The Denmark international, 29, played in all 38 of the Foxes' league fixtures last season, keeping 15 clean sheets. He has made more than 200 appearances for Leicester since arriving from Leeds United in 2011, having started his career at Manchester City. "We've taken some massive steps and ever since I arrived it's been fantastic," Schmeichel told LCFC TV. "It was a case of coming back after winning the Premier League and making sure that the hunger was the same within myself and the squad. I've come back absolutely convinced that this is the place for me to be." Boss Claudio Ranieri has said the club will not sell anymore of their best players after N'Golo Kante joined Chelsea last month. England forward Jamie Vardy also signed a new deal with the champions in June, ending speculation that the 29-year-old would join Arsenal. The Foxes begin their season with the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, when they face FA Cup winners Manchester United. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has signed a new five-year deal with Premier League champions Leicester City.


A member of the public found the two bodies as the tide receded at about 20:00 BST on Wednesday, the RNLI said. A search is under way for a third person missing at the East Sussex beach. Lifeboats and a helicopter are combing the water off the coast. Seven other people have died around the British coastline since Friday. Richard Tollett, lifeboat operations manager at Rye Harbour, told the Press Association the RNLI received a request to launch at around 20:30. He said: "As the tide has receded it has left a couple more bodies on the beach in the sand. "A member of the public found them and that person reported another one in the water so we have got two lifeboats and a helicopter searching the area trying to find the other one." The first alert came just after 14:10 when coastguard helicopters, a lifeboat, rescue teams and an air ambulance were sent to the scene after reports three men were in need of urgent medical assistance. The beach was cleared and the public were asked to stay away while the emergency services dealt with the incident. Suggestions that their deaths may be linked to jellyfish have been ruled out. Sussex Police stated there was nothing to suggest the men were migrants. Ch Supt Di Roskilly said: "This has been an incredibly tragic situation. At this stage we are doing all we can to establish who the men are and to identify next of kin." Eyewitness Natalja Taylor, 30, said she saw three people being pulled out of the water, apparently by "regular people, not emergency personnel". "There were so many people there. They were still on the beach when we left," she said. She said police drove on to the beach with a loudspeaker telling people not to go into the water until further notice, and also taped off "a huge chunk of the beach so no-one could get near it". She said: "It's pretty scary. I'm not sure how it happened. We decided not to go into the sea after seeing warning signs about some kind of fish. "It wasn't particularly windy down there, it was just a hot, sunny beach day." Charlotte Frederick, from London, who saw the rescue operation take place, said: "One was taken away on a rescue truck and the other two were left behind." She said she realised later that the other two men had also died. "We saw them take up a blanket and then after that we saw them taken in a body bag. It was really distressing," she said. The incident happened on the hottest day of the year when the beach was packed with people. Ch Supt Roskilly said: "This has been an incredibly tragic situation and very traumatic for those who were there on the beach at the time." Last month, 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea there. He was one of three men who got into trouble in the water. Camber Sands is a popular destination for

Summary: Two more bodies have been found on the beach at Camber Sands, hours after three men were pulled from the water on the hottest day of the year.


The Â£42m MV Loch Seaforth has been doing berthing trials at pier number three ahead of its introduction to the route. The boat has already carried out trials at Ullpool. Last month, Transport Minister Derek Mackay said he was confident the ferry will be operating by the end of May.

Summary: A new ferry built to serve on the Ullapool to Stornoway route has berthed for the first time at Stornoway harbour.


The 21-year-old woman, who police said was a sex worker, was found early on Wednesday in Springwell Road, off Water Lane, in Holbeck. She was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment, but died a short time later. A 38-year-old man was later arrested and questioned by officers investigating the death. West Yorkshire Police said the woman's identity was known, but her family had not yet been informed. Det Supt Simon Atkinson said they wanted to hear from anyone who was in the Springwell Road area between 20:00 GMT on Tuesday and 01:30 on Wednesday. He added: "We can confirm that the victim was a sex worker and the incident has taken place in the managed area where sex workers operate within a defined area during set hours. "We are therefore appealing to anyone involved in any aspect of sex work in the managed area in Holbeck to let us know anything they have seen or heard that could assist the investigation."

Summary: A murder inquiry has begun after the death of a woman found seriously injured in Leeds.


The pensioner was crossing Argyle Street at its junction with Jamaica Street when he was struck by a bus at about 19:10 on Saturday. He was taken by ambulance to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he is being treated for a head injury. Police appealed for witnesses to the crash to come forward.

Summary: An 80-year-old man who was hit by a bus in the centre of Glasgow is in a critical condition in hospital, police have said.


Seamer Porter dismissed Richard Levi in the third over of the final morning. Ryan ten Doeschate (4-31) then took 3-17 from nine overs as Adam Rossington and Azharullah fell lbw and David Murphy was caught at mid-on. Essex wrapped up victory after lunch as Graham Napier bowled Ben Sanderson as the visitors were all out for 230. Rory Kleinveldt finished unbeaten on 35, having hit five boundaries, and Richard Gleeson made a career-best 13 but Northants folded against the hosts' pace bowlers. Porter, who has now claimed 22 wickets at 17.18 from his first three Championship matches of 2016, also picked up a career best of 5-46 in the first innings to help Essex maintain their unbeaten start to the season. BBC Radio Northampton's Alex Winter: "A pretty poor all-round performance from Northamptonshire here. They bowled waywardly on the first day and have been chasing the game since. "The batting was marginally better in the second innings but nowhere near good enough to get back in the game. "Essex have put in an efficient display for a huge win and their second victory of the season. Promotion challenge on?"

Summary: Jamie Porter's career-best first-class match figures of 8-91 helped Essex ease to an innings and 92-run victory over Northamptonshire at Chelmsford.


However, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Greenock Morton were knocked out despite winning and finishing second in their groups. Inverness beat Forfar 2-1 and Morton were 5-0 winners over Edinburgh City. Elsewhere, St Mirren beat Airdrieonians 5-0, Falkirk defeated Brechin City 3-0, Motherwell edged Berwick Rangers 1-0 and Raith Rovers beat Cowdenbeath 2-0. Falkirk, Motherwell and Thistle's group rivals Livingston had already secured second-round places as group winners while St Mirren, Airdrie, Brechin, Berwick, Raith and Cowden were unable to go through before playing their final group games. In Group H, Premiership Partick Thistle were kept out by League One Stranraer until the 87th minute when Elliott struck from inside the box. Thistle had beaten St Mirren 5-0 last Saturday and the Buddies recovered from that loss by putting five goals past Airdrieonians in Paisley. Former Aberdeen striker Cammy Smith and ex-Hearts forward Gavin Reilly each scored twice for Jack Ross' side and Lewis Morgan got their fifth. In Group A, top side Falkirk went ahead through Lee Miller's strike with Joe McKee and Alex Harris also on target against Brechin City. Inverness CT went behind against Forfar Athletic when Marc Scott shot home but strikes in quick succession by George Oakley and John Baird turned the match in the Highlanders' favour. In Group F, Motherwell had to wait until the 82nd minute to get in front of visitors Berwick Rangers, Elliott Frear netting after goalkeeper Robby McCrorie palmed out Chris Cadden's cross. And at Cappielow, Bob McHugh and Robert Thomson got two each and Jai Quitongo also netted for Greenock Morton against Edinburgh City. In Group C, Raith Rovers scored twice in the first half against Cowdenbeath, Lewis Vaughan and Liam Buchanan on target.

Summary: Partick Thistle beat Stranraer to progress in the League Cup as one of the best first-round group runners-up.


"A Little Chaos" follows Kate Winslet's character Sabine, who is chosen to build one of the main gardens at King Louis XIV's new palace at Versailles. Rickman plays King Louis in the film, which is his second outing as director. The 11th Glasgow Film Festival will consist of 174 events, including 11 world premieres, and is set to run from 18 February to 1 March. It will kick off with US writer and director Noah Baumbach's latest film, "While We're Young", starring Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts. Force Majeure, which won the jury prize at Cannes, will be the closing gala.

Summary: Acting heavyweight Alan Rickman is to attend the Glasgow Film Festival in support of his latest work.


It will allow the government to borrow additional money by selling bonds to pay for a large chunk of its expenses. The approval comes amid fears that Japan's economy may be heading towards a recession. The opposition had previously delayed the bill, demanding that the government call for elections first. On Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda dissolved the parliament, paving the way for snap elections to be held next month. In a separate move, Japan's government warned that the economy is showing "signs of weakness", adding to concerns about the health of the world's third-largest economy. It said that industrial production is falling and exports continue to remain weak due to slowing global demand. It added that private consumption and business investment also remain subdued. Japan's economy shrunk 0.9% in the July to September quarter, from the previous three months, and there are fears it may contract further in the current quarter. "Concerning short-term prospects, weak movements would remain for the time being," the Cabinet Office said in its monthly report. This is the fourth successive month that Japan has lowered its assessment of the economy, the longest such streak since the 2008 - 2009 global financial crisis. One of the big concerns among policymakers in Japan has been continued deflation, or falling consumer prices, in the country. That has hampered their efforts to boost domestic consumption as consumers tend to put off purchases in hopes of getting a better deal later on. Consumer prices in Japan fell 0.1% in September, from a year earlier, the fifth straight month of decline. The government said that it "strongly expects the Bank of Japan to continue powerful monetary easing" to help fight deflation. Meanwhile, Shinzo Abe, the leader of the main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party, has said the central bank needed to set an inflation target of 3% instead of its current 1% goal to help revive growth in the economy. Mr Abe, who's party is widely expected to win a snap election, has said that if elected, he will put pressure on the bank to ease its policies further and has called for it to print "unlimited yen" to help fight deflation. His comments have had an impact on the financial markets. The yen has fallen to its lowest level against the US dollar in six-and-half-months. It was trading close to 80.97 yen against the US dollar in Asian trade. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 2.2% to 9,024.16 points.

