Dame Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey confirmed the move in a letter to the Parliamentary Labour Party chairman. The motion has no formal constitutional force but calls for a discussion at their next PLP meeting on Monday. The chairman will decide whether it is debated. If accepted, a secret ballot of Labour MPs could be held on Tuesday. By early Friday evening, seven other Labour MPs were on record as backing the motion. Asked if he will resign, Mr Corbyn, who campaigned on the losing Remain side, said: "No, I'm carrying on. "I'm making the case for unity, I'm making the case of what Labour can offer to Britain, of decent housing for people, of good secure jobs for people, of trade with Europe and of course with other parts of the world. "Because if we don't get the trade issue right, we've got a real problem in this country," he told Channel 4 News. By BBC political correspondent Iain Watson "It may be brutal, it may be bloody, but he has to go. We have no choice." That's the view of a former Labour minister who's plotting to oust Jeremy Corbyn. But there was no immediate support from the current frontbench. Labour's shadow cabinet met for nearly three hours this morning and there were no explicit calls for the leader's resignation. But there was sustained criticism of the way Jeremy Corbyn had conducted the referendum campaign and what was seen as his failure to address concerns about immigration, and one source insisted: "He was not enjoying the confidence of the room." Read more from Iain here Shadow chancellor John McDonnell dismissed the motion of no confidence, saying Mr Corbyn had a mandate to lead the party and predicted that even if Labour MPs forced a fresh leadership election, party members and supporters would back Mr Corbyn again. Mr Corbyn's critics accused him of being half-hearted in calling for Labour voters to unite behind Remain. Dame Margaret Hodge said Mr Corbyn should resign because the EU referendum had been a "test of leadership" that he had "failed". This left Labour voters "not getting a clear message", she added. Dame Margaret is the MP for Barking and the former chairwoman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee. Ms Coffey is the MP for Stockport. Mr McDonnell denied that Mr Corbyn was responsible for the vote to leave the EU, and added that a general election looked likely before the end of the year, because a new Conservative leader would want to seek a mandate. Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said there were "failures" in Labour's campaign, saying he would need "an awful lot of persuading to have confidence in Jeremy's leadership into a general election", while former minister Ben Bradshaw said he would support the no confidence motion. Labour MP Stephen Kinnock has also come out in support of the motion, accusing Mr Corbyn of a "lacklustre" campaign. However, an online petition on the website of campaign organisation 38 Degrees calling for "a vote of confidence in Jeremy Corbyn after Brexit" has attracted over

Summary: Two Labour MPs have submitted a motion of no confidence in their leader Jeremy Corbyn for failing to give party voters a clear message on the EU referendum.


The reboot of the classic Rudyard Kipling adaptation has reaped $684.8m (£468.5m) globally since its release last month. The Huntsman: Winter's War managed takings of only $9.4m (£6.4m) in its second week of release. Feline action comedy Keanu took third slot with a modest $9.35m (£6.39m). Comedy Mother's Day had a weak debut, with takings of $8.3m (£5.6m), despite featuring stars including Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson. All eyes are on the release of Captain America: Civil War, which opens next week in the US and has already done good business elsewhere. Civil War opened in 37 territories over the weekend, taking in an estimated $200.2m (£136.9m). That included record openings in Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines for the film which many believe could be this year's biggest hit.

Summary: Disney's The Jungle Book has topped the North American box office for the third consecutive week, taking $42.4m (£29m) according to early estimates.


As well as the tech giant, the inquiry centres on Hachette Livre, Penguin, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holzbrinck. The Commission said it would focus on alleged illegal agreements restricting competition in the EU. The UK's Office of Fair Trading has already carried out a similar inquiry. The character and terms of agreements that the companies made with agencies are to be examined for breaches of EU rules on cartels, the Commission said. The Office of Fair Trading has now finished its own investigation, but continues to work closely with the Commission, which is extending the scope of the inquiry across the whole of Europe. The Commission carried out "unannounced inspections" on the companies in March 2011 as part of its investigations at premises in several European countries. Apple's iBook store, which supplies e-books to the company's iPad tablet computer and the iPhone, is likely to come under scrutiny. The EU announced an investigation into Google for potential anti-competitive behaviour in November.

Summary: Apple and five publishers are to be investigated over anti-competitive practice in the e-book market, says the European Union's anti-trust watchdog.


The Australian won three league titles as a Tigers coach, working under former director of rugby Richard Cockerill. "I cut my teeth in the Premiership," O'Connor told BBC Radio Leicester ahead of Newcastle's visit to Welford Road. "I've got a good understanding of what is required in this part of the world to win trophies." O'Connor, 46, coached at Leicester between 2010 and 2013, before leaving to take the top job at Leinster and subsequently going to work for Queensland Reds and Tonga. He has now returned to replace Aaron Mauger, who had succeeded Cockerill in January. "It is fantastic to be back," O'Connor said. "I've got nothing but fond memories of the years spent here previously and I'm really looking forward to starting that legacy up again, hopefully. "To be a part of one of the most successful rugby clubs in the world again was a fantastic opportunity too good not to pursue." O'Connor has been given his old job title of head coach, but this time will take full charge of team affairs, with the club changing the coaching structure in the absence of a director of rugby. And he believes the players now need to take this as a fresh start as they fight Bath for a top-four spot. He said: "I think given the story of the season and the different philosophies that have been significant in the group there is a bit of clarity that needs to be brought. "If we adjust a few of the things that we are doing on both sides of the ball I think it is an exciting three games and everything to play for."

Summary: Matt O'Connor believes he will fit back into the Premiership seamlessly as he prepares for his first home game in full charge of Leicester Tigers.


Roman Seleznev, 32, was found guilty by a federal jury in Seattle on 38 of 40 counts, including intentional damage to a protected computer and wire fraud. Prosecutors said he was a "master hacker" behind a plan which led to $170m (£131m) of fraudulent purchases. Vowing to appeal, his lawyer argued he had been kidnapped by US agents. Seleznev (his name is also spelt Seleznyov in English) faces a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in jail, lawyer John Henry Browne said. A sentence is expected on 2 December. The Russian also faces similar charges in federal courts in Nevada and Georgia. Prosecutors say Seleznev hacked into retail systems and installed malware to steal credit card numbers from businesses, mostly pizza restaurants in the state of Washington. He then sold the information online, they say. The scheme is said to have been carried out between 2008 and 2014. Roman is the son of Valery Seleznev, a Russian member of parliament for the Liberal Democratic Party. He and his girlfriend were arrested by US Secret Service agents at a Maldives airport in July 2014. Lawyers argued that his arrest was a "kidnapping" or an "illegal rendition" that violated international law but a US district judge blocked that argument from the trial. Mr Browne said they planned to challenge his client's arrest and a ruling that allowed prosecutors to introduce evidence from a corrupted laptop seized with him. The computer contained more than 1.7m stolen numbers, along with evidence linking him to various servers, prosecutors said.

Summary: The son of a Russian MP has been convicted on charges that he orchestrated a hacking scheme that targeted US pizza restaurants.


The Alert Line is designed to provide independent support for anyone wanting to raise concerns about practices within the health service. The Scottish government will also introduce a new Whistleblowing Officer to scrutinise the handling of cases. Health Secretary Shona Robison said she wanted staff to be able to "speak up without fear". Ms Robison added: "I have always been clear that health boards must ensure that it is safe and acceptable for staff to speak up about any concerns they may have, particularly in relation to patient safety. "We will continue to work with the NHS across Scotland to ensure an open and transparent reporting culture where all staff have the confidence to speak up." The National Confidential Alert Line will be extended for one year from 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2017. The phoneline, 0800 008 6112, will pass any concerns raised by employees on to the employer or the relevant regulatory organisation for investigation.

Summary: A confidential whistleblowing line for NHS staff in Scotland has been extended for a year.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 19 November 2013 Last updated at 14:24 GMT Engineers have used a tunnelling machine called Phyllis to dig through 6.8km (4.2m) of earth from Royal Oak in west London to Farringdon on the edge of the City. BBC London's Chris Rogers took a look around the tunnel and spoke to the project manager of Western Tunnels, Andrew Alder.

Summary: Crossrail has completed its first train tunnel 18 months after work began.


The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had attended an incident involving two vehicles in Keighley, at 04:40 GMT. A car parked on Greystones Drive was alight and the fire then spread to a nearby van. The car was destroyed and the van and its contents severely damaged.

Summary: A car set on fire during a suspected arson attack also damaged a van containing furniture packed in preparation for a house move.


That is nearly double the price of his previous most expensive work, bought by the same person a year ago. It has broken several other records including becoming the most expensive work by any US artist. It is also the highest price fetched for any art by a black artist and the first piece created since 1980 to break the $100m mark. The untitled work was done in oil stick, acrylic and spray paint, and depicts a face in the shape of a skull. It was sold to Yusaku Maezawa, a 41-year-old Japanese fashion entrepreneur who plans to set up a museum in his home town of Chiba. Bidding for the piece during the auction at Sotheby's lasted 10 tense minutes. Cheers and applause erupted in the room when the work was sold to Mr Maezawa by telephone. He later posted on Instagram that the painting made him feel "so much excitement and gratitude for my love of art", a feeling he wished to share with "as many people as possible". Mr Maezawa last year set the previous record for a Basquiat piece, when he paid $57.3m for a painting of a horned devil. Basquiat, a native New Yorker, died in 1988 of a heroin overdose aged 27. He had been an artist for just seven years. Most of his works depict the problems faced by African Americans in the US, reports the BBC's Laura Bicker in Washington. Once a graffiti rebel from Brooklyn who sold drawings for $50, he is now in the same league as Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon, she says - part of a rare group of artists whose work has sold for more than $100m at auction. "Breaking $100m for a work which is that recent is definitely extraordinary," said Gregoire Billault, head of contemporary art at Sotheby's. "I think it just speaks about the talent of this guy. It's just pure emotion. He's bringing something never seen before."

