Lloyds Banking Group said the faults were not caused by any external upgrade work or cyber attack. Many customers found their debit cards were declined and about 3,500 ATMs were not working for three hours. The technical fault has now been fixed, and the banking group has apologised to those affected. The hardware failure came on a normal day for the banking group, it said. "We were in 'business as usual' mode - and there was no maintenance or update activity on the system at the time," said a spokeswoman for Lloyds. By Kevin PeacheyPersonal finance reporter, BBC News This is not the first bank to suffer from a computer failure, and it certainly won't be the last. New technology will put even more strain on the banks' creaking IT systems, which were built to run a very different banking system decades ago. So how do we cope as consumers? The irony is that the more we embrace the digital wallet, the more emergency cash we may need to carry for when these systems crash. "We are working with our suppliers to understand what caused the hardware failure, but there is no evidence that it was as a result of an external intervention or attack on our systems. "We continually review and update our systems as necessary and make significant investment to do this." The chief executive of TSB, Paul Pester, said on Sunday that its customers' debit card transactions had been affected after problems with two out of seven IT servers. He tweeted an apology and replied to some comments personally. Lloyds Banking Group serves about 30 million customers and is the largest retail banking group in the UK. TSB has about five million UK customers and is in the process of being split from Lloyds Banking Group. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the City watchdog, said it had been in contact with Lloyds and would be updated on how customers had been affected. Not everyone who tried to use their cards suffered problems, and Lloyds said that online customers were unaffected. UK banks have suffered a series of IT problems over the past few years. In December, an estimated 750,000 customers at the Royal Bank of Scotland group were unable to use their credit and debit cards for several hours. Leanne Seaward, 29, from Verwood in Dorset, said she discovered she had problems when she went to pay for her weekly supermarket shop at about 16.15 GMT on Sunday. "It was a little embarrassing, I put my card in and it kept saying transaction void. I thought it was because I am in the process of switching banks, so assumed they might have closed my account without telling me. "Luckily I had my husband with me so he was able to pay, but if I was getting petrol and on my own it could have been a completely different matter." Your experiences A week later, NatWest - which is part of the group - said that it was hit by a cyber attack. A deliberate attempt to disrupt services by

Summary: A hardware failure was the cause of the shutdown of some Halifax, Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and TSB cash machines and debit cards on Sunday.


RSPB Scotland said video footage shot at the Perthshire estate showed an osprey attempting to rebuild a nest. However, festival organiser DF Concerts said the video did not correspond with reports from their ornithologist monitoring the site. Police were called to the scene on Monday and are investigating. Consultations are ongoing over a planning application to host the annual music festival at Strathallan, which has drawn a mixed response from locals. Ospreys are a protected species and cannot be disturbed while nesting. DF Concerts had hoped to encourage the birds to move to a specially constructed new nest further away from the festival site, having been unable to gain access to remove the old nest entirely. However, the group's tactic of flying a flag from a cherry picker near the old nest was criticised by nature groups and local campaigners. RSPB Scotland called in the police after the video footage emerged on Monday, stating that the nest was now "active", and the cherry picker was later removed. A spokeswoman for DF Concerts said it had been taken down while they awaited further information. She said: "We've seen a copy of the video referred to by RSPB and it does not correspond with the ongoing monitoring from our ornithologist onsite. "We are fully aware of and compliant with the legal protocol and as such, we have asked the police and RSPB to seek further information so that the video's authenticity can be fully examined."

Summary: Police and nature groups are examining a video purporting to show an osprey attempting to nest near the proposed T in the Park site at Strathallan Castle.


Officers found an explosive device, thought to be a "flashbang" grenade, when they were called to Elgin Street, Leith, at 12:50. Police are treating the death of the 51-year-old woman as unexplained and have launched an investigation. A spokesman said the device was made safe but a controlled explosion was not required. He said: "Inquiries into the death are ongoing. "The death is currently being treated as unexplained but the circumstances are not thought to be suspicious. "A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

Summary: A bomb disposal team was called out after a woman was found dead at a house in Edinburgh.


Carlisle told the Sun newspaper he had been left severely depressed by the end of his football career, financial problems and the loss of a TV punditry role. The 35-year-old left hospital on 30 January, six weeks after being struck in North Yorkshire. "This was my lowest point," he said. Carlisle, speaking on Time to Talk Day, which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, was chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association between 2010 and 2013 and remains on the PFA's management committee. Born in Preston, he started his career at Blackpool and made more than 500 appearances for nine clubs in a playing career that spanned 16 years, finishing at Northampton in 2013. Media playback is not supported on this device Carlisle was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary following the 22 December incident on the A64 Leeds to York road. He had suffered cuts, bruises, internal bleeding, a broken rib and shattered left knee. On Christmas Day he was admitted as an in-patient to a psychiatric unit in Harrogate before his release last Friday. He said he had reached "an epiphany" that he is "incredibly unwell". "I ventured out of my room not as Clarke the ex-footballer, but as Clarke, a mental health patient," he said. "That was the first step in my road to recovery." Carlisle faces a charge of failing to provide a sample after being stopped by police on 20 December - just two days before his suicide bid. The first footballer to appear on Question Time, Carlisle has previously spoken out about depression and suicide in professional sport and presented a BBC Three documentary on the subject. In the interview, he said his wife Gemma had seen a "steady decline" since he left Burnley in 2012. "I missed a sense of belonging, a sense of worth and value in life," he said. "You see someone in the street and they'd say, 'didn't you used to be Clarke Carlisle?' I laughed the first few off but after a while it eats at your core." Carlisle's wife Gemma has published a series of updates on her husband's condition on Twitter since the incident. On Wednesday night she tweeted: "Clarke and I thought very long and hard about this over the last week and feel that as you all supported us so immensely through this ordeal you deserved the truth. "We also want to highlight and create understanding for a lot of issues and feel it would be hypocritical of us to say nothing." Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, said: "We admire Clarke Carlisle and his family for speaking openly about his depression and his fight for recovery. This will encourage many thousands of others who will be experiencing despair in silence and without help." Samaritans can be contacted by phone on 08457 909090, via email or you can find the details for your local branch here. Click here for information on mental health issues from BBC's Action Line.

Summary: Former Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle was attempting to take his own life when he was hit by a lorry in December, he has revealed.


The lab - which is not being named - is run by UK personnel, not the US military, said Colonel Steve Warren. "Another lot came up positive and that lot had sent samples to the UK and Massachusetts," the colonel said, referring to the deadly bacteria. It brings to 68 the number of labs involved in the anthrax scare from the US, including four foreign countries. A number of US military facilities for the past decade have shipped inactivated anthrax samples to labs around the world to help their research into biological warfare. But in recent weeks, it has come to light that some suspect samples were not properly de-activated before being posted. After Tuesday's briefing, Col Warren told the BBC they could not be sure the UK received the live samples but it was sent samples from a larger batch - Lot 5 - in which some of the bacteria was found. Staff members at some of the labs have been treated for anthrax exposure as a precaution, but no-one has fallen ill. In addition to labs around the US, suspect samples were sent to facilities in Australia, Canada, South Korea and the UK. Experts in bio-safety have heavily criticised the lapse and called for improved precautions. Symptoms of anthrax exposure include skin ulcers, nausea, vomiting and fever, and can cause death if untreated. The military has ordered all of its labs that have previously received inactive anthrax samples to test them. In addition it is advising all labs to cease working with these samples until told otherwise. The Pentagon has maintained there is no risk to the general public. What is anthrax? Anthrax bacteria live primarily in inactive spores and are found naturally in the soil, but people can ingest or inhale spores, which can make the anthrax active. Not all will become ill when exposed to anthrax but left untreated, anthrax illness can turn very serious or lead to death. A blood culture test is used to confirm anthrax exposure. Anthrax entered the US national consciousness in 2001, when shortly after the 9/11 attacks, letters containing powdered anthrax arrived at news organisations and the offices of US senators. Twenty-two people were affected and of those, five people died. Sources: FBI Anthrax investigation; CDC, San Francisco Department of Public Health

Summary: A lab in the UK may have received a sample of live anthrax from the Pentagon in 2007, say US officials.


Nikki Haley said her country would not stand by when chemical weapons were used, as it was in its "vital interest" to stop their proliferation. Syrian ally Russia accused the US of encouraging "terrorists" with its unilateral actions. Moscow has promised to strengthen its ally Syria's anti-aircraft defences. It is also closing down a hotline with the US designed to avoid collisions between their air forces over Syria. At least six people are reported to have been killed in the US missile strikes early on Friday. US officials say the base was used to launch a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians on Tuesday. According to Idlib's opposition-run health authority, 89 people, including 33 children and 18 women, died in the suspected nerve agent attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun. Syria denies using nerve gas. Ms Haley told an emergency session of the UN Security Council that America had acted to ensure Syrian President Bashar al-President Assad would never use chemical weapons again. "We are prepared to do more but we hope that will not be necessary," she said. "It is in our vital national security interest to prevent the spread and use of chemical weapons." She blamed Iran and Russia for standing by the Syrian government when it committed crimes. "Strengthening Assad will only lead to more murders," she said. Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Vladimir Safronkov, described the US strikes as "illegitimate". "When you take your own path, this leads to horrible tragedies in the region," he told the Americans. UK ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the strikes were a "proportionate response to unspeakable acts". Cruise missiles fly low and have a relatively small radar cross-section so they are difficult to destroy with air defences. Russia may seek to improve Syria's surface-to-air missile system in the wake of this US attack but it would be very much a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Syria used to have a highly effective national air defence system based on Soviet-era radars and missiles but it has been significantly weakened in the wake of the civil war and the loss of territory by the regime. Look at the ease with which the Israelis carry out strikes against Hezbollah arms convoys and weapons stores in Syria. Russia has some of its most modern surface-to-air missile systems at its air base in Syria and radars with a huge reach but, for whatever reason, they too have not deterred Israeli strikes. Their presence makes air strikes by manned US aircraft unlikely and for Washington the Tomahawk cruise missile will remain the weapon of choice Two US Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Shayrat airfield in western Homs province at about 04:40 Syrian time (01:40 GMT). They targeted aircraft, aircraft shelters, storage areas, ammunition supply bunkers and air defence systems at the Syrian government-controlled facility, according to the Pentagon. It said the base was used to store chemical weapons and that "every precaution" had been taken to avoid casualties. The Russian military

Summary: The US envoy to the UN has warned America may take further action after bombarding a Syrian air base suspected of using chemical weapons.


