First and foremost to the end of the stranglehold on British politics which the two big UK parties have had for so long. British politics is now a national contest between at least four parties - Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP - and arguably five or more if you add the Greens (who are polling as well as the Lib Dems), the SNP (who are threatening Labour's many former Labour strongholds) not to mention Plaid Cymru and Respect. Not since the emergence of the SDP in the early 1980s - after Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and others broke away from the Labour Party - has politics looked so fluid and unpredictable. What we are seeing now, though, differs fundamentally from what we saw then. UKIP's rise is not - not yet at least - about a public desire to create an alternative party of government. Their rise has been driven more by an anger with "all of the above", with the "Westminster parties" or what UKIP supporters like to call "the LibLabCon". In that sense - even if in no other - there are parallels between the rise of Nigel Farage and Alex Salmond. On the morning after his victory and near-victory before, Nigel Farage talked of holding the balance of power after the next election, of becoming the Minister for Europe having won more Tory seats in the South and Labour seats in the North. How realistic is that? Before giving the reasons why I think Mr Farage might be over-doing things just a tad it's worth pausing to say that so far his brave talk and giddy optimism has proved much more right than any of his critics or, indeed, the pundits. They said UKIP were extremists who only a few would vote for… They said UKIP could only win elections held under Proportional Representation… They said UKIP would never top 30% in a poll… They said Farage's party could only appeal to angry, former Tory blazer wearing Colonels in the south… They were wrong. UKIP have now proved that they can assemble a huge coalition of protest votes from the right, the left and the centre combining people who are angry about the state of the economy and the state of politics not just immigration and Europe. The academics Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin have studied the long term drivers of support to UKIP in their book "Revolt on the Right". They identified three - anger with Europe, anger about immigration and with the political system as a whole. A fifth of all voters shared all three concerns. Around a third shared two of the three. Thus, they conclude, UKIP's base support could be between 20% and the low 30s. Remember that UKIP's first place in the European elections in May was the first time any party other than the Conservatives or Labour had won a national election in 100 years and, contrary to the suggestions that they are a party of the English South, they won a seat in every region as well

Summary: It's a breakthrough all right but a breakthrough to what?


Chinese finance minister Lou Jiwei said the country could tackle the pressures it is currently facing. Separately, Bank of England governor Mark Carney said he was concerned by moves by some central banks to use negative rates to try to boost growth. The G20 includes finance ministers from the world's biggest economies. Based on gross domestic product, the G20 covers 86% of the world's economy, accounts for two-thirds of the world's population and 75% of global trade. China's economy, the second-biggest in the world, is growing at the slowest rate in 25 years as it attempts to move from an export-led nation to one led by consumption and services. The slowdown in China's economy has created considerable uncertainty in financial markets and has led to sharp falls in commodity prices. The head of the People's Bank of China, Zhou Xiaochuan, said China's reform direction was clear and unchanged but that the country's pace of reform would vary. "China will strike a balance between growth, restructuring and risk management," Mr Zhou said. "While the reform direction is clear... the pace will vary, but the reform will be set to continue and the direction is not changed." However, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, said China faced an "overwhelming" agenda of structural reforms. Analysts said most of Mr Zhou's comments were designed to ease global worries over the way Beijing handles its currency as well as the continuing worries about the volatility of China's stock market. There are concerns China will allow the yuan to weaken to boost its exports and drive its economy. Regarding the the G20's discussions on global exchange rates, Mr Zhou said he would need to wait to see how the group would discuss it. "China has always opposed competitive currency devaluations as a way to boost export competitiveness," he said. Also speaking in Shanghai on Friday, the Bank of England's governor Mark Carney said he was concerned by moves by some central banks to cut interest rates to below zero in order to boost growth. He said it could see the development of a "beggar-thy-neighbour" landscape - whereby attempts to boost a country's economy hurts other economies. Mr Carney said about a quarter of global output was coming from economies where interest rates were "literally through the floor". "It is critical that stimulus measures are structured to boost domestic demand, particularly from sectors of the economy with healthy balance sheets," he said. "There are limits to the extent to which negative rates can achieve this." He also said that governments needed to step up the pace of economic reforms. "Global growth has disappointed because the innovation and ambition of global monetary policy has not been matched by structural measures,'' Mr Carney said. "In most advanced economies, difficult structural reforms have been deferred." Figures released on Thursday confirmed that the UK economy grew by 2.2% last year. That was the slowest annual pace since 2012, although the UK remains one of the fastest growing developed economies. Earlier this week, the IMF said the global economy had weakened

Summary: China has sought to assure global finance ministers about the state of its slowing economy, as the G20 meeting gets under way in Shanghai.


