During her maiden speech, the Glasgow entrepreneur quoted the words from "Greatest Love Of All". She said she loved music and cherished the song's line: "I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way." Baroness Mone of Mayfair was appointed a Tory peer in August last year. In her 10-minute address on Monday she spoke about her life growing up in "a tenement flat in the east end of Glasgow with no bath or shower and only a cupboard for a bedroom". The 44-year-old said: "I wondered whether I would fit in here, but I should not have worried. "I am endlessly grateful for the guidance and support from all the officers and everyone who works in this wonderful house, and for the kindness and warmth of welcome from members on all sides." Baroness Mone went on to say that her dyslexia had made her first Lords speech "harder than any business I have ever started". The mother-of-three began her lingerie business 17 years ago. She boasts of global success and is an established public speaker. Baroness Mone ended her address by highlighting the inspiration she had found from American singer Whitney Houston who died in 2012. She told a small gathering of peers: "I love music and I would like to share with you the words of a song by the late, great Whitney Houston, which inspired me when I was growing up. "I normally sing this at karaoke, but on the advice of our wonderful doorkeepers, I thought I would spare your Lordships' ears: 'I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way'." The "Greatest Love of All" was originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson and covered by Whitney Houston in 1985. In response to Baroness Mone's speech, fellow House of Lords member, Lord Fowler, said: "My lords, it is such a pity that the noble baroness did not burst into song, but there we are. "It is a great pleasure to follow her and to congratulate her on her maiden speech, which was by any standards quite outstanding - I say that quite sincerely."

Summary: New peer Michelle Mone has told the House of Lords that she was inspired as a child by the lyrics of a "late, great Whitney Houston" song.


Lesley Bate faces 13 charges over her role as a social worker with Fife Council between 2011 and 2014. Mrs Bate has chosen not to appear before the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) conduct sub-committee. She was a member of the Glenrothes Child Protection Team who managed Liam Fee's case. Two-year-old Liam was murdered by his mother and her partner at their home in Thornton, Fife, in March 2014. It is alleged Mrs Bate failed to follow up referrals more than a year earlier about bruising to Liam's face and a sore neck. The charges against Mrs Bate relate to 16 different children, including several allegations that she "failed to take necessary steps to minimise actual or potential risk of harm" for them. The committee heard that in the months following Liam's death, Mrs Bate had been under a disciplinary investigation and had been off sick. When she returned she was moved to the Children and Families Team based in Dunfermline. Her manager James Ross told the hearing he had tried to "help and support" Mrs Bate on her return, but that her work had been "poor". Mr Ross said she was given a case to handle in which the father of an unborn child had been charged with 21 offences of domestic and sexual violence against women. However, Mrs Bate neglected to mention that in a report going before an Initial Child Protection Case Conference. In another case involving concerns of neglect over children, the hearing was told she failed to undertake planned weekly visits with the express aim of "keeping children safe", claiming she "forgot". In a further case, Mrs Bate dropped a letter outside her office building containing "the most sensitive information possible" about children she was working with - a document later found in the street by a neighbour. Mr Ross said: "There had been a lengthy investigation into Lesley's work before she came to my team. "That had concluded she be given an opportunity to practise elsewhere in the service. "She was probably the most erratic person I have worked with. "She was fine when there was no work to be undertaken - but the minute anything was required she failed to undertake it." He added: "She absolutely could not understand risk at that point and I had a real concern about her visiting families and drawing a conclusion about what the information was telling her. "She was very disorganised and presented chaotically. "I constantly tidied up for her because I wanted the children to be safe." The hearing was told that Mrs Bate has relinquished her registration as a social worker with the SSSC but does not admit any of the charges against her. The hearing continues at the SSSC headquarters in Dundee.

Summary: A senior social worker has told a hearing that a colleague involved in the case of murdered Fife toddler Liam Fee was "disorganised and chaotic".


Wydad were 1-0 winners over 10-man Zanaco of Zambia to move top of the group, with record eight-time champions Al Ahly beating Cameroon's Coton Sport 3-1. That put Ahly level on points with Zanaco, and with identical head-to-heads, Ahly went through, above the Zambians, on goal difference. Zanaco knew a point in Casablanca would have been enough to put them into the last eight, but they were thwarted by a 68th-minute goal from Wydad's Achraf Bencharki in front of the 80,000-capacity stadium. Bencharki's goal came nine minutes after Zanaco defender Taonga Bwenbya was sent off having been yellow-carded a second time. It was the first Champions League loss suffered by Zanaco this season and only the third goal they had conceded after four wins and five draws in qualifying and group matches. Al Ahly, who began their match against Coton Sport knowing only a win would take them through to the knockout stage for the first time since 2013, suffered an early setback. They fell behind at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria after 12 minutes when veteran defender Ahmed Fathy conceded an own-goal. Amr Gamal came to Ahly's rescue with an equaliser and he also scored the third Ahly goal after Abdallah El Said had given the Cairo club a 2-1 half-time lead. It means four North African clubs have now reach the Champions League quarter-finals, with Esperance and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia already through. There will also be at least two quarter-finalists from southern Africa - defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique who went through after Al Hilal and Al Merreikh were disqualified following Sudan's global Fifa ban.

Summary: Al Ahly of Egypt and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured their place in the African Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday as North African clubs prevailed in the final Group D matches.


"Lets go and see the celery rig," says John Shropshire. I'm intrigued by the Mad Max-style vehicle I can see across the green fields. Green, that is, with celery. The smell of the stuff fills the air, crunches under foot, fills the view up to the horizon, from an ever-so-pastel, whiter shade of green to a green so deep it is almost black. But I'll pause and do some explaining before we get to that celery rig. This farm is in the Fens, one of the areas with one of the highest Leave votes in the country, though it's also not far from Cambridge, one of the highest Remain vote areas. Mr Shropshire has a business to run, but he's spending too much time these days, he tells, me, trying to persuade people what Mrs May mustn't allow Brexit to mean. His company is huge: G's Fresh has a turnover of Â£420m a year, employing 6,000 people worldwide. It owns farms growing lettuce in Spain, spring onions in Senegal, beetroot in the US and, here and in Poland, celery. He employs 2,500 people from Eastern and Central Europe in the high season, and he doesn't think Brexit will change either his need, or the actual supply. "Nobody wants the seasonal jobs - maybe they want the permanent jobs. Let's face it, it is higher status in Britain to be on the dole than to be a cleaner. "It's a nice evening in these fields at the moment, but it can be raining, it can be very hot and after a day on the celery rig you don't need to work out in the gym. Five per cent unemployment is incredibly low. The reason we've got immigration is that we've created too many jobs." He says that's not going to change: the government will find a solution. "We've had access since long before we joined the EU to people from Eastern Europe. There was a seasonal agricultural workers scheme that was brought in in 1948. We need foreign workers to come." He shows me where the workers live. "It's not the Ritz," he says cheerfully. Stefania is sitting by a small table, knees drawn up to her chin, looking rather elfin in front of the cluttered dorm room, narrow but not that long, with six bunk beds, and pots and pans on the shelves. She says the work is not too hard and her English is getting better. But she's sad about the vote. "Not so good, because it's not good for Romanian people. I think we will have to go home." Evelina from Bulgaria thinks there'll be another referendum: "I hope they will make a list of those who want a second vote." Agnieszka from Poland shakes her head. "I honestly don't think so, but I hope things work out. It's not fair, we don't want to go out." Angel from Bulgaria says: "The consequences will be terrible, very big. I don't want to say economic catastrophe, but disaster anyway. People wanted immigrants out of the country, not the country out of

Summary: If Brexit means farmers cannot get the foreign workers they rely on, or it hits efficiency, could more production switch abroad?


Police said a man, 27, from Birmingham, who was earlier in custody, and a 39-year-old woman who was on bail have been released with no further action. Four people died and 50 were injured when Khalid Masood drove his car into pedestrians before stabbing a police officer. He was shot dead by police. Fourteen people remain in hospital. PC Keith Palmer was guarding Parliament when he was stabbed by Masood. He was unarmed, but the Metropolitan Police have confirmed that he was wearing a protective vest. A post-mortem examination heard that there was no obvious evidence the vest had been damaged or penetrated, but it had been cut off when emergency first aid was given, the Met said. It added that the coroner had requested that the provisional cause of death was not released at this stage. Eleven people were initially arrested over the incident. In a statement, the Met Police said the 39-year-old woman who was arrested in east London on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts had been released. Another women, aged 32, who was arrested in Manchester, remains on police bail while police continue their inquiries, it said. The 58-year-old, who is still in custody, was arrested in Birmingham the morning after the attack under the Terrorism Act, meaning officers can hold him for up to two weeks. Police are trying to establish whether Masood acted alone inspired by terrorist propaganda or if others supported him. They are also looking into whether he used the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to send a message two minutes before he struck. Masood's other victims were Aysha Frade, who was in her 40s and worked at a London sixth-form college, US tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, and retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, from south London. Janine Roebuck, a friend of 75-year-old Mr Rhodes, said he was "immensely proud" to have cleaned the windows at Chartwell - the Kent home of Sir Winston Churchill - for "many years". "He was exceptionally fit for a man of his age. I would turn around and he had bounded up the ladder like someone half his age," she told BBC News. "I am filled with huge sorrow that his life has been snatched from him in such an untimely manner." The attack has brought into question security levels at Parliament, prompting a review by police and Parliamentary authorities. Lord Blair, a former Met Police Commissioner who was in charge during the 2005 London bombings, said he was "absolutely certain that there will have to be changes" to the area near the entrance gates where PC Palmer was stabbed. He refused to criticise officers for leaving the gates unguarded immediately after the attack, saying "at that moment they were behaving as human beings". "That incident will have gripped them completely. They will know that the cavalry of the serious armed officers are on their way," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. London attack: The victims The path from violent crime to killer The Metropolitan Police said Masood, 52, who had previous criminal convictions but none for terrorism, had

Summary: A 58-year-old man is still being held by police over the Westminster attack, as two others are released without charge.