Summary: Japan's lawmakers have approved a crucial bill that will ensure that the government does not run out of money at the end of this month.


It was found by a submersible vehicle at a depth of around 2.5 miles (4km) off Necker Island. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it was a depth record for an octopod without fins. The creature has already been nicknamed "Casper" after the cartoon ghost. The octopod lacked pigment cells, giving it its light-coloured appearance. "It is almost certainly an undescribed species" Michael Vecchione of the NOAA said, calling it a "remarkable little octopod". Deep-sea octopods fall into two categories - cirrate, or 'Dumbo', octopods with fins, or incirrate octopods, without fins, which look more akin to shallow-water octopus. The sighting of Casper represents the deepest ever observed sighting of an incirrate octopod, Mr Vecchione said.

Summary: Scientists say a translucent, "ghost-like" octopod discovered in ocean depths near Hawaii is "almost certainly" a new species.


Thousands of miners and police clashed at the South Yorkshire coking site. Campaigners met with Home Secretary Amber Rudd to renew calls for a probe into police handling of the event. It comes after an ex-PC told Channel 4 officers were told to write statements for arrests they had not made. He said: "I knew in my own mind that was wrong." A delegation from the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC), which met with the Home Secretary, said they were feeling "positive" after the meeting. The so-called Battle of Orgreave saw miners attempt to stop lorry loads of coke leaving for the steel works, with police holding them back. About 6,000 officers are alleged to have used excessive force to suppress the miners' strike at the plant. What was the 'Battle of Orgreave'? Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, who was also in attendance, said it was an "encouraging meeting" and he hopes a decision will be made to "shine a spotlight on our country's past". Former miner Kevin Horne said: "I think we have reached another milestone. There's still a way to go, but we're getting there." Earlier, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other MPs gathered for a demonstration outside Parliament to lend their support. Veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner, who was at Orgreave, said: "The police at Orgreave were called upon to write the same thing over and over again about every single miner they arrested." A total of 95 miners were charged following the clashes but their trial collapsed.

Summary: Campaigners calling for a public inquiry into the 1984 Battle of Orgreave disorder have been told a decision will be made by the end of October.


Last month Oldham denied reports they were set to offer the 26-year-old a contract, or let him train with them, but it is believed they have now had a change of heart. Striker Evans has been without a club since he left prison in October. The Wales international served half of a five-year term for raping a woman in a hotel in May 2011. An online petition against Oldham signing Evans was set up on Sunday and had been signed by almost 19,000 people by 23:30 GMT. Former Oldham player Rick Holden told BBC Radio 5 live he was "not comfortable at all" with the possibility of Evans joining the Latics. "It's one of those crimes that will never go away," said Holden, who played 189 games for Oldham between 1989 and 1993. "I don't see how the chap can survive given the ferocity of football up and down the land." Holden, who played 189 games for Oldham between 1989 and 1993, said the club were "courting controversy", but added that they had "a history of taking on these difficult challenges". Earlier on Sunday, Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor had revealed that an unnamed club would hold a news conference regarding Evans on Monday, although he added that the player has yet to be signed. "We've had a number of steps forward and a number of steps back. I'm not going to count my chickens," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme. "If a club are looking to sign him they need to be 100% committed." If Oldham were to sign Evans it would not be the first time they have signed a striker who had served a prison sentence. In 2007 they signed Lee Hughes after he had served half of a six-year prison term for causing death by dangerous driving. In November, Oldham chairman Simon Corney told BBC Radio Manchester that he felt people should be given a "second chance". "I believe in the law of the land and my understanding is Ched went away and did his time in prison," he said. "I know this is an argument people don't like but if he was an electrician and came out of jail he is entitled to work again. "But we have the fact he's a role model. It is a dangerous topic to discuss but we do have to make sure we make the right decision." On Evans's release from prison, Sheffield United offered him use of their training facilities. However, the Blades withdrew the offer after a backlash from supporters and club patrons, while more than 160,000 people signed a petition protesting against his return. Hartlepool also ruled out signing Evans after manager Ronnie Moore suggested he was considering a deal for the Welshman. Taylor added: "Evans is a footballer. He wants to return to society as a footballer, so he does need an employer to take him on." Evans maintains his innocence, and an investigation into his conviction by the Criminal Cases Review Commission is under way.

Summary: Convicted rapist Ched Evans has been in talks about signing for League One club Oldham, BBC Sport understands.


The young cranes hatched "in secret" in May - one at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire and two on farmland on the Somerset Levels. Experts said, their existence was kept secret to "protect the families". Conservationists at WWT Slimbridge have been working to re-establish a population in the region for six years. But this year is the first time birds from the project have successfully reared chicks. Damon Bridge, of the Great Crane Project, said: "We're delighted - success has always been about seeing birds raised in the wild take flight. "To have young on the wing in Somerset and at Slimbridge so early on is really fantastic. "The cranes are long-lived birds with many breeding attempts ahead of them and we are well on our way to our target of 20 breeding pairs in the South West by 2025." All three chicks have been named Peter in memory of Peter Newbery a "driving force" behind the project, who died before it finished. Ron and Trish Coombes, who farm on the Somerset Levels, said it had been "very exciting" watching the cranes hatch and rear two of the "three Petes". They said they were aware the birds were favouring one site but were "astonished" when they appeared with two chicks. Cranes were commonplace in parts of the West in the 1600s but became extinct across the UK. A small population has been established in the Norfolk Broads since 1979.

Summary: Three wild cranes - the first to be bred in the West Country for 400 years - have taken flight.


Mackay is expected to be unveiled in the job despite previous allegations that he exchanged racist and sexist text messages. The allegations surfaced after Mackay was sacked by Cardiff City in 2013. Show Racism the Red Card said Mackay had undergone equality and diversity training, and "wished him well". And Lord Ouseley, the founder and chairman of the Kick It Out anti-racism group, said he believed Mackay now had a "better understanding" of diversity issues and deserved a second chance. He also said Mackay's new role would give him an opportunity to "put himself back in a state where he can prove that he is a good person, and a person capable of performing both in football terms, and how he treats people". But SNP MSP Clare Haughey called on the SFA to "see sense" and rule out Mackay as a candidate, arguing that his appointment would send out the wrong signals. Mackay, a former Scotland and Celtic player, was the subject of an English FA investigation in 2014 concerning text messages he had sent containing discriminatory language. He apologised for his actions and stated a desire to return to football. The SFA is expected to unveil Mackay in the role of performance director on Thursday. The post became vacant when former Manchester United striker Brian McClair quit in July. In a statement issued to BBC Scotland, Show Racism the Red Card said: "After admitting to sending text messages that were very regrettable and disrespectful to other cultures, Malky Mackay underwent equality and diversity training through an education programme with the FA and we wish him well in his new role at the SFA." After a lengthy investigation, the Football Association said last year that Mackay would face no action over the text messages, which it said had been sent with a "legitimate expectation of privacy". But it said Mackay had been spoken to "about the inappropriateness of terms used in the messages" Mr Mackay's agent, Raymond Sparkes, told BBC Scotland that the FA's investigative committee had examined 9,000 texts exchanged between Mackay and Cardiff City's former head of player recruitment Iain Moody. Of these, three sent by Mackay were found to have been unacceptable - with Mackay immediately apologising. Mr Sparkes added: "If you were to know Malky Mackay, you would know him as a good man, from a good family, with good values. "He is a talented individual, he has had three years of not being able to take his place back in a place of employment on the back of three text messages. "We know why that penalty has been placed upon us, we have dealt with it, we want to get back to work and we didn't just apologise now - we apologised then." Ms Haughey, the SNP MSP for Rutherglen, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that Scottish football had made "huge efforts" to tackle racism and homophobia and to promote women's football. And she said appointing Mackay would risk sending a message that inappropriate behaviour was "no barrier to a top job in Scottish football".

Summary: Anti-racism campaigners have backed the appointment of Malky Mackay as the Scottish Football Association's new performance director.


The number of Welsh MPs will fall from 40 to 29 at the next general election as part of a move to reduce the number of MPs across the UK from 650 to 600. The changes are being made as a result of rules that require broadly equal numbers of voters in each constituency. Welsh constituencies currently have, on average, fewer voters than English ones. Changes that would have cut the number of Welsh MPs from 40 to 30 were blocked by the Liberal Democrats during the coalition government after an outcry from Labour MPs. Stand by for a repeat of that row. Today's revised proposals are based on new figures on the electoral register. The average number of voters in each constituency, according to the Office for National Statistics, is 54,300 in Wales, 66,700 in Scotland, 68,200 in Northern Ireland and 70,100 in England. The Boundary Commission for Wales said it would publish "initial proposals" for Welsh constituencies later this year, to be followed by a period of consultation. The new map will be drawn with the goal of ensuring each seat has between 71,031 and 78,507 electors. The average size of the electorate per constituency across the UK is 74,769, with the electorate of each constituency having to be within 5% of that - meaning each must have between 71,031 and 78,507 voters. Under the proposals, England will lose 32 MPs, Northern Ireland one and Scotland six to create a smaller House of Commons.

Summary: Wales will lose more than a quarter of its MPs under a review of parliamentary constituencies.


