Is this the end of the legal struggle and what are the ramifications of the judgement? EBT stands for Employee Benefit Trust and, in this case, it refers to a scheme that was widely used by large companies in a bid to avoid tax liabilities. Companies would set up trusts and make cash payments from these trusts in the form of tax-free loans to employees or beneficiaries - thus avoiding the need to pay tax. In many cases the loans were never repaid. Legislation has since been passed outlawing the use of the scheme for tax avoidance purposes. Payments from an EBT are not allowed to be made on a contractual basis but HMRC insist the loans made by the club between 2001 and 2010 were actually employee earnings that should be subject to the normal National Insurance and PAYE contributions. They point to emails and letters between Rangers directors and players' agents and to the fact that none of loans have ever been paid back. Players, managers and even directors received EBTs at Rangers. Stars such as Barry Ferguson and Lorenzo Amoruso benefited from the scheme as did managers Alex McLeish, Dick Advocaat and Graeme Souness. Former owner Sir David Murray was also in receipts of an EBT. Over 80 members of Rangers staff received payments this way. The loans paid to each member of staff differed but a total of over £47m was paid out from the trusts in the years the scheme was in operation. There will undoubtedly be calls for the football authorities to act following this judgement. A Scottish Premier League investigation headed by Lord Nimmo Smith found Rangers guilty of not registering players properly and the company was fined in 2013. Nimmo Smith's judgement was made at a time when the EBT scheme was deemed acceptable by a tax tribunal and he resisted calls for the club to be stripped of honours won during the years the scheme was in operation, saying "Rangers FC did not gain any unfair competitive advantage from the contraventions of the SPL Rules..." It's unlikely the football authorities will have much appetite to sanction another investigation but that won't stop some calling for just that. A spokesman said the Scottish Premier Football League will "take time to examine the judgement in detail and to consider any implications..." Celtic are the only other Scottish club to have used the EBT scheme. They paid the Brazilian midfielder Juninho from a trust in 2005 but have since settled with HMRC. A number of clubs in England also operated the scheme and some have already settled with HMRC. The case was first heard by a First Tier Tax Tribunal in 2012. The tribunal found in Rangers' favour but HMRC appealed. In 2014 that appeal was thrown out by an Upper Tier Tribunal. HMRC then appealed to the court of session in Edinburgh and three judges found in the Revenue's favour. Since the dispute started Rangers were forced into administration and liquidation. In a bid to avoid a tax bill, the club's liquidators BDO decided to

Summary: The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in its fight with Rangers over the club's use of Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs).


Abdul Kader Mullah is be hanged for crimes against humanity during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan. His party Jamaat-e-Islami called the two-day nationwide strike, describing the trial as politically motivated. However, his sentence was welcomed by his opponents. Schools and businesses were shut on Wednesday. Motorways were empty and bus services were also suspended, reports said. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters in the western city of Rajshahi, while the protesters threw bricks. One man was killed in southern Bangladesh after being hit by a stone thrown by protesters, officials said. Border guards have been deployed in the capital to manage law and order, the BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan in Dhaka reports. Dhaka's busy commercial districts are mostly deserted, our correspondent adds. Mullah was sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes by a special tribunal in February. Human rights groups have said the tribunal falls short of international standards. The sentence at the time prompted angry protests from critics who said it was too lenient. His supporters, meanwhile, said the charges were politically motivated Mullah appealed to Bangladesh's Supreme Court against his life sentence, while the state appealed for a tougher sentence. Clashes broke out on Tuesday after the court sentenced him to death. Many buses and cars were vandalised in the southern region of Chittagong, our correspondent says.

Summary: Clashes have broken out across Bangladesh during a strike called by the largest Islamist party, a day after one of its leaders was sentenced to death for war crimes.


The NASUWT survey claims some parents are asked for £400 or more per year. Schools in England have been warning of cash shortages and the union says schools are now depending on parents. But the Department for Education says "no parent is required to make a contribution". Teachers' unions are holding their conferences over the Easter bank holiday weekend, with funding one of the biggest issues. The National Union of Teachers, meeting in Cardiff, will hear warnings on Saturday about the impact of cash shortages. The survey from the NASUWT survey, holding its annual conference in Manchester, claims that schools are increasingly relying on money from parents. Based on almost 4,000 responses, the survey says 18% of parents have been asked to sign up for direct debits or standing orders for their children's school, typically of about £50 per year. But more than one in 20 parents with children in state schools were paying £400 or above. A further 13% of parents had been asked to make donations in cash or cheques. Your comments on schools asking parents to top up their budgets: "She's only been there a term, but there seems to be a letter home at least once a week asking for money," a parent told the NASUWT survey. "The school asks for a 'voluntary contribution' but if you forget to pay you are sent texts telling you that you haven't paid," said another parent. There were other financial costs for parents, such as a laptop for homework and music lessons. "We have not allowed them to do music at school as they need to provide their own instruments," said a parent, quoted in the survey. Over a quarter of parents said their child had been unable to take part in a trip or excursion because of the cost. "Ski trip was £600. French trip £450. These are for less than a week. They are beyond my funds," a parent told the survey. The union's leader Chris Keates said that "access to education must not be based on parents' ability to pay". This week the Sutton Trust education charity warned of schools cutting staff because of financial pressure. The Public Accounts Committee has said that standards are threatened by school budget cuts of £3bn. A lobby of Parliament over funding, by teachers' unions and parents' campaign groups, has been announced for early June. Kevin Courtney, NUT general secretary, reminded the government of a manifesto commitment to parents that "the money that follows their children into schools will be protected". "In half of the schools in the country the money following your child into schools has been dramatically cut in cash terms, and in the other half it's been cut in real terms," he said. A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "No parent is required to make a contribution to their child's education, the rules are clear on this and no policies have been introduced by this government to allow schools to charge parents." The spokeswoman said school funding was at record levels, but "we recognise schools are facing cost pressures."

Summary: Almost one in five parents in the UK is being asked to set up payments to their children's schools, as head teachers warn of budget shortages, says a survey from a teachers' union.


The event sees the eight best qualified men's singles players compete on hard court at London's O2 Arena. This season's tournament begins 13 November and new world number one Andy Murray meets Marin Cilic a day later. Barbara Slater, BBC director of sport, said the deal "shows our longstanding commitment to ensuring top class tennis reaches the widest possible audience". She added: "The ATP World Tour Finals remains one of the standout moments in the sporting calendar bringing together the best players in the world to create a truly unique atmosphere." Murray will face Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori as well as Cilic in his group, with world number two Novak Djokovic - winner of this event for four straight seasons - drawn in the other group. As part of the agreement with the ATP, eight singles matches will be available on BBC television, including one of the semi-finals and the final, while full radio commentary of the tournament is also available. Jamie Murray and Brazil's Bruno Soares will play Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi in the doubles event, not before 18:00 GMT on Sunday. BBC Sport will also offer radio and online commentary on ATP World Tour Masters 1000 matches. London's O2 Arena has hosted the World Tour Finals since 2009 and will continue to do so until at least 2018.

Summary: BBC Sport will broadcast the ATP World Tour Finals until 2018 after extending its deal to cover the season finale.


He had been out of work since parting company with the Robins in November. Crawley, who were relegated from League One earlier this month, had been without a manager since John Gregory left the West Sussex club on 9 May. "My job is to put a competitive squad together that will challenge at the right end of the table," 45-year-old Yates told the Crawley website. He spent almost five years in charge of Cheltenham and guided them to the League Two play-offs in 2012 and 2013. After successive top-seven finishes and unsuccessful play-off campaigns, Cheltenham finished 17th in League Two in 2013-14. And ex-Kidderminster boss Yates was then sacked late last year, following a run of four successive league defeats that left them 18th. He was the third-longest serving manager in England's top four divisions at the time of his departure from Whaddon Road. "I have been out of the game for a few months and when this opportunity came up it really excited me," he said. "There's a big challenge ahead but one I am really looking forward to." Gregory, 60, parted company with Crawley earlier this month, having spent the past six months recuperating from heart surgery. Dean Saunders was placed in interim charge of the Reds in December, but was unable to save the club from the drop to League Two. The 50-year-old former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker was appointed Chesterfield manager last week. Crawley chief executive Michael Dunford said that Yates stood out among "some very strong candidates". He added: "He has a very deep knowledge of the level we find ourselves at next season and is a first-rate coach. "The board spoke to several people in the game who have worked with Mark and they were all very positive about his credentials, his knowledge and his enthusiasm."

Summary: Crawley Town have appointed former Cheltenham boss Mark Yates as their new manager on a two-year deal.


The 37-year-old, who set a new lap record of 134.089mph at the Ulster Grand Prix in August, will also race in the British Superstock 1000cc series. The Bingley rider won Superstock races at the North West 200, TT and Ulster GP this year. He was also a double winner in the Superbike class at Dundrod on his BMW. The Yorkshireman finished second in this season's British Superstock 1000cc series. Hutchinson is also set to continue to compete in the Supersport class, in which he has enjoyed substantial success with Keith Flint's Team Traction Control Yamaha outfit in recent years. A hat-trick hero at this year's TT and a four-time winner at this year's Ulster Grand Prix, Hutchinson has set his sights on further improvement next year. He finished second to Michael Dunlop in both the Superbike and Senior TTs in 2016, "Having now worked together for a season, we know where we need to improve with the obvious goal, to go on now and challenge for the Superbike wins at all of the big three internationals," said Hutchinson. "The BMW S1000RR still has so much potential in Superbike trim on the roads and with another season of British Superstock planned, the aim there will be to go one step better and win the championship next season." "Hutchy did a great job for us this season and whether it was in British championship or the roads, he was always in contentions for wins and podiums and provided both our sponsors and fans with a lot of entertainment," added team owner Hector Neill. "His international hat-trick in the Superstock class and his terrific season in British Superstock proved how well he got on with the Tyco BMW, and to go on and take the world's fastest track lap record at Dundrod was the icing on the cake. "The goal going forward is to build on that success and I've never hidden the fact that the Senior TT trophy is the one we really want to win in 2017. It's the blue-riband road race on the season's calendar, and along with Hutchy and our dedicated team we will be giving it our very best shot."