Nicholson reported on the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Falklands War, the Balkans conflict, the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He joined ITN in 1964 and was the network's senior foreign correspondent between 1989 and 1999. He died while on a cruise with his wife Diana. ITN chief executive John Hardie said he was a "true legend". Nicholson, who died on 11 December, presented reports from around the world on ITV's flagship current affairs programme Tonight. He had four children and three grandchildren. He was known for smuggling an orphaned girl out of Sarajevo while reporting on the conflict - and bringing her back to the UK, where he adopted her. The correspondent met nine-year-old Natasha Mihaljcic while he was working on a story about children being trapped by shelling in the Bosnian capital in 1992. He went on to write a book about the events which was used as the inspiration for the 1997 film Welcome To Sarajevo. Nicholson was ITN's first bureau chief in South Africa in 1976 and was the first television correspondent to live in the country during apartheid. He also witnessed the toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad in 2003. Former ITN presenter Sir Trevor McDonald said Nicholson "was almost without doubt the finest television journalist of his generation". "His aggressive pursuit of stories came to symbolise what the new kid on the block, as ITN then was, was all about." ITV News presenter Alastair Stewart said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the death of ITN giant Mike Nicholson". Mr Hardie said: "Michael Nicholson is rightly regarded as a true legend of ITN. "As a journalist he is renowned and revered throughout our industry and beyond for his courage, his intelligence, and his compassion." In a statement, his family described him as "an amazing father, devoted grandfather, loving husband and dear friend".

Summary: Veteran ITN war correspondent Michael Nicholson, whose career spanned more than five decades, has died aged 79.


As the 18-day festival of traditional and roots music came to a close in Glasgow, they said 176 out of 222 ticketed events were sold out. More than 110,000 people attended festival events which saw 2,375 musicians from 50 countries perform. Artistic director Donald Shaw said: "The past 18 days have been exhilarating and unforgettable." He said: "From the intimate intensity of Laura Marling accompanied for the first time by a full orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, to a Ceilidh led by Aidan Moffat. "From the stunning virtuosity of an evening of maestros of stringed instruments from Brazil, India and the US dazzling the audience with their skills, to Tryst which saw 10 specially-commissioned new pieces for pipes. "One of the many true joys of Celtic Connections is that within our tradition of Celtic music and international collaborations, we do not think about creative boundaries. "Instead, we present on our stages some of the most brilliant musicians working today and explore the richness and diversity of the music we are celebrating." He added: "The journey we have been on through Celtic Connections 2017 has shown the power of live music to connect with individual lives and to resonate with the wider world in which we all live, and we are already looking forward to presenting Celtic Connections in 2018, in what is going to be a very special 25th anniversary year."

Summary: More than three-quarters of shows at this year's Celtic Connections were sold out, according to organisers.


Mr Ahmadinejad, a hardliner who served two terms between 2005 and 2013, filed paperwork for the 19 May poll at the interior ministry in Tehran. Last year, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned him that such a move was "not in his interest and that of the country". But Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters on Tuesday that had been "just advice". Associated Press journalists who witnessed Mr Ahmadinejad register on Tuesday said election officials were "stunned" when he submitted the paperwork. President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who negotiated a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, is yet to register but is widely expected to seek a second term. More than 120 people, including six women, submitted their names on the first day of registration on Monday, according to local media. Once the process ends on Saturday, the prospective candidates will be screened for their political and Islamic qualifications by the Guardian Council. The clerical body will announce a final list of vetted candidates on 27 April. Speaking after submitting his paperwork Mr Ahmadinejad said he was only helping his former vice-president, Hamid Baghaei, who registered alongside him. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's decision to register is the biggest surprise so far in the presidential election. Ayatollah Khamenei had indicated he did not want Mr Ahmadinejad to stand and it is unusual for anyone in the political establishment to go against the supreme leader's wishes. Those who do tend to pay for it. Hardliners have made it clear they are angry and disappointed. Some have called Mr Ahmadinejad's move "unacceptable" and said it will spell the end of his political career. All potential candidates have to be vetted by the Guardian Council and many observers believe Mr Ahmadinejad will not pass this hurdle. But if he does, his entry into the race is likely to take some of the shine off the hardliners' preferred candidate, Ebrahim Raisi. It will also be damaging to President Rouhani - especially with poorer voters who have yet to feel the effects of promised economic improvements following the nuclear deal, and could be swayed by Mr Ahmadinejad's populist rhetoric and promises to bring back subsidies to help people cope with inflation. "I registered merely to support Baghaei and I will act according to the [supreme] leader's advice," he said. "I'll be serving Mr Baghaei with all my power." He added: "Some people say that the [supreme leader's] advice was meant to completely forbid [me from running], but what the leader said was just advice... I am still committed to my moral promise." Ayatollah Khamenei, who holds ultimate power over Iran's civil and religious affairs, said he had told him not to stand because it would "create bipolar opposites and divisions in the country which I believe is harmful". The disputed re-election of Mr Ahmadinejad in 2009 triggered the biggest protests in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Millions of people demanded a re-run, but the supreme leader insisted the result was valid and ordered a major crackdown on dissent that saw dozens of opposition supporters killed and thousands detained. Analysts said Mr

