Two communities are claiming compensation and want Shell to clean up their land. Shell said it is at an "early stage" in reviewing the claims and that the case should be heard in Nigeria. The Ogale community of about 40,000 people in Rivers State, on the coast of Nigeria, who are mainly farmers or fishermen, are some of the claimants. Their case is being handled by law firm Leigh Day. Spills since 1989 have meant they don't have clean drinking water, farmland or rivers, their claim says. It points to a November 2015 report by Amnesty International which says four spill sites Shell says it planned to clean up are still contaminated. The first court hearing at the Technology and Construction Court, held on Wednesday, found that the claimants can can lodge a case against Shell's Nigerian business, known as Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). Shell declined to comment on the ruling. Amnesty's findings followed a 2011 report by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which found water contaminated with oil by-products including benzene, thought to be a carcinogen. It suggested a clean up, but said a "sustainable recovery" of the area could take up to 30 years. Shell says it has agreed a clean-up plan. "In mid-2015 SPDC JV, along with the government, UNEP and representatives of the Ogoni community, agreed to an 18-month roadmap to fast-track the environmental clean-up and remediation of Ogoniland which includes a governance framework," it said in a statement. The Bille community, who are mainly fishermen and are the other party to sue, claims Shell should be liable for "failing to protect their pipelines from damage caused by third parties", according to Leigh Day. Pipelines in the area have been targets for thieves who steal crude oil and try to refine it locally. This has lead to more spills and damage though explosions. "Both Bille and Ogale are areas heavily impacted by crude oil theft, pipeline sabotage and illegal refining which remain the main sources of pollution across the Niger Delta. "Ogale is in Ogoniland and it is important to note that SPDC has produced no oil or gas in Ogoniland since 1993. Access to the area has been limited following a rise in violence, threats to staff and attacks on facilities," Shell said. But the communities say Shell pipelines lack the technology to detect and shut off leaks, whatever the cause. Daniel Leader, partner at Leigh Day said: "It is scandalous that four years after the UNEP Report Shell is yet to clean up its oil in either Ogale or Bille. Our client's patience has now run out and we intend to force Shell to act since it is clear they have no intention of doing so on their own." In January last year, Shell agreed to an $84m (Â£55m) settlement with residents of the Bodo community in the Niger Delta for two oil spills. The same law firm, Leigh Day, said their 15,600 clients would receive $3,300 each for losses caused by the spills. The remaining $30m would be left for the community,

Summary: Oil giant Shell is being sued in London for the second time in five years over spills in the Niger Delta.


The 21-year-old scored twice for the non-league team in their FA Cup first-round defeat by Carlisle in November. Morais has previously played in the Football League for Wycombe. "He has scored some great goals already this season for St Albans, and we are pleased to have secured his signature," said Posh boss Grant McCann. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Peterborough United have signed striker Junior Morias from National League South side St Albans for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal.


The Leinster full-back damaged his bicep towards the end of Saturday's 63-10 win over Italy in Rome. The Irish Independent has reported that the injury could require surgery and Kearney is set to miss this week's three-day training camp in Monaghan. Ireland have declined to comment on the extent of the injury but will issue an update on the situation on Friday. The 30-year-old is in a race to be fit for the matches against France, Wales and England. Simon Zebo is the most likely candidate to assume the number 15 jersey should Kearney be missing, with Ulster's fit-again Andrew Trimble coming on to the wing. Robbie Henshaw is set to train this week despite suffering a dead leg. The centre was forced to retire hurt with the injury against the Italians but is likely to join the Irish squad when they get together on Wednesday. Flanker Peter O'Mahony, who was not considered for Ireland's opening two Six Nations games because of a hamstring injury, trained with Munster on Monday, but will not play for the province against the Ospreys on Saturday. Meanwhile, Jamie Heaslip has agreed a new contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union, which will see him continue to play for Leinster and Ireland until the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The 33-year-old number eight has won 93 caps for Ireland, scoring 13 tries and has started 36 of Ireland's last 41 Test matches.

Summary: Rob Kearney could be ruled out of the remainder of Ireland's Six Nations campaign with an arm injury.


The Southern Front, an alliance of rebel groups, announced that the base, known as Brigade 52, was "liberated" in an attack on Tuesday morning. The base, outside the town of Harak, is one of the largest in Deraa province. Officials have not commented, but if confirmed its fall would be the latest in a string of defeats suffered by the government in the past three months. At the start of April, the Southern Front captured the Nasib border crossing with Jordan, days after another rebel alliance seized the capital of the north-western province of Idlib. The jihadist group Islamic State meanwhile took the strategically important central town of Tadmur and the neighbouring ancient ruins of Palmyra last month. A spokesman for the Southern Front, Maj Essam al-Rayes, told the AFP news agency that at least 2,000 rebel fighters had overrun Brigade 52 in a "short and quick" assault launched at dawn on Tuesday. "This base was one of the main lines of defence for the regime forces. It was a nightmare, because they used it to shell all the areas to the east of the province," he said. The base also lies near a main road running from the capital, Damascus, to the Jordanian border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said the battle had killed 20 troops and pro-government militiamen, as well as 14 rebels. Government forces had now withdrawn to the nearby village of al-Dara, it added. Ahmed al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist in Deraa, told the Associated Press that the rebels had also captured the nearby village of Mleiha al-Sharqiya on Tuesday. There were no reports about the status of Brigade 52 on state media. However, the Sana news agency earlier said air strikes in the area had killed at least 40 members of al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, al-Nusra Front. Rebel positions in Mleiha al-Sharqiya, Karak and Harak were targeted, and attacks elsewhere in Deraa province were repelled, a military source was quoted as saying.

Summary: Rebels in Syria say they have captured a major army base in the south of the country.


German Shepherd Nero jumped over railings in Watford which, unknown to his handler, had a 12ft (3.5m) drop on the other side. PC Clive Warncken said he was delighted to have Nero back and he was "doing well and was comfortable". An X-ray released by the vet who treated the dog showed the extent of his injuries - two clear fractures. Nero was with PC Warncken, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire dog unit, when the accident happened in the early hours of Thursday 21 July. He had been called in to track four people suspected of assaulting a woman. PC Warncken said Nero was not used to resting. "I suspect he might be a bit frustrated as he's used to being so active, but I will ensure he receives the rest he needs," he said. Surgeon Liz Tilson, from The Roebuck Veterinary Group, said Nero arrived with "severe neck pain and weakness in his hind legs". "X-rays revealed that he had fractured two vertebrae in his neck," she said. He was kept at the surgery's Stevenage hospital for a week for pain relief and rest and has so far responded well to treatment and been incredibly brave, she said.

Summary: A police dog that broke its neck in two places while chasing suspected muggers is at home recovering from its ordeal.


Hain, the top run-scorer in last year's competition, helped his side reach their revised target of 159 in a game reduced to 30 overs. He was aided by Will Porterfield's 63 in an unbroken first-wicket stand. Northants struggled to 154 all out in their 30 overs, with Rob Keogh (64) the only one to make a real impression. England international Ben Duckett was caught by Hain for seven off the bowling of Rikki Clarke (2-18), one of seven Northants batsmen to fail to get out of single figures as Oliver Hannon-Dalby (3-24) impressed. Hain returned to the side having been left out of their previous County Championship game, on the day he received a reprimand from the ECB's Cricket Discipline Commission. He was reported by the umpires during Warwickshire's Second XI Championship match against Worcestershire at Flagge Meadow last week, for a Level One breach of the code (bowling a fast short pitched ball and/or accidental high full pitched ball that results in the bowler being disallowed from bowling any further in that innings). The penalty is a reprimand, which will remain on his record for two years. The accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension. Hain scored more runs in the One-Day Cup last season than any other batsman (540 in 10 innings). Northants coach David Ripley told BBC Radio Northampton: "We just haven't come out of the blocks at all. We've been very well beaten. It's a pretty grim effort all round really. "We had the sharp end of the conditions batting first, we had to stop start and couldn't get any partnerships together. But still our performance is way down from where we expect it to be. "I expected our bowlers to be a handful and I was hopeful we could pull off something special but we never got started with the ball either." Warwickshire batsman Sam Hain told BBC WM: "I felt a bit of pressure coming into this competition so it's nice to get on the board here with a few runs. "Especially after the start to my season in the red-ball game. I'm a little stumped to why it hasn't happened in the Championship. "But I have no qualms about my white-ball game and now I have a block of games to work with now."

Summary: Sam Hain's unbeaten 89 helped holders Warwickshire race to a 10-wicket victory over Northants in a rain-affected One-Day Cup match.