The south coast side have never featured in the last eight and will now host eight-time winners Liverpool at the Goldsands Stadium. Derby have a home tie against Premier League leaders Chelsea, while League One Sheffield United welcome high-flying Southampton. Newcastle, who knocked out holders Manchester City, travel to Tottenham. The ties will be played in the week beginning 15 December. Sheffield United reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season and are enjoying another good cup run after knocking out MK Dons in the previous round. Championship leaders Derby are rewarded for coming from 2-0 down to beat Fulham 5-2 with a home draw against the Premier League leaders. Bournemouth - the third of the non-Premier League sides left in the competition - eliminated West Brom on Tuesday. Full quarter-final draw: Derby v Chelsea Tottenham v Newcastle Bournemouth v Liverpool Sheffield United v Southampton

Summary: Championship side Bournemouth will play Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup.


Stephen Jamieson, 28, is reported to have attached a pillow round his waist to avoid being injured by razor wire. He was serving a 12-year sentence for armed robbery. He is reported to have escaped after cutting through a gate at the back of a small secure exercise yard attached to his cell. "He was able to get out of that exercise yard and then he had a range of bed sheets that he tied together and was able to swing them over the wall to then effect his escape by scaling that wall," New South Wales Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin told ABC News. "It appears that he also had a pillow [that was] put around his waist and enabled him to make good his escape over the razor wire." Commissioner Severin said Jamieson had a history of trying to escape and was put into solitary confinement after a man-made hole was discovered inside a workshop at the prison. "He was clearly somebody that was in maximum security for all the right reasons and furthermore he was actually segregated in the maximum security section," he said. The commissioner said that the escape was "a very serious matter" and would be the subject of an intensive security review because there was "absolutely no excuse for anybody being able to escape from maximum security". A huge manhunt for Jamieson is now under way.

Summary: A maximum security prisoner has staged an audacious escape in the Australian state of New South Wales by tying bed sheets together to climb over a wall.


Samir Hussain suffered severe burns and was scarred for life in the unprovoked attack in the Cineworld car park in Crawley, West Sussex, in August 2015. Michael McPherson, 28, from south-west London, threw the acid after leaving a screening of Straight Outta Compton. At an earlier hearing at Hove Crown Court, he admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Lee Bates, also from south-west London, was with McPherson at the time of the attack. He admitted common assault in February, and was given a two-year conditional discharge for his role in the attack. Mr Hussain, 29, from Redhill in Surrey, still has to wear a mask to protect his face, and has had several skin grafts. He suffered severe burns to his face, neck and right arm.

Summary: A man who threw sulphuric acid into the face of a shop worker outside a cinema has been jailed for eight years.


They have become two of the most recognisable estates in the country, after appearing as the backdrop for films such as Harry Brown and numerous TV shows including the The Bill and Spooks. It is the sheer size of the estates that is a draw to directors. With long lines, corridors and walkways, they can be a film-maker's dream. But as a result of complaints, Southwark Council has enforced strict guidelines for anyone wanting to film on the Aylesbury or Heygate housing estates. "I don't want to see any filming on the Aylesbury that portrays violence and all the things that are not right for the estate," says Jean Bartlett, who speaks on behalf of the Aylesbury Residents and Tenants Association. On iPlayer Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Front Row she admits the locals have, in the past, welcomed stars and film crews. "We all did (welcome them) at first because there was funding coming from the film companies. "I think that over time time it was the same subjects being used.... violence, drugs and run-down areas, which then portrayed the estate as a hell-hole." The 2009 film Harry Brown, starring Sir Michael Caine, depicted an elderly man living in fear of violent gangs. Other gritty television programmes filmed on the estates have also included gang drama Top Boy. Jean is also unhappy at the way the location has been used in the Channel 4 promotional trailer. "Every time I see the logo it makes me cringe. They put washing hanging out in areas that doesn't even have washing. "They put loads of rubbish across the whole of the area. It's absolutely terrible." In 1997 the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, chose the Aylesbury Estate to make his first major speech outside of Parliament. At that time, the estate symbolised the problems of urban deprivation and despair. Mr Blair unveiled his vision for regenerating Britain's inner cities and underlined his government's determination to tackle the issues and declared that there must not be any "no hope areas". British rapper, Tinie Tempah, grew up on Aylesbury Estate and his memories of living there are in tune with some of the darker sides of films shot there. "I remember growing up and seeing grey, very narrow walkways which are sort of prone to conflict. "You can only walk past the same person so many times without someone saying 'Who are you?' or 'What's all this about?' "There were very grubby lifts where people would urinate. Those high-rises, when you wake up in the morning, they don't inspire you - you don't feel the need to want to get out of there." Unique memory Despite millions of pounds being spent on regeneration over the years, the Aylesbury Estate, together with the neighbouring Heygate Estate, are in the process of being demolished and rebuilt. These two projects will cost Â£3.9bn and involve the construction of hundreds of new homes, shops and open spaces and the rebuilding of several schools. But the film director Joe Cornish, who made the science fiction hit Attack The Block on the

Summary: Many people would enjoy opening their front door to see a Hollywood star making their new movie, but residents living in the Aylesbury and Heygate housing estates in South London have had enough of film-makers.


The message, "Curry my yougrt (sic), oil my AK-47", was spray-painted on a wall outside DUP councillor George Duddy's house. Part of the graffiti refers to comments made in the Northern Ireland Assembly when DUP MP Gregory Campbell said: "Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer." Mr Duddy said: "This is a personal attack on me and my family." "There have been almost 30 incidents like this in the Coleraine area in the past year," he told BBC Radio Foyle. "They come like thieves in the night and do what they do. They aren't man enough to come and make comments to my face." He added: "There is only so much security around your home you can take. I will not be moving from my home. "We have met with the PSNI recently but they haven't been making progress in catching anyone due to lack of evidence. "People should come forward and report what they know. "I have made it quite clear before that if people have an issue with me they should come and speak to me." Last month, Mr Campbell, who is MP for East Londonderry, began an address to the assembly with: "Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer" in imitation of the Irish sentence "go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle" which translates as "thank you, Speaker". Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson has condemned the attack. "The repeated attacks on Councillor Duddy's house represent a campaign of hatred and intimidation against a public representative," he added. SDLP MLA John Dallat said on Monday: "Councillor Duddy should be allowed to represent in the area without these attacks. "The people doing this need caught."

Summary: The police have said graffiti sprayed on the home of the mayor of Coleraine is being treated as a hate crime.


Anna Lewis, 27, who lives in Fishponds, was last seen leaving Southmead Hospital on 13 April. Avon and Somerset Police said they were increasingly concerned for her welfare and specialist teams were searching in north and central Bristol. Ms Lewis is described as white, about 5ft 5in tall, of slim build, with brown eyes and long dark brown hair. Det Insp Roger Doxsey, who confirmed foul play was not currently suspected in the case, thanked the public for their support and said all potential sightings are being followed up. He said officers are concentrating on remote outdoor areas as Ms Lewis, who tends to wear her hair in a low ponytail, was known to go on camping trips. She often wears jeans or walking trousers, hiking boots and loose jumpers. Ms Lewis was reported missing on Friday by her family, who do not live locally. Det Insp Doxsey said: "We are supporting Anna's parents and are keeping them fully updated on our inquiry as it progresses. "We're also working with UWE Bristol and Southmead Hospital to try and find out as much as we can about Anna and her movements in the days before she went missing."

Summary: A trainee nurse who went missing from Bristol has been reportedly seen 10 times since a search for her began.


Andy Beynon, 52, from Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, died on the B4268 between Pentre Meyrick Cross and Llysworney. His wife said he was the "love of my life" who dedicated his time to helping children with special needs. The crash involved Mr Beynon's motorbike and a Land Rover Freelander. In a statement, his wife Dawn said: "Andy lost his life enjoying one of his many pleasures - riding his motorcycle. "He was out that day giving his free time to teach others how to become a better rider. "He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother - a family man - with many, many friends. "He dedicated his time to help others and work tirelessly helping children with exceptional special needs. The children utterly adored him - he just had that 'special gift' to make them smile."

Summary: A motorcyclist killed in a crash in the Vale of Glamorgan on Saturday has been described as "the love of my life" by his wife.


Nearly half the roughly four million children displaced in the region are not in school, according to a new report by the Malala Fund. They risk becoming a "lost generation", Ms Yousafzai warned. The BBC's Lyse Doucet was given exclusive access to the report ahead of its release on Friday. Ms Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban after campaigning for education for girls in Pakistan, has been raising awareness of the lack of education for Syrian refugees. A growing number of Syrian girls are already teenage brides, or working in farms and factories, our chief international correspondent reports from the Jordanian capital, Amman. Major donors are under pressure from Syria's neighbouring countries to provide substantial long-term support if they wish to convince Syrian families to stay in the region instead of heading to Europe. "It's time for the world to match their commitment to get every Syrian child back in school," Malala Yousafzai told me in an email. The 18 year-old campaigner for children's rights will be attending the London Conference with 17-year-old Syrian education activist Muzoon Almellehan, whose family recently settled in the UK. "My generation is not lost," she insists. But the longer Syrian children stay out school, the greater the risk they will not return. British officials say it is not a realistic goal to get them back in class by the end of the next academic year. But they are still pushing hard. UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening told me: "We must ensure Syria's children do not become a lost generation." According to the report by Ms Yousafzai's's charitable fund, donors have provided only 37% of the money needed to supply resources such as school places and teachers. It says $1.4bn (Â£1bn) a year is urgently needed to plug the gap. Ms Yousafzai has warned that children are being deprived of education at a time when they begin to form into future doctors, teachers, and engineers. The report comes ahead of next week's Syria Conference in London, where donors will be asked to pledge that all Syrian refugee children in the region should be in school by the end of the next academic year. But even Nordic countries, which have been taking the lead on funding, are indicating that they may need to divert money to educate Syrians arriving in their countries. According to Ms Yousafzai, neighbouring countries are already bearing too much of the cost of educating Syrian refugees.