Summary: A painting by the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat has sold at auction in New York for $110.5m (Â£85.4m).


The Innovation Factory has been built on the site of the former Mackies engineering works on Springfield Road. About half the money for the £9m project came from the EU, with the rest split between the city council and Invest NI. The building will be managed by Oxford Innovation, who run a network of similar centres across the UK. It has 111 business units and is targeting firms specialising in technology and product development. About a dozen tenants have already been signed up. Economy Minister Simon Hamilton said the scheme is "an impressive space for entrepreneurs and growing businesses". Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said it was "great to see the former Mackies site reborn as a hub of innovation".

Summary: A building that will provide workspace for about 100 start-up businesses in west Belfast has officially opened.


Michael Allen touched down early for the hosts but Dan Leavy, Garry Ringrose, Isa Nacewa and Jamison Gibson-Park responded emphatically. Edinburgh improved greatly after the interval, with Hamish Watson ploughing over from close range. Magnus Bradbury's late try brought Edinburgh back to 26-20, only for Leavy to add a second score. Nacewa's last-minute conversion, his fourth of the match, took him to 500 points for last year's beaten Pro12 finalists. Much of the debate in the aftermath of Edinburgh's stodgy victory over Scarlets last week centred on the supposed lack of attacking ambition from Alan Solomons' men, but they needed just 90 seconds to tear through the Leinster defence. Salsa Tofilau slashed through the midfield defence and when the ball was recycled and shipped wide to Phil Burleigh, he weighted a delightful grubber kick for Allen to touch down. Duncan Weir added a penalty to stretch the lead to 8-0, but Edinburgh's defence, so impressive in shutting down Scarlets' last week, left a gaping hole for Leinster open-side Leavy to gallop through and coast under the posts to make it a one-point game. The variety of the Leinster attack was now proving problematic for the home side to contain, and when Ringrose and Nacewa crossed in quick succession, the momentum had shifted completely. The threats to the Edinburgh line were coming from all over the pitch and, with the home side pinned on their own line, scrum-half Gibson-Park darted over to make it 8-26 at the break. Watson's bulldozing run at the start of the second period suggested Edinburgh were not prepared to go down without a fight, and the open-side was rewarded for his belligerent display when he ploughed over for a try that was converted to offer hope. The home side enjoyed an extraordinary 81% of possession and 82% territory in the second-half, but despite promising breaks from the likes of substitutes Blair Kinghorn and Solomoni Rasolea, when cool heads and crisp passing was required to finish off the chances, both were absent. That was until five minutes from time when good work from another substitute, Fraser McKenzie, allowed Bradbury to burst through to bring his side back within six points. The losing bonus point would have been just reward for Edinburgh's display after the break, but Leavy powered over at the death to deny them even that consolation. Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons: "Our defence wasn't good and I think that ultimately cost us the game. Defensively, I thought we were really poor. "At 26-8, we were in real trouble. We regrouped well, we had a lot of the ball and a lot of territory in that second-half. "Little errors cost us and we didn't translate that pressure into points. "At 26-20 and with every prospect of pulling off a win, poor defence on our line saw that bonus point slip away. That was really upsetting. "I thought the regrouping after half-time was very good because we were under quite a lot of pressure, but defensively we were poor and the error rate was too high." Edinburgh: Glenn Bryce, Michael

Summary: Leinster earned a bonus point win at Murrayfield, exploiting Edinburgh's shaky defence in the first half.


The international team analysed 77 genes. Individually they each had a low impact on cancer risk, but were a powerful combination. The findings, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, could eventually transform screening, preventive treatments and even HRT. Cancer charities said the field was developing rapidly. The genetic tests that have already been developed are restricted, in the UK, to those women with the very highest risk of developing breast cancer. They look for changes such as mutations in the BRCA genes that led the Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie to have her breasts and ovaries removed. They can give up to a 90% chance of cancer in a woman's lifetime, but are rare. The team, led by the Institute of Cancer Research in London and the University of Cambridge, looked at the parts of the genetic code that have a more subtle effect yet will influence every woman's chance of cancer. Of the 77 cancer-risk sites in the DNA inherited from the mother and the matching 77 from the father, an average woman would have 66. It allowed the team to calculate the probability of women developing breast cancer. "These are quite substantial risks," said Prof Montserrat Garcia-Closas, of the Institute of Cancer Research. She told the BBC News website: "I think it's very exciting at the moment. The discovery of these variants has progressed very quickly in the last five years and I think it's reaching a plateau. And at that point it's time to start designing a genetic test that includes all these elements. That's likely to be reached within a year." The ability to accurately predict the risk of breast cancer could have a powerful impact on medicine. It could clearly show which women need drugs, such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, to reduce the risk of breast cancer. The lowest-risk women may not need breast cancer screening, while those at highest risk might need to start earlier. Hormone replacement therapy has many benefits, but it does increase the risk of cancer. So knowing the background genetic risk could also inform who should and should not have HRT. But one of the great challenges will be to combine these tests with current techniques. Prof Douglas Easton, of the University of Cambridge, said: "We've now reached a crucial stage at which all this research can be combined to help target screening and advice to those women who need them the most. "There's still work to be done to determine how tests like this could complement other risk factors, such as age, lifestyle and family history, but it's a major step in the right direction that will hopefully see genetic risk prediction become part of routine breast screening in the years to come." Dr Matthew Lam, of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "In recent years we've learnt so much about genetic risk factors of breast cancer. What's great to see now is that these findings are starting to be translated into practical methods to predict risk." Nell Barrie, of Cancer Research UK, said: "This study shows how the genetic

Summary: Scientists have predicted the odds of women developing breast cancer by looking for tiny errors in their DNA.


The malnourished mother and her youngster were found traumatised and hugging one another when they were saved by International Animal Rescue. Frightened locals reportedly hurled rocks at them and tried to tie them up. Rescuers say the mother, who was extremely thin, had sustained wounds to the skin. Primates escaping forest fires in Indonesia often head to villages in search of food, but many locals view them as pests - resulting in an increase in human-animal conflict. The International Animal Rescue (IAR) team said that the two primates were rescued just in time. They say that the mother had just enough milk to nourish the baby. She was also injured by a rope that had been tied around her wrist. The rescue team anesthetised both animals in West Kalimantan province last month so that they could be safely released after medical tests to a protected area of forest for monitoring. Many apes have been forced to flee their forest homes to escape thousands of forest fires that have engulfed the country this year. Many of the fires were illegally started for land clearance purposes and have raged out of control in the dry weather conditions. The UK-based IAR says that it has carried out more than 12 operations over the last two months to save orangutans that have strayed from their natural habitats. Many Indonesian forests have for months been shrouded in thick haze caused by the fires, which in turn has contaminated air across neighbouring countries in south-east Asia.

Summary: A rare Borneo orangutan and her baby have been rescued from an attack by angry villagers in Indonesia as they were escaping rampant wildfires.


The historic playhouse, which opened on 30 May 1766, is the oldest continuously working theatre in the English speaking world. As part of the anniversary celebrations an 18th Century "thunder run", which recreates the sound of thunder above the auditorium, was recently restored. It will be used for the first time since 1942 in a production of King Lear next month. Some of the UK's most famous and best-loved actors learned their trade at the Bristol Old Vic. Graduates of the famous Bristol Old Vic Theatre School include Sir Patrick Stewart, Jeremy Irons, Miranda Richardson, Daniel Day Lewis, Patricia Routledge, Tim Pigott-Smith, Pete Postlethwaite, Mark Strong, Brian Blessed, Olivia Colman, Gene Wilder, Amanda Redman and Naomie Harris. Bristol Old Vic features a Grade I listed auditorium which has recently been restored. Although not a student at the theatre, Peter O'Toole began his stage career there, and described it as "the loveliest theatre in the world". Daniel Day Lewis called it "The most beautiful theatre in England". The old playhouse is reputedly haunted. People have reported seeing the ghost of Sarah M'Cready, the theatre manager who worked there 180 years ago, although some say it is in fact the spirit of 18th Century actress Sarah Siddons. The spirit of a former scenery painter called Richard, who died in an accident in the 1950s, is also said to sometimes move objects around. The theatre was originally built without Royal patent and was therefore technically illegal, so it had to disguise plays as musical concerts and hide its entrance from public sight. It finally got a royal patent in 1778 when it became the Theatre Royal. It became the Bristol Old Vic in 1946 when a company of actors from London's Old Vic was sent there to perform. To mark the 250th anniversary plays from each of the four centuries it has been in existence have been, or will be, performed. The original theatre was founded in 1766 by 50 men and women, who each paid £50 in return for a "silver ticket", which granted the bearer the right to watch every performance in the theatre, forever. Investors included local councillors, two future MPs and at least three Quakers. To mark the 250th anniversary new silver tickets have been minted. Each one has been sold for £50,000 to help raise funds for the theatre's redevelopment. The theatre has survived for two and a half centuries despite coming near to closure on several occasions. During World War Two much of ancient Bristol was destroyed, but the theatre sustained only slight damage. It fell into disrepair and in 1942 it was sold after a series of failed attempts to revive it. The new buyers planned to turn it into a banana ripening warehouse, but an appeal was launched to save the theatre and it reopened in 1943.