Sarah Champion faced a backlash after writing in the Sun that "Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls". The Rotherham MP quit as shadow equalities minister and apologised for her "extremely poor choice of words". The Labour leader denied claims he had sacked Ms Champion for speaking out. He told BBC Manchester: "Child exploitation is wrong. Child abuse is wrong. It is a crime, and it has to be dealt with. "But you cannot blame an entire community, an entire nation or an entire ethnic community. You have to deal with it for the crime of what it is." Asked if he had sacked Ms Champion over her comments, he said: "Look, she resigned and I accepted the resignation, so, clearly, I think it's right thing to do and I thank her for her work." Communities Secretary Sajid Javid accused Mr Corbyn of stifling debate. The Conservative minister said in a tweet: "Corbyn wrong to sack Sarah Champion. We need an honest open debate on child sexual exploitation, including racial motivation." Business Minister Margot James said she was "enraged" by the Labour leader's "treatment of Sarah Champion". She wrote on her Facebook page that the Rotherham MP's comments "might have been hard hitting, but that doesn't make them any less true". The Conservative MP for Stourbridge added: "There needs to be a discussion about how we overcome the cultural attitudes towards women that have contributed to these crimes; and to the ways in which they were covered up for so long. "There has been a disgraceful history of shouting down brave Labour women MPs who have stood up to community pressures in Northern cities like Keighley (just google former MP Ann Cryer) and Rotherham in exposing these crimes, of which the appalling treatment of Sarah Champion is yet another chapter." Conservative former Children's Minister Tim Loughton said he did not know if Ms Champion had been sacked or not - but he accused Mr Corbyn of being "deaf to a problem that is happening in our country". The Equality and Human Rights Commission said it was a "real shame" that Ms Champion had resigned because of "over-sensitivity about language". Labour's shadow justice minister, Yasmin Qureshi, refused to be drawn on whether it was right that Ms Champion had stepped down. "I think you need to ask Sarah that question," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "Of course we should deal with abuse wherever it occurs and we should ask ourselves as to what we can do to ensure these things don't happen." Ms Champion's article was written after 17 men were convicted of forcing girls in Newcastle to have sex. The men, who were mostly British-born, were of Iraqi, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian and Turkish heritage. In interviews following the convictions, the Labour MP said such crimes involved "predominately Pakistani men" and a fear of being called racist was hampering the authorities' investigations. She then wrote the Sun article, which also included the line: "These people are predators, and the common denominator is their ethnic

Summary: Jeremy Corbyn has said it is wrong to blame "an entire ethnic community" for child abuse after one of his frontbench team quit over a press article.


A total of 58% (1.8m) give Christianity as their belief, a 14% drop since 2001, a larger fall than any English region. But a total of 32% in Wales said they had no religion, the highest total was in Blaenau Gwent with 41.1%; the lowest in Flintshire with 25.4%. The Church in Wales said Christianity is "no longer the default setting" for many people but the picture is complex. A quarter of the population in Wales and England as a whole said they have no religion. This was a rise of 10% from 15% (7.7 million) in 2001 to 14.1 million in 2011. Census: Key Welsh data on religion But the proportion in Wales with no religion was higher than across Wales and England as a whole. Those stating that they were Muslim in Wales is 1.5% - up from 0.7% - with the highest proportion in Cardiff (6.8%) and Newport (4.7%). There were also slight increases in the percentage of people who said they were Hindu or Buddhist - both up from 0.2% to 0.3%. There was also a rise in people saying they had other faiths - from 0.2% to 0.4% The percentage who said they were Sikh or Jewish remained unchanged between 2001 and 2011 at 0.1%. The Church in Wales said the figures show that Christianity "is no longer the default setting it once was for many people in Wales". But a spokeswoman added that the reasons were complex. "Today we find people go to church because they want to, not because they feel they have to or because it's the place to see and be seen," she said. "It should also be borne in mind that statistics can't show the whole picture in matters of faith. "The past few months, for example, have seen people in different parts of Wales turn to churches in their thousands following various tragic events: in Machynlleth, in Ely, in St Asaph. "People find God when life gets tough and it is the Church's privilege to be there for them whenever and wherever we may be needed." Canon Bob Reardon, communications officer for the Catholic diocese in Cardiff, said the faith communities were already aware of the challenges shown up by the figures. "It's apparent in organised religion there has been a decline but that's not to say there is not a spiritual side to people," he said. "There is still a spiritual dimension to how people live their lives, that is something we all share." Meirion Morris, general secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, said that despite "rumours to the contrary", the census showed that almost 60% of the population of Wales still considered themselves to be Christian. "As a bilingual denomination that serves communities across Wales we are aware of this underlying sense of belonging to the Christian tradition," he said. "However, we are also realistic and know that the level of this commitment varies enormously, and that during the last century the life of the church has become increasingly marginalised." He said churches were seeking to find "relevant

Summary: Nearly one third of people in Wales have no religion, according to census data.


Det Con Chris Maitland, 40, faces 14 charges, including sexual touching of a girl aged under 13 and making indecent images of a child. The officer appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier and was remanded in custody. He is next due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 15 April. Det Con Maitland, who works in the force's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, was originally arrested in November on suspicion of possession and distribution of indecent images of children. He was arrested again on Tuesday on suspicion of sexual touching of a young girl in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, in October 2005. It is alleged the officer, of no fixed address, possessed 818 images and videos, ranging from the most serious category A to the lowest category C. He also faces five counts of taking an indecent image of a child and seven of making an indecent image of a child. Mr Maitland is currently suspended from duty.

Summary: A Met Police detective working in a child abuse investigation unit has appeared in court accused of a string of child sex offences.


Mr Macintosh and party deputy leader Kezia Dugdale have confirmed that they are standing for leadership of the party when Jim Murphy quits next month. The Eastwood MSP said his supporters were being "bullied and intimidated" into withdrawing their backing. Scottish Labour said the leadership contest would be conducted "fairly". A spokesman said Mr Macintosh had since withdrawn his allegations about the party. However, Mr Macintosh insisted his comments still stood but had not been aimed at party staff. He has not named those he thinks are responsible. Scottish Labour general secretary Brian Roy said: "I have spoken to Ken Macintosh and he has withdrawn his allegations about the party. The leadership contest in Scotland will be conducted fairly and openly." In response, Mr Macintosh said: "I am not withdrawing anything. I clarified with Brian [Roy] that the allegations are not against party staff, but against the machine politics which have too much influence in the Labour Party." Mr Macintosh, the party's social justice spokesman, ran for party leadership against Johann Lamont almost four years ago and is likely to need nominations from six or seven MSPs to be a candidate in this leadership contest. Ms Dugdale, who is widely regarded as the "obvious person" to take on the job, confirmed her leadership bid on Friday. But he claims his backers are coming under "incredible pressure to withdraw their support". "I want to have a contest but I've found the whole weight of the party machine yet again turning against me trying to close down a contest," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme. "All the people that have been trying to support me, the party machine has turned on them, and they are being put under incredible pressure to withdraw their support. They are being bullied and being intimidated and pressurised not to support me so we don't have a contest. "I wouldn't even have put my head above the parapet if I didn't know I had that support." Mr Macintosh, who won a majority of member votes in the last leadership contest, said the three-college system used by the Labour Party to elect leaders was "ridiculous". "I want the members to take control of the party," he said. "We need to move to one member, one vote." He called for a quick contest, before the summer if possible, that is "fair and democratic". By BBC Scotland political correspondent Glenn Campbell Kezia Dugdale already has the backing of twenty Labour MSPs for her bid to become Scottish party leader. That's more than half the Labour team at Holyrood. Many of them would like her elected unopposed. Yet when she announced her intention to stand, Ms Dugdale said she would "absolutely" welcome a contest. Ken MacIntosh is offering that challenge. He is likely to require the support of six or seven MSPs to become a candidate. But he claims his supporters are being "bullied and intimidated" by what he calls the "party machine" in an attempt to avoid a contest. He has not been more specific. There are certainly those who

Summary: Scottish Labour MSP Ken Macintosh has told BBC Scotland the "party machine" is bullying his supporters in an attempt to avoid a leadership contest.


The brawl on Saturday began after the families objected to photos being taken, witnesses say. Stones and bottles were thrown. Reports say some of the brawlers were armed with hatchets and harpoons. Unrest continued on Sunday at a protest in the regional capital. The head of the regional executive, Gilles Simeoni, has appealed for calm. The incident took place on a creek near the village of Sisco, Upper Corsica. Tension has grown this summer between local communities and Muslims of North African origin in the south of France, especially following the massacre of 85 people by a lorry driver in the city of Nice on 14 July. At the end of last month, an outlawed Corsican paramilitary group warned Islamist militants against targeting their island. Earlier this week, the resort town of Cannes controversially banned the wearing of the Islamic bathing costume for women, the burkini. Three of the injured have been released from hospital in Bastia and the other two were due to be sent home shortly, prosecutors said in a statement (in French). They described the brawl as being of "great violence". French media report that the trouble began around 18:15 (16:15 GMT) when tourists took photos of women bathing. Reports say the women were wearing burkinis. Ange Vivoni, mayor of Sisco, told reporters that when a local teenager was stabbed, the victim's "family and all the people of Sisco got together". According to the newspaper Le Figaro (in French), some of the older men in the bathing party had attacked a group of local teenagers on the beach with hatchets. When the teenagers' parents arrived from the village, two of them were reportedly injured with harpoons. Villagers allegedly then set alight cars belonging to the bathers. Another French daily, Le Monde, reports (in French) that one man was injured twice by a harpoon after his son was beaten up. Stones and bottles were also thrown. Two fathers from among the bathing party were also injured during the brawl, the paper adds. According to Le Monde newspaper, the three involved in the brawl are all Muslims. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve condemned the violence and also appealed for calm. Hundreds of people held a protest in Bastia, heading for a housing estate, where some of those involved in Saturday's brawl are said to live. Riot police could be seen pushing them back and tear gas was reportedly fired when stones were thrown.