The woman, who has severe learning difficulties, was held by Keith Baker and his wife Caroline at their County Armagh home. She was found in a squalid room in the so-called house of horrors in 2012. When she was rescued, she was severely malnourished and had lost almost all her teeth. Police believe the woman was trafficked into Northern Ireland by Baker in 2004. It is understood her husband reported her missing to police in Suffolk where they had been living. A senior police officer said the repeated attacks on the vulnerable woman was the "most depraved and awful crime" he had ever come across. The woman's torment was reported to police in 2012 by Mandy Highfield, mother of four of Baker's eight children. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Ms Highfield said she had to coax the Bakers' victim to leave when the police and social workers came to rescue her because the woman was too frightened to go. Ms Highfield had lived with Baker, effectively as a second wife, and was the mother of four of his eight children: Caroline Baker was the mother of the other four. Ms Highfield said Baker exerted complete control over everyone in his household. "If we'd go out, he'd be as nice as pie and then, when we were on our own, he'd hit me because I'd been talking to people," she said. "I wasn't allowed to talk to anybody or have friends or even talk to my family." A tiny room in the house had been turned into a prison cell for the vulnerable woman, she said. "Keith took the handle off the door. There was no light bulb in the light, no carpet on the floor, no curtains up against the window. It was like a little prison." Talking about the sex abuse, she said: "How could they treat somebody like that - with a disability like she had?" "It wasn't fair and I just couldn't handle it so I went to the police and told them. Then the police came down and they took me out of the house and talked to me. "I told them everything. Then the social worker and the police went upstairs and saw the other woman in the bedroom. "They took her out, but she didn't want to go because she was scared. "I said to her: 'You've got to go; you can't live like this anymore.' Then she left with the police and the social worker." Det Ch Sup George Clarke, head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Public Protection Unit, said his officers were shocked by what they uncovered at the Bakers' home. "It became very clear to the detectives that it wasn't just a case of physical abuse but that there was a very depraved sexual element to this," he said. "This woman was raped repeatedly by Baker who was aided and abetted by his wife. "It would also appear that these assaults were on occasions recorded and we can only assume that was for the sexual gratification of Baker." He said it

Summary: A woman kept prisoner in a Northern Ireland house and repeatedly raped and assaulted for eight years was too afraid to leave when police came to rescue her.


Pupils at Denbigh High School were disciplined on the first day of term on Monday, for breaches of policy including "the wearing of inappropriate trousers, skirts and footwear". The students were taken from their normal lessons and moved to a "learning suite". About 20 of them returned to normal classes by the end of the day. Head teacher Simeon Molloy said: "We believe that standards across the board, including uniform, contribute to a positive learning environment. "At the end of the last school year we held several school assemblies that outlined our school uniform policy. "We followed this up by telephoning parents and sending out letters with photographs and information on the style of trousers and length of skirts." He added: "We have spoken with every parent of every student involved in this matter to explain individual issues with each pupil's uniform. We will continue to uphold our high expectations." Students flouting uniform rules were sent home from lessons at a Kent academy - a day after police intervened in angry scenes at the school gates on the first day of term.

Summary: A head teacher has defended excluding 72 students from regular classes for not complying with uniform rules.


City were held to a 1-1 draw at League One Rotherham, before securing a bonus point with a 4-2 win on penalties. Spurs' under-21s earned a point in a 2-2 draw with the Hatters, who beat the visitors 4-2 in the shootout. League One side Plymouth also won on penalties, beating Chelsea's development squad 5-4 after a 2-2 draw. There were wins for two Premier League development squads inside 90 minutes, as West Ham and Swansea both earned three points in the opening round of fixtures. Swindon twice equalised against the Hammers after falling behind, but Dan Kemp slid in a third goal late on to secure the visitors victory at the County Ground. Kyle Storer gave League Two side Cheltenham the lead early in the second half against the Swans, but Kenji Gorre equalised in the 73rd minute, before Aaron Lewis slotted in an 83rd-minute winner. Notts County were the only English Football League side to earn the maximum three points, as goals from Jonathan Forte and Haydn Hollis earned the Magpies a 2-1 win over Everton Under-21s. Swindon Town 2-3 West Ham United Under-21s Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Chelsea Under-21s (Plymouth won 5-4 on penalties) Cheltenham Town 1-2 Swansea City Under-21s Luton Town 2-2 Tottenham Under-21s (Luton won 4-2 on penalties) Rotherham United 1-1 Manchester City Under-21s (Manchester City Under-21s won 4-2 on penalties) Notts County 2-1 Everton Under-21s

Summary: Manchester City Under-21s won on penalties in their first EFL Trophy appearance, while fellow debutants Tottenham lost in a shootout at Luton.


The RSPCA visited Margaret Greaves's house after concerns were raised about the welfare of dogs at the property. Inspectors found 30 dogs living in "their own little prison cells" with no food or water. Six puppies, two cats and two parrots were also found. The dogs were found in squalid conditions all over the house, as well as seven living in a van. RSPCA inspector Laura Kirkham said: "They were living in their own little prison cells - it was absolutely horrific. "There were faeces and urine in the crates and, in some, there were two dogs in each. "The smell was disgusting, it was so overpowering that it was burning my throat." Five of the dogs were put to sleep on veterinary advice and a puppy removed from the property died from natural causes. The remaining animals are in RSPCA care or have been re-homed. Greaves, of Rookery Lane, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. She was also banned from keeping any animal for three years. The RSPCA said Greaves ran a Nottinghamshire-based dog flyball team and has previously competed in national and international competitions. Flyball sees two teams of four dogs each racing side-by-side over a 51ft (15.6m) course, releasing and catching a ball.

Summary: A flyball trainer who competed internationally has been banned from keeping dogs for life after 40 animals were found at her home in "horrific" conditions.


Rugby league convert Burgess only made his union debut for Bath in November and won his first England cap against France in August. The 26-year-old's inclusion means there is no place for fellow centre Luther Burrell, a regular during the past two Six Nations campaigns. Media playback is not supported on this device Head coach Stuart Lancaster has also left out fly-half Danny Cipriani. Cipriani's omission comes despite the 27-year-old Sale player putting in an impressive performance off the bench in the 25-20 defeat by France in Paris on Saturday, later tweeting he was "very disappointed" and had done "everything I could for the white shirt". Exeter's Henry Slade, 22, is named as one of four centres alongside Burgess, Saracens' Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph of Bath, while Kieran Brookes is picked ahead of loose-head Alex Corbisiero, who has struggled with fitness recently. Ben Morgan is named as one of the back rows, despite having played just 40 minutes of competitive rugby since suffering a broken leg and, in the second row, George Kruis has beaten Dave Attwood to a spot in the 31. The other players to miss out are centre Billy Twelvetrees, number eight Nick Easter, flanker Calum Clark and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie. Head coach Lancaster, whose side begin their tournament against Fiji at Twickenham on 18 September, admitted to shedding tears over the selection of his squad. He informed successful and unsuccessful players of his decisions in one-to-one meetings and when asked about the emotion of the talks, said: "Just by me. No tantrums, just tears." He added "Selection wasn't easy and it is tough to leave anyone out but it's important to stress that the players not in this group are still part of our wider squad and could come in at any point. "It's really positive that we have such depth and options to choose from. "After 10 weeks in camp we have made our final selection of players and we believe we have a great group to take us into the tournament. "With three weeks to go before we play Fiji we feel we are in good shape as we head into next Saturday's game against Ireland." England backs coach Andy Farrell, who himself converted from rugby league to play in the 2007 World Cup with England, said of Burgess: "To force our hand to put him into the squad, he should be unbelievably proud of himself." However, earlier this week, former England captain Will Carling said that Burgess should not be taken to the World Cup after frequently being caught out of position against France. "There is no-one I have spoken to who I respect - ex-players, coaches - who thinks he's ready," said Carling, who won 72 caps for England and led them to the 1991 World Cup final. "I don't understand what the rush is and it's unfair on him. I feel sorry for him. If he wants to make it in union, there's plenty of time. "He's been playing union for 10 months and half of that was in a different position

Summary: Sam Burgess has been included in England's 31-man squad for the World Cup, which starts next month.


The emergency services were called to Boclair Academy in Bearsden on Friday morning after a "strange smell" was detected in the building. East Dunbartonshire Council said all pupils were safe and had been taken to nearby Killermont Primary School. Boclair Academy was later declared safe after a leak from emergency lighting was identified as the source. After the evacuation, arrangements had been made for pupils to sit their National 5 Modern Studies exam at Bearsden Academy. However, the council later said the exam would take place as originally planned at Boclair Academy. The school is expected to open again as usual on Monday.

Summary: Exams are set to go ahead as planned at a secondary school which was evacuated due to a chemical leak.


Aldershot nearly led before the break when Rhys Browne set up Lafayette but Marek Rodak saved and Charlie Walker failed to score on the rebound. The visitors kept pressuring as Jake Gallagher and Jim Stevenson forced Rodak into further saves. Victory for the Shots was sealed when Rodak brought down Lafayette and he scored from the spot on 76 minutes. Aldershot Town boss Barry Smith told BBC Surrey: Media playback is not supported on this device "You know it was a very scrappy game and Welling gave us a lot of problems in the first-half. "I thought at half time we upped our levels and we caused them problems in the second half and I think we deserved to win the game. "I've got confidence in the strikers and confidence in players who can score and it was a matter of time. Their keeper made some terrific saves, but you've got to keep believing like we've done this season."

Summary: Ross Lafayette scored a second-half penalty to seal all three points for Aldershot Town as they beat Welling.


Speaking in advance of their trips, they proposed very different solutions. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he would be asking US officials to help convince the UK government to take a new approach to welfare funding. But Secretary of State Theresa Villiers will say those blocking welfare reform are putting more strain on the budget. Mr McGuinness travelled to Washington on Monday while Ms Villiers will begin a three-day visit to the US on Tuesday. She will update members of the US administration, members of Congress and senior figures in the Irish American community on the current political situation in Northern Ireland. She said her message during the trip to Washington and New York is that the Stormont House Agreement remains the best hope for building a brighter more secure future. The agreement, signed by Northern Ireland's five main political parties last December, was a wide-ranging deal that addressed some of Stormont's current financial difficulties, after a reduction in its block grant from Westminster. However, Mr McGuinness' Sinn FÃ©in party withdrew its support for the bill in March because of a row over the implementation of welfare reforms. The Sinn FÃ©in MLA is due to meet influential Irish Americans, representatives of the US State Department representatives and other senior US officials. Speaking on Sunday evening, he said Northern Ireland's political institutions were in an "extremely grave situation". "The institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, which have underpinned the Irish peace process for almost two decades, are facing crisis," Mr McGuinness said. He repeated his call for the UK government to change its approach and ensure the institutions are "politically and economically viable and able to meet the needs of a society emerging from a long and bitter conflict". "It is my hope that the US administration - which has been a key ally since the inception of the peace process - can help convince the British government of the gravity of the current situation and to end their current approach which threatens to undermine the incredible progress we have made," Mr McGuinness added.