Summary: Fourteen-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson is to stay with the Northern Ireland-based Tyco BMW team for the 2017 international road racing season.


The Nato force integration unit in Lithuania is one of six new centres also located in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Romania. Relations between Russia and the West have soured over the Ukraine conflict. Mr Stoltenberg described the new unit as a "big step forward toward greater solidarity... greater readiness". He joined Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite for the opening ceremony in Vilnius on Thursday. President Grybauskaite welcomed the new units in the region, saying they would ensure the "quick and effective" movement of troops. The six so-called Nato force integration units (NFIU) are intended to enable the speedy deployment of Nato's rapid reaction forces at a time of crisis, reports the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. Typically they will be some 45-50 strong made up of local and international military personnel, our correspondents adds. They will make practical arrangements for deployments - such as identifying fuel supplies and suitable bases. The aim is to have all six units fully capable by Nato's Warsaw summit in the autumn of 2017. Poland joined Nato in 1999, then in 2004 Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania also joined. All six were formerly in the communist bloc. They became EU members in 2004. Both bodies accuse Russia of directly helping separatists in eastern Ukraine with regular troops and heavy weapons. Russia denies the claims.

Summary: Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has inaugurated one of the alliance's new command units opening in Eastern Europe amid tensions with Russia.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 2 November 2014 Last updated at 10:11 GMT The BBC's Ireland correspondent, Chris Buckler, reports .

Summary: As the UK considers greater devolution in the aftermath of Scotland's independence referendum, should a troubled Northern Ireland Assembly push for more powers over its own affairs?


The most extreme arctic blasts, blamed on a weather pattern known as the polar vortex, were said to have affected nearly 190 million people. In Kentucky, an escaped prisoner turned himself in to get out of the cold. Some parts of the Midwest hit -26C (-14F), as low as the Antarctic coast in winter, and much colder than the inside of a domestic freezer. Temperature records were shattered in states across the US, including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. It was -17C (1F) in the small town of Hell, Michigan, prompting online jokes that the weather was so bad even hell had frozen over. But it was Embarrass, Minnesota, that experienced the lowest temperature in the nation on Tuesday: -37C (-35F). That was colder than readings recently recorded on the Red Planet by the Mars Rover. A video of a meteorologist tossing a pot of boiling water into the air in Wisconsin, to demonstrate how it immediately turns to snow, quickly went viral on the internet and was widely imitated. A woman in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was taken to hospital with severe burns after she slipped on ice while attempting the trick, spilling boiling water on herself, the Argus Leader newspaper reported. The extreme weather resulted in the usual travel chaos - nearly 2,700 US flights were cancelled on Tuesday. More than 500 rail passengers on their way to Chicago were marooned overnight into Tuesday morning in northern Illinois on three Amtrak passenger trains after drifting snow and ice covered the tracks. The big freeze was even testing the resolve of Canadians, no strangers to cold weather. Temperatures in parts of Ontario fell to -30C (-22F), causing flights in and out of Pearson International Airport to be halted for several hours on Tuesday morning. Roads in the cities of Toronto and Ottawa were coated in dangerous black ice. Freezing temperatures were recorded even in usually mild southern states. In northern Florida temperatures briefly dropped below freezing. Atlanta, Georgia, was 25 degrees below average for this time of year. "I didn't think the South got this cold," Marty Williams, a homeless man in the city, told the Associated Press news agency. "That was the main reason for me to come down from up North, from the cold, to get away from all that stuff." People in the Midwest are still digging out from two massive snow storms recently which dumped more than 2ft (61cm) of snow. A reprieve is expected soon, however, with forecasters predicting temperatures above freezing for much of the US in the coming days.

Summary: Weather records have tumbled across North America, with freezing temperatures even in the southern US.


But however classy your look, if you want to take care of yourself, you too can find yourself shelling out big bucks like Dolly. What you may not realise is that from low-cost Vietnam to high-rolling Venezuela, the bill can vary hugely. They are the cheapest and dearest nations in e-commerce platform Linio.com's Beauty Price Index. To compile its list, Linio surveyed the cost of cosmetic products and services in 50 countries to find the price of beauty around the world. It looked at three different categories: beauty services, such as hairdos; cosmetic procedures, including Botox and breast jobs; and products, such as make-up and perfume. It found that on the whole, developing nations offer the most affordable beauty services, but show mark-ups on popular cosmetic products. However, Venezuela bucks the emerging market trend. Despite being renowned for its beauty queens, the South American nation is in the throes of economic collapse after years of fiscal mismanagement, and this has caused the cost of looking good to spiral out of control. Apart from that anomaly, the price gap is much as you would expect. The countries where the cost of beauty is higher tend to be in regions that have a higher cost of living in general, such as northern Europe and North America. After Venezuela, the most expensive countries for cosmetic products and services are Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Finland, with Australia, Sweden and the US close behind. The cheapest places after Vietnam are India, South Africa, Thailand and Egypt. The Czech Republic, Colombia and Panama also score well. The UK comes in on the pricey side, ranking 36th cheapest out of the 50 nations surveyed. "We hope that our index helps people more confidently interpret variations in costs associated with beauty around the world," said Linio's chief executive, Andreas Mjelde. "Increasingly, the average citizen is a global one, and with a better understanding of global markets comes empowerment to travel, shop and live smarter."

Summary: Country star Dolly Parton once said of her appearance that "it costs a lot of money to look this cheap".


Drought has taken a savage toll on the town of McKinlay in north-west Queensland, Australia, so a downpour of rain just before Christmas was the best present he could imagine. Suspecting water would begin to flow on 18 December, Senior Constable Hansson drove to the riverbank and started filming when the water began to cut through the dust. "Come on down â€¦ Come to papa!" he can be heard yelling in the video. "Here she comes... wow, I can't believe how lucky I am!" His enthusiastic and very Australian response to the river's return to life would perhaps have gone unnoticed were it not for his daughter, Tahnee, who uploaded the video to YouTube on 19 December. This week the internet noticed it, and turned Snr Con Hansson into an overnight sensation. Speaking to the BBC from McKinlay Police Station, the straight-talking police officer said he was excited the river had run, but his chief concern was seeing the area emerge from drought. "It's desperate times," he said. "For about three months it looked like a desert, with no green grass left." "The ground was bare and a lot of our pastoralists had been hand-feeding the stock to keep them alive." "We had more rain across the Christmas season than we've had in the past two years." He said he was so excited on the video because he had not seen the river flow since moving to the area four years earlier. "I patrol the area anyway so I just pulled up for a minute to see if the river would start. I just couldn't believe it," he said. Living in a remote area which relies on satellite internet, Snr Con Hansson remains unaware of the extent of the video's popularity. "My daughter's been keeping me appraised of the situation. She said she had uploaded the video to YouTube and I said, 'So what?'. "But I'm excited people get to know about north-west Queensland and how tough it is out here, and how tough the people are. "They've done well to keep their heads up it's good to see a smile on a few faces and cattle with their heads down having a good feed." Tahnee Hanson said her father's performance in the video reminded her of an American man's infamous reaction to a double rainbow, which went viral in 2010. "I put it on my YouTube and it wasn't really doing anything, then I woke up this morning and overnight it went from 500 views to 40,000. "I said, 'It's going viral dad', and he kind of didn't give a rat's ass," she said. A total of 86.1% of Queensland was declared drought-affected in December, with the extended dry spell taking a heavy toll on farmers. Interviews by Ashley Donnelly

Summary: Police officer Des Hansson could not contain his excitement when water began to flow through the dry bed of the McKinlay River.


Construction workers moved fast to fill the hole, which spanned a five-lane street, stretching 30 metres (98 feet) wide and 15 metres deep. The chasm first appeared on Tuesday, 8 November, in a business district of the south-west city of Fukuoka. No one was hurt in the collapse, but local media reported disruptions to electricity, gas and water services. The street reopened at 05:00 Tuesday (20:00 GMT Monday), in time for rush hour. The city's Mayor Soichiro Takashima released a statement apologising for the "great trouble", thanking workers for their efforts, and insisting that an investigation into the incident's causes would continue. City officials have said it could have been caused by underground construction nearby.

Summary: A busy Japanese road reopened on Tuesday, just one week after it was wrecked by a gigantic sinkhole.


