There are growing divisions in the right-wing party over Mr Orban's steps to turn Hungary into an "illiberal democracy", despite a third election victory this year: Even though a majority of Hungarians oppose their policies - 2.8 million against to 2.3 million in favour in April - opposition parties are weak and divided, with the exception of the radical nationalist Jobbik movement, which has emerged as the main rival to Fidesz. But the mood in the corridors of power is wretched. In a country where backbench rebellions are almost unknown, politicians contend themselves with hints of dissent in anti-government media, and more open attacks on Viktor Orban's policies in pro-government media. A new, pro-Russian foreign policy sits particularly awkwardly in a party which rose to fame in 1989 as the first to demand publicly that Soviet troops leave Hungary. It began with a photograph of Viktor Orban shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in January, after signing a highly controversial nuclear expansion deal. When the Russians annexed Crimea in March, the Budapest government criticised the beleaguered Ukrainian government in Kiev, and stated publicly that all it cared about was the Hungarian minority in western Ukraine. In July, Hungary's embassy in Estonia was closed down at a moment when the Baltic states - Hungary's Nato allies - felt under most pressure from Moscow. Mr Orban has consistently opposed EU and US sanctions against Russia, on the grounds that "we should be doves in economic policy, and hawks in defence". In an August speech to Hungary's ambassadors, he called openly for an unprincipled foreign policy, placing foreign investment in Hungary above any moral considerations such as a trade partner's human rights record. And in September, within an hour of Mr Orban meeting with the chief of Russia's state-owned gas giant, Gazprom, the reverse flow of gas to Ukraine in Hungary's pipelines, which had been annoying Russia, was stopped. Dismay is growing within Fidesz at his domestic policy too: at government corruption, the playboy lifestyle of numerous party officials, and an economic policy which consistently suppresses the value of the Hungarian currency, the forint. There is also increasing rivalry between the oligarchs: the rich men who fund the party from behind the scenes, on a model learnt from the former communists. "Unprincipled decisions cause harm, even if that is not visible in the short term," parliament speaker Laszlo Kover, a founding member of Fidesz and close friend of Mr Orban said in August in the main pro-government weekly newspaper. This was in reply to a question on the rise of communist-era secret service loyalists and businessmen with offshore accounts in government ranks. The editor of the same weekly, Gabor Borokai, himself a former Fidesz government spokesman, lambasted what he called a "self-assured and arrogant social group" of young Fidesz leaders who believed they were beyond the law. This was apparently a reference to 36-year-old Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and his friends. Another intra-Fidesz dispute has broken out over the extensive power of Janos Lazar, 39, the minister in charge of Mr Orban's office, who

Summary: Hungarians are commemorating the anniversary of their 1956 revolution against Soviet rule but many senior figures in the ruling Fidesz party believe Prime Minister Viktor Orban is steering the country back to its authoritarian past.


The Argentina captain had said that rumours of him moving clubs at the weekend were "lies". But the 27-year-old said "nobody knows what the future holds" at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich. He lost out to Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as world footballer of the year for the second year in a row. Messi was asked if he thought he would end his career at Barcelona. "I'm not sure what's going to happen," he said. "I don't know where I'll be next year although I've always said I want to end my career at Barcelona." It had been suggested La Liga's record goalscorer might leave the club following reports of a training-ground row with manager Luis Enrique, who took over last summer. He has spent his entire career at the Nou Camp, winning three Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles as well as four world footballer of the year awards, since making his debut in 2004. He is contracted until 2019. After scoring in Sunday's 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid, Messi said: "I have no intentions of leaving for any team, not Chelsea nor Manchester City. "I'm tired of all the things that people have been saying."

Summary: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi says "I don't know where I'll be next year," but he says he does want to stay at the La Liga club.


The concept involves using technology, such as smartphones and software, to help people chose food and drink best suited to their health needs. UHI believes it could offer protection from allergies and too many calories. The idea is similar to the "internet of things" which sees domestic products, such as washing machines, being controllable via online tools. Prof Maged Boulos, an expert in digital health at UHI, who is leading the research, said: "A new breed of automated food scanner apps, devices and methods is emerging which aim at identifying the nature of food and drinks in our diet. "Methods include barcode scanning, weighing with portable electronic scales, measurement of weight/portion size with smartphone photos and remote food and drink recognition by crowdsourced volunteers or dieticians. "However, these methods are of limited value if we cannot reason with the identified food and drink items in the context of a user's health conditions and preferences." Prof Boulos said increased use of technology to help people make selections of food and drink could greatly improve health. However, he added that it would require further research and funding. Prof Boulos said: "This will be a huge academic undertaking involving multiple research centres, universities and industry. "Based on the development of other technologies of similar scale, it will likely require several years and millions of euros of funding to complete an initial base version."

Summary: University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) scientists have been exploring the idea of the "internet of food".


Work by artist Yvette Vanson will go on show at The National Coal Mining Museum for England, near Wakefield. The strike, which ran from 5 March 1984 to 3 March 1985, saw tens of thousands of miners walk out in protest at plans to close scores of pits. A museum spokesperson said the exhibition was intended to "celebrate miners globally". Gwendolen Whitaker from the museum said the exhibition was "a powerful insight into the real lives of mining communities". The exhibition will also screen Ms Vanson's film The Battle for Orgreave. On 18 June 1984, British Steel's coking plant at Orgreave, South Yorkshire, saw some of the worst violence. About 10,000 striking miners clashed with 5,000 police officers, which led to 93 picketers being arrested with 51 picketers and 72 police officers injured, according to South Yorkshire Police. In 1984 there were 170 working collieries in Britain, employing about 190,000 people. Now just three deep mines remain, employing about 2,000 people Two of those mines, Kellingley in Yorkshire and Thoresby in Nottinghamshire, are due to close, leaving just the employee-owned Hatfield Colliery in South Yorkshire. The National Coal Mining Museum is at Caphouse Colliery, where shafts to work coal date from at least 1789. By 1985 the colliery's coal was exhausted. It opened as a museum in 1988 and was granted national status in 1995.

Summary: A new exhibition to mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the miners' strike has opened.


With John Stones wanting to leave Everton for Chelsea and Saido Berahino eager to leave West Brom for Tottenham, BBC Sport examines the ins and outs of a transfer request. You handed in your transfer request to the owner, Ken Bates. Bates read your transfer request. Bates pulled your contract from his filing cabinet. Bates slammed it on his desk. Bates roared: "It says here you've got two more years at Stamford Bridge! Get out of my office!" You got out of Bates's office. Sharpish. The Chelsea player this story relates to, who shall remain anonymous, stayed at Stamford Bridge for another year, his game presumably severely compromised by his tail, dangling between his legs. "This was an England international," says David Seligman, a football agent and sports lawyer who has worked with the player in question. "But he said handing in that transfer request to Bates was the scariest thing he's ever done." But the days of hovering outside the owner's office, like a sweaty schoolboy clutching a page of lines for the headmaster, are long since over. Roman Abramovich, who bought Chelsea from Bates in 2003, is a suitably scary successor. It's just that the modern player doesn't do his own dirty work. "Players like to hide behind their agents, so they can get the blame if anything goes wrong," says Rachel Anderson, a football agent who also works for clubs, negotiating 'wantaway' deals for their players. Transfer requests, staples of the media world's August silly season, during the run-up to the equally silly transfer deadline day, can take many forms. They can, in theory, be verbal; they can be emails; they can be scrawled in blood on the back of a discarded season ticket. But, normally, they will be letters drafted by agents or legal representatives, with a player's signature at the bottom. "You want it in writing, because a transfer request is essentially a breach of a player's contract," says Seligman. "They can lead to payments becoming void, such as signing-on fees and loyalty bonuses, which are often paid over the course of a player's stay at a club. By signing that letter, a player is saying he is aware of that." So a transfer request is a last resort for most players, especially those plying their trade in the lower divisions. Not because they want to avoid being accused of betrayal by disgruntled fans, but because of the financial implications. Former England Under-21 player Rohan Ricketts recently claimed he was so desperate to leave Arsenal for Tottenham in 2002, and felt so bound by his contract, that he owned up to stealing a team-mate's phone when it wasn't actually him. The club didn't believe him, but they released him anyway. But Premier League superstars, to whom the surrendering of certain contractual payments means little, will usually attempt to negotiate a smoother exit. "Usually a player will talk to the manager first and give his reasons for wanting to leave, not least because handing in a transfer request, especially if that club discovered and nurtured you, doesn't always

Summary: Here's what might have happened if you were a player who wanted out of Chelsea Football Club in the 1980s:


Tyson Fury was one of the more recent, glaring examples of how daft the whole concept can be. The boxer might be heavyweight champion of the world but he has a very strange view of it. Fame and success might bring money and profile, but not always respect. You need something extra for that. In the grand scheme of sport's descent into the gutter, Fury is a relative innocent. From cheating athletes to corrupt sporting teams and nations to institutionally crooked associations, so much has poisoned professional sport. But then along comes somebody who inspires awe for all the right reasons and makes you refocus on the good guys rather than the bad. The admiration for Andy and Jamie Murray at the Australian Open - and beyond - is vast, but it is the life story of Helensburgh's Gordon Reid that stands out above all others, even if he's never likely to get a fraction of the attention of his more glamorous countrymen. As of Saturday morning UK time Reid became the Australian Open wheelchair champion. En route, he beat his doubles partner, Shingo Kunieda, the world number one who had won eight of the previous nine Australian Open titles. In the final, Reid, ranked fifth in the world, beat Belgium's Joachim Gerard, the world number four. Media playback is not supported on this device Reid won two doubles Grand Slam titles last year, and though he fell at the final hurdle in Melbourne, Saturday brought his first singles crown. It's not just talent or hard work that got him there. Where he is a beacon of positivity and a hugely inspiring figure - not just for our kids but for everyone - is his strength of character in the face of cataclysmic adversity. Reid is only 24. As a six-year-old he fell in love with tennis. At 12, he contracted a neurological condition in his spine called transverse myelitis that put him in hospital for six months and in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Before he had even left hospital he had started thinking about competing as a wheelchair tennis player. Twelve years old, remember. Twelve! In an interview last year he spoke of his mindset. "You can focus on what you can do instead of worrying about things you can't do and what's been taken away from you," he said. He spoke of his "dark moments" and "periods of my life where I was quite down and finding it quite hard, but I think tennis has definitely been a big help to me and helped me overcome a lot of the hurdles that have been placed my way. It was just about making the choice of not letting the condition defeat me and just trying to turn things back around." As glorious as his game is, his words are just as powerful. Reid is a beacon of brilliance and, yes, a role model, in every sense. Jordan Rhodes is on the cusp of a move up the pecking order of the Championship, from Blackburn in 18th place

Summary: The notion of sportsmen and sportswomen being deemed worthy role models for our children has taken such a battering over the years that you wonder why some people still persist with it.