Summary: Bristol Old Vic theatre is marking its 250th anniversary.


The move was announced after an urgent meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council in Kiev. It follows weeks of unofficial action by war veterans and activists, who have been blocking roads and rail lines. The blockade is hugely damaging to industry in the rebel-held east - but also to the wider Ukrainian economy. On Wednesday, the council said it decided to act because of a "sharp escalation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the seizure of Ukrainian businesses" by the rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It said the decision would remain in force until the separatists handed back control of the businesses and also complied with the 2015 peace agreements signed in Minsk. War veterans, activists and some lawmakers had for weeks demanded that all transport links with the rebels be cut, describing any business activity with the east as "trade in blood". The veterans had also repeatedly clashed with police sent to dismantle makeshift blockade points. The unofficial blockade has cut off vital links between industrial plants on either side of the conflict's frontline. As a result, operations at several steel and coal plants on the separatist side have been suspended. The blockade also puts at risk Ukraine's energy supply. Ukraine is dependent on anthracite from the rebel-held areas, while Donetsk and Luhansk need coke produced in Ukraine's government-controlled regions. Earlier this week, rebel leaders announced that they started shipping coal to Russia. More than 10,000 people have died since the Russian-backed rebels seized parts of the Donetsk and the Luhansk region in April 2014, triggering clashes with Ukrainian forces. In March 2014, Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.

Summary: Ukraine has halted the movement of all goods in and out of areas seized by pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.


The Dow Jones hit a new record high closing up 24.45 points to 18,372.12. The S&P 500 climbed just 0.29 points to 2,152.43, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq index slipped 17.09 to 5,005.73. Investors remained cautious ahead of the corporate earnings season, with major firms due to release results over the next few weeks, starting with JP Morgan on Thursday. Shares in JP Morgan Chase slipped 0.2%. Delta Airlines which also reports quarterly results on Thursday closed 1.5% lower. Health insurance providers saw a rise in their share price after a report said healthcare spending in the US would rise by 5.8% per year over the next decade. Insurance provider Humana gained 4.3%, while Aetna climbed 3.2%. Shares of Juno Therapeutics added 9.5% despite a lawsuit that was filed against it this week. The lawsuit alleges that Juno and its chief executive Hans Bishop misled investors about the death of a patient in a drug trial. Global oil prices fell by 4%. Brent crude oil dropped to $46.48 per barrel and West Texas crude slipped to $45 per barrel.

Summary: (Closed): Wall Street finished with mixed results as a three-day rally showed signs of slowing.


The BCCI, which governs the game in India, has agreed to trial the technology against Alastair Cook's side in the five-match Test series which begins in Rajkot on 9 November. Whatever you think of DRS, which uses different types of technology to determine if a batsman should be given out, it's very good that it's now being standardised. Everybody should play with it or nobody plays with it. At least now it brings everybody into line to play cricket together under the same regulations. However, on pitches which are bound to suit the spinners - an area where India excel - and wear appreciably over the five days of a Test, I imagine the decision will help the Indians immensely. Playing spinners with DRS in place is an altogether different and more challenging prospect than without it and it will make India more difficult to beat for England. That's not the main point though: it's good India have joined in with what everyone else has been doing for a few years. India v England tour schedule That's an interesting question and many of the answers lie in the fact there has been a changing of the guard at the top of Indian cricket recently. That has brought about a much more open mind to these things. Their head coach Anil Kumble, who was opposed to the DRS system to begin with, has now changed his view. With a number of new players coming into the side, he's been able to show that it might possibly be the right thing for his side. Beforehand, batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, for instance, were opposed to it. They felt the opposition would always keep a review up their sleeve especially for them because they were such key players. Ultimately, however, it's as simple as a change of attitude within the administration of the Indian cricket team which has led to this decision. Once we get onto the pitch, I think India, under their innovative new captain Virat Kohli, will use it well. Spin bowlers tend to have more success on the turning pitches of the subcontinent, and India have the world's number one bowler - off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin - in their ranks. England's batsmen must be careful how they play the spinning ball. For instance, you can't just plant your pad and play around the ball because of the risk of getting out lbw. We've seen in the current Test match in Chittagong how central the DRS system is to games on the subcontinent. Moeen Ali overturned three lbw decisions to remain at the crease and score a determined 68. Those decisions were reversed because the ball was shown to be missing the stumps, but if it comes down to fine margins and the umpire has already given a batsman out then it will stay that way. That's the challenge for England, and one which they are dealing with in Bangladesh at the moment. Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport's Marc Higginson Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: There might have been a few concerned England batsmen when news filtered through that the decision review system (DRS) will be in place for their tour of India next month.


The verdict threatens Apple's ability to offer its voice-controlled virtual assistant, Siri, in the country. Shanghai-based Zhizhen Network Technology has sought to block Apple from selling products with the app installed, saying it infringed its rights. Apple said it would pursue an appeal with the Beijing Higher People's Court. "Apple believes deeply in protecting innovation, and we take intellectual property rights very seriously," said a spokesman. "Apple created Siri to provide customers with their own personal assistant by using their voice. "Unfortunately, we were not aware of Zhizhen's patent before we introduced Siri, and we do not believe we are using this patent. "While a separate court considers this question, we remain open to reasonable discussions with Zhizhen." The Chinese company could not be reached for comment. Zhizhen offers its own voice-controlled service, named Xiao i Robot, which began life, in 2003, as a text-based chatbot that ran on others' instant-messaging tools. It later evolved into call-centre software used by the Chinese government and several companies. In addition, Zhizhen developed voice-controlled software for smart TVs, cars and smartphones - including an iPhone app that allows users to find restaurants, train times and stock prices. In June 2012, Zhizhen accused Apple of intellectual property infringement after the US company announced at its developers' conference that Mandarin and Cantonese were being added to the list of Siri's supported languages. Zhizhen noted that it had filed for the intellectual rights to the underlying technology in 2004 and had been granted the patent two years later. Apple countered that Siri used a different process to power its voice-recognition tech - a court has yet to rule on this claim. Apple also sought to block the case by asking China's State Intellectual Property Office to invalidate the patent, but was refused. It then challenged that decision, suing both the patent authority and Zhizhen - but was thwarted on Tuesday when Beijing's Number One Intermediate People's Court ruled against it. The China Mobile Internet Industry Alliance previously told the Xinhua news agency that it did not believe the case would result in Apple pulling its products from China, but added that the US company might have to seek a financial settlement.

Summary: Apple has failed in its attempt to get a Chinese company's voice-recognition patent ruled invalid.


Mark Jones, 45, of Cwmbran, Torfaen, has pleaded not guilty to murder at his trial at Newport Crown Court. The jury heard Mr Jones changed his story during a series of police interviews over a number of months. Initially, Mr Jones said he tripped over a toy and dropped Amelia Jones the day before she was taken to hospital. He told police he dropped his granddaughter on 16 November 2012, but then said in a later interview that another person, who cannot be named for legal reasons, dropped her the following day while "messing" with their phone. The trial has been told that baby Amelia suffered a fractured skull, brain swelling and eight rib fractures. She had been injured at least three different times, the court heard. The trial continues.

Summary: A man accused of murdering his five-week-old granddaughter said someone else dropped her the night she was taken to hospital, a court has heard.


The Bank of Scotland PMI found that a sharp rise in goods production north of the border last month was offset by shrinking services output. In England, activity grew at its fastest rate so far this year, helped by a strong increase in new orders. The improvement was seen across all English regions. The PMI for Scotland - which measures changes in combined manufacturing and services output - stood at 50.6 last month, up from March's four-month low of 50.1. By comparison, England's business activity index rose to a four-month high of 57.1. Any figure above 50 suggests expansion. April saw job creation in Scotland reach an eight-month high, despite business confidence easing to its lowest in six months. There was also a modest increase in new orders in both the service and manufacturing sectors, with the latter showing the more marked rate of growth. Firms expanded their workforces to meet increased demand requirements, according to anecdotal evidence. On the price front, input cost inflation accelerated and was steep overall, leading to a marked rise in charges. Meanwhile, confidence about future growth prospects remained "strongly positive" in April. That said, expectations had eased from March. Fraser Sime, from Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking, said April's PMI signalled "a tentative upturn" in Scottish private sector growth. He added: "The latest survey's results were driven by a strong manufacturing sector, which moved up a gear in April. "There was good news all round from steep production growth, to solid job creation and a further easing of cost pressures. "Meanwhile, the service sector marred April's PMI score as business activity in the sector shrunk for the second month running. "A faster rise in new orders bodes well, though continued growth in the second quarter remains heavily dependent on the relatively stronger manufacturing sector."

Summary: Scottish business activity has picked up slightly but still lags well behind England, according to a monthly survey of purchasing managers.