Even organising matches is difficult. Visas are hard to come by and world football's governing body rules mean Tibet can only play other unrecognised teams. The Tibetan football team is one of the main obstacles for China. They didn't like the Tibetan football team After five years without a game, the Tibetans - whose national team are nicknamed the Forbiddens - finally took to the field again when they competed in the 25th All India Shaheed Dal Bahadur Durgamal Mal Gold Cup, with teams from across India, Nepal and Bhutan. The tournament took place in Dharamsala, Northern India, the current home of Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile. Fearing for his life, the 77-year-old was forced to flee Tibet in 1959 after years of violent conflict between Tibetan rebels and the Chinese army. The Tibetan National Football Association was only set up in 2001. In that same year the team played its first match, a 4-1 loss to Greenland in Copenhagen. But as Tibet's coach Kalsang Dhondup told the BBC's World Football programme, football is something the estimated 150,000 exiles feel very passionate about. "Football was introduced by the British into Tibet in, I think, 1904," said Kalsang. "Since then the Tibetans love football and physically the Tibetans are very much suited to football. Football is the most popular game in Tibet." Ironically the British were in Tibet on a military expedition fearing Russia's growing influence in the region. But now Tibet, in the north-east of the Himalayas, faces a very different problem. The football team encounters strong opposition from the Chinese who claim sovereignty over Tibet and dismiss any show of independence. But coach Kalsang remains defiant. "The Tibetan football team is one of the main obstacles for China," he continued. "They didn't like the Tibetan football team. But, whether they like us or not, we will play football." During the tournament in Dharamsala, the team wore black armbands to show their solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet. Since 2009, 117 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest against the Chinese Government. Tenzin plays for the Tibetans. He didn't want to give his family name because of fears for the safety of his relatives still in Tibet. He admits that it's difficult to represent a country which is no longer recognised. "I escaped from Tibet in 1996 and I feel very, very special and a lucky one to be part of the national team and it's really a proud moment for me," he said. "Sometimes it's really challenging and difficult in such an environment where Fifa is not recognising our Tibetan football. At the same time I feel proud to represent Tibet and also feel responsible for the Tibetan cause." And, as Kalsang explains, the team have a big fan in the shape of the Dalai Lama. "I think His Holiness has support for Tibetans in all issues," he stated. "Even sport also. We went to Italy in 1999 and after we came from Italy we had an audience with His Holiness. "At the end

Summary: Living in exile and playing for a team unrecognised by Fifa and opposed by the Chinese, means life isn't always easy for Tibet's footballers.


The former party leader's victory came as the SNP won all six seats in the north east of Scotland. Callum McCaig won Aberdeen South from Labour, and Kirsty Blackman did likewise in Aberdeen North. Stuart Donaldson won West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Angus Robertson held Moray, and Eilidh Whiteford was re-elected in Banff and Buchan. However, Alistair Carmichael retained Orkney and Shetland for the Liberal Democrats. Mr Salmond, speaking after defeating the Liberal Democrats in Gordon, said: "The Scottish lion has roared this morning across the country. "There is a swing under way in Scotland the like of which has not been seen in recorded politics. "I look forward to representing every constituent, regardless of their political views." Mr Salmond claimed a 47.7% share of the vote, over Christine Jardine on 32.7%, as the SNP saw a 25.5% increase. Mr McCaig's win, with a 29.8% increase, saw Anne Begg lose her seat. He said he was "honoured and thrilled". Ms Blackman's win was on the back of a 34.2% increase to defeat Richard Baker. Mr Donaldson's West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine victory came after a 25.9% share increase. Lib Dem Sir Robert Smith, who lost the seat, was pushed into third behind Conservative Alexander Burnett after a 17% fall. Mr Robertson increased his majority for a 49.5% share, as did Ms Whiteford, with a 19% vote increase and a 60.25% share. Mr Carmichael's victory came after a 20.6% fall in his share of the vote. He thanked the people of Orkney and Shetland for giving him the "tremendous privilege" of serving them again.

Summary: Alex Salmond said the Scottish lion had "roared", after he won the Gordon seat for the SNP in the general election.


They show that in 1987, faced by mounting losses and missed deadlines, the Secretary of State, Tom King, recommended the closure of the shipyard. At the same time, however, a confidential memo from the NIO warned of the possibility of serious political unrest in the Protestant community if the 3,000-strong workforce was paid off. The problems at the yard surfaced in a memo from D J Watkins of the NIO to David Fell of the Stormont Department of Economic Development (DED) on 24 June, 1987. The official reported that the Secretary of State "was deeply disturbed to hear your report of increased cash difficulties [at] Harland and Wolff." Mr King understood that the company was in need of an immediate injection of Â£10m and wanted to know why the need for additional cash had not been identified earlier. In a confidential memo on 30 June, 1987, Peter Viggers, the Stormont Industry Minister ascribed the difficulties at the firm to its failure to complete a stage in the construction of a Swops oil tanker (designed to draw oil from submerged sea wells). More serious, in Mr Viggers' view, was the breach by the company of its annual budget. He added: "I believe we have now reached crisis point in our dealings with Harland and Wolff." It was essential that the government acted decisively as cash flow problems at the firm had become "a recurring problem". This suggested "a reversal of our current hands-off approach of leaving management to manage and of market forces to determine the size of the yard". One option was to place the company in receivership, he wrote. At a follow-up meeting between the minister and John Parker, the Harland and Wolff managing director, on 2 July, 1987, Mr Parker was "shaken" by the minister's determination to send in a firm of accountants "to let the government know the true position". On 4 September, 1987 Mr Viggers received the report from Deloitte, Haskins and Sells on the financial problems of the yard. It warned the DED that it could no longer accept the "over-optimistic assumptions" of management. It was Deloitte's understanding that another major vessel, the AOR was also behind schedule. In their view, Harland and Wolff had adopted unusual commercial practices: for example, earlier that year, a director, close to retirement, had been made technically redundant, enabling him to receive a redundancy payment of Â£40,000. In November 1987, the Northern Ireland Secretary noted the lack of "acceptable orders" for Harland and Wolff and the danger of the firm accepting a "potentially catastrophic" order for a holiday liner. While acknowledging that the closure of the yard would have "a profound impact on morale in Northern Ireland" he nonetheless felt that "the yard should be closed after the AOR tanker was completed". Moves to shut down the Belfast shipyard elicited a plaintive memo from F G McConnell of the NIO to Secretary of State Tom King on 9 September, 1987. This warned of the political and security implications of any phased-down closure of Harland and Wolff in view of its symbolic

Summary: The government recommended the closure of the former shipbuilding giant, Harland and Wolff, in 1987, according to newly declassified files.


The billionaire, who was a prominent backer of Brexit, told the BBC he was "enormously optimistic" about trading with the rest of the world. His comments came as his engineering firm Dyson reported a 41% increase in profits to £631m. The popularity of its vacuum cleaners in fast-growing Asian markets was a major reason for the rise. The company said sales of its products increased by 45% to £2.5bn, helped by growth of 244% in China, 266% in Indonesia and 200% in the Philippines. The success of new product lines such as hair dryers also fuelled growth. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May is due to start the process of the UK leaving the EU. In an interview with the BBC, Sir James said: "Europe's only 15% of the global market and the really fast-expanding markets are in the Far East. "I'm enormously optimistic because looking outwards to the rest of the world is very, very important because that's the fast-growing bit." Sir James Dyson is the poster child for the kind of global-facing confidence the government is keen to harness in a week that it signals the beginning of the end of the UK's membership of the EU. The entrepreneur has been a prominent supporter of Brexit and remains clear that British business success lies beyond Europe. He is putting his money where his mouth is - investing £2.5bn, expanding his Wiltshire base by buying 500 acres of old airfield in Hullavington and hoping to double his 3,500 workforce in the next four years. Critics, though, say that while he designs products in the UK, he manufactures them in the Far East and so his export arrangements may not be subject to the same Brexit uncertainty as for those manufacturing in the UK. Sir James said it would be possible to remain close to Europe after Brexit, while also forging closer ties with Commonwealth countries. "I'm a patriot, which is why I'm rather keen on re-connecting with the Commonwealth," he said. And he rejected the suggestion EU staff could be forced to leave the UK - saying it was "absolute nonsense to suggest countries are going to chuck out foreign citizens". The entrepreneur, who has criticised the lack of British engineers, also defended his decision to have major operations in Asia, saying the firm's intellectual property and profits were still in the UK. "I'm resident in England, we pay all our tax here," he added. Dyson designs many of its products in the UK, but largely manufactures them in Asia. It has tripled its team in China and recently opened a new £330m research centre in Singapore. The firm is also opening a new multimillion-pound research centre in Wiltshire, England and a university at its existing Malmesbury campus in the Cotswolds.

Summary: Sir James Dyson has said UK business success lies beyond Europe because that is where the fastest growth lies.


Ben Gilkes, 25, of Stratford Road, Sparkhill, will appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court, West Midlands Police said. A man was arrested on Friday after the child was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital with serious head injuries, police said. The baby remains seriously ill since the assault in Hall Green on Friday, they added.

Summary: A man is due in court charged with an assault on a four-week-old baby boy.


Activists are unlikely to be throwing themselves off the pier in despair. That's not really the Lib Dem way. The party has always thrived in adversity. The conference hashtag is #LibDemfightback. But it will be a bittersweet experience for some party members. "This is bound to be an emotional conference for us," writes Caron Lindsay, editor of LibDem Voice. The party's "brutal" defeat in May is still raw, she adds. "Being with our friends, mulling it all over with laughter, the odd tear and a whole load of gallows humour will undoubtedly help with that." Here is a full rundown of the main speeches and debates. The party is talking up the fact that it has gained 20,000 members since May's general election - and about 2,500 of them are going to be in Bournemouth. This is a record, according to party sources, surpassing the number of party members at the 2010 post-election gathering. "It's going to be a busy, buzzy conference," says Lib Dem activist Mark Pack. But it will still be a very different kind of Lib Dem conference to those we saw during the coalition years. There will be no government ministers speaking from the main stage for one thing. It is likely to feel more sparsely populated too. The corporate lobbyists who flooded into Lib Dem conferences during the coalition years have all but deserted the party. This means the bars and restaurants will be quieter and there will be far fewer fringe meetings. Far fewer journalists too. The party's new leader Tim Farron has long been a darling of grassroots Lib Dem activists but the general public have little idea who he is. He will be under pressure to do something about that this week - and also to stake out exactly where the party stands in the rapidly changing landscape of British politics. He has described the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader as a "staggering" opportunity for the Lib Dems to occupy the "centre ground" and attract back moderate Labour voters and members appalled by their new leader's hard left pedigree. "There's no denying we're at one of the most challenging points in our party's history, but if anyone is going to lead us back, it's Tim," says a party aide. "At conference you'll hear what motivates him, as he tackles the housing crisis, mental health, Europe, business and enterprise, the refugee crisis, and personal freedom." The focus will be on next year's elections in Scotland, Wales and English local authorities - the first real chance to gauge if the party can revive itself. Where exactly does Mr Farron, routinely described as a left-winger himself, and who defined himself as a break from the Tory-leaning coalition years, think the centre ground is? Aides say he is keen to dispel the idea, put about by some commentators, that he is "Corbyn-lite". Party members will be seeking answers at a Q&A session in the main hall on Monday. Mr Farron's keynote address will close the conference on Wednesday. Tim Farron has mischievously let slip that he

Summary: The Liberal Democrats are gathering in Bournemouth for their annual conference - the first since the party lost all but eight of its MPs in May's general election rout.