The company has not said what the meeting is for, but political sources have told the BBC "bad news" is expected. The factory, which has been operating in the town since 1969, employs about 1,000 people. It makes truck and bus tyres mainly for export to the US. In recent years, Michelin executives had warned that high energy costs in Northern Ireland have been making the Ballymena plant uncompetitive. BBC News NI Business Editor John Campbell said he had been told by a source at Michelin that production was to stop at 11:00 GMT for a briefing at 12:00 GMT and that there would be no production on Tuesday night. Otherwise, he said the source did not know what was happening.

Summary: All staff at the Michelin factory in Ballymena, County Antrim, have been called to a meeting at 12:00 GMT.


A total of 177 roads have been lined up to be reconstructed this financial year, Surrey County Council said. The remaining roads in the Â£100m project will be dealt with over the following two financial years. Each of the roads will have "better, longer-lasting surfaces" and will be guaranteed to last 10 years. Work planned for this year includes the Godstone and Farnham bypasses, the Scilly Isles roundabout in Esher, West Street in Dorking, and Staines Road West in Sunbury Common.

Summary: More than 800 roads in Surrey are to be given "pothole proof" coatings over the next three years in an initiative to overhaul more than 300 miles of road.


The posters were uncovered in Clacton, Essex, earlier this week. Danny Sloggett, 40, spotted the retro signs in Meredith Road and now wants to ensure they do not end up hidden away again. "They're relics, they're our history and they show off Clacton's power," Mr Sloggett said. "The royal family used to come here in the 1920s and 30s. Lots of people used to come from London, and things like this are an important part of our history which has been hidden away." The posters, which advertised Ambrosia, Black Cat cigarettes and a local cafe, are on the side of a building currently occupied by Sheen's Estate Agents. An employee there said "loads of people" had come to take pictures over the last few days once the signs had been exposed. On Facebook, one user said the billboards "should be covered with perspex like the Banksy stuff". "Should definitely restore it and photograph for a museum," wrote another. Mr Sloggett said he had not yet contacted Tendring District Council about the possibility of preserving the signs as he wanted to build support for his cause before doing so. "They're amazing things. I know the history of Clacton but it's nice to see it on display," he said. The BBC was unable to contact the company that owns the modern billboard.

Summary: Advertising billboards thought to be from the 1920s discovered behind a modern hoarding should be preserved "for all to see", a blogger has said.


The Finn, who won the world title with Ferrari in 2007 but was replaced by Alonso at the end of 2009, has signed a one-year deal with an option for 2015. Ferrari, who will now have arguably the strongest driver line-up in Formula 1, have not yet announced the deal but are expected to do so imminently. Raikkonen, 33, will replace Felipe Massa, who announced on Twitter that he will leave at the end of the season. Media playback is not supported on this device The Brazilian, who had earlier been informed of Ferrari's decision and has driven for the Italian outfit since 2006, said: "From 2014 I will no longer be driving for Ferrari. "I would like to thank the team for all the victories and incredible moments experienced together. "Right now I want to push as hard as possible with Ferrari for the remaining seven races. "For next year, I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the championship, which remains my greatest objective!" Massa came agonisingly close to winning the title in 2008, when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix, only to be deprived of the championship when Lewis Hamilton moved up into the fifth place he required on the penultimate corner of the last lap. He has been linked with a move to Lotus, who are also considering Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg, another man who was in the frame at Ferrari before they decided on Raikkonen. The decision to partner Alonso with Raikkonen is a dramatic change in philosophy by Ferrari, who have previously operated with a clear number one driver, both with Michael Schumacher from 1996-2006 and then with Alonso for the last four years. Ferrari have now decided that having two lead drivers will be a more effective way of securing success - this was their policy when Raikkonen and Massa were team-mates in 2007-9. The decision will be interpreted in some quarters as a snub to Alonso, but the Spaniard has been told of Ferrari's decision and is said to have accepted it. The partnership and rivalry between the two men will be eagerly anticipated - Alonso and Raikkonen are widely recognised as two of the four best drivers in the world, along with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. Alonso's relationship with McLaren, when he was team-mates with Hamilton in 2007, was famously turbulent, and the ructions led to him leaving the team just one year into a three-year contract. Alonso has since made it clear that his problems at the time were not with Hamilton but with the team not delivering on promises that had been made to him about his status. The deal for Raikkonen to rejoin Ferrari was completed on Monday. Ferrari wanted to replace Massa with someone who would provide more reliable performance and have for some time considered Raikkonen to be the best candidate. But the decision needed to be approved by Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo. Raikkonen had the option to remain at

Summary: Kimi Raikkonen will join Fernando Alonso at Ferrari in 2014.


The barrister and master of Clare College Cambridge will remain a party member but will sit as a crossbencher. He told the Times Jeremy Corbyn's proposals were "terribly damaging". It comes five days after former junior health minister Lord Warner resigned the Labour whip, saying the party did not have a "hope in hell" of winning power under its new leader. Lord Grabiner said Labour was now in "disarray" and that he could not "square [staying] with my conscience". He added: "I have nothing in common whatever with Mr Corbyn and I don't believe we are ever going to win an election." He also said he was particularly concerned about John McDonnell's appointment as shadow chancellor. "I am concerned with the economic stuff. I am really concerned with the shadow chancellor," he declared. Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Mandelson has also criticised Mr Corbyn. Speaking on the BBC's Week in Westminster programme, he said the Labour leader was not "growing into the job at all". Mr Corbyn was not showing "any professionalism in his leadership of the Labour party", and had made poor choices in his appointment of senior staff in his team, he said. A Labour spokesman said of the peer: "We welcome Tony's continued membership and support of the party. "We know he has been increasingly busy and less able to attend the Lords to participate in House business and we of course understand his decision to relinquish the Labour whip". The spokesman also said Lord Grabiner had not voted in the Lords since 2013.

Summary: Lord Grabiner has become the second peer in recent days to resign the Labour whip in the Lords.


Demonstrators sang Christmas carols and listened to speeches about immigrants and asylum seekers. Weekly rallies by a group called Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West, or Pegida, began in October. Several counter-demonstrations were being held on Monday. Chancellor Angela Merkel and other senior politicians have spoken out against the Pegida rallies.

Summary: A record 17,500 people have turned out for the latest "anti-Islamisation" rally in the German city of Dresden, according to police estimates.


During his testimony before the Senate committee investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, he was often evasive. His accounting of details was uncertain, littered with "I don't recalls" and "I have no recollections". Mr Sessions is far from the first politician to seek refuge in a fuzzy memory under sharp questioning. Definitive statements proven inaccurate under oath are more prone to accusations of perjury. When it came time to discuss his conversations with the president, Mr Sessions demurred, noting that he wanted to give Mr Trump the opportunity to review the question before sharing his thoughts. It was as if the attorney general was trying to pre-emptively invoke executive privilege - the right of a president to candid counsel from his advisers - without using those magic words. Where Mr Sessions's memory did serve him well, he forcefully condemned allegations of Russian collusion as "appalling and detestable". The controversy at this point is about more than just collusion, however. It's about obstruction of justice and the circumstances around the firing of an FBI director. In those areas the attorney general did little to turn down the heat. Going into Mr Sessions's testimony on Tuesday, there were some obvious questions he would face. Here's a look at how he answered (or, occasionally, didn't answer) them. The scene was the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The date was 27 April 2016. The event was a high-profile foreign policy speech by then-candidate Trump. Mr Sessions was in attendance, and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak was sitting in the front row. According to the attorney general's testimony, however, he didn't know Mr Kislyak was in the room (although a photograph showed them just a few metres apart at one point and reporters in the back of the room were buzzing about his presence). He said he didn't recall if he had any conversation with the ambassador, although it was "conceivable". "I can assure you nothing improper, if I had a conversation with him," Mr Sessions said. It was undisclosed meetings with Mr Kislyak - who is considered by some to be the top Russian spymaster in the US - that is widely considered to be behind Mr Sessions's February announcement that he would recuse himself from the Justice Department's investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Mr Sessions on Tuesday, however, said that his recusal was a result of Justice Department rules preventing him from overseeing an investigation into a campaign he was part of and not due to any personal activity. It was a blockbuster story in the New York Times and one of the most gripping moments of last week's testimony from ex-FBI boss James Comey. On 14 February, the former director said he was held back by the president during a national security meeting in the White House and, in private, pressured to curtail the ongoing FBI investigation into Mr Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. On Tuesday Mr Sessions, at least in part, corroborated Mr Comey's account. "We were there and I was standing there

Summary: The glimpse Jeff Sessions offered into the controversies bedevilling the Trump administration came through a glass, darkly.