Summary: Campaigner Malala Yousafzai has called for more to be done to educate millions of Syrian refugee children displaced within the country and its neighbours.


Joanne Lees said she believed his missing body could still be found. The 43-year-old returned to the Outback as part of a TV special, revisiting the place where the 28-year-old was shot. Bradley Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Mr Falconio and assaulting Ms Lees, then 27, on a remote stretch of highway on July 14 2001. The murder took place near Barrow Creek, about 200 miles north of Alice Springs. The couple, from Huddersfield, were travelling when Murdoch waved down their camper van and shot Mr Falconio in the head. Ms Lees was threatened with a gun, punched in the head and bound with cable-tie restraints before she managed to escape, hiding in bushes for hours while her attacker stalked her with a dog. Murdoch is believed to have hidden Mr Falconio's body, which has never been found, despite extensive searches. Ms Lees said she had "no choice" but to run from Murdoch because "it was either run or be raped and killed". In adverts for the special edition of 60 Minutes, she says: "Pete's still missing. I know that he's somewhere here." Asked if she is "stepping inside" her attacker's mind, she says: "I guess it is a very alien thing for me to do because I'm not a violent person. "I'm not a murderer but if that's what I have to do and that's how I'm gong to find Pete then that's what I'm prepared to do." She adds: "It's because I love Pete so much and I want to bring him home and I need to bring him home." Northern Territory Police renewed its appeal to help find his remains last year. The interview will be aired on Channel Nine in Australia at 21:40 GMT on Sunday.

Summary: The girlfriend of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio has gone back to Australia 15 years after his death to "bring him home".


The Swiss-based drinks bottling firm rose 3.46% in early trading. Broadcaster ITV and DIY group Kingfisher were both up more than 1%, while oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and BP both fell by less than 1% On the currency markets, the pound was down slightly against the dollar, falling 0.15% to $1.5752, and down 0.04% against the euro.

Summary: (Open) The UK's benchmark FTSE 100 index opened 0.26% higher at 6,991.36 points, led by Coca-Cola HBC AG.


The officer, Ahmed al-Mreyssi, died after being repeatedly run over during anti-government protests. The court upheld a life sentence given to a second man in the case. Bahrain and its Sunni royal family have been shaken by unrest since pro-democracy protests began in 2011. Most protesters are from the Shia majority. The death sentence was confirmed on Wednesday for Ali al-Taweel, and the sentence to life imprisonment for Ali Shamlo. Lawyers for the two men have said they will appeal against the decision at the court of cassation in a final effort to have the sentences reduced. Bahrain's largest opposition political party Al Wefaq denounced Wednesday's decision and said confessions used as evidence in convicting the two men were extracted by torture. The Gulf island kingdom has been wracked by nearly two years of violence that followed the clearing of an iconic landmark, Pearl Roundabout, in the capital Manama, in February 2011. As violence escalated 35 people, including five police officers, were killed. Hundreds more were hurt and thousands jailed - the vast majority Shia Muslims. Since then, opposition and human rights activists say another 45 people have been killed, a figure which the government disputes. In October last year two policemen died of injuries sustained during clashes with protesters in villages outside Manama. Last December, a Bahraini court commuted to life imprisonment the death sentences of two other protesters convicted of killing two policemen in another incident in 2011.

Summary: A Bahraini appeals court on Wednesday upheld a death sentence against a protester convicted of murdering a policeman in March 2011.


They were forced to hand over property including bank cards, cash, mobile phones and wallets by a man who contacted them on the site Fabguys.com. Police said during one of the robberies a man was threatened at knifepoint and they believe the three crimes are linked. Two of the victims were from Reading and one was from Frimley in Surrey. The first victim, aged in his twenties, arranged to meet a man online at about 22:00 GMT on 9 February in Victoria Park in Reading. A man arrived, threatened him with a knife, and demanded his phone and bank card, which he used to withdraw money. Then on 14 February a 56-year-old man arranged a meeting in his home in the Tilehurst area at about 02:00 GMT. The suspect asked his victim to turn off the lights and light a candle, then demanded his wallet and also stole his bicycle. Both suspects were black, slim, 5ft 8ins to 6ft tall, and aged 20 to 25-years-old. A man in his 40s arranged a meeting at midnight on the same day his home in the Warren Rise area of Frimley after getting in contact via the site's app. When inside his house the suspect robbed the victim of his wallet, mobile phone and iWatch. PC Jim Bone from Reading CID said: "I would like to remind everyone of the need to be careful when you are arranging to meet people online." A police spokeswoman added that people using other dating websites could also be targeted. A spokesman from Fabguys.com said: "We're by far the biggest gay site in the UK so when tens of thousands of men are arranging meets each day, there is the potential for bad encounters. "We're working with the police to assist them with their enquiry." He added that tips for safe meetings were offered to users via its website.

Summary: Three men have been targeted in a series of robberies after using a gay dating website to arrange meetings.


Here's BBC Sport's day-by-day guide so you know when the medals will be won, and which events to monitor closely. All times BST Athletics (men's marathon T12, T46, T54, women's marathon T12, T54), wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball (men's gold). 13:00 - GB's Derek Rae in the men's T46 marathon 13:00 - Japan v Canada in wheelchair rugby bronze medal match 13:00 - Egypt v Brazil in sitting volleyball bronze medal match 16:00 - Bosnia and Herzegovina v Iran in sitting volleyball gold medal match 16:30 - GB's David Weir & Simon Lawson in the men's T54 marathon 16:30 - Australia v USA in sitting volleyball gold medal match 16:31 - USA's Tatyana McFadden in the women's T54 marathon 23:30 - Closing ceremony Brit watch Before the closing ceremony, there are still medals up for grabs with David Weir entered in the T54 marathon, which will take place along five laps at Fort Copacabana (16:30) along with Simon Lawson, who won silver at last year's Great North Half Marathon. Like Lawson, Scotland's Derek Rae will be making his Paralympic debut in the T46 class (13:00) after suffering nerve damage to his arm in a motorbike accident in 2010. World watch Tatyana McFadden is also queen of road racing and has won the big four city races (Boston, London, Chicago and New York). But she has yet to win a Paralympic marathon title and will want to put that right. Manuela Schar of Switzerland and Japan's road specialist Wakako Tsuchida could be her nearest challengers (16:31). Tsuchida's compatriot Yutaka Kumagai stormed to victory in the T12 race event at the London Marathon and the visually-impaired athlete will be attempting to give his nation a boost as they prepare to take over the mantle of Paralympic hosts from Brazil. In the women's event, China's Jin Zheng was seven minutes clear of her closest rivals in London in April. The men's sitting volleyball title is also up for grabs (16:00) with Iran hoping to reclaim the title they lost in London and win their sixth title from the last eight Games. Bosnia and Herzegovina were victorious four years ago, beating Iran 3-1 and both will want to figure again. The BBC is not responsible for changes to schedules, and has taken all reasonable care to ensure the information in this article is correct.

Summary: The Paralympic Games are about to reach their conclusion, with the final day of action on Sunday.


The X-Men star unveiled a plaque at the University of Huddersfield and watched a performance devised by drama students. The site was previously known as the Milton building and is a Victorian former church. The actor was born in nearby Mirfield, and was the university's chancellor for more than 10 years. Sir Patrick said he was "very proud" of the honour. The classically trained actor, known for his roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the X-Men films is currently on tour alongside fellow actor and friend Sir Ian McKellen in Harold Pinter's play No Man's Land. Other university buildings have been named after local historical figures such as factory reformer Richard Oastler and the BrontÃ«s.

Summary: Actor Sir Patrick Stewart has had a university building housing a drama department named after him.


The plans include the rebuilding of the North/South Stand and an increase in ground capacity from 17,000 to 20,000. Club chairman Colin Graves said the changes were necessary to ensure the ground could continue to host international matches. A detailed consultation over the plans will be held, the club said. If given the go-ahead, the proposals will also see the installation of floodlights, extra seating in the upper tier of the North East Stand and the development of a new five-storey pavilion. The phased "transformation" of the Headingley ground will take about 20 years to complete, the club said. Mr Graves said it was "the most ambitious project the club and the venue will have undertaken since the ground was first established 125 years ago". "As other venues around the country continue to invest in their facilities, we cannot afford to stand still and expect that Headingley will always host international cricket," he said. "The stark reality is that if our stadium fails to evolve, we will lose our Test Match status which would be a devastating blow to the region." The club will work with Leeds Rugby - which is also based at the Headingley ground - and Leeds City Council to prepare for the redevelopment work, the club said.

Summary: Plans for a £50m revamp of Yorkshire County Cricket Club's Headingley ground to try to secure the stadium's Test Match status have been unveiled.


