Jagdish Singh said it was "troubling" to find out that tallow - derived from beef or mutton, but sometimes pork - was used to manufacture the fiver. He joined a number of Hindus in urging the notes be banned from temples, where meat products are forbidden. A petition to ban the new £5 notes has attracted more than 100,000 signatures. It calls on the Bank of England to "cease to use animal products in the production of currency that we have to use". Hosted on the Change.org website, it states that tallow is "unacceptable to millions of vegans, vegetarians, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others in the UK". The Bank of England began issuing the polymer notes in September pledging they "last longer, stay cleaner and are harder to counterfeit than paper notes". Its only response so far to the petition has been in a statement to "confirm that the polymer pellet from which the base substrate is made contains a trace of a substance known as tallow". Critics say there are plant-based substitutes that could be used in its place. The response from the UK's Hindu and Sikh communities began to gather pace after vegans and vegetarians voiced their feelings on social media on Tuesday. Hindus believe cows are holy and sacred, and many do not wear shoes or carry bags made from the skin of cattle that has been slaughtered. Practising Sikhs are strict vegetarians. Speaking to the BBC's Asian Network, Coventry-based Mr Singh said: "Every time I come across a £5 note I'll be reminded that it contains meat by-product." He said no animal by-product should breach the sanctity of a gurdwara [Sikh temple]. Gauri Das, managing director at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Hindu temple in Watford, is calling for the notes to be banned from his site immediately. "Our temples prosper on the charity of all of our members," he said. "Our ethos is not to harm animals. It's problematic for us because we're implicated in the process. So it's immediately become a matter of concern for our community." Meanwhile, the president of one of the largest Hindu temples in Leicester has urged worshippers not to give charitable donations with the new £5. Vibhooti Acharya, from the Shree Sanatan Mandir temple, said it was a "matter of choice" but it would be putting up notices to make the community aware of the situation. She added: "There needs to be a decision made between committee as to whether we accept £5 notes in religious ceremonies in future."

Summary: The revelation the UK's new plastic £5 note contains a small amount of animal fat is "extremely offensive", a Sikh activist has said.


The 31-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at The Hawthorns with a 12-month option. West Ham were also interested in signing Fletcher, but a move to Upton Park broke down last weekend. Albion failed in deadline day moves to sign West Ham striker Carlton Cole and Norwich defender Martin Olsson, but kept Brown Ideye and Graham Dorrans. Fletcher made 342 appearances for United but started only five times for the club after Louis van Gaal took over as manager in the summer. The Scot, who recovered from chronic bowel disease ulcerative colitis to resume his career in December 2013, had been at Old Trafford since he was a schoolboy and helped the Red Devils win the Premier League title five times. But with his contract set to expire in the summer he was granted a free transfer to help him find a new club in this transfer window. "This is a fantastic new challenge for me in my career," Fletcher told West Brom's website. "I've spent my career at Manchester United and it's all I've ever known. But I felt it was the right time to move and I'm not sentimental about doing that." Fletcher is the second player signed by West Brom head coach Tony Pulis following the £4.75m capture of winger Callum McManaman from Wigan. The Scotland captain will wear the number 24 shirt for the Baggies. Albion had hoped to sign Cole and Olsson on a busy deadline day, with Dorrans set to join Norwich and Ideye linked with a move to Qatari club Al Gharafa. But Cole was called back to West Ham when they did not sign Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor, and Olsson failed to arrive for a medical on time. Chairman Jeremy Peace said: "We did not get all the business done that we might have but we are thrilled to bring in a player and a character of Darren's calibre. ""We were disappointed for Carlton because he was also excited about joining us but for reasons which were beyond our control we could not complete the deal. The same can be said for the proposal involving Martin Olsson and Graham. "But we have always maintained that January is a difficult time to do business and we are very happy with the deals we have done."

Summary: West Brom have signed Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher on a free transfer from Manchester United.


Steve Huffman said that he had not created the news comment platform "to be a bastion of free speech, but rather as a place where open and honest discussion can happen". He promised to provide further details on Thursday. One expert said the plan would probably enrage many of the site's users. Last week, Reddit's previous chief executive, Ellen Pao, resigned after an online petition calling for her dismissal attracted more than 213,000 signatures. The petition had accused Ms Pao of leading the site into a "new age of censorship" after five "subreddit communities" run by volunteers had been banned for failing to tackle the "harassment of individuals". However, one of Reddit's other former chief executives - who no longer works for the company - has since suggested that Ms Pao was less minded to restrict users' activities than many of her critics had assumed. "On at least two separate occasions, the board pressed [Ms Pao] to outright ban all the hate subreddits in a sweeping purge. She resisted," wrote Yishan Wong. "She probably would have tolerated your existence so long as you didn't cause any problems. I know that her long-term strategies were to find ways to surface and publicise Reddit's good parts - allowing the bad parts to exist but keeping them out of the spotlight." Reddit attracted more than 163 million visitors last month, according to its own figures, making it one of the net's most popular destinations. Mr Huffman co-founded Reddit in 2005 and was announced as the site's new chief last week, following Ms Pao's resignation. In a message posted to the site on Tuesday, he said his top priority was to develop a "comprehensive content policy" and tools to enforce it. "The overwhelming majority of content on Reddit comes from wonderful, creative, funny, smart, and silly communities. That is what makes Reddit great," he wrote. "There is also a dark side, communities whose purpose is reprehensible, and we don't have any obligation to support them. And we also believe that some communities currently on the platform should not be here at all. "We as a community need to decide together what our values are. To that end, I'll be hosting an AMA [Ask Me Anything session] on Thursday." More than 14,000 comments have been posted below the announcement by the site's users. Some support his action, others suggest it will destroy the community. Several members said they now intended to switch to Voat - a rival site that promises to "not meddle and not censor content" unless it is illegal. One analyst said it was inevitable that Mr Huffman's plans would antagonise many of Reddit's users, but added that was not necessarily a bad thing. "When you try to formalise things that have emerged as an organic mess, there is absolutely a risk that you are going to lose a lot of the core of what you were and alienate a big bunch of users," said Mark Mulligan, from Midia Research. "But Reddit has had a couple of years of incredibly strong growth in terms of

Summary: Reddit's new chief executive has confirmed he plans to take fresh action against parts of the site containing offensive and obscene content.


Media playback is not supported on this device Cook, 32, resigned in February and in his first match under replacement Joe Root made 69 as England defeated South Africa by 211 runs at Lord's. "I was having a laugh watching him in the field, running around in the covers," said Bayliss. "He looked like he was enjoying it. For someone at this stage of his career, that's a good sign." Like Cook before him, Root began his reign as captain with a victory, scoring 190 in the first innings to help rescue England from 76-4. At 26, the Yorkshire batsman had only captained in four previous first-class matches before taking on the England job. "Before this Test he was a little more on edge than I've seen him before," said Bayliss. "We spoke about Joe being himself, getting the message across in his way. "He's proactive and confident and I thought that came across in the way he led the team. "Root and Cook are different characters, they go about their batting in different fashion, so the dressing room was a little different. A lot of the messages were similar, just delivered in a different way." England have named an unchanged 12-man squad for the second Test of the four-match series against the Proteas at Trent Bridge, which begins on Friday. That means the balance of the team is likely to remain the same, with left-arm spinner Liam Dawson continuing alongside Moeen Ali, who took 10 wickets at Lord's. "The combination we had you could pretty much pick on any type of wicket," added Australian Bayliss, who further clarified Moeen's role in the team after saying on Sunday he thought his man-of-the-match performance could be a "watershed" moment. "He wants to be in the team as a batter who bowls a little bit, so that is what we have chosen him as," said Bayliss. "Mo is a bit of a complex character at times, so it's more for his benefit than anything. It takes the pressure off him. It doesn't mean he can't be the best spinner, but his number one job is to bat. "This Test was probably a sign that this is the best way to go with him." Media playback is not supported on this device By BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew Alastair Cook looks like has he gulped in a huge breath of fresh air by giving up the captaincy. I interviewed him on the fourth morning and was able to draw a comparison between the Cook of now and the Cook I spoke to after the fifth Test against India in Chennai last year. It was like a different man. Cook will not be a grumpy old pro, chuntering in the corner as the team move on. He will enjoy his cricket and bat the way he does. The 69 he made in the second innings was classic Cook - playing nicely without taking the attack apart. With his schedule - no one-day internationals - he could play Tests for a long time to come. Read more

Summary: Opener Alastair Cook is "loving" life without the England Test captaincy, says head coach Trevor Bayliss.


Set 240 to win, Michael Klinger (53) and George Hankins (67) added 99 for Gloucestershire's second wicket. Taylor then smashed 64 from just 36 balls before being out with the scores level, but the visitors sealed victory. Luke Wright had earlier made 84 for Sussex, but was caught behind off the impressive Chris Liddle (5-52). After Wright fell on 182-5, having earlier been aided by Laurie Evans' 48, Sussex's batsmen struggled, with only Jofra Archer (30) making any real impact on the scoreboard. Both sides are now on three wins after seven matches, but Sussex have a point extra after their rain-ruined match against Middlesex. They can still make the top three - and a place in one of the two quarter-finals if they beat Hampshire at Southampton on Wednesday and Surrey lose to Gloucestershire at Bristol. Gloucestershire's Jack Taylor: "I'm hitting the ball well at the moment and it was nice to get us over the line for a good victory. We've just been too inconsistent in this format but we played well today. "We weren't sure what a good score was going to be but we bowled well, especially Chris Liddle, and then Michael Klinger and George Haskins set things up nicely for me and Ian Cockbain at the end. "Although we can't reach the knockout stages it's important to keep playing good cricket, not least because a lot of the skills are used in T20. It's good practice for that." Sussex head coach Mark Davis: "It's incredibly frustrating because we have played a lot better in this format but we have twice got ourselves in good positions and not won either game. "We thought we had a competitive score but we got ourselves into a good position and then kept losing wickets at crucial times. They then set the game up with the way Klinger and Haskins batted. "If we win the last game we'll give ourselves a chance of making the knockout stages so there is still a lot to play for."