Exxon Mobil was down 2% and Chevron fell 2.27% as US crude dropped by more than $1 a barrel to $46.54. Oil traders decided a sharp drop in US crude stockpiles in the past week - which had eased concerns of oversupply and sent the oil price up on Thursday - would be short-lived. "One week's worth of data does not make a trend," said IG analyst Bernard Aw. Bank stocks posted modest gains, although Wells Fargo was down 2% after it was fined $185m for illegally opening accounts to boost sales targets. In late trading in New York, the Dow was down 1.6%, S&P 1.8%, and Nasdaq 2%.

Summary: US stocks edged lower on Wall Street as a 2% drop in oil prices weighed on energy firms.


Romania face action after fans set off fireworks and threw objects, with Albania accused of the same offences in addition to allowing a pitch invasion. The charges mean that eight of the 24 teams competing in the tournament are the subject of disciplinary probes. Albania won the Group A match 1-0 to maintain slim hopes of progressing while eliminating Romania.

Summary: Uefa has opened proceedings against Albania and Romania after incidents in Sunday's Euro 2016 match in Lyon.


A judge is deciding if there is enough evidence for the case against Seamus Daly, 45, from Jonesborough, County Armagh, to go to a crown court trial. Mr Daly, originally from the Republic of Ireland, was arrested in April 2014. The Omagh bomb was the biggest single atrocity in the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It happened just four months after the Good Friday Agreement was signed. The death toll included nine children and three generations of one family, but no-one has been convicted in a criminal court of carrying out the attack. The hearing at Omagh Magistrates' Court is expected to last for two days. Along with the murder charges, Mr Daly faces charges of causing the explosion and possessing the bomb, and two charges relating to another dissident republican bomb plot in Lisburn, County Antrim, in April 1998. Previously, all of Mr Daly's magistrates' court hearings in Omagh have been via videolink from prison. He was brought to court in a prison van on Thursday and was led inside handcuffed to a security officer. Some relatives of those who were killed in the attack were in the court. Mr Daly sat a few feet from the victims' relatives who have followed every stage of the long legal process. After his arrest Mr Daly gave police a statement denying any involvement in the Omagh bombing or Lisburn plot. His lawyers have argued that the case against him is weak and much of the evidence has been discredited.

Summary: A man accused of murdering 29 people in the Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh in 1998 has appeared in court in the County Tyrone town for the first time.


The Bridge of Carr at Carrbridge in the Cairngorms is also known as the coffin bridge due to its use by funeral parties to cross the Dulnain river. The local community is to hold a programme of events from 19-21 May. An exhibition of historic artefacts, a family ceilidh and live entertainment are planned. The arching stone bridge was built between May and November 1717. Among the reasons for its construction was the Dulnain had frequently been in spate in previous years. In the 1690s, deaths in the area rose because of famine. Mourners were prevented from reaching funerals at the Church of Duthil when the river was swollen. The bridge was built by John Niccelsone, a mason from Ballindaloch in Moray, at the behest of local landowner Brigadier-General Alexander Grant of Grant. Its parapets and side walls were badly damaged in the 18th Century and again in a flood in 1829.

Summary: Events are to be held to mark the 300th anniversary of the construction of what is thought to be the oldest bridge in the Highlands.


The figure for the six months to 31 December is an increase of £5.1m from 2014, helped in part by the £13m sale of Virgil van Dijk to Southampton. Revenue is up 0.3% to £31.4m but the club expect a dip in the coming months with no further European matches this season and fewer home games. "Our performance in Europe this season has been the cause of considerable frustration," said chair Ian Bankier. The Scottish Premiership leaders have increased investment in their playing squad, spending £6.1m on Scott Allan, Logan Bailly, Carlton Cole, Ryan Christie, Nadir Ciftci, Saidy Janko and Jozo Simunovic last summer. Subsequently, during the 2016 January transfer window, they added Danish defender Erik Sviatchenko and Turkish striker Colin Kazim-Richards while English forward Patrick Roberts joined on loan from Manchester City for 18 months. After exiting the Champions League at the play-off stage at the hands of Malmo and going into the Europa League, Ronny Deila's side finished bottom of their group with no wins and three draws. Their hopes of retaining the Scottish League Cup were ended by Ross County in last month's semi-final but they are still in the Scottish Cup. In the league, they lead Aberdeen on goal difference but the Dons have played a game more. "The strategy of the board is unchanged," added Bankier in his statement. "Our overwhelming priority is to win the SPFL Premiership and to qualify for the group stages of the Uefa Champions League. "The challenge has been to maintain a settled and winning squad throughout the summer months when the crucial Champions League qualifying matches are played, to manage the player changes during the summer transfer window and then to kick on when the new season begins. "Each season we meet this challenge within the financial constraints of where we sit in Scottish football, for to do otherwise would be reckless."

Summary: Celtic have announced a pre-tax profit of £11.7m in their interim results.


Graphic Design student Leanne Young won the competition with a forest fairy tale design featuring Highland cows, squirrels and the Loch Ness Monster. It will feature on boxes to be given to every newborn baby from this summer until March 2019. More than 70 students applied for the design competition, being run by the V&A Dundee, to decide what the boxes will look like. One other design, by Marwa Ebrahim from Glasgow School of Art, was also highly commended by the judges. The boxes, which are being piloted in Clackmannanshire and Orkney, will contain items including bedding, clothing and toys. Ms Young, from Edinburgh Napier University, will receive a prize of Â£1,000 and "exclusive mentoring" from leading Scottish designers Holly Fulton and Scott Jarvie. She said she was delighted her design would feature on Scotland's first baby box. "I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience from concept to realisation and hope that young families will interact with the design I have created," she said. "It's really exciting to be involved with the entire process and I've appreciated all the support and encouragement I have received from my mentors so far. "The course at Edinburgh Napier has allowed me to develop my graphic design skills and allowed me to participate in this exciting new government initiative." Judges praised Ms Young's high contrast illustration which they said was "visually stimulating" for babies. The images can also be customised by each individual family. Early Years Minister Mark McDonald said: "It was an extremely difficult task trying to pick an overall winner but the judges were in agreement that Leanne's concept should be the first ever design for Scotland's baby box. "Not only is it incredibly interactive, allowing families to customise and decorate the box throughout the years, it also acts as a multi-purpose memory capsule. It has space to record key milestones, a family tree and even the baby's handprints or footprints. "Although all babies born in Scotland will receive one of these boxes I am extremely pleased that each one will be completely unique to every family."

Summary: The winning design for Scotland's baby boxes has been revealed.


The report, by Wales' Children's Commissioner Sally Holland, found homes provide the right care for some, helping them feel more stable. But it also highlighted concerns, such as children being criminalised by frequent police call-outs. Thirty-four looked-after children were interviewed, along with professionals. Ms Holland called on people who work with children in care to listen to their opinions and experiences. "They are the experts on what works and it is important that their voices are heard," she said.

Summary: Children leaving residential care at 18 feel they lack support while others claim they have limited say in where they will live, a report has found.


The Swede, 35, joined Jose Mourinho's side last summer on a one-year deal and has scored 20 goals this season. Mourinho said on Friday he believed the club's top scorer would still be at Old Trafford in 2017-18. When asked about his future, Ibrahimovic said: "We'll wait and see." Ibrahimovic's goals have helped Manchester United into the EFL Cup final - where they will face Southampton - as well as the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Red Devils are also in the Europa League knockout stage. Manchester United won the Community Shield in August and Ibrahimovic is confident of adding at least one more trophy to the collection. "We have one and we can get our second one," he added. "We are still in the Europa League and FA Cup, so if we don't become champions in the Premier League at least we can try and win two or three trophies."

Summary: Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says "nothing is done" with regards to his future but insists he has fulfilled requirements needed to extend his contract.


About 30 protesters refused to leave Pantycelyn at the end of term on Sunday and five climbed on the roof on Monday. The campaigners said they would also go on hunger strike on 21 June, the day before a decision is due on whether the accommodation will close indefinitely. The university recommended the halls close to make them "fit for purpose". It said the building would still be used for Welsh language services. But campaigners have accused the university of not placing enough value in the Welsh language. Student Bethan Roberts said: "We are here occupying the building with students and people from all over Wales to ensure this stays as a Welsh halls of residence."

Summary: Students at Aberystwyth University have climbed on the roof of a Welsh language hall of residence to protest its proposed closure.