Russell, 24, was taken off early in the second half of Saturday's Six Nations win at Murrayfield following a collision with Robbie Henshaw. However, he was cleared to continue after a head injury assessment (HIA), as Duncan Weir returned to the bench. The influential playmaker has since passed a final assessment. Russell's former Glasgow Warriors team-mate Weir proved to be a reliable deputy in his seven minutes on the Murrayfield pitch against the Irish, but Scotland head coach Vern Cotter will no doubt be relieved to have such a key player at his disposal for the trip to Paris. His performances for the Warriors have attracted interest from French Top 14 clubs Toulon and Montpellier in France and from Bath and Gloucester in England. Russell suffered a concussion during Scotland's 29-18 victory over France at Murrayfield last year, missing the final Six Nations match against Ireland. He also sustained a severe head injury in Warriors' Pro12 semi-final at the tail end of last season, which ruled him out of Scotland's summer tour to Japan, making his return to action in mid-September. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has been cleared to train ahead of Sunday's game against France after recovering from a head knock sustained against Ireland.


He claimed First Minister Carwyn Jones was saying "I told you so" while Plaid Cymru was using the poll's outcome as an "excuse" to call for independence. Labour and Plaid had a "little Britain mentality" when a "globally facing Britain" was needed, Mr Davies wrote. He made the comments in an article for The Times newspaper's website. On Thursday, Welsh Government economic advisor Kevin Gardiner said some people were "perhaps unduly pessimistic" after the vote to leave the EU. Within hours of the Brexit result being announced on June 24, Mr Jones said he feared it would cost Wales jobs. In his article, to be published on Friday, Mr Davies said the first minister had been "particularly vociferous in his doom-laden economic forecasting, and in denigrating those who chose to leave". "He has closed the doors on cross-party negotiation and now, having lost his nerve, seems unable to negotiate a deal for Wales, resorting instead to finger-wagging and pronouncements of 'I told you so'," Mr Davies wrote. Plaid Cymru's call for independence "betrays how out of kilter they are with the needs of Welsh communities", he added. "The prophets of doom and the independence mongers alike are wrong to take such a warped view of referendum result." Mr Davies urged his political opponents to "lift their eyes to the sky and consider the limitless potential that now lies ahead of us and to embrace the outcome". He added: "Instead they seem intent on clinging to a little Britain mentality. A globally facing Britain is what is now needed."

Summary: "Prophets of doom" and "independence mongers" are taking a "warped view" of the Brexit vote, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies has said.


A skeleton of a meat-eating Jurassic dinosaur, the theropod, was uncovered by spring storms at Lavernock beach, Vale of Glamorgan, in 2014. The dinosaur's missing foot was found at the beach by palaeontology student, Sam Davies, of Bridgend, at the beginning of this month. "My first reaction was that I was very lucky," he said. The fossilised skeleton of the theropod - a distant cousin of the giant Tyrannosaurus rex - went on display at the National Museum Cardiff's main hall in June after it was found by fossil-hunting brothers Nick and Rob Hanigan. Mr Davies, who studies at the University of Portsmouth, visited Lavernock, near Penarth, after his tutor told him its cliffs were rich with fossils. He arrived only hours after a cliff fall had exposed the fossil and before it could be washed away by the tide. "It was pure luck that I found it. It was just sitting on top of a slab of rock," he said. His tutor, Dr David Martill, confirmed the find was the missing foot of the recently discovered dinosaur, after the student emailed a picture. Dr Martill said: "This was a chance-in-a-million find and highlights how important it is to encourage fossil hunting in this country." He said the specimen would help chart the evolution of dinosaur feet. The foot has been donated to the Amgueddfa Cymru, which hopes to put it on display with the rest of the skeleton soon. Dr Caroline Buttler, head of palaeontology at the museum, said: "The dinosaur found by Nick and Rob Hanigan is the first skeleton of a theropod found in Wales. "Sam's find adds to its significance because we can learn more about the animal and how it is related to the dinosaurs that eventually evolved into birds."

Summary: The fossilised foot of a dinosaur has been discovered on a south Wales beach, National Museum Wales has announced.


The bucardo became extinct in 2000, but cells from the last animal were frozen in liquid nitrogen. In 2003, a cloned calf was brought to term but died a few minutes after birth. Now, the scientists will test the viability of the female bucardo's 14-year-old preserved cells. The bucardo, or Pyrenean ibex, calf born through cloning was an historic event: the first "de-extinction", in which a lost species or sub-species was resurrected. The Aragon Hunting Federation signed an agreement with the Centre for Research and Food Technology of Aragon (CITA) in Zaragoza to begin preliminary work on the cells from the last animal, named Celia. One of the scientists behind the cloning effort, Dr Alberto Fernandez-Arias, told BBC News: "At this moment, we are not initiating a 'bucardo recovery plan', we only want to know if Celia's cells are still alive after having been maintained frozen during 14 years in liquid nitrogen." In addition to this in vitro work, they will also attempt to clone embryos and implant them in female goats. "In this process, one or more live female bucardo clones could be obtained. If that is the case, the feasibility of a bucardo recovery plan will be discussed," Dr Fernandez-Arias, who is head of the Aragon Hunting, Fishing and Wetlands Service, explained. The bucardo (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica) was a sub-species of ibex, with distinct physical and genetic characteristics to other mountain goats inhabiting the Iberian Peninsula. It was perfectly adapted to life in its mountain habitat, and to survive the extreme cold and snow of winter in the Pyrenees. However, its population had been declining for years for several reasons, including hunting. In April 1999, researchers captured the last animal, a female named Celia. They obtained skin biopsies and froze the tissue in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196C (-321F). The following year, Celia was killed by a falling tree in the National Park of Ordesa in north-east Spain. But a team including Dr Fernandez-Arias, Jose Folch and others were able to inject nuclei from Celia's preserved cells into goat eggs that had been emptied of their own DNA. Then they implanted the eggs into surrogates - hybrids between Spanish ibex and domestic goats. Of 57 implantations, seven animals became pregnant and one was carried to term. The baby bucardo was born in 2003 - the first successful "de-extinction". But the clone of Celia died a few minutes later due to a defect in one of its lungs. Earlier this year, Dr Fernandez-Arias related the story in a TEDx talk, as part of a meeting on de-extinction. Even if the new effort succeeds in producing healthy clones, any future recovery plan for the bucardo would be fraught with difficulty - especially given the only frozen tissue is from a lone female. One possible approach for bringing back the bucardo might be to cross a healthy female bucardo clone with a closely related sub-species - such as the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) or the Gredos ibex (Capra pyrenaica victoriae) - and then selectively breeding the offspring to enhance traits

Summary: Scientists in Spain have received funding to test whether an extinct mountain goat can be cloned from preserved cells.


Shelly Wu, six, and Lily Wu, seven, were hit by Michael Junior in Handsworth, Birmingham, last June. Junior, 35, had admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The sisters were hit by his car while holding hands as they crossed the road on their way to Chinese classes. Judge Murray Creed told Junior he had ended two young children's lives and injured two other children along with the girls' mother, Zhulan. Mrs Wu had been left with "significant psychological trauma", the judge told him. The court heard she had to be sectioned earlier this year. The other two children have since recovered. More on this story and others Birmingham and Black Country The court heard Junior accelerated to get around a bus just before a blind left-hand bend, leaving him no time to react as the family crossed in front of him. He also ignored road signs warning of elderly pedestrians crossing, a sign reading "Slow" and chevron markings indicating a crossing ahead. Prosecuting, Gareth Walters told Birmingham Crown Court Junior's speed was an estimated 47mph (75kmh) in a 30mph (48.3kmh) zone when he struck the family on Grove Lane. Two of the four children survived but Lily and Shelly suffered fatal head injuries. Judge Creed said Junior hit the pedestrians as they reached a central reservation. "Mrs Wu [and the other children] hit the front and were thrown to the floor. But unhappily, the two smaller children were carried a short distance along the bonnet before being left to lie in the road, both fatally injured," he said. Outside court, family friend Alex Yip read a statement on behalf of the family, saying: "Four years is not long enough - for us this is a life sentence." He added: "We have had ripped from us two beautiful daughters, two sisters to our two eldest, two granddaughters, two lives taken from us all, from each and every day for the rest of our lives. "We have lost the wife and mother we once had, the heart of the family, strong, independent, who we depended on, and who will never be that way again." In mitigation, Timothy Harrington said Junior, of Copthall Road, Handsworth, wished to apologise to the Wu family but asked the judge to regard the incident as a "one-off", a single moment of bad driving. Junior was also disqualified from driving for five years. The sisters both attended Wilkes Green Primary School in Handsworth. The school said it had been raising money to create a peace garden in their memory.

Summary: A driver who knocked down and killed two sisters on a pedestrian crossing has been jailed for four years.