Summary: Jack Taylor's fourth One-Day Cup half-century of the season helped Gloucestershire to a six-wicket win over Sussex with eight balls to spare.


But then Steve Nash is not your average all-American, multi-millionaire NBA superstar. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, worth an estimated Â£75m, you wonder how life might have turned out for him had his parents not decided to emigrate many years ago. For the Californian surfer-style good looks of the sportsman, philanthropist, coach, motivational speaker, football club owner and businessman, belie a distinctly British heritage. "I have a huge soft spot for my Welsh heritage," he tells me. Nearly 10 years after tracking down and interviewing Nash's late grandfather in his flat in Swansea's St Helen's, I have finally caught up with the grandson whose framed photograph took pride of place on his bedside table. One of the least well known sons of Wales, Nash's journey to the NBA has been an interesting one. It goes back all the way to Swansea Bay where Nash's mother, Jean Hall, grew up before heading to the 'big smoke' where her father worked as a police constable. There she met and later married John, an aspiring advertising executive from Tottenham. The young couple embarked on a new life together emigrating to South Africa. Nash, their first child, was born in Johannesburg in 1974. But not keen on their family growing up under apartheid, the Nash's made their next move. This time to Canada. The family relocated to Regina, Saskatchewan, and finally Vancouver Island, welcoming two other children along the way. From a young age Nash, who now has the likes of Red Hot Chilli Peppers star Flea on speed dial, had dreamed of sporting greatness. But it had nothing to do with basketball. "I may have grown up on the west coast of Canada but in a British household and my dad was an avid Tottenham Hotspur fan just like his dad," Steve recalls. "Spurs are a way of life for me. Football was my first love but I was better at basketball. "I reckon my love of playing football and that competitive spirit definitely helped my basketball career." And how? He smashed records with university team Santa Clara, starting as he meant to go on. But there's more to Steve Nash than being the National Basketball Association's two-time most valuable player. As mentioned earlier, he has many strings to his bow - the Steve Nash foundation raises millions of dollars for disadvantaged children worldwide, closer to home he has set up a junior basketball league, then there's his media production company, his chain of gyms and the two football clubs he part owns. Undeniably the humanitarian focus of his work helped earn him a place alongside The Pope, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates in Time Magazine's Most Influential People in the World list in 2006. 'So what is the driving force behind Wales' un-sung son?' I wondered. It was a question I put to him during our chat during his most recent pilgrimage to Tottenham Hotspur's training ground. "My parents taught me about inequality," he says. "I was lucky to grow up where and how I did, there

Summary: Wales is not the first thing that comes to mind when talking about the all-American, multi-millionaire super stars of the NBA.


The experienced striker scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over Annan Athletic in the League Cup on Saturday. Having joined the club for the third time in June 2015, the 33-year-old has netted 109 goals for the Rugby Park outfit. "When you have the finishing ability he has, you can't write a guy like that off," McCulloch told BBC Scotland. "I've seen it for the last 15 years. Kris Boyd has been written off at every opportunity because he's a bit more high-profile than most." Ayrshire-born Boyd made his first ever appearance for Killie in May 2001 and is one of the oldest players in McCulloch's squad. "He's always good in the dressing room, and even when he's not scoring," McCulloch said. "People like to focus on what he's not doing but I focus on what he is doing. He's always talking and organising on the pitch, which helps me, and he's vocal in the dressing room." Kilmarnock have taken six points from three matches so far in the League Cup first round and sit joint top of group E, having sustained a 1-0 derby defeat at Ayr United in their opening match of the competition. "After the first match we knew we had to put a couple of wins together and we've done that," added McCulloch. "We played slightly different today and it worked for us." Winger Chris Burke made his second appearance for the club since impressing as a trialist and signing a one-year-deal. "It's a bright future," Burke, 33, said. "We've got some great young players here at this football club and we've got a nice balance of some experienced players as well. "We pass the ball well, we move the ball well, we've got combination play, we're scoring goals, we're all comfortable on the ball and it shows the belief that we have in each other."

Summary: Kilmarnock boss Lee McCulloch believes front man Kris Boyd has been "written off at every opportunity".


Playing their game in hand on Southend, Millwall climbed up to sixth as the striker won and scored a penalty during the second half. Gregory had missed two late spot-kicks in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Oldham, effectively costing Millwall two points in their pursuit of promotion. His response not only secured the two further points he may have felt he owed Millwall, but came as victory began to look beyond their reach. The hosts started with some promise, when in the opening minutes striker Harry Smith's shot was routinely saved by Luke McGee and then when Shaun Williams struck just over the crossbar. It was then that Peterborough began to respond. Marcus Maddison tested Millwall goalkeeper Tom King with a 25-yard free-kick, and then the hosts prematurely began to tire. Playing their eighth fixture in February, Neil Harris' team - who have not conceded a goal since January 21 - also looked short of inspiration until Gregory's show of determination. The 28-year-old won possession in the 54th minute, broke down the left wing on the counter-attack, and carried the ball into the penalty area until being brought down by Anthony Grant. A one-time strike partner of Jamie Vardy at Halifax, Gregory then showed admirable belief to again take responsibility, this time beating the diving McGee by finishing into the bottom left corner. Millwall's defence remained resilient thereafter, securing the result that leaves Peterborough five points behind the top six. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Millwall 1, Peterborough United 0. Second Half ends, Millwall 1, Peterborough United 0. Shaun Williams (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Ryan Tafazolli (Peterborough United). Bradden Inman (Peterborough United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Fred Onyedinma (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Bradden Inman (Peterborough United). Substitution, Millwall. Shaun Hutchinson replaces Ben Thompson. Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Tony Craig. Shaun Cummings (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Michael Bostwick (Peterborough United). Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Shaun Williams (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United). Ben Thompson (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United). Substitution, Millwall. Callum Butcher replaces Lee Gregory. Substitution, Peterborough United. Lee Angol replaces Michael Smith. Attempt missed. Craig Mackail-Smith (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Attempt blocked. Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Michael Smith. Attempt saved. Jake Cooper (Millwall) header from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Ryan Tafazolli. Attempt blocked. Chris Forrester (Peterborough United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Attempt saved. Ben Thompson (Millwall) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Tony Craig (Millwall) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Summary: Millwall returned to the League One play-off places with a home win over Peterborough after Lee Gregory redeemed himself from the penalty spot.


This is on a par with US President Barack Obama meeting with Cuba's Raul Castro except, unlike Washington and Havana, the two sides still haven't normalised relations. In fact they haven't even signed a peace treaty and in 66 years they have taken very different paths. No agreements will be signed, no joint statements made, but China's Xi Jinping and Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou will have an hour-long meeting and a casual dinner afterwards. It could get awkward and here are some of the questions that could crop up. China has hundreds of missiles targeted at Taiwan to warn the island against declaring formal independence. Beijing still considers Taiwan a province to be reunified with the mainland one day and has not renounced the use of force to take it back. In fact, one of the main reasons for its military build-up is to counter possible US assistance to Taiwan if Beijing were to try to take back militarily. Mr. Ma would argue: "If you want to be friends, you must remove these missiles." "Not that simple," Mr Xi might answer. Doing so could embolden pro-independence groups in Taiwan who want the island to be recognised as a completely separate country from China. The meeting will take place less than three months before Taiwan holds presidential and legislative races, but truly democratic elections like these are not in China's vocabulary. Taiwan, on the other hand, has developed into a vibrant democracy and is proud of its system. Over dinner, Mr Ma could share his low approval rating headaches with Mr Xi and even make jokes about how hard it is to finish a speech when protesters are trying to throw shoes at him. Mr Xi might just politely smile and think to himself: "And you wonder why we run things like we do?" Mr Xi will be eager to push relations forward. During Mr Ma's seven years in office, the two sides have signed many agreements - from those that have allowed first-ever direct flights to ones that bring millions of Chinese tourists to Taiwan each year, not to mention tariff-cutting trade deals. China is eager to link Taiwan's economy and society even closer to the mainland's, and begin talking about unification. But Mr Ma will have to explain that public opinion does not support more deals and such talks at the moment. Many people are worried too many deals signed too quickly and without enough public oversight may make the island over-dependent on China and vulnerable to unification pressures. Mr Ma might explain to Mr Xi: "In Taiwan, unlike mainland China, public opinion matters a lot. That is how I got my job in the first place." Like many Chinese people who consider Taiwan the long-lost sibling they must see at least once in their lifetime, Mr Xi would want to eventually travel to "our treasured island" which is what many Chinese people call Taiwan. But Mr Ma will not be able to extend the invitation. That would be asking for trouble. Given China's motive for developing stronger ties, Taiwanese not in

Summary: On Saturday, for the first time since their bitter split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, the leaders of China and Taiwan will meet.