The Commons Treasury Select Committee said the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) made a serious error last year by mishandling a pre-briefing of its life insurance review. Comments made by an FCA official in a newspaper interview sent insurers' share prices plunging. Companies affected included Aviva, Legal & General and Prudential. Clive Adamson, the head of supervision, said in the interview that the FCA would investigate whether people locked into pension plans were being treated unfairly. That sparked fears about a possible effect on insurers' profits and prompted some investors to sell their stakes. In a strongly worded 89-page report, the Treasury committee said the incident had been a "major self-inflicted distraction" from the FCA's core purpose of making markets function smoothly. Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the committee, said: "By effectively breaching its own listing rules, the FCA itself created a false market in life insurance shares. Had a regulated firm behaved as the FCA did last March, the FCA is likely to have imposed a considerable fine." However, the report stopped short of calling for resignations and instead set out several steps the watchdog should take over the next six months and report back. The FCA said it was determined to learn the lessons and ensure this would never happen again, and would study the committee's recommendations. The authority's executive committee, headed by chief executive Martin Wheatley, should examine communications methods and "poor working relationships" between divisions, the report said. The board, headed by FCA chairman John Griffith-Jones, should commission an external review of its own effectiveness, according to the committee. The FCA and the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority should each produce a map setting out the responsibilities of senior officials in the same way the regulators are asking banks to, MPs said in the report. They also called on the FCA to stop briefing certain journalists on forthcoming announcements unless it published the news at the same time any stories appeared in the media. Further, the authority should train its staff on how to handle price-sensitive information. "The evidence from this episode suggests that problems may still exist at the FCA. It is not yet clear to the committee that the FCA has fully grasped this," Mr Tyrie said. The report echoes an independent inquiry by Simon Davis published in December that led to Mr Wheatley and other senior FCA officials losing their bonuses. Mr Adamson left the FCA two days before the Davis report was published.

Summary: Britain's financial regulator created a false market in shares of life insurers last year, a group of MPs has said.


The collision took place on Repington Road, near its junction with Bagot Grove, in the Sneyd Green area of the city at about 17:00 BST on 14 April. The boy, who was from the area, died in Birmingham Children's Hospital on Tuesday. Staffordshire Police confirmed it was investigating the incident and appealed for any witnesses to come forward. More on this and other stories from Stoke and Staffordshire

Summary: A seven-year-old boy has died in hospital five days after he was hit by a car in Stoke-on-Trent.


Millie Thompson died on 23 October 2012 after eating shepherd's pie at Ramillies Hall School and Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester. An inquest jury returned a misadventure verdict, and said no-one was to blame. South Manchester Coroner John Pollard is writing to the government as a "matter of national importance". The jury at Oldham Magistrates' Court heard that Millie started coughing and crying in a high chair during her mashed lunchtime feed from a supervisor before her lips turned blue. A nursery supervisor - whose basic first aid certificate had expired - shouted for help and passed Millie to a colleague who had paediatric first aid training and gave the baby back slaps. Millie's condition fluctuated and then deteriorated as an ambulance arrived 10 minutes after staff dialled 999. There were no signs of life as she was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital, and she was pronounced dead soon after arrival. Mr Pollard also said he would be writing to the North West Ambulance Service after it emerged that the 999 call handler in the choking incident admitted she made two "fundamental" errors in responding to nursery staff's call. After terminating the call, North West Ambulance Service employee Aaliyah Ormerod also made the comment: "Jeez, stop giving me information," the inquest heard. Ms Ormerod said she had wrongly graded the call and did not recognise it as an immediate life-threatening situation, which meant a rapid response vehicle was not sent to the nursery. She also accepted she should have stayed on the phone until the ambulance arrived, the inquest heard. The coroner said he expected her employers to take action over the end-of-call comment which he said had "added insult to injury, quite literally". Mr Pollard said he would write to the chief executive of the ambulance service regarding call handler training over child illnesses. he also said all vehicles should have appropriate paediatric equipment on board.

Summary: A coroner has called for paediatric first aid training for all nursery staff after a nine-month-old baby choked while eating her nursery lunch.


The site of the Chicago Rock club, on New Street, Barnsley, was badly damaged when a fire broke out last week. At its height, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service used eight fire engines to tackle the blaze at the disused building. David Shepherd, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council's director for economic regeneration, said the demolition would take place over the weekend. He said: "We've worked with Historic England to see if anything on the site can be preserved, but unfortunately we've come to the decision the building cannot be saved." Mr Shepherd added the demolition would take place in order to "ensure people are safe and are not at risk from the building collapsing without any warning". More on this and other local stories from across Sheffield and South Yorkshire

Summary: A former nightclub gutted by fire is to be demolished.


Henrikh Mkhitaryan's sublime solo goal proved the difference as second-placed Dortmund moved within five points. The Armenia captain ran at the away defence from deep before firing into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Pep Guardiola's side can restore their eight-point lead with a win at relegation battlers Augsburg on Sunday. Bayer Leverkusen moved into third when they fought back from behind to win 2-1 at Darmstadt, while Hertha Berlin dropped to fourth after losing 2-0 at Stuttgart. Second-bottom Hoffenheim, with new 28-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann taking charge for the first time, drew 1-1 at relegation rivals Werder Bremen.

Summary: Borussia Dortmund narrowed the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with a hard-fought win against bottom side Hannover.


There is no scientific way of accurately measuring how many people will be so incensed by President Trump's executive order on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries that they feel compelled to carry out a violent act against a US or Western target. Perhaps dozens, perhaps none. There is also no scientific way of measuring how many potential violent extremists have now been shut out of the US because of the order. But one thing is clear: in the ever-shifting ideological battle to win hearts and minds, this is one-nil to the extremists of so-called Islamic State (IS). Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, whose country is currently helping Iraqi forces drive out IS, said the US move would "be recorded in history as a great gift to extremists and their supporters". He added that it "only serves to provide a fertile ground for more terrorist recruitment by deepening the ruptures and fault-lines which have been exploited by extremist demagogues". In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, a foreign ministry spokesman said it deeply regretted the move "because we believe it would affect the global fight against terrorismâ€¦ It is wrong to link radicalism and terrorism with one particular religion". Even America's closest ally, Britain, has been critical. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that in his personal view the move "is divisive, discriminatory and wrong". Behind the scenes, where the ideological battle against violent extremism is fought in internet chatrooms, over anti-terrorist hotlines, and with tip-offs from the public, one effect of the immigration order will be to, at least temporarily, inhibit co-operation between the US and the very countries whose help it needs in fighting Islamic extremism. Iraq, whose forces have undergone an extensive retraining programme with help from US advisers, has been quick to retaliate by imposing similar restrictions on US visitors. At street level, anything that portrays the US government as being anti-Muslim - and that is exactly how this is going down in much of the Middle East - makes it harder to fight the narrative of IS and other extremists. Largely obscured by the tumult and confusion over President Trump's Executive Order is one simple, compelling fact: the people whose actions bear the original blame for much of the mistrust and negative stereotyping of Muslims, on both sides of the Atlantic, are not the mainstream Muslim populations themselves. It is the extremists from al-Qaeda, IS, al-Shabab and other affiliate groups who have waged violent jihad in the name of their common religion. Through their actions, these extremists are looking to separate Muslims from non-Muslims and to create a gulf between them. They crave a return to a time when much of the inhabited world was divided into Dar al-Islam (lands inhabited and ruled by Muslims according to Sharia, Islamic law) and Dar al-Harb (literally "the House of War", meaning all the other lands). Anything that helps polarise the world's populations further down this path of segregation and an "us and them" mentality is welcomed by the extremists. When refugees surged out of Syria and headed west towards Europe

Summary: Yes, in a word.


Up to 30 men, some with false beards and one masquerading as a pregnant woman in a wheelchair, entered the hospital in Hebron overnight. They took away a suspect in a recent stabbing near Hebron after shooting dead his cousin in an altercation. Ten Israelis and dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent unrest. Many of the Palestinian fatalities were attackers in near-daily stabbings of Israelis, shot by their victims or security forces. The surge in violence began in September when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over, amid rumours that Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to strengthen Jewish rights at the complex. Israel has repeatedly denied such claims. Closed-circuit television footage from al-Ahli hospital showed a large, armed group disguised as Arab men and women making their way down a corridor, pushing the wheelchair, shortly before 04:00 (02:00 GMT). They point the guns at hospital staff, apparently ordering them to stay back. Minutes later they are seen making their way back with the suspect, 20-year-old Azzam Shalaldeh, in the wheelchair. Mr Shalaldeh is alleged to have stabbed and wounded an Israeli on 25 October before escaping after being shot by the victim. Palestinian officials said Mr Shalaldeh's 27-year-old cousin, Abdallah Azzam Shalaldeh, was shot and killed in Azzam Shalaldeh's hospital room. Israel's Shin Bet security agency said he was shot after attacking the Israeli forces. Azzam Shalaldeh's brother Bilal, who was also in the room at the time, said Abdallah Azzam Shalaldeh was shot without warning when he emerged from a bathroom. Shin Bet said Azzam Shalaldeh belonged to "a family of Hamas militants", AFP news agency reported. The Israeli military operates an undercover unit colloquially known as Duvdevan, which sometimes mingle undetected with Palestinians during riots before snatching suspects. An undercover team also carried out a raid on a hospital in the West Bank city of Nablus last month, seizing a suspect in the murder of an Israeli couple days earlier.

Summary: Undercover Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian and seized a stabbing suspect in a raid on a West Bank hospital, Palestinian officials say.