Summary: A beach brawl on the French island of Corsica between three families of North African descent and local youths has left five people injured and three cars burnt out, regional prosecutors say.


SABC says the move, which has been hailed by local musicians after years of campaigning, will promote South African culture and heritage. There will be a special focus on jazz, kwaito (local house-style dance music), and gospel music, SABC says. There is no limit to the amount of foreign music commercial stations play. "We believe that is important for the people of South Africa to listen to the music that is produced for them by the musicians in South Africa," SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago told the BBC, explaining the decision. Jazz musician Don Laka, one of the leaders of the quota campaign, celebrated on his Facebook page, thanking SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng. "Today I am proud to be South African. This man Hlaudi made me share a tear for the first time in many years... Freedom at last!" Local hip-hop star Slikour described it as the music industry's version of "Nelson Mandela coming out of jail". The governing African National Congress also welcomed the decision, saying it will empower local artists and help spread African culture at home and throughout the world. Many South Africans have taken to social media to celebrate the announcement, saying it will help to showcase the country's musical diversity. SABC, which has about 30 million listeners a week to its radio stations, says the decision comes after extensive consultations with those involved in the country's music industry. Stations here have been criticised in the past for playing mostly Western music and not supporting local artists. Although this is just for the next three months - subject to whether the listeners want it to be a permanent move, industry insiders are hoping that it will help boost the profiles of local artists. South African musicians often perform with musicians from other parts of the continent, so this will be a chance for those collaborations to be heard at home. The new playlists will include music in a number of the country's 11 languages and various genres. It's great news for local artists, who stand to profit from a boost in sales of their music. And for many listeners too, the decision seems to have struck the right note.

Summary: South Africa's national broadcaster SABC has brought in a new quota system, requiring 90% of the music played on its 18 radio stations to be homegrown.


The Briton, 31, who begins his title defence at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, posted videos on Snapchat of him travelling on a motorway. It is illegal to use phones whilst driving in New Zealand. Police reviewed the incident but will not be taking further action after citing a lack of "sufficient evidence". "Auckland City Police will be taking no further action in relation to recent media publicity about Lewis Hamilton and his motorcycle journey in Auckland," a police spokesperson said. "The video footage available does not provide us with sufficient enough evidence that an offence has occurred." It is not the first time three-time world champion Hamilton has been involved in driving incidents. The Briton was fined around £300 after performing car stunts for fans outside Melbourne's motor racing circuit, before the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. He also had his driving licence suspended for a month in France in 2007 for speeding on a motorway. And in November, Hamilton crashed his £1.6m super car in Monaco because "heavy partying" had left him tired.

Summary: Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been investigated by police after appearing to take a selfie while riding a motorbike in New Zealand.


But his leadership of Cuba divided opinion, and leaders across the world have had to decide whether or not to attend the revolutionary's funeral. In the end, the list of those wanting to pay respect Castro in person appears to be very short, with some notable allies choosing to send representatives instead. So who is making the trip to Havana? Perhaps most surprisingly, considering the two countries' long friendship, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will not be attending. His spokesman said he was too busy to travel to Cuba but that Russia would be sending a representative. Less surprising is US President Barack Obama's decision to stay away. Despite the steps Mr Obama made towards fixing US-Cuban relations, Castro remains a divisive figure - not least for Cuban-Americans who fled his rule. The White House will not send an official delegation, but Mr Obama's pick for ambassador to Cuba, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, and deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, will attend the commemorative event. UK Prime Minister Theresa May, France's President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are all staying away. However, they will be sending government representatives. Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry will attend to represent the UK's Labour Party. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - whose late father Pierre was friends with Mr Castro - was one of the few Western leaders to release a message of condolences following the leader's death, but will not be attending. Governor-General David Johnston was attending Tuesday's commemoration. China's President Xi Jinping paid his respects at the Cuban embassy in Beijing, saying the country had lost a "close comrade and real friend". Vice President Li Yuanchao is representing China at the commemorations in Cuba. Despite their close friendship, Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang will also not be attending, sending National Assembly chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Nga in his place. The country will be holding a national day of mourning for Castro, however. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who paid tribute to an "iconic" world leader last week - will be sending his home minister but will not be flying to Cuba himself. North Korea's Kim Jung-un will not be travelling to Cuba either, sending a delegation on his behalf. The list of world leaders actually attending is relatively short. A number of South American leaders will be making the trip: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, whose late mentor Hugo Chavez had a special bond with Castro, Ecuador's Rafael Correa, Bolivia's Evo Morales and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega have all indicated they will attend. Also expected are Salvadorean President Salvador Sanchez Ceren and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto. At least two southern African presidents will also fly to Cuba, South Africa's Jacob Zuma, who has just survived a vote of confidence, and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, whose country has just brought in a new currency. And it seems the European Union may be represented by just one leader, in the form of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Other notable Europeans attending include Ireland's Gerry Adams and Spain's ex-King Juan Carlos.

Summary: Fidel Castro was a fixture of international politics for more than 50 years.


Page, 20, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract at The Valley. He made three first-team appearances for West Ham, all in the Europa League, and has previously been on loan at Coventry City and Cambridge United. "He's quick, likes to get forward and is a good crosser. I really like that in a full-back," Charlton manager Karl Robinson told the club website. "I got a chance to see him during his loan spell at Coventry and he's a left-back that fits in well with our system. "We're building a squad here to get into that top six and Lewis will be an important part of what we are trying to do." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: League One club Charlton have signed left-back Lewis Page from West Ham for an undisclosed fee.


A charity wants older people to help care for pet chickens in an attempt to tackle loneliness. The idea, by the project Hen Power, has experienced significant success with the scheme in England. What started with a couple of hens in Northumberland has expanded to more than 40 care and residential homes across England and Wales. Similar schemes are also taking place in Canada and Australia. Caring through arts is being backed by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, which is promoting other forms of art among the elderly in care settings including dance, music, creative arts and circus skills. But will bringing chickens into care homes ruffle some feathers? Not according to 80-year-old widow Pat Cain who is originally from Merseyside. She lives alone in sheltered accommodation as part of a wider care home and has been a hen-keeper for four years. "First of all some shook their heads, they didn't care for it at all. But now it's part of our lives, it would be strange if we didn't step out of our bungalows and care for the hens. "It's made everyone around me change their lives." The project recently received £1m of Big Lottery funding and Hen Power says it is hatching a plan for the scheme to be introduced in Northern Ireland soon.

Summary: The number of 'hensioners' in Northern Ireland could soon be on the rise.


Alcohol Concern said many young people recognised more alcohol brands than those of ice cream or cake products. It is calling for new rules on what alcohol adverts can mention and it also wants them banned in film trailers. Advertising body Isba said there was no strong evidence to suggest advertising influenced young people to drink. Alcohol Concern's report was based on research by its Youth Alcohol Advertising Council (YAAC) - a group of young people in England and Wales who review alcohol advertising and issue complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) when they discover content deemed to be irresponsible. Three of their 13 complaints so far have been upheld. In its report, Alcohol Concern said it had found "numerous" examples of inappropriate advertising and high levels of alcohol brand recognition among the young. It called for new rules restricting what adverts could mention about an alcohol product, arguing that only characteristics such as strength, origin, composition and means of production should be described. The charity also demanded a ban on alcohol advertising in the trailers of films shown in cinemas with less than an 18 certificate. It urged the ASA to operate in a "more proactive way", instead of "depending on complaints from the public" before looking into advertising code breaches. The ASA should be able to levy "meaningful" sanctions including fines for serious non-compliance, it added. In a statement, the ASA said it was "not unheard of for an anti-alcohol lobby group to call for further restrictions on advertising". "The ASA will continue to take a proportionate approach, regulating effectively alcohol ads across media, including online, against strict rules that are designed to protect young people," it said. "The Department of Health's own figures show, encouragingly, that fewer young people are drinking." The Alcohol Concern report called for statutory and independent regulation of the alcohol and advertising industries and a review of the way digital and online content is regulated. In May, figures released by the broadcasting regulator Ofcom suggested children saw an average of 3.2 alcohol adverts per week in 2011 - compared with 2.7 in 2007. It called for the UK's advertising regulators to reassess the rules that limit children from being exposed to alcohol advertising on TV. Ian Twinn, from Isba, which represents advertisers, told BBC Radio 5 live there was a lack of well-researched evidence to show that advertising influenced young people to drink alcohol. "What the advertisers are doing is trying to influence adults to drink their brand, not young people," he said. "Underage drinking is declining in this country, where we have alcohol advertising, and in France it is going up, where they've banned it." Without alcohol sponsorship of sport and music, parents and children would find it much more difficult to afford events, he added. Alcohol Concern chief executive Eric Appleby said: "Children and young people are seeing more alcohol advertising than in the past and are better able to recognise alcohol brands than those of cakes or ice cream. "This has to be a wake-up call to the fact that the

Summary: Alcohol advertising should be banned at music and sports events to protect young people from excessive exposure, a charity says.