Summary: Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered as a candidate in Iran's presidential election, despite being told not to by the Supreme Leader.


Paterson, 59, who exaggerated or invented cancer risks in patients, was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent last month. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said his malpractice was "profoundly shocking". Baroness Lorely Burt, former Lib Dem MP for Solihull, called for any inquiry to be held in public. Paterson, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was convicted on 28 April following a nine-week trial which found he intentionally and unlawfully wounded 10 patients. He is due to be sentenced this month. Mr Hunt said Paterson "totally neglected" his duty of care for the patients he treated at two privately run West Midlands hospitals. "As a result I have agreed that, if returned to government, we will hold a comprehensive and focused inquiry to ensure that any lessons are learnt in the interests of ensuring patients are protected in future. "We will take any testimony from those affected, their families, and others who may wish to come forward." Baroness Burt said: "I'm sure the patients harmed by Paterson are all very grateful that the health secretary has announced an inquiry into the case, after they battled alone for years to get justice. "It's just a shame he never intervened on behalf of the private patients who had to go it alone through obstacle after obstacle." She said she hoped it would reveal why Paterson was allowed to operate for so long with impunity, but called for the inquiry to be held in public so a "bright light be shone into the way the NHS and private practice is being run which allows such things to happen". Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said Labour would support an inquiry into Paterson's "reprehensible actions". "Not only have his actions cost the public purse dearly, but they have devastated the lives of innocent people who deserved better," he said. "This unacceptable practice must never be repeated again." Victims have claimed Paterson had a "God complex" and jurors were told he performed "extensive, life-changing operations for no medically-justifiable reason". Ian Paterson: Surgeon was 'psychopathic like Shipman' Patient 'violated' by breast surgery The Heart of England NHS Trust has paid out almost Â£18m in damages and legal costs to hundreds of his former patients. These cases did not form part of the criminal proceedings. An independent report into his work in 2013, by lawyer Sir Ian Kennedy, found concerns dated back to 2003 but were not dealt with for four years. Later this year, 350 private patients who had unnecessary operations will seek compensation at the High Court, solicitors have said. Some former patients have been calling for a public inquiry into what he did and complained this week that they have been "airbrushed" out. 1,207 patients given a mastectomy, including "cleavage-sparing" operations 675 mastectomy patients have since died 68 of his surviving patients have seen their cancer return

Summary: The Conservatives have pledged to hold an inquiry into the actions of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson, if the party is returned to power.


Kent Police are set to prioritise fresh produce hit by problems in Calais, following weeks of disruption by migrant activity and French strikes. Scottish ministers said it would help protect Scotland's seafood exporters. They have been looking at ways to help Scottish firms hit by the ongoing migrant crisis in France. Earlier this week, it said the seafood industry was in need of urgent help, following talks with Scottish exporters. The Scottish government said the move by Kent Police followed representations by ministers. Scottish Food Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "The Scottish government has repeatedly called for action from the outset of this disruption, and so I welcome this move to prioritise key consignments - including fresh produce - through the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover. "At last we are seeing common sense prevail and a recognition of the impact on food exporters. "Agreement of this protocol to prioritise a quick-to-market route is real progress and we will, of course, monitor its introduction and effectiveness." He added: "While it is by no means a solution to the wider and on-going complex situation in Calais, it will be welcomed by Scottish seafood exporters who have seen orders plummet by up to 80% in some categories in recent weeks." "With seafood exports worth five times as much in Scotland as the UK as a whole, we have been determined to find a way forward. "With no end in sight to the situation at Calais, we will continue to look at options around alternative routes which could be used by hauliers."