His family have described the 48-year-old as a "wonderful dad and husband, a loving son, brother and uncle", and a chapel service was held in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Theresa May said the PC, who was married with a five-year-old daughter, "was every inch a hero". The Metropolitan Police Force called him "a fantastic member of staff". A minute's silence was held at 09:33 GMT in the Palace of Westminster and at New Scotland Yard. The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin led the prayer and vigil service at the House of Commons Chapel of St Mary Undercroft. Offering prayers "for Keith, our brother and all others affected", the Rev Hudson-Wilkin urged dozens of attendees "to show mercy in the face of the hatred shown in the Westminster terror attack." A statement released by PC Palmer's family went on to say he was "a long-time supporter of Charlton Athletic. Dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous. A friend to everyone who knew him. "He will be deeply missed. We love him so much. His friends and family are shocked and devastated by his loss." Charlton Athletic responded to the news by putting a football scarf on PC Palmer's season ticket seat at the Valley stadium and said it would remain there until the next home game on 4 April. There are also plans to commemorate his life at the game itself. "Keith was a familiar face at The Valley to many supporters and sat in his same East Stand seat for many years," the club said. "He was a true hero who will be greatly missed by all the Charlton family and everyone at the club would like to offer their sincere condolences to his family and friends at this extremely difficult time". PC Palmer joined the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in April last year after serving in the Territorial Support Group (TSG) based in Catford but working across London. He had previously been based in Bromley borough between 2002 and 2009. PC James Aitkenhead, who worked alongside Keith in the TSG, said: "Keith was a genuinely nice person; nobody had a bad word to say about him. When I heard what had happened I knew it would be him because that's just the sort of guy he was, to step straight in when others might step back. "He had a great work ethic, he worked on our warrants' car for years, getting up at 04:00 to serve warrants and arresting wanted offenders. He was always so positive, always staying late after everyone else and getting in early. "In his personal life he was a massive Charlton Athletic fan and had a season ticket. "We will miss him so much." PC Palmer was nominated in 2015 for best thief taker in the Commissioner's Excellence Awards, having made more than 150 arrests in 12 months. Insp Mark Turner said he was "a solid, reliable member of the team - he came in and just got the job done, quietly and efficiently". "He was a fantastic member

Summary: Tributes have been paid to Keith Palmer, the police officer killed in Wednesday's attack in Westminster.


Rose Polge, 25, from Torbay, has not been seen since Friday evening. Her car was found in a car park near Ansteys Cove in Devon. Police said it was "totally out of character" for the young woman and are concerned for her welfare. More than 100 people have been involved in the search operation, including her boyfriend and family. Devon and Cornwall Police, a Coastguard helicopter and search and rescue helicopter have assisted with the operation, as well as Teignmouth RNLI lifeboat, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team. Torbay Hospital on-call Director Martin Ringrose said: "We are aware that one of our junior doctors is missing. "Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this very distressing time. "We will do whatever we can to support the authorities investigating her disappearance and searching for her, as well as providing support to her colleagues, who are anxious for her wellbeing." A police spokesperson said: "We are searching for a missing person and we are extremely concerned for her welfare. The conditions have been rough since she was reported missing. "We are working with the Coastguard and other agencies." A statement released by UK Coastguard said they had been called to support the police operation at 6.20pm on February 12. Torbay, Teignmouth and and Berry Head Coastguards have been involved in the search. Police are appealing for the public to contact them with any information or sightings of Dr Polge.

Summary: A major search operation is under way for a 25-year-old junior doctor who has gone missing.


Officials said further refinement of satellite data found the plane may have turned south earlier than thought. The announcement came as Australia and Malaysia signed an agreement on the search's next phase, which will see the two countries sharing costs. The Beijing-bound plane disappeared on 8 March with 239 people onboard. Based on analysis of satellite data, it is believed to have ended its journey in seas far west of the Australian city of Perth. Investigators do not know what happened to the flight and finding its "black box" flight recorders is seen as key to understanding the factors behind its disappearance. Australia, which is responsible for search and rescue operations, has been looking for the plane in an area about 1,800km off its west coast. The latest detail on the plane's possible flight path came from an analysis of a failed attempted satellite phone call from Malaysia Airlines to the plane, said Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss. "The search area remains the same, but some of the information that we now have suggests to us that areas a little further to the south... are of particular interest and priority," he told reporters in Canberra. A Dutch contractor, Fugro Survey, will kick off the next phase in the search in September. Three vessels towing underwater vehicles will scan for the plane. The search will focus on an area of about 60,000 sq km and is estimated to cost about A$52m (Â£29m, $49m). Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai signed the memorandum of understanding with Mr Truss. The two were also briefed on search efforts, together with China's Transport Vice-Minister He Jianzhong. Most of the passengers onboard the flight were Chinese. The ministers issued a statement saying they "remain cautiously optimistic" that the plane will be found.

Summary: Australia says the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will focus on the southern part of the search area in the Indian Ocean.


A spokesman for the New York State court system said the pair had reached an agreement, but did not reveal with which parent the teenager would live. Ritchie's lawyer Peter Bronstein said Rocco would continue to live with his father in London. The dispute arose in December when Rocco ignored a court order to fly back to live with his mother in New York. He has since stayed with his father in the UK capital and enrolled in a school there. Madonna's lawyers have not commented on the settlement. In December, a judge ruled that Rocco should return to his mother. But she decided not to issue a warrant to enforce the order, urging the pair to reach an agreement. New York State Supreme Court Justice Deborah Kaplan said: "No-one is disrupting his household other than the inability of the parents to reach a resolution. "If they cannot resolve this matter then eventually the court will." Ellen Sigal, Rocco's court-appointed lawyer, said in March that the dispute was causing him stress. "It's been a very difficult time for him," she said in court. "We hope to put an end to this as soon as possible without exposing him to more litigation, press innuendo, any of that kind of thing." Madonna and Ritchie married in 2000 and divorced eight years later. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie have settled a court dispute over the custody of their 16-year-old son Rocco.


Daphne Reid, 66, died after a fire broke out at her Silverhill Park home in Enniskillen on 27 December 2015. Her husband Franklin, who was 70, died just over a week later from injuries sustained in the blaze. Coroner Joe McCrisken said police officers disregarded their own safety to try to rescue the couple. He added that they should be hailed as heroes. The fire began when a cigarette fell on to a carpet in a bedroom where Mr Reid was sleeping. The inquest in Enniskillen on Monday heard how police officers, who were the first of the emergency services staff to arrive at the scene, did not follow official training guidelines that say all rescue attempts should be left to the fire service. Mr McCrisken said the Police Service of Northern Ireland should consider an official recognition for the officers who tried to save the couple. PC Daniel Finnegan broke windows to let some smoke out before attempting to enter the burning house. He told the coroner: "It was a personal judgment call." PC Damien Maguire also attempted to enter the house through the burning, but was prevented from doing so by thick smoke. The coroner also praised paramedics and firefighters, one of whom entered the property without breathing apparatus to rescue Mr Reid. Enniskillen fire station commander Padraig McKeon arrived at the scene shortly after the failed police efforts to access the pensioners. The inquest heard that he felt able to enter the property without breathing apparatus because much of the smoke had left the building.

Summary: A coroner has praised emergency services staff who attended a house fire in County Fermanagh that claimed the lives of two people.


The Spaniard was asked by the Football Association to explain the gesture, made as he left the pitch at half-time. After receiving his observations, the FA has decided the 27-year-old will not face any action. However the FA has yet to decide on the outcome of an improper conduct charge against Costa from the same game. Costa received a second yellow card after clashing with Everton midfielder Gareth Barry in the 84th minute of the FA Cup quarter-final. He was charged over his behaviour after being sent off, and has until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to respond to that charge. The Chelsea player appeared to bite Barry in the incident, although both players have denied that happened. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Chelsea striker Diego Costa will not be punished for making a gesture to Everton fans during his side's 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park.


Hassan al-Mandlawi, 32, and Al-Amin Sultan, 30, both Swedish nationals, were found guilty of actively taking part in the murders, which were filmed. The Gothenburg court convicted the pair even though they did not wield the knife used in the killings in Aleppo. The men had denied the charges and will appeal the verdict, their lawyers said. The court in Gothenburg, south-west Sweden, was presented with footage of the murders that was discovered on a USB stick in Sultan's home. Two men are heard giving directions in Swedish. One prisoner is beheaded, the other has his throat cut. The court found the duo had actively taken part in the murders, though they did not hold the knife. It also ruled it had been proven that the pair fought in Syria during the spring of 2013. Anti-terror campaigners have applauded the verdict, pointing out that it shows that Sweden is prepared to put people on trial for crimes committed in other countries. The case against the pair is the first time that a "terror crime" - as opposed to "crimes against international law" have been staged by a Swedish court, Radio Sweden reported. In order to secure a conviction for a "terror crime", the prosecution must prove that the intention was to cause fear among others. A crime against international law is defined as a case where it has been proven that the men fought with a group in an armed conflict. Sultan's lawyer insisted that it was not his client's voice in the film and accused the prosecution of singling him out because he was wearing similar clothing to the guilty person, Radio Sweden reported. The defence argued that pictures of him posing with weapons were taken when he was in Turkey and Syria doing volunteer relief work. His accomplice, Mandlawi, uses a wheelchair after being shot while allegedly working abroad as a sniper and has suffered brain damage, Radio Sweden quoted his lawyer as saying. Mandlawi's defence team said that the evidence against him was meagre. More than 250,000 people have died in nearly five years of civil war in Syria.

Summary: A court in Sweden has sentenced two men to life imprisonment over "terror crime" murders carried out by Islamic State militants in Syria in 2013.