Mr Davies is widely known as Welsh Conservative leader but his authority does not extend beyond the assembly Tory group, under party rules. Speaking on BBC One's Sunday Politics Wales, the AM admitted the Welsh party lacked clear leadership. The Tories lost three seats in Wales at the general election, leaving them with eight. It lost both of the seats it gained at the 2015 general election from Labour - Gower and the Vale of Clwyd - and also lost Cardiff North. When it was put to him that there was a lack of clear leadership in the Tory campaign in Wales, Mr Davies said: "I agree with you entirely. "We have a very strong distinct Welsh Conservative brand, but we do need to be able to make key political decisions here in Wales and have a designated leader here in Wales, similar to what Labour formalised back in March. I readily acknowledge that. "I lead on devolution, on secretary of state aspects such as Westminster, obviously the secretary of state leads then. The chairman of the voluntary party obviously leads on the voluntary party... That cannot continue." Mr Davies said he thought Scotland "had a very good model which has shown to be successful". There, Ruth Davidson led a separate campaign to the Conservatives in England and Wales, largely focused and opposed to the SNP's calls for a second independence referendum. The party gained 12 seats in Scotland, finishing with 13. "There is a deficiency in the ability to make those key decisions from a party perspective and I do acknowledge that," said Mr Davies. But, he added: "Let's not forget, there's a huge job of work to be done as we go forward as a country. The Conservative Party is the largest party in Westminster and its incumbent we form a government." The Welsh Conservative campaign was marred by a row over who was meant to have represented the party in the BBC Wales Leaders' Debate. Neither Mr Davies or Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns took part - with senior AM Darren Millar taking the podium instead.

Summary: The Welsh Tories need a designated leader that can make key decisions for the party, Andrew RT Davies has said.


There will be no Gatwick Express service and most Southern services will be diverted via London Bridge. Gatwick passengers will be able to use alternative services from Blackfriars or London Bridge. No services will operate between London Victoria and Brighton, but trains between the city and London Bridge will run in the early mornings and evenings. On Sunday, buses will replace trains between Gillingham and Faversham, and between Sittingbourne and Sheerness in Kent. Southeastern said rail replacement buses would also operate between Shepherdswell and Dover Priory on Monday. Network Rail has advised passengers planning to travel over the three-day holiday weekend to check timetables.

Summary: Rail passengers using the Brighton Main Line will face disruption over the bank holiday weekend from engineering work.


Business rates, charged on property in England, are due to change in April for the first time in seven years. Calculations by consultancy Gerald Eve suggest changes to the rateable value of schools mean some will face 40% bill increases. The government said its own figures suggested state schools overall would see a 2% fall in rates. Andrew Altman, a specialist schools partner at Gerald Eve, said the firm estimates that the total rates bill for schools in England is about £791m. But it estimates that this could rise by £131m to about £922m by 2021-22 as the revaluation changes work through. The figures amount to a rise of about 17% by 2021, said Mr Altman, but this "hides the fact that about a quarter of schools could see actual rate increases of about 40% in the first year". Mr Altman said he feared that council-run schools would be particularly badly hit as academies have their costs, including rates, met fully, directly from Whitehall. He said that he expected many schools to appeal against their new business rate rises and questioned why public sector properties were subjected to business rates at all. "It's circular. It's all public money. It's a very expensive tax to collect and appeal," he added. National Association of Head Teachers' general secretary Russell Hobby said a sharp increase in business rates would "add to the perfect storm school leaders are experiencing. "It cannot be right that more and more of the money to schools is being taken back to central and local government." Mr Hobby said schools were already having to find money, which would otherwise be spent on pupils, to fund the Apprenticeship Levy which also comes into force from April, as well as staff insurance contributions and pension costs. "The burden on schools is becoming too much," he added, urging the chancellor to "act in next month's Budget to ensure schools have the resources they need". In a statement, the Department for Communities and Local Government said it did not recognise the Gerald Eve figures and state schools would see a 2% fall in their bills - equivalent to £16m a year. "The revaluation of business rates means nearly three-quarters of properties will see no change or a fall in their bills," said a spokesman. The National Day Nurseries Association said its members, who operate as small businesses, feared their business rates could double. Research late last year by the Lambert Smith Hampton commercial property consultancy estimated rises of 45%, or higher in more affluent areas. NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said these rises would be "a huge burden" when nurseries were already facing "severe financial pressure" due to the national living wage and uncertainty surrounding the financial viability of the government's plan to double the number of free childcare hours for working families.

Summary: A sharp rise in schools' business rates could push some budgets beyond breaking point, say head teachers' leaders.


The 25-year-old from Southend won Q School in May to earn a first tour card and guarantee a chance to qualify for every ranking and European Tour event. But he says that playing "between six to 10 hours a day" to improve your game can begin to get frustrating. "You do get tired of it, it does get very mundane and repetitive, but it has to be done," he told BBC Essex. "I'm sure all of the guys who take the game seriously are putting in the serious hours," he added. "I think the guys at the top of the game have already done all the hard graft in practice and got to a certain level where they are so good - they're playing all the time and in every tournament." Wilson, who has played in amateur events from Gloucester to Barnsley and Doncaster, is currently at the Riga Open in Latvia and will play former world number one Judd Trump on Friday. But he says that as he tries to make his way in the professional game, he needs to rely on his father for financial support. "Currently my dad helps me a lot. He's essentially my sponsor," Wilson added. "The idea of the whole thing is that someday I can pay him back."

Summary: Snooker player Sydney Wilson says practising to make it as a professional cueman can be "mundane and repetitive".


With the Brandywell being redeveloped in 2017, Derry City's home domestic games will be played at Maginn Park in the Inishowen town of Buncrana. However, with Maginn Park not equipped to stage European ties, Derry will have to find another Europa League venue. Derry have made overtures about staging Europa ties in the GAA venue Celtic Park but this is highly unlikely. While Croke Park staged rugby and football internationals between 2007 and 2010 on a temporary basis as the new Aviva Stadium was being built at Lansdowne Road, GAA rules still forbid other of the association's grounds being used for sports other than gaelic games. Clare club St Joseph's Milton Malbay attempted to change this rule at this year's GAA Congress but their proposal was overwhelmingly rejected. Derry's first home League game at Maginn Park will take place on Sunday, 5 March. Sunday is Derry's prepared choice for home fixtures and in all, they will play nine Sunday home fixtures. The Candystripes will open their season with an away game against Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday, 24 February.

Summary: Sligo's Showgrounds is emerging as the most likely venue to stage Derry City's Europa League games next summer.


Following the acquisition of Cyprus defender Jason Demetriou, Etheridge, 25, fills the gap left by Richard O'Donnell's move to Wigan Athletic. The ex-Chelsea trainee, who has made just 20 Football League appearances, was released by Charlton in May. "We had a number of good options but Neil stood out," said boss Dean Smith. "He ticks all the boxes in age, room for development and experience at this level and above," said Smith. He's an extremely driven young man who wants to be successful. These are the characteristics we're looking for. "Neil will compete with Craig MacGillivray for a first-team place. They will both push each other on, exactly the kind of competition that we want." Etheridge, who began his professional career at Fulham, added: "The faith that the gaffer and Neil Cutler (Walsall goalkeeping coach) have shown in me means a lot. Now is the time to get my head down and work hard. "I have gained plenty of international experience in front of big crowds, but I've not played as many league games as I'd have liked. I intend to rectify that here." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: League One side Walsall have made their second international signing in 24 hours by bringing in Philippines keeper Neil Etheridge on a two-year deal.


Researchers tested 15-year-old girls and boys from 26 countries in 2012. They wanted to find how gaming affected their learning, using computer and paper tests in maths, science and reading. The results found that those who played single-player games every now and then, did better than those who never, or hardly ever, played games. Single-player gamers did particularly well in computer tests to do with maths and problem solving. The researchers think this could be because they're more familiar with computer games, so they're more at ease with tests on computers. However, the researchers also found that those who played games every day or very regularly did worse on paper-based tests. They reckon too much gaming might crowd out other activities like doing homework and reading books. The report found those who played multi-player online games did a lot worse in both paper and computer tests. Those who played single-player games did much better. Online multi-player games are typically played late at night, and for long periods of time, which might make those who play them more tired and less able to concentrate. The research was published by the international organisation the OECD, which helps governments come up with plans for improving life in their countries.

Summary: A new international report suggests that gaming regularly can help you to do better in tests at school.


Jake Morrison triumphed over Lord Storey in Wavertree as the Liberal Democrats - who held power only two years ago - took heavy losses. Another high profile Lib Dem casualty was former education spokesman Paul Clein, who said his defeat was not "a reflection on local candidates". Labour took 12 of the 14 Lib Dem seats being contested. Mr Morrison, a healthcare assistant at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, said: "It's absolutely fantastic - I'm over the moon. "Obviously I hope to follow in some of Mike's (Lord Storey's) footsteps. He's been a councillor for over 38 years and is respected by residents in Liverpool and I wish him well." Local Lib Dem leader Flo Clucas said the party had suffered at the hands of a national "hate campaign" against Nick Clegg. "We had an extremely good reception on the doorstep," said Mrs Clucas. "There was no animosity against those candidates who were standing. "But as soon as you mentioned the words Lib Dem the words that came back were: 'We all know what Nick Clegg has done. He has jumped into bed with the Tories'." Mrs Clucas said the national Labour Party had run a negative campaign which she thought was "very bad for politics indeed". Lib Dem councillor Richard Kemp, who represents Church ward, said his party would come back from the brink. "I thought we would have done badly, but not this badly," he said. "We have lost some really good people but it's by no means the end of the Lib Dems in Liverpool." Labour council leader Joe Anderson said: "Liverpool has suffered the worst cuts of any city or town in the country. "They are hurting but not working. It's no wonder the Lib Dems suffered their biggest defeat in 50 years." Former Lib Dem leader Warren Bradley had to stand down as the party's leader last month, after an email he had written predicting big losses in the city was leaked. Labour swept to power in Warrington Council taking six seats from the Lib Dems. The council previously had no single party in control but Labour now has a majority with 34 out of 57 seats. Labour became the largest party on Sefton council - after it gained five seats and the Lib Dems lost five - although the authority remains in no overall control. Labour also became the largest single party on the hung Wirral Council with the five seats they took from the Lib Dems, leaving the party with 29 seats to the Tories' 27. The Lib Dem leader Simon Holbrooke was one of the party's casualties. Labour retained control of Halton Council, gaining seven seats, and kept hold of Knowsley, where the party took three seats from the Liberal Democrats, two from the Conservatives and two from other representatives. Labour also strengthened its grip on St Helens where it gained seven seats. The party now holds 35 of the council's 48 seats.