Summary: Northern Ireland's secretary of state and deputy first minister are taking separate visits to the US to brief the government about the Stormont crisis.


The animals cup their mouths when they produce kiss squeaks - alarm calls that often signify a predator is nearby. Researchers have now studied the acoustics of these "hand-modified kiss squeaks" and shown that the animals sound bigger and "more impressive" when they use their hands in the call. The findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. If the orangutans do this deliberately - knowing it exaggerates their size - the researchers think it may be a glimpse of an early precursor to language; an animal intentionally changing a sound it makes and, in turn, changing its meaning. This same team of scientists - from the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK - first noticed that the apes changed their kiss squeaks with their hands back in 2009. But that change they spotted was very subtly different, so the team decided to analyse it in much more depth, to understand exactly what effect it had on the orangutan's voice. Lead researcher Bart de Boer from the University of Brussels, an expert in bioacoustics, worked out that the animals' hands were creating what he called a "a cylindrical extension of the lips". "This has the same effect as lengthening the sound box of a musical instrument," he explained, "so you get resonance of the lower pitches". In short, this makes a kiss squeak sound like it is coming from the puckered lips of a bigger orangutan. "So they aren't doing this for nothing," said Dr de Boer, "It makes them sound more impressive." Dr de Boer's main scientific interest is the evolution of speech. By applying detailed acoustic examination of the sounds these great apes produce, he says that researchers are gradually piecing together the puzzle of how language developed. But, he said, "there is still a lot to be found out". "It's unlikely that they're [making themselves sound bigger by accident], but it's still possible," Dr de Boer cautioned. Wild orangutans can be tricky to spot and study, so one research team is listening for their voices instead - using microphones in the forest to locate the animals. Brigitte Spillmann from the University of Zurich has developed a way to triangulate male orangutan "long calls" - a call often used to attract a mate - to work out their positions. "Long calls can be heard up to 1km away, [so they're] a good candidate for this type of monitoring," says Ms Spillmann. "With acoustic monitoring we know where, when and often who called or counter-called in the forest. "This could help to improve our understanding of orangutans' social organisation and in particular their long-distance communication system." Dr Wendy Erb, an anthropologist from Rutgers University in New Jersey pointed out that non-human apes' gestural signals are thought to be more likely precursors to language because they are "more flexible and intentional" than vocal sounds. And the use of gestures in apes is well known. Recently, a team from the University of St Andrews published a study that attempted to translate the many gestures wild chimpanzees use. But, as Dr Erb pointed out,

Summary: Orangutans use their hands to alter their voices and make themselves sound bigger, say scientists.


Axis Studios has secured Scottish Enterprise backing to take on 20 additional staff. The company works for major studios on animations and special visual effects in TV and film drama. It said it was on course to triple turnover between 2015 and 2018 to Â£15m, working from bases in Glasgow, Bristol and London. Axis Studios was founded in 2000, and has recently worked for Netflix, Warner Bros, the BBC, Sega and Universal Studios.

Summary: A digital film producer has announced plans to increase its Glasgow workforce to 180.


Stephen Dodd tweeted an image of solicitors Asif Bodi and Abubakar Bhula on prayer mats in a stairwell. He captioned the tweet: "Muslims praying at half time at the match yesterday. Disgrace." The Premier League club reported the tweet to Merseyside Police following a number of complaints. A number of social media users shared the photograph, taken during Liverpool's FA Cup quarter-final against Blackburn on 8 March. In a statement it said police had now referred the issue back to the club, which was "currently in the process of determining the appropriate action to take". It added: "Liverpool Football Club would like to remind its supporters that it does not tolerate any form of discrimination and is committed to ensuring that the club and Anfield provides a welcoming and safe environment for all fans regardless of race, religion, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation." The club said a further statement would be made in due course. Speaking last month, Mr Bodi, 46, from Preston, told the Liverpool Echo: "We have a small window in which to pray, a bit like the transfer window in football. Once that closes the chance has gone. "That day, the time came for prayer and the window would have closed before the game finished so we did it at half-time. "Most people are absolutely fine with it...but it only takes one or two people to react in the wrong way and you could have a nasty situation."

Summary: Liverpool FC is considering what action to take against a supporter who branded two Muslim fans "a disgrace" for praying during half-time at a match.


Yvonne Mosquito was suspended last month over allegations she visited a murder victim's family without informing officers. But Maxie Hayles said Ms Mosquito was "an ordained minister giving condolences to a grieving family"â€Ž and a councillor for the area. He chaired a meeting of more than 100 people to discuss the suspension. Monday's public meeting at the Afro-Caribbean Millennium Centre in Winson Green, Birmingham, discussed community concerns over the suspension. Kenichi Phillips, 18, was killed as he sat in a car in St Mark's Crescent, Birmingham, on 17 March. Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson previously said he took the "very difficult decision to suspend the deputy PCC" with immediate effect, pending an internal investigation into potential gross misconduct. Allegations against Ms Mosquito were reported by a "senior officer from the force" and if proven "could have potentially hindered and jeopardised a complex, sensitive and ongoing murder investigation", he said. The union Unite said it was "appalled" more detail about the allegations "that should be private and confidential" had been put into the public domain by the PCC. The BBC later revealed Ms Mosquito had complained about the PCC four weeks before her suspension. There was "no connection between the decision [to suspend] and any other issues," the PCC's office has said. Peter Pennant, local pastor from the Council of Black Majority Churches, told Monday's meeting Ms Mosquito's visit was not in her capacity as deputy PCC, but in a "church pastoral capacity". Ms Mosquito has not yet commented.

Summary: The suspension of the West Midlands Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner was "heavy-handed", a meeting heard.


Taking comfort from the fact that, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the UK leads the world for care of people in the final weeks of their life is perhaps a more appropriate reaction. The UK topped the table when the EIU last carried out this exercise in 2010. But the number of countries included has been doubled to 80 in this latest survey, commissioned by the Lien Foundation of Singapore. So for the UK to again lead the pack, including all other wealthy nations, is significant. In essence, the UK scores so highly for the care of patients nearing the end of their life because the NHS is such a well-integrated service. Health professionals, ranging from hospital doctors to GPs and community nurses, generally work together effectively to ensure patients receive the end of life care they might expect. This includes pain management through palliative care. This is not the case in many international healthcare systems. The report praises the UK for having a comprehensive strategy with the NHS working alongside the hospice movement and charities such as Marie Curie and Macmillan. Ensuring that people get to live out their final days in a place of their choice is an area where there has been progress in recent years. Its interesting that both the report authors and other experts in the field have gone out of their way to stress there is still plenty of scope to do better. The Health Ombudsman in England recently highlighted cases where people were badly let down and experienced death without dignity. Future demand, the report says, is likely to be higher as people live longer and the burden of cancer, dementia and diabetes increases. While noting the report's findings are "very encouraging", the Health Minister Ben Gummer said the Government was determined to go even further to ensure patients and families were involved in decisions about care. The crossbench peer Baroness Finlay has introduced a Palliative Care Bill which will be debated in Parliament this month. The aim she says is to guarantee all patients equal access to services around the clock and regardless of geography. But she acknowledges that, helped by each of the UK's health administrations having a strategy, there has been improvement. "We are vastly better than we were - patients are rating good services very highly though the problem is gaps in provision at ground level," she says. The hospice movement, she told the Today programme is "setting a gold standard and leading the world". Its important to give praise where praise is due. In this sensitive area, its easy to assume from anecdotal reports that the NHS could do a lot better. So to score more highly than Australia and New Zealand, as well as Germany, France and the US is highly commendable. Richer nations inevitably lead the pack with the Philippines, Bangladesh and Iraq propping up the table. Affordability of care, with a taxpayer funded health service, is predictably a lot more bearable for British patients than in other economies. The NHS, the hospices and a range of

Summary: Celebration is probably the wrong word even though the UK tops an important international league table for one aspect of health care.


Motorists saw the vehicle "tootling along" the A601 in Derby on 2 March, with one capturing the scene on a dashcam. Officers said they had traced the owner to the Chaddesden area. The man, who had a stroke some years ago, also offered his apologies to other road users, police said. PC Mark Atterbury from the Chaddesden Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "Unfortunately he had been given some incorrect information about where and when he could use it that caused him to be on a road that was very unsafe for a vehicle of that type. "Thankfully with the information we received I have been able to pay him a visit and give him the correct advice that means he will now be able to use his scooter in a safer fashion. "He wanted me to apologise to any of the other road users who had been concerned about his actions but is now pleased to have had the correct information." Source: Derbyshire Police

Summary: An 83-year-old man spotted driving his mobility scooter on a busy city ring road has been "offered advice" by police.