Mr Barroso headed the EU executive from 2004-2014 and will help the bank deal with the impact of Brexit. It is a powerful player in the City of London. European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly has written to Mr Barroso's EU successor, Jean-Claude Juncker, raising concerns. The City is a key hub for EU business. French politician Michel Barnier, the man who pushed through major EU reforms in financial services after the 2008 financial crash, will head the European Commission team in the Brexit negotiations. Mr Barnier was financial services commissioner under Mr Barroso and some reforms, including caps on bankers' bonuses, met with British resistance. The UK government is preparing for painstaking talks on the terms for withdrawing from the EU. There are fears that Brexit could harm the City's pre-eminent role in European finance. Prime Minister Theresa May insists that "Brexit means Brexit" and is widely expected to trigger Article 50 - the withdrawal mechanism - next year. Mr Barroso joined Goldman Sachs in July, in a highly controversial move. He respected the EU's mandatory 18-month cooling off period before moving. Critics say it exposed once again a Brussels "revolving door", in which elite EU officials move to lucrative jobs in business, deploying their inside knowledge and expertise. Transparency campaigners have launched an online petition, signed by more than 62,000 people. The petitioners want Mr Barroso to lose his Commission pension. Goldman Sachs donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to pro-EU campaigners, and said last month that Brexit could force it to restructure some of its business. Ms O'Reilly told Mr Juncker: "Public unease will be exacerbated by the fact that Mr Barroso has publicly stated that he will be advising on the UK's decision to leave the EU. "In this context, has the Commission considered issuing guidance to current Members, to Chief Negotiator Barnier and to staff in relation to how and whether they will engage with the former Commission President in his new role? "Such advice is important given the need to ensure that their work is not affected by any possible failure on Mr Barroso's part to comply with his duty to act with integrity." Ms O'Reilly investigates complaints about EU maladministration, and can order the release of documents, but cannot impose penalties.

Summary: A top EU official has questioned the European Commission's ethical standards over the new role of ex-Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso at US investment bank Goldman Sachs.


The 21-year-old initially joined for a month and has made two appearances for the Imps, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over Welling in the FA Trophy. Ward's stay at Sincil Bank will now run until 14 April, and will take his loan to the maximum 93 days. Danny Cowley's Lincoln are currently top of the National League. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Brighton & Hove Albion winger Joe Ward has extended his loan deal at National League side Lincoln City for a further two months.


The former Liverpool striker fired the hosts into the lead before Ricardo Pereira doubled the lead. Marquinhos pulled one back but Thiago Motta was dismissed for clashing with Paul Baysse before Anastasios Donis made it 3-1. Angel Di Maria was shown a straight red for a challenge on Arnaud Souquet. Victory for Nice sees them move three points behind second-placed PSG, who had won their previous eight league games to keep their title chances alive. But Leonardo Jardim's Monaco, who have a game in hand over PSG, require seven points from their last four games to be crowned champions of France for the first time since 2000. Florian Thauvin scored a hat-trick as Marseille won 5-1 away at Caen to keep alive their hopes of playing in next season's Europa League. The French forward, who is on loan from Newcastle United, scored in the second, 63rd and 89th minutes against the relegation-threatened hosts. The 24-year-old has scored 15 goals in 35 Ligue 1 games since moving to France last August. Marseille are sixth in Ligue 1, one point behind fifth-placed Bordeaux with three games remaining. A fifth-placed finish will secure a place in the Europa League third qualifying round. Match ends, Nice 3, Paris Saint Germain 1. Second Half ends, Nice 3, Paris Saint Germain 1. Ángel Di María (Paris Saint Germain) is shown the red card. Foul by Ángel Di María (Paris Saint Germain). Arnaud Souquet (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Goal! Nice 3, Paris Saint Germain 1. Anastasios Donis (Nice) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain) is shown the red card for violent conduct. Foul by Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain). Paul Baysse (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Mickael Le Bihan (Nice). Thiago Silva (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ricardo Pereira (Nice). Foul by Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain). Mickael Le Bihan (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross. Substitution, Nice. Mounir Obbadi replaces Vincent Koziello. Attempt missed. Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Foul by Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain). Jean Michael Seri (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Offside, Paris Saint Germain. Thomas Meunier tries a through ball, but Marquinhos is caught offside. Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Arnaud Souquet. Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ricardo Pereira (Nice). Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Lucas Moura replaces Julian Draxler. Substitution, Nice. Mickael Le Bihan replaces Mario Balotelli. Foul by Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain). Paul Baysse (Nice) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Ángel Di María (Paris Saint

Summary: Mario Balotelli scored as Nice beat nine-man Paris St-Germain to leave Monaco firmly in the driving seat for their first Ligue 1 title for 17 years.


The ruling ends an eight-year legal battle over the documents. The manuscripts were in the possession of the family of Esther Hoffe, the secretary of Kafka's friend Max Brod. The family had argued that it rightfully owned the manuscripts after her death. David Blumberg, chairman the National Library of Israel, said the ruling was "a celebratory day for any person of culture, in Israel and abroad". He said: "The Supreme Court asked the National Library to do its utmost to reveal Brod's estate to the public. The National Library will follow the court's ruling and will preserve the cultural assets by keeping them in the country as well as making them accessible to the general public." Before Kafka died of tuberculosis at the age of 41 in 1924, he left instructions that his works should be burned. But Brod ignored his request and published some of them. Those works included The Trial, Metamorphosis and The Castle, which helped turn Kafka into one of the 20th Century's most famous novelists. Brod smuggled Kafka's writings out of his home city of Prague in 1939, saving them from the Nazis. Brod died in 1968 and bequeathed his collection to his secretary Esther Hoffe. She had kept the collection in her Tel Aviv apartment as well as in safety deposit boxes in Israel and Switzerland. The legal battle over who rightfully owned them started after she died in 2007. Some of the deposit boxes were opened at in Zurich in 2010, but their contents were only revealed to an Israeli judge. In 2012, a Tel Aviv family court ruled that Brod had explicitly ordered Hoffe to catalogue and transfer his collection "to the library of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem or the Tel Aviv municipal library, or any other public institution in Israel or abroad". The Supreme Court has now agreed with this ruling. A statement on The National Library website said the materials that the National Library will receive include "correspondences in Kafka's handwriting to Max Brod, Kafka's Paris journals, drawings, and many of Max Brod's works and the letters to Kafka". "It is fair to assume that many other treasures are hidden among Max Brod's personal material which will be exposed and catalogued by the National Library. "As time goes by they will be made accessible in the broadest way for generations to come."

Summary: Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that a collection of unpublished Franz Kafka manuscripts must be transferred from an Israeli family to the country's national library.


The plan from the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) would see Mr Saleh quit within a month of signing the agreement and hand over to his vice-president. Mr Saleh's ruling party has said it will respond within 24 hours. At least 120 people have died in weeks of protests demanding the end of Mr Saleh's 32-year rule. The GCC previously offered Mr Saleh a proposal in which he was asked to stand down, but which did not outline a timetable. The proposal was rejected. The revised plan also suggests Mr Saleh appoint an opposition leader to run a new cabinet that would prepare for presidential elections two months later. Under the plan, half the members of a new unity cabinet would belong to the ruling party, while 40% would be from the opposition party. The other 10% would be from other political groups. It also offers immunity from prosecution to Mr Saleh, his family and aides. Aides to Mr Saleh said he seemed poised to accept the initiative, according to Reuters news agency. "We welcome this new initiative and we will deal with it positively," an official said, after Mr Saleh met GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani on Thursday. But the opposition rejected the plan, saying they did not trust the government to keep to the conditions, and reiterated their demand for the president to leave immediately. "This speech is to raise spirits, but it's no longer logical because the people have had their say - they say an immediate departure is necessary," said Sultan al-Atwani, the leader of the Nasserist party, which is part of the opposition coalition. Meanwhile, clashes took place between troops and gunmen in the southern province of Lahj, a security source told Reuters. On Wednesday, UN Security Council members called for restraint and dialogue between protesters and authorities in Yemen, but talks on the crisis ended without agreement. The Yemeni leader, who has been in power for more than three decades, has said he is willing to hand over power but only to "safe hands". Mr Saleh's weak central government already has little control beyond the capital. In recent years it has struggled to confront an armed rebellion in the north and a secessionist movement in the south.

Summary: A grouping of Gulf states has presented Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh with a new proposal in an attempt to end the country's political crisis.


Fire crews were called to Walford Road, Sparkbrook, at about 23:30 BST on Monday. The committee which runs the mosque said work had been under way to replace the building's floors. A specialist dog unit from Leicestershire was brought in to search the area for possible casualties. The all-clear was given at about 03:00 BST. Walford Road was closed for several hours and police asked people to avoid the area. Birmingham City Council said the immediate danger had been cleared from the site, including remnants of the roof structure and loose masonry. Abid Shah, who lives opposite the mosque, said the sound of the collapsing roof was like "a big lorry had driven past - there was no explosion". "I came outside and there was dust in the air and rubble was across the road," he said. Usman Khan, part of the committee who run the mosque, said building work was under way to replace the original wooden floors with ones made from concrete and steel. "Some of the older walls were taken out and supported by a cage of steel - in that process the roof was being supported by scaffolding [which] last night for some reason slid to one side," he said. The mosque, which is used by about 60 worshippers, was already closed because of the building work, he added. Mr Khan said the mosque will be liaising with its contractors and the city council to see when the work can start again. Birmingham City Council said its building control is handled by a professional services company, Acivico, who were called to the scene last night. An Acivico spokesperson said: "A meeting is taking place with a demolition contractor to assess the immediate danger and to survey the building - remedial work to make the building safe will then commence." West Midlands Police said the collapse was "not a police matter". The road will remain closed while debris is cleared, a spokeswoman added.

Summary: A mosque in Birmingham was undergoing renovations when it collapsed, it has emerged.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 12 January 2015 Last updated at 22:04 GMT The accounts were hacked by a group claiming to support Islamic State, while President Obama was giving a speech on cybersecurity. Mr Earnest said that officials were monitoring the hack, but cautioned "there is a pretty significant difference between what is a large data breach and the hacking of a Twitter account". The accounts, which usually provide updates on strikes against IS, have now been suspended.