Summary: A former leader of Liverpool City Council has lost his seat to an 18-year-old Labour candidate.


They have put up wanted posters in hostels around the town, which is hosting the Winter Olympics next month. The woman, 23-year-old Ruzanna Ibragimova from Dagestan in the North Caucasus region, is believed to be the widow of an Islamist militant. She is thought to have slipped into Sochi earlier this month, bypassing tight security ahead of the Games. At least two other potential female suicide bombers are also at large in the region, other police posters state. Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched one of the biggest security operations in Olympic history, and has personally inspected the sites. More than 30,000 police and interior ministry troops have been deployed and access to the area limited. Security fears were heightened after two suicide bomb attacks killed 34 people in the southern city of Volgograd on 29 and 30 December. US President Barack Obama, in a telephone conversation with the Kremlin on Tuesday, offered America's "full assistance" in making the Olympics "safe and secure", the White House said. Two US warships will be on standby in the Black Sea when the Games begin on 7 February. Washington has also offered to supply Russia with hi-tech equipment to help detect improvised explosives. Islamist militants from Dagestan and nearby republics of Ingushetia and Chechnya are considered by Moscow to be a major threat to the Games. Several national Olympic associations have reported being sent an email threatening athletes with attack, but it was widely dismissed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and national bodies as not credible. The IOC said it appeared to be "a random message from a member of the public," and posed no threat, but repeated that it "takes security very seriously". Officials at the British Olympic Association said they "receive correspondence of every type and it is not uncommon to come across something like this that lacks credibility". "It is extremely important in matters such as this that everyone maintains a level head and a sensible perspective," said spokesman Darryl Seibel.

Summary: Russian police in Sochi are hunting for a woman they fear may be planning to carry out a suicide bomb attack.


The former England international, who switched his allegiance to The Elephants ahead of their Nations Cup defence, came off the bench in Abu Dhabi to provide the perfect cross for Giovanni Sio who headed home a winner. An own-goal from Wilfried Kanon had put Sweden ahead, with Yao Serge Nguessan equalising on the stroke of half-time. 24-year-old Zaha was born in Ivory Coast but has two England caps having played against Sweden in November 2012 and Scotland the following year. As both were friendly matches, he was permitted to commit his international future to his country of birth. The Ivorians have been preparing for the Nations Cup in the United Arab Emirates. They will be heading to Gabon on Thursday and will play their opening Group C game on 16 January against Togo. In other friendly internationals this weekend, Algeria were 3-1 winners over Mauritania; Burkina Faso beat Mali 2-1; Uganda defeated Slovakia 3-1; Senegal were 2-1 winners over Libya and Egypt recorded a rare victory over North African rivals Tunisia, winning 1-0.

Summary: Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha provided the decisive cross on his Ivory Coast debut as the African champions beat Sweden 2-1 in an Africa Cup of Nations warm-up match on Sunday.


This includes a "development bank" to support small businesses and a promise to bring fast broadband to everyone. Leader Carwyn Jones said it was "an ambitious plan ... focused on the economy, growth and fairness". He said the aim was "to build economic growth and security for everyone in Wales". "Over the last few years the Welsh economy has punched above its weight with high profile inward investments coming through Aston Martin and TVR," Mr Jones said on Tuesday, launching the manifesto at a college in the south Wales valleys. "Our manifesto today seeks to build on those firm foundations with big and bold new ideas such as a new development bank for Wales and tax cuts for all small businesses to help boost economic growth even further in the years to come." Details: What is in the Welsh Labour manifesto? Mr Jones added: "Today is about taking our country forward. We ask the people of Wales to join us once again on that journey." The focus on the economy comes after he wrote in the Sunday Telegraph there was more he could do to "whip government into shape" in how it helps businesses. Welsh Labour was left feeling shocked and bruised by 2015's general election result and the party says it's been in listening mode ever since. It's been all over the country asking people what they want from Labour. The product of that consultation is this manifesto. There are plenty of attractive promises, such as increased free childcare, more apprenticeships and an extension of its school-building programme. But perhaps the more interesting aspect is what's not in the manifesto. While it commits the party to an M4 relief road, it doesn't give a specific route. And there's a promise to cut the number of councils, but we're not told how many there will be. So Labour is keeping its options open on some controversial topics, perhaps with an eye on post-election discussions with other parties.

Summary: Welsh Labour has launched its assembly election manifesto with a "plan for prosperity" the party says will "get the country moving".


Nicolas Sagar was working as a pianist on the island and had gone swimming. It is believed he got in to difficulties and drowned. The 33-year-old was found at Maho Beach by tourists who could not resuscitate him and called emergency services. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene on Sunday morning and his body was identified later that day. Mr Sagar's parents are working with the Home Office to repatriate their son's body and arrangements are still being made for his funeral. Police on the island said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances and that the incident was a tragic accident. Mr Sagar, who was also involved in acting and musical directing, previously worked in musical theatre in London and on cruise ships. He was expected to continue his travelling by visiting Barbados on Monday. 'Regular swims' Kelly Sagar, the deceased's father, said: "He was a wonderful son. The piano was his great love; from the age of eight, the only thing he wanted to do was play piano and sing. "He was never happier than when he was sitting at the piano with a pint resting on top. "He was travelling the world doing what he loved. "Nick worked in the evenings and liked to spend his days on the beach. He'd go swimming there quite often and it appears that on this occasion he got in to difficulty. "He will be missed terribly." Mr and Mrs Sagar said they had been comforted by messages posted on their son's social networking site.

Summary: A musician from Alloa has died after drowning off the coast of the Caribbean island of St Maartens.


The Scot, 27, levelled after a poor first set before racing through the decider against the Argentine. He will face Tommy Robredo in Sunday's final in China after the Spaniard earlier beat Santiago Giraldo 6-1 6-4. "Tommy will be a very tough opponent. I will need to play a really good match if I want to win," said Murray. It will be their first meeting since the Briton defeated him in the third round at SW19 last year. Murray's semi-final victory boosts his hopes of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals at the 02 Arena in November. The Briton, currently ranked 11th in the world, will rise above Grigor Dimitrov into 10th place in the race to qualify for the finals if he wins the tournament. He served 10 aces and converted six of nine break points in a performance that improved significantly as the match wore on. In hot and humid conditions, Murray fell a double-break behind at 4-1 as repeated errors, particularly off the forehand side, handed easy points to his 30-year-old opponent, who is ranked 97th in the world. A backhand that clipped the outside of the line allowed Murray to retrieve one of those breaks, but he immediately gave up his serve again, a limp forehand slapped into the net all too typical of his play. When another backhand sailed long, the Scot had lost the opening set in only half an hour. A lucky net cord and Monaco double fault allowed Murray to break first in the second set but another errant forehand conceded the advantage straight away. At 3-3 and break point down, Murray was in a precarious position but a swinging second serve allowed him to avert danger and he pounced on a poor Monaco drop shot to break for 5-3 before serving out the set. The second seed was in inspired form in the decider, winning it to love with his forehand now drawing gasps from the crowd as it repeatedly found the target and proved too powerful for Monaco to handle. "The turning point was when we were 3-3 in the second set," said Murray. "But before that he was dominating the match." Japanese world number eight and US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori made it into his second consecutive final, beating Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 4-6 6-2 in the semi-final of the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. He'll play fourth seed Julien Benneteau, of France, who knocked out the second seeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-4 6-4.

Summary: Britain's Andy Murray defeated Juan Monaco 2-6 6-3 6-0 at the Shenzhen Open to reach his first final since winning Wimbledon last year.


The fire started at the "A list" Cirque Le Soir venue on London's Ganton Street, just off Carnaby Street at about 04:55 GMT. Station manager Nic Myatt said: "No-one was inside at the time and there were no injuries." The cause of the fire is under investigation. Cirque le Soir, a basement venue, describes itself as "London's most A-list club and decadent circus". Entertainers perform on four stages at the nightclub, a popular venue for celebrities, with minimum spends starting "from as little as Â£100 per head" for a party of 500. London Fire Brigade said it managed to contain the fire so it did not travel to the restaurant and offices above it.

Summary: More than 50 firefighters have tackled a blaze at a Soho nightclub.


The 8,000 capacity stadium at Huntington was due to open in August 2016 but will not be ready for occupation until around December, the club said. York Council said it would work with the Minstermen to "minimise any impact to the club and its fans". City said the delay would have "very little impact". In a statement, it added: "Although some may be slightly frustrated that the club will not be in a position to move into the new stadium for the start of the 2016/17 season, ensuring the future development is built correctly is crucial in providing a fantastic new home for York City for decades to come." Work on the Jockey Lane site was expected to start in June but the council said it is still finalising contracts. A spokesman added: "Once these matters are finalised the development phase can commence and work can begin on the stadium itself." York FC will continue to play at Bootham Crescent until the new stadium is complete. "The club wish to point out that precedents have been set by fellow football clubs switching stadiums during a season and although some fans may not view it as ideal, the eventual move to the York Community Stadium will be fundamental in securing York City's long term future," the club said.