He was making a rare public speech as part of mass celebrations involving troops, and military vehicles in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. Thousands of soldiers - many with red banners - marched past him through the city's main square in tight formation. An aircraft flypast forming the number 70 flew over the square. Tanks and missile carriers rolled past the podium where Mr Kim spoke. Parade in pictures At the scene: Steve Evans, BBC News, Pyongyang The parade was truly amazing in its immensity and organisation. It lasted for two hours with countless rows of soldiers and then civilians marching past without break. It felt at times like a meeting of a cult with citizens of North Korea jumping up and down and waving ecstatically at Kim Jong-un. The message was clear from the podium: China stands by North Korea - signalled by Kim Jong-un clutching the hand of a senior Chinese leader - and, secondly, that Mr Kim shows no sign of a softer stance towards the United States. As he put it: "The party's revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the US imperialists". If his words were not clear enough, the hardware on parade underlined them - line upon line of trucks with missiles following line upon line of heavy artillery. The changing face of North Korea Strange history of North Korea's Communist Party State television carried the events live, adding an emotional commentary. "Iron spirit and the united forces of our army and people have enabled us to break through the imperialists' sanctions and isolation, are forcing the enemies to extreme anxiety and fear," Mr Kim said. Later, as the parade continued, tens of thousands of civilians, including school-children, danced and waved coloured pom-poms. When it announced plans for the anniversary earlier this year, the government spoke of "cutting-edge" weaponry suitable for modern warfare, and the day's event will have been closely watched for any new military hardware indicating the North's military development. No world leaders attended but China, North Korea's closest ally, sent a senior Communist Party official to the anniversary. The North Korean leader began the day by paying respects to his late father and grandfather at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, official media reported. The celebrations continued, after a downpour of rain, with an evening torchlight parade which thousands of Pyongyang citizens have been seen practising for in public squares across the city. A late-night concert featuring the all-female Moranbong Band - North Korea's most popular musical group - was also held, which cost foreigners wanting to attend about $115 (Â£75), the Associated Press news agency reports. North Korea's nuclear programme has long been a cause for alarm in the region. Pyongyang is believed to have conducted three underground nuclear tests and is threatening a fourth, despite international condemnation and sanctions. Last month, it announced it was restarting its main nuclear facility Yongbyon and that it was improving its nuclear weapons "in quality and quantity". The North claims

Summary: North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, has said his country could defend itself in any war started by the US.


Residents of St George's Park in Telford were "not safe", at risk of abuse and occasionally left without medicine and adequate food and drink, the government report found. Some bedrooms had not been cleaned properly for a month, it said. Rotherwood Healthcare apologised in a statement to the Shropshire Star. The Care Quality Commission will inspect the home in six months, but if improvements have not been made it faces losing its licence. The home, which cares for 60 people with dementia and nursing needs, was visited in November. Inspectors found a poorly-run home, with staff so hard-pressed residents were left in their beds for hours. "People were shouting for help from their bedrooms to get out of bed and we had to seek staff members to provide support for these people on a number of occasions," inspectors said. "One person told us, 'you can't put a time on it but I hope I am up before 11am'." They found one resident "visibly in pain" waiting days for medicine and others had "appeared to have lost weight" and "showed signs of dehydration". Some areas of the home were "visibly dirty" with a strong smell of urine, the report said. The manager of the home resigned in August, and while a replacement had been found, they were not yet in position, inspectors said. The CQC said if standards had not improved by its next visit, "we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service". Rotherwood Healthcare said it had appointed a private company to help turn around the home.

Summary: A care home has been rated "inadequate" and put into special measures after inspectors found a string of failures during an unannounced visit.


The female swan had a netted bag, used to hold footballs, wrapped around her head and wings at Wyken Slough nature reserve in Coventry. She remains at Wychbold Swan Rescue, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, following Saturday's rescue. The RSPCA said fishing line and hooks were also "dangerous hazards". The swan, which had been seen struggling to keep her head above water, sustained damage to one of her wings and remained under observation on Friday. RSPCA inspector Helen Smith said the swan was "in complete shock" when she was rescued by members of the West Midlands Fire Service. "She could have been struggling to free herself for some time and was clearly exhausted," she said. "The netting... was so tightly wrapped around her body she was in real danger of drowning." The RSPCA inspector reminded members of the public about dangers to wildlife and wild birds. She said: "Netting, litter and fishing line and hooks are dangerous hazards to wildlife and I urge people to think of the consequences before they casually discard such items."

Summary: A warning has been issued about the dangers of discarded netting and litter after the rescue of a swan which was in danger of drowning.


Rio the red kite was found near Leitrim, County Down, with an infection in her foot. It meant the bird could not flex her talons, which affected her ability to feed. She became weak and unable to fly. She was reintroduced to the wild after being treated by a vet. Rio was one of 80 red kites introduced to Northern Ireland and has raised five chicks. She is important to the programme because she has bred consistently since her release. The red kite has been under pressure in south Down since its reintroduction in the years between 2008 and 2010. Three birds have been shot, a further 12 have been poisoned and 12 more have been found dead with no clear cause. There are just 12 breeding pairs, well short of the 50 pairs experts say are required for a sustainable population. Claire Barnett is a senior conservation officer with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). She said they have tried hard to get the message across that the birds do not pose a threat to livestock - especially lambs. "The bird actually has small, weak feet so there's no way they're going to be able to pick up anything bigger than a small rabbit. "Their main diet is made up is things like mice and worms and rats and road kill," Ms Barnett said. There is some good news though - the breeding pairs have produced 71 chicks and RSPB staff said there is evidence that the birds have begun to spread out. They are asking the public to send them details of any sightings. Red kites are quite distinctive. They have a five and a half foot wingspan and a deeply forked tail.

Summary: A key member of a breeding programme, designed to reintroduce an impressive bird of prey in Northern Ireland, has been returned to the wild after being found injured in a field.


In 2013/14, York Theatre Royal and Sheffield Theatres reported the number of BME employees as 3%, while Hull Truck Theatre had none. ACE said that a survey showed that 14% of the English workforce were from BME communities. Hull Truck Theatre said it was taking action to address the issue. Last year Sir Peter Bazalgette, chair of Ace, said organisations could have their funding cut if they failed to improve diversity. Speaking at the launch of the new report, Sir Peter said theatres had to make "their work more reflective of their communities, and representative of 21st Century England". "The arts can show us how things are and the arts can give us a vision of what they could be," he said. "They can make the case for diversity; they can be the case for diversity. They can bring us together." Ace said it was providing Â£8.5m of funding to encourage diversity. The executive director of Hull Truck Theatre, Janthi Mills-Ward, said the theatre had introduced an apprenticeship scheme "which has changed the demographic". "Hull's demographic is actually 94% white," she said. "So actually, young people, or anybody from Hull from a BME community might not have seen a career in the arts as something they could go in to."

Summary: A number of theatres in Yorkshire employ fewer than 5% black or minority ethnic (BME) workers, according to an Arts Council England (Ace) report.


Peel Energy and United Utilities had wanted to double the 26 existing turbines at the Scout Moor wind farm between Rochdale and Rossendale. Following consultation with local communities, however, the companies will only install 16 extra turbines. A joint planning application will be submitted next year to Rochdale and Rossendale Borough Councils. Jon England of Peel Energy said: "We received some really useful feedback and have changed our expansion plans in response." He said the companies would seek feedback on the new proposals prior to submitting the planning application. The revised plans involve increasing the distance between the proposed new turbines and important recreational routes, and placing them where they do not disturb areas of deep peat on the moor. Before the wind farm opened in 2008 it faced opposition from residents' groups, Rossendale, Rochdale and Lancashire County councils. It was given the go-ahead in May 2005 after a public inquiry.

Summary: Proposals to double the size of a wind farm on the Lancashire moorland have been scaled down.


The country has also been subject to economic sanctions by the West over its involvement in the crisis in Ukraine. Russia will spend most of the cash on federal loans, pensions and recapitalising its banks. The country will also make public spending cuts. Over the next three years most spending, apart military and social programmes, will be hit. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund forecast that Russia's economy will contract by 3% this year and 1% in 2016. Russia's government will spend about one trillion roubles to recapitalise banks through the issue of government bonds. The plan includes a separate scheme to help recapitalise some banks with 250bn roubles, while 300bn roubles will be provided to Vnesheconombank, the state development bank. There will be an extra 200bn roubles in state guarantees to finance investment projects, and regional governments will get 160bn roubles in federal loans. Meanwhile, the government has proposed public spending cuts of 10% this year and 5% over the next two years. The cuts have yet to be approved by the Russian parliament.

Summary: The Russian government is to spend at least 2.34 trillion roubles ($35bn, Â£23bn) to try to stave off an economic crisis, following a collapse in oil prices and the value of the rouble.


St Johnstone took the lead just before half-time through Steven MacLean, who took advantage of a Craig Gordon error. The visitors defended stoutly and troubled Celtic on the counter, and MacLean sent a free header wide. Substitute McGregor saved the champions, though, drilling low and hard into the corner of the net. The equaliser was a reward for Celtic's relentless pressure in the second half, with Scott Sinclair and Mikael Lustig both hitting the woodwork. St Johnstone might also have been reduced to 10 men, with MacLean seeming to catch Kieran Tierney in the face with his arm, but the St Johnstone striker was only booked by referee Willie Collum. The visitors held on to claim their point, though, with defender Steven Anderson and goalkeeper Alan Mannus leading their resistance. A day of drama had the most unfortunate beginning when Murray Davidson suffered a horrendous head injury in an aerial challenge and collapsed to the floor. The St Johnstone midfielder was knocked out. These were worrying moments as medics from both sides tended to Davidson, taking five minutes to get him on a stretcher and away to hospital, Celtic Park applauding as one as he left. Thankfully, before the game concluded, Davidson was said to be recovering. Liam Craig came on to field and his team pressed hard, denying the champions easy space. Even when Tom Rogic - man-marked by Paul Paton - broke free, the visitors scrambled effectively. Leigh Griffiths had a shot into the side-netting, James Forrest had a weak shot easily dealt with. Saints were comfortable in the beginning. Michael O'Halloran had earlier created Celtic some bother down the left when scampering free and squaring for David Wotherspoon, who shot unconvincingly at Gordon. The Celtic goalkeeper soon entered the narrative of the game in a very major way. MacLean's goal was a self-inflicted wound by Gordon, who was jaw-droppingly lackadaisical in clearing his line. In gifting St Johnstone the ball, he gave them a present of a goal, MacLean turning it in. There was confusion, and silence, inside the stadium. Was MacLean offside when he scored? No, said Willie Collum and his assistant. Was Gordon out of his mind in doing what he did? Unquestionably, yes. MacLean hesitated and then celebrated. The hush from the Celtic fans continued awhile. Celtic, flat by their own standards until they motored later on, mustered something before the break when Sinclair came slaloming in from the left before putting in a tame effort on Mannus' goal. Brendan Rodgers made changes at the break, removing the ineffective Olivier Ntcham and Forrest and parachuting in Jonny Hayes and Stuart Armstrong. Armstrong had a shot tipped over by Mannus as Celtic pushed to preserve their unbeaten domestic run. They had a mountain of possession, but nowhere near their usual level of accuracy. They pushed forward but lacked their surgical ability to cut open a defence. On the hour, their chances of salvaging something from the game should have been made all the harder. Saints had a glorious chance to make it two. Brian Easton's cross from

Summary: Callum McGregor's late strike rescued a point for Celtic as they came from behind to extend their unbeaten run in domestic football to 53 games.