Summary: White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has played down the significance of a hack involving the Twitter and YouTube accounts of US military command.


Only 3.2mm of rain fell at Gogarbank and 4mm in the Botanic Gardens - 7% and 10% of the respective monthly average. According to data from the Met Office Midlothian, Fife and Middlesex, were the driest historical counties this month with just 12% of the rainfall expected in April. Sutherland was the wettest part of Scotland with 36% above average. The UK as a whole experienced just 47% of the expected rainfall. Scotland was the wettest area of the UK with 65mm and southern England the driest area with 16mm.

Summary: Edinburgh was the driest place in the UK in April despite Scotland as a whole being the wettest.


The long-term proposals for Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye would allow it to open to the public for the first time. Hay Castle Trust has been awarded £528,600 to help develop the plans which include an arts centre. The castle was built in the late 12th Century by the powerful Norman Lord William de Braose. It was sacked the following century and rebuilt by Henry III. Castle House, the adjoining Jacobean mansion, was built in 1660 but was severely damaged by fire in 1939 and 1977. The castle has been owned by Richard Booth, the man credited with transforming Hay into a global attraction for second-hand book lovers, but was purchased in 2011 by the Hay Castle Trust. The Heritage Lottery Fund said the grant would help the trust to develop its plans. It eventually hopes to secure more than £4.8m to put towards proposals which include conserving the medieval and Jacobean buildings, and creating a new centre for arts and culture.

Summary: A medieval castle which stands over a Powys town is to receive more than £500,000 as part of plans to restore it.


A woman unwittingly wore an engagement ring hidden inside a necklace by her partner for a year and a half. Anna only found out her boyfriend Terry had hidden the ring in the piece of jewellery when he broke it open to propose to her at Smoo Cave in the Scottish Highlands. The large coastal cave complex near Durness in Sutherland had been on a "bucket list" of places the Australian couple wanted to visit. Anna and Terry have asked for their surnames to be kept out of the public domain because of the media attention their engagement has attracted since telling family and friends. While Terry proposed to his girlfriend back in November last year, it has only now started to gain worldwide interest from news websites and magazines. Terry made the necklace from Tasmanian Huon pine and the inside of a sea shell. It was hollow inside and this was where the ring was hidden. He gave the necklace to Anna as a gift to mark the first anniversary of their relationship. Terry said: "She wore it every day and everywhere we went, and pretty much never took it off. "There were some occasions where I was really worried. "At one point, I thought she was going to trade it with a blacksmith at a market - the blacksmith loved the necklace, and she loved the blacksmith's work - but luckily I didn't need to crash tackle her. "My biggest moment of panic was when we went through airport security the first time. I hadn't thought about the fact that she might be asked to put it through the x-ray, which could have very quickly turned into an airport security proposal." When they finally visited Smoo Cave, Terry came up with a story to get Anna to take the necklace off and break the pendant open to reveal the ring. Terry said: "She stood there dazed for a second, trying to work out what was going on, and then it dawned and she said 'yes' with all the excitement in the world. "After she calmed down she suddenly stopped moving, stared at me and said: 'Wait... it's been in there the entire time?!! I could have lost it you idiot'. "She was quite a hilarious mix of happy and angry."

Summary: All images are copyrighted.


Traditionally a place for studios to show off what they have been working on, this year the gaming industry extravaganza has shaped up a little differently. Publisher EA has decided to run a separate event aimed at gamers, while rival Activision is letting the console companies promote its games, rather than having its own showcase. "Usually it has been a retail show connecting publishers with buyers, but that is less relevant now due to the digital opportunities in gaming," said Piers Harding-Rolls, director of games at consultancy IHS Technology. "But E3 still has an important role to play. It's where people learn about new products coming to market." And plenty of studios have capitalised on the excitement around E3 to tease their new releases, many squeezing out announcements before doors open on 14 June. Of course, if previous years are anything to go by, there are likely to be a few surprises during the week. Harvey Smith has worked on critically acclaimed games including cyberpunk role-playing adventure Deus Ex, and stealth-action thriller Dishonored, which won the Bafta award for best game in 2013. The BBC asked him to share the games he's most looking forward to at E3. Overland I'm a big fan of Adam Saltsman. His game Capsule - an incredibly tense and claustrophobic space travel game - is sublime. Overland is a thoughtful, soulful, post-apocalyptic road trip game with a beautifully laconic art style. Every year, there's an indie game or two that just feels like it was made for me. This year, it might be Overland. Luna I really like Robin Hunicke's work and the art style is super cute - but it goes beyond that. I love that you're not really sure what kind of game it will be. It's the combination of looking sweet and naive on the surface, but somehow hinting at something more complex and sophisticated. I suspect it's a bit of a Trojan horse in that respect. No Man's Sky We play games for a variety of reasons. Some people play games to demonstrate mastery over systems; some play to marvel at a reality beyond ours; some play to feel a sense of wonder at the ecological grandeur of the world. No Man's Sky promises all of that, seducing us with unknown possibilities. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided As one of the people to have participated in the genesis of the Deus Ex brand of dystopia, I am full of hope for the new Deus Ex game. If it's all I want it to be, it will present players with a gritty world gone wrong, challenging moral terrain, and flexible game systems that lead to improvisational "play" in the true sense of the word. State of Decay 2 (Rumoured) As a fan of often nihilistic zombie fiction, I was really drawn to State of Decay. The original was a gem in the rough. The best thing about the game was the way it kept enabling player-driven stories. So many times, I got into a tight spot of my own making, then managed to get out

Summary: This year's E3 could prove to be a turning point - not just for gaming, but for the event itself.


The 15-year-old disappeared in 1994 after a school disco in County Donegal. Norman Baxter, a retired PSNI detective superintendent, took over the inquiry for a few weeks in 2002. He offered a frank and damning assessment of how the Arkinson family had not been helped. When he took over the inquiry, the schoolgirl had been missing for eight years and Mr Baxter told the inquest the status of the investigation was "vague - neither closed nor active". He said he was determined to progress it, with the help of other committed officers already working on the case. Speaking of Arlene, Mr Baxter said: "I would say she was a forgotten victim. That's quite a terrible thing." He added: "I think it's terrible that a 15 year old vanishes and, after a period of statutory obligation, you park it and move on." He told the inquest how he was able to charge the prime suspect Robert Howard with her murder within two months of taking over, despite his team having uncovered no major new evidence. Mr Baxter explained he had worked on other similar cases and observed other inquiries where murder charges had been pressed, even without a body. "My predecessors took the view that if there's no body, there's no murder charge," the retired officer said. Changes in how police viewed such cases meant that he was able to charge Howard with Arlene's murder on 24 May 2002. The court heard that Howard lost control after he was charged and began to suggest that he might help officers locate Arlene's body. Within hours, Mr Baxter said, Howard had indicated to him that he might cooperate with the police and had asked where he might serve his sentence. The former officer described Howard during that meeting as "extremely agitated", "totally dishevelled" and "very very unsettled.", telling the court that "he certainly had lost control". After being told he would likely be kept in Belmarsh prison on remand, the court heard that Howard asked if he might be allowed to serve his sentence at Maghaberry prison in Northern Ireland, which he thought offered better conditions. By this time he had also been charged with the murder of 14-year-old English schoolgirl Hannah Williams in 2001. Her body had been found in Kent in 2002, a few weeks before Howard was brought to Northern Ireland to be interviewed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Mr Baxter said he had viewed the site where Hannah's body had been buried, and had cooperated closely with Kent Constabulary. At one stage, he added, Kent Constabulary told him him they had considered dropping charges connected to Hannah Williams if Howard had cooperated with the PSNI in finding Arlene's body. Mr Baxter told the court he did not believe this idea had been communicated to Howard. He said Kent Constabulary had carried out "a pre-emptive arrest and charging" of Howard, hoping to hold him until the PSNI could charge him with the murder of Arlene Arkinson. Later, new stronger evidence emerged in the Hannah Williams case and Howard was ultimately

Summary: A senior detective who briefly led the inquiry into the disappearance of Arlene Arkinson has told an inquest that Robert Howard could have been charged years earlier.


Media playback is not supported on this device The former England midfielder, 34, will play for the Major League Soccer club after his contract at Anfield expires. "We were aggressive in our pursuit of Steven and look forward to his contributions on and off the field," Galaxy president Chris Klein said. "I'm very excited to begin the next chapter of my career in the United States," Gerrard added. Media playback is not supported on this device "The Galaxy are the most successful club in MLS history and I'm looking forward to competing for more championships in the years to come. "One of the reasons I chose them was because of the success they've had recently. I want to add some medals and trophies to my collection." Gerrard, who has won 10 trophies at Liverpool, including the Champions League in 2005, becomes the second England captain to join LA Galaxy, after David Beckham played for them between 2007 and 2012. "We're very pleased to acquire a player of Steven's calibre, experience and character," said head coach and general manager Bruce Arena. "He is one of the most decorated players in the world and will join our team with a wealth of success playing at the highest level of the sport. "Steven will be an excellent example to our young players and we're excited to add him and his leadership to an already-talented roster."

Summary: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will join Los Angeles Galaxy in July, the American side have confirmed.


