as well both companies becoming "more transparent and responsive to US legal obligations". China's Foreign Ministry urged the US to "set aside prejudices" regarding the two firms. "Chinese telecoms companies have been developing their international business based on market economy principles," ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. "Their investment in the United States embodies the mutually beneficial nature of Sino-American economic and trade relations." Huawei was started by Ren Zhengfei, a former member of the People's Liberation Army, in 1987. As the firm has grown to become one of the largest global players in the sector, fears about its ties with the Chinese military have frequently surfaced. There have been concerns and allegations that it was helping China gather information on foreign states and companies, charges that the firm has denied. Last year, its purchase of American computer company 3Leaf systems, was rejected by a US security panel. Earlier this year, it along with ZTE, faced

Summary: Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE pose a security threat to the US, a congressional panel has warned after an investigation into the two companies.