More than 1,500 firefighters tackled blazes which had sprung up in scrubland north of the city, injuring three people. Homes were destroyed in the nearby town of Vitrolles and hundreds of residents were evacuated. Fires have also been raging in mainland Portugal and on the island of Madeira. Three people were killed on the holiday island and more than 1,000 were forced from their homes. The French fires took hold on Wednesday afternoon and spread over more than 3,300 hectares (8,150 acres) of scrubland and wooded areas. According to AFP news agency, three residents and four firefighters were injured, some seriously, in fires across the region. The firefighters were hurt battling a blaze further west in Herault, when their vehicle was surrounded by flames. Vitrolles, about 25km (15 miles) north of Marseille, was the town worst affected. "Everything burned, the house, the car... there is nothing left," a resident of Vitrolles told BFM-TV. Other towns affected included Pennes-Mirabeau, Saint-Victoret, Fos-sur-Mer and Rognac, where the main fire started. Palls of thick smoke which rose from Vitrolles and Pennes-Mirabeau were drifting over Marseille on Wednesday. Marseille airport, which redirected incoming flights to make way for firefighting aircraft, said the situation was gradually getting back to normal by midday on Thursday. But it warned that some roads to the airport remained closed and advised travellers to use trains. Marseille's Deputy Mayor, Julien Ruas, said firebreaks had been created to protect northern neighbourhoods. Fires are frequent in summer in south-eastern France but it is rare for them to threaten urban areas. On Madeira, the flames encroached on the capital Funchal and are blamed for the deaths of three elderly people whose homes caught light. A fourth death was reported on the Portuguese mainland as wildfires raged in central regions.

Summary: Firefighters have contained wildfires in southern France which threatened the city of Marseille but remain on alert as more windy conditions are expected.


GB started nervously and struggled with their offence in the opening half, falling 29-20 behind at the interval. But they drew level midway through the third quarter to give themselves hope. However, the USA pulled away again towards the end of the quarter and their defence also restricted GB's shooting opportunities. Steve Serio did much of the damage with 20 points for the USA, who avenged their defeat to GB at the same stage four years ago. Great Britain, beaten in the semi-final 69-52 by Canada, were unable to make the most of their early opportunities and Serio, celebrating his 25th birthday, capitalised to help build up a 17-10 lead after the first quarter. The introduction of forward Joe Chambers, who hit eight points in a row at the start of the second quarter, enabled the USA to stay in control. The game is evolving and getting quicker and it is very hard to get quicker when you get to your mid-30s GB started the second half with far more purpose and Terry Bywater and Ian Sagar inspired the comeback to level the game at 29-29 with four minutes and 55 seconds to go in the third quarter. But once USA coach Jim Glatch brought Joshua Turek, Matt Scott and Serio back into the game, they settled back down and dominated, forcing GB into difficult shooting positions, and it gave them a first medal in the sport since Sydney in 2000. Afterwards, coach Murray Treseder was realistic about his British team's performance. "We've finished fourth and that's probably where we are at the moment," he said. "We started nervously and they got on top early on, but we made too many mistakes. I admired our fight in the third quarter but when we got back to 33-all, we made five errors and that just killed us. "We were chasing our tail in the last quarter as we tried to get back in the game, but give the USA credit, they are a great team." The Australian has also hinted at changes as the team look to Rio in 2016, starting with next year's European Championship in Frankfurt. "We have an outstanding junior development programme with lots of hopeful players," he added. "The game is evolving and getting quicker and it is very hard to get quicker when you get to your mid-30s.GB miss out on basketball bronze "I think the standard we have seen here is quite considerable and we have got to respond to that. I think finding some new low-point players is critical for us and we will go from there." Patrick Anderson confirmed his status as the player of the tournament as he led Canada to gold. The 33-year-old, who came out of retirement last year, contributed 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in their 64-58 win over Australia. Although Australia led early on, Anderson sparked the run that put Canada on top at the start the second quarter, and then helped them pull clear in the third. "It feels like I have never won anything in my

Summary: Great Britain missed out on a third consecutive men's wheelchair basketball Paralympic bronze medal after losing 61-46 to the United States.


The 26-year-old man smuggled the alcohol from neighbouring Gujarat state and delivered it to local dealers in Mumbai, the police said. The liquor was then sold from illegal liquor vends in Mumbai. Toxic alcohol deaths are a regular occurrence in India, where people often drink cheap bootleg liquor. The death toll in the latest incident has risen to 102, and 40 others, suffering from symptoms of poisoning, are being treated in hospitals. Seven people, including two women, have been already arrested in Mumbai in connection with the incident. Police said Mohammed Latif Khan, the main supplier, had fled Mumbai after the incident and had been staying at a friend's place in Delhi. "During questioning, we got to know that the suspect used to source the illicit liquor from Gujarat's Ahmedabad [city]," a police official told The Indian Express. Gujarat is the only state in India where alcohol is totally prohibited by law. Police suspect the deaths were caused by methanol poisoning, but are still awaiting reports. Distilling alcohol safely requires a precise control of the temperature, because if that rises above a certain level then methyl alcohol can form. Sometimes, certain herbs or chemicals might be added to increase the strength or improve the flavour, and these can react badly with other chemicals. At least 29 people were killed after consuming toxic alcohol in Uttar Pradesh state in January. India has witnessed many other incidents of toxic alcohol deaths in the past:

Summary: Police in the Indian capital Delhi say they have arrested a man who supplied the toxic alcohol which has killed more than 100 people in the city of Mumbai.


Scans of 21 people showed the brain was more attracted to food if breakfast was missed so people had more food at lunch. Scientists said it made losing weight challenging as missing meals made calorific food even more appealing. Nutrition experts say breakfast is known to take the edge off appetite. However, researchers were curious about what happened inside the brain to alter the food people choose to eat. Twenty one people, who were all normal weight, were shown pictures of calorie packed foods while they were positioned in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at Imperial College London. On one day they were given no breakfast before the scans and on a different day they were fed a large, 730 calorie, breakfast an hour and a half before. The researchers said skipping breakfast created a "bias" in the brain in favour of high calorie foods. The results, presented at the Neuroscience 2012 conference, showed the brain changed how it responded to pictures of high calorie foods, but not low calorie foods, when breakfast was skipped. They showed part of the brain thought to be involved in "food appeal", the orbitofrontal cortex, became more active on an empty stomach. When the researchers offered the participants lunch at the end of the study, people ate a fifth more calories if breakfast was missed. Dr Tony Goldstone, from Imperial College London, said: "Through both the participants' MRI results and observations of how much they ate at lunch, we found ample evidence that fasting made people hungrier, and increased the appeal of high calorie foods and the amount people ate. "One reason it is so difficult to lose weight is because the appeal of high calorie food goes up." Dr Catherine Hankey, a senior lecturer in nutrition at the University of Glasgow, said research had shown that breakfast "takes the edge off appetite" and that the latest study was an "interesting" insight. She said breakfast was linked to stable blood sugar levels, which "keeps you on the straight and narrow". Future studies will investigate how obesity affects the same system in the brain.

Summary: Brain scans show that skipping breakfast makes fatty, high calorie foods appear far more attractive later in the day, according to researchers.


The pursuit, between junctions six and 10 in Surrey, took place as commuters drove to work on 11 April. Jonathan Lewis, 44, of Long Walk, Epsom, admitted one charge of dangerous driving and one count of having no insurance at Guildford Crown Court. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 10 June. Lewis was chased by two police vehicles after his Peugeot was involved in a crash with another car on the A25 at Oxted. Officers pursued him along the M25 towards Heathrow before he was stopped on the A3.

Summary: A driver who careered between lanes of the M25 at up to 90 miles an hour while being pursued by police has admitted dangerous driving.


Currently no British companies are involved, despite Ethiopia approaching the UK for assistance at the start, and the project being constructed according to official UK railway industry standards. The centrepiece of the new rail system is the planned line between Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, and the neighbouring country of Djibouti. So far about a quarter of the preparation work has been completed on this key route, which will enable land-locked Ethiopia to access Djibouti City's port on the Horn of Africa coast. Meanwhile in Addis Ababa, construction of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) - similar to London's Docklands Light Railway - will give the capital its first mass transit system, transforming mobility in a city where nearly 90% of the population travel on foot, or by squeezing in to buses and taxis. Both projects began in early 2012 and are joint ventures between the Ethiopian government and Chinese companies that successfully bid for the $3.3bn (Â£2.2bn) Addis-Djibouti contract, and the $500m LRT project. "I was hoping that by now there would have been more input from UK companies," says John Pearson, a British railway engineer with more than 40 years' experience. Mr Pearson has since 2009 been technical adviser to the Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC), which is overseeing both projects. He describes the present lack of British involvement as unfortunate and something that needs to be addressed by UK government. In 2008, ERC general manager Getachew Betru visited the UK to explain Ethiopia's railway infrastructure plans. Mr Pearson, who met Mr Betru during his visit, decided to move to Ethiopia after being impressed by the project. Also, Mr Pearson hoped to promote British businesses within the Ethiopian railway sector. However, no other UK interests followed him to participate in what he calls "one of the most important transport infrastructure projects for Ethiopia and East Africa". The British embassy in Addis Ababa tried on many occasions to promote business opportunities offered by the railway infrastructure's development, according to Dessalegn Yigzaw, its trade development manager. But Ethiopia still has an image problem, Mr Yigzaw says, with UK companies failing to believe business is possible while associating the country with famine and drought. Mr Pearson echoes this sentiment, saying that UK companies remain nervous about participating in major projects in sub-Saharan Africa. While he acknowledges some companies have had bad experiences, he says this should not hold others back as the UK has capacity-building skills Ethiopia needs. Insufficient short-term profit margin is most likely putting UK companies off coming to Africa, says Manaye Ewunetu, managing director of London-based ME Consulting Engineers that specialises in Africa and the Middle East. "It might not look like a mistake now," Mr Ewunetu says, "but in the long term it could look like a mistake." The Addis-Djibouti corridor has always been an important strategic route for Ethiopia. The new 781km route eastward to Djibouti - offering the shortest distance from Addis Ababa to a seaport - is expected to haul 11.2 million tonnes of freight in its first year of operation in 2016, rising to 24.9 million tonnes

Summary: Across the Ethiopian countryside 2,000km (1,243 miles) of railway is being built, the first phase of an endeavour to create a new 5,000km network.