The distasteful adjective - a favourite of Great British Bake Off presenting duo Mel and Sue - has topped polls in the UK, US and Canada, according to those behind the global survey. Oxford University Press said "no", "Brexit" and "British", joined moist as the UK's four most-despised words. More than 10,000 people have responded to the survey so far. "Moist" - dubbed by comedian Miranda Hart the "queen of all words" - also leads the way in the US, Canada and Australia, also coming second in the poll of Dutch opinion. "No" is least popular in the early running in the Netherlands and Germany, while "love" and "sorry" find the least favour in India. Dan Braddock, from Oxford University Press, said this was the first time Oxford Dictionaries - which focuses on current English usage - had tried such an experiment and "we're not entirely sure what to expect yet". "We thought for a long time about the question to open with, but we decided to go down the negative route," he said. "We thought people were more likely to have strong opinions about a negative subject matter." He said the publisher hoped to collect 30,000 replies by the end of the project. Despite the poll's findings, "moist" does not appear to be universally despised. On Wednesday's edition of The Great British Bake Off, host Mel Giedroyc remarked that it was her "favourite word" as she urged contestants to produce a "sumptuous" drizzle cake.

Summary: "Moist" is the early front-runner in a search to find the most-hated word in the English language.


"I pay homage to the women of Paraguay, who were able to rebuild a country destroyed by an unequal war," he said. Most of Paraguay's male population died in a devastating war against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay between 1865 and 1870. "God protect Paraguayan women, the most glorious of the Americas," he said. Hundreds of thousands of people went for the Mass at the Shrine of Caacupe, some 50 Km (30 miles) from the capital Asuncion. Many of them came from neighbouring Argentina and waved the blue-and-white flags of Pope Francis's native country. "Argentina is his homeland. He is not coming home yet, so we brought it to him," Carmen Mesa, 56, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency. Pope Francis said the visit to Caacupe would be an emotional occasion to him. Before becoming a Pope, he travelled many times to the city, known as the spiritual capital of Paraguay. "I feel at home, here. I came here many times to renew my wishes of living according to the Gospel," he said during Mass. The Pope's religious order, the Jesuits, evangelised the region in the 1600s. Pope Francis said the Lord's Prayer in Guarani, the indigenous language spoken by most of the population. Guarani is an official language along with Spanish in Paraguay. "I would like to remind you that we are all brothers and sisters," Pope Francis said. Paraguay is the last stop on the Pope's eight-day tour of South America, which also took him to Ecuador and Bolivia. The Vatican said the Pope had chosen some of the poorer countries of the region for his visit to reflected his interest in the "peripheries". Pope Francis is the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to come from South America. "Progress and development must ensure a better future for all," Pope Francis said in a speech on the Quito airport runway on Monday after he was welcomed by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.

Summary: Pope Francis has paid a tribute to Paraguay's women and mothers during Mass celebrated at the country's main pilgrimage site, Caacupe,


Style is Eternal, which showcases key items from his 50-year career, has been running at the Bowes Museum in County Durham since July. It has been the most popular exhibition in the museum's history, attracting three time the usual visitor numbers. The initial closing date of 25 October has now been extended to 8 November. The show highlights how the designer revolutionised womenswear and includes dresses from the late 1950s which have never been seen in public before. There have been 55,000 visitors to date, a figure which is expected to reach 70,000 by the time it closes. Adrian Jenkins, Director of The Bowes Museum said: "It has been a wonderful moment in the museum's history. "The exhibition has dazzled visitors and informed us of Yves Saint Laurent's huge contribution to the world of fashion, evident in the way women dress every day."

Summary: The first major UK exhibition of the work of French designer Yves Saint Laurent has proved so popular that it is being extended.


Bruno, who has not fought since being knocked out by Mike Tyson in 1996, has been suffering with bipolar disorder in recent years. However, he told ITV's This Morning: "I've been in the gym all the time, that's why I want to come back into boxing." Asked if it was a good idea, Bruno replied: "I haven't got a choice." Bruno, who made his professional debut in 1982, says he returned to the gym to burn off energy and does not like to be "mugged off" when challenged by younger boxers. "I can't sit down and let these so-called promoters say Anthony Joshua can knock me out in two rounds when I'm not even dead," Bruno added. However, Bruno later said that his agent had been told by the British Boxing Board of Control that it would not accept his application for a licence.

Summary: British former world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno wants to return to the ring at the age of 54.


The announcement came at the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (Ifab) on Friday. Ifab is also reviewing the order of penalty shootouts, as there is a "clear advantage" to going first. It also confirmed that clubs will be allowed to use a fourth substitute during extra time from the quarter-finals of this season's FA Cup. Proposals for sin-bins for yellow-card offences and rolling substitutions at lower levels of football, to be introduced from June, were also approved at the Wembley meeting. It is a move to "encourage more people to take part" in youth and amateur leagues. Ifab is made up of world governing body Fifa and the four British home associations - the FAs of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - and is responsible for deciding on law changes. Friday's meeting, which was chaired by Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn, also agreed a strategy to improve player behaviour. That could lead to captains being the only players permitted to speak to referees about "major incidents". The FA Cup quarter-finals will take place from 11-13 March, including Manchester United's Monday night trip to Premier League leaders Chelsea. The trial of a fourth substitute in extra time is a first in England, though the format was used at last year's Copa America and the Rio Olympics. Glenn said the rule change will bring "extra intrigue and interest" to the ties. "From a technical point of view, it will be interesting to see how managers use the chance to make an additional substitution in such high-profile games and the impact it has on the final result," he added. Fifa president Gianni Infantino attended Friday's meeting and said the aim is for video assistant referees to be used at the World Cup in Russia next year. He confirmed the technology will be used at this June's Confederations Cup and May's Under-20 World Cup. Video assistant referees will review "match-changing" situations before informing the on-field official. Video replays were first used at international level during a friendly between Italy and France in September and then again during an friendly between Italy and Germany in November. The system has been tested in six other countries, including in the third-tier United Soccer League in America and the Dutch Cup. Its first use in a Fifa competition was during December's Club World Cup. Glenn said it would be too early for the technology to be used at August's Community Shield. He added it was a question of "when, not if" the system is introduced to English football. Ifab is considering changing penalty shootouts, citing the example of a tennis tie-break to combat the "statistically proven advantage" of the team that goes first. Teams alternate in shootouts, but Ifab says research shows the first team taking kicks has a 60% chance of winning. It is seeking trials in the lower levels of football that would see one team take the first penalty, then the teams alternate two kicks at a time. "We believe that approach could remove that statistical bias and this is something that

Summary: The Football Association wants to test a video assistant referee system from next season's FA Cup third round.


Sheffield City Council was ordered to stop felling trees in February after campaigners applied for a temporary injunction. Mr Justice Gilbart lifted the order on Wednesday and is expected to hand down his final judgement next month. The council said it would not implement its full felling scheme until the ruling. Sheffield Tree Action Group (Stag) said it was disappointed by the news. Executive director Simon Green said: "We are delighted that the court has agreed with the council's case to have the tree injunction lifted. "However, we have been clear throughout that we want to make sure that our work with communities on this issue is right, so we will not resume the full street tree replacement programme until we have had the court's final decision. "We will of course continue to assess our trees and replace those that are dangerous." More than 3,300 trees have been removed across the city since 2012 as part of a Â£2bn project. Campaigner Dave Dillner, from Stag, said he retained "a measure of confidence" over the High Court's final decision. "It's absolutely not the end of the campaign. We wait with interest Mr Justice Gilbart's final judgement," he said. The Labour-run council launched the scheme to remove dead and dangerous trees from the roadside. It planned to remove and replace about 5,000 trees in total and has so far replanted about 3,600 trees. Former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg previously called on the council to abandon the programme and described it a "national scandal".

Summary: A ban on chopping down trees in Sheffield has been overturned by the High Court.


Conor McAteer was jailed for 28 months in February, with co-accused Paul McGee receiving a 20 month sentence. McAteer says he has suffered a miscarriage of justice in terms of comparative sentencing after McGee's term was cut to eight months on appeal. McAteer also claims the length of his sentence was excessive. The two men were caught with the class A drug at the festival at Balado in 2013. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has now referred the case to the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. The independent body was established in 1999 to review alleged miscarriages of justice in Scottish convictions and sentences.

Summary: A drug dealer caught with £870 worth of ecstasy at T in the Park will have his appeal against the length of his prison term heard at the High Court.