Summary: The Scottish government has welcomed plans to pilot a "quick-to-market" route for vehicles hit by delays at the Channel Tunnel.


Commons Leader Chris Grayling, who backs a Leave Vote, told the BBC: "He must stay, I want him to stay." Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told Sky he was the "right man to take us out of the European Union". It comes after former chancellor Ken Clarke suggested the PM "wouldn't last 30 seconds if he lost the referendum". Although Mr Cameron is campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union, many Conservative MPs, and some members of his own cabinet, are campaigning to leave. EU referendum: In depth The UK's EU vote: All you need to know EU for beginners: A guide UK and the EU: Better off out or in? A-Z guide to EU-speak Who's who: The Vote Leave team Who's who: The Remain campaign Mr Clarke, a veteran pro-European Conservative, told the BBC last week it was "farcical" to suggest Mr Cameron would be able to remain prime minister if the UK votes to leave the EU in the 23 June referendum, despite campaigning to remain in. He predicted the party would be "plunged into a Conservative leadership crisis". But Commons leader Mr Grayling told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I actively want David Cameron to stay, not only because he's a very good prime minister, but because he actually has got the relationships we need around Europe to build the negotiating process. "It would be disastrous, in my view, for the Leave cause if we vote to leave and then we get distracted by a Conservative leadership contest. He must stay, I want him to stay." He said the PM could be "part of a team" which would negotiate Britain's exit from the EU but added "it needs people who want to leave in that team as well". David Davis, the former shadow home secretary, told the programme he believed the PM could stay on but would have to appoint someone "who believed in the negotiation" to lead exit talks. And Northern Ireland Secretary Ms Villiers, who is also backing the Leave campaign, told Sky News: "It's vitally important that he stays regardless of the vote in the referendum because he's a great prime minister". Mr Cameron himself has said he would stay on as prime minister, even if he ended up on the losing side. But Suzanne Evans, the former UKIP deputy chairwoman who is on the board of Vote Leave, said Mr Cameron had made a "terrible job" of his EU negotiations ahead of the referendum and she believed he should resign, if the UK votes to leave. She told Pienaar's Politics: "I don't particularly want him to be negotiating on our behalf." The official referendum campaigning period began on Friday and rows have continued about the potential impact of leaving the EU on trade, the single market and farm funding. Labour's Yvette Cooper warned it could cost "Â£100bn worth of trade" and lead to a loss of manufacturing jobs adding: "It's working class people across Britain who will be hardest hit if we end up losing those jobs". And French economy minister Emmanuel

Summary: David Cameron should stay on as PM to lead negotiations if the UK votes to leave the EU, two cabinet ministers have said.


"All-lane running" has been introduced between junction 10a for Wolverhampton and junction 13 for Stafford. When trialled on the M25 near London, it "reduced congestion and led to more reliable journeys", said Highways England. Lay-bys are replaced by emergency refuge areas - but some organisations say there are not enough of them. The Central Motorway Police Group said the lack of lay-bys was "cause for concern" and there was "minimal scrutiny" of the scheme on the M6. Edmund King, president of the AA said: "Laybys are every two and half kilometres - that is about one and a half miles. "If you can't see a lay-by you have to stop in a live lane of traffic and that is so dangerous." Matt Dallaway from the RAC said all-lane running as a concept was fine but he was concerned safety had not been tested. MP's on the Commons Transport Committee have launched an inquiry. Highways England said: "Our motorways are some of the safest in the world and the evidence shows collision and casualty rates on the M25 are down." "As we gradually roll out these upgrades on other motorways we will continue to work closely with all the emergency services so we can ensure safety is maintained." All-lane running is currently being installed on the M5 between junctions 4a for Bromsgrove and 6 Worcestershire North.

Summary: A scheme allowing motorists to drive on the hard shoulder of the M6 is "dangerous," motoring groups have said.