The 24-year-old, whose current contract ends at the end of 2016, was offered a four-year extension by the Scottish Premiership leaders in January. Forrest came through the youth ranks with the reigning champions, for whom he has made 144 appearances. However, his outings have been restricted by a series of injuries. Forrest, who has 13 Scotland caps, was missing from Celtic's squad for Saturday's 3-0 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Celtic signed Manchester City winger Patrick Roberts on an 18-month loan deal from Manchester City in January and last week secured a summer move for 17-year-old midfielder Kristoffer Ajer from Norwegian club Start. Deila admitted on Saturday that Celtic had too many midfielders on their books and that he would have to slim his squad at the end of this season.

Summary: Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers are among clubs showing an interest in James Forrest after the Scotland winger rejected a new Celtic contract.


But Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington has warned it could be the last played in England for some time. Hetherington said Super League champions Leeds would have been prepared to travel to Australia. He said: "It turned out to be too short a time scale for 2012 but it's very much on the agenda for the future." The game will be played on Friday, 17 February. NRL Grand Final winners Manly had proposed a Middle Eastern venue. Hetherington told a press conference at Headingley: "Whilst there has been talk about [playing outside England] for the last eight or nine years, it's never really got far. The fact we were prepared to play in Australia probably took the Australians by surprise "But just recently there does seem to be an appetite, particularly from the Australian clubs, to start to explore that possibility. "I think the fact that we were prepared to play the game in Australia probably took the Australians by surprise and it made the NRL think seriously about staging it. "A lot of preparatory work could be done. Indeed, if it was to be in Dubai or the Emirates, work could start now for 2013." The Rhinos have managed to secure home advantage after playing their four previous fixtures at Elland Road, home of Leeds United. Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium, which hosted three Challenges featuring Bradford Bulls, was considered because of its undersoil heating but Hetherington is confident Headingley can be protected against frost. "We desperately want to win the game and if our crowd and our home stadium gives us that edge we'll certainly take it," added Hetherington. "Whatever the weather can throw up, we'll make sure the pitch is fit. We now have a lot of technology and we won't have a game here for two weeks prior to that game." With Headingley's capacity currently set at 20,000, the crowd will be well down on the Rhinos' previous Club Challenge matches at Elland Road. Leeds' meeting with Manly in 2009, which the Aussies won 28-20, was watched by 32,569. Last year saw St George Illawarra beat Wigan 21-15 at the DW Stadium.

Summary: The 2012 World Club Challenge between English champions Leeds Rhinos and Australian champions Manly Sea Eagles will be played at Headingley.


The note was sent in 1960 to the family of Stan Laurel's childhood friend Margaret Miller, who went on to marry the star's school friend. The signed and dated letter thanks Mrs Miller for her belated Christmas card calendar and talks about his "many happy memories" of Tynemouth Pavilion. Newcastle auctioneer Anderson and Garland said the item could create a "bit of a frenzy" among bidders. Mrs Miller's daughter, also called Margaret, found the letter in her brother's belongings when she moved house. The 88-year-old from Hexham, said: "My father and Stan Laurel were at school together in Tynemouth in the 1890s. "Stan's family lived in North Shields and my father's family knew them quite well. "My parents were going to the United States on holiday and hoped to meet up with him. "I don't think they did and I imagine that's why my mother sent the calendar to him because he didn't get to see it." Laurel was born in Ulverston and later emigrated to the US where he found fame in Hollywood. Before emigrating, he spent much of his life in the north-east of England, going to school in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and Tynemouth. Anderson and Garland auctioneer Fred Wyrley-Birch said: "There is such a lovely story behind this letter, which is likely to add to the value of the piece when it goes under the hammer. "We expect people interested in Stan Laurel's North East connections, as well as autograph collectors, to be among the bidders. It may well create a bit of a frenzy." It goes to auction on Tuesday and is expected to fetch between Â£300 and Â£500.

Summary: A letter from Cumbrian-born comedian Stan Laurel is to be auctioned.


But no arrests have been made and authorities are seeking who was responsible for the blaze. A massive explosion which caused a tremor as powerful as a small earthquake left part of the small town of West in ruins. Initially it was blamed on an industrial accident. On the night of 17 April 2013, a fire broke out at the West Fertilizer Co and was followed by an explosion that possessed the force of a 2.1-magnitude earthquake. The explosion flattened homes, shattered a block of flats and badly damaged a nursing home and several schools. On Wednesday, the announcement that there was criminal intent was made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. In an exhaustive investigation, which included 400 interviews and a model recreation of the plant, they eventually ruled out all other possible causes. They had previously said faulty electrical wiring, a short circuit in a golf cart stored at the plant or arson were among the possible reasons for the blaze. A reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for information about the culprit. Of the 15 people killed, 12 were emergency personnel attending the fire. Another 200 people in the small town of 2,800 were injured.

Summary: The fire at a fertiliser plant in the US state of Texas that killed 15 people and wounded hundreds in 2013 was a criminal act, say investigators.


Chris King, 57, of Doncaster, lost both hands, except his thumbs, in an accident at work four years ago. He had the complex operation at Leeds General Infirmary in July. The Leeds Rhinos fan is also looking forward to being able to clap when he goes to watch the rugby league team. Live updates and more stories from South Yorkshire Mr King can now do a range of tasks, including writing, making a cup of tea and gardening, and has progressed faster than his surgeon anticipated. He next hopes to tie his own shoelaces and button up his shirt. "It's been going fantastically," he said. "I can make a fist, I can hold a pen, I can do more or less the same functions as I could with my original hands." Mr King's accident involved a metal pressing machine and left him close to death. A team of "unsung heroes" at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital saved his life and enabled the later transplant surgery, he said. Professor Simon Kay, a consultant plastic surgeon, performed Mr King's double transplant. The hospital is hoping the procedure could one day be as routine as a kidney transplant. Mr King said he wanted to again thank the family of the person who donated the hands. He also encouraged others to become donors and provide "this wonderful gift".

Summary: The first person in the UK to have a double hand transplant has written a letter of thanks to his surgeon, nine months after his pioneering operation.


When applications closed at midday on Friday, 1,924 people had been sent postal votes, which represents 6.4% of those on the electoral role. They have until midday on Wednesday to deliver their completed ballot slips, either by post or by hand, to Sir Charles Frossard House. Wednesday is polling day across the island. Registrar-general of electors Mark de Garis: "Anyone on the electoral roll could choose to vote by post and our goal was to make the process as straightforward as possible. "The popularity of postal voting is increasing... it's important that we continue to make it a quick and easy process." Postal voting has been allowed in Guernsey since 1972 and has grown significantly in recent years; 662 in 2000, 1,513 in 2004, 1,386 in 2008 and 1,685 in 2012.

Summary: A record number of people have signed up for postal votes ahead of Guernsey's election next week.


Now, after nearly two years in the post, his union is involved in four simultaneous fights with four different rail companies. On Southern railway and ScotRail, his members have staged strikes against plans by the train companies to run more trains on which drivers, rather than guards, operate the doors. The ScotRail dispute may be nearing resolution, while the latest Southern train strikes have now been called off for talks. More recently, Virgin East Coast rail workers have voted for strike action, while RMT staff on Eurostar are set to stage two walkouts this month. It seems that Mr Cash has a lot on his plate at the moment. But his tactics are still the same as those he outlined to the Guardian in September 2014, shortly after taking office. "We negotiate first, we seek to get deals, but if we can't, we give our members the opportunity to have their say," he told the newspaper. Mr Cash has been a member of the RMT, and its predecessor the National Union of Railwaymen, for 35 years. He had some big shoes to fill when he became the union's general secretary. The previous occupant of the post, Bob Crow, widely portrayed as a left-wing bogeyman and a throwback to the more militant era of the 1970s, had become the best-known trade unionist in the UK. In contrast, Mr Cash, who had been Mr Crow's deputy for 12 years, was immediately labelled a "moderate", despite his assertions that there would be "no deviation from the industrial, political and organising strategy mapped out by RMT under Bob's leadership". Mr Cash is a long-time Labour supporter who has served on the party's National Executive Committee and as a local councillor. His association with Labour has continued even after the RMT was expelled from the party in 2004, while the union itself is now affiliated to the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. He has never made any secret of his view that the railways should be renationalised. He has referred to rail companies as "parasites" and written that "the only answer to this continuing rail chaos is public ownership". But rail industry observers say the RMT's main objective in the current round of disputes is not a political one, merely a desire to hold back a growing tendency to hand more tasks to train drivers and reduce the role of guards. This, for the union, is an issue of safety. And given the way that passenger numbers have increased and trains have lengthened in recent years, some analysts feel the RMT does have a case. Mr Cash is a railwayman through and through, having begun work with British Rail in 1978 in the signal and telegraph department. He joined the RMT full-time in 2002. In the current wave of industrial action, he has been popping up on picket lines from Glasgow to Eastbourne, always ready to denounce rail bosses for "ripping apart the safety culture on our railways". True, his public profile remains self-effacing, unlike that of his ebullient predecessor. But that may not matter too much,

Summary: When Mick Cash took over as general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, he defined his approach as "pick your fights".


Police were called to Ridley Road in Dalston at about 14:10 BST following reports of shots being fired. Armed officers found a man in his 30s with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was taken to hospital and is said to be in a "serious but stable" condition. Police searched the area and recovered a firearm. They also made 13 arrests for a variety of offences. Ridley Road has been closed while the police carry out their investigation.

Summary: A man has been shot in the leg and 13 people arrested following an incident in east London.