The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) hopes they will end a wide variation in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. They include advice on diagnosing how far the cancer has progressed, identifying the best treatment, and improvements to follow-up care. Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that claims more lives than any other. In 2012, the UK saw more than 2,000 deaths from melanoma and the number of melanoma cases is growing faster than any of the 10 most common cancers. Experts believe this is largely down to the boom in foreign holidays over the past 40 years and, more recently, a big increase in the use of sunbeds. Prof Mark Baker, from NICE, said everyone wants to enjoy the sun, but there are safe ways to do so. "Using a sunscreen with a high SPF, spending time in the shade between 11:00 and 15:00, ensuring you don't burn, and covering up with a hat, T-shirt and sunglasses. "But overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun can have very serious repercussions. "Melanoma causes more deaths than all other skin cancers combined. Its incidence is rising at a worrying rate, faster than any other cancer. "This new guideline addresses areas where there is uncertainty or variation in practice, and will help clinicians to provide the very best care for people with suspected or diagnosed melanoma, wherever they live." Experts warn that even though more people are now aware of the dangers of too much sun, it will be a generation or so before the number of melanoma deaths starts to fall.

Summary: New guidelines for diagnosing and treating melanoma skin cancers have been issued to the NHS in England.


If this form of renewable energy is supported, it could signal the dawn of a new industrial era, worth £15bn to Wales and the UK. Those behind the new manufacturing and energy sector believe it can deliver sustainable, locally-produced electricity for about a hundred years. Alongside this, a wealth of knowledge would build-up that could be exported around the world. The plan would be for the first lagoon in Swansea Bay to be a prototype and the smallest. That would then be followed by lagoons in Cardiff - east of where Cardiff Bay is now - Newport, Bridgwater Bay, Colwyn Bay and west Cumbria, north of Workington. That is Tidal Lagoon Power (TLP's) dream. Former UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry has been gathering evidence for nine months for his inquiry, including visits to all the potential sites and discussions with industry. Now the wait for his conclusions is intensifying. The Swansea Bay lagoon would cost about £1.3bn; the company has promised that half that money would be spent in Wales. So what sorts of Welsh businesses would be involved? The most obvious are civil engineering companies. Monmouthshire construction firm Alun Griffiths Construction is already contracted to work delivering some of the roadways, while Andrew Scott Civil Engineering of Port Talbot is watching keenly. They plan to bid for some of the marine work contracts that would be put to tender if the conclusion of the Hendry review marks the go-ahead. General Electric and Andritz Hydro have between them a £300m contract for the 16 turbines that would be used in Swansea Bay. The plan is that the final turbine assembly would be carried out locally. Alongside that there will be work for companies involved in fabricated metals, steel casting and forging, and power electronics. The chief executive of TLP Mark Shorrock said: "We certainly think we'll be creating direct employment of 1,900 in Swansea. That ignores the supply chain. "As we go through that, we see carpenters, electrical engineers and then there's an awful lot of steel in generators and turbines." If the Swansea Bay project gets the go ahead, TLP will then speed up its preparatory work on larger tidal lagoons in Cardiff, Newport and Colwyn Bay. Each site will also need the same skills but on a greater scale. The estimate is that four tidal lagoons in Wales could support 33,500 jobs during the construction and more than 3,000 when they are in operation. They could be worth £1.3bn a year in Gross Value Added (GVA), the measure of just how much a contribution sector or industry makes to the economy. Mr Shorrock said there was the potential for Wales to become the industry base for exporting mass-produced turbines, generators and engineering around the world. Cost of power The other side of the coin is the cost of the electricity generated by tidal lagoons. It has been described by politicians as "expensive" referring to the guaranteed price - or strike price - that TLP is asking from the UK government. TLP forecasts that its lagoons would generate power for 120

Summary: An independent review into tidal lagoon energy in the UK has been completed - and now the UK Government is expected to decide by the end of the year whether the industry has a future, including a crucial first step in Swansea Bay.


Creditors fear they will not be paid, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said, adding the city is "basically broke". Court papers filed on Thursday night listed 100,000 entities as creditors to the city. But unions have described the bankruptcy filing as a power grab. Detroit, once a symbol of US industrial power, has faced decades of decline. It is seeking protection from creditors who include public-sector workers and their pension funds. Detroit's problems stem from declining industry. Public services are nearing collapse and about 70,000 properties lie abandoned. Mayor Dave Bing has vowed that public services will keep running and wages for public workers will be paid. Mr Snyder said in a televised statement on Friday morning: "Currently those creditors have a situation where they don't know what they'll get paid, and whether they'll get paid at all." "The growth of Detroit is critically important for all of us," he said. "Let's Detroit on the path to being a great city again." By Jonny DymondWashington correspondent Detroit's fall is complete. It is a depressing, if inevitable, end to a grotesque saga of decline, corruption and mismanagement. The irony is that the bankruptcy comes just as the private sector is picking up in Motor City. There is a buzz downtown, with commercial and residential occupancy at record levels. But public services are in a state of near collapse. Around 70,000 properties lie abandoned. Great swathes of the city need to be written off. For some, the announcement will come as some kind of relief. When I was last there business leaders told me that some kind of decision had to be taken about the city's future - that agonising limbo was unsustainable. The problem now is not just image. Bankruptcy looks bad. But Detroit is already a poster child for urban failure. Nor is it just about being locked out of capital markets - few would lend to the city anyway. But bankruptcy could take years to sort out, when Detroit's real world problems need urgent remedies. In pictures: Detroit bankruptcy "Today is a major step to getting on that path," the governor added. On Thursday, Michigan state-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr asked a federal judge to place the city into bankruptcy protection. If it is approved, he would be allowed to liquidate city assets to satisfy creditors and pensions. Detroit - known as Motor City for its once-thriving automobile industry - stopped unsecured-debt payments last month to keep the city running, as Mr Orr negotiated with creditors. He proposed a deal last month in which creditors would accept 10 cents for every dollar they were owed. But two pension funds representing retired city workers resisted the plan. Thursday's bankruptcy filing comes days ahead of a hearing that would have tried to stop the city from making such a move. Mr Orr suggested at the time there was a 50-50 chance of the city needing to file for bankruptcy. He also said the city's long-term debt could be as high as $20bn. At a press briefing on Thursday, Mr Orr said filing for bankruptcy

Summary: Detroit may be gearing up for a battle with creditors the day after it became the largest US city ever to file for bankruptcy, with $18bn (£12bn) of debt.


Becky, 16, was reported missing on 19 February. Body parts were found at a house in the Barton Hill area of Bristol on 2 March. Nathan Matthews, 28, from Warmley, appeared by video link at Bristol Crown Court charged with her murder. Mr Matthews, who has yet to enter a plea to the allegation, was told a provisional trial date had been set for October. His girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, who is charged with perverting the course of justice, also appeared by video link. Four other defendants have been charged with assisting an offender. Jaydene Parsons, 23, appeared via video link, while James Ireland, also 23, appeared in person. Karl and Donovan Demetrius, both 29, did not appear.

Summary: The stepbrother of teenager Becky Watts is set to stand trial for her murder.


The 21-year-old made seven appearances for the Hammers and netted his only goal for them in a Europa League qualification round match against Andorran side FC Lustrains last season. Lee had two loan spells in League One last term, with Blackpool and then Colchester United. He scored twice for the U's but was unable to save them from relegation. The length of Lee's contract with the promoted Tykes has not been revealed. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Barnsley have signed striker Elliot Lee from Premier League club West Ham United for an undisclosed fee.


Inverness-based creative industries conference and festival, XpoNorth, has announced the films to be screened during the two-day event in June. Held annually, XpoNorth shows feature-length and short films made in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK and abroad as part of its wider programme. This year's festival received almost 3,000 entries from a total of 112 countries. The films will be screened during the event, which will be held on 7-8 June. Scottish films to be shown include two documentaries by Highlands-based filmmakers. Caithness-based David Graham Scott's The End Of The Game tells the story of a journey from Caithness to Africa. Scott, a committed vegan, made the journey in the company of his neighbour Guy Wallace, a former big game hunter. Tristan Aitchison, who lives on the Black Isle, was also inspired by Africa for his documentary. His film, Sidney & Friends, explores growing up living as an intersex or transgender person in what he described as "one of the most conservative and intolerant regions in the world". Other Scottish entries include Woman Up by Katrina Brown, of Aviemore. Her film follows Eilidh, who before discovering she had a talent for mountain biking, would describe her feelings about doing sport in front of others as like "standing on a stage naked under a spotlight". Also from Scotland is Greg McCarron's The Old Croft, an animated film about the construction, ruin of and later rebirth of a 150-year-old croft house in the Shetland Islands. The international films to be shown include Sweden's Fomo Sapiens, Turkish-made Fastaqim, USA entry A Slice of Life, German-made Kaska and French film Half Time.

Summary: All images are copyrighted.