The Resolution Foundation said 9,000 more jobs were needed before Scotland's employment rate returned to the level it was at before the economic crisis. England closed this "jobs gap" more than a year ago, it said. Its employment rate now stands at a record 74.3%. Compared with that, Scotland's rate stood at 74.6% immediately before the recession and reached 74.3% between August and October last year. However, it needs to reach the 74.6% figure to close the jobs gap. The London-based think tank's report was published ahead of the latest official employment figures, which are due to be released on Wednesday. It found that while Scotland had experienced a "comparatively disappointing performance" on employment since the financial crash, it had undergone a less severe squeeze on pay. Typical pay in Scotland is currently 5.7% below its 2009 peak, compared with a drop of 9.1% across England. Analysis released by the foundation earlier this week suggested that typical pay in Scotland was now marginally higher than in England. The foundation warned that stronger employment gains would be needed if Scotland were to maintain its new pay advantage. Its report said: "Scotland's incomplete recovery on jobs may lead to slower pay growth in the future relative to other nations and regions of the UK." Conor D'Arcy, policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: "Scotland enjoyed a significantly higher employment rate than England in the years running up to the financial crisis. But its relatively poor track record in recent years means that it has fallen back in line with England. "This puts Scotland's new-found pay advantage over England at risk and it's vital that its job gap is closed sooner rather than later. "Attention must then turn to why Scotland is lagging behind some other areas of the UK, and what can be done to speed up its sluggish employment growth. "In order to move towards full employment, it is important for employers to offer 'pull factors' to encourage people who may not actively be looking for work to enter the labour market, such as flexible working and paying at least the voluntary Living Wage." He added: "The next Scottish government should play a central role in fostering such change. "With new powers over disability benefits and back-to-work programmes, whoever wins in May's election must make it their focus to re-establish Scotland's reputation as a labour market leader."

Summary: Pay growth in Scotland could be slower than the rest of the UK because of the job market's "incomplete recovery" from the recession, according to a think tank.


Meads, 80, played 55 times for his country, and was voted the greatest ever All Black in a national poll in 1999. The former second row said the diagnosis has been hard on his family, and requested privacy. "Thank you to everyone for their concern, but for now, it's about me fighting this," he said.

Summary: New Zealand rugby union great Sir Colin Meads has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.


Arturo Vidal scored Bayern's first when he drilled home after his initial shot had been blocked. Germany striker Thomas Muller then turned in from close range as defender Mats Hummels nodded down from a corner. Forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and recent signing Ousmane Dembele went close for Dortmund. "It was difficult and Dortmund played very, very well," said Ancelotti, who took over from Manchester City-bound Pep Guardiola in the summer and has won his 18th title as a coach. "But things worked much better for us after the break and this gives us some self-confidence for the Bundesliga. "This team is already very, very strong." The Bundesliga season starts on Friday, 26 August, when Bayern begin their title defence against Werder Bremen.

Summary: Carlo Ancelotti gained his first trophy as Bayern Munich coach thanks to their 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup.


Concerned that their messages may be intercepted, the leadership has also banned members from using smart phones. The group has long run what is regarded as a slick media machine. Even without smart phones, it has been known for its sophisticated handling of social media, a reputation at odds with its regular bans on communication technology for Somali citizens. In particular, it has made extensive use of Twitter in order to get its message across. It has also devoted considerable resources to producing a series of promotional videos. Al-Shabab's material aims to spread the group's ideology of establishing an Islamic state in Somalia, in line with al-Qaeda's stated ambition of setting up a global Islamic caliphate. It wants to achieve this both by military conquest and also the conversion of souls - for which communication technology is a key tool. Al-Shabab's well-produced video documentaries deliver the jihadi narrative in an appealing form to Somali audiences in the diaspora. They are aimed at young people of Somali origin such as Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow, a suspect in last year's Westgate mall attack in Kenya. His family is said to have moved to Norway as refugees in 1999. The group's documentaries are produced by its media arm, the al-Kataib foundation. Many of them show al-Shabab engaging in charity work and other activities that depict the group as a legitimate authority. However, they can also be quite gruesome - showing the corpses of those they have killed, including alleged spies who are often beheaded. And they contain threats to their perceived enemies - in Somalia, neighbouring countries such as Kenya which are helping Somalia's government and the West. The videos portray al-Shabab's fight as part of a wider global conflict in which Islam is under threat. Al-Shabab also has its own radio station, Radio Andalus. The group has acquired half a dozen relay stations, mainly by seizing private radio stations such as HornAfrik, Holy Koran Radio and the Global Broadcasting Corporation radio and their equipment - including some from the BBC. The website Kismaayo News reported that by 2013, the group had 50 journalists working for Andalus radio. When it comes to recruiting presenters, al-Shabab is known for its attention to detail. It generally takes care to use presenters with British or American accents to deliver its English language audio statements. With statements in Arabic, standard Arabic is used, and the presenters clearly have a high level of education in the language and in Islamic texts. Swahili-language presenters use classical Kiswahili as spoken in Tanzania and coastal Kenya. The majority of al-Shabab's audio output, though, is in Somali and is presented articulately and fluently. A number of pro-al-Shabab websites have emerged, which host material produced by the group and act as vehicles for furthering its military aims. The content is intended to frustrate efforts by the Somali government and its allies - mainly the African Union forces fighting in Somalia - to eliminate the group. Al-Shabab has often used Twitter to challenge the veracity of claims made by the African Union forces. Its Twitter accounts are

Summary: A recent al-Shabab directive that all its members change their mobile phone numbers shows how tech-savvy the al-Qaeda-linked Somali Islamist group remains and how their communications strategy is key to their survival.


Media playback is not supported on this device The Hoff has been seduced by the Scottish Premiership outfit during a Panto stint in Glasgow. The former Baywatch and Knight Rider tweeted his support for the side earlier this month. "They've been around since 1876 and I love that. It's about playing for themselves and playing for your honour," he told BBC Scotland. Partick Thistle's new mascot Kingsley - designed by Turner Prize-nominated artist David Shrigley - caused a social media storm on its home debut in June. The yellow character was paraded at Firhill Stadium, but The Hoff insists he is the club's new lucky mascot. And he drew parallels with the side and one of his acting successes. "It's like Knight Rider was a show about how one man can make a difference; you can make a difference in your own life and someone else's life," he said. "That's what the team's about I think. "We came over here [to Glasgow] and [were] making a joke about the worst team in the history of the world - if they win four games in a row then it's the best record in 40 years. "There's something strange about that; it's a wonderful thing when you can come over and draw that energy. I am the lucky mascot and I'm proud to be the lucky mascot. "I'm putting it out in a positive way and I'm the one who did all this. I said, 'let's give reference to Partick Thistle. I didn't know who they are? Let's find them'. We did. "And that's what we do and I think that's why we've lasted so long and people respond to me. Knight Rider was real for me and when I got it I called my Dad and said, 'Dad, I've got the greatest show in the world'. I'm still living the dream."

Summary: American actor David Hasselhoff says he supports Partick Thistle because they are "a team for the people".


The 25-year-old has agreed a three-year deal with the European champions from the start of the 2017-18 season. The switch - announced last month - will end a six-year association with the Scarlets which has seen Williams score 26 tries in 102 appearances. "It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down," said Williams, who lines up for Wales against Scotland on Saturday. "Hopefully, I'll go there and be part of a side that wins a couple more trophies. "Saracens are European champions and were in another final two or three years ago. They've been English champions for a couple of years running." The 40-time capped wing or full-back added that living closer to his girlfriend Sophie Harries, a London-based model, was another factor in his decision. "It's a new chapter. I'm ready to try something different and looking forward to it," he added. "I still have some games left for the Scarlets. We're looking to make the top four in the Pro12 and get into the play-offs and I want to help them achieve that. "It would be brilliant if we could win a trophy this season." Williams has not given up on adding the 2017 Six Nations title to his trophy cabinet. The 21-16 defeat by England leaves Wales third in the table on five points, but Williams believes a win against Scotland - also on five points - could rekindle their challenge. After Scotland, Wales play Ireland at home before rounding off their tournament with a trip to France. "We have three tough games to play," said Williams, who has scored against Italy and England. Media playback is not supported on this device "We have to get our performances right and make sure we win our next three games. There's still a chance we could win the championship." Williams' versatility in the back three make him a potential candidate to tour with the British and Irish Lions in the eyes of some pundits. "It's always been a dream of mine to make a Lions tour," added Williams. "It would be the pinnacle if I could get there, but I've learned during my career you should never look too far ahead. "So all I'm concerned about at this point is the Six Nations." Williams has played most of his international rugby on the wing despite being a full-back for Scarlets. But any rivalry with Wales and 2013 Lions number 15 Leigh Halfpenny is in the minds of fans, with Williams saying he and the Toulon player are on the best of terms. "I prefer to play at 15 but Leigh is doing an immense job and so I'm happy to slot in on the left wing or the right wing - anywhere in the back three," he said. "We are good mates. At the weekend his local team, Gorseinon, played my local side, Waunarlwydd, and Waun won with the last kick of the game, so I have the bragging rights."

Summary: Wales back Liam Williams hopes to win "a couple more trophies" after his move to Saracens in the summer.


England's Paul Casey (68) and South Korea-born New Zealander Danny Lee (69) are joint second on seven under. Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion, survived another windy day to post a nine-under 201 total at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. The 31-year-old also saw a 15-foot birdie putt lip out at the final hole. Americans Stewart Cink (66) and Kevin Kisner (70) are three off the pace, while defending champion Jordan Spieth (68) and Masters champion Sergio Garcia (71) are both five shots behind. Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell dropped shots at three consecutive holes on his front nine as he shot a two-over 72 to fall seven strokes adrift. World number 14 Casey, without a PGA Tour victory since 2009, began the day in a group with Garcia one behind a four-way tie for the lead. The 39-year-old had three birdies in four holes at the start of the back nine, sending his tee shot to within four feet at the par-three 13th. After finishing with a 23-foot putt for a birdie at the last, he said: "Weeks I've putted well I've always had a chance to win, or won. We can't predict the future but I'm very excited with how I've been playing." Former world number one Spieth played the final seven holes with trainer Damon Goddard carrying his bag after regular caddie Michael Greller fell ill in the oppressive heat and humidity. "Michael went down with heat exhaustion," said Spieth, who finished with two birdies in the last three holes and is in a share of eighth. "When we were walking down the 11th, he said: 'This is my last hole.' I thought he was acting a little strange, a little quiet."