Summary: A new £37m home for York City FC will not be finished until part way through the 2016/17 football season.


The Prince of Wales. This country's next hereditary head of state. The man yet to set foot on the soil of mainland China. But this isn't an outright princely boycott. The reality is more complex. When it comes to actively avoiding showcase set pieces involving Chinese leaders, Prince Charles has form. He didn't turn up to one in 1999. He chose instead to dine with the then Camilla Parker Bowles. According to the prince's former aide, Mark Bolland, this was a "deliberate snub" because he didn't approve of the Chinese regime and because he was a great supporter of the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama whom he viewed as being oppressed by the Chinese. Back then, the Daily Telegraph was briefed about the reasons for the prince's boycott of the banquet. Sixteen years on, no explanation is being offered for his absence next week. The future king will be in Scotland while, in London, considerable attention will be devoted to the attire of the Duchess of Cambridge and Jeremy Corbyn. It's not often the future queen and the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition appear in the same sentence about the same subject. What royal officials are happy to talk about is what they call Prince Charles's "significant involvement" in the Chinese state visit. He will meet President Xi Jinping and his wife, take part in the formal welcome on Horse Guards Parade, attend a private lunch at Buckingham Palace given by the Queen and, strikingly, have a private meeting with Mr Xi on his home turf, Clarence House. Such a dialogue, aides say, is far more valuable than any small talk that might be exchanged between courses at the state banquet. They argue that the prince is investing a great deal of time in events next week. He is showing an impressive commitment, one insisted, given the reservations he has. The man who once, privately, described some Chinese officials as "appalling old waxworks" has moved. And moved significantly. In 1999, he disengaged. Now those around him talk about the heir to the throne engaging with China. The role the country could play in tackling climate change hasn't escaped his attention. To facilitate this engagement, Prince Charles didn't meet the Dalai Lama when he was in the UK last month. The Dalai Lama has talked about the pair being the "best of friends". The Chinese view the spiritual leader as a separatist threat. The absence of any encounter between the Dalai Lama and the prince has paved the way for one between the Queen's son and President Xi. The Chinese, diplomatically, are keen to focus on the evolving Charles of today, rather than on how he has been presented in the past. "We tend to look forward", one official said. "We are very happy to be friends with people who want to be friends with us". The prince - to use much loved modern day-parlance - has been on a journey. There are royal officials who would wish that he had travelled far enough to enable him to attend a state banquet

Summary: When, next week, the Queen invites her guests in the Buckingham Palace ballroom to stand and toast the People's Republic of China there will be one notable absentee from the state banquet.


Poo left behind by the creatures is turning the white marble walls green! The problem's been caused by insects breeding in a nearby polluted river - and there's been a rise in the amount of them. Cleaners scrub the Taj Mahal's walls every day, but there are worries their elbow grease could ruin the beautiful marble and mosaics. Authorities are looking for a way to solve the problem as quickly as possible. "Officials have been asked to investigate as why there is sudden increase in the number of these insects and how to control their population," local official Navneet Sehgal said. The insects are a type of fly that look like a mosquito. The incredible building is actually a huge tomb built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife in the 1600s. It is visited by millions of people every year, including royalty.

Summary: Swarms of insects are using India's top tourist attraction, the Taj Mahal, as a toilet.


International development minister Alasdair Allan claimed Brexit will cause "immeasurable harm" to Scotland. He said further damage could be inflicted by limiting the number of people who can come to the UK. The UK government said the immigration system takes Scotland's needs into account. The Scottish government has vowed to oppose any changes to the rules which create barriers for businesses by preventing them from taking on the staff they need. The number of people living in Scotland is projected to grow by 7% between 2014 and 2039, with 90% of the rise in the next decade expected to come from inward migration. In a letter to the UK Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry into immigration policy, Mr Allan said a "key priority" in tackling Scotland's ageing population was attracting working-age migrants to the country. He said: "That is why we need the UK government to deliver an immigration system that meets Scotland's needs - because we depend heavily on new Scots to support our economy and communities. "However, net migration targets and caps are too blunt an instrument to address the complex needs of our economy. "The UK government's focus on arbitrarily reducing net migration figures, irrespective of the value migrants bring, what skills shortages they could address or what contribution they could make, is wrong for Scotland and is harming our economic prospects." The UK government has already rejected a call to consider devolving immigration powers to Scotland and changing visa arrangements to encourage students from other countries to stay on north of the border after graduating. A Scottish Affairs Committee report recommended UK ministers consider "sub-national migration powers" for Scotland and a tailored post-study work scheme. The UK government response, published on Friday, stated it "does not intend to reintroduce a general post-study work scheme for Scotland" and stressed the immigration system is "designed for the whole of the UK" but takes Scotland's needs into account.

Summary: Any moves by the UK government to limit immigration could "seriously harm" Scotland's economy, a Holyrood minister has warned.


The site owned by Global Energy Group joins Wick Harbour in Caithness in securing work on the Â£2.6bn Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (Bowl) project. Siemens, one of the companies involved in Bowl, will use the yard for assembling turbines from spring 2018. Once assembled the turbines would be towed out to the wind farm site. The project, which also involves energy giant SSE, is to be created about eight miles off Wick. Global said Nigg's involvement would help to secure work for more than 100 people. The Scottish government, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) and Scottish Renewables have welcomed the announcement. Business, Innovation and Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: "Offshore renewables represent a huge opportunity for Scotland; an opportunity to build up new industries and to deliver on Scotland's ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction targets for 2020 and beyond. "I am delighted that this multi-million pound contract between Global Energy Group and Siemens will enable Nigg Energy Park to develop into a genuine multi-energy site, securing around 100 direct and indirect jobs and associated supply chain opportunities. "This contract arising from installation of the Beatrice Offshore Wind farm will provide a very welcome boost to the local economy in Ross-shire and the wider Highland Council area." Regional director for the Highlands and Islands, Fraser Grieve, said: "Today's announcement of Nigg's involvement in the Beatrice Offshore wind project shows the positive economic impact that this major development will have on the region over the coming years. "Nigg, and the wider Cromarty Firth, has much to offer and this agreement is not only a boost for the Global Energy Group but will benefit the supply chain through the area." Lindsay Roberts, senior policy manager at renewable energy industry group Scottish Renewables, said: "The contract signed today will help breathe new life into this Highland port. "Scotland's offshore wind industry has huge potential for both our economy and our environment, and it's great to see Nigg reaping the benefits. "As other wind farms with planning consent in the Scottish North Sea begin to develop, agreements like this will play a key role in securing benefits not just for communities on the east coast, but for the whole of Scotland."

Summary: The Nigg Energy Park on the Cromarty Firth is to be used during construction of an 84-turbine offshore wind farm.


From September, NHS staff and council workers will be among those required to have language skills equivalent to GCSE grade C or above. Managers will have to test employees can "communicate effectively with the public". Cabinet minister Matt Hancock said it was to help control immigration. The new rules, which will form part of the government's immigration bill, will mean every public sector worker in a "customer-facing" role will have to be able to speak at least school-leaver levels of English. It will include police officers, social workers, teaching staff and assistants and council employees. The government wants the policy to be rolled out across England, Scotland and Wales and said it would be working with the Scottish and Welsh governments on the details of the plans. Each organisation will have to decide how to test their staff based on guidance in a code of practice, which the government will produce after a consultation starting in the autumn. Existing employees who are not fluent enough may be given time to improve. Doctors working in the UK are already required to have a much higher level of English and are tested by the General Medical Council. The risk of a healthcare professional not being fluent was highlighted by a mistake made by Dr Daniel Ubani, a German doctor who gave a lethal dose of a painkiller to patient David Gray in 2008. At the time, as a European citizen, he was able to register to work in the UK without passing a language test but rules were changed in June last year. Mr Hancock said: "We are controlling immigration for the benefit of all hard-working people. "We have already introduced tough new language requirements for migrants, now we will introduce new legislation in the forthcoming immigration bill to deliver the commitment made by the prime minister to go further."

Summary: People who do not speak fluent English will be barred from public sector jobs which involve working directly with the public, the government has said.


The dramatic victory draws Higgins, 40, level with Ronnie O'Sullivan and to within one of Steve Davis's total for ranking tournament wins. Fellow Scot Stephen Hendry leads the way with 36. England's Martin Gould, 33, playing in only his second ranking final, made a break of 138 in the 11th frame. But Higgins held his nerve in the decider to take the £36,000 prize. World-ranked 26 Gould, also helped by a break of 101 in the third frame, led 4-2 before the pair reached the interval locked together at 4-4 with Higgins managing a 112 in the seventh frame. The Scot, ranked 13 in the world, then took three of the first four frames in the evening session. Gould hit back to make it 7-7 before the next two frames were shared with the Londoner taking it into a final frame. But Higgins - whose last tournament win was the Welsh Open in February - responded with a break of 89 to claim the first ranking title of the season.

Summary: John Higgins secured his 27th ranking title with a 9-8 win over Martin Gould in the Australian Open final.