It was a trip that would take longer to materialise than he could have ever imagined. "My partner and I were in Key West, 55 or 56 years ago, and he said to me 'do you want to take the ferry over to Havana?'" "I said 'I don't know, let's do it next time'. Then, along came the revolution, and this is that next time." As the Adonia pulled out of the Port of Miami and past South Beach, Rick held a Cuban flag aloft and his Italian husband Toni, the Stars and Stripes. He says it was a special moment. "I wanted to show that I'm willing to wave the Cuban flag on an American ship because I think we have to make our relationships better with Cuba." "I hear the Cuban people are wonderful, we're wonderful people - so let's get to know each other better." Those are exactly the kind of sentiments the Obama administration had hoped for when it made it easier for Americans to obtain licences to visit the communist-run island. But while the Adonia set off into the Florida Straits in near perfect sailing conditions, the political journey to reach this point has been far more stormy. This voyage has provoked protests and threats of legal action in Florida against the company operating the ship, Carnival Cruises. The Cuban American community was furious that the company initially complied with a much-reviled Cuban rule banning Cuban-born nationals from entering the country by sea. However, last month the offending measure was removed by the Cuban authorities. The CEO of Carnival Cruises, Arnold Donald, rejects the idea that they forced the Cuban government into a corner by threatening to suspend the service. "Not at all, that would be a mischaracterisation," he says. "First of all, we believed all along that they were going to allow us to bring Cuba-born people to and from Cuba." Secondly, he said, the company was getting a lot of "positive indications to that effect". "They had a lot of things to consider. Whether it was going to be this one ship, whether it would be the cruise industry, whether it's going to be commercial vessels." "But there was always a positive tone," he insists. Either way, the change meant Cuban-American Isabel Buznego and her husband, Robert, could make their first journey back to Havana since they left the island "many years ago". "I feel a lot of different emotions: I'm nervous, I'm happy, I feel proud, a little scared and frightened," says Isabel. "My father always wanted to come but he never could. He died recently and I'm doing this trip for him. That's why it's so emotional." Of course, not everyone in Florida sees the trip to Cuba in such terms. A small boat emblazoned with anti-Castro banners and the word "democracy" in Spanish painted on its side circled the Adonia while it was still in port. It was not a large protest, but the organisers made clear their opposition to the whole process of rapprochement with Havana. Up on the deck, though,

Summary: Almost 60 years ago, Rick Schneider was considering taking a cruise with his then boyfriend.


Net profit came in at $2.9bn (Â£1.9bn) for the three months to 26 June, against a loss of $398m a year ago - a higher figure than analysts expected. Revenue for the period was $10.8bn, as a result of what the company called "strong corporate demand". The firm also forecast improved revenues of $11.6bn for the three months to the end of September. Intel shares jumped 5% in after-hours trading following the announcement. Analysts were impressed by the results. "The numbers just blew me away, I cannot see any mention of any problems whatsoever," said Phani Saripella at Primary Global Research. Intel is the second major US company to report its quarterly results following aluminium giant Alcoa on Monday, which also beat analysts' expectations. Some commentators now see these results as a sign of what is to come. "In a quarter where people expected relatively strong performance, [Intel] beat that pretty handily and set a good forecast," said Edward Snyder at Charter Equity Research. "This going to be really good for a lot of other technology companies, particularly enterprise. "It might be the case that this earnings period is so strong that it allays some of the fears about the broader economy."

Summary: US chipmaker Intel has reported bumper profits in what it describes as its "best" quarterly results.


Inland Fisheries Ireland said the pink salmon, which are of Pacific origin, were found in rivers in Counties Galway, Mayo and Donegal. The fishing board said it was concerned about the impact the fish may have on Ireland's Atlantic species. The pink salmon was also found earlier this month in Scotland. Pink Salmon, also known as humpback salmon, originate from the west coasts of the United States, Canada and northern Asia. The fish are a favourite prey of North America's grizzly bears. A potentially invasive species to the UK, the salmon may be related to fish introduced to the Barents Sea in Russia in the 1950s. The species can be identified by the following characteristics: However, Dr Greg Forde, head of operations at Inland Fisheries Ireland, said "it seems unlikely that these fish made a migration due to their small size". He said the appearance of the species was a "mystery". "We are appealing to the public, and the angling community in particular, to be vigilant and to report any catch of pink salmon to Inland Fisheries Ireland," he added.

Summary: A non-native species of salmon has been found in rivers along the west coast of Ireland, causing concern among Irish fishing authorities.


It's a point she made in the Northamptonshire MP's first speech as Secretary of State for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs. She represents a rural constituency, which she praised: "I know from my own constituency of South Northamptonshire that the British countryside is some of the most beautiful in the world." Mrs Leadsom also warned that rural communities should not be left behind: "I want people living in our market towns and villages to have the same life opportunities as those who live in our cities," she said. Mrs Leadsom ended up in the job after this summer's bruising leadership contest and joked at her own expense that Jeremy Corbyn could have come to her for advice on how to ensure a short lived campaign. That went down well with the audience who welcomed her warmly onto stage as one of the leading lights of the Leave campaign. The grinning Secretary of State told the hall that we are selling naan bread to India, and coffee to Brazil and received applause for the fact that the French voted British Lamb their product of the year. She smiled purposefully before making pointed references to her joy at the chance "to plot a new course in the world" post Brexit. Mrs Leadsom promised to lead on the environment "committing to being the first generation to leave it in a better state than when we found it. Still smiling she announced that it was crucial to provide farmers with certainty and continuity. "It's important that we are able to confirm the same level of agricultural support until 2020." "I am convinced that outside the EU they have an even brighter future." The question is whether that will put a smile on the farmers' faces.

Summary: One in eight people work in farming and it is a bigger industry than the car and aerospace industry combined, Andrea Leadsom tells the Conservative Party Conference.


Riley's comments came after referee Neil Swarbrick sent off Gareth McAuley instead of Craig Dawson during West Brom's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City. Swarbrick has apologised for the error. "We need to see what technology we can use to help get referees' decisions more accurate," said Riley. "Football as a whole has to look at it." Speaking about Swarbrick's error, Riley - head of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) - told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek: "All it takes is a split-second lapse in concentration. "Neil had four or five elements to judge in half a second and it is that type of situation that would lend itself to technology." Media playback is not supported on this device Riley said he had been to the Netherlands with PGMOL performance director Howard Webb, another former referee, to study video assistant technology used in the Dutch league. "Technology doesn't provide a solution to everything but we can all think of case where a quick reference to a video replay would help us get the decision right," he added. Riley also revealed that he had spoken to Swarbrick "several times" since the City-West Brom match. "All referees want to make correct decisions and when you don't do that, you feel you've let yourself and your colleagues down," he said. "We need to make sure the next time Neil referees, he has learned from the experience and will be a better referee because of it."

Summary: Video technology to help referees cut out clear mistakes should be introduced in English football, says referees' chief Mike Riley.


30 November 2015 Last updated at 16:35 GMT Simon Whittaker, originally from Cheadle, posted his footage on Facebook saying: "Monarch A320 drifts off the centre line in cross winds at manchester airport and goes around." Mr Whittaker, who used to fly planes himself, was on his way for a coffee at the Airport Hotel Pub when he noticed how the wind was affecting the incoming flights and began filming. He said the weather was "absolutely treacherous" but that the pilot seemed "in control of the plane throughout the aborted landing". He said the winds were so strong that it was a challenge even keeping the camera steady. Five planes were diverted from the airport on Sunday as a result of the high winds. A spokeswoman said three planes were diverted to East Midlands Airport including two Monarch flights and another two went to Birmingham Airport. The severe weather caused a roof on shops to be blown off in Greater Manchester, thousands of homes were left without power and trees were brought down.

Summary: A plane aborted its landing at Manchester Airport after winds of up to 70mph swept across the North West.


The Scottish Daily Mail describes the Glasgow-born killer as the "monster of the moors". It reports that he died at 18:00 on Monday at the secure psychiatric hospital where he had been receiving end-of-life care. The Scottish Sun says Brady took to his grave the secret of where he buried 12-year-old Keith Bennett - the only victim whose remains are undiscovered. Brady lived for more than 50 years after being jailed for his catalogue of crimes but he never showed any remorse, says The Daily Record. The Herald reports that Jeremy Corbyn will make his "pitch for power" later, and he will use his manifesto launch to promise to campaign against a second Scottish independence referendum. The Labour leader will also announce a "tax grab on the rich", according to the i newspaper. It says he will outline multi-billion pound spending plans, funded by higher taxes on top earners. The Scotsman also leads with a political story, reporting that Ruth Davidson launched an "unprecedented attack" on the SNP as it marks the 10th anniversary of seizing power in Scotland. A disabled woman who lost her appeal for a Motability car features on the front page of The National. It reports that Anne Meikle, who suffers from a series of illnesses including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is now confined to her house. The Times leads with claims that drugs company Aspen Pharmacare is facing a fine of up to Â£220m for increasing the cost of cancer medicines, after the EU launched an investigation into alleged price hiking. The Scottish Daily Express says the SNP's currency plan for an independent Scotland has been branded a "shambles" by critics. Calls for radical action to fight drug addiction problems in Dundee, and across Scotland, feature on the front page of The Courier. A nursery assistant has admitted picking up a two-year-old girl by the ankles and dropping her, according to the north east edition of The Press and Journal. And the front page of the Daily Star features BBC presenter Zoe Ball, photographed for the first time since the death of her partner.

Summary: The death of Ian Brady, who killed five children with Myra Hindley, features on the front pages of many of today's newspapers.