Summary: American Webb Simpson carded a three-under-par 67 to open a two-stroke lead after the third round of the Dean & Deluca Invitational in Texas.


Dr Imran Farooq was stabbed outside his home in Green Lane, Edgware, last year. His killers may have had help from other people, some of whom could have assisted unwittingly, police added. An e-fit image of a suspect wearing a baseball cap has been released. A man aged 34 who was questioned last year has been bailed until this November. Dr Farooq, who was a senior member of the MQM party, was killed "in a brutal manner", said Det Ch Supt Neil Basu of the Metropolitan Police. His death, on 16 September 2010, "has left the community with a deep sense of loss", he added. The 50-year-old suffered multiple wounds and blunt trauma to the head. Police have previously said he may have been followed by up to four Asian men in vehicles or on foot. Officers are asking for information about Dr Farooq, who came to the UK in 1999 seeking political asylum, and his routine. They also want to talk to anyone asked to help buy items which could have been used in the attack, of the planning of it, such as knives or mobile phones. It is thought two kitchen knives were used in the attack, along with a brick from a house. One of the knives was made by Ausbein Messer, with a 5in (13cm) blade, and the other was branded as Schinken Messer, with a 5.5in (14cm) blade.

Summary: The murder of a Pakistani politician in north London a year ago was "carefully planned", Scotland Yard has said, as it offered a £20,000 reward for details.


Rodolfo Illanes and his bodyguard were seized earlier on Thursday at a roadblock in Panduro, south of La Paz, official said. Interior Minister Carlos Romero said "all indications" were that Mr Illanes had been murdered in a "cowardly and brutal" attack. Two miners also died from gunshot wounds during clashes with police. Mr Illanes was beaten to death at about 18:00 local time (00:00 GMT), La Razon newspaper quoted Defence Minister Reymi Ferreira as saying. The authorities could not for the moment retrieve his body, the minister said. More than 100 arrests had been made, he said. President Evo Morales had been "profoundly affected" by Mr Illanes's death, Mr Ferreira added. While he was being held, Mr Illanes told Bolivian radio that a condition for his release was that the government negotiate with miners over new legislation. The miners have been blocking a highway in Panduro since Tuesday. The National Federation of Mining Co-operatives of Bolivia, once strong allies of President Morales, began what they said would be an indefinite protest after negotiations failed. Protesters have been demanding more mining concessions, the right to work for private companies, and greater union representation.

Summary: The Bolivian government says its deputy interior minister has been kidnapped and killed by striking miners.


Fans from across the world have been voting for their favourite since the five-man shortlist of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Yaya Toure was revealed during a special live launch broadcast on Saturday 12 November. The 2016 recipient of the award will be announced on Monday, 12 December, live on BBC Focus on Africa TV and radio, starting from 17:35 GMT. The BBC Sport and BBC Africa websites will also carry the announcement. Borussia Dortmund and Gabon striker Aubameyang is on the shortlist for the fourth consecutive year, while West Ham's Ghana attacking midfielder Andre Ayew - winner in 2011 - is also shortlisted for the fourth time. Leicester's Algeria forward Mahrez is the only player not to have been nominated before, Liverpool and Senegal striker Mane made his debut on the shortlist last year, and Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Toure has featured for eight consecutive years and is a two-time winner. Aubameyang, 27, has had an outstanding 2016, scoring 26 goals (at time of writing) for Dortmund. He became the first African to be named Bundesliga player of the year, the first Gabonese to become the Confederation of African Football's Player of the Year, and has earned a place on the shortlist for the 2016 Ballon d'Or. Read a full profile of Aubameyang here. In August, West Ham broke their transfer record to sign Ayew, the £20.5m they paid Swansea a clear marker of his form in 2016. The 26-year-old's impressive performances, and his 12 goals in 35 appearances, earned him the title newcomer of the year at the Swans' end-of-season awards in May. Read a full profile of Ayew here. Another English Premier League player, Mahrez enjoyed spectacular success as he inspired Leicester - who had been 5,000-1 outsiders - to a first league title. Mahrez, 25, scored 17 league goals and was voted Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year - the first African to win the award. He also starred for Algeria as they qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Read a full profile of Mahrez here. Mane, 24, became the most expensive African footballer in history when he joined Liverpool for £34m in the summer. He has made an immediate impact at Anfield, with six goals and four assists in 11 matches for the Reds. Before his move, he had scored eight league goals this year for Southampton, including a hat-trick against then champions Manchester City, Read a full profile of Mane here. Toure collected yet another trophy in 2016 - the 17th of his career - when he lifted the English League Cup with Manchester City, scoring the winning penalty as they beat Liverpool in a shootout in the final. This was the year the 33-year-old powerhouse called time on an illustrious international career. But he declared he was still a force - and his inclusion on the list for another year backs that up. Read a full profile of Toure here.

Summary: Voting for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2016 has now closed.


However, Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo says he considers such an attack unlikely. "Brazil can be calm about such a possibility," the minister said. Speaking of potential protests, Mr Cardozo said the authorities would not tolerate violence committed by either demonstrators or the security forces. Brazil's security forces have trained for several scenarios, including chemical and biological attacks. But their main focus has been on the possibility of an extremist bomb attack similar to that at the Boston marathon in 2013, officials say. In Boston, two suspects not linked to extremist groups detonated two bombs killing three and injuring hundreds of people. The head of Brazil's counter terrorist task force Gen Julio Cesar de Arruda also thinks that the most likely terrorist attack scenario is that of a "lone wolf" or an extremist acting without connection to known terrorist groups. "This is the most difficult kind of attack to track or predict," he told BBC Brasil. There will be more than 170,000 security personnel working on protecting the tournament in Brazil, including the police and the army. The government is also deploying 1,850 members of the special forces and 36 helicopters as part of its counter terrorism unit. National intelligence officials are reportedly also in contact with several international intelligence agencies. Last year, a leader of the Sao-Paulo-based criminal organisation, First Command of the Capital or PCC, was recorded issuing threats of kidnappings involving tourists and bomb attacks. The PCC said it would target the World Cup if its members were transferred to jails with higher security levels than the ones they are currently locked up in. The authorities think that threat has gone away after the transfer was blocked by legal action. While terrorist attacks are considered unlikely, the authorities think demonstrations are a given. At least seven different social movements have said they will protest around the time of the opening match on Thursday in several Brazilian cities. Mr Cardozo said that "abuses of any kind would not be tolerated". He said the federal government had asked local authorities to ensure local police officers used only a moderate amount of force. "Demonstrations can occur, it is legitimate that they take place, but the Brazilian government is prepared to ensure abuses will not take place," he assured.

Summary: Brazil's counter terrorist strategy for the World Cup will focus on the danger from "lone wolves", senior officials have told BBC Brasil.


The incident happened in Arcadia Street, in the city's Bridgeton area, at about 03:00 on Tuesday. The officer and dog were hurt as the vehicle made off. Both received treatment for non-serious injuries. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said inquiries into the incident were ongoing and officers remained at the scene in Arcadia Street.

Summary: A police officer and police dog have been injured while responding to a report of a stolen car in Glasgow.


The 22-year-old, who spent the latter half of last term on loan at the Dons, returned this summer as part of the deal that took Jonny Hayes to Celtic. "They didn't want to sell me, they weren't interested in that, they wanted to put me back out on loan instead, which was positive to me," he said. "It comes across that they still think I have a chance to break in there." Christie signed a four-year deal with Celtic when he joined them from Inverness Caley Thistle in the summer of 2015. He spent the first half of the 2015-16 season on loan at the Highlanders and, following his deal with the Dons last season, is looking forward to spending the whole of the 2017-18 campaign at Pittodrie. And he says he feels no pressure to prove anything to Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. "It's more about proving to myself," added Christie, who hit seven goals in 15 games for the Dons last season. "I enjoyed playing and scoring last season. I wouldn't say I have anything to prove but I need to keep my consistency high. "It's a very big season for me, the onus is on me to step up and continue some good form. If I keep my consistency up over the full season, I'll hopefully be in a better place come next season." Aberdeen have finished as league runners-up to Celtic for three years running but the club have lost key players in Hayes, Niall McGinn and Ash Taylor. Manager Derek McInnes chose to remain at Pittodrie after holding talks with Sunderland and he has been busy reshaping his squad with several new signings and the promise of more to come. "It will be difficult," added Christie. "Everyone thinks Aberdeen might fall away but the mood in the camp, the positivity, we know that we have more than enough strength to replicate last season certainly." The Dons kick off their campaign at home to Siroki Brijeg in Europa League qualifying next Thursday. Rangers and St Johnstone lost their first round ties but Christie believes Aberdeen can get the better of their Bosnian opponents over two legs. "We want to make a big impact in Europe as well," he said. "Everybody in Scotland wants every Scottish team go as far as they can so it is unfortunate to see the others go out."

Summary: Ryan Christie is confident his long-term future lies with Celtic, despite a second loan move to Aberdeen.