The bank's shares in Frankfurt closed 5% lower, despite a statement from the bank that it had sufficient reserves to make bond payments. On Monday, shares slumped 9.5% and have fallen more than 40% this year. Earlier, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he had "no concerns" about the bank. He was speaking to journalists after a meeting in Paris. On Tuesday, the bank's co-chief executive John Cryan, sent a message to all staff in which he assured them the bank was in a strong financial position, despite global growth fears, low oil and other commodity prices, and the fact that the bank would be booking write-downs in its fourth quarter. He said that while the stock markets had "expressed some concern about the adequacy of our legal provisions", he did not "share that concern". "We will almost certainly have to add to our legal provisions this year, but this is already accounted for in our financial plan," he said. Mr Cryan added: "Volatility in the fourth quarter impacted the earnings of most major banks, especially those in Europe, and clients may ask you about how the market-wide volatility is impacting Deutsche Bank." He said staff at the bank could tell customers concerned about investing with the bank that "Deutsche Bank remains absolutely rock-solid, given our strong capital and risk position". The email to staff, made publicly available via the bank's official Twitter account, is an unusual step. It follows Monday's statement to investors in which the bank stated its 2016 payment capacity was estimated to be about €1bn (£783m), sufficient to pay so-called additional tier 1 (AT1) coupons of approximately €350m on 30 April. Such statements are rare and illustrate the level of fear currently stalking the markets, In recent weeks, bank stocks have suffered heavy losses, with traders citing concerns about the level of exposure some banks may have to commodity and oil company debt, amid a desire among some mining and oil firms to maintain dividend payments even if they have to borrow to do so. The bank is also the subject of takeover speculation in German media, given the low value of its share price. Deutsche Bank has had negative press for years now amid a series of scandals and litigation. It chalked up a record loss of €6.8bn last year. Fears that banks do not have the financial reserves to cope with a major oil or commodities company reneging on its debt payments were reflected in European stock markets on Tuesday, with banking stocks and commodities firms under particular pressure in afternoon trade across all the major European indexes. In the UK, miners led the losers' board on the FTSE 100, with Anglo American down almost 10% at 339.20p, Antofagasta down 8.9% at 412.90p and Glencore down more than 7.3% at 95.28p. Royal Bank of Scotland was 1.95% lower at 226.20p, Barclays was 3.6% lower at 158.05p and HSBC was lower by 0.95% at 434.30p.

Summary: Shares in Deutsche Bank continued to fall on Tuesday, despite assurances from the bank that its balance sheet was "rock solid".


Kyles beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 2-1 at Yoker and remain two points clear of Shiel, who edged Lovat by the same score at home. Meanwhile, a 2-0 success over visitors Glenurquhart kept Newtonmore six points off the lead. Oban Camanachd bounced back from their defeat in the Celtic Society Cup final to record a 3-0 away victory in the league over Lochaber. Caberfeidh's opponents in the Balliemore Cup final on 15 July will be Fort William after their 3-1 semi-final victory at Inveraray. All the scoring at Yoker was over within the first half hour. Gordon Whyte got an early opener for Kyles, but Mid Argyll's Finlay MacMillan equalised. Thomas Whyte grabbed what turned out to be Kyles' winner before the joint-bottom side held the leaders for the rest of the game. Fraser MacVicar and Keith MacRae gave Kinlochshiel a 2-0 lead. Ryan Ferguson replied just after the restart, but Lovat could do no more and drop to fifth place. Lovat were leapfrogged on goal difference by Newtonmore after Fraser MacKintosh, late in the first half, and Iain Robinson, late in the second, struck to send the champions home against Glenurquhart. Malcolm Clark and Daniel Cameron gave Oban Camanachd a 2-0 half-time lead at Spean Bridge and David Lafferty put the game beyond doubt with 10 minutes remaining. Lochaber remain bottom by a goal difference of 10 and as one of three teams on five points alongside local rivals Kilmallie, who have also played 10 of their 18 games, and Glasgow Mid Argyll, who have a game in hand. After a goalless first half at Inveraray, the second was almost all Fort William, whose opener came from Seamus Gall. Calum Fraser doubled their lead and a goal from Calum Shepherd secured Fort's trip up the A82 for the Balliemore final in Drumnadrochit. Inveraray's late consolation came from Allan MacDonald. Leaders Caberfeidh and second-placed Skye maintained their unbeaten National Division records with comfortable home victories. Leading Scotland scorer Kevin Bartlett got a hat-trick for Cabers as they brushed Inverness aside 5-1. Meanwhile, Iain MacLellan and Will Cowie both got doubles in Skye's 6-0 romp against Strathglass. Beauly beat Oban Celtic 4-3 at Braeview. The Sutherland Cup final for shinty's reserve standard championship will be between Oban Camanachd's second string, Lochside Rovers, who beat Glenurquhart 5-0, and Kingussie, who prevailed 6-4 in a goal-strewn Badenoch derby against Newtonmore.