Razwan Faraz, former deputy head teacher at Nansen Primary, also, on one occasion, had girls sitting at the back and boys at the front, it was claimed. Mr Faraz and four other senior staff deny unacceptable professional conduct. The school was investigated amid claims of a Muslim hardliners' plot to control several schools. The National College for Teaching and Leadership hearing, in Coventry, heard from former staff member Hilary Thompson, who resigned in May 2013 because of "ongoing exclusion, isolation, lies and bullying." The hearing was told her resignation followed periods of absence for sickness and came after a leadership restructure at Park View Educational Trust. The trust ran Park View Academy, Nansen Primary and Golden Hillock Primary. In her witness statement, Mrs Thompson said the Islamic assemblies were held without consultation with the head teacher at the time or parents. On one occasion the children were segregated and appeared to be chanting "Islamic prayer". Some of the assemblies, she said, were lead by Monzoor "Moz" Hussain, former head teacher at Park View Academy. Some witnesses have been granted anonymity when giving evidence in the hearing. A senior teacher at Park View, known as "Witness A", told the hearing she was aware of flyers being distributed saying things such as women should obey their husbands in marriage. She said prefects were acting as monitors and reporting back to some teachers when boys and girls were getting too close. Where dating was evident, some children were segregated and kept in silence. The tribunal was also told that in her witness statement she told of hearing both pupils and staff use anti-Semitic language. She said it went on unchallenged and "racist and homophobic comments were an on-going problem" at Park View Academy. Staff before the tribunal are accused of unprofessional conduct, by agreeing to the inclusion of an undue amount of religious influence in the education of pupils along with. They are: In a separate hearing, in Birmingham, teacher Johirul Islam had an accusation of bringing undue religious influence into lessons dismissed. Another hearing, in Solihull, against Inamulhuq Anwar and Akeel Ahmed has finished. The panel has adjourned to consider its conclusion, which will be delivered at a later date. Ten teachers in total face hearings.

Summary: Islamic assemblies were held without consultation at a Birmingham school involved in the "Trojan Horse" affair, a misconduct panel has heard.


The other suspects left in a car which was waiting outside the Co-op in Market Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, on Thursday night. During the police arrest, the man, aged 29, fell ill and was taken to hospital. His death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will take place later. The Independent Police Complaints Commission have begun an investigation into his death. Police were called just after 22:00 BST on Thursday to reports of a group of men threatening staff with a baseball bat and golf club, and demanding cash. Officers arrested the suspect, who then fell ill at the scene and was taken to Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, where he died on Saturday morning. A 24-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of GBH has been released pending further investigation.

Summary: A suspected robber who was stopped by members of the public when a gang threatened and demanded cash from shop workers has died in hospital.


The British Medical Association (BMA) Wales questioned GPs about their workload and work-life balance and plans to stay in post or not. It said GPs had voiced serious concerns over the sustainability of practices, with more than 80% worried. The Welsh Government said it was launching a major recruitment drive. Last month, the BMA said a crisis facing GP services in some parts of Wales was getting worse, as figures suggested a spike in the number of practices being handed back to health boards to manage. The BMA is launching a campaign, An urgent prescription for general practice in Wales, as the report is published. The survey was sent to all its GPs in Wales and 244, or a fifth of those asked, responded, with a relatively even response rate across the country. The BMA said it was "confident" the level of response would have delivered "representative results". Of those, 65, or 27%, said they were considering a career change and nearly 14% (13) were planning to work abroad within the next 12 months. Worries about understaffing were high up the list, with some practitioners considering reducing their working hours to cope with growing pressures. More than 60% of respondents said they did not have a good work-life balance, with 58% saying that balance had worsened over the past year. Three-quarters said the health of staff within their practice had already been negatively affected by the workload, and nearly half would not recommend a career in general practice. Dr Charlotte Jones, chairwoman of BMA Wales' GP committee (GPC) said: "There is a significant gap between the demand placed upon general practice and its capacity. "The profession is forced to try and cope with inadequate resources, an unsustainable workload and a workforce under considerable strain, across the whole of Wales. "The survey findings have identified clear trends in GPs' areas of concern and highlights just how immediately action needs to be taken. GPs continue to remain committed to the profession but for it to turn around, they need the tools, resources and support of Welsh Government." A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: "As the BMA are aware, we will be launching a major national and international recruitment campaign at the end of October to market Wales and NHS Wales as an attractive place for doctors, including GPs and their families, to train, work and live. "We continue to invest in primary care and will shortly be entering into discussions with GPC Wales about changes to the General Medical Services Contract." The report was released the same day as a conference on rural primary care is being held in Gregynog Hall, near Newtown, Powys, hosted by Montgomeryshire Medical Society, to discuss what it called a crisis in GP services in many rural parts of Wales and the UK. Dr Michael Lewis, a Welshpool GP, said: "Recruitment campaigns have had little or no success, so together Powys Teaching Health Board and general practices are looking at new ways of providing primary care. "This often depends on working with other healthcare professionals or new technology and has

Summary: More than a quarter of GPs surveyed in Wales are considering leaving the profession, a report by a doctors' group has said.


Manchester United moves up from fourth to second on the list, which is based on season 2013-14 revenues. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain filled the next spots. English clubs Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were placed sixth to ninth, all of them showing healthy rises in revenues. Tottenham were in 13th spot, while there were new entries for Newcastle United and Everton at 19th and 20th. The total combined revenue for the top 20 richest clubs rose by 14% to €6.2bn, the report found. The list only looks at revenues accrued and does not take into account club debts. Real Madrid, which won its so-called "Decima" European Cup/Champions League after beating city neighbours Atletico 4-1 last May, saw revenues of €549.5m (£459.5m, at average exchange rate for the year ending 30 June 2014). The club saw revenue growth of €30.6m, from increases of 8% and 9% in broadcast and commercial revenues respectively. Other findings include: Meanwhile, broadcast rights deals pushed the entire Premier League into the wider top 40 highest earning clubs. "The Premier League's new broadcast deals have translated into big revenue increases across the English top flight," said Austin Houlihan, senior manager at Deloitte. "In fact, every Premier League club reported record revenues in 2013-14." DELOITTE FOOTBALL MONEY LEAGUE •1. Real Madrid: 549.5m (518.9m) •2. Man Utd: 518m (423.8m) •3. Bayern Munich: 487.5m (431.2m) •4. Barcelona: 484.6m (482.6m) •5. Paris Saint Germain; 474.2m (398.8m) •6. Manchester City: 414.4m (316.2m) •7. Chelsea: 387.9m (303.4m) •8. Arsenal: 359.3m (284.3) •9. Liverpool: 305.9m (240.6m) •10. Juventus: 279.4m (272.4m) Source: Deloitte, revenues in euros for 2013-14 season. Note: 2012-13 revenues in brackets Mr Houlihan said that between them, the eight English clubs in the top 20 achieved total broadcast revenues of €1.1bn. "The fact that all the clubs in the Premier League are in the top 40 is testament to the huge appeal of the league globally and also the equality of the distributions the clubs enjoy relative to their European counterparts," he added. "Additionally, the Premier League is currently negotiating for the next cycle of media rights and further uplifts are anticipated." Once again, the list was dominated by clubs from the so-called "Big Five" leagues; England's Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga and France's Ligue 1.

Summary: Real Madrid has matched its 10th triumph as champions of Europe by topping the Deloitte football rich list for a 10th straight year.


The club are close to appointing the former Ajax and Inter Milan boss, 47, to succeed Sam Allardyce, who led Palace to 14th in the Premier League in May following a relegation battle. "The Champions League is not realistic but with good organisation you can stay in the middle," De Boer said. "With a great season, maybe you could sneak European football." Between 2010 and 2016, De Boer coached Ajax, winning the Eredivisie for four consecutive seasons between 2011 and 2015. But the former Netherlands international has been out of work since he was sacked by Inter Milan in November 2016 after only 85 days in charge. "It's always been one of his desires to come to the Premier League," added Ronald. "It's the biggest league in the world - not necessarily the best - but the most exciting for sure. Frank wants to be part of that and hopefully he gets that opportunity with Crystal Palace. "As it stands now, I know that both sides want to go with each other but there are just little things to discuss." De Boer was appointed as Inter boss two weeks before the start of the 2015-16 season after Roberto Mancini left by mutual consent. He had never previously coached or played in Italy and led Inter to just four league wins in his opening 11 games, leaving them 12th in the Serie A table. "Falling down on your face sometimes helps you to move forward," said his brother. "It's so difficult to step into a team who are not at all fit and have an average age of 28, just two weeks before the start of the season. It is very difficult to change the philosophy. "But he learned he needs a good pre-season to get a proper idea of what his squad is about. "He is more than capable of doing well with any team and also with Crystal Palace if he decides to sign with them."

Summary: Frank de Boer could help Crystal Palace to the Europa League if he takes charge at Selhurst Park, says brother Ronald.


He said the DUP would speak to the PSNI to seek answers about the killing. Mr McGuigan was shot at Comber Court in east Belfast on Wednesday night. Asked if he was concerned about IRA involvement, Mr Robinson said: "I think everyone should be concerned that would be the case." "Let's allow the police to fully investigate the matter," he said. "We will speak to the PSNI to see what their findings are in terms of the involvement of any organisation. "But let's be very clear, there will be repercussions if that was found to be the case." He added: "It would certainly be totally unacceptable for any organisation which is involved in violence to be part of the Executive of Northern Ireland." Mr Robinson was referring to the potential political consequences for Sinn FÃ©in, the main republican party in Northern Ireland and the second biggest party in the assembly. Mr Robinson described the murder as a "savage killing" and said it "should be a warning to all politicians and others about how easy it would be to slip back into those bad old days." He said there were people who would step into a "void" to "exploit political difficulties". "The collapse of the assembly will feed that kind of activity we have seen over the last number of weeks from dissidents in our society," the DUP leader added. Sinn FÃ©in MLA Alex Maskey said he did not believe the PIRA was involved in the murder and expressed concern about "unhelpful speculation". "I don't accept for one second that the IRA has been involved in this, it just doesn't register at all," he said. "We will be meeting the PSNI shortly to make sure that they do their job, which is to have a very thorough and rapid, speedy and professional investigation into whoever caused this killing and whoever caused this killing should be and hopefully will be brought to justice as speedily as at all possible. "We're calling for calm, we're calling for respect for this particular family at this time in the midst of their grief and we're cautioning against unhelpful and unwelcome speculation." In a separate development, Mr Robinson said there had been talks over the summer between parties about the deadlock over welfare and that they would continue. He said: "We've gone through the exploratory stage. "We're now at the preparatory stage where we look at what can be done in the circumstances. But clearly by the autumn it will be necessary to have reached an agreement." He said he did not want to be "too precise" over the date by which there had to be a resolution, but that the autumn was the critical time. Mr Robinson added that progress was being made on all of the other issues in the Stormont House Agreement, including new mechanisms to deal with the past and the civil service voluntary exit scheme. But he said the main issue holding up the process was welfare. He warned again that the political institutions in Northern Ireland were in danger if the situation

Summary: First Minister Peter Robinson has said there will be repercussions if it is found that the Provisional IRA was involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.