The think tank said the city's 1,536 schools needed to save £360m in the first year if the government's National Funding Formula (NFF) plan goes ahead. The amount is the equivalent of 12,857 qualified teachers, on an average salary of £28,000. The government said London was the highest funded part of the country. It added that under the plans, which are under consultation, inner-city schools would be allocated 30% more money per pupil than the national average. But London Councils, which represents the city's 32 boroughs and the City, said no school would gain enough funding from the NFF to compensate for increased cost pressures from inflation, higher pension contributions and national insurance. Ministers said the new formula was needed to tackle uneven levels of funding across England, with the best funded areas getting more than £6,300 per pupil per year, while the worst-funded averaging £4,200. It said the funding cut was on top of National Audit Office figures which showed England schools faced an eight per cent real-terms cut per pupil by 2019-20 because it wider cost pressures. In a statement, London Councils said: "At a time when UK schools are seen as underperforming by international standards, and when businesses based in London are facing massive uncertainty about recruiting skilled staff, there is an urgent need to invest in schools in London and across the rest of the country." It added: "Without the right qualifications and skills, London's children will be unable to access jobs and contribute to the national economy. Over 60% of jobs in inner London require a degree and around 45% of jobs in the rest of the capital require a degree."

Summary: About 70% of London schools could face budget cuts under government plans to change how they are funded, according to London Councils.


The latest grouse season saw more women joining shoots and also a rise in female-only shooting parties, it has been claimed. Leys Estate and Castle Fraser Farms in Aberdeenshire were among those tailoring shoots for women. Ladies' club Glad Rags and Cartridge Bags has also filled 386 positions at events since it was set up in 2014. The Gift of Grouse campaign and Scottish Moorland Group have reported the major upturn in women's participation in grouse shooting, or taking it up for the first time. In a joint statement, they said: "The remarkable story from this year's shooting season is the increasing demand from female shooters and all-women shooting clubs which have continued to grow in popularity. "Estates have reported a significant increase in the number of female shooting parties and women joining mixed shoots." Mhairi Morriss, who runs Glad Rags and Cartridge Bags, said there were a number of reasons for this high demand. She said: "Primarily it's because we've created a community in the Scottish sporting scene where women feel accepted and encouraged to join in. "The women's shooting events being organised all over the country provide an accessible platform for newcomers to the sport or those daunted by the thought of joining a mixed shoot." Cara Richardson, who has been shooting for more than 20 years and is a co-founder of the Scottish Ladies Shooting Club, said changes to outdoor clothing had also been a factor. She said: "When I first began shooting in the 90s, it was quite a rarity to find a female gun in the shooting line. These days, it is becoming quite the norm and that's fantastic to see. "More girls are not only appearing in the gun line, an increasing number are now involved in beating and picking-up. "Also, most outdoor apparel manufacturers now provide shooting kit specifically in a ladies' cut which for many brands is a relatively new idea and an obvious recognition of demand." Andrew Grainger, of the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group, added: "There has been a huge increase in the number of women participating in shooting, testament to the efforts made by the industry to increase awareness amongst the general public." Following what was described as a "bumper season" in 2014, cold and wet weather in May and June resulted in lower grouse numbers this year. However, some estates had higher numbers of birds because of a late second brood of chicks.

Summary: There was a "major upturn" in the number of women grouse shooting this year, according to sporting estates.


The prime minister told LBC Radio her party had come a long way on issues such as gay marriage, while her own attitudes had changed over the years. There would be no "going back", and the Tories would continue to defend LGBT rights and extend them where possible. The DUP is opposed to equal marriage and same-sex couples adopting children. Some Conservatives have expressed reservations about their party's parliamentary deal with the DUP - which will allow Mrs May to govern and pass key legislation after she failed to win an overall majority at the election. Mrs May, who is holding a reception later to mark the 50th anniversary of legislation decriminalising homosexuality, said she did not agree with the DUP on a number of social issues but the alliance would not affect existing equality or discrimination laws or stop the Conservatives from seeking to advance them. In the LBC interview, Mrs May - whose father was a vicar - spoke of the impression left on her after attending a same-sex marriage in her Maidenhead constituency, witnessing a couple tie the knot who would otherwise have had to travel to South Africa to get married. "It is seeing people having, you know, their lives changed and... being able to take a different approach to their lives because of the government passing legislation like that that I think has been so important," she said. "I think if you look at what has happened over the years, you will see a change that's taken place in the Conservative Party and in individuals. "I'll be honest, my attitude on a number of issues has changed over the years as well." As an opposition MP, Mrs May voted against reducing the age of consent for gay people, the repeal of Section 28 and civil partnerships, but as home secretary and minister for women and equalities she played a key role in steering the legalisation of same-sex marriage through Parliament. While she understood people's concerns about the DUP's stance on several issues, she said, she had a duty to form a stable government and there were many areas of agreement such as counter-terrorism and the future of the Union. "The Conservative Party has not gone back," she said. "We will continue to push forward, to enhance LGBT rights and we are pleased with what we have been able to do so far, but want to do more. "And that will not be changed by our relationship with the DUP." Asked whether she would now support Anglican vicars being able to bless same-sex marriages in church, Mrs May said this was a matter for the Church of England. But she added: "The Church of England has itself come a distance in terms of looking at these issues. And obviously they will want to reflect as attitudes more generally change, as society changes." In an article for Pink News, Mrs May said that while it remained a matter for the devolved government in Northern Ireland, she would supported legalising equal marriage, believing that LGBT people should have the same

Summary: The Conservatives will not retreat in their support for gay rights because of their pact with the Democratic Unionists, Theresa May has insisted.


The campaign was started by pop culture website Junkee, which called it a show of support for Indigenous Australians. It has been inspired by American football player Colin Kaepernick. The player has been refusing to stand for the US anthem before games as a protest against racial inequality. Paul Gorrie, an Indigenous Australian activist involved in the Junkee campaign, said Kaepernick's protest made him think "why shouldn't we do that here?" He said the Australian anthem, Advance Australia Fair, "was written in 1878 when land was still being stolen and black people were still being massacred". It and the recent deaths of Indigenous Australians in police custody were "the impacts of our colonial history and the racism that continues to this day", he said. "This is a call to action for ALL players to show solidarity by not singing and taking a kneel during the national anthem this weekend at the NRL and AFL grand finals." Anthony Mundine, a former rugby league star turned boxer, has since shared the video on Facebook, writing that he has been "saying this for years". "All players Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal should boycott the anthem and start changing Australia's ignorant mentality," he wrote. Australian sport, in particular Aussie Rules football, has been marred by racism against indigenous players. Adam Goodes, an Indigenous Australian who played for the Swans and has since retired, was repeatedly booed on the field and last year a rival fan was removed for allegedly telling him to "get back to the zoo". Australia has also seen heated discussion on whether it should recognise indigenous people in its constitution, repeal clauses that prevent people of a certain race from voting and allow laws to be made based on race. The campaign has generated a mixed response. Lance "Buddy" Franklin, one of the AFL's most high profile Aboriginal players, said there was "no chance" he would join an anthem boycott. "First I've heard of it," Franklin said at the AFL grand final parade in Melbourne on Friday. "Personally I think it's pretty stupid really. It's the Australian national anthem, it's a part of our sport, our history." Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described the campaign as "divisive". "This is a weekend where everyone comes together," he told 3AW Radio. "The two big codes, the NRL and AFL, work hard to be inclusive and embrace modern Australia and all of its diversity. "Sport is a really wonderful inclusive institution in Australia. It divides us in the sense that we support different teams, but only in a pretty good-natured way, but above all it pulls us together. That's why we should all sing." Former rugby league player Joe Williams has been one of the loudest voices backing the campaign. Williams, who is Aboriginal, has attracted controversy before for remaining seated during the anthem, during an Australia Day ceremony recognising his community work. "Why should we sing something that doesn't represent us?" he told the BBC. "Would Malcolm Turnbull feel comfortable if he was made to sing God Save the Queen?" He dismissed suggestions that the country's biggest

Summary: Australian sports stars are being urged not to stand for the national anthem during this weekend's major rugby league and Aussie Rules finals, as a protest against racism.