The matter will be discussed at the International Football Association Board (Ifab) annual meeting at Wembley. Ifab are keen to reach a decision in principle at Friday's gathering. "The captain should be more than somebody who has a piece of material on their arm," Ifab technical director David Elleray told BBC Sport. "Can we consult them more about how the game should be played? Should we encourage much better relationships between the captains and players? Should the captain also bear more responsibility?" Former Premier League referee Elleray believes the measures may stop players crowding around referees, as only the captain would have the authority to talk to officials after what he describes as "major incidents". "If that stops six players from each team going to talk the referee that will enhance respect and improve respect for the game," he said. "When I was refereeing, sometimes you could say to a captain 'have a word with Freddy because he's getting quite close to a yellow card' and he could calm him down. "You could explain decisions to a good captain and he could pass that on." Elleray confirmed that discussions have already taken place with an expert panel of players, coaches and referees and that there is widespread support for the plans. Other items on the agenda include a proposal to introduce sin-bins for yellow-card offences. The measure has been tested in Uefa development competitions and some amateur leagues in recent years. If approved, sin-bins will come in at youth and amateur levels and could be introduced to the professional game within two to three years. Ifab will also talk about allowing national associations more freedom to decide on the number of substitutions in a game. The move is intended to help the development of the game at lower levels, "by promoting and encouraging more people to take part". Ifab is made up of Fifa and the four British home associations - the FAs of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - and is responsible for making the final decision on law changes.

Summary: Captains would be the only players permitted to speak to referees about "major incidents", should a proposal from football's lawmakers be adopted.


The Liwa al-Quds (Jerusalem Brigade) said Abdullah Issa was just a 12-year-old from a poor refugee family who lived in a rebel-held area of Aleppo. Members of the Nour al-Din al-Zinki Movement are accused of killing him. It said those responsible were handed over to a judicial committee, and denounced the killing as a "violation". The US, which has provided military support to the Nour al-Din al-Zinki Movement in the past, said it was seeking more information on what it described as "an appalling report". "If we can prove that this was indeed what happened and this group was involved... it would give us pause about any assistance or, frankly, any further involvement with this group," state department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. Two short videos emerged online on Tuesday morning showing a boy being taunted and then beheaded by a group of Syrian rebels. The first shows the frightened child, who could be as young as 10, sitting in the back of a pick-up truck, surrounded by five men. One of the men grips him by the hair as they accuse him of being a member of Liwa al-Quds, a Palestinian militia that fights in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and was involved in clashes with rebels on Tuesday in Handarat, to the north of Aleppo. The second video shows the boy's murder. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the boy was seized by rebels in Handarat, but that the killing took place in Mashhad. The UK-based monitoring group could not confirm if the boy was a Palestinian or a child soldier. Liwa al-Quds issued a statement on Facebook saying that its investigation had found he was a 12-year-old Palestinian named Abdullah Issa, who lived in Mashhad with his family. It also said he had apparently been receiving medical treatment before being seized, noting that one photograph showed an intravenous drip in his arm. Liwa al-Quds accused the rebels of killing the child simply because he was Palestinian, in order to take "cheap and despicable revenge" for battlefield losses. The Nour al-Din al-Zinki Movement said it denounced and condemned "such abuses", but insisted they were "individual errors that represent neither our typical practices nor our general policies". "All individuals who undertook the violation have been detained and turned over to the [judicial] committee for investigations in accordance with the relevant legal standards," it added. Earlier this month, Amnesty International published a report detailing a series of violations allegedly committed by Nour al-Din al-Zinki Movement fighters in Aleppo, including abductions and torture.

Summary: A Palestinian boy who was filmed being beheaded by Syrian rebels on Tuesday was not a fighter, a pro-government Palestinian militia has said.


Arpad Kore and Bartosz Bortniczak, both 18, and Jordanna Goodwin, Megan Storey, and Blake Cairns, all 16, died in the crash in South Yorkshire. Their car collided head-on with another vehicle on the A630 near Conisbrough on 15 November, 2014. Doncaster coroner Nicola Mundy ruled that each of the five teenager's deaths was accidental. The other car driver was injured. Jonathan Earp was in a car ahead of the Toyota Corolla at the time of the crash. Giving evidence at the inquest, he said when he got to the vehicle all the teenagers except his friend Arpad Kore were unconscious. "He was screaming out in pain and begging me not to leave him," Mr Earp told the court. He said he was unable to open the car doors and held his friend's hand until the emergency services arrived. Ms Mundy said she agreed with collision investigators that the most likely cause of the accident was that Mr Bortniczak took his foot off the accelerator as he negotiated a right-hand bend, causing a classic case of "lift-off over-steer". The car, which had been travelling at about 73mph in a 60mph zone, skidded and was side-on when it hit the Seat. Tests showed the car would have been able to safely take the bend at that speed if the driver had kept his foot on the accelerator. Recording her conclusion, Ms Mundy said: "It was the most tragic of accidents. Five young people, who had their lives ahead of them, losing their lives in these circumstances. "I do not think there were any signs of recklessness. It was a mistake and a high price was paid for it." The crash happened after the five friends met up with two others - Ben York and Jonathan Earp - who were in a Vauxhall Corsa. The court heard there had been an investigation into whether the cars had been racing after one witness, Michael Staton, said he had seen two unidentified vehicles at traffic lights revving their engines and then "set off like a dragster start". Mr York, the driver of the Corsa, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but never prosecuted. But the coroner said: "I do not think there's evidence of them racing or being reckless on the road." Ms Mundy said she would be writing to Doncaster Council to ask it to consider moving the transition from 60mph to 40mph on the A630 further away from Conisbrough.

Summary: A teenager has described how his friend, killed alongside four teenagers in a car crash, begged him for help.


The 33-year-old Australian ended his second spell at Fir Park this summer. "Things have changed a little in terms of the Australia (move) in that it has not turned into what I exactly want," McDonald told BBC Scotland. "I think everyone thought I'd made my mind up and pretty much I'm open to all offers." McDonald was with Well from 2004-2007 before he joined Celtic and enjoyed three successful years at Parkhead. Following spells at Middlesbrough and Millwall he returned to Fir Park in 2015, but his hopes of a switch to an Australian side this summer have yet to materialise. "It was well documented at the end of the season that I was maybe looking to go home," McDonald added. "Things haven't gone the way I would have liked in that area at the minute, so that's still ongoing. "You get a couple of crazy ones (offers) here and there abroad. Locally, I haven't looked into it too much as yet."

Summary: Scott McDonald's proposed move to Australia has stalled and the former Motherwell striker says he will consider offers in Scotland.


A study in the International Journal of Obesity found energy used at rest was 25% lower in 15-year-olds compared with when they were 10 - a fall of 500 calories a day. This is equivalent to cutting out an hour's strenuous exercise every day. The study said the findings were unexpected but could help explain why a lot of teenagers put on excess weight. Most of the energy people burn is just to keep their bodies ticking over - using the brain, heart, liver and kidneys - rather than through physical activity. In a decade-long study following 279 children, researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School were surprised to find the number of calories the children burned at rest fell sharply during puberty. This is a period of rapid growth, which usually uses up lots of calories, but it was only around the age of 16 that the number of calories burned at rest started to rise again. During puberty there was also a noticeable drop in physical exercise, particularly among girls, which could add to weight gain, the researchers said. About a third of school children aged 10-11 in England are overweight or obese. Prof Terry Wilkin, from the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "Child obesity and associated diabetes are both among the greatest health challenges of our time. "Our findings can explain why teenagers gain excess weight in puberty, and it could help target strategies accordingly." Prof Simon Capewell, vice-president of the Faculty of Public Health, said the findings showed there was an even greater need to improve children's diets and protect them from junk food and sugary drinks. "Adolescents sitting around using their smartphones and iPads are being bombarded with junk food marketing - while using even fewer calories than we previously thought. "Last month's government strategy on childhood obesity confirmed the duty on sugary drinks, but was otherwise a disastrous missed opportunity. "We need much tougher regulation around the marketing of junk food to children - particularly on TV and online."

Summary: A sharp drop in calories burned off while resting during adolescence could be contributing to the rise in obesity.


The A9 drops from 150m (492ft) to 20m (65ft) as it enters a valley at the Berriedale Braes. Caithness Chamber of Commerce said it was taking too long starting construction work on the improvements and the problem was being ignored. Transport Scotland said it was continuing to progress the design work. The A9 provides a link to the far north mainland coast and the ferry services at Scrabster, Gills Bay and John O'Groats to Orkney. Chamber chief executive Trudy Morris said: "For too long, the Scottish government has ignored the impact the Berriedale Braes has on those living and working in the North of Scotland and Orkney Isles." She added: "While progress has been made in identifying a solution to this important issue, we are disappointed that the Scottish government is dragging its heels in moving towards a practical implementation of this. "The project as it stands is effectively shovel-ready - all that remains is for Scottish government to commit the funding." Last year, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce called for work to tackle the bend to be accelerated. Government agency Transport Scotland said a significant step in the project should be taken later this year. A spokeswoman said: "We are continuing to progress the design work for the Berriedale Braes improvement scheme following the publication of draft orders last year. "We are currently working to resolve objections to the scheme and subject to completion of the statutory process we will look to publish made orders later this year." Made orders mark the last stage in the development of a final design for a new road.

Summary: The Scottish government has been accused of "dragging its heels" on proposed improvements to a challenging hairpin bend on the A9 in Caithness.


The arrests come after more than 5,700 complaints about the websites were made to the Advertising Standards Authority and Citizens Advice. Most were linked to alleged scams over fees charged for tax return, driving licence and passport applications. Those held last week under the Fraud Act are on police bail, trading standards officials have announced. An awareness campaign is also being launched by the government warning people to look out for the misleading internet sites, whose URLs often contain fragments of official web addresses, such as "govuk" or "directgov". Official government services can be found by searching on the gov.uk website. Richard Lloyd, executive director of consumer organisation Which? said the copycat websites mislead people into paying potentially hundreds of pounds for services that should be free. The National Trading Standards Board said it was making it "as difficult as possible" for online hoaxers to operate. Its chairman Lord Harris said: "We have been working with search engines such as Google and Bing to remove adverts from online search results and we continue to gather intelligence across the country to help tackle this issue. "We urge you to avoid unofficial websites which could leave you out of pocket or at risk of identity theft." Consumer affairs minister Jo Swinson said: "It's great that it's becoming easier and more common to use the internet to order official documents such as passports or tax discs, but people should be aware of rogue websites that are out there trying to exploit them and take their hard-earned cash and even put them at risk of identity theft. "The enforcement action which the National Trading Standards eCrime team has taken demonstrates the government's commitment to tackling these scammers. We will not let them get away with misleading consumers."