The My Dentist practice in Dolgellau will close on 31 March and the town's other practice is private. A spokesman for the NHS practice said it had been unable to recruit a permanent dentist in the last two years The deputy mayor of Dolgellau, Delwyn Evans, told BBC Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf programme more needed to be done to get dentists into rural areas. My Dentist clinical director Steve Williams said: "There is a shortage of dentists in parts of rural Wales where long-term unfilled vacancies persist over a significant period of time. "We have tried unsuccessfully to recruit a dentist for the last two years and, regretfully, can no longer provide services at the Mervinian House Family Dental Practice." A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board said it intended to re-commission dental services in the area as soon as possible. "However, there is likely to be a gap between the date of termination of the existing services and the completion of the tender exercise and the re-establishment of new services," he said. "We are therefore making arrangements for the provision of dental services on a cover basis until a permanent solution can be put in place. "This will include exploring options for short-term support from the other nearest practices, as well as a dental out-of-hours clinic to operate from Dolgellau Community Hospital for patients requiring urgent unscheduled care." A Welsh Government spokesman said: "When a dentist decides to reduce or end their NHS commitment, the associated funding remains with the health board to re-commission the service. "Betsi Cadwaladr UHB has invited applications from dental contractors to help ensure there are NHS services available in the area. "We expect the health board to continue to review and improve access to NHS primary care dental services through the targets set within its 2016-17 Operational Plan."

Summary: Nearly 4,500 patients will lose their only NHS dentist in a Gwynedd town from the end of the month.


Mr Hunt announced his decision to quit as MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central last week to become the director of London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Mr Reed is leaving the Copeland constituency to take up a post at the Sellafield nuclear plant. The MPs are expected to leave the House of Commons early next week. In his letter of resignation, Mr Reed said his last act as an MP was "to implore" Copeland voters to back Gillian Troughton, a former hospital doctor and Labour's candidate for the seat. "This by-election is about the Tory government's dangerous proposals for the NHS," he wrote. "The Tories have created a crisis in the NHS and, as a result, the future of West Cumberland Hospital and the services provided by Keswick Hospital are under threat." Ms Troughton, who said it was "an honour" to be selected by Labour, faces a tough battle in the West Cumbrian seat where her party's majority over the Conservatives was cut to 2,564 at the last general election. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Gillian is a local councillor with a strong track record of getting things done for her community. She has campaigned tirelessly to maintain local hospital services. "As a St John's blue light ambulance driver, Gillian has seen first-hand the extent of the crisis caused by this Conservative government, which has chosen to fund tax cuts for the wealthiest instead of our health service." The Conservatives said the selection was a "victory for the hard left", describing Ms Troughton - who voted to remain in the EU referendum and is a supporter of nuclear power - as "nothing more than a Corbyn puppet". However, her choice has been seen elsewhere as a boost for moderates, as Ms Troughton was one of 1,000 Labour councillors who signed a letter of support for Owen Smith in his unsuccessful attempt to unseat Mr Corbyn as leader last year. Mr Reed held Copeland with 16,750 votes (42%) in 2015, ahead of the Conservatives on 14,186 (36%), UKIP on 6,148 (15%) and the Liberal Democrats on 1,368 (3%). UKIP has chosen NHS worker Fiona Mills to contest the seat. She stood in Carlisle at the 2015 election, coming third with 12% of the vote. "Copeland voted 62% to leave the EU," she said. "What better way to send a message to the government that we want a full Brexit as soon as possible than to return a UKIP MP." Rebecca Hanson has been chosen to fight the seat for the Liberal Democrats. Labour is due to choose a candidate on 25 January to fight Stoke-on-Trent Central, in a by-election triggered by historian Mr Hunt's appointment as director of the V&A Museum. Despite being a traditional Labour safe seat, Mr Corbyn faces an awkward contest in a city which voted overwhelmingly Leave in last year's EU referendum. UKIP - which took second place in the 2015 general election - is due to announce its candidate on Saturday, amid widespread expectation that leader Paul Nuttall will fight the seat in the hope of becoming his party's second

Summary: By-elections sparked by the resignations of Labour MPs Tristram Hunt and Jamie Reed are to be held on 23 February, the party has said.


The plant in Lincolnshire will burn straw grown within a 50-mile radius and release only the carbon dioxide that the wheat absorbed from the air. The six-week "hot commissioning" process for the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant began this week. This involves firing the boiler and releasing high pressure steam, which cleans the newly-built plant system. The plant is currently burning gas oil, but straw is due to be added next week. David Fisher, director of projects at Eco2, which is constructing the plant, said: "Today is a milestone. It's the first firing of the boiler. "In terms of the construction process we are a little way ahead of the original project programme so it's all going very well so far." He said he was confident that the plant would go into production in January or February. As well as feeding electricity into the National Grid, the plant will provide free heat to public buildings in Sleaford town centre, including the swimming pool and the council offices. Ash produced by the plant will be recycled as crop fertiliser. The location was chosen because it is in a concentrated region of straw production, which will reduce transportation costs. Some people living nearby have opposed the power station, saying it will be an eyesore and lorries bringing straw will clog the roads. However, planning permission was granted in 2008.

Summary: A straw-fired power station described as "virtually carbon neutral" has been fired for the first time.


The cross-party group said speaking English was "the key to full participation in our society and economy". They also said ministers should consider letting different parts of the UK set their own immigration policy. The government said it was spending Â£20m on English language provision. Last month a report by Dame Louise Casey warned of "worrying" levels of segregation in some areas and called for more English classes for isolated groups. The report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration urges the government to go further, saying all immigrants should have either learnt English before coming to the UK or be required to sign up to classes when they arrive. The group said integration should begin upon arrival in the UK and described speaking English as a "prerequisite for meaningful engagement with most British people". The government has promised new migration controls once the UK leaves the EU but has not yet set out a detailed model. According to the cross-party group, "substantial" immigration powers should be devolved to the UK's nations and regions, with devolved governments or city regions setting quotas. 4.1m population increase 2001-11 50%+ of the increase is due to immigration 2.8m people in Britain are Muslim - the biggest religious group after Christians 70-85% of the populations in some wards in Blackburn, Birmingham, Burnley and Bradford are Muslim 511 schools in 43 areas take more than 50% pupils from Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds 27% of births in 2014 were to mothers born outside the UK It said replacing the current "one-size fits all" approach would lead to a "more positive" public debate about immigration. Addressing the "economic and cultural needs" of an area would "have a positive knock-on effect on the public debate on immigration", the report said, adding that this "could instil confidence among members of the public that the immigration system works for their area, and give incentives for politicians to actively make the case for immigration in their area". Pointing to a similar model in use in Canada, where provincial governments can set region-specific requirements for immigrants, it said visas could be issued specifically for certain regions or certain sectors. The report also called for a new national strategy to integrate immigrants, including "awareness of the host country's laws, traditions and culture" and access to the labour market, and for councils to set up local integration action plans. Net migration is well above the government's target of below 100,000, and ministers have said they will reduce it after the UK leaves the EU and is no longer subject to freedom of movement rules. Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who chairs the all-party group, said a "meaningful" integration programme would be needed when the rules are changed after Brexit. He said: "It's clear that immigration has impacted on different communities in different ways and the pace of change has alarmed many. "The government has a duty to address the lack of integration of immigrants if it is to address this. Failing to do so has left a vacuum for extremists and peddlers of hate to

Summary: A group of MPs and peers says migrants should be expected to learn English before coming to the UK, or attend language classes when they arrive.


A Commons Justice Committee report says offenders aged between 18 and 25 are 10 times more likely to have a learning disability or autistic disorder. It said a "lack of action" on these offenders had led many to re-offend. The government said "significant efforts" had been made to prevent young people ending up in prison. The committee's report argues there is a strong case for treating young adult offenders differently because their brains are still developing up to the age of 25 - meaning they are more likely to act impulsively and not weigh up the long-term effects. It also found those still offending into adulthood were more likely to have learning difficulties or communication disorders, or to have suffered head injuries. It said flawed interventions, set up by the Ministry of Justice and carried out by the National Offender Management Service, did not recognise young adults' needs and prevented them getting out of a cycle of crime. The young adults tired of offending The terror of young offender institutions The number of young adults in the criminal justice system, who are mostly men, has fallen in recent years, but figures suggest 18 to 25-year-olds still account for up to 40% of the criminal caseload. They also have the highest reconviction rate, with 75% returning to crime within two years of being released. But the report argued that, while those in this age group offended the most, they also had the greatest potential to stop offending as they "grow out of crime". It said age and maturity should be taken into significantly greater account within the criminal justice system and should presume that up to the age of 25 young adults were typically still maturing. The committee said it welcomed the Ministry of Justice's commitment to develop a maturity assessment when dealing with young offenders but said that not screening for mental disorders and learning and communication needs was a "missed opportunity". "This is short-sighted as such screening would enable a thorough understanding of individual needs and underpin better informed commissioning decisions for the services young adults need to address their offending," the report said. Alex Hewson, of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "A justice system which throws young people off a cliff edge on their 18th birthday, and expects them to fend for themselves in the adult system when they are still maturing and often vulnerable, is not one that is set up to deliver for offenders, victims or local communities." A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "Significant efforts have been made to divert young people from custody and this has resulted in a welcome reduction in the prison population - down 40% since 2010. But those in custody are in for longer and for more serious offences. "We recognise the specific challenges associated with this age group and are committed to addressing these."

Summary: There needs to be a major change in dealing with young adult offenders, MPs have said, based on evidence that shows their brains are still developing.


The festival showcases films on climbing, mountain biking, skiing, kayaking and adventure travel. The tour's Scottish destinations are Edinburgh on Saturday, Inverness on 12 and 13 February, Pitlochry on 14 February and Glasgow on 10 May. The films include The Ridge - featuring Skye-born cyclist Danny MacAskill - Sun Dog, Touch, All My Own Stunts, Arctic Swell and Wild Women: Faith Dickey and Into the Empty Quarter.