Dawn Goodacre said she regularly slept with nine-week-old Henry Whitehouse nuzzled in her shoulder and would wake to breastfeed him at regular intervals. He did not regain consciousness on 20 December and died at Northampton General Hospital. Coroner Anne Pember recorded an open verdict and repeated her warning that co-sleeping is unsafe. It comes just two weeks after the inquest of 11-week-old Darcie-Rose Souster, who was starved of oxygen while sleeping on her father's arm at home in Wellingborough. Ms Goodacre sobbed throughout her evidence at Northampton County Hall. "I went to kiss him on the head and I realised his temperature wasn't right," she said. "I screamed to get an ambulance." He was taken to Northampton General Hospital but did not regain consciousness and died. Henry's father, Kieron Whitehouse, said he and Ms Goodacre were "both in shock and devastated". In a statement read to the court, he said Henry was Dawn's fifth child and while he was unexpected - Ms Goodacre hadn't realised she was pregnant until she gave birth - he was well cared for and much loved. Consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Roger Malcomson, who oversaw the post-mortem examination, said the cause of death was unascertained but linked to sudden unexplained death in infancy and "in the context" of co-sleeping with parents. Mrs Pember said she wanted to alert all parents that "to sleep with a baby is an unsafe sleeping environment whether on a bed or a sofa."

Summary: A baby sleeping with his mum on a sofa was found cold and unresponsive when she woke up, an inquest has heard.


MTR was one of four companies short-listed to bid for the contract late last year. The other train companies bidding to run the franchise included National Express, Arriva and French transport firm Keolis, through the Go-Ahead Group. MTR is expected to employ 1,100 staff. The franchise will run for an initial eight years with an option to extend the franchise for another 10 years after that. London mayor, Boris Johnson, said the award of the franchise represented the "final pieces of the jigsaw puzzle" being put in place. "I am delighted that we can now announce the new operator of this landmark railway, bringing it one step closer to welcoming passengers aboard," he said. "Crossrail will revolutionise east-west transit in the capital, making London an even more attractive place to visit and invest." The rail franchise will employ around 400 drivers and there will be more than 50 apprenticeships for people from communities along the route. MTR already operates the London Overground franchise with Arriva UK Trains, as well as running the metro system in Hong Kong. The huge Crossrail project, costing around £15bn to build, is the first complete new underground line in London since the Victoria line was built in the late 1960s. The line will see trains running from Reading in Berkshire to the west of the capital and as far east as Shenfield in Essex, as well as linking to south London. It is also one of the most ambitious transport construction projects undertaken in London since the original underground was built over 150 years ago. Crossrail is expected to reduce passenger overcrowding on underground trains in central London and to reduce cross-London journey times. TfL said it expected Crossrail to support the equivalent of 55,000 full-time jobs around the UK. New trains will begin entering service in 2017. The route through Canary Wharf, the City and the West End will open in late 2018, with the full route running from late 2019. MTR will start running services from the end of May 2015 between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, when it takes over the existing stopping services currently operated by Abellio Greater Anglia. London Underground managing director Mike Brown said the award of the franchise was "a huge step towards the new railway coming to London."

Summary: The £1.4bn contract to run the new Crossrail service through London from 2018 has been awarded to Hong Kong-based MTR Corporation, Transport for London (TfL) has announced.


Ex-Wales striker John Hartson is concerned that the risk of injury is too great with the tournament less than a week away. Coleman's team start their Euro 2016 campaign against Slovakia six days after their Stockholm visit, and already have several injury concerns. "I don't think he'll take many chances with his big players," Hartson said. "Chris has to be slightly cautious because there's only six days after Sunday until Wales open against Slovakia." Hartson, who scored 14 goals in 51 Wales appearances, thinks that short turnaround could lead to Coleman resting Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale among others. The world's most expensive player was last in action when he helped club side Real Madrid to win their 11th Champions League title. "He might not play the likes of Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Ashley Williams," added Hartson. "Bale might have 10-15 minutes to shake off the cobwebs near the end maybe. I just don't think we can risk him. "It's very close, but I don't think we can risk our big players." Bale joined up with the Wales squad this week after his Champions League involvement. After playing Slovakia, Wales face England in Lens on 16 June and Russia in Toulouse on 20 June. Coleman's team is the first from Wales to qualify for the finals of a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup. The manager has already selected Crystal Palace's Joe Ledley who broke a bone in a leg less than a month ago. Joe Allen and Hal Robson-Kanu are also likely to miss the Sweden clash. "Chris has to be careful with injuries," added Hartson. "The last thing he wants is any more injuries to deal with. He needs to make sure everyone is fit and well to play that first game in France."

Summary: Wales manager Chris Coleman has been urged to rest his star men in Wales' final warm-up game before the Euros.


An 18-year-old man was left with a serious neck injury after the attack in a Glasgow bar in May. The man is described as white, tall, with short brown hair and a protruding nose. At the time he was wearing blue jeans, a white shirt and a khaki green bomber style jacket. Det Con Nikki McPherson said: "This was a brutal attack that left a man with serious injuries and requiring urgent medical treatment." She added: "It is important that we trace whoever is responsible as soon as possible. "I would ask anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image to contact police as he may be able to assist with our inquiries." The victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after the attack at The Argosy bar in Paisley Road West, Cardonald. He has since been discharged The attack took place during a party at about 23:00 on 13 May. Det Con McPherson said: "We would also like to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident and is yet to come forward and speak to police, so please do get in touch."

Summary: Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they wish to trace over an assault with a weapon in a pub.


A report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned how the policy will be funded, and whether proper replacement homes will be built. The MPs also said there was evidence that Right to Buy could increase overcrowding for those in housing need. The government said it made no apology for encouraging home ownership. The idea of the scheme is to allow Housing Association tenants to buy their own homes, with discounts similar to those currently enjoyed by council tenants. Members of the Committee said there was also a danger that increased discounts for Housing Association tenants would lead to greater fraud. Meg Hillier, chair of the PAC, said the approach to paying for the policy was entirely speculative. "There are no costings or workings out. We are not talking about a 'back of an envelope' calculation - there is no envelope at all." The policy has previously been criticised by the Local Government Association, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). It has also been rejected by the governments of Wales and Scotland. The government has said that the extension of Right to Buy - which is already being piloted in five areas of England - will be funded by councils selling off their most valuable council houses. It promised that all the homes would be replaced. But the MPs concluded that the government's commitment "will not ensure that these will be like-for-like replacements". They said new homes "can be a different size and in a different area, and may cost more to rent". Further details available here In their report, the MPs also said it would be difficult to replace homes on a one-for-one basis. They said such a target would require a five-fold acceleration in housing starts. As a result, the policy could "lead to those in need of social housing suffering greater overcrowding." But the government insisted that all the replacement homes would be built. "This government makes no apology for helping people into homeownership," said a spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). "Our voluntary agreement with housing associations will mean 1.3 million tenants will have the chance to own their own home, while every home sold will be replaced with a new affordable property." The scheme is due to be rolled out across England later this year.

Summary: The government's controversial plan to extend the Right to Buy to Housing Association tenants has been sharply criticised by a group of MPs.


The assault had earlier been thought to have been a spontaneous reaction to protests over an anti-Islamic film. US President Barack Obama has called the presidents of Egypt and Libya to urge cooperation over security for diplomatic staff. There have been further clashes outside the US embassy in Cairo overnight. Thousands of people gathered outside the building in the Egyptian capital, chanting and starting fires. Police and troops fired tear gas to break up the crowds, some of whom were seen carrying petrol bombs. On Wednesday, demonstrators in Cairo angry at the film - Innocence of Muslims - had breached the walls of the US embassy and torn down the flag. President Barack Obama has vowed to bring those behind the attack to justice, but said the US would not "break bonds" with the new Libyan government. The White House says Mr Obama spoke to Libyan President Mohamed Magarief on Wednesday evening and agreed the two countries should work together to identify the attackers. In a further call to Egypt, President Mohammed Morsi promised to ensure the safety of American staff in the country, the White House said. Security has been tightened at US embassies across the world. A marine anti-terrorism team is being deployed to Libya to bolster security there, a US defence source told reporters in Washington. The US says it is also sending two destroyers to the coast of Libya as a precautionary measure. Armed men stormed the consulate in the city of Benghazi on Tuesday night. It is believed Ambassador J Christopher Stevens died of smoke inhalation. Three other Americans and up to 10 Libyans also died in the attack. Officials have now said the attack was complex and professional, and reports suggest the perpetrators may have had links to jihadist groups. By Mark MardellNorth America editor A senior US official quoted by AFP news agency said the Benghazi attackers appeared to have used the demonstrations as a pretext to staging an assault. "This was a complex attack," he told the news agency. "They seemed to have used this [protest] as an opportunity." US officials told Reuters news agency there were suspicions that a militia known as the Ansar al-Sharia brigade was responsible, although the group has denied the claim. They said there were also reports that al-Qaeda's north Africa-based affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, may have been involved, the news agency reports. The consulate compound began taking heavy fire at about 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday night, and the main building was in flames soon afterwards. Libyan and US security forces tried to retake the compound several times, US officials said, but only succeeded early on Wednesday. One of the Americans killed was Sean Smith, a state department employee. The other victims have not yet been identified. Seventeen-year-old Hamam, who took part in the attack, told Reuters that Ansar al-Sharia cars had arrived at the start of the protest but later left. By PJ CrowleyFormer US Assistant Secretary of State Viewpoint: Libya deaths no surprise "The protesters were running around the compound just looking

Summary: The US is investigating whether the attack in Libya that killed the US ambassador and several other people was planned in advance, officials say.