Summary: Five people have been arrested as part of a crackdown on websites made to look like official government sites.


The Icelandic side, who qualified as Group Three winners, raced into a 6-0 half-time lead after goals from Svava Gudmundsdottir (2), Rakel Hönnudottir (2), Fanndis Fridriksdottir and Berglind Thorvaldsdottir. Malfridur Sigurdardottir and Esther Arnarsdottir both scored late on. Met finished third behind runners-up Spartak Subotica, who beat them 3-2. The Welsh side began their campaign with a 4-0 win over NSA Sofia.

Summary: Cardiff Met missed out on place in the Uefa Women's Champions League knock-out stages after defeat by Breidablik.


Concerns include physical, psychological and financial abuse. Scottish Borders Council's social work director Andrew Lowe admitted cases dealt with by the authority's adult protection unit had "rocketed". However, he said changes to reporting methods and greater awareness of the issue had contributed to the increase. The council report shows a sharp rise in significant incidents and concerns over the care of the elderly and those with difficulties. Mr Lowe said he anticipated they would keep rising - but pointed out a different method of reporting which sees all medical issues reported as adult protection concerns. He said he believed the systems now in place were more robust and that there was a greater awareness of protection issues for vulnerable adults. "One of the heartening things to see is the source of referrals - we are getting many more now from independent agencies than we ever used to," he said. "It used to be that the referrals came from either social workers or family or whatever. "We now see a range of all the different agencies - health board, GP, private sector, self-referral - they are all putting referrals in and that, to me, is healthy. "That's a sign of public awareness of this as an issue." He added that there was always more that could be done. "All we can hope to do is have a good and effective system, good policies, and to make sure that we are raising the profile and ensuring people are aware of the vulnerability of people in our community," he said. He urged the public to contact the authorities if they saw something which caused concern. "It doesn't matter if you are wrong," he said. "If your hunch is wrong we can make a discrete inquiry and nothing will happen and there will be no threat to you. "But if you see something and you think it is wrong, I think acting on that is very helpful."

Summary: The number of reports of vulnerable adults being harmed in the Scottish Borders has risen sharply, according to a social work report.


The Daily Telegraph recorded Paul Jerram and Omar Ali as part of an investigation into the allegations. Mr Jerram, head of medicines management at the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been suspended. Surrey and Sussex Hospital Trust said Mr Ali has resigned. Both men had been accused of accepting payment to set up meetings between pharmaceutical companies and "advisory boards" responsible for deciding which drugs are used by GPs and hospitals. A CCG spokesman said: "We recognise that these are serious allegations. We are undertaking an internal investigation and will complete a thorough review." "Whilst this investigation is being undertaken we have suspended the head of medicines management. "This is a neutral act which protects both the individual and the organisation. "In view of the investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." Michael Wilson, chief executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said Mr Ali resigned on Thursday. "Mr Ali has worked part-time for the Trust for ten years and has correctly declared his independent business with us," he said. "We do not have knowledge of work that he undertakes in his own personal time." A Department of Health (DoH) spokesperson said the allegations, if true, amount to an "abuse of trust" placed in the NHS by patients. The NHS's fraud protection body has launched an "urgent investigation" into the claims, they said. Mr Ali said as well as working part-time for the NHS he also runs a "market access consulting firm" which runs advisory boards for NHS experts and commercial organisations. He said he had "done everything by the book" and "always made all the appropriate operational declarations for my consulting work in accordance with the usual NHS governance processes". "I never allowed my NHS work to be influenced by my other activities," he added. "A proper examination of the wider debate on this area of the NHS would be of enormous benefit, and could help inform best practice for the future."

Summary: An NHS boss has been suspended and another has resigned over claims senior staff were being paid by drug companies to help promote their products.


Hearts value the Scotland Under-21 international at around £1m. The 23-year-old attacker is contracted at Tynecastle until next summer and has turned down the offer of an extension. Walker, who has made more than 180 appearances for Hearts and who scored 15 goals last season, can sign a pre-contract agreement with another club from 1 December. Rangers' initial bid was rejected on Wednesday. Hearts director of football Craig Levein said last month that Walker wanted to leave the club. The club subsequently stated "the player would prefer to see out the remaining year of his contract". Rangers finished third in the Scottish Premiership - two places and 21 points above Hearts - and have signed defenders Bruno Alves and Fabio Cardoso, midfielder Ryan Jack and forwards Daniel Candeias and Dalcio this summer. The club, who will enter the first qualifying round of the Europa League later this month, have also had a second offer for Norwich City midfielder Graham Dorrans turned down.

Summary: Hearts have rejected a second bid from Rangers, believed to be in the region of £600,000, for winger Jamie Walker.


They were called to the scene near Springholm at about 09:00. A short statement from Police Scotland said the death was not being treated as suspicious. The area had been cordoned off and the procurator fiscal informed of the incident.

Summary: Police have said the death of a man found in a car parked in a lay-by on the A75 is being treated as "unexplained".


Gerard Coyne, who is challenging Len McCluskey for the leadership of Unite, said his rival was "seeing plots all over the place". He said Unite should not be focusing on "the extreme politics of the left". Mr McCluskey claims a "cabal" of MPs are treating the leadership contest as a "proxy war" against Mr Corbyn. But speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Coyne, the union's West Midlands secretary, said: "Len is seeing plots all over the place and actually it is only him that has lost the plot in this election. "He is rattled, he can see it slipping away from him, and he is lashing out with allegations about involvement in this campaign." The battle for control of Unite, Labour's biggest donor, has become increasingly bitter, with insults and accusations traded between Mr McCluskey and Mr Coyne. Fujitsu rep Ian Allinson completes the three-way line-up, and voting ends on 19 April. Mr McCluskey is a key ally of Mr Corbyn, and has suggested the Labour leader should be given 15 months to turn around his party's performance in the polls. Mr Coyne said he would offer no such "shelf life", but added that he had not supported Mr Corbyn's bid for the leadership, saying: "I would prefer the Labour Party to be able to form the next government." On Sunday Mr McCluskey told the Observer Mr Coyne's campaign was being "run by a cabal of West Midlands MPs who are trying to abuse Unite's democracy by fighting a proxy war against Corbyn". He has also labelled his rival a "puppet" for the media and the "right wing of the Labour Party". Mr Allinson, who calls himself the "grassroots socialist" candidate, said the resources being spent on Mr McCluskey and Mr Coyne's campaigns should instead be spent on fighting for Unite members' jobs.

Summary: The man hoping to unseat the leader of the UK's largest trade union has dismissed claims he is part of a plot to undermine Jeremy Corbyn.


From the start of the season until 1 October, domestic players accounted for just 50.78% of Scottish Premiership playing time, State of the Game found. That is a fall from last season's figure of 55.66%. In contrast, English players accounted for 19.18% of minutes compared with 16.62% last term. State of the Game analysed the total minutes played by each nationality in the Scottish Premiership and English Premier League and Championship to 1 October this season and in 2013-14. Champions Celtic played nine Scottish players in the period covered by the study, while St Johnstone used a league-high 17. The Perth side were followed by Dundee (16), Hamilton Academical and Partick Thistle. Inverness Caledonian Thistle used the fewest number of Scottish players (five). Meanwhile, levels of Welsh and Northern Irish game time in the Scottish Premiership have remained similar to last season. The Welsh went from 1.09% to 0.92% while their Northern Irish counterparts rose from 4.95% to 5.03%. France and Nigeria have fallen out of the top 10 nations in the Scottish Premiership, with Poland and Germany replacing them. In England's Premier League a total of 18 Scottish players were used in the first six matches compared with 15 last term. This made up 4.87% of the Premier League - up from last season's 3.22%. That leaves Scotland fourth on the list in the English top flight, behind England, France and Spain. Promoted Burnley and Hull City each used three Scots while Stoke City, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace used two. Scottish players also spent time on the pitch for Manchester United, Aston Villa, Everton and QPR. Scottish players had more minutes on the pitch in the Premier League than the Republic of Ireland (4.22%), Wales (2.45%) and Northern Ireland (1.53%). The percentage of minutes played by Scottish players in England's Championship was almost unchanged, from 9.53% to 9.52%.

Summary: Scottish players have seen a fall in the number of minutes on the pitch in the Scottish Premiership this season, according to a BBC Sport study.


Solva Care, which launched as a two-year pilot in October 2015, helps about 40 elderly people in the community. The not-for-profit initiative matches people who need support to 30 volunteers who provide it. A grant of Â£21,421 was awarded by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund. Solva Care's project leader Mollie Roach said the money, together with Welsh Government funding, will keep it going for another two years. She said: "This is very good news. We know that Solva Care works and is making a real difference to people's lives."

Summary: A project that cares for the elderly in a Pembrokeshire village has secured funding to keep it going for two years.