A ceremony at India Gate will be an opportunity to honour a sacrifice that was in the past overlooked in both Britain and India. The 70,000 Indian soldiers who fought and died for the British during World War One were once viewed in India as part of its difficult colonial history. In a day devoted to paying tribute, William and Kate will also, quite literally, retrace Mahatma Gandhi's final footsteps before he was murdered. The country's founding father - who once declared that non-violence, was a weapon for the brave - had a vision, which wasn't realised, of an independent, united land. It was Prince William's relative, Louis Mountbatten - the last Viceroy - who oversaw the creation of India and Pakistan. Prince William, with his wife, will end the day by speaking about his grandmother - a woman soon to turn 90, who's Britain's longest reigning monarch but who was never Queen Empress of India.

Summary: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first official visit to India moves on to New Delhi.


Energy Minister Fergus Ewing refused permission for the 21-turbine Rowantree development near Oxton last May. He said the decision was based on "unacceptable environmental impacts". RWE Innogy UK has submitted scoping plans to Scottish Borders Council for a wind farm of up to 11 turbines in the same location. The proposed development on land north-east and east of Burnhouse Mains farmhouse, between Stow and Fountainhall, will be known as Longmuir Rigg wind farm. A letter lodged with the council states that RWE's new plans for the site take into account the Scottish government's concerns about the Rowantree development. In the correspondence, project manager Christopher McPake states: "It has sought to reduce or negate the identified significant environmental effects of cumulative noise as well as effects upon landscape character and visual receptors." It lays out plans to build between nine and 11 turbines, no more than 130m (426ft) high.

Summary: Plans have been lodged for a wind farm in the Scottish Borders less than a year after the Scottish government rejected a scheme for the same site.


Racing Metro centre Roberts, 28, is understood to have rejected Cardiff Blues and agreed to join Quins after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Head coach Gatland has previously stated he would prefer Welsh internationals to play in Wales. "There's not a hard and fast rule as there is with England," Gatland told BBC Wales Sport. "There are exceptions where players have been playing outside of Wales and there are one or two wildcards we could pick. "They do play outside of Wales but they could be selected, but I think the long-term goal is to have a policy where, ideally, we pick players who are playing in Wales." English players who move to play abroad are currently not considered for national team selection. To complete the move to Quins, Roberts must first be released by French Top 14 club Racing Metro, where he has a contract until June 2016. Under the so-called 'Gatland's Law', Wales-based players are likely to be favoured for Test selection over those who choose to play elsewhere. In August 2014, the Welsh Rugby Union and Wales' four professional regions signed a £60m, six-year deal that settled a long-running dispute over the sport's future. That deal included rules that mean players based outside Wales could also be overlooked in favour of home-based talent, with coach Gatland expected to tighten selection policy. The selection policy ruled that no player based overseas should represent Wales, although Gatland is able to make exceptions. However, that only applied to players who moved before the deal was agreed, and so at the time would not have applied to Roberts, who joined Racing in June 2013. A move to Harlequins now would bring the centre into the category of players who could be overlooked for selection, though Gatland remains pragmatic on the matter. "The ideal for me is you want players playing in Wales," Gatland said at an event where tickets went on sale for Wales' World Cup warm-up matches. "It's important we work closely with the regions to make them as successful as possible. "That will encourage players to stay and encourage players to come back to Wales." Wales host Ireland on Saturday, 8 August, visit Dublin on Saturday, 29 August, and then welcome Italy to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 5 September.

Summary: Warren Gatland insists Jamie Roberts' expected move to Harlequins will not preclude him from Wales selection.


21 January 2016 Last updated at 09:36 GMT Aidan McAnespie, 23, was shot dead at Aughnacloy on 21 February 1988. Manslaughter charges brought against a soldier were dropped in 1990. Mr McAnespie's brother, Sean, spoke to BBC News NI's home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney.

Summary: A decision not to prosecute a soldier who shot dead a Catholic man at a border checkpoint in County Tyrone nearly 30 years ago could be reversed.


Reckitt Benckiser (RB) confirmed the plastic bottles were used for the stain removal product Vanish. Bottles started arriving at Poldhu Cove on the Lizard on Sunday before more arrived at Porthleven on Friday. The firm said the bottles came from a container lost at sea off a ship in 2015. RB said it was "providing all the agencies involved in the clear up with logistical and financial support". Volunteers and staff from Culdrose Naval Air Station carried out another clean up on Friday at Poldhu beach. Cornwall Council said 18,720 bottles were being transported in the container, of which approximately half have already been accounted for. It is thought the vessel lost the container near Land's End in May.

Summary: A global firm has admitted responsibility for thousands of pink bottles washing up around the coast of Cornwall.


The veteran US businessman was the largest shareholder in MGM Resorts International, which owns the MGM Grand and Bellagio hotels in Las Vegas. He was well known for buying and then selling the MGM film studio three times, making a profit each time. Kerkorian was reported to have died on Monday night in Los Angeles but no cause of death has been given. "Mr Kerkorian was a quiet but powerful force behind the transformation of the Las Vegas Strip into one of the world's most popular tourist destinations," MGM Resorts said in a statement. A school dropout at 16, Kerkorian became a boxer and later flew dangerous missions delivering warplanes from Canada to Britain during World War Two. He carried on flying after the war and opened a charter flight business ferrying gamblers who wanted to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas more quickly than by driving. He began buying property in Las Vegas in 1962 after selling his charter airline, which he later re-purchased. "When you're a self-made man you start very early in life," he once told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "You get a drive that's a little different, maybe a little stronger, than somebody who inherited." He was also a player in the automobile industry, losing a battle for control of Chrysler in the 1990s before taking stakes in General Motors and Ford in the 2000s. In May this year, Forbes magazine estimated Kerkorian's wealth at $4.2bn (Â£2.7bn) after taking a hit on his investments during the financial crisis in 2008, when the magazine said he was worth $16bn. "MGM Resorts and our family of 62,000 employees are honouring the memory of a great man, a great business leader, a great community leader, an innovator, and one of our country's greatest generation," MGM chief executive Jim Murren said in a statement.

Summary: Kirk Kerkorian, the son of Armenian immigrants who became a billionaire Las Vegas mogul, has died at the age of 98.


House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said the executive orders, which bypass Congress, "undermined liberty" and would be challenged in court. Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump said that, if elected, he would reverse the measures. In an emotional address on Tuesday, Mr Obama accused the gun lobby of holding the country hostage. Wiping away tears, he recalled the 2012 Sandy Hook primary school shooting in which 20 children and six adults were killed. President Obama's executive actions involve: He previously told the BBC that the failure to tackle gun control had been the greatest frustration of his presidency. Why Obama is powerless - the roadblock at Congress Are you mad or criminal? - the question a gun seller asks Texas women and their firearms - a photographer taught to shoot at an early age Do tighter gun laws work? - a state where guns are a way of life Guns at home - the question parents hate to ask before a playdate However, the largest gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association (NRA), said Mr Obama's steps would not have prevented any recent mass killings in the US. "Rather than focus on criminals and terrorists, he goes after the most law-abiding of citizens," said Mr Ryan, a Republican. "His words and actions amount to a form of intimidation that undermines liberty." Correspondents say the announcement is already shaping up to be an issue in the 2016 presidential election. Donald Trump said that he would "un-sign" the measures if elected to the White House - a sentiment echoed by other Republican presidential candidates. Senator Ted Cruz tweeted that the executive actions were unconstitutional, with a link to sign up for his campaign correspondence on a web page that says "Obama wants your guns". Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, also a Republican candidate, tweeted that he would repeal the actions and protect the Second Amendment. Leading Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted: "@POTUS is right: We can protect the second Amendment while protecting our families and communities from gun violence. And we have to." President Obama announced the law change at the White House, surrounded by survivors and relatives of victims of shootings. "The gun lobby may be holding Congress hostage right now, but they can't hold America hostage," he said. Gun violence is significantly higher in the US than in other advanced countries, killing about 30,000 people each year. Sales of guns in the US appear to have risen recently amid speculation that the White House was going to tighten the law. Shares in gunmaker Smith & Wesson rose to their highest value since 1999 ahead of President Obama's announcement. Congress has been reluctant to pass any laws restricting gun ownership, facing pressure from gun owners and the NRA.

Summary: Leading US Republicans have denounced President Barack Obama's move to tighten gun controls.


Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats opposed new thresholds on when strikes can take place. The vote against Conservative ministers' Trade Union Bill is not legally binding. The UK and Welsh governments disagree over whether the assembly's permission is needed before the new rules apply to public sector workers in Wales. The bill would require at least half of union members to take part in a ballot before a strike can happen. In public services such as health, education and the fire service, industrial action would need at least 40% of eligible union members to vote in favour. The Conservatives say the bill should apply to the whole of Britain, but Welsh government ministers say the assembly's consent is needed. On Tuesday, AMs withheld their approval of the bill by voting down a motion in the Senedd chamber. Labour has said it will try to overturn the bill if the UK government ignores the assembly' vote and pushes ahead. If returned to power at May's assembly election, Labour would introduce its own legislation to repeal the bill. Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews said: "In Wales we have a good record of resolving disputes. "There was no junior doctors' strike in Wales, there was in England. "Fire fighters took industrial action in England over pensions, they were not doing so in Wales. "In contrast, we believe this bill, the Trade Union Bill, will lead to a confrontational relationship between employers and the workforce." Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said he supported the role of trade unions in standing up for members. But, referring to the general secretary of the Unite union, he said: "Where I will not stand up and support is for Len McCluskey, or his mob, to use you lot [Labour AMs] to live their ambitions." He added: "Where there is a discrepancy I would suggest is where general secretaries of unions choose to live their political dreams on the back of their members' subs, and that clearly is not acceptable."