David Lytton's body was discovered at Dove Stone Reservoir in Greater Manchester on 12 December 2015. He was born David Lautenberg on 21 April 1948 but his name changes to Lytton on the electoral register in 1987. The 67-year-old flew into London Heathrow from Lahore, Pakistan, two days before his body was found. He was identified from photos from a passenger list and picked up on CCTV in London. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said his identity was confirmed as a result of a DNA match with a relative. The electoral register examined by BBC Newsnight showed David Lautenberg was listed as living at 46 Lilian Road, London, SW16 5HN from 1982 to 1986, while David Lytton was listed there from 1987 onwards. It is understood he changed his name due to a family feud, the Guardian reported. Mr Lytton, who had lived in Pakistan for 10 years, was found fully clothed, lying prone on the ground above the reservoir. He had no wallet, phone or other identification and remained unidentified despite numerous public appeals and the release of CCTV footage of his last known movements. In June 2016, the BBC investigated the mystery of the unidentified body. Why did this man travel 200 miles to die on Saddleworth Moor? Police said a "provisional" cause of death had been determined as "strychnine poisoning". Police believe he took his own life. An international police investigation was launched after a post-mortem examination revealed he had a type of titanium plate in his leg which was only manufactured and fitted in Pakistan. Greater Manchester Police and the National Crime Agency contacted the medical community and the British Embassy in Pakistan to appeal for information. DNA analysis confirmed that he was David Lytton from London, who had "no obvious connection" to Saddleworth. Mystery still surrounds the case and why he chose to head to Greater Manchester after returning from Pakistan. A full inquest is due to take place on 14 March.

Summary: A mystery man who was found dead on Saddleworth Moor had previously changed his name.


The proposal orders public bathhouses to display signs prohibiting "people with sexually transmitted diseases, Aids and infectious skin diseases". It has been posted online for public consultation by China's State Council. But Aids activists and ordinary users of Weibo, China's version of Twitter have strongly criticised the move. "There is no evidence that people can be infected with HIV in public bathhouses," Wu Hao, from the Beijing Research Centre on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Aids, was quoted as saying by the Beijing Morning News. "Apparently, the rule to bar HIV patients from entering public bathhouses is way over the top," he said. The paper also quoted an unnamed Aids activist as saying he was extremely disappointed with the draft proposal. "Banning HIV patients from using public bathhouses and spas will only exacerbate people's misunderstanding, discrimination and fear of HIV/Aids, and will not help reduce the transmission of the disease," he said. The proposal has also been condemned by the United Nations' Aids agency. Hedia Belhadj, China country coordinator for UNAIDS, said it was concerned by the provision and called for it to be removed, the AFP news agency reports. She said that there was no risk of transmission of HIV in a spa or bathhouse setting. "UNAIDS recommends that restrictions preventing people living with HIV from accessing bath houses, spas and other similar facilities be removed from the final draft of this policy," Ms Belhadj told AFP. The proposal has also drawn strong criticism from China's Weibo users. One user said that the decision to ban HIV patients using public bathhouses must be based on scientific facts about the ways HIV was transmitted. "In reality, many public bathhouses have already implemented the ban. The practice is discriminatory and must be stopped, and must not be institutionalised. "HIV patients are already very vulnerable. They should be protected and respected. We must not further harm them with discrimination," the user said . But there are also Weibo users who agree with the ban. One Weibo user said that HIV patients should be advised not to use public bathhouses or at least they should check whether they have any open wounds before entering. According to government figures released in 2012, China has 430,000 people infected with HIV. But the United Nations has said that the real figure could be 620,000 to 940,000. Among them, 146,000 to 162,00 have developed Aids.

Summary: A government proposal to bar HIV patients from using public bathhouses has been condemned in China as discriminatory.


The Geminid shooting stars are due to peak overnight on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December. But it's going to be a bit trickier to see them this year because it's happening at the same time as a supermoon - the third one this year. The light from the closer full moon will make it harder for stargazers. Meteors are small space rocks ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a pea that enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, producing a bright streak of light. Most meteors break off from comets, which are dirty "snowballs" mainly made of ice, but the Geminids are different. The object they come from, the 3200 Phaethon, is more like an asteroid. As it orbits, the heat of the Sun causes surface material to crumble, before it tumbles off into space, leaving a trail of rocky debris behind it. The Earth passes through this trail each year as it orbits around the Sun, and we see them glow as the rock burns up in the Earth's atmosphere. You don't need any special equipment to view the meteor shower. Find a clear space away from street lights or the light coming from your house. Give your eyes enough time to adjust to the dark, and look up. Hopefully, with clear skies, you will be able to spot them as they blaze across the night sky.

Summary: One of the most dazzling meteor showers of the year is lighting up the sky this week.


The 27-year-old scored twice in eight appearances for the Hammers after joining from Velez Sarsfield. But he had fallen out of favour at Upton Park following his summer move. QPR boss Harry Redknapp said: "We're really pleased to bring Mauro in. He's a good footballer, someone with great ability who can play as a number 10." A move looked on the cards after Zarate was quoted in the press as saying his manager Sam Allardyce refused to play him because he was signed by Hammers co-chairman David Sullivan. Allardyce responded to that claim by saying the player "wasn't good enough" for West Ham. After joining QPR, Zarate said: "I need to play and Queens Park Rangers have given me this chance to show what I can do." He could make his Hoops debut in the Premier League at Burnley on Saturday.

Summary: West Ham's Argentina striker Mauro Zarate has signed for Premier League rivals Queens Park Rangers on loan until the end of the season.


Nonsuch Palace was painted by the Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel in 1568. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has placed a temporary export bar on the watercolour in the hope a UK buyer can match the asking price of £1m. "We have very few paintings of the palace so I really hope we can find a buyer to keep this masterpiece here in Britain," he said. The piece is the oldest of six remaining depictions of the palace, considered to be one of the Renaissance period's most stunning buildings. Nonsuch Palace - named because no other palace could equal it - was built in 1538 for the Tudor king to celebrate the birth of his first legitimate son and mark his 30th year on the throne, It was intended to rival the opulent residences of French king Francis I. In 1670 Charles II gave the palace to his mistress, Barbara Villiers, who began to dismantle and sell parts of the building to pay off gambling debts. By 1690 the building had all but disappeared. The painting went for auction in 2010 but failed to meet its reserve price of £1.2m. The decision to defer the export licence follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), administered by Arts Council England. They made their recommendation on the grounds of its close association with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance for understanding the nature of English Renaissance architecture. The decision on the export licence application for the watercolour will be deferred until 31 May.

Summary: The earliest depiction of Henry VIII's "lost" palace in Surrey could leave the UK unless a buyer comes forward.


David Mayman, a former commercial pilot, flew at a height of 30m for four minutes wearing a turbine jet engine-powered JB-10 jetpack. He hopes to make an electric version of the jetpack to be available in 2019 - at a price of nearly Â£200,000. Mr Mayman said: "It feels absolutely amazing, awesome - it's freedom." The project to develop a commercially viable electric jetpack is seeking to raise Â£300,000 through crowdfunding, with work on the project planned to start in April 2017. The Australian former pilot took off in the jetpack from the Royal Victoria terminal of the Emirates Air Line cable car by the River Thames and made two short trips towards the ExCel centre. "This is for the City boys who grew up in the 70s and 80s and dreamt of being a real-life Iron Man," said Lucy Sharp from Seedrs Investment, the company behind the fundraising for the electric jetpack. "He's in talks with the US navy to give it a use beyond commercial flights. "He's done over 400 test flights and they've all gone smoothly but it is jet fuel on his back so it can be dangerous." The former pilot, who has worked on the project for more than a decade, has previously flown close to the Statue of Liberty in New York City and in Monaco. Engineer Bennie Van De Goor said Mr Mayman's "passion for a long time has been to develop a small man-carrying vehicle that he can put in his car, take out and fly".

Summary: A pilot wearing a jetpack has taken to the skies above the River Thames in east London like "a real-life Iron Man".


Faye Burdett, aged two, from Maidstone, Kent died on Valentine's Day after fighting the infection for 11 days. Her family said they were enduring "a pain you cannot describe" after the toddler contracted meningitis B. Their photographs of Faye, including one of her in hospital, have been widely shared on social media. The most widely shared image shows her covered in a rash from the infection lying in her hospital bed. More than 331,000 people have signed a petition calling for the NHS vaccination programme to be widened to all children. A vaccine to protect against meningitis B became available on the NHS for babies in September but parents who want to have older children vaccinated must pay privately. "We campaign for change in her memory," said Faye's mother, Jenny. "Faye was taken to A&E with a rash on her forehead. She was then transferred by South Thames Retrieval Service to Evelina Children's Hospital, where her heart stopped in the ambulance. "They revived her and spent hours working on stabilising her. "We were given a 1% survival chance but she proved them wrong and carried on fighting. "After a few days she seemed to have turned a corner, but the sepsis started to affect her more." It was then that doctors presented the family with an option of amputation. "The extent of removal was massive, full leg amputation and one arm and plastic surgery," Jenny said. "We had to make the decision, a massive operation and she may die or we let her go peacefully on her own accord. "We decided the latter and then watched our little girl slip away." Charlene Reed, who set up a JustGiving page in memory of Faye, to raise money for the Evelina hospice, said Faye's mother shared the picture to raise awareness. "It's not nice, but it is reality. It's what this disease did to Faye which made her sadly lose her life on Sunday," she said. Sue Davie, chief executive of Meningitis Now, said: "Although the introduction of the Men B vaccine on the childhood immunisation scheme for young babies was a momentous achievement, saving thousands of lives, there are still so many, like Faye, left unprotected. "We continue to campaign to see the Men B vaccine rolled out, particularly to at-risk groups, to insure a future where no-one in the UK loses their life to meningitis." A Department of Health spokesman said: "When any new immunisation programme is introduced, there has to be a date to determine eligibility. A decision based on the best independent clinical recommendation to ensure we can protect those children most at risk of Men B. "When our nationwide Men B vaccination programme was introduced last year, England became the first country to protect our babies from this devastating disease."

Summary: A mother has shared an image of her daughter before her death from meningitis to back a campaign for vaccines to be given to all children.