Summary: Victories for Kyles and Kinlochshiel maintained the status quo at the top of the Marine Harvest Premiership and left Newtonmore no closer to their aim of an eighth consecutive title, despite their own victory.


The technical error has directed people searching for the national park more than 150m (241km) away to a location between Chelsea and Knightsbridge. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority posted the image online with the caption: "We have now moved. Londoners get an upgrade thanks to Google Maps." Chief executive John Cook joked: "Well the move has come as a bit of a shock to us all." He added: "I'm sure it will come as good news to Londoners who want some fresh mountain air on their doorstep. "The truth is we are only three hours away from London - don't rely on your sat-nav or Google Maps - just head to Bristol on the M4, cross the bridge, ask a local and they'll know exactly where to find us."

Summary: A glitch on Google Maps has located the Brecon Beacons in the heart of London.


Dr George Daniels, who died in 2011, was responsible for some of the field's most important advancements which he passed to his apprentice Roger Smith. A film will focus on their relationship and how the work developed the art of British watchmaking. It will be played at the George Daniels lecture at City University. In a career spanning 60 years, Sunderland-born horologist Daniels perfected the 32 skills needed to make a watch from scratch by hand. The most successful of his inventions, the co-axial escapement, won him international acclaim and is regarded by experts as one of the most significant horological developments in 250 years. Mr Smith, who followed Mr Daniels to work in the Isle of Man, said he was an "inspirational mentor." "He was the first person in history to hand make a watch with a great technical level and extraordinary beauty from start to finish." City's George Daniels Professor of Scientific Instrumentation, Professor Ken Grattan, said: "Roger has risen from being an outstanding apprentice of the legendary George Daniels to being the legatee and torchbearer for his watchmaking excellence." Daniels' attended City University London's predecessor, the Northampton Institute, and believed his outstanding success as a horologist was linked directly to his time as a student. His educational trust set up following the sale of his personal collection of clocks has helped 20 students through doctoral studentships and undergraduate scholarships at the university.

Summary: Leading watchmakers have gathered in London to celebrate the "unique collaboration" between two leading horologists from the Isle of Man.


The 45-year-old, who stepped up from assistant in December after Mark Burchill was sacked, has signed a one-year deal. "Continuity is one of the main objectives of the board of directors," said a club statement. "The club is also delighted that it will retain its full-time status." Livingston had hinted at their intentions by announcing three new signings immediately after their play-off semi-final defeat by Stranraer. Midfielder Jordan Sinclair, 19, arrived from Hibernian and central defenders Sean Crighton and Alan Lithgow joined from Airdrieonians. Meanwhile, Ryan Currie agreed a new contract, but Bulgarian midfielder Spas Georgiev, who was loaned to Albion Rovers in February, was released.

Summary: Livingston have decided to remain a full-time club despite being relegated to Scottish League One and have handed head coach David Hopkin a new contract.


Media playback is not supported on this device Elis Ligtlee of the Netherlands led from the front to win gold, with Australian Anna Meares in third. James, 24, missed the London Games and then had the best part of 18 months out with injury and health issues. "I was so desperate for that medal," the Welsh star told BBC Sport. "I can't believe it happened." She was last with one lap to go but found a way around the outside to force her way into second on the line to win Britain's fourth medal on the track. It was a second medal in two Olympic kierins for GB after Victoria Pendleton won the event in London, where it made its debut. The silver medal came just minutes after Laura Trott became the first British woman to win three gold medals as she won team pursuit gold with Joanna Rowsell-Shand, Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald in a new world record time. Abergavenny-born James, who was watched by her boyfriend George North, the Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby player, told BBC One: "I came in with good form and I love the keirin and I love racing. "Once I got through the first round, I just wanted to enjoy the day. "It was so special, I have 10 of my family here. My mum has never been on a long-haul flight before. "I have had so much support from British Cycling, it has been a tough two years and I couldn't have done it without everyone's help." North later tweeted: "Words can't describe how proud I am! Everything she's been through. What an absolute hero." James underwent an operation in 2014 to remove potentially cancerous cells following a routine smear test. That scare was followed by keyhole surgery on a shoulder injury and then months of rehabiltation for a long-term knee injury.