The party said it was aware the site had been taken over by its website host who has "turned on them", and they were unable to access it. The site now reads: "What happened to The LabourBristol website? I think the more important question is, what happened to the Labour party?" A party spokesman said action was being taken against the person responsible. "The comments there do not represent the views of the Bristol Labour Party," the spokesman added. "It's been referred to our compliance and legal team." The attack on the hacked website goes on to say Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is "ill equipped to lead the party, let alone be prime minister". It also attacks the leaders of the Momentum group which supports Mr Corbyn. The site's owner, Lyle Hopkins, told the BBC he had spent "lots of time and a few thousand pounds" revamping the website. and had tried unsuccessfully to get the local Labour Party to take ownership of it. He said he had altered it because he had "lost all confidence" in Mr Corbyn and had "had enough". He claimed he had witnessed "first hand at the Bristol West labour party meeting just how unpleasant and aggressive the Momentum activists were". "I'm no longer willing to support the party with my time and effort as long as Corbyn is leader."

Summary: Text on Bristol Labour Party's website has been replaced by with attack on Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters.


The pound hit $1.4693, a rise of more than three cents, or 2.34%, the biggest one-day gain since March 2009. The bounce followed several polls over the weekend that suggested a very tight race, but that the Leave campaign may have lost a little momentum. The FTSE 100 also rose, with shares closing 3% higher on Monday. That is the biggest one-day gain since February. Betfair, a firm that has taken in tens of millions of pounds in referendum-related bets, says the likelihood of a remain vote has risen from 65% on Friday to 72% on Monday. "The pause in the campaign seems to have lent crucial support to team Remain," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at Gain Capital. "The markets have always been more comfortable with the UK remaining in the European Union." The pound had fallen sharply over the course of last week, after polls appeared to indicate the Leave campaign was taking the lead. But figures from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a US markets regulator, suggested a broader change in trading sentiment by Friday. That data indicated that by the end of last week, currency speculators had began to back the pound again by reducing their bets against the currency. That contrasted strongly to the first week of June, during which time traders' bets against the pound had risen to the highest level in three years. However, analysts say there is likely to be more volatility this week. "Following the large sterling moves over last two days and limited risk premium priced in at this point, sterling now looks more vulnerable to negative surprise from the polls," ING strategist Petr Krpata said in a research note. Monday's shift in sentiment has boosted shares in banks and builders, which are seen as more vulnerable to damage if the UK votes to leave the EU. Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group both rose more than 7%, while Barclays gained more than 6%. Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, two of the UK's largest house builders, also saw their shares jump by nearly 7%. Oil prices rose as well on Monday, with Brent crude trading up more than 2%, and currently hovering around the $50 a barrel mark, at $50.39.

Summary: The pound has jumped the most against the dollar in seven years, as traders reassessed the likelihood of the UK leaving the European Union.


Hundreds of Peshmerga fighters, backed by artillery and US-led coalition air strikes, advanced on Bashiqa from three directions on Monday morning. By late afternoon, they were moving from house to house clearing the town, a Peshmerga statement said. Meanwhile, the Iraqi military said it had found a mass grave filled with some 100 decapitated bodies south of Mosul. The grave was located in the grounds of an agricultural college on the outskirts of the town of Hamam al-Alil, which troops entered over the weekend. "Specialised teams will be sent to investigate this heinous crime," the military said. IS militants have carried out many mass killings in the past, boasting about them in photos and videos circulated online. In 2014, they targeted security forces personnel and members of ethnic and religious minorities as they swept across northern Iraq after taking control of Mosul. The UN has also received reports that militants have carried out atrocities since the Iraqi government's offensive to retake Mosul began three weeks ago. On 29 October, they are alleged to have killed 40 former soldiers from the Hamam al-Alil and Shura areas, and thrown their bodies into the River Tigris. Bashiqa, about 12km (8 miles) from Mosul, was surrounded by Peshmerga fighters two weeks ago as part of the wider Mosul offensive. At about 06:00 (03:00 GMT) on Monday, the operation to finally clear the town got under way. By 17:00, the Peshmerga had advanced into the town and begun house-to-house clearances, a statement by their general command said. A senior Peshmerga officer, Brig-Gen Musa Gardi, told the Kurdish news agency Rudaw that pockets of militants remained that would be dealt with soon. He also warned that they might use tunnels and suicide bombs to launch attacks. About 40 car bombs targeted Peshmerga positions on Monday alone, he added. Rudaw earlier posted a video showing what it said was a bus packed with explosives that was destroyed in a coalition air strike on the edge of Bashiqa. Iraqi special forces and army units meanwhile continued operations to clear eastern districts of Mosul, six days after entering the last major IS urban stronghold in Iraq. Their progress has been slowed by suicide car bombs, booby traps and the need to engage in house-to-house fighting along narrow streets. The US special envoy to the multinational coalition against IS, Brett McGurk, nevertheless declared late on Sunday that the offensive was "very much on track". "Everything in Mosul is ahead of schedule on all axes of advance but Daesh, as we expected, is putting up a fierce fight and I expect this will take some time to conclude," he said, using a pejorative term for IS based on the acronym of a previous name in Arabic. Mr McGurk also outlined how he expected the operation to retake the IS-held northern Syrian city of Raqqa, launched by a US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters earlier on Sunday, would proceed in "very deliberate phases". "There is an isolation phase which began today, and there will be subsequent phases to make sure that that

Summary: Iraqi Kurdish forces have fought their way into a town held by Islamic State militants north-east of Mosul.


Hughes, 19, was born on the British overseas territory of Anguilla, but has held a British passport since birth. "I have always known that if I was to run at the Olympics it would be in a British vest," he said. In March 2014, Hughes broke Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake's 100m junior record with a time of 10.12 seconds and almost beat Bolt in the 200m recently. He was edged out at the New York Diamond League meeting in June with the Jamaican 100m and 200m Olympic champion Usain Bolt clocking a time of 20.29. Anguillans can compete at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, but athletes from the island are unable to enter the Olympics as Anguilla is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee. Hughes said in 2014 that competing for Team GB "would be the best choice", something which he is now eligible for. American Cindy Ofili (100m hurdler) has also held British nationality since birth, while compatriots Shante Little (400m hurdler) and Montene Speight (400m runner), plus Swedish-born high jumper Victoria Dronsfield, all hold British nationality. Ofili, the younger sister of hurdler Tiffany Porter, ran a personal best of 12.60 seconds in Eugune in June - the seventh fastest time in the world this year. However, the announcement was criticised by British athlete Richard Kilty, while former heptathlete Kelly Sotherton said she was "not sure about it".

Summary: Highly rated sprinter Zharnel Hughes has been ruled eligible to compete for Team GB.


The Belfast women alleged they were abused over a three-year period in the late 1990s, when they were teenagers. They claim the case was delayed because prosecutors gave precedence to a separate court case, involving allegations made by MÃ¡iria Cahill. The PPS said the decision had been made by the court and not them. The women said they had been "utterly let down by the criminal justice system". Both women, who have retained their right to anonymity, released a statement through their solicitor, outlining the background to their case and the delays they faced in bringing the matter to court. The two women said they first reported the alleged abuse to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in January 2010. They said their case was "constantly adjourned" and then postponed two days before the trial was due to begin. In November 2012, the women's legal representatives made complaints about the handling of the prosecution case to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), the Office of Attorney General and the Department of Justice. The solicitor said that shortly after a meeting with police and prosecutors in December 2012, during which there was a "frank exchange of views", the two women "reluctantly withdrew their statements". The statement issued on behalf of two women said: "They had lost all faith and trust in the criminal justice system and believed they were being exploited, merely for political point scoring." The statement also made reference to appointment of Keir Starmer QC to lead an independent review of three prosecution cases linked to Ms Cahill's allegations. The women questioned the independence of the review and called for clarification on its powers and terms of reference. Five people accused in connection with the cases linked to Ms Cahill's allegations were all acquitted in court. A PPS spokesperson said: "The Public Prosecution Service has commissioned an independent review of these interlinked cases. "It is intended that the review will consider all aspects of the cases, which may be unprecedented in complexity as they involve not only multiple complainants but also serious charges relating to sex abuse offences and terrorist-related offences. "We can confirm that all of the complainants in the cases have been invited to participate in the process and it is our hope that each of the individuals involved will agree to do so. "The approach will be robust and rigorous and any lessons to be learned from the cases will be addressed openly and transparently."

Summary: Two women who claim they were sexually abused by an alleged IRA man have said they withdrew their statements because of how prosecutors dealt with the case.


Warwickshire Police said officers were called out from 10:30 GMT in advance of the Blue Square Bet Premier League game between Nuneaton Town and Lincoln City. British Transport Police and officers from the West Mercia and West Midlands forces helped in the operation. Officers in riot gear began making arrests at The Granby pub from 15:20. A total of 62 people were detained. They were taken by coach to Nuneaton police station where they were being interviewed. Ch Insp Adrian Knight, who was leading the response, thanked his colleagues for their work on what had been a "particularly challenging day", adding: "This operation was a true collaboration utilising resources from across the region." He went on: "It was important to take a positive approach from the start of the operation and as a result of that approach a significant number of people have been arrested for serious offences and will now be processed. "Warwickshire Police is committed to protecting people from harm, whether they live in the county or are visiting, and we will not tolerate any behaviour which puts them at risk. "Anyone intent on causing trouble in Warwickshire should be aware that we will deal with them robustly," he added. Nuneaton went on to win the game 1-0.

Summary: Dozens of people were arrested after police in riot gear were deployed ahead of a football match in Nuneaton.