The defence ministry had been told to develop plans for a "modest military industrial complex," the president, who came to power in May, said Nigeria has been battling the militant Islamist group Boko Haram for the last six years. The US has refused to sell arms to Nigeria citing human rights abuses. President Buhari told a gathering of newly graduated military officers that Nigeria "must evolve viable mechanisms for near-self-sufficiency" in defence equipment that it usually imports. On a visit to Washington last month, Mr Buhari said that the US had "aided and abetted" Boko Haram in the past by refusing to sell weapons to Nigeria. A US law prevents the government from selling arms to countries which fail to tackle human rights abuses. On Tuesday, a group of visiting US Congress members said Washington could lift its ban on shipping arms to Nigeria's military if the country improved its human rights record. The US's stance has effectively stopped other Western countries from selling sophisticated military hardware to the country, the BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi reports from the capital, Abuja. Nigeria's only weapons factory in the northern city of Kaduna mainly produces rifles and civilian tools, Mr Buhari's spokesman Garba Shehu told the Reuters news agency. He said that defence chiefs had now been asked to "re-engineer" it. Boko Haram has killed some 10,000 people since 2009 and has also kidnapped hundreds of girls and women. Last month, human rights group Amnesty International said that some 8,000 men and boys had died in Nigerian military custody after being detained as suspected militants. The military rejected this allegation and Mr Buhari promised an investigation, although there have been no further details. Why Boko Haram remains a threat Who are Boko Haram?

Summary: Nigeria is going to establish a domestic weapons factory in an effort to cut its dependence on imported arms, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.


Staunton won the UK Theatre Award for best performance in a musical for her role in the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Gypsy. Written in the 1950s with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy opened in Chichester a year ago and has since transferred to London's West End. The show was also named best musical production at Sunday's ceremony. Dame Eileen Atkins and choreographer Matthew Bourne received outstanding contribution awards, while Polly Lister and Joel MacCormack shared the trophy for best performance in a play. Staunton was not present to pick up her award because she was saving her voice on her day off, according to Chichester artistic director Jonathan Church. "She is, as part of her regime, lying down every Sunday," he said. Accepting the award on her behalf, he said: "UK Theatre embraces the whole range of theatres she feels passionately she created some of her finest performances in. "And of course the subsidy that enables those theatres to exist is important to her - she wanted that message to be heard." Staunton plays Momma Rose in Gypsy, which transferred to London's Savoy Theatre in April and runs until the end of November. Dame Eileen Atkins, who co-created TV dramas including Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott, said the Shakespeare Guild's Gielgud Award meant "an enormous amount". She was presented with the trophy by Sir Patrick Stewart. Other presenters at the ceremony at London's Guildhall included actors Robert Powell, Barbara Windsor, Richard Wilson and Pauline McLynn, who received one of the afternoon's biggest cheers for rounding on "London-centric critics". Matthew Bourne said receiving The Stage Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre was "very significant to me" because it was a theatre award and not just for dance. "I've had dance awards before now, if I've had anything, and I'm always thinking that dance is theatre," he said. The best new play prize went to Iphigenia In Splott, staged by Sherman Cymru and set in the Cardiff area of Splott. Its writer, Gary Own, described it as the story of "what happens to an ordinary woman in austerity Britain". He said theatre, and not TV, was now portraying those struggling to make ends meet. "In the '80s but I remember on TV there being things like The Boys From The Blackstuff - these really fierce dramas portrayals of how difficult life was becoming for ordinary people," he said. "When this recession started, we expected the big beasts of British drama to show what was happening to people. And it hasn't happened at all. So thank God theatre is still there to shout about what is happening." Newcastle Theatre Royal was named the country's most welcoming theatre - following a similar accolade for its backstage team at the Technical Theatre Awards. The UK Theatre Awards do not cover National Theatre productions or West End shows unless they have transferred from a theatre outside the capital.

Summary: Actress Imelda Staunton has been honoured at an award ceremony for the best theatre created outside London.


John Henry Jones, from Trevor, near Llangollen, went missing in 1970. His family came forward after the reconstructed face of a man found buried in Staffordshire in 1971 was shown on the BBC's Crimewatch. But Det Insp Dan Ison, of Staffordshire Police, said DNA tests showed the man was not Mr Jones. Work had been carried out by a dental expert which suggested similarities between Mr Jones's teeth and the man found in Burton-upon-Trent. "While the DNA test has not resulted in an identification of the body found in Burton, we have been able to rule Mr Jones out of our enquiries," Det Insp Ison said. "Forty-six years have passed, but the investigation remains open and we'd ask people to check the image and contact us if they have new information."

Summary: An unidentified body found buried in a shallow grave 46 years ago is not a missing man from Denbighshire, detectives have said.


The Scottish writer posted a message on his official website saying his next novel The Quarry, due to be published later this year, would be his last. The 59-year-old's novels include The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road, Complicity and the Culture series. The statement said his health problems came to light when he saw his doctor, suffering from a sore back. He was diagnosed with jaundice, before further tests established the full extent of his illness. In the personal statement on his website, Banks said he had asked his partner Adele to marry him and was now on a short honeymoon. Banks' first novel The Wasp Factory was published in 1984 and introduced the Fife-born writer as a dark new force in British literature. Described in turn as "macabre... bizarre... and depraved," the book was included in a 1997 poll of the 20th Century's top 100 books, placed higher than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Subsequent novels, including Espedair Street and The Crow Road, were adapted for radio and television and his 1993 book Complicity was made into a film in 2000, starring Trainspotting's Jonny Lee Miller. Considered one of Scotland's foremost writers, most of whose books are set in his home country, the writer ventures further afield in his parallel career as a writer of science fiction under the guise of Iain M Banks. Using his middle name of Menzies - on the advice of his publisher who said it looked "more American" for a US market - several of Banks' sci-fi works are set in the Culture universe, a semi-anarchist utopia. His most recent work in the so-called Culture series - The Hydrogen Sonata - was released last year. In its review - the Independent praised Banks' "taste for the absurd". Fellow Scottish author, Ian Rankin, said the news of Banks' terminal cancer was "just awful". He Tweeted: "Typical of Iain to propose marriage to his partner Adele with the words 'Will you do me the honour of becoming my widow?" Banks, who lives in North Queensferry, Fife, said he had cancelled all future public engagements. He said: "The bottom line now, I'm afraid, is that as a late-stage gall bladder cancer patient, I'm expected to live for 'several months' and it's extremely unlikely I'll live beyond a year. "So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last." He said the disease had spread to both lobes of his liver, and possibly his pancreas and lymph nodes. The author said there was little chance of surgeons being able to remove the tumours because of how far they had spread. He has asked his publishers to bring forward the publication of his new book to "give me a better chance of being around when it hits the shelves." Banks also praised NHS staff who have looked after him - and said he may undergo chemotherapy to extend his life when his jaundice clears up. He said: "We're all just sorry the outcome hasn't been more cheerful." Born in Fife, Banks studied

Summary: Author Iain Banks has revealed that he has late stage cancer and is unlikely to live for more than a year.


Violet D'Mello entered the enclosure for a photo next to the cats at the Kragga Kamma Game Park in Port Elizabeth earlier this year. She suffered injuries to her head, stomach and legs during the incident. The authorities in South Africa have ruled the park was not negligent. A party of visiting schoolboys and a cheetah in heat were said to have been factors in what happened. Mrs D'Mello, 60, said she survived by "playing dead". She had been on holiday with her husband Archie at the time.

Summary: A South African game reserve where an Aberdeen woman was attacked by a cheetah has been cleared of any wrongdoing.


The attacker, who was caught assaulting the woman in Holloway, north London, was jailed for six years by Blackfriars Crown Court. The case went ahead under the assumed name Aurilien Cheyroux, as the authorities could not confirm his true identity, other than him being French. The judge ruled he should be deported once his sentence was served. Passers-by saw "Cheyroux" partially-dressed and struggling with a woman on Caledonian Road in the early hours of 1 March, the court heard. He ran off, but was caught by witnesses and held until police arrived. The woman told the witnesses she was uninjured and left the scene before police arrived. The attacker told police he was a French national and gave the name used in the trial. But after taking finger prints the French authorities said the information was incorrect. They were unable to establish a true identity. Det Const Kip Malek said: "This is a highly unusual case where we have been unable to trace the victim and the man who has been convicted is under an assumed name. "Despite this we have been able to get a conviction and that is due to the brave members of the public who witnessed the attack and took it upon themselves to pursue this man and contact us." Cheyroux was found guilty of attempted rape but had previously pleading guilty to sexual assault. Det Insp Neil Smithson added: "I am still keen to ascertain his identity. Equally, if you were the victim of this offence please contact us."

Summary: A man has been jailed for attempted rape despite police not knowing who he is or finding his victim.


The object was found in the Velsheda Way and Alliance Avenue area in Ardoyne. Police closed the Ardoyne Road and Alliance Avenue during the alert. Sinn FÃ©in councillor Gerry McCabe told the BBC that he had been informed by the PSNI that a device had been thrown at a police vehicle. "They have informed me that families have been evacuated though I can't confirm exactly how many families have been evacuated." Mr McCabe added that "there are some people in the area who are sick and elderly and they need some serious medical attention". "It's unacceptable to think that these people are going to be disrupted by mindless idiots who think it's OK to throw a device at a police vehicle in a built-up area like Ardoyne."

Summary: A security alert in north Belfast has reportedly ended after a suspicious object was declared a hoax.


Edison Cavani opened the scoring from the penalty spot on Saturday, with 18-year-old Jonathan Ikone doubling PSG's lead before half-time. Lucas Moura and teenager Odsonne Edouard completed the rout in the second half at the StubHubCenter. The Foxes face Barcelona next in the competition in Stockholm on Wednesday. Claudio Ranieri's side, who start their Premier League campaign at Hull City on 13 August, beat Celtic 6-5 on penalties in their first International Champions Cup game last week. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Premier League winners Leicester City suffered a 4-0 loss to French champions Paris St-Germain in the International Champions Cup in Los Angeles.