Summary: Canada's Banff Mountain Film Festival is about to begin its latest world tour, which includes dates and venues in the UK and Ireland.


The visitors went behind early when goalkeeper Tom King fumbled Andy Haworth's corner and presented Jason Walker with a close-range gift. Andy Cook doubled the advantage with his 20th goal of the season as he latched on to Jordan Williams' assist. Barrow have now gone nine games unbeaten while defeat leaves Braintree are one point off the top five.

Summary: Barrow registered a fourth successive win as they dented Braintree's National League play-off hopes.


She met senior figures from the agricultural and food industries at the Royal Welsh Show near Builth Wells. Ms Griffiths said she had seen a "real readiness to work together". With farming fully devolved, Ms Griffiths said it was a chance to create policies and regulations "tailor-made for Wales' unique needs". She told BBC Wales she wanted to hear about the best of EU regulations but she was aware of concern among farmers who voted for Britain to leave over "red tape". Ms Griffiths held a meeting with representatives of Wales' rural affairs and environment sector to discuss the implications of Britain's impending withdrawal from the EU at the show on Monday. Speaking before the meeting, she said: "I can't see how there wouldn't be a subsidy scheme, so while it's very uncertain, there are things that will have to happen." Country Land & Business Association Cymru chairman, David Wynne-Finch, said the rural economy could thrive outside the EU "but only if our specific needs and opportunities are addressed in all aspects of planning and implementation of Brexit". Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said "we need to ensure that the level of support afforded to Welsh farmers in direct payments is at least as much after we leave the EU as it is now". Under the current EU Common Agricultural Policy, Wales receives approximately £250m per year in direct payments to farmers in addition to more that £500m between 2014-2020 to run a rural development programme. Ms Griffiths said she wanted to use Royal Welsh Show to reassure the industry and said it was an opportunity to "forge a new, distinct path for Wales' farming food and environmental sectors". She added: "At the moment we're still in the EU, all the regulations and the funding are there, and we will ensure that we get that funding out as quickly as possible." She said First Minister Carwyn Jones had already given her his assurance he would seek guarantees from the UK Government that Wales will not be financially worse off as a result of the UK leaving the EU. "I believe the long term prospects for Welsh agriculture remain strong and I am committed to using this week to listen to the industry and ensure these views and ideas form the basis of our negotiations with the UK government over the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU," Ms Griffiths added. The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society's President for 2016, Richard Jones, said this year's show was taking place at a time of unprecedented uncertainty for rural Wales. "We don't know where this will lead us - hopefully to a better place," he said.

Summary: Brexit gives the chance for a "made-in-Wales" approach to farming in the future, Rural Affairs Secretary Lesley Griffiths has said.


The woman suffered fatal injuries in the incident involving a lorry at Llangyfelach at around 04:00 BST. The eastbound carriageway of the M4 was closed for several hours resulting in long delays for commuter traffic on Thursday morning. The road was closed until 09:00 BST causing a five-mile tail back along the M4 eastbround.

Summary: A woman reported to have been walking on the slip road of the M4 at Swansea, dies following a collision.


Operations are due to resume early next week after a meeting between NHS bosses and other partners on Thursday night. Data suggested death rates there were double that of other centres, but experts have questioned their accuracy. However, the Department of Health (DoH) said the NHS was right to investigate safety at the unit. A spokesperson said: "We support NHS England and the trust in their decision to suspend surgery last week on the basis that there were serious concerns that needed to be investigated. "If the trust and the regulators are content that these concerns can now be explained or addressed then we would support a joint decision to resume surgery." Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said work would be done over the weekend to give "sufficient assurance" the unit is safe to reopen, early next week. Doctors and other medical experts said the data on death rates had not been verified and was not fit to base a decision to close the unit on. Mortality data and staffing are just two of the concerns being looked at as part of a review into why children's cardiac surgery at Leeds General Infirmary was suspended last Thursday. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, NHS England and the Care Quality Commission have all been involved. The indication is that if the trust can provide strong assurances that heart surgery is safe, then the unit could reopen early next week. But discussions will continue over the weekend as part of the review, which is expected to last three weeks. If the unit does reopen, Leeds General Infirmary will have to reassure patients and families that safety of care is paramount. The NHS can ill afford another scandal after Mid Staffs. Yet Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will probably have the last say on the future of children's heart services, at Leeds and elsewhere. A separate independent review is set to report to him on the whole restructuring of children's heart services in England. But, Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of NHS England, said the figures were among a "constellation of reasons" the decision was made. He has been backed by health secretary Jeremy Hunt. A senior Westminster source has told the BBC that "as far as the secretary of state is concerned, Sir Bruce Keogh was right to ask questions about the safety of heart surgery at the unit". Parents had criticised the timing of the suspension of surgery at the unit, which came 24 hours after a High Court judge ruled that a decision-making process to close it as part of an England-wide reorganisation of services was "legally flawed". Stuart Andrew, the Conservative MP for Pudsey, called for "some really serious investigating" into the decision to suspend surgery. Mr Andrew claimed a review of the mortality figures showed "Leeds is within the average and is a safe unit to use". He said recent events raised questions about the NHS decision to close the Leeds unit for good and concentrate children's heart surgery in fewer centres. "We are losing faith in that review process," said

Summary: Children's heart surgery is set to restart at Leeds General Infirmary, a week after it was claimed data showed higher-than-usual death rates there.


Media playback is not supported on this device And at Aintree in 2017 we have plenty to play with: it's half a century - to the day as it happens - since Foinavon's shock success at 100-1; and 40 years have elapsed since Red Rum, the all-time greatest Grand National horse, raised the roof with his historic third win. Gilded as their places in the race's long and colourful heritage undoubtedly are, the events of 20 years ago - 5-9 April 1997 - will have their own unforgettable place. And not just in Aintree history; the dates of the weekend when IRA terrorism delayed the world's most famous horse-race by two days - recalled in BBC 5 live's 'Evacuate Aintree: 20 years on' - still resonate far further afield. Two decades on, I recall that as the sun rose over the blocks of flats in the Fazakerley district of Liverpool which borders Aintree, the 150th Grand National felt to me like, for want of a better expression, a 'standard' Grand National day. Nerves always jangle alongside excitement at Aintree, but I suspect that as four years earlier the infamous false start-drama saw the race declared void, we probably considered that we'd 'had' our major incidents for now. That said, we were entering the closing stages of a general election campaign punctuated by republican terror threats. Only two days earlier, three motorways had been closed by bomb alerts, but the feeling was that as the fixture was a big favourite with visitors from Ireland, we'd be OK. Among the police, however, there was a degree of nervousness as Sir Paul Stephenson, then Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside, and later head of the Met, told 5 live. "We'd seen a new development using telephone calls indicating there were devices on motorways and other national infrastructure - I coined the phrase 10-pence [cost of a phone box call] terrorism - and this had become a very serious challenge," he said. "And not only did we have potential terrorist threats, but we had the threats from extreme animal rights people, so the Grand National was not just an iconic event, but a threatened event." However, the atmosphere remained relaxed as thousands on the course - including the Princess Royal and soon-to-be cabinet ministers John Prescott and Robin Cook - watched the early races. Barely an hour before the runners, headed by Go Ballistic and Suny Bay, were due to line-up for the feature at 15:45 came the first of the bomb warnings, which ultimately forced the evacuation from the stands and into the surrounding enclosures of 60,000-plus people. I think most of us thought we'd be back in place quickly, but then came the words, live on BBC TV, from Charles Barnett, the MD, which still ring in my ears today. "There have been two coded bomb warnings received by the police," he said, "and there's no possibility of taking any chances. "So, I just ask everybody here, including you the BBC, to leave the course and get out onto the public highway, immediately." Including you

Summary: Programme producers love a 'round-figure' anniversary.


Five men were jailed in March for the £400,000 spree of raids and burglaries across the east of England. About 140 officers from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and two other units swooped on properties linked to the men on Wednesday. It is thought the gang bought the goods with money from the robberies. Police seized an Audi A5, a pick-up truck, a caravan, quad bikes and heavy machinery including diggers from properties in Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, Potton in Bedfordshire and Upwell in Norfolk. Cannabis factories, with a combined street value between £18,000 and £54,000, were also discovered at the Potton and Upwell properties. Police said the properties were connected to Joseph Upton, John Smith and Albert Smith. Along with John Christopher Smith and Alfred Stanley, they were sentenced to 22 years for carrying out ram-raids at 12 banks in 2012 across Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. They stole more than £300,000 from cash machines and cars and jewellery more than £100,000 during burglaries. Damage caused in the ram-raids was estimated at costing about £250,000 to repair. The courts will eventually decide what goods the gang accumulated from their wrong-doing and if they should be confiscated. Det Ch Insp Chris Balmer, from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, which helped to serve the warrants, said the ram-raids affected "rural communities who lost their access to cash machines" and those who had "cars and machinery stolen by the gang in order to carry out the crimes". "We will continue to pursue criminals after they have been convicted at court in order to strip them of any assets they may have gained," he said.

Summary: Thousands of pounds' worth of cars and machinery have been seized by police from a ram-raid gang that used JCB diggers to rip out cash machines.