Mr Trump invited the County Down golfer to play at his Trump International Golf Club on Sunday. After 18 holes on the Florida course, McIlroy said of his playing partner: "He probably shot around 80. He's a decent player for a guy in his 70s." However, following a backlash on social media, McIlroy took to Twitter on Friday evening to defend his actions. In the post, he said he respects Mr Trump's office and hit out at those who described him as a fascist and a bigot in the wake of the meeting. "I don't agree with everything my friends or family say or do, but I still play golf with them," he tweeted. "Last week, I was invited to play golf with the president of the United States. Whether you respect the person who holds the position or not, you respect the office that he holds." He added that the game was "not an endorsement, nor a political statement of any kind". "It was, quite simply, a round of golf," he wrote. "I've travelled all over the world and have been fortunate enough to befriend people from many different countries, beliefs and cultures. "To be called a fascist and a bigot by some people because I spent time in someone's company is just ridiculous. I hope, to some degree, this clarifies my decision to accept the invitation."

Summary: Rory McIlroy has said a round of golf he played with Donald Trump was not an endorsement of the US president.


Construction on the £65m Bontnewydd road was due to start towards the end of this year. The Welsh Government said it rejected suggestions of "huge delays" to the scheme. Orders detailing the project were due to be published in the spring. They are now expected to be made public in August. Arfon AM Sian Gwenllian has said she fears the construction work could be put back by up to a year. "The orders were supposed to have been published at the beginning of this year, and they haven't been, and it's likely that this scheme will not proceed for at least another 12 months," she warned assembly members last week. "I understand that the problem is a dispute as regards what to do about the bats." The six-mile (10km) route will take the new road around the current bottlenecks between Bontnewydd and Caernarfon, linking with the Felinheli bypass. The new road will cross two rivers, and requires seven bridges. A Welsh Government spokesperson said on Tuesday: "In order to assure everyone that the most appropriate environmental mitigation measures are being implemented, some short additional surveys are having to be undertaken in the next few weeks." Officials said they expected construction work to get under way in August or September in 2017. Welsh Government documents had suggested the work should have started by the end of this year. Peter Evans, the protected species officer for Natural Resources Wales, said the route passes close to a special area of conservation. "There are concerns because this is a migration route for animals like the otter and the lesser horseshoe bat, which are protected species," he said. "We are working with the developers at present to get more information about how bats use the land along the route."

Summary: Work on a major bypass in Gwynedd is facing delays as talks continue over protecting wildlife.


The 1917 Fowler engine, worth £250,000, came off the trailer in Crays Hill, Essex just missing an electric pylon. The engine was being returned from its inaugural appearance, following a full restoration, at Young Farmers event near Chelmsford. "The primary thing is that no-one was hurt," said the owners. Phil Burrows, from Barleylands farm park, who owns the Panther said they were "unsure" what caused the incident at about 19:00 BST on Sunday. "I got the scene and wanted to make sure no-one was hurt and the lorry diver was OK. Machines and metal can be replaced but people can't. "The driver was devastated and the chap who looks after it was a bit distraught at the state of his poor old engine." The engine had been "lovingly restored from a wreck to working condition" over the last five years, had "just finished its repair" and was on "its first outing before our country show in September," said Mr Burrows. "It took about two hours with three cranes to right it and then another hour to get it onto the low-loader. "All the steering arms were bent so you couldn't steer it. Due to its age and value, we had to spend a lot of time working out how to lift it as not to exacerbate the damage. "With a steam engine you cant just buy something off the shelf everything has to be handmade so a lot of craft work and skill goes into it." The engine's flywheel, boiler and steering mechanism were damaged in the accident.

Summary: A 21-tonne steam engine that tipped off a low-loader and "slid down a road" could cost more than £100,000 to repair, its owners said.


But it leaves the issue at the heart of the dispute unresolved: could the FBI have forced Apple to help it unlock the device? It is unlikely that this will be the last time a law enforcement agency tries to compel a tech company to help bypass security measures. It had been reported that there were about a dozen other cases in which the US Justice Department was pursuing court orders to force Apple to help its investigators. The highest profile of these was in Brooklyn, New York, where the FBI wanted access to an iPhone belonging to a defendant who had already pleaded guilty to drug dealing. In that case, a federal judge had rejected the DoJ's effort to invoke the All Writs Act - a three-centuries-old statute that allows court orders to be issued in circumstances where other laws don't apply. The DoJ had launched an appeal, but it is not yet clear if it will continue or drop it. Its decision may be based on whether the technique used to extract data from Farook's handset can be used in other cases. The New York case involved an iPhone 5S running the iOS 7 operating system, while the San Bernardino, California case was about an iPhone 5C running the more modern iOS 9. What works against one device might not work against the other. But assuming the US government will at some point try again to use the All Writs Act to force Apple or some other tech company to circumvent its data protection measures, it may take a Supreme Court ruling to determine whether this is truly within the authorities' power. At this point, there is nothing to compel the FBI to reveal how it was done, although Apple is likely to be pressing hard to find out. The tech firm's lawyers have already said they would want details of the technique to be made public if evidence from the cracked iPhone is later used at trial. But it could remain secret. There is scope within US law for the authorities to withhold the source of information if it was supplied to them on a confidential basis, and to protect sensitive intelligence-gathering methodologies. Not necessarily. The court order originally obtained by the FBI had instructed Apple to come up with a special version of its operating system that would have prevented Farook's iPhone from deleting its data or imposing long lockout periods if too many incorrect passcode guesses were made. However, the latest court filings do not say that someone else has now done this, but merely that some data stored on the device has been obtained. Researchers at the cybersecurity firm IOActive had proposed that one way of getting data off an iPhone would be to "de-cap" its memory chips. The process they described involved using acid and lasers to expose and copy ID information about the device so that efforts to crack its passcode could be simulated on another computer without risk of triggering the original iPhone's self-destruct tool. If indeed this is what happened, it is

Summary: The US government's declaration that it has "successfully accessed the data stored on [San Bernardino gunman] Farook's iPhone and therefore no longer requires" assistance from Apple, ends a six week-long legal clash between the tech firm and the FBI.


Nicholas Muton claimed he was protesting against police corruption and the court heard that he was convicted of a similar stunt in 2003. His recent protest, which began on 12 June, cost emergency services £1.4m and the wider economy an estimated £28m. He pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court to causing a public nuisance. Judge Adrienne Lucking QC told him his protest was a "childish response to your beef with the police". "Your actions had a direct economic impact on the constabulary and the wider economy," she said. Muton, 45, of no fixed address, was found guilty of the same offence by a jury in 2003, after he brought the M1 to a standstill for 10 hours by threatening to hang himself from a bridge. He was jailed for 18 months at the time. In 2007 he was arrested for attempting to jump off a bridge, and was Tasered by police while he was in custody. The court heard this was one of the reasons behind his most recent protest; he had also claimed to have been abused as a child. Muton has made 34 complaints to police in the past, plus appeals to the Independent Police Complaints Commission but none have been resolved in his favour. Days before his most recent protest he phoned police anonymously saying there was going to be a demonstration, but he did not say where and exactly when. Muton also wrote a Facebook message warning about his plan and alleging police had "covered up" child abuse. The court heard that no charges have ever been brought in relation to the alleged child abuse. Leicestershire Police said it would not be commenting on Muton's claims of corruption. He climbed the information board gantry between Coalville and Loughborough on the southbound carriageway at about midday at 12 June, and wrote messages alleging that someone "tried 2 kill me" and referring to "2 murder attempts". Police tried to talk him down but he was abusive and threatened to jump. He eventually came down at about 16:00 BST the following day after the IPCC arrived. The gantry was near East Midlands Airport and the court heard that cars were abandoned by people trying to catch flights, which hundreds of them missed. Angela Clark, District Crown Prosecutor at CPS East Midlands, said Muton had "set out to cause the maximum disruption possible". "The regular users of the road were affected and there were also thousands of people due to leave Donington Park from the Download festival at that point," she said. "People reported missing flights at the nearby East Midlands Airport, vehicle breakdowns and some accidents resulting from overcrowded roads." In mitigation, Muton's lawyer said he knew what he did was wrong, apologised and wanted to put it behind him. But the judge said his "one-man protest" was "so serious and had such a significant impact, a clear message must be sent". Muton claimed police closed the motorway to "wind him up", but Leicestershire Police defended their actions. Assistant Chief Constable Phil Kay said: "Our priority from the outset was the

Summary: A protester who disrupted thousands of motorists by scaling a gantry and causing the M1 to be closed for 28 hours has been jailed for two years.


About 20 pupils fell ill at Flash Ley Community Primary School and Nursery in Stafford in October amid reports of a mystery smell. An investigation has concluded that work to floor ducts last summer led to high levels of the chemical, Staffordshire County Council said. The Hawksmoor Road school has been shut on safety grounds ever since. Repairs will now start in March and completed in time for the new school year in September. The building will undergo a deep clean and the substance believed to be behind the presence of formaldehyde in the air removed. Children will continue lessons at the nearby Chetwynd Centre, Tillington Manor Primary and Stafford Manor High School. Councillor Ben Adams, cabinet member for learning and skills, said: "Children and staff will only return to the building once extensive tests show that is safe to do so." Head teacher Simon Barker said: "We are delighted that the county council have announced the decision and staff will now begin to make plans to ensure the arrangements for September will be in place and the transition back to Flash Ley will be smooth. "I would personally like to thank the children, parents and staff for their support while we have been temporarily moved. We can now look forward to a safe school to educate our children." Formaldehyde is a colourless gas with a pungent odour and is found in materials used in plywood, carpeting and foam insulation. Those exposed to it can suffer irritation to the eyes, nose, mouth and throat. It is understood parents reported children with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and dizziness at the time.