But their decision to take up rowing - and winning Olympic gold at their first attempt - has sealed their place in British sporting history. Glover, 26, and Stanning, 27, took victory in the women's pair at Eton Dorney on Wednesday to win the first gold medal for Britain at London 2012. More remarkably, they become the first British female rowers to achieve the feat since the sport was added to the Olympics in 1976. Born in Truro, Glover was a cross-country runner and hockey player, competing internationally, before burying her head in books and gaining a teaching qualification. It wasn't until she heard about Sporting Giants, a scheme to find the Olympians of the future, in 2008 that she stepped into a boat and picked up an oar for the first time. From there, she was chosen for the Great Britain's rowing talent programme, two years after Stanning joined the same initiative, and two years later the dream team was formed. Stanning, who was born in Yeovil, took a different route, taking up rowing at 19 after her friends suggested she try it because she was tall. Two years later she was on the rowing talent programme but switched her focus to the army, where she was commissioned in 2008. Four years ago, she decided to focus on rowing, taking a break from the Royal Artillery, and heading back to the water. There she teamed up with Glover and started on the road to London. The pair narrowly missed out on gold to New Zealand at last year's World Championships, but that defeat was their last as they upped the stroke rate in 2012 to remain unbeaten in all three World Cups. They were barely mentioned in the build-up to London as three-time Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger and her chase for that elusive gold dominated the headlines along with the men's four - Britain's flagship boat - which has won gold in the last three Olympics. But an Olympic record in the first race of the regatta sparked interest - and their performance in the final in front of a partisan home crowd - was the perfect way to end what could be their last race together. Before the regatta, Stanning said she would return to the army, with a posting in Afghanistan a possibility. Regardless of whether she sticks to her decision or decides to add to her medal collection, their achievement will forever be engraved on London 2012 - because everyone remembers the first.

Summary: Four years ago, Helen Glover was an aspiring hockey player and Heather Stanning was embarking on a career in the army.


According to the Daily Telegraph, the minimum fine is set to double up to £100. Current fines set by councils range between £50 and £80. Ministers are said to be preparing a "clutter-free legacy for England". And Communities minister Marcus Jones said those who drop litter would be "hit in the pocket". He added: "Dropping litter is the kind of anti-social behaviour that really gets people's backs up, and rightly so. "It's thoughtless, selfish and ruins shared spaces for everyone. Not only that, litter clearance and disposal costs hundreds of millions of pounds for councils every year - money that could be going on vital services. "If litter louts can't put their rubbish in the bin perhaps we can hit them in the pocket instead." The Clean for the Queen campaign is a nationwide clean-up operation, ahead of Her Majesty's 90th birthday. Its chief executive, Adrian Evans, said some people thought it was their "human right" to drop rubbish but has urged the public to challenge offenders. "The way I have done it in the past is to treat it as though they have made a mistake and something has inadvertently fallen out of their bag or pocket. Sort of, 'Oh no, did you mean to drop that?'" In 2015, councils in England and Wales called for new powers to tackle the "huge and spiralling" problem of people throwing litter from vehicles. In London, vehicle owners can be fined if someone drops litter from their car.

Summary: Penalties for people who drop litter could reach as much as £150 under plans set out by the Department for Communities and Local Government.


Chris Grayling says the proposed law will see victims kept informed about their case and courts will allow most to provide a personal impact statement. Separate plans will see a victims' information service set up next March and more child witnesses film their evidence before a trial starts. Labour is to outline its own proposals for victims in the coming weeks. At the moment, a victims' code sets out guidance for courts, police and the probation service. The proposed law, which will be subject to a bill in the next Parliament, will enshrine several of its measures into legislation. The code's entitlement for victims to tell the sentencing judge and offender how a crime has impacted their life through a statement is among the measures that will become law. The information service will include a helpline and website and aims to guide victims to support services. Ministers will also consult on plans to pay compensation up front to victims - many have had to wait years in the past - and courts will be modernised to include separate waiting areas for victims and defendants. Publicly-funded lawyers will also be required to have specialist training before working on serious sex offence cases. Mr Grayling said the current legal system could be daunting for victims. "Victims, especially the most vulnerable, can find it traumatic and difficult to know where to turn to for advice and support," he said. "We are also making it easier for them to find whatever it is they need by establishing one simple source of information and help - be it tracking the progress of their case, applying for compensation, knowing what to expect in court, or understanding the range of support available to them." The government is hoping to extend a pilot scheme in three Crown Courts that allows children to be cross-examined before trials, away from court, with their evidence filmed and later shown on video during a trial. Concerns had previously been raised about how children were affected by the court process - with reports of one victim who was cross-examined for 12 days by seven defence barristers. If successful, the scheme will be apply to all child witnesses by the end of 2017 and may also be extended to include vulnerable adult witnesses. The chief executive of the charity Victim Support, Mark Castle, said: "Children and other vulnerable victims and witnesses should not have to face the trauma of giving evidence in a court building, unless they choose to." He added: "Our witness service team, who work behind the scenes in court, see every day just how distressing it can be... especially for victims of a violent or sexual crime. "Putting victims' rights in law sends a clear message to police, prosecutors and the courts that addressing the needs of victims is central to their work - it cannot be an optional extra." Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove welcomed the plans but questioned how they would differ in practice from the existing victims' code. "A new law cannot be used as a quick fix," she said. "Recently,

Summary: Crime victims in England and Wales are to be given legal rights for the first time, the justice secretary has said.


It comes after local media reported he had served time for molesting two girls under 10 in the late 1990s. The man and his wife took home only one baby from Thailand after the surrogate had twins, leaving behind son Gammy. The case has made international headlines, causing uproar in Australia. State authorities told the BBC they were now conducting a "full investigation" to assess the father's "suitability" to have a young child in his custody. A spokesman for Western Australia's department for child protection and family support told the BBC: "Last night we were made aware of certain information by the police regarding allegations of the father's criminal background." Asked if convicted sex offenders have been allowed to keep their children, the spokesman said they assess cases based on "individual circumstances". Besides Down's syndrome, the six-month-old baby has a congenital heart condition and a lung infection. Surrogate mother Pattharamon Chanbua has been looking after Gammy as well as two children of her own. She claims his parents abandoned Gammy and had asked her to have an abortion when she was told of the child's condition four months after becoming pregnant. Ms Chanbua, 21, has said the father met the twins, but only took care of the girl and refused to carry or look at Gammy even though the babies were side by side. The parents have told local media in Australia that they did not know of his existence, and claimed that the allegations made by Ms Chanbua are lies. But one local newspaper quoted a family friend saying the parents did know about the boy being born, apparently contradicting their version of events. "Gammy was very sick when he was born and the biological parents were told he would not survive and he had a day, at best, to live and to say goodbye," the friend said. She suggested Ms Chanbua, 21, had broken the surrogacy agreement by giving birth in a smaller hospital instead of an international one, which meant that the biological parents had no legal rights to the babies. The couple had been locked in a legal battle with Ms Chanbua to take home their daughter and she had insisted on keeping Gammy to give him a Thai funeral, the friend alleged. Both the Australian government and Thai health authorities are now looking into the case and the larger issue of commercial surrogacy in Thailand, which is mostly unregulated. An online fundraising campaign so far has raised tens of thousands of pounds to help Ms Chanbua with Gammy's medical expenses.

Summary: Child protection services in Australia are investigating a man accused of abandoning a baby with Down's syndrome to a surrogate mother in Thailand over allegations of child sex offences.


Launching a consultation on policies for the campaign, she said Labour had "wasted" 16 years of devolution. But she would not say what price she would demand to share power with Labour, as Plaid did from 2007 to 2011. Welsh Labour said the "tired attacks" were a "poor excuse for a campaign". Speaking in Cardiff, Ms Wood said the four years of a Labour-Plaid coalition government were "a small beacon of hope in terms of a longer period of wasted opportunity". Plaid wanted to be in charge of health and education "in particular", she said. The party's education spokesman Simon Thomas said: "I don't think we will see any real change in Welsh politics until the hands of the Labour Party are off health and education." Plaid Cymru is currently the third largest party in Cardiff Bay, with 11 of the 60 seats. Ms Wood has already ruled out a deal with the Conservatives after the elections. However, on the subject of coalitions, she said on Monday that people were "bored with that kind of conversation". Ms Wood added that her party would be concentrating on their own policies "rather than constantly obsessing with which party will do deals with which party". A Welsh Labour spokesman said Ms Wood's comments were "completely out of step with people's own experiences". "Only Welsh Labour will take on the Tories," the spokesman added. "It is telling that Plaid Cymru yet again seem unable or unwilling to take on the party that has slashed Wales' funding and attacked our most vulnerable communities. "Wales won't forget that Plaid Cymru have tried before to get the Tories into power in the assembly," referring to talks in 2007 about a so-called "rainbow coalition" deal which would have excluded Labour from government. For the Conservatives, Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb called on the opposition parties to "think the unthinkable and look at the options that provide this country with an alternative to the Labour Party". When asked how realistic it was for Ms Wood to work with Welsh Tory Leader Andrew RT Davies to make this happen, he told BBC Radio Wales it would be "difficult, challenging but I would never say it's impossible".

Summary: Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has said her party wants to deprive Labour of control of health and education policy after the 2016 assembly election.


Matt Tubbs' sixth goal of the season came from the spot on 70 minutes for Ryan Astles' challenge on Yemi Odubade. Chester, who had beaten Aldershot 8-2 in midweek, were completely overrun by an Eastleigh side who had lost five of their previous seven league matches. Visiting keeper Tony Thompson denied Luke Coulson, Josh Payne and Odubade before Tubbs' deserved winner. The fight to reach the play-offs remains tense, with Eastleigh now only two points behind fifth-placed Braintree, while Chester are only eight points clear of trouble. Chester manager Steve Burr told BBC Radio Merseyside: Media playback is not supported on this device "There were two things we felt hard done by. We had a goal disallowed in the first half when Ryan Higgins cut the ball back to Ross Hannah. "And the lads are unhappy with the penalty decision. There was minimal contact. It was harsh, to say the least "They have a very expensively assembled side with experience, who you could see are used to playing on that pitch and, in the end, it was settled by a penalty "It was always going to be tough after what has happened this week, then the long journey down. We set off at seven o'clock this morning and you could see one or two tired legs out there. But I don't want to make excuses. We didn't create enough chances."