It also made for some uneasy bedfellows, with one Labour candidate, Toby Perkins, using a widely tweeted picture and quote from Margaret Thatcher to register his opposition to personal attacks. Mr Miliband said the defence secretary had demeaned himself and his office. But Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr Fallon was "absolutely right". A glance through the social media accounts of established political party names and official accounts also reveals a good deal of negative campaigning. Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Conservative candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, has been leading some of the Conservative attacks via social media, with tweets such as this one: John Prescott, Labour's former deputy prime minister and prolific tweeter, has also been targeting candidates from his party's opponents. The Liberal Democrats have also been tweeting their own targeted videos. With weeks to go in one of the tightest polls in living memory, there may yet be further negative campaigning, but whether it gets quite as personal as previous campaigns - such as these examples below - remains to be seen. In 2001, Labour was seeking a second term under Tony Blair. It targeted the Conservative leader William Hague by planting Baroness Thatcher's hairstyle on his head, in one of the most notorious campaign posters in living memory. Labour went on to win re-election by a landslide. Creative photoshopping had already been used by its opponents in 1996, when the Conservatives unveiled this "demon eyes" poster of Tony Blair a year ahead of the 1997 election, which saw Labour sweep to power. Compiled by Stephen Fottrell.

Summary: Thursday was seen as the day the 2015 UK general election campaign turned negative, with many reacting on social media to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon's attack on Labour leader Ed Miliband.


Confusion about what is covered by insurance policies is one of the reasons that policyholders fail to receive a payout. Wear and tear, as well as damage caused by a lack of maintenance in homes are also key reasons for claims being rejected, an insurers' group said. In contrast, 99% of motor insurance claims result in a payout. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published the industry-wide figures for the first time, after analysis of claims made during 2013 and 2014. The success rate figures are based on 6.9 million claims handed by 19 insurers, including 4.3 million motor insurance claims, 1.8 million home insurance claims, and 800,000 travel insurance claims. The analysis showed that 79% of home insurance policyholders who made a claim were successful, receiving a typical payout of Â£2,520. Of those whose claims were turned down, some made claims that were valued below the policy excess and others had bought the wrong kind of cover. Many home insurance policies have add-ons that cover certain eventualities, but add extra complexity to renewals. Many were denied due to a failure to maintain their property. For example, roof damage caused by a storm that affects numerous homes in an area is likely to be successful. Roof damage caused because previous faults had been left without the homeowner's attention were less likely to succeed, the ABI said. Policies were designed to cover "sudden, unexpected and accidental" events, an ABI spokesman said. Travel insurance claims recorded a success rate of 87%, the ABI said, with an average payout of Â£884. Reasons for rejection include failure to declare a pre-existing medical condition and failure to prove that belongings have been lost. Motor insurance claims were successful in 99% of cases, with an average payout of Â£2,160. Cases and policies tended to be simpler, leading to fewer denied claims. Huw Evans, ABI director general, said that the figures were published in order to gain greater trust from consumers. "Contrary to popular belief, insurers want to pay honest claims. It helps nobody when customers have bought the wrong product or have not disclosed important information," he said. "So we will use the analysis we are publishing today to drive awareness campaigns to improve even further the acceptance rates for home and travel. Buying insurance should never just be about getting the cheapest price in the quickest time possible, it should be about ensuring you have the right product for your hour of need." The ABI suggested that people take time to read the terms and conditions when buying or renewing home insurance to check exactly what is covered. Disputes between insurers and individuals that are unresolved often end up with the financial ombudsman. In separate figures published on Tuesday, the Financial Ombudsman Service said there were 5,504 inquiries about buildings insurance from disgruntled customers between April and December last year. Some 38% of cases looked at by the ombudsman were upheld in the customers' favour. Cases were dwarfed by the 178,715 enquiries about payment protection insurance (PPI) received over the same period. In PPI cases, 70%

Summary: More than one in five home insurance claims is unsuccessful owing, in part, to the complexity of policies.


During a speech in London, Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Cameron had lost votes in the Scottish independence referendum by being negative. She said she wanted an overwhelming vote in favour of remaining in the EU. UKIP's Scottish MEP, David Coburn, said the SNP wanted Scottish independence while "still being ruled by Brussels". And he said leaving the EU would bring more powers back to Scotland from Brussels. Ms Sturgeon told an invited audience at the Resolution Foundation that she would be using the referendum campaign to make the case not just for the economic benefits of the EU, but also the social and employment rights that came from membership. But she again re-iterated that if Scotland voted to remain in the EU on 23 June while the UK as a whole voted to leave, it could trigger demands for a second independence referendum. Opinion polls have consistently suggested that EU membership is more popular in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK. Ms Sturgeon's intervention came as the UK government published analysis suggesting an EU exit could lead to a "decade of uncertainty", with an impact on the economy and jobs. In her speech, Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government continued to believe that EU membership was in the best interests of Scotland. She pledged to make a "positive, constructive case" for remaining in the EU, and to "campaign wholeheartedly" to achieve an "overwhelming victory, across all parts of the UK, for remaining in the European Union". The first minister added: "It is interesting to hear many of the same arguments that we heard during the Scottish referendum repeated in the early stages of the EU referendum, albeit in different contexts. "But I do think there are some early lessons emerging from the Scottish referendum that all of us would do well to pay heed to in the weeks and months ahead." By Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor An intriguing argument advanced today by Nicola Sturgeon anent membership of the EU. Ms Sturgeon opened, for the avoidance of doubt, with a first principle. She confirmed to her London audience that she remained an advocate of Scottish independence. She repeated, further, that Brexit without Scottish consent might well lead to pressure for a second independence referendum. And so we have a constructed syllogism. Brexit - Scotland = indyref2. Hence, Ms Sturgeon is of course a supporter of Brexit? QED? Right? Fundamentally wrong? Indeed, Ms Sturgeon went so far as to say: "I do want Scotland to be independent but I don't want Scotland to become independent because the UK chooses to leave the European Union." Does that mean she is firmly rejecting a possible path to independence? It can sound that way but I believe the reality is rather different. Read more from Brian Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish referendum had shown it was possible to create a "thriving democratic debate" by encouraging people to become "truly engaged in the issues". But she added that one of the undoubted lessons of the Scottish experience was that a "miserable, negative, fear-based campaign" saw supporters

Summary: Scotland's first minister has warned David Cameron against fighting a "miserable, negative, fear-based" EU referendum campaign.


Following two recounts, AM Byron Davies gained the seat with 15,862 votes - a majority of just 27. Labour's Liz Evans received 15,835. Political expert Richard Wyn Jones, from Cardiff University, told BBC Wales it was "a bitter blow" for Labour who had held the constituency for nearly 100 years. The win has taken the tally of Tory-held seats in Wales to 11. "I'm absolutely delighted that the people of Gower have put their faith in me," Byron Davies said. Meanwhile, Stephen Kinnock, the son of former Labour leader Neil, has become an MP after Labour held on to Aberavon. Elsewhere, the party also held Neath, Llanelli and Swansea East. Conservative Stephen Crabb retained his Preseli Pembrokeshire seat where he has been a MP since 2005. Labour's Geraint Davies kept Swansea West and Plaid Cymru's Jonathan Edwards held Carmarthen East. Tory Simon Hart held Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

Summary: The Conservatives have won the constituency of Gower - a seat Labour has held for more than 100 years.


The dog's owners witnessed the incident at Bonna Point, a popular off-leash beach, said Sutherland Shire Council. "We were pretty traumatised, it was horrific," one owner, named only as Nigel, told the Sydney Morning Herald. Authorities have installed warning signs since the attack on Sunday and advised beachgoers and pet owners to avoid the water. "New South Wales Department of Primary Industries advises people to avoid swimming or surfing when it is dark or during twilight hours," the council said in a statement. The American Staffordshire Terrier, named Molly, was fetching a stick at the time and did not resurface, the owners said. "It was very quick. It just took her under the water," Nigel was quoted as saying. The incident was reported to involve a bull shark, but authorities could not confirm the species to the BBC. The incident follows a recent series of shark sightings at nearby beaches this month. On 9 February, a kite surfer was recorded on video riding towards a shark at Brighton Le Sands. A few days later, a shark was spotted 10km (6 miles) inland at Alexandra Canal, near Sydney Airport, while another shark was seen in shallow water in Botany Bay. Two people were killed by sharks in Australia last year - both in Western Australia - according to Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

Summary: Swimmers have been warned to avoid a Sydney beach after a pet dog was taken by a shark in shallow water.