The 26-year-old, who has joined Saints on loan until January, was a team-mate of Inverness Caledonian Thistle's Boyce while the pair were at Cliftonville. "If you look at his career stats in the Irish League, he's scored a lot of goals," Wright told his club website. "He's also a former team-mate of Liam Boyce, who has done well up here." Fellow Northern Irishman Wright stressed: "They are different types of players, but Joe has the potential to do well." Gormley had joined Peterborough from Cliftonville last summer, but he has made only seven appearances for the English League One side - one this season after recovering from a knee injury picked up in September. "He's coming back off a significant injury, but he's fully fit and trained with us this morning," added Wright. "I'm delighted to get a striker in. "Joe is a player I've known from his time at Cliftonville and we were interested in him back then, but he went to Peterborough."

Summary: St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright hopes Joe Gormley will make as big an impact in Scotland as Liam Boyce after signing the Peterborough United striker.


Reich's Grammy-winning 1988 work was performed at Edge Hill station, with passenger trains rolling in and out of Liverpool on both sides of the stage. About 1,200 people watched on the station's Victorian carriage ramp. The US composer introduced the show, which is one of a number of events to celebrate his 80th birthday on Monday. Edge Hill station was on the world's first passenger train line, and George Stephenson's Rocket passed through when the Liverpool to Manchester line opened in 1830. The station provided the backdrop for Thursday's performance of Different Trains, performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra. The work was inspired by Reich's own childhood train journeys across the US and trains that transported Jews to World War Two concentration camps around the same time. "If I had been born in Stuttgart or in Brussels or Budapest, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation," he told BBC 6 Music. Artist and film-maker Bill Morrison used archive film from the era to create a film to accompany the Edge Hill show, which was staged by arts organisations Metal and the Liverpool Biennial. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: The world's oldest active train station has hosted a live performance of composer Steve Reich's Different Trains, as real trains rumbled past.


The hosts, who resumed on 23-0 at The Oval needing 230 runs to avoid an innings defeat, lost Rory Burns for 18. Kumar Sangakkara (84 not out) shared a century third-wicket stand with Arun Harinath (57) before the latter was caught behind off Sean Ervine. A rain shower saw the players taken off at 16:00 BST, with Surrey on 248-3 and play was called off. Surrey are now 27 points behind leaders Middlesex with just one match remaining, while Hampshire are six points from safety, but Lancashire and Durham above them have a game in hand. If Durham and Lancashire pick up a significant haul of points next week, the battle for the final relegation spot could be between Hampshire and Warwickshire, who are separated by eight points with one match left each. With Hampshire seeking 10 wickets on the final day, Brad Wheal followed up Liam Dawson's early dismissal of Burns by removing Dominic Sibley for 44, caught behind. However, on a flat pitch Sangakkara remained untroubled, reaching his seventh Championship half-century of the season having hit eight boundaries. Steven Davies' 57-run unbroken fourth-wicket partnership with the former Sri Lanka batsman saw Surrey creep towards taking the lead in the final session of play before the rain intervened. Surrey skipper Gareth Batty told BBC Radio London: "There will be people that will say that after the first four sessions of the game the pitch died and there wasn't a lot (in it) for anybody. "Fair comment, but you've still got to ride out those pressure situations. "Hampshire put us on the back foot by going so far ahead, and making it so we were the only team that could be on the wrong end of the result. "The character shown was great. On the whole, walking away with a draw is not a particularly bad result." Hampshire captain James Vince told BBC Radio Solent: "We set the game up nicely for today and the bowlers stuck to it really well and were unlucky not to have a few more wickets. "On a wicket where it was spinning out of the rough, they have left-handers, if we'd been able to get one or two more in that middle session, I'd have backed us to go on and win it. "We'll have to see how next week unfolds and then make a plan going into the Durham game (in the final week). "We're very much still alive, I think."

Summary: Surrey's slim chances of winning the Division One title ended as they drew with relegation-threatened Hampshire.


Mum Jennifer said she knew her son was special by the time he was three weeks old - but while every parent harbours high hopes for their children, not many witness them go on to become the fastest man on earth. Bolt is chasing a "treble treble" in Rio, with the 100m crown the first box ticked off a list that also features 200m and 4x100m glory at what the 29-year-old has promised will be his final Olympic Games. Bolt has come a long way from the playful child who learned to run in the parish of Trelawney, Jamaica and would cry when he lost a race. "He doesn't like to lose," dad Wellesley told BBC Sport. Seven Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles and a hatful of world records means there has been little time for tears throughout his career. "At school it was at about five that we noticed that he was competing against his classmates and he was always winning," said Jennifer. "He was always on top. From then, we noticed he would be a great athlete." Media playback is not supported on this device Growing up alongside brother and sister Sadiki and Sherine, Wellesley says his son was "very jovial" and despite a few problems he did "nothing out of the ordinary for a child". Meanwhile, at William Knibb High School, a young Usain was more interested in playing cricket than hitting the athletics track, saying he was "so in love" with the sport "he didn't want to do anything else". The teenager eventually heeded the advice of PE teacher Lorna Thorpe, who told Bolt he must focus on athletics if he wanted to reach the top as he had "a gold mine in his legs". "It's a passion. You ask Usain, he'll tell you that. It's just a passion," she added. And the champion certainly appreciates his teacher's influence now. "She's like a second mum," he said. "When I was in high school she looked out for me, she was always on me in school, making sure everything was OK, always focused. So she played a very big part for me." However, acting principal at the time Lorna Jackson had to teach the teenager, who was an "average but popular student", a thing or two about mixing with the opposite sex. "A happy-go-lucky guy. Everyone liked Usain," she told the Sunday Telegraph. "I remember in grade nine there was a girl, there was some liking going on there, and she was helping him with his writing. "And then we were talking in class about girlfriends and boyfriends and someone said Usain had a girlfriend at a neighbouring school. I said, don't write anything else for him!" Jackson also taught Bolt Spanish: "I remember him coming back to the school and telling the children, learn your Spanish because I remember Miss Jackson saying to me, you, Usain, are going to be going places and you need to make sure you learn Spanish. "He was telling them he went down to South America and he saw some beautiful girls,

Summary: The only time Usain Bolt has "ever been slow" was when the Jamaican arrived 10 days after his due date.


A chicks' mother and father had returned to the nest in Bassenthwaite at Easter for the fourth year running, producing a trio of eggs in six days. The first of the three chicks hatched on Thursday, with the other two birds arriving over the weekend. But the Lake District Osprey Project said Monday was a "sad day", when the team saw only one chick was on the nest. A spokesman said it was a "bleak" outlook for the remaining chick as it is "very likely" that the magpies would return. It is not known if the birds, which often take scraps of fish from the osprey's nest, had eaten the chicks. Ospreys returned to the area in 2001 after an absence of more than 150 years, and nearly 30 chicks have been raised at the nest since. The birds fly south to Africa during late autumn, returning to the UK towards the start of April.

Summary: Two newly hatched osprey chicks have been stolen by magpies in Cumbria.


The Canadian company, a major employer in Belfast, has faced a public outcry over the planned pay increases. Over the last two years Bombardier has cut thousands of jobs and been bailed out by the Canadian state. Yesterday a protest against the pay rises was held outside its Montreal headquarters. The company says the executives will get half their pay rises now but will have to hit performance targets to collect the rest in 2020.

Summary: The chief executive of the Bombardier aerospace firm has asked the company's board to defer significant pay rises for its top executives.


It's famed for its pubs, wine bars, restaurants, independent shops and craft outlets - a welcome exception to the rule that every single high street has to look much the same as every other one, complete with the predictable array of coffee shop logos, supermarket chains and the rest of the familiar 'multiples', from Land's End to John O' Groats. But Moseley Village may soon be in Moseley no longer. Under the new constituency ward boundaries proposed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, it would become part of Balsall Heath. The centre of Erdington, including the station that bears its name, would no longer be in Erdington at all, but in Stockland Green. Hall Green School would be in Tyseley, and time-honoured names like Longbridge, Druids Heath and even the Jewellery Quarter would disappear altogether. Edgbaston's famous cricket stadium would no longer be in Edgbaston. It's proof yet again that there's nothing quite like a review of local boundaries for whipping-up a storm. Remember how passionately the late lamented Lord Bilston (formerly the Labour MP Dennis Turner) fought against the removal from the constituency roll-call of the Black Country town from which he took his title? Now the veteran local Labour activist Steve Gove-Humphries is taking up the cudgels against 'the bureaucrats' who he clearly believes plan to drive a constitutional coach and horse through communal loyalties: And while we're linking to websites, the Local Government Boundary Commission has one of its own. It's open for a public consultation over these draft proposals until Monday 8 February 2016. I predict they will be inundated. It all stems from the Kerslake Review, published just over a year ago, in which the former head of the civil service Lord (Bob) Kerslake addressed the well-documented, and sometimes catastrophic, failings of Birmingham City Council throughout successive administrations. Among his recommendations was that the number of councillors should be reduced from 120 to 101 and that annual elections for one third of the council seats should be replaced by all-up contests every four years. This, he concluded, would facilitate greater stability and longer-term planning. The Boundary Commission's proposals are by far the most controversial result of his report. The present 40 wards, with three councillors each, would be replaced by 77 wards of which 53 would have one councillor each and 24 larger ones would each have two. The commission says it would mean greater equality for voters. Each councillor would represent on average 7,215 voters and the present glaring disparities between larger and smaller wards would be ironed-out. Where possible, the commission say they have tried to create single member wards. But they found some communities which were impossible to divide. Birmingham's two main parties are both unimpressed. The city's Labour MPs say the proposals are a distraction from the project to improve the council's performance and should be scrapped. And the council's Opposition Conservative Group Leader, councillor Rob Alden told the Birmingham Mail: "It is very disappointing that the commission has decided to break up historic communities like Erdington, Hall Green and Northfield

Summary: Let's start in Moseley Village - "Britain's best place to live in", according last year's survey by The Sunday Times.