Summary: Eastleigh secured back-to-back wins for the first time since December as they narrowly defeated Chester.


The teenager, who is thought to have been trafficked to Russia before ending up in Scotland, was found by a member of the public on 16 January. He is now in the care of West Dunbartonshire Council's social work department. Police have appealed to anyone who has information to contact them. The case emerged at a meeting of the council's community planning management board, according to a report in the Dumbarton Reporter. Police Scotland has since confirmed the details. Ch Supt Grant Manders told the meeting the teenager had been found on a footpath near Overtoun House. He said: "A young Vietnamese boy - 16 years old - came into our care having been trafficked from Vietnam to Russia. "Smashing wee boy escaped his traffickers up in West Dunbartonshire and was found cowering in the bushes having escaped from wherever he might have been going." It is thought the boy ran for about an hour from the site of his escape before being found. Det Con Andy Docherty said: "He was found in quite a distressed state. "We quickly established that he was of Vietnamese origin and he stated that he was subject to a human trafficking. His welfare is paramount. "Inquiries are ongoing."

Summary: A 16-year-old Vietnamese boy was found "cowering" in bushes in Dumbarton after escaping from human traffickers, police have said.


Hughie Saunders, 20, from Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, was attacked at Cobham services in Surrey on 26 June and died two days later. His mum said "[He] was the heart of the whole family. Our hearts are broken." Mikey Coyle, 21, from Barnes, and Simon Baker, 22, of Outwood, have been charged with his murder. Mr Saunders, who was known as Quhey, was "always laughing and lived life to the full", his mother said. She added: "He had his whole life in front of him and was taken for no reason at all. "The family is very close and he will be missed by his brothers and sisters." Mr Saunders' mother thanked the staff who cared for him at St George's hospital, describing them as "angels". She also revealed that he had donated his organs to save lives and wished all those who benefitted "a long and happy life". Surrey Police is still keen to speak to every witness in the petrol station between 15:00 and 15:30 BST on 26 June. Anyone with any information is asked to come forward.

Summary: The family of a man who died after an attack at a petrol station on the M25 two weeks ago have paid tribute to their "kind-hearted boy".


About 50 weddings due to take place after 10 April at Manor Barn in Buriton have been cancelled. Owner Bob Camping said he was "so very sorry". His other firm The Village Inn/Goosebumps Weddings Ltd is currently in receivership. One affected couple described it as a "nightmare". Mr Camping has vowed to sell his home and the business "and pay people back immediately". Nicholas Pettit and Gemma Brown were due to marry at the barn in September and said they had been left "devastated" by the news. "We are now having to come to terms with not having our wedding where we initially wanted and being £2,000 out of pocket," Mr Pettit added. Mr Camping said other weddings due to take place before 10 April, including that of Jade Nias and Kyle Hillman, would be honoured. But Miss Nias and Mr Hillman said they had now chosen another venue. Mr Hillman said he had worked "countless hours of overtime" to pay the £2,000 deposit for Manor Barn, adding: "It just feels like that time has been wasted." Claire Moulder and Jason Ledwith are due to marry at the venue in March and said uncertainty surrounding the venue had caused them "great stress, worry and sleepless nights, and is a sheer nightmare". Manor Barn's licence is also being reviewed by East Hampshire District Council over noise complaints. One of the proposed conditions at the venue in Buriton is for a "sound limiting device" to be installed, the council said. Mr Camping said this would cost £500,000, which he added was unaffordable and unrealistic.

Summary: Dozens of couples have had their weddings at a luxury Hampshire venue cancelled with the owner admitting the company is "in trouble".


But host John Torode says all is not creamy between himself and fellow judge Gregg Wallace. "It's funny, we've never been friends," he told the Daily Mirror, admitting they'd had "a couple of standoffs over the years", despite Wallace telling ITV's Lorraine Kelly the pair were "very close". Behind-the-scenes differences are nothing new however - here's a look at some of the most famous off-screen TV feuds. There's nothing like the tension of a legal drama to keep viewers glued to their seats and The Good Wife more than fulfilled this brief. But early in the show's history, rumours began to surface that all was not quite right between leading ladies Julianna Margulies and Archie Panjabi. The pair played on-screen best friends who fell out in season two and then rarely interacted with each again - something which appeared to spill over into real life. Panjabi left at the end of season six and her final scenes showed her sharing a drink with Margulies. But viewers were shocked to later find out they filmed the scene apart and they were stuck together in post-production afterwards. Addressing the rumours surrounding her departure last year, Panjabi said: "In terms of anything that happened on The Good Wife, I think it's only respectful for it to stay on The Good Wife. "It was time for me, for many reasons, to unzip the boots and step into another show." Fans of the hit '90s US sitcom the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air were delighted last week when a cast reunion picture was posted on Instagram by Alfonso Ribiero. But one person who wasn't so happy was Janet Hubert, who played Aunt Viv in the first three series of the hit show. She wrote on Facebook in response: "There will never be a true reunion of the Fresh Prince. I have no interest in seeing any of these people on that kind of level." Ouch. The actress was sacked and replaced in 1993 after a conflict over money and egos with the show's star Will Smith. Smith said later Hubert considered him the "antichrist" and "a snotty-nosed punk" and she wanted the comedy to be "The Aunt Viv of Bel Air Show". In the years since, Hubert has been publicly vocal in her criticism of Smith and has also claimed he and Ribiero had "destroyed" her "20-year career with untruths". More instalments of this feud may be yet to come. With two divas working together it was possibly inevitable there would be some fireworks. So Mariah Carey saying she didn't exactly enjoy her time as a judge on 2012's American Idol while working with Nicki Minaj may not be a total surprise. "Ugh. It was the most abusive experience," the singer said last year on a press tour. There were many reports of on-set cat fighting and increasingly heated exchanges between the two stars, with producers forced to stop auditions at one point. Footage of Minaj yelling at "her highness" Mariah emerged in the media, and the rapper claimed Carey didn't want another female star on the talent

Summary: The ovens are on and the pots are simmering in the Masterchef kitchen with a new series having just begun on BBC One.


On Thursday, former FBI director James Comey will testify before Congress, and on the same day the UK's general election takes place. The Dow Jones fell 47.81 points, or 0.23%, to 21,136.2, and the wider S&P 500 dropped 6.77 points to 2,429.3. The tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped 20.62 points or 0.33% to 6,275.06. Retail stocks performed especially poorly. Department store Macy's fell more than 8% after executives held an investor meeting and warned the firm's margins would be lower. Kohl's slid more than 5%, JC Penney shares fell more than 4%, and US retail giant Walmart dropped 1.2%. Even Amazon, the online shopping giant frequently blamed for problems at traditional retailers, closed lower. The firm, which has seen its stock soar in recent months, fell 0.8% after it announced it would offer heavily discounted Prime subscription service for those receiving US government aid as it aims to expand the number of people using the service.

Summary: Shares on Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday, as retail stocks weighed on markets and political events expected this week kept traders cautious.


Pietersen was the third-highest run-scorer in the recent Big Bash competition in Australia, scoring more half-centuries (four) than anyone else. "Can a handshake take place, a mature conversation?" said Vaughan. "Or has he burnt so many bridges a new set of management couldn't handle him over a three-week period? He could be the X-Factor." Media playback is not supported on this device England will take part in the World Twenty20 in India between 8 March and 3 April. Pietersen, speaking before last summer's Ashes series, said he was "angry and hurt" after director of cricket Andrew Strauss told him he was excluded because "trust had eroded". The 35-year-old batsman last played for England in January 2014 and later released an autobiography criticising some of his team-mates, and officials at the England and Wales Cricket Board. However, he has vast experience of playing in India from his time in the Indian Premier League and starred as England won the World Twenty20 in 2010. In the Big Bash, he scored 323 runs for Melbourne Stars including 62 in the semi-final and 74 in Sunday's final. Asked if the selectors would pick Pietersen, former England captain Vaughan added: "They won't but I would because of the way that he's playing and the level of performance that he's showed. "In front of massive crowds in Australia his batting won the semi-final and almost the final. "A year ago he wasn't playing well enough and he was nowhere near the England team. But the T20 World Cup starts in a few weeks time and I personally want the best team out there for England." England's opening World Twenty20 match is against West Indies in Mumbai on 16 March (09:30 GMT).

Summary: England should recall Kevin Pietersen for the forthcoming World Twenty20, according to Michael Vaughan.


Gwyn Llywelyn will return to read the news bulletins - as he did on the station's first morning in 1977. Hywel Gwynfryn, Dei Thomas and Richard Rees will join Aled Hughes for the morning to share anecdotes, and there will be clips from the first programme Helo Bobol. Celebrations continue all day with Bore Cothi, Tommo and Geraint Lloyd. It will also mark the end of Radio Cymru's pop-up station Mwy, which was launched in the run-up to the 40th birthday.

Summary: Some of BBC Radio Cymru's first presenters will return to the station on Tuesday for its 40th anniversary.


The Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) said staff at Green Hill Construction were told it was closing on 11 April. Workers were given no notice period and were not consulted, the union said. The firm, which employed over 150 people, built houses for housing associations. Green Hill was set up in 2006 to build affordable homes for social landlords and had worked for associations including Seren and Cardiff Community Housing Association. In January 2013 it announced it was creating 20 new jobs after receiving Â£146,650 from the Welsh government's economic growth fund. Dave Gunter, regional organiser for UCATT, said the company had showed no signs of being in trouble before its closure announcement. "The first we knew about it was when our members called saying they had been told there was no work for them," he said. "It was obviously a sad day for them." Mr Gunter said workers had been advised by the firm to claim outstanding payments from the Redundancy Payments Service, but the union had been unable to contact the company to confirm that. BBC Wales understands the future of the company will be resolved next week. Green Hill Construction could not be contacted for a comment. The Welsh government said it would work with the company to see if jobs could be secured. A spokeswoman said: "The company received financial support from the Welsh government and we always seek to recover public funds if and when possible to do so. "Our first priority is to assist the company and its staff at this difficult time."

Summary: Workers at a Newport building firm are facing redundancy after the company warned it was going into administration, union leaders claim.


The 26-year-old, who has not featured for Sunderland this season, could make his debut for the Championship side against QPR on Saturday. The former Chelsea trainee is the first player to join Leeds since Steve Evans was appointed head coach last month. Meanwhile, the Black Cats have recalled winger Will Buckley, 26, from his loan spell with the Elland Road side. Buckley joined the club on a three-month loan in October, but has not played in any of the club's last four matches.

Summary: Leeds United have signed Sunderland midfielder Liam Bridcutt on loan until the start of January.


The body of Leonne Weeks was found in Dinnington, Rotherham, on Monday at about 11:00 GMT. An 18-year-old man is being quizzed over her murder and a woman, 26, is being held on suspicion of assisting an offender. Her family said they were "devastated at the loss of our beautiful daughter and sister Leonne". "She was very much loved and will be missed by all of us," they added. For live updates and more across Yorkshire Rebecca Staples, principal of Dinnington High School, of which Leonne was a pupil, said the community was "reeling". "We have extra security at school at the moment because we wanted to be sure ourselves and want parents to be sure that everyone is absolutely safe," she added. "I think there's also a feeling of underlying anger that something like this could have happened in such a close community to one of our own. "She was a lovely student, a lively student and it's a sad loss." A post-mortem examination took place on Wednesday and found she had suffered multiple stab wounds, South Yorkshire Police said. Temporary Det Ch Insp Martin Tate added: "Leonne's family have had their entire lives turned upside down over the last couple of days and are utterly devastated." Police have been granted an extension to the murder suspect's custody as they continue with inquiries. Friends and family posted Facebook appeals for Leonne's whereabouts on Monday morning after she failed to return home. By 18:00, comments hoping she would be found safe had changed to well wishes to the family after "heartbreaking news". Patrols have been increased in the area to reassure the community and anyone with information is urged to make contact.

Summary: A 16-year-old girl found on a path had been stabbed to death, police said.


The chancellor told me that despite a short term economic shock to the economy of Britain leaving the European Union, it was now time to explore "new opportunities" across the world. "What we now need to do is get on with it in a way that minimises the economic impact on the UK economy in the short term and maximises the benefit in the long term," Mr Hammond said, admitting that there had been "global disappointment" about the Brexit vote. Chinese state media reported earlier in the month that the Chinese Ministry of Commerce wants to do a UK free trade deal. Mr Hammond has now revealed that Britain is also keen. It will be the first time the UK has embarked on such a major project with the second largest economy in the world. And will raise concerns about cheap manufactured goods entering the UK more easily. In return for greater access to the UK for its manufactured products and investment, China would reduce barriers to Britain's service industries like banking and insurance as well as UK goods. That would be an important source of export income for Britain. "The mood music that I have heard here is very much that this will mean more opportunity for countries like China that are outside the European Union to do business with Britain," Mr Hammond said. "And as Britain leaves the European Union and is not bound by the rules of the European Union perhaps it will be easier to do deals with Britain in the future." I asked if that could mean a free trade deal, bilaterally agreed with China which invested over $5bn (Â£3.8bn) in the UK in 2014. "Definitely I could see such a thing," Mr Hammond told me at the meeting of G20 finance ministers in Chengdu, China. "We already have a strategic partnership with China. "We have hugely increased our trade with China, investment both by British companies into China and by Chinese entities into the UK. "That's about as far as we can go while we are members of the European Union. "But once we are out of the European Union then I have no doubt on both sides we will want to cement that relationship into a firmer structure in a bilateral way that's appropriate. "That's something we will have to explore in the future." Mr Hammond said it would be "certainly appropriate" to start discussing a new deal over the next "couple of years" and the issue was raised here at Chengdu. What might a deal - which could only come after Britain had officially left the EU - look like? Senior government sources have told me that officials are looking at New Zealand's free trade agreement with China which took four years to negotiate and came into effect in 2008. Care would have to be taken over security concerns and the possibility of China "dumping" cheap imports in the UK - for example steel. As well as a positive reaction from China, Mr Hammond said that he did not believe that the EU was

Summary: Philip Hammond has begun discussions with China on an ambitious free trade deal which could see greater access for major Chinese banks and businesses to the UK economy.


Evan Ebel's bracelet, worn as a condition of his release to confirm he was obeying curfew, signalled on 14 March that it had been tampered with. But officials did not determine he had absconded until five days later - hours before Tom Clements was shot dead. Ebel, 28, was killed in a shootout with Texas police three days after that. Also, on Monday Colorado officials acknowledged Ebel was released from prison four years too early due to an apparent courthouse clerical error. The confusion stemmed from whether he had been ordered to serve a consecutive or simultaneous prison sentence for assaulting a prison officer while incarcerated for an earlier crime. Clements's death was the second in a series of three killings of US justice officials, including a Texas prosecutor and his deputy, just weeks apart. According to court documents released on Tuesday in Colorado, Ebel had followed the conditions of his parole without incident since his release in January, checking in by phone every day and even once calling parole officials because no-one had requested a weekly drug test. He worked for his father, a well-connected lawyer, and lived in housing his father had found. "From 28 January to the middle of March, we had an individual who was calling in every day, who was employed, who showed no indication that he would do the kind of things that we now know," said Tim Hand, a spokesman for Colorado's parole division. But on the afternoon of 14 March, the electronic radio monitoring bracelet he had been ordered to wear registered a "tamper alert". Later, he failed to report to officials as required to have the device repaired. Parole officials did not speak with Ebel's father until 18 March. He told them he feared his son had absconded and gave them permission to search the younger Ebel's apartment. The next day, officers found Ebel had fled - and taken a large amount of clothing. They listed him as absconded and obtained a warrant for his arrest. That evening Clements, 58, was gunned down after he was called to the front door of his home near the city of Colorado Springs. Authorities now say Ebel used the same gun to kill Clements that he used in the 21 March shootout in Texas in which he was shot dead by police. Ebel is also suspected in the 17 March killing of Nathan Leon, a pizza delivery man and father of three. Ebel first went to prison in 2005 for robbery, assault and car jacking. He was sentenced to three separate prison terms, all to be served at the same time, and scheduled for release this year. While in prison he is said to have joined a violent white supremacist prison gang, and official documents state his body was covered with Nazi-themed tattoos. Also while incarcerated, in 2008 he pleaded guilty to assaulting a prison officer and threatening his family. For this he was sentenced to up to four additional years. According to court transcripts, Ebel told the judge that would make him 33 when he

Summary: An ex-convict suspected in the death of Colorado's prisons chief shed a parolee monitoring device days before the murder, officials have said.


The union said it was as a result of concern about a range of issues including staffing levels, shift patterns and pay. General secretary Mick Cash said the RMT would be working with sister unions. Last month, GMB Scotland announced that a consultative ballot on possible strike action by North Sea contract workers was to be held. The Offshore Contractors Association previously said it was a challenging time for the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Summary: The RMT union is to ballot offshore members over industrial action.


Hamza, who is now in his late 20s, was named an official member of al-Qaeda in 2015 and is seen as a possible successor to his father. Since then, he has called for attacks against western capitals. The US State Department said it was notifying the international community that "Hamza bin Laden is actively engaged in terrorism". The official sanction blocks him from any business dealings with US companies or holding property on US soil. Hamza is the son of the former al-Qaeda leader and Khairiah Sabar, one of Osama's wives who was captured during the 2011 raid on his father's Abbotabad compound in Pakistan. Hamza was not in the compound with his parents during the raid, in which Osama Bin Laden was killed. Ayman al-Zawahiri, an eye surgeon who helped found the Egyptian Islamic Jihad militant group, took over leadership of al-Qaeda after his death. In August, Professor Fawaz Gerges, an expert on Middle East politics, told BBC Radio 4 that Hamza was "the new face of al-Qaeda - he is charismatic, he is very popular with the rank and file". "He was his father's favourite son - everyone, even for the last ten years, has been talking about Hamza succeeding his father." In 2015, al-Qaeda released an audio message from Hamza, which called on followers in Kabul, Baghdad and Gaza to wage jihad, or holy war, on Washington, London, Paris and Tel Aviv. He now joins his half-brother Saad on the US sanctions list as a "specially designated global terrorist" - someone who threatens national security or the safety of US citizens. The US State Department said the sanction was a "powerful tool." Individuals and groups sanctioned under the programme range from offshoots of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to the so-called Islamic State, among thousands of others.

Summary: Hamza bin Laden, a son of Osama bin Laden, has been officially designated a global terrorist by the United States.