Gerard Coyne accused Unite's current general secretary, Len McCluskey, of "dabbling in politics all the time". Mr Coyne, the union's West Midlands secretary, launched his campaign for the top job in Birmingham. Unite is Labour's biggest donor and Mr McCluskey has been one of leader Jeremy Corbyn's key backers in the face of opposition from some MPs. Mr McCluskey has already announced plans to resign as general secretary but to stand again for the position, a move which brings forward the election by a year. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Coyne's challenge would be seen by the Labour leader's allies as a political attack. She added that Mr Coyne was understood to be concerned about Mr Corbyn's anti-Trident stance given that thousands of Unite members work in the defence industry. Announcing his candidacy on his Facebook page, Mr Coyne, who has worked for the union for more than 20 years having joined as a shop worker at Sainsbury's, said: "I believe our union needs to be changed so we can get on with the only job that matters; protecting and defending our members at work." "We have got to be strong, smart and organised but we can't be distracted party politics. "As a candidate, my priority is making a real difference for you rather than playing Westminster power games. It's time we changed the union to reflect our members' priorities." Speaking after launching his campaign at Birmingham's Fort Dunlop building, Mr Coyne said: "The reality here is there's been much criticism about the fact that the general secretary and the union more generally has just been dabbling in politics all the time. "I'm not going to fall into the trap of trying to determine who the leader of the Labour Party is. "I am saying that actually my focus is on the members. "It's not a political organisation, it's a trade union." The result of the contest, which will run into next spring, will dictate who has control over a huge network of political supporters, organisation, and financial infrastructure.

Summary: A new challenger to lead the UK's largest trade union says he will stop it "playing Westminster power games".


Goodwin, who gave Trevor Francis his Blues debut, led the club to two FA Cup semi-finals and promotion to the old Division One in his time in charge, from June 1970 to September 1975. He had previously been manager of both Scunthorpe United and Brighton. During his playing career, he was a wing-half for Matt Busby's United, then Leeds before finishing at Scunthorpe. As one of the Busby Babes, he made his first team breakthrough at Old Trafford following the Munich Air Disaster in 1958. He played in the first game after Munich, just a fortnight later, when the team-sheet in the programme was famously left blank for the club's FA Cup fifth-round win over Sheffield Wednesday. And he was in the rebuilt United team all the way to Wembley, where they lost 2-0 to local rivals Bolton Wanderers. Heywood-born Goodwin also played first-class cricket over two summers, making 11 appearances as a fast bowler for his native Lancashire, in which he took a career-best 5-35 against Middlesex at Lord's in June 1955. After leaving Birmingham in 1975, Goodwin took up an offer to move to the then burgeoning North American Soccer League, where he had two spells as coach, then club president of the Minnesota Kicks. He remained in the United States for the rest of his life, and died at home in Gig Harbor, Washington State at the weekend. Birmingham City will pay tribute at Tuesday night's home game with Bolton Wanderers at St Andrew's. The players will wear black armbands and there will be a minute's applause.

Summary: Former Birmingham City manager and Manchester United player Freddie Goodwin has died at the age of 82.


It was uncovered by archaeologists working in the villa's north range in Gloucestershire. Other finds include two 4th Century Roman coins and a bone pin, and more of a mosaic which was first unearthed during a dig last year. Experts said they had also found evidence of an earlier villa, beneath the 4th Century one. National Trust archaeologist Martin Papworth said the tile was found in the changing rooms of the late Roman baths. "The top tile that we came across had lots of imprints on it and we think that they're deer footprints. "The tilers used to lay their tiles out to dry when they made them out of clay before they fired them and made them vulnerable to any animals walking around to put their prints on them. "This looks like perhaps a Roe deer walked across and mucked up the surface of the tile, but it's quite nice to see it." He said more of a mosaic, first unearthed last year, had been found. "They had put concrete down in the 1960s to mark where walls had been found, and we expected there to be no mosaic there at all, but in the grassy islands between the concrete we found this amazing mosaic which had been missed in the 1960s. "Now we know it was part of a great reception hall 18m (60ft) long by 6m (20ft) wide. It's really exciting. It's patchy, but there are some large parts of it [remaining]." He added that one of the 4th Century coins featured a Chi-Rho early Christian symbol, and was likely to be from the first Christian Roman emperor Constantine the Great.

Summary: A deer hoof print has been found on a 1,600 year-old roof tile during a dig at Chedworth Roman Villa.


The rape investigation was launched after the 21-year-old woman was attacked in Union Terrace Gardens in the early hours of 28 January. Crimestoppers has offered the reward of up to £5,000 for information that leads to conviction in the case. The charity stressed the reward would only be paid if information was passed to Crimestoppers directly. Angela Parker, the Crimestoppers national manager for Scotland, said: "This attack was on a young woman in the heart of Aberdeen. "We are now offering a substantial reward for anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers anonymously. "By contacting Crimestoppers, via the phone (0800 555 111) or our anonymous online form, we don't ask for any personal details, you won't have to speak to the police, and you won't have to go to court. Just tell us what you know, not who you are."

Summary: A £5,000 reward has been offered for information after a young woman was raped in Aberdeen earlier this year.


Pearson, 33, began his career at Motherwell before leaving to join Celtic in 2004. He returned for a second stint at Fir Park in 2015 after spells in England with Derby, Stoke and Bristol City. "This was something I was really keen to do and I want to thank everyone at Motherwell for the way they've handled this," Pearson said. "It's with a heavy heart that I go, but at the same time, I am confident the club is in decent shape, with a very good manager and some exciting young talent bubbling under the surface waiting to get their chance, alongside the excellent senior professionals already there. "I've enjoyed my second spell at Fir Park. I want to thank the fans for all their support and who knows, one day I may be back for another go at it." Pearson was under contract with Motherwell until October and the Lanarkshire club have received compensation from Atletico de Kolkata. Motherwell manager Mark McGhee said: "We are desperately disappointed to lose Stephen, but we've known for some time now that this move was on the cards. "There was absolutely no fall out, it was all extremely amicable, and we understand his personal circumstances. He leaves with the best wishes of everyone at Motherwell FC. "However, it was then incumbent upon us to try and recoup something to help us find someone else, and that's what we've done. We have been and are engaged in trying to secure a replacement and the midfield area is our priority." Meanwhile, defender Steven Hammell, Motherwell's post-war record league appearance holder with 530 games, has agreed a new two-year contract. He said: "I've never made any secret of my feelings for this club, so there is no one happier that my future is sorted out and I can get on with my football."

Summary: Motherwell midfielder Stephen Pearson has left the club to join Indian Super League side Atletico de Kolkata.


The report also recommends giving newly elected members a guide to London transport to help avoid confusion. Some new MPs said they struggled with Oyster cards - the travel passes used on buses and the Underground - when they arrived at Westminster. The report was produced by the Commons Administration Committee. Newly-elected MPs face the twin challenge of learning the sometimes arcane rules and procedures of the House and finding their feet in London, if they have not lived there before. Martyn Day, one of 56 new SNP MPs elected in 2015, said he initially struggled to get to grips with the city's Oyster card system. "I come from a town where I can pay by cash and get change, but if you do that everybody shouts at you on the bus," said the Linlithgow and East Falkirk MP. The mock debate idea comes from New Zealand's parliament. Parliamentary Clerk Assistant, John Benger, told the committee practice debates, held on a "party-by party" basis could help new members understand some of the more arcane Commons rules and traditions. Labour's Jess Phillips, elected to represent Birmingham Yardley in 2015, told the committee new MPs were often worried about making a mistake in their first weeks. More Commons rules When MPs arrive at Westminster for the first time they gather at a New Members' Reception Area, where they are issued with security passes, IT equipment and access to expenses and travel office accounts. At the last election the Parliamentary authorities launched a "buddy" system which paired up the new arrivals with members of staff who showed them how the place worked. The scheme was judged a success by the administration committee in its report. But the practice of giving MPs lockers in committee rooms and allowing them to "hot desk" while waiting to be given their own office - introduced at the last election - was criticised on data protection grounds. "There is not enough space in the locker after four weeks of correspondence coming in, so correspondence gets left in the committee rooms and, as soon as that happens, the member is breaking the law. It is a problem," said Emily Knight, of the Members' and Peers' Staff Association.

Summary: New MPs should take part in mock debates to build up confidence before entering the Commons bear pit, a committee of senior MPs has said.


The celebrated US fashion designer was found dead in her New York flat on Monday in an apparent suicide. Sir Mick earlier said he failed "to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way". In a statement on their website, the band thanked fans for their support. They said: "The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry and disappointed to announce the postponement of the rest of their 14 On Fire tour of Australia and New Zealand following the death of L'Wren Scott. "Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood wish to thank all of their fans for their support at this difficult time and hope that they will fully understand the reason for this announcement. "The Rolling Stones are planning to reschedule these postponed shows at a later date." The British rock band had been due to begin the tour in Perth on Wednesday, having flown in to the Western Australian city on Sunday. On his website, Sir Mick, who started dating Scott in 2001, said they had spent "many wonderful years together". He described his partner as having "had great presence" and said "her talent was much admired, not least by me". Sir Mick added: "I have been touched by the tributes that people have paid to her, and also the personal messages of support that I have received. I will never forget her." Scott, 49, was found by her assistant at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Monday. Ninety minutes earlier, Scott had sent her assistant a text message asking her to come to her Manhattan apartment, without specifying the reason why, the Associated Press news agency reported. Police said there was no sign of foul play and no note has been found. Supermodel Naomi Campbell, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and singer Madonna were among those who were fans of the designer. The former model founded her own high-end fashion label in 2006 and created a more affordable line of clothes with Banana Republic. She was also a costume consultant on films including Ocean's Thirteen and Eyes Wide Shut. Wintour described Scott as "a total perfectionist... always unbelievably generous, gracious, kind and so much fun." Madonna wrote in a statement: "This is a horrible and tragic loss. I'm so upset. I loved L'Wren's work and she was always so generous with me." Actress Nicole Kidman, said to be a friend of many years, was "heartbroken and in shock right now and unable to say anything", according to a spokeswoman. Bianca Jagger, one of Sir Mick's former wives, tweeted: "Heartbroken to learn of the loss of the lovely and talented L'Wren Scott. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. May she rest in peace." The UK's Press Complaints Commission (PCC) told the BBC it had received a small number of complaints from the public over images published which apparently showed an upset Sir Mick at the time he was told Scott had died. It is understood the singer has not yet complained personally, but the PCC said it would deal with the

Summary: The Rolling Stones have postponed their Australia and New Zealand tour after the death of Sir Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott.