Stephen Downing, 55, was jailed for five years after he and his partner Claire Holmes, 26, both of Marsh Green, earlier pleading guilty to supplying the class A drug Downing also admitted mortgage fraud and six counts of money laundering. Holmes, 26, was jailed for two years and six months. Downing, who owned seven houses, a strip of land and business premises in Wigan, has been ordered to pay back nearly Â£400,000 and Holmes more than Â£5,000. Police searched their home in October 2012 and found cocaine and drug-dealing paraphernalia and large amounts of cash. Officers returned in 2013 and found more cocaine, about Â£45,000 in cash, debt lists and details of drug deals. In 2005 Downing had illegally remortgaged his home and used the money to purchase other properties, the police investigation also revealed. The pair tried to blame the drug dealing on Downing's son and he was charged as a result of this false testimony, Greater Manchester Police said. He was acquitted in January when they changed their pleas. Constable Peter Jackson from Greater Manchester Police said the pair were "reprehensible". "Downing and Holmes were determined to live a lifestyle funded entirely by nefarious means. They made their money by dealing drugs and Downing then tried to hide this by fraudulently purchasing and leasing out a string of properties which supplied him with rental income." He said when they blamed Downing's son. it was a "a perfect of example of the phrase 'no honour amongst thieves'"

Summary: A couple have been jailed for dealing cocaine from their home in Wigan and ordered to pay back the money they made illegally.


Shiromini Satkunarajah, 20, had been taken to a detention centre after being refused asylum. She was supposed to be on a plane on Tuesday, but 30,000 people signed a petition, Arfon MP Hywel Williams said. The Home Office said she could stay on an "exceptional" basis. Miss Satkunarajah was born in Sri Lanka, but fled conflict there with her parents when she was 12. While her father has since died, Mr Williams said she and her mother have been "battling through the bureaucratic process to get the right to stay". This has involved attending Caernarfon police station every week while she studies for an electrical engineering degree - which was where she was detained in a cell for three days. Mr Williams added others "overstay for years", but Miss Satkunarajah was "picked up" for doing what the authorities asked of her. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales programme, he said: "They are picking off the easy ones because they are following the rules. "She was easy to identify as was her mum. She turned up (at the police station) and they took her away." But he pointed to a "huge wave of support", saying more than 30,000 people signed a petition and letters were written by prominent figures. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Williams accused the Home Office of "dithering", criticising it for failing to give the case timely consideration. An 11th hour reprieve followed. "In the light of the circumstances of this case, the immigration minister agreed that both Miss Satkunarajah and her mother should be allowed to stay in the UK on an exceptional basis while Miss Satkunarajah completes her studies," the Home Office said. She is due to finish the course this summer, with Mr Williams saying she is predicted to get a first class honours degree. Solicitor Raja Rajeswaran Uruthiravinayagan has now got involved in the case after public attention over the weekend. "We were in the process of filing an emergency judicial review when we got indication the deportation had been deferred," he said. "Shiromini and her mother have only been released on 'temporary admission'. "This doesn't mean she's been given formal leave to stay in the UK. What we have to do now is send a pre-action protocol letter to the Home Secretary and give her 14 days to reply and consider the decision." NUS Wales deputy president Carmen Smith said she was "overjoyed" by the decision. She added: "I remain of the steadfast view that deporting Shiromini would have been an absolutely disgusting thing to do. "It is imperative that we value people, their skills, experiences, and cultures, whoever they are and wherever they come from."

Summary: A Bangor University student threatened with deportation was "picked off" because she was "following the rules and easy to identify", her local MP said.


The former Blackpool boss has been ruthless with a squad that even flirted with bottom spot and appears to be placing his faith this time on players with recent experience of the Scottish Championship. Fellow former Scotland international Gary Naysmith has had a similar clear-out of an East Fife squad that also under-performed by finishing fourth in the table, although they did pick up in time to reach the play-off final, where they lost to Stenhousemuir. Defender Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia and goalkeeper Alan Martin have made the biggest jump up the ranks during the close season. Former Real Sociedad 24-year-old Leanizbarrutia has left East Fife to sign for Dundee, while Martin has left Clyde for Hamilton Academical. Annan Athletic and East Stirlingshire have had their annual mass cull of their squads, with Berwick Rangers the most active in adding to their numbers. Key signing: Jordan Hart spent the second half of last season on loan from Celtic and the 19-year-old goalkeeper has now made the move from the Scottish champions permanent. Intriguing arrival: Having started his career with Partick Thistle, versatile 24-year-old Nigeria-born Smart Osadolor headed to Tiffin University in Ohio after spells with junior outfits Irvine Vics and St Anthony's, but the left-side player returns to Scotland after his scholarship. One that got away: Former Rangers youth defender Andrew Mitchell returned to Annan on loan from Southport in February, but the 23-year-old has now moved to Crusaders in his native Northern Ireland. In: Jordan Hart, goalkeeper (Celtic); Blair Currie, goalkeeper (Hamilton Academical); Jamie Watson, forward (Airdrieonians); Smart Osadolor, midfielder (Tiffin University Athletics). Out: Kieran Brannan, forward (Kilbirnie Ladeside); Chris Dickinson, forward (West Auckland); Alex Mitchell, goalkeeper; Iain Chisholm, defender; Kenny MacKay, forward; Steven Logan, midfielder; Callum Cook, midfielder; Michael McAnespie, defender; Craig Murray, goalkeeper; Danny Graham, midfielder; Dion Irving, defender; Benjamin Wagner, forward. Loan ended: Junior Ogen, forward (Rangers); Andrew Mitchell, midfielder (Southport); Calum Cook, midfielder (Dumbarton). Last season: 5th Prediction: 2nd. Having knocked Airdrieonians out of the Petrofac Training Cup then came close to ousting Queen of the South in the League Cup, Jim Chapman's side look to have the basis for a promotion challenge this season. Key signing: Arbroath have high hopes for Kane Hester, a 20-year-old striker signed from junior club Arbroath Vics after scoring four goals in three pre-season games. Intriguing arrival: Midfielder Sergio Cecilia Alvarez, previously of Atletico Victoria of Tenerife in the fourth tier of Spanish football, won a contract after the 25-year-old impressed on trial. One that got away: Simon Murray ended the season with 24 goals, the 23-year-old striker having ended the season on loan to the Red Lichties after being loaned back following a £50,000 January transfer to Dundee United. In: Sergio Cecilia Alvarez, midfielder (Atletico Victoria); Jamie Reid, midfielder (Dundee); Calum Brodie, goalkeeper (Dundee); Andrew Munro, defender (Raith Rovers); Martin Grehan, forward (Stenhousemuir); Allan Fleming, goalkeeper (East Fife); David Gold, midfielder (Berwick Rangers); Jamie Clarke, midfielder (Broughty Athletic); Graham Hay, defender (Formartine United); Craig Wilson, defender (Linlithgow Rose); Kane Hester, forward (Arbroath Vics). Loan: Darren Ramsay, defender (Rangers); Andy Ryan, striker

Summary: Many had tipped Clyde as promotion favourites last season based on their appointment of Barry Ferguson as manager, but the former Rangers midfielder has had to return to the drawing board after failing to even reach the play-offs.


Hodgson resigned immediately after England were knocked out of Euro 2016 following a shock defeat to Iceland in the last 16. Rodgers was named Celtic manager in May after leaving Liverpool in October. "I've just landed my dream job. The team I've supported all my life," Rodgers said. "I'll be at Celtic, that's for sure." England under-21 manager Gareth Southgate was installed as the favourite to succeed Hodgson, but he, like Rodgers, has said he is not interested in the job. Rodgers will be in the Celtic dugout for the first time on Thursday as the Scottish champions take on NK Celje in Slovenia in a pre-season friendly. Their first competitive action will be in the second week of July against either Estonian side Flora Tallinn or Lincoln of Gibraltar in the Champions League second qualifying round. "I haven't even walked out for my first game," Rodgers continued. "Imagine me as a Celtic supporter having walked out on the job at Parkhead! Media playback is not supported on this device "Is it flattering (being linked with England)? It's football. There are very few professions where one minute you're up, then down, then up again - that's just how it goes. "If people think I can do jobs at a high level, then that's fine. But I'm busy here, worrying about what I have to do here." Hodgson and the England players have come in for fierce criticism in the wake of the Iceland defeat, and Rodgers believes there will be enormous pressure on whoever is chosen to take the national team forward. "It's a tough job, England. They've got a lot of good players but there is huge pressure, huge expectancy. "There is a great group of players there. They've got some wonderful talents in that England squad, but it has been difficult for them at this tournament - and it has been like that for a few tournaments. "So it's unfortunate how it ended for Roy because he's a good man, a very good coach. "They now obviously have to appoint someone and look at creating an identity, a way the team can play."

Summary: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has ruled himself out of the running to replace Roy Hodgson as England manager.


The six-week mission comes in the face of competing claims from other countries, including Russia. Two ice-breakers are setting out from Newfoundland to collect data from an undersea ridge that starts near Ellesmere Island and runs to the Pole. The region is believed to include large oil and gas reserves. Last December Canada filed an application with the UN seeking to vastly expand its Atlantic sea boundary. Russia and Denmark have also made competing claims on a vast area of Arctic seabed around the Lomonosov Ridge. All three countries are seeking scientific proof that the ridge is an underwater extension of their continental shelf. The area is estimated to hold 13% of the world's undiscovered oil and up to 30% of its hidden natural gas reserves. A Canadian government statement said the first icebreaker had left St John's, Newfoundland, on Friday and the second would depart on Saturday. "Our government is securing our sovereignty while expanding our economic and scientific opportunities by defining Canada's last frontier," said Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq. "This is important to Canadians, especially those in the north, as this is their future and prosperity at stake." Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a coastal nation can claim exclusive economic rights to natural resources on or beneath the sea floor up to 200 nautical miles (370km) beyond their land territory. But if the continental shelf extends beyond that distance, the country must provide evidence to a UN commission which will then make recommendations about establishing an outer limit.

Summary: Canada has launched a mission to map the Arctic seabed to support its bid to extend its territory up to the North Pole.