Summary: A primary school will be closed until September after high levels of formaldehyde were discovered last year.


The 22-year-old, who scored 20 goals last season, has started in both of the Baggies' league games this season. "We have no interest in selling Saido which is what I have told Spurs chairman Daniel Levy," said Albion chairman Jeremy Peace. "I know we are living in an age where no club can say 'never' about the possibility of selling a player." He added: "However, the prospect of selling Saido is simply not on our agenda. "We are going forward with Saido very much in our plans and still striving to add players to improve the balance of our squad." The Daily Telegraph reports the offer from Spurs is worth £15m, with Albion valuing Berahino at £25m. In February, Baggies boss Tony Pulis said he put Berahino "on the naughty step" after the forward said that "he hoped to move on to bigger things". Berahino, with 14 strikes, was the third top English scorer in the Premier League last season behind Spurs' Harry Kane and QPR striker Charlie Austin.

Summary: West Brom have rejected an offer from Tottenham for England Under-21 striker Saido Berahino.


Macedonian police are detaining them, saying they will be returned to Greece. Earlier, some 1,000 migrants, including children, left their sprawling camp in the Greek village of Idomeni and crossed a river near the border. About 14,000 people, many from Syria or Iraq, have been stranded at the camp, where conditions have deteriorated following days of rain. Macedonia last week said it would no longer let any migrants in, blocking the so-called Balkan route north. In other developments on Monday: The migrants - many carrying all their belongings - were seen walking in a long snaking line along a hilly road on Monday. The group included a number of children. When they reached the river, they passed a rope across it and formed a "human chain" to help each other to get to the other side. The migrants said they were trying to find a gap in the barbed-wire fence on the border. "We hope we can cross because we are a lot of people. Our number is big now," 24-year-old Syrian migrant Aziz told AP. "We don't want to stay here [Idomeni] in that camp, because we are tired of being there," he added. Hundreds of migrants later found a gap near the Greek village of Hamilo and crossed into Macedonia. Macedonian police and soldiers then detained the migrants, putting them in army trucks. "We are taking measures to return the group to Greece," a Macedonian police spokeswoman was quoted as saying by Reuters. At least 20 journalists who followed the migrants were also detained, reports say. Meanwhile, Greek police officer Panos Tenos told the BBC the migrants had been informed during their march that "crossing illegally is a dead end since the borders to reach Central Europe are closed". "Police forces followed the refugees from Idomeni to Hamilo, and when they tried to block them peacefully the crowd dispersed and it was impossible to stop them," he added. Local UNHCR representative Babur Baloch told the BBC: "What we are seeing is a return of chaos whenever there's a unilateral decision to close the borders, when there's no co-ordination, when countries in Europe don't coordinate and don't share responsibility, then we see more misery for refugees." "And that's exactly what we're going through in Greece today. We see more and more people arriving here. There's no way out, Greece is struggling, it needs support from the EU," he added. Last week, the EU and Turkey set out a plan to ease Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War Two. Under the plan, still to be finalised, all migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey would be sent back. For each Syrian returned, a Syrian in Turkey would be resettled in the EU. Hundreds of thousands of migrants have travelled through Macedonia over the past year, heading north. The EU leaders said "bold moves" were needed, and made the following proposals: A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes

Summary: Hundreds of migrants have crossed from Greece into Macedonia after finding a way through the border fence.


Kymberley Holden, 27, of Codnor in Derbyshire, died in November 2014 from high levels of OxyNorm. She had been prescribed ten times the correct dosage by Dr Lawrence Axten, who has apologised for his error. Dr Axten told her inquest he unwittingly gave her a concentrated dose of the medication. Ms Holden was prescribed OxyNorm to help her deal with severe pain in her right leg and took three doses in the hours leading up to her death. Tests showed she died from oxycodone intoxication - the generic name for OxyNorm - and Devic's disease. Lalitha Vaithianathar, her consultant neurologist and a forensic toxicologist, told Nottingham Coroner's Court it was the dosing of liquid OxyNorm over a short period of time in the final hours that caused the respiratory depression that led to her death. Coroner Elizabeth Didcock said the prescription error did not cause the 27-year-old's death, but made a "significant contribution". She added she "did not have confidence that the GP practice understands fully the duty to report serious incidents nor the duties to co-operate with a coronial investigation". Ms Holden's father Stephen said after the inquest: "I found the conclusion was satisfactory and as good a conclusion as she could come to. "I understand ... there are more policies and procedures and changes to come to hopefully prevent this from happening to anybody else. "It has been a very long, very difficult and very trying time." Ian Dye, her boyfriend, said: "She was the love of my life "I hope the coroner's recommendations are followed. There was a lack of knowledge about certain controlled drugs and I hope that will improve in the future and prevent something like this happening again." The family said a civil case was being considered.

Summary: A prescription error "significantly contributed" to the death of a woman who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a coroner has ruled.


The 83-year-old has long complained at being named as prince rather than king. It had been expected that the pair would be buried together in a specially-designed sarcophagus at Roskilde Cathedral. The queen, 77, is said to have accepted her husband's decision. "It is no secret that the prince for many years has been unhappy with his role and the title he has been awarded in the Danish monarchy," the Royal Danish House's director of communications told the tabloid BT. "For the prince, the decision not to be buried beside the queen is the natural consequence of not having been treated equally to his spouse - by not having the title and role he has desired." Born Henri Marie Jean AndrÃ© de Laborde de Monpezat in France in 1934, he and the queen have two sons. Henrik retired from public life last year. The royal house said despite rumours to the contrary the prince wants to be buried in Denmark rather than France.

Summary: Prince Henrik of Denmark will not be buried next to his wife Queen Margrethe, royal officials say, with the prince unhappy at never being designated her equal.


Chris Coleman's side are on the brink of qualifying for Euro 2016 after beating Cyprus and drawing with Israel. They will swap places with Chile, who are set to drop one to ninth spot, and remain above England, who will stay 10th despite two wins. Northern Ireland, 41st in the current rankings, are expected to move above Scotland, currently 31st. Had Wales beaten Israel, they would have risen to fourth but reaching eighth is still the sixth time in the last seven rankings that they have set a new record. Argentina will stay top, while Germany will regain second place from Belgium, who drop to third.

Summary: Wales will rise to a new high of eighth when the next Fifa world rankings are released on 1 October.


She told the Conservative conference companies were "getting away" with not training British workers and tougher recruitment tests were needed. Students on "low-quality courses" could also face tougher entry rules. She promised councils Â£140m to address migration pressures and moves to deport EU criminals for "minor crimes". In a wide-ranging speech, her first significant policy address since becoming home secretary in July, Ms Rudd also announced a further crackdown on illegal immigration through new powers to go after landlords, employers and banks that facilitate it. But the proposals were met with concern by business groups while Labour said they would be taken with a "pinch of salt" given the government's failure to meet immigration targets. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is still committed to reducing net migration to "sustainable" levels - taken to mean below 100,000 a year - even though David Cameron failed to meet the target between 2010 and 2015, with net migration recently exceeding 300,000. Ms Rudd, who campaigned to remain in the EU during the referendum, said immigration had brought benefits to the UK but the difference between those settling in the UK and those leaving was "too substantial" and that the Brexit vote had shown British people demanded action. Although this would not happen "overnight", she said only a substantial reduction could help "change the tide of public opinionâ€¦ so once again immigration is something we can all welcome". "I come here today with a warning to those that simply oppose any steps to reduce net migration," she said. "This government will not waver in its commitment to put the interests of the British people first "Reducing net migration back down to sustainable levels will not be easy. But I am committed to delivering it on behalf of the British people." Launching a consultation on entry rules for foreign workers and students, Ms Rudd said the tests that employers had to undergo before recruiting from abroad had become "tick-boxing exercises" and too often resulted in British citizens being discriminated against. "The test should ensure people coming here are filling gaps in the labour market, not taking jobs British people could do," she said. "So I want us to look again at whether our immigration system provides the right incentives for businesses to invest in British workers." While she was committed to attracting the best students from around the world, she said the current system too often "treated every student and university as equal" with insufficient consideration given to the contribution they could make to the UK against the obligations they placed on the state. "Foreign students, even those studying English Language degrees, don't even have to be proficient in speaking English. We need to look at whether this one-size-fits-all approach really is right for the hundreds of different universities, providing thousands of different courses across the country. "And we need to look at whether this generous offer for all universities is really adding value to our economy. This isn't about pulling up the drawbridge. It's about making sure students that come here, come to study."

Summary: New curbs on foreign workers and students may be needed to "change the tide" of public opinion on immigration, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said.


24 January 2017 Last updated at 07:07 GMT Alice is blind and needs help getting around, so now she has a furry friend to help her out. She is one of the youngest person in England to be given a guide dog and Billy has made a big difference to her life. Check out the video to hear Alice and Billy's story.

Summary: Meet Alice and her guide dog, Billy.


Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said US warplanes and drones were now arriving at Turkish airbases. "We will soon launch a comprehensive battle against Islamic State all together," he said. Last month Turkey launched its first strikes on the militants since the group began its advance through Iraq and Syria in 2013. It had previously been reluctant to take military action, but that position changed after a number of attacks within Turkey that were blamed on IS. Syria said on Wednesday that any military action not co-ordinated with Damascus would breach its sovereignty. Turkey agreed to let the US military use the Incirlik airbase, in the south-west of the country, in July. "As part of our agreement with the US we have made progress regarding the opening up of our bases, particularly Incirlik," Mr Cavusoglu told reporters as he met US Secretary of State John Kerry in Malaysia on Wednesday. "We're seeing that manned and unmanned American planes are arriving and soon we will launch a comprehensive battle against Islamic State all together." 'More effective strikes' - Selin Girit, BBC News, Istanbul Coalition planes currently take off from bases in the Gulf to hit IS targets in Syria. The use of Turkish bases, especially Incirlik, will potentially make the strikes much more effective. Because of Turkey's proximity, coalition warplanes will be able to reach targets in Syria in less than an hour and spend up to six hours in Syrian airspace. One Turkish official said the operations could start any moment now. That might please many in Turkey, and outside, who have been calling for a tougher stance against IS. But there is serious opposition to any Turkish boots on the ground in Syria and concern about the proposed "safe zone" there. Many suggest that as Turkey only has an interim government - since the June general election - it should not take such serious decisions as engaging in a "comprehensive battle". The US military is familiar with the southern Turkish base, and its recent history is tied closely with recent US military operations. Tensions increased after a series of attacks on the Turkish side of the Syrian border. A Turkish soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with IS fighters near the Syrian border in July. Just days earlier a suicide bombing blamed on IS killed 32 people in the predominantly Kurdish town of Suruc. Turkish police have arrested hundreds of people in raids against IS and Kurdish militants across the country in recent weeks. The country has also carried out a series of air strikes, saying they were targeting militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq as well as Islamic State militants. But observers say PKK fighters have been on the receiving end of far more attacks than IS. Turkish officials deny that the campaign against the Islamic State group is a cover to prevent Kurdish gains. The government has previously faced criticism at home and abroad for not doing enough against IS, despite being part of the international coalition fighting it.

Summary: Turkey has said it plans to escalate its attacks on Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.


It is Samsung's equivalent of Apple's Siri and Google's Assistant - which is pre-installed already in Samsung phones as they run the Android operating system. Bixby will initially be available in only two languages - US English and South Korean. The launch had been delayed since April. Samsung did not give a reason at the time but early testers of a limited demo model - including the BBC - had reported that it failed to understand commands. The firm's latest device, the Galaxy Note 8, is due to be launched on 23 August. What makes Bixby different from other voice assistants is that it is deeply integrated with functionalities unique to Samsung devices, said Ian Fogg, analyst at IHS Markit. "Samsung always differentiates its phones by adding a lot of its own features to Android," he said. These include tailored support for its own hardware such as the curved edge screen, stylus, VR support and camera. Mr Fogg added that over time Bixby could also be included in other Samsung products which do not run on the Android operating system. "A lot of people believe one voice agent will become the sole agent everyone will use," he said of the rivalry among the tech giants over digital assistants. "But in life we don't have one single expert that we trust for everything. It might be they are good at different things. "For the user it's just as easy to say Alexa, or Cortana, or Siri - there is no barrier to choosing an alternative voice agent." However, he added that the technology will only be successful if it is dependable. "To make it work you have to be able to understand speech reliably. If you don't do that nothing else happens. That should be a given".

Summary: Samsung's voice-controlled digital assistant Bixby is being rolled out in 200 countries from today.


The Travel Photographer of the Year Awards is staging the outdoor exhibition at Princes Dock Street. The show is part of the second season of Hull's year as UK City of Culture. Entitled Roots and Routes, it aims to celebrate Hull's role as a major port and its international connections. The awards began in 2003 and accept entries from amateurs, semi-professionals and professionals. Read more about this and other stories from Hull and East Yorkshire See some of the winning entries The photographs on display include a selection of winning entries from the 2016 competition. Entrants from more than 120 countries entered the competition and photographers from 21 countries featured among the winners. Martin Green, chief executive and director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, said: "Our Roots and Routes season is all about celebrating Hull's global connections and its place in the wider world. "This exhibition will give people in Hull the opportunity to see unique images of some of the planet's most famous and recognisable places along with exposing them to some far-flung and unfamiliar locations and sights." The photographs will remain on show until 30 June.

Summary: A free showing of award-winning travel photographs has opened in Hull.


The 25-year-old joined Saints from Huddersfield Giants in 2013 and was contracted until the end of 2017. Former Castleford back Dawson, who operates mainly at winger or centre, scored 16 times in 70 outings. "Matty is at a time in his career when he needs to be playing regularly," said Saints chief executive Mike Rush. "Therefore when the opportunity for him to move to Leigh came up it made sense for the both player and the club to agree to the transfer."

Summary: Championship winners Leigh Centurions have signed St Helens utility back Matty Dawson for a five-figure transfer fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal.


Officers working on a missing person inquiry made the discovery in Market Street at about 23:55 on Wednesday. A man has been detained and is helping police with their inquiries. A Police Scotland spokesman said: "The investigation into the circumstances is in the very early stages of establishing who the remains belong to and how that person died." He added: "Our inquiries have taken us to a number of addresses in the Montrose area where there is likely to be a police presence for some considerable time."

Summary: Police have found what are believed to be human remains at a house in Montrose.


Powys council said the latest phase of work in Talgarth to help protect 19 properties was due to start in March. However, they say a single objection has delayed the process which has resulted in funding being lost. Councillor John Brunt said: "We are extremely disappointed and are actively seeking a resolution to the objection."

Summary: Work on flood protection in Powys has been stopped due to an objector to the scheme.


The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the UN both urged China to free Liu Xia. She has been held under house arrest without charge since 2010. China has rejected international criticism for not allowing Mr Liu, who had been serving an 11-year prison term for "subversion", to be treated abroad. The Nobel Committee, which gave him the Peace Prize in 2010, said Beijing bore a "heavy responsibility" for his death. The committee's leader, Berit Reiss-Andersen, says the Chinese consulate in Oslo has refused to receive her visa application for travel so she can attend a possible funeral for Mr Liu. She told the BBC she wanted to show her respect for the dissident's family "in this tragic situation" but that Beijing had missed an opportunity to make a "fantastic gesture" by letting her do so. Amid the controversy, attention is shifting to Mr Liu's wife, with mounting concern for her mental health. In a statement the Norwegian Nobel Committee said it was "deeply worried about Liu Xia's situation" and called upon the Chinese authorities to "lift all restrictions they have put upon her". "If she wants to leave China, there is no justification for denying her the opportunity to do so." Liu Xia, a poet, is said to be suffering from depression after spending years under house arrest and heavy surveillance. She was allowed to visit her husband in hospital. "She has been, what shall I say, contaminated by her husband's situation," Ms Reiss-Andersen told the BBC. "She has been held in house arrest and has been isolated for several years now... and she has not been a political activist as her husband has been." Germany, UK, France, the United States and Taiwan have called on China to allow her to leave the country if she wishes. The call was endorsed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, who urged China to "guarantee Liu Xia's freedom of movement". Rights group Amnesty International has started a petition for her release, saying "it's time the Chinese authorities stop cruelly punishing" the artist. The Chinese foreign ministry said Liu Xia would be treated in accordance with the law. Read more: The life of Liu Xiaobo The ministry earlier hit back at criticism of Beijing's treatment of Mr Liu, saying: "The handling of Liu Xiaobo's case belongs to China's internal affairs, and foreign countries are in no position to make improper remarks." Mr Liu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 for his "long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China", but he was not permitted to travel to Norway to accept it. Chinese authorities announced last month that he had liver cancer and moved him from prison to a hospital in the north-eastern city of Shenyang, where he was kept under heavy security. In his final days, Western countries repeatedly urged China to give Mr Liu permission to seek palliative treatment elsewhere, which Beijing refused. Chinese medical experts insisted he was too ill to travel, although Western doctors who examined him disagreed. Mr Liu died "peacefully" on Thursday afternoon,

Summary: The committee that awards the Nobel Peace Prize says it is "deeply worried" about the widow of Liu Xiaobo, China's most prominent critic who died of liver cancer on Thursday.


They only confirmed 23 deaths at the Zasyadko coal mine. Ukraine's officials say as many as 33 people may have died. There are fears the rebels lack the resources to deal with the disaster, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports. Zasyadko was the scene of Ukraine's worst mine disaster nearly eight years ago, when 101 people were killed. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has demanded access to the mine for government rescuers and police. The mine is close to a front line where the pro-Russian rebels have been battling Ukrainian government troops. However, Ukraine's mine unions head Mykhailo Volynets told a Ukrainian TV channel there had been no fighting in the area in recent days. While Ukraine's economy has significantly shrunk since fighting began in April, many coal mines continue to operate in the conflict zone. Mining safety standards are poor, and there are frequent accidents. 18 November 2007: 101 miners killed after a methane explosion at Zasyadko Mine, Donetsk 11 March 2000: 80 killed after a methane explosion at Barakova Mine, Luhansk region 4 March 2015: 33 feared dead after suspected methane gas blast at Zasyadko Confusion surrounded the death toll in the hours after the blast, which occurred more than 1,000m (3,200ft) underground at 05:20 local time (03:20 GMT). In the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, speaker Volodymyr Hroisman announced that 32 people had been killed and called for a minute's silence. However, he later retracted the figure, saying instead that one person was dead and the fate of about 30 others was unknown. The rebels said 23 miners were confirmed dead. But the Ukraine-controlled Donetsk regional administration said later on Wednesday that 33 people died, and nine bodies had already been recovered. It is known that, at the time of the blast, 230 people were in the shaft. About 200 have now been accounted for. The sister of one miner who was in the pit at the time of the explosion, Alexei Novoselsky, stood at the entrance to the mine, in tears, Reuters reports. "Tell me, are there survivors?" she asked a passing rescue worker. "Why are you concealing the truth?" A welder at the mine, who gave his name as Oleg, said: "I've been down the pit for 23 years, and this is the fourth explosion that I can recall. "If they didn't get them out straight away, then later they will only retrieve bodies. An explosion is a terrible thing." The mine is one of Ukraine's biggest coal producers. At the end of last year, the mine was reportedly still supplying coal to coke and chemical works owned by Ukraine's wealthiest businessman, Rinat Akhmetov, in Donetsk region. In the old coal-mining area of Donbas, the Zasyadko mine is one of the newest. It started operations in 1958 and is now said to be part-owned by Yukhym Zvyahilsky, a local leader with money and influence who was once an acting prime minister of Ukraine and is now an MP. The mine is also one of the most dangerous. It is deep and it has particularly hazardous levels of methane. The year

Summary: A suspected methane gas blast at a mine in a rebel-held area of east Ukraine is believed to have killed at least 30 people, the rebels told the BBC.