Investigators allege that Mr Virzi received a $10m-kickback (Â£6.5m) from a company which won a lucrative irrigation contract, which he denies. The company's executives were arrested days ago trying to leave Panama. Mr Virzi is the latest in a series of high-ranking officials from former administrations to face investigation. In January, the Supreme Court appointed a special prosecutor to investigate claims that former President Ricardo Martinelli had inflated multi-million dollar contracts during his time in office from 2009 to 2014. Mr Martinelli denied the allegations and said they were part of a political vendetta waged against him by his successor in office, Juan Carlos Varela. Mr Varela, who was elected last year, campaigned on a promise to clean up Panamanian politics. The investigation into Mr Virzi centres around allegations that he received $10m from a company hired by the government of Mr Martinelli to build a huge irrigation system in the Tonosi region of Panama. At the time of the alleged payment, Mr Virzi was no longer vice-president but investigators said he still had close links with the government. On Monday, Mr Martinelli defended Mr Virzi, whom he referred to by his nickname, Pipo. The former president said that "for 40 years we have conducted all kinds of legal business with Pipo Virzi, buying, selling, renting and borrowing. Why is this getting so much negative attention?". The irrigation system was never built and the company's chief executives are under arrest. Mr Virzi has been charged with money laundering and corruption.

Summary: A court ordered on Wednesday that Panama's former Vice-President Felipe Virzi be held while he is investigated for alleged corruption.


Chantal Ramazani, who is now in hiding, believes the intention was to block Mr Katumbi's bid for the presidency in elections due in November. President Joseph Kabila is required by the constitution to step down this year but no poll date has been set. The intelligence services deny the accusations. Africa Live: More on this and other stories Last month, Mr Katumbi was convicted of illegal property selling and sentenced to three years in prison, in absentia. The 51-year-old businessman, owns one of Africa's biggest football clubs, is currently out of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) seeking medical treatment. In a letter addressed to the president and other politicians and organisations, Judge Ramazani says the facts against Mr Katumbi were never examined in tribunal. She claims the purpose of the trial was cripple Mr Katumbi's political future and that she was threatened with losing her job, even imprisonment, if he were not convicted. After sending the letter, she went into hiding. The BBC's Maud Jullien, in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, says Mr Katumbi is seen as a favourite in the race for the presidency and is expected to return to the country before an opposition rally on Sunday. Opponents of President Kabila say he is trying to stall elections to stay in power, but the constitution states he must stand down after his two terms in November. Moise Katumbi was governor of the south-eastern Katanga province for almost a decade. In September last year he broke ties with the ruling party when he accused President Kabila, his former ally, of wanting to cling to power. His popularity is partly down to his job as the president of a great source of Congolese pride - football club TP Mazembe. They are Africa's reigning football champions, having won the African Champions League for the fifth time in November.

Summary: A judge in the Democratic Republic of Congo has said she was pressured by the intelligence service to convict opposition politician Moise Katumbi.


Officers said the 24-year-old had been detained in police custody in connection with a serious sexual assault in Queen's Park on 30 March. The park, at Pollockshaws Road and Balvicar Street, was cordoned off while police investigated the incident. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal, Police Scotland said.

Summary: Police investigating the rape of a 37-year-old woman in a popular Glasgow park have arrested a man.


The scheme, called Project Griffin, is aimed at workers in busy or crowded places, including the hospitality industry and the health service. It will outline the threat of terrorism and teach people what to do if they are caught up in a terrorist incident. It will also help them recognise and report suspicious activity. The industry self-delivery scheme has been rolled out by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), with the aim of reaching one million people across the UK. Police Scotland is inviting public limited companies and key public sector partners to register for the scheme. Local counter-terrorism advisors will provide briefings to trainers from registered companies and organisations, who will be able to feed the information back to colleagues. Police Scotland has called for increased vigilance from Scottish communities, in particular the public and business sectors, following recent high-profile terrorist attacks in Europe. Last week, it announced plans to increase its number of armed police officers by about a third following warnings the country would not be able to cope with a major terror attack. However, the force stressed there was no specific terror threat to Scotland. Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins, from Police Scotland's operational support division, said: "The threat level for the United Kingdom against international terrorism remains at severe. "This means the threat of an attack is considered to be highly likely. "The threat level to the United Kingdom from Northern Ireland related terrorism was raised on 11 May from moderate to substantial. This means an attack is a strong possibility. "Businesses and organisations can play a crucial role in keeping staff and the public safe through the Project Griffin self-delivery scheme. "Companies are best placed to explain to their staff what action they can take to enhance security and how to respond if the worst happens. I would urge companies and partners to sign up." Police Scotland has included a "Red Stop Button" on most pages of its website to enable people to report the presence of terrorist or extremist material, or discussions online. Ch Insp Ronnie Megaughin, deputy director of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, said: "This extension of Project Griffin, which will enable a greater number of businesses to ensure their staff are sufficiently aware and prepared for an act of terrorism, is most welcome. "Whilst being prepared and knowing what to do is vital, it is equally important that as many people as possible who work in busy places are aware of the threat and are better equipped to recognise and report suspicious activity. "Self-delivery of Project Griffin modules will enable businesses to contribute to the safety of their own staff and also to the wider safety of the public."

Summary: Scottish businesses and organisations are being urged to sign up for a scheme to keep their staff and the public safe in the event of a terrorist attack.


City had effectively been building a home waiting for Guardiola to move in and the man any club in the world would want in charge was finally ready to take up residence after leaving Bayern Munich. What was not part of the plan was a slump in form that raises the possibility of Guardiola taking charge with City in the Europa League - a prospect that must now be considered as Manchester United closed to within a point of Pellegrini's fourth-placed side with a 1-0 win at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. What has been happening to City's season to leave them in this perilous position? This is an easy accusation to make and can be supported by the fact City have won only three games out of 11 since Guardiola's arrival was confirmed in an announcement in February - but is it actually true? City have won a trophy - the Capital One Cup at Wembley against Liverpool - since then and it would be doing Pellegrini's squad a kindness to suggest they have only become indifferent and below-par since it became known Guardiola was on his way. They have also made club history by reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time with victory over two legs against Dynamo Kiev - but the signs of decline were in evidence well before 1 February. Manchester City have not been at their best for any period since they began the season with five straight Premier League wins. They had already lost five league games before the Guardiola announcement was made. City won their first three away games in the Premier League but only two of the next 11 and have not won back-to-back league games in five months. The rot set in long before they started getting ready to put Guardiola's name on the manager's office door. It is hard to believe City's players have been dwelling on the Spaniard's arrival during games and in an uncharacteristically prickly post-match media conference after the United loss, Pellegrini was at pains to deflect suggestions Guardiola was providing an unwelcome distraction. He said: "I don't think I have lost any control. The attitude of the team was excellent. I repeat - I am happy with attitude of the players." Guardiola's impending arrival may have focused minds on City's shortcomings - but this was a team showing signs of struggle and decline well before he was confirmed as Pellegrini's successor. Manchester City are only one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham even though they still lie fourth, and 15 points behind leaders Leicester City having played a game less. The rest of the season is not about winning the title but finishing in the top four - an embarrassing state of affairs for a club with City's aspirations and scale of ambition. And perhaps the most tell-tale statistic of why they are where they are comes in their record against the current top eight. City have played 11 matches against them, winning only one, drawing three and losing seven for a meagre

Summary: When Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola - the world's most coveted and celebrated manager - would succeed Manuel Pellegrini in the summer, there was not a cloud on the club's horizon.


The former England international, 34, has signed on a free transfer after winning friends on and off the field in his three months at the Ricoh Arena. "He's great to have around the dressing room," said City manager Tony Mowbray. "The rest of the squad feed off his experience. I'm sure it'll have a positive impact on our young players." Cole scored a cracking free-kick in a 4-3 win over Barnsley after arriving on 19 October, but has only made seven appearances in total because of injury niggles. "Our staff have worked hard to build up his fitness and physicality, and we've seen Joe really buy into what we're trying to do here," added Mowbray. "I only see his performances for the club getting better. He is a fantastic option to have from now until the end of the season." Cole began his career at West Ham before moving in 2003 to Chelsea, for whom he made 183 league appearances, scoring 28 goals. After seven years at Stamford Bridge and two Premier League titles, he moved to Liverpool, but had a loan spell with French Ligue 1 side Lille before returning to boyhood club West Ham in 2013. He made 31 appearances in a one-year spell at Upton Park, scoring five goals, before switching to Villa, for whom he made four starts. Cole scored 10 goals in 56 international appearances for England. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Coventry City's on-loan Aston Villa midfielder Joe Cole has completed a move to the Ricoh Arena on a deal until the end of the season.


Whitton Primary School, near Knighton, opened in a village barn in 1724, before re-opening as a school house in 1767. The closure is due to low numbers, and the cost per pupil being "significantly above the county average" Powys council said. Residents objected to the closure of the 15-pupil school. The council's cabinet approved the closure in July 2014, but following objections it was referred to Education Minister Huw Lewis, who upheld the decision. Wealthy benefactor Dame Anna Child left her Â£500 fortune to build a school in the "village she loved" after she died in 1703. "She wanted to provide a salary for someone to teach the children in the parish," said Graham Skipworth, chairman of governors for the school. The school is funded by the local authority but is backed up by the Dame Anna Child's Endowed School Trust. The trust raised money from the 147 acres (59 hectares) of farmland surrounding the school which it purchased three centuries ago. Funds raised have been used to support staffing to improve teacher to child ratios, as well as purchasing extra computer suites for the classrooms. Now it will now be used to provide parents of the children leaving with uniforms for their new schools.