Summary: Britain's Becky James bounced back from a serious knee injury and a cancer scare to take silver with a late surge in the Olympic women's keirin in Rio.


Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested last month, after a rally against the execution of a Kashmiri separatist convicted over the 2001 Indian parliament attack. A panel from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) probing the incident reportedly recommended the expulsion of five students, including Mr Kumar. Mr Kumar was released from jail after being granted bail earlier this month. His views have been divisive in India with some calling him "anti-national". Kanhaiya Kumar: India's most loved and loathed student The Press Trust of India news agency reported that the university panel had found the students guilty of "violating university rules and discipline norms". Apart from Mr Kumar, the panel has also reportedly recommended the expulsion of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, two other students who remain in custody. Reports say a final decision on the panel's recommendation will be taken by the vice chancellor of the university. Authorities allege Mr Kumar and others shouted anti-India slogans at the 9 February rally on the campus. Critics have condemned the charges against the students as an assault on freedom of expression, but government ministers have refused to back down, vowing to punish what they describe as "anti-national elements". The rally that prompted the arrests was to mark the third anniversary of the 2013 hanging of Mohammed Afzal Guru. Guru was one of those convicted of plotting the 2001 parliament attack - charges he always denied. The attack, which left 14 people dead, was blamed on Pakistan-based militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. Indian opposition parties see the affair as an attempt by the BJP to push its Hindu nationalist agenda, correspondents say. There have also been counter protests by those who say JNU is a hotbed of "traitors" and should be "cleaned up".

Summary: A student leader from a top university in India charged with sedition may be expelled from campus, reports say.


The 22-year-old, who will join City on 1 July, said: "I'm now at one of the best teams in the world". Silva has made 58 appearances for Monaco this season - including two against City in the Champions League - scoring 11 goals and 12 assists. He said the chance to work with Pep Guardiola influenced his decision. "Of course when you have the opportunity of being trained by Guardiola, you don't say no," added the playmaker, who has played 12 times for Portugal, scoring once. "If not the best coach in the world, he is one of the best." Guardiola's City finished third in the Premier League this season, securing Champions League football next year. Silva was integral to the Monaco side that reached the semi-finals, suffering eventual defeat to Juventus, who play Real Madrid in the final on Saturday, 3 June. Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live I am surprised in that I think that is the one area of the pitch where they have enough options. Manchester City's attack has been sensational this season. Bernardo Silva is very similar to David Silva. I wouldn't let David Silva go, I think he's been tremendous. You don't know if other clubs were ready to push the button and City thought 'we have got to do it'. There are some players that come along and you have to do it there and then. Tottenham defender Danny Rose, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live I played against him away this season and he's the best opponent I faced. It's a great addition and gives Pep Guardiola another attacking option. BBC Sport's Simon Stone: Silva was excellent in Monaco's 5-3 Champions League defeat at Etihad Stadium in February and Pep Guardiola decided the Portuguese was a man he wanted. So much so, in fact, that he is prepared to put him among the top five most expensive players in City history. A product of the Benfica academy, Silva is an attacking right-sided midfield player and is, at 22, just the kind of age Guardiola likes - old enough to understand his role, young enough to absorb the intricate tactical lessons his new manager imparts. If, as expected, Kyle Walker also arrives this summer from Tottenham, Guardiola will have the raw pace from his full-back that creates the danger - and space - for Silva to cut inside and slice open defences. *Initial reported fees

Summary: Manchester City have completed a £43m deal for Portugal attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva from French champions Monaco.