18 March 2017 Last updated at 13:49 GMT All sorts of wonderful kite designs have been on show including among others wolves, wheels and butterflies. The kite which drew the most attention was a huge "Chinese dragon" shaped one. It was 48 meters long and took the owner around three months to make. Have a look at this.

Summary: The Seventh International Kite Festival has taken place in Chengdu, a city in the southwest of China.


In addition to the pylons, eight miles (nearly 13km) of cables would be buried underground in the Meifod valley. National Grid has also identified a preferred "secluded" site for a substation, on the Tir Gwynt wind farm. Montgomeryshire's Conservative MP Glyn Davies said the scale of the entire project was "completely outrageous". The wind farm plans have sparked opposition from campaign groups, while a public inquiry is already under way. National Grid owns and manages the networks that connect people to their energy. It says a new "T-pylon" - which is about 15m (nearly 50ft) shorter than conventional pylons - could be used along the power cable route, which will be 33 miles (53km) long. It says it has developed a draft route to keep away from villages and will use "hills and trees as a natural backdrop to help keep any visual impact to a minimum". About a quarter of the route would be underground. Jeremy Lee, National Grid's Mid Wales Connection project manager, said: "We recognise the rich cultural significance of the Meifod Valley, which includes Mathrafal and Glyndwr's Way, and understand the potential impact a 400 kV steel lattice overhead line could have on the valley - something people told us was very important to them. "We think putting this section of the connection underground is the best way to manage these effects and means this area can be largely kept to how it looks today." Mr Lee said the preferred Cefn Coch substation site was within land that formed the Tir Gwynt wind farm. "We looked at several sites for the substation and we have selected one which we think best balances all of the factors we must consider," he added. "We think it offers strong opportunities to reduce visual impact and puts the substation away from villages and caravan parks in the area." National Grid says it will continue to assess the potential impact of its plans, and wants to hear the views of local people. It plans to hold events as part of a consultation and says more information is available on its website. For the past two years, Montgomeryshire Against Pylons has campaigned against expanding the energy infrastructure in mid Wales, as well as possibly hundreds of new wind turbines. A public inquiry is under way to determine whether those planned wind farms should be allowed. Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said: "The scale of the mid Wales connection is just completely outrageous as far as the impact on mid Wales is concerned. "The whole line is making its way through very beautiful countryside and I think they (National Grid) really have to underground the whole line," he told BBC Radio Wales. The plans in Powys are being revealed two days after people at a public meeting in Carmarthenshire voted against using pylons to connect wind farms to the National Grid. The county council and others want the lines from existing and planned turbines in Brechfa to be buried. Western Power Distribution (WPD) said wood pole overhead lines were preferred for its connection plans but it

Summary: National Grid has revealed plans to use 25 miles (40km) of pylons to connect to controversial planned wind farms in Powys.


The Edinburgh stands with Orlando event follows the death of 49 people at the gay club pulse. A total of about 300 people were in the Florida nightclub when the attack started. A further 50 of them were injured It was the worst mass shooting in US history. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale were among those in attending. Ms Sturgeon said: " "I can't tell you how important it is to me to be with you here this evening. The last few days have been horrific and heartbreaking beyond words but it has also been inspiring. "All across the world we have seen people come together in solidarity and that is the comfort I hope all of you and members of the LGBTI community across the world take from such expressions. "We stand here in defiance of hate with a very clear message - love is love." Ms Davidson said: ""As a woman who moved to Edinburgh to be herself, I know how important LGBTI venues are for people who want to be themselves. "We stand in Edinburgh in a place where we feel safe and stand in solidarity with people around the world. "We will become stronger because we have stood here tonight, because we have shown those people that would conduct hate upon our community thay they will not win because love wins, love always win."

Summary: Hundreds of people have gathered in Edinburgh's St Andrew Square to pay their respects to the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 23-year-old Yorkshireman, who won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, lost every round on all the judges' cards in a below-par performance. Reigning Asian Games champion Butdee, 31, floored Ashfaq with a jolting left hand midway through the second round. "I know I am well capable of beating guys like that," said Ashfaq. "But I'm a strong believer that what is meant to be will be and it wasn't my night. "I just wasn't myself. But on the night I was beaten by the better kid. "I'm in the best shape of my life. I guess he's a lot older than me, he's been to three Olympics and that maybe helped him." Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Bantamweight Qais Ashfaq became the fifth British boxer to exit the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after being beaten by Thailand's Chatchai Butdee.


There have now been a total of 102 arrests since the match between Hibernian and Rangers at Hampden Park. Fans spilled onto the pitch after the final, which Hibernian won 3-2. The latest men arrested are aged 17, 18, 22, 32 and two men aged 23. Police Scotland confirmed a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal. A dedicated email address has been set up for anyone with information. They can also contact Greater Glasgow CID on 0141 532 5457 or provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers.

Summary: A further six men have been arrested in connection with violence and disorder at the Scottish Cup Final in May.


Unite said 1,000 of its members would walk out from 02:00 BST next Tuesday. The union accused First of taking an "extremely aggressive" stance by sacking a branch secretary and two other workers for "legitimate trade union activity". First Leeds said the "unjustified action" would affect tens of thousands of people across the city. Drivers have already held two 24-hour strikes, with Unite claiming they earn Â£2 less an hour than other First drivers in the region. The firm dismissed this as "nonsense" and said the union had failed to back up "this ridiculous suggestion". First Leeds also disputed the "aggressive" stance alleged by Unite and said it was investigating some very serious allegations. No members of staff have been disciplined for taking part in industrial action or for any legitimate trade union activity, it said. First Leeds offered a 38p per hour rise frozen until May 2018, which Unite described as "insulting". Unite regional officer Phil Bown said: "The management needs to stop ducking and diving and commit to holding genuine and meaningful talks, otherwise this strike could go on for some time with an adverse impact for bus users in Leeds - something we have desperately sought to avoid." Paul Matthews, managing director of First Leeds, said: "I'm very disappointed and deeply frustrated that Unite plan to cause such huge disruption for our customers in Leeds. "This is not a last resort as Unite claim - not only do we have a planned meeting before Tuesday to try and resolve the dispute, but Unite have repeatedly refused to let all staff vote on our above inflation offers." The bus provider plans to provide a reduced service in Leeds, with buses in Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax all unaffected.

Summary: Bus drivers and other workers for First Leeds are to stage an indefinite strike in a worsening row over pay.


They made the 30-minute journey from Victoria in a Twin Otter aircraft and were greeted by thousands of people gathered on Vancouver's waterfront. The duke and duchess later met refugees at an immigration centre and went to the Kitsilano coastguard station. It is first time the Cambridges have toured as a family of four, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The royal couple were greeted on the harbourside by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, before meeting well-wishers on a walkabout. He later paid tribute to the royal couple, saying they are "strong advocates" for young people, "whether it's speaking out about cyber bullying, creating more opportunities for young people to lead in their community through sport coaching, or helping children and young people affected by addiction in their families". He added that they "understand the need to support and encourage the world's youth". Leaving Victoria for Coal Harbour, in Vancouver, the duke and duchess were given earplugs for the flight because, although it is the easiest way to travel from Victoria to Vancouver, it is also the noisiest. A royal aide said: "It was very smooth flying. The duke was very interested in the landing and the different conditions they work in. They spent a lot of time looking at the incredible views from both sides of the plane." Later, the couple met a family who had fled the civil war in Syria, during a visit with Canada's prime minister and his wife to the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISS). Canada has resettled 25,000 Syrian refugees between November 2015 and February this year. They met Alaa Al Mahameed, 36, and wife Yosra, 35, who came to Canada with their daughters, Reemas, three, Reetaj, two, in August. The duchess crouched to speak to the two young children and then asked their mother for their ages through a translator. She asked: "Has it been difficult with young children?" Yosra told her: "We feel safe here. Much more safe." Prince William spoke to Alaa about the conflict in Syria, asking: "Was there a lot of devastation in your town? How bad was the situation?" Alaa said he was relieved the children were born outside of Syria, in Jordan, but admitted: "It's been difficult. "We hope that things would get better and we could return to Syria but unfortunately things have not improved." The day ended with the duke being hailed "one of the guys" as he met the emergency services with his wife and the Trudeaus. The duke - a former RAF search and rescue pilot and current air ambulance pilot - shared his experiences with fellow first responders. Raising questions about "macho culture", he and the duchess went on to inspect the latest technology available to Canadian fire, police and coastguard services. 24 Sept Victoria, British Columbia: The duke and duchess, accompanied by their children, arrived in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. 25 Sept Vancouver, British Columbia: The duke and duchess visited Sheway, the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia - for an event to celebrate young leaders in Canadian arts,

Summary: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have flown by seaplane to Vancouver on the latest leg of an eight-day Canada tour.