Media playback is not supported on this device The midfielder agreed personal terms with the Canaries this week and, having passed his medical, he has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal. "He can add goals to our midfield, which I think we need," said Norwich manager Paul Lambert. "He'll get better as a player the higher the level he goes up. If he does that he'll be a great player for us." Former England Under-21 international Howson, a product of the Leeds academy, has made almost 200 appearances since his debut in 2006, but his contract was due to expire in the summer. He has featured 22 times for his home town club this season, although he has not played since picking up a knee injury in the 2-0 win over Millwall at the beginning of December. Meanwhile, Lambert has outlined a back injury as the reason for terminating the season-long loan of Manchester United defender Ritchie de Laet five months early. The 23-year-old Belgian has played seven times for the Canaries, but has not featured since the 2-0 Premier League loss to Tottenham on 27 December. "Ritchie's done great for us," said Lambert. "But he has a back injury which was keeping him out for periods of time."

Summary: Norwich City have completed the signing of 23-year-old Leeds captain Jonny Howson for an undisclosed fee.


The attack, at Warrenpoint station, happened in the early hours of Sunday. Officers returning from patrol at about 03:30 GMT, found that a petrol bomb had been thrown over the perimeter wall into the yard of the station. It had smashed, but failed to ignite, and caused minor damage to a car parked in the yard. Insp Colin Patterson said: "We will be viewing footage from the station security cameras, but I would also like to appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the vicinity of the police station or who has any information to contact officers in Warrenpoint on 101." SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie said it was "a cowardly attack". "This attack represents a very clear attempt by an extreme minority to return south Down to the past," she said.

Summary: A petrol bomb has been thrown at a police station in County Down.


It was hoped the size of the clothing optional section of coastline in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, would be increased after tidal activity rendered the current area "uncomfortable" to sit on. But the town council blocked the move. British Naturism said the decision was "ridiculous" and "offensive" to its members. The council was unconvinced by the argument the tide had washed away pebbles on the beach and left rock behind, making it "too uncomfortable" for naturists. Its foreshore and footpaths committee said naturists could still use the beach if they put a "towel or lilo down" and voted against extending it by 200 yards (183m) eastwards. Andrew Welch, from British Naturism, said: "Naturism is not illegal and we don't need designated places so it is offensive for any social group like ours to be treated in this way. "It harks back to the 1950s and we want to show these ridiculous authority figures that they are wrong and completely out of touch." Town mayor Courtney Richards said if the nudist beach was extended it would be about 200 yards from the town's beach huts. "Budleigh Salterton is a family friendly town and I feel it is something families could do without, so I have a problem with them coming nearer to the town," he said. "And I think the majority of people in Budleigh Salterton would not want that either." However, Mr Welch said the council should designate a new beach for naturists. The closest alternative is Weston Mouth, near Branscombe, about 10 miles away. East Devon District Council, which owns the beach, has also been asked if the site can be moved but has made no decision. A spokeswoman said it would work with the town council on the request. The "nude" section of Budleigh beach was first designated in the 1970s.

Summary: Naturists have branded a decision to deny their bid to extend a section of nudist beach as "old-fashioned".


A report by NHS Shetland has suggested the move, in a bid to curb excessive drinking. About three-quarters of all alcohol consumed in Scotland is now bought from supermarkets or off licences. The proposal will be considered by the local licensing board after the council elections next year. Elizabeth Robinson, one of the report authors from NHS Shetland, told BBC Scotland: "People with alcohol problems have told us that they can go out the next morning and buy alcohol at 10am. "If there was just a bit of a longer break until some time in the afternoon that would really help them. "You can buy your 14 units a week for about Â£3 in Shetland. "People tend to pour larger drinks at home." However, shopkeeper Jordan Thomason said: "I think such a drastic increase in time runs the risk of people buying too much alcohol and then it could have the opposite effect of what they are trying to do."

Summary: A proposal that supermarkets and off licences should only be able to sell alcohol later in the day is to be considered in Shetland.


He left virtually all contact with the outside world to his foreign minister, Wakil Ahmad Mutawakkil and the last known audio recording of him was in 2006 - even this was leaked and not meant for public consumption. Yet he remained a powerful figure in Afghanistan, the undisputed leader of the Taliban and dubbed "commander of the faithful", a title with great resonance in Islamic history. On 29 July 2015 the Afghan government announced that he had died in a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan in April 2013. No more details were provided. He was replaced as Taliban leader by Mullah Akhtar Mansour the following day. According to a biography published by the Taliban in April 2015, Mullah Mohammed Omar was born in 1960 in the village of Chah-i-Himmat, in the Khakrez district of Kandahar province, in the south of the country. It is thought he later attended the Darul Uloom Haqqania, a madrassa in Pakistan. This Islamic seminary has been dubbed "the University of Jihad" and boasted a number of future radical leaders among its students. Mullah Omar abandoned his studies to join the forces resisting the the Soviet occupation in 1980s but only rose to the level of small-time commander. He never did any practical field commanding during the Taliban's 1994-96 campaign that culminated in their capture of Kabul. But the localised uprising that he led against former Mujahideen warlords in the Kandahar area in 1994 earned him wide respect and is regarded by some as a catalyst for the Taliban movement that followed. He was wounded a number of times during this period, including an eye injury caused by shrapnel. It was after the capture of Kabul that he was elected the movement's supreme leader. During this period Omar began his long association with the al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Mullah Omar vigorously defended his friend against allegations that he masterminded the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, accusing the US of trying to cover up their own intelligence failures. Bin Laden is believed to have at least partially financed the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The ties may go further. It was thought that Mullah Omar had taken Bin Laden's eldest daughter as a wife, and that Bin Laden may even have taken one of Mullah Omar's daughters as a fourth wife. The two were reported to have spoken daily by satellite telephone, and some reports suggested they also met for fishing trips. Under Mullah Omar's rule, a strict interpretation of Islamic law was imposed on Afghanistan under Taliban control. Women were strongly discouraged from leaving their homes, denied schooling and jobs and forced to fully cover themselves. Women found guilty of adultery were stoned to death, homosexuals crushed under brick walls, thieves' hands amputated and murderers publicly executed by victims' families. Edicts from Mullah Omar included the death sentence for anyone converting to another religion, as well as the infamous orders to destroy the country's ancient Buddha statues at Bamiyan. It was Mullah Omar's backing for Osama Bin Laden that brought the US-led campaign to

Summary: Mullah Omar was a reclusive figure even before his Taliban government fell from power in late 2001 and he was forced into hiding.


In a video released hours ahead of his official launch in Miami, the 62-year-old brother of ex-president George W Bush declared: "I'm ready to lead." He also promised to protect the country's most vulnerable and remove the barriers to social mobility. But doubts persist among conservatives in his party. And early polling suggests that he has yet to dominate a wide field of Republican candidates. In his latest video, entitled The Greatest Century, he strikes a very optimistic note, saying: "I see a great country on the verge of its greatest century, and I'm ready to lead." The Bush team may have hoped their man would have built a clear lead in the polls by now, but the consensus view is he's currently just one in a pack of frontrunners. Recent interviews with campaign strategists indicate that they are going to start using the millions of dollars at their disposal to target opponents they consider most threatening - namely, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. In his opening campaign video, Mr Bush emphasised his positive, optimistic vision for the future, saying some politicians "talk about problems; I see solutions". But in the coming months, the fight for the Republican presidential nomination could get nasty. Although his campaign becomes official on Monday, it's been no secret for many months and his team is well on the way to raising a $100m war chest. During a tour of Europe last week, Mr Bush warned he would not waver from his core beliefs, even if some are unpopular in his party. "I'm not going to change who I am," he said. "I respect people who may not agree with me, but I'm not going to change my views because today someone has a view that's different." In a separate video, called Making A Difference, he champions the rights of women, ethnic minorities and the disabled. "My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line and not the back,'' he says. "What we need is new leadership that takes conservative principles and applies them so that people can rise up." Profile: Jeb Bush A Spanish language video was also released, demonstrating his strong Hispanic links - his wife Columba is Mexican and he speaks Spanish well. But in recent weeks he has found himself on the defensive over the Iraq War - led by his older brother, President George W Bush - as he stumbled to clarify his position. The issue brought into focus the problems he may face over his famous surname and the baggage that comes with it. He becomes the 11th Republican to declare, with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Florida Senator Marco Rubio among his biggest rivals. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is the clear frontrunner. This raises the possibility in 2016 of another Clinton-Bush race like that of 1992, when Mrs Clinton's husband Bill beat Jeb Bush's father, President George HW Bush. US 2016: Meet the possible candidates

Summary: Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has pledged to fix America as he launches his bid to become the Republican nominee for president.