Summary: Assembly members have voted against UK government proposals to restrict strike ballots in the public sector.


You can be excused for thinking Wimbledon is nearing its nail-biting end with the finals in sight, but in reality, it's only just getting started. The world's best wheelchair tennis players are about to take to the court and the British players have titles to defend. Here's the lowdown on the latest championship at SW19. Wheelchair tennis is for men and women who are disabled below the waist and use wheelchairs to compete in the singles and doubles championship. The size of the courts, balls and rackets are the same, but the ball can bounce twice before you hit it and the wheelchairs are bespoke. British number one, Lucy Shuker says: "The wheels are cambered out at about 22 degrees, they have wheels at the front and back so it means, in theory, you shouldn't tip out backwards. I've got straps around my waist and knee guards which lock me in place." Geraint Richards, performance director of GB Wheelchair Tennis says the players "literally zoom around the court". He says: "Gustavo Fernandez, the reigning Australian Open champion, will actually fall out of his chair and still win that point. The audience will be amazed." It might seem odd, but the wheelchairs do take to the perfectly manicured courts. "It's hard work," Shuker says. "The bounces aren't necessarily true and where you think you're going to take a ball at shoulder height it's probably going to bounce a lot lower. "There's a definite drag on grass and you have to continually keep pushing otherwise the chair will stop." But she reveals drop-shots work well as your opponent probably wont get there in time. You bet we are. British players are currently Paralympic, grand slam-winning, world-rank topping, Wimbledon champions in both the singles and doubles. Here are three names to look out for: Reid, 25, is the defending Wimbledon singles and doubles champion. He won Paralympic gold in the singles at Rio and silver in the doubles with fellow Brit Alfie Hewitt. In 2007, aged 15, Reid became Britain's youngest men's Singles National Champion and in 2016 he won his first grand slam singles title at the Australian Open, followed by Wimbledon. Reid is from a tennis family. Aged six he contracted Transverse Myelitis a neurological condition in which the spinal cord is inflamed and damages nerve fibres. Hewett, 19, started playing in 2005 and was ranked world number one junior between 2013 and 2015. He made his Paralympic debut at Rio and took silver in the men's doubles with Gordon Reid. He also claimed silver in the singles after Reid defeated him in an all-British final. Shuker turned to wheelchair tennis after a motorbike accident in 2001 paralysed her from the chest down. She hadn't even been discharged from hospital before she tried the game. Having previously played badminton she went on to represent Great Britain at the Beijing, London and Rio Paralympics and was the first Brit to contest all four major Grand Slams. She says "when I first started everyone said I was too disabled" but she focused on developing a

Summary: All photographs are copyrighted.


The fast bowler, 29, had been missing since 6 September when allegations were first made about him and his wife. The court has rejected the bail petition submitted by Hossain and has sent him to jail, a day after his wife was arrested by police. The country's cricket board has suspended him from playing cricket. Both he and his wife deny the charges. Hossain's lawyer, Kazi Nazibullah Hiru, told the AFP news agency: "We appealed to the court that Shahadat should be released on bail for the greater interest of the country. "We pleaded that he is not guilty as he was not present on the day the girl was allegedly beaten." Initially, Hossain went to the police on Sunday, 6 September, saying his maid had gone missing. However, when the girl was taken to police, after she was found alone later that day, she told them she had suffered torture and abuse from Hossain and his wife. Doctors say the girl had extensive injuries indicating abuse, including a broken leg and a black eye. When the police went to the couple's house to question them, neither were there. Hossain is a medium-fast bowler who is arguably one of Bangladesh's most famous player. He has played for the Tigers since 2005. He has taken 70 wickets in 36 Tests and 47 wickets in 79 one-day internationals, with best figures of 6-27. Domestically, he plays for Dhaka Division. Hossain last played for Bangladesh in a Test match against Pakistan in May, when he twisted his right knee and was ruled out action for six months. He was the first Bangladesh player to have his name added to the Lord's honours board when he took 5-98 against England in May 2010.

Summary: Bangladesh cricketer Shahadat Hossain has turned himself in to face charges of torturing an 11-year-old housemaid.


Police, fire crews, flood wardens and water and electricity engineers are taking part in the scenario. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said the role play will test evacuation drills. Margaret Hughes, 91, died when the small north Wales city was inundated after the River Elwy overflowed in November 2012. The case prompted a major overhaul of emergency evacuation procedures. Mrs Hughes' inquest this month heard the vulnerable pensioner drowned in her Denbighshire home after she refused to leave despite flood warnings. The hearing was told how Mrs Hughes was registered to received flood alert warnings, but her family did not receive them. It also heard how rescue teams had to swim to homes submerged by the River Elwy deluge. NRW said the multi-agency exercise on Wednesday and Thursday would see how the emergency services and local authority would respond to a similar flooding incident. It said the operation would involve both a table-top exercise and live role play - including issuing flood alerts and warnings, putting up removable flood defences and testing the flood warden network. North Wales director of operations for NRW Tim Jones said: "The flooding in 2012 was devastating for people in St Asaph, destroying homes and businesses, damaging infrastructure and unfortunately ending with tragic consequences for one family. "We've been working hard to support the community in the aftermath of the flooding, and to make sure the city is better prepared to cope with flooding in the future. "We've already made huge headway in improving flood protection, but this exercise will be a vital test of the plans we've made, and how all the agencies involved come together to work quickly and efficiently to protect people in such an emergency."

Summary: Flood defence plans for St Asaph are being tested in an exercise, two years after it was swamped when a river burst its banks, killing an elderly resident.


The Sussex academy wicketkeeper played for Jersey Under-19s in the Netherlands earlier in the year but has never appeared for the senior side. Opening batsman Dean Morrison, whose ineligibility for the island this summer was due to the amount of time he had spent overseas, is also selected. The annual 50-over match takes place in Guernsey on 7 September.

Summary: Jersey have named 15-year-old Jonty Jenner in their squad for next week's inter-insular game against Guernsey.


In a series of Facebook comments, Sonny Truyen suggested Singapore was an undesirable place to live due to the unavailability of the smartphone game. He also wrote that Singapore was filled with "stupid people". Several Singaporean web users contacted his employer, real estate website 99.co, expressing anger at his posts. During a dispute with another Facebook user, Mr Truyen wrote that "the average IQ" in Singapore would fall if he left the country, and that "locals can't even read". Darius Cheng, chief executive of 99.co, apologised for Mr Truyen's comments in a blog post, and said his employment contract had been terminated. Pokemon Go: All you need to know Nintendo's shares soar on Pokemon Go's success Pokemon Go player finds dead body Pokemon Go's UK launch is "paused" "Sonny, as an SEO specialist, has only started consulting for us for a week before the incident happened," Mr Cheng wrote. "We are a proud Singaporean company and do not condone such language or behaviour, hence we have since terminated his engagement once the incident came to light." Responding to the online anger at Mr Truyen, Mr Cheng also asked readers not to spread "messages of hate and division, but instead embrace our diversity". "Anyone labelled a 'Foreign Talent' was heavily criticised" online after the incident, he said. "I am sure we all have Australian or Vietnamese friends - how would they feel if they read it?" Large numbers of Western expats live in Singapore and Mr Truyen is not the first foreigner to be fired amid a social media furore. In 2014, British banker Anton Casey posted a YouTube video complaining about the "stench" of Singapore's public transport system, which he said was full of "poor people". Mr Casey lost his job and was forced to flee the island nation. Australian executive Amy Cheong was also sacked and fled Singapore in 2012 after posting racist comments on Facebook after she was kept awake by a wedding being held near her home. Authorities in Singapore are known to take strong action against public comments that are considered to breach standards of decency. Mr Truyen told Mashable: "It was disappointing the lengths Singaporeans went at to attack me and deny [me] any chance of making amends for my actions." He has deleted his social media accounts, saying it was a "very big error in judgement to negatively label an entire country over Pokemon".

Summary: An Australian has been sacked after a profanity-laden rant on Facebook, where he complained that the game Pokemon Go is not available in Singapore.


Wrexham and Denbighshire will be the latest authorities to withdraw the service after Powys, Monmouth and Newport stopped providing it in recent years. Carmarthenshire was the first council to withdraw the service in 2011. Nine local authorities now charge for dealing with all infestations, which is up from six councils two years ago. Swansea, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Flintshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Ceredigion and Conwy deal with rats for free, but charge for other types of infestations. Health professionals are now warning of potential risk to children and pets from accidental poisoning as people try to solve problems themselves, rather than call private pest control companies. Julie Barratt, director of Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Wales, told Newyddion 9: "It's important to remember that council officers, pest control operatives were specialists. "They knew what they were doing. They put pest products down in the right places, in safe places, they came along and checked them regularly and took them away. "There is a real risk if people are left to their own devices that we're going to see cases of accidental poisoning of children and domestic pests and that's a real concern." A Welsh Local Government Association spokesperson said: "Local councils in Wales face huge financial challenges, and this year alone will have to manage a collective £300m shortfall in their budget. "With public sector austerity expected to last well into the future it is unavoidable that non-statutory services like pest control will continue to be placed under increasing financial pressure as councils try to balance the books."

Summary: More than a quarter of Welsh councils will not provide pest control services to private homes from 1 April.