Summary: A Powys village school funded by an aristocrat for 291 years will close on Friday.


David Mundell made his pledge during Scottish Questions in the Commons. The response came after the SNP's Angus Robertson pressed both Mr Mundell and Prime Minister Theresa May about powers over agriculture and fisheries. On Tuesday, Scotland's first minister accused the UK government of using Brexit to undermine devolution. Nicola Sturgeon told a gathering in Edinburgh that the Scottish Parliament faced a "graver challenge" after "20 years of progress". She also warned that without compromise, a second independence referendum may become a "necessary" way of protecting Scotland's interests. Ahead of First Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Robertson asked Mr Mundell if "all decisions" relating to agriculture and fisheries would be taken by the Scottish government and the Scottish Parliament after Brexit. The minister answered: "This government's plan is to engage with the Scottish government and with the other devolved administrations to discuss these very serious issues. "It is not to go out and tell the people of Scotland that the devolved settlement is being undermined by Brexit - a Brexit which will lead to more powers being exercised by the Scottish Parliament. "What I can give the right honourable gentleman is an absolute guarantee that after the UK leaves the EU the Scottish Parliament and Scottish ministers will have more powers than they have today." Moments later, Mr Robertson continued the same line of questioning to Mrs May. He said: "Prior to FMQs, Scottish ministers were unable to answer basic questions on government plans for agriculture and for fisheries. "These are important industries for the rural economy and they are devolved areas to the Scottish government and the Scottish Parliament. "With Brexit ending the role of Brussels in these areas, will all decisions about agriculture and fisheries be made at Holyrood - yes or no?" The Conservative PM said Mr Robertson knew "very well" that the UK government was discussing with the devolved administrations "the whole question of the UK framework and devolution of issues as they come back from Brussels". She added: "The overriding aim for everything that we do when we make those decisions is making sure that we don't damage the very important single market of the UK. "A market, I might remind the honourable gentleman, that is more important to Scotland than the EU is."

Summary: The Secretary of State for Scotland has given an "absolute guarantee" that the Scottish Parliament will get more powers as a result of Brexit.


1 July 2015 Last updated at 16:19 BST Mark Sampson's squad are only the third England team to reach a World Cup semi-final, after the 1990 men's side and the 1966 World Cup winners. The winner of the match will face USA in Sunday's final Sue Smith, a former England player who is commentating on tonight's semi-final, told Newsround that the World Cup had been a 'game changer' for women's football.

Summary: England women's football team will take on Japan on Thursday in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Canada.


Hardie is expected to start in Gregor Townsend's team having had an injury-interrupted season. Once Scotland's undisputed number seven, he has suffered an awful run of bad luck culminating with the loss of his Test place to Hamish Watson. "I've been unfortunate, but I'm looking to put it behind me and finish the season on a real high," said Hardie. The New Zealand-born back-row, 28, was one of Scotland's stars at the 2015 World Cup, his work-rate and impact at the breakdown catching the eye. He was talked about as one of the players of the tournament, but this season has brought one setback after another. In November, during a bruising Test against Australia, Hardie suffered damage to his ankle and knee, while also suffering a concussion. It took him two months to recover. Following on from that, he was selected to play against Wales in the Six Nations but had to retire after just 24 minutes. Then he appeared as a substitute in the game against France but only lasted five minutes before having to go off injured again. Townsend named Hardie in the starting line-up for his first Test as Scotland coach, against Italy in Singapore, but Hardie suffered a back spasm in the warm-up and had to withdraw. "Everybody gets injuries and everybody has low patches, but rehab is a really good time to look at it as a positive, even though it isn't so much," Hardie told BBC Scotland. "You have to get your body right and get other aspects of your rugby game right. I've had a lot of time to do that. "You can't look at the negative side too much. You'd love to be out there every week with the boys, but that's just the way rugby is sometimes. I'm a really positive person. I've had my fair share of injuries and I know how to overcome them. "It does toughen you mentally, it helps you be more resilient and when you get on the field you realise how important it is. I'd never take anything for granted, but you realise when you get the injuries and you're not playing every week how hard it is. "Hamish is playing some great rugby and I'm really happy for him. He's come on in leaps and bounds in the last year or two and he's getting lots of experience. The competition is healthy. It's bringing out the best in us. "It's a privilege to be in camp and I've got to make the most of it. The boys have built a really good culture across the last two or three years, starting with Vern (Cotter) and now with Gregor, and we're just going to see more special things from this group."

Summary: Scotland flanker John Hardie wants to end a nightmarish eight months with a win against Fiji on Saturday in Suva.


But such habits can build into controlling behaviours, which leave you in fear every time you open your wallet. Financial abuse, as it is called, can involve your partner spending your jointly-earned money, taking out loans in your name, making you pay the utility bills, or scrutinising every penny you spend. Worse, it can be the fore-runner of even more serious emotional, or physical, abuse. While the vast majority of victims are women, men too can be vulnerable, particularly if they have disabilities. New laws are on their way to try to stop coercive behaviour, including in financial matters, but no one yet knows how effective they will be. So how bad can financial abuse get, and can you detect it at an early stage? Many people have to budget carefully, but Jane (not her real name and age) became the victim of obsessive financial control. She says her former husband - and his mother too - would inspect the fridge to find out whether the milk had been bought in Waitrose, rather than Lidl. "I would find myself in the shop, thinking this liquid hand soap is 70p in Sainsbury's, but I can get some for 40p in Superdrug - but Superdrug is down the road. The logical thing was to buy the one in Sainsbury's, but I knew my husband and mother-in-law would pull me up." All financial decisions - from holidays to furniture - were taken by her husband. "He chose my car. On one occasion, as we were driving away from my parents' house, he shouted out of the window: 'She got to choose the colour.' It was very derogatory." When her husband began to withdraw large sums of money from their joint account to spend on motor bikes, she tried to warn the bank. Eventually her husband used up all their savings, and was declared bankrupt. Jane inherited the debts, and over Â£4,000 of arrears on the mortgage. She now lives with her five year-old daughter in her parents' house. Due to her poor credit rating, she will not be able to get a mortgage - or rent a private flat - for at least six years. A recent report for the TUC and the charity Women's Aid - called Unequal Trapped and Controlled - found that financial abuse was often the first sign of further emotional or domestic abuse. The authors of that report, Marilyn Howard and Amy Skipp, say the ten most frequent signs to look out for are a partner who: Under the Serious Crime Act - which has received royal assent, and which will be implemented later this year - coercive and controlling behaviour between partners will become illegal for the first time. Section 76 of the Act allows for a maximum prison sentence of five years, where someone's behaviour causes alarm or serious distress to their partner. This can include financial abuse. As a result, the Police will be given training in how to spot instances of coercive control. Polly Neate, the chief executive of Women's Aid, believes the law will encourage

Summary: It can start innocently enough: Perhaps your partner asks to see a receipt for the supermarket shop, or explains that he or she opened your bank statement by mistake.


Kyriakos Amiridis had been missing since Monday. His body was found in a burnt-out car on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. Police say the ambassador's Brazilian wife, Francoise Amiridis, plotted the murder with her lover. Sergio Gomes Moreira Filho confessed to strangling him to death, police said. Mrs Amiridis, 40, has been detained along with Mr Moreira, 29, and his cousin, Eduardo Melo. Mr Melo is said to have been paid about 80,000 reais ($25,000; Â£20,000) to act as a lookout. The three suspects have been questioned and will be held in police custody for another 30 days. Investigator Evaristo Pontes Magalhaes described the murder as "a tragic, cowardly act," which police are treating as "a crime of passion". "Francoise initially denied the facts. She said she had nothing to do with that. We managed to make her see that she had no alternative and that there was no point in continuing to deny it," said Mr Magalhaes at a news conference. "She fell into contradictions, burst into tears and began to say that the police officer [Sergio Moreira] had carried out her husband's murder," he added. Mr Magalhaes said Mr Moreira had a fight with the ambassador and ended up killing him when he went to confront the diplomat about claims of violence against his wife. He said he acted in self defence. But Brazilian police have dismissed his statement. They say the policeman's cousin confessed to moving the ambassador's body and gave full details of the plot to murder Mr Amiridis, implicating both Mr Moreira and Mrs Amiridis. The 59-year-old ambassador had travelled from Brasilia to the city of Nova Iguacu, north of Rio, to spend the Christmas and new year holidays there with his wife and her parents. The couple had been living together for 15 years and their daughter is 10 years old, local reports said. Mrs Amiridis reported her husband missing on Wednesday. She told police that he had left on Monday in a car he had rented. The burnt-out vehicle was found on Thursday under a flyover on one of the main access roads to Rio with a body inside. The body was burned beyond recognition, but police said it was that of Mr Amiridis. Investigators also said that they had found blood stains on the sofa in the house where the couple was staying and say he was probably stabbed to death there. Mr Amiridis served as consul in Rio de Janeiro between 2001 and 2004 and returned to the country as ambassador earlier this year.

Summary: Police in Brazil say the Greek ambassador to the country was killed by a local police officer who was having an affair with the envoy's wife.


10 January 2017 Last updated at 16:08 GMT "We are now in for a period of direct rule and I really do regret that, I think what the people of Northern Ireland want is stability but that has all been thrown in to very sharp relief," said Arlene Foster.

Summary: Northern Ireland faces a "brutal" election following the resignation of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, the outgoing first minister has said.