Media playback is not supported on this device Neilson and assistant Stevie Crawford signed new deals to take them up until the end of season 2017-18. Saturday's 1-0 win over Kilmarnock moves the Edinburgh club 11 points clear in third place. "I think there's a long way to go at this club and I want to be part of it," Neilson told BBC Scotland. Media playback is not supported on this device "There's potential to keep building and take the club to where it belongs. "That's the long term goal [to try and win the league]. It's not going to happen overnight. We need to try and build the young players coming through. We have to balance it off with selling players and producing our own and bringing good talent in." Hearts missed two attempts from the penalty spot as they were made to battle for all three points at home to Kilmarnock, with Jamie Walker managing to score on the rebound from his effort. "It's good to get three points against a tough team," said Neilson. "We had a couple of chances to kill the game off, it's something we need to improve. "It gives us a lift after the disappointment last weekend at Dundee United. "There will still be a lot of twists and turns before the end of the season, everyone can beat everyone in this league. You see today we're playing second bottom and really had to grind out a 1-0 result. Dundee United go to Ross County and win 3-0 so it just shows you there's a good standard here." Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark thought his side played well enough to earn at least a point but said his players have much to improve on if they are to avoid the relegation play-off. The Rugby Park men are two points adrift in 11th, while Dundee United closed the gap at the bottom to eight points, with Mixu Paatelainen's men having a game in hand. "We're disappointed with how we've given the penalty away," said Clark. "It is a penalty. I'm disappointed we haven't done more to help out our goalkeeper after a terrific save. "In our predicament we need to get results. Good performances and not getting points on the board aren't sufficient for us. "I've said to the players I think we've wasted the first half because we were waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen. We did that better in the second half. "Our defensive displays have been good. We've given a disappointing penalty away, two disappointing penalties really. We've had lots of possession, lots of situations, but we need to work the goalkeeper a lot more."

Summary: Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson says he extended his Tynecastle contract because he wants to lead the club to the Premiership title.


The Briton, 29, saved set points in both sets as he won 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-1) to reach round two of the Aegon Championships. Lendl was courtside for the first time since 2014, having agreed last week to resume their working relationship. Murray goes on to face fellow Briton Aljaz Bedene or Frenchman Benoit Paire. Asked about Lendl, Murray told BBC Sport: "He doesn't really give many signs during the match. He's got quite a straight face. "I started working with Jamie Delgado a few months ago and that's worked extremely well, and obviously I had some of my best years with Ivan a few years ago. "I think it's a very strong team and I'm hoping they can help me win more major events." Swiss second seed Stan Wawrinka earlier lost 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to Spain's Fernando Verdasco. Media playback is not supported on this device Lendl had resumed his coaching role on Tuesday morning, directing the drills as Murray went through their first practice together for over two years. The session was cut to just an hour because of the rain which has blighted the first two days at Queen's Club, leaving Murray a little short of time on the grass. Mahut, ranked 51st, won a title on the surface 24 hours earlier in the Netherlands and looked the more sure-footed when the pair finally got on court just after 17:00 BST. The Frenchman broke serve first but could not convert the next game from 40-0, and Murray came through a tense tie-break on his third set point. Mahut had an opportunity at 8-7, failing to make a return of serve, but he moved 4-1 up in the second set and a furious Murray went close to smashing his racquet. The Scot complained to the umpire about the conditions underfoot, and Mahut would later slip over, but Murray fought back to 5-5 and saved three more set points before dominating the second tie-break. "It was tough," said Murray, a four-time winner at Queen's. "Nico's a very accomplished grass-court player and because of the weather the last few days, we haven't been able to get on the grass too much to hit. "It was a tricky first round and I'm glad I managed to get through." Wawrinka, 31, never looked comfortable on a greasy surface and struggled to cover the powerful forehand of his opponent. Verdasco wrapped up the match - which was interrupted by rain - as Wawrinka's serve faltered during a tie-break. "For sure conditions are difficult for everybody since a few days with the rain," said world number five Wawrinka. "That's the same for everybody, but it was a tough match. "Grass is always a challenging surface for my game. I need quite a lot of practice to play my best game."

Summary: Andy Murray gave coach Ivan Lendl the perfect welcome back with a fine win over France's Nicolas Mahut at Queen's Club in London.


A criminal investigation has begun into Pyotr Pavlensky's actions at the Kremlin wall on Sunday, the interior ministry told news agencies in Moscow. Pavlensky was arrested but released the following day and placed under travel restrictions. However, the 29-year-old now faces the charge of hooliganism. The hooliganism charge is used to prosecute perceived breaches of public order. It is the same charge used to jail members of the punk band Pussy Riot, and to prosecute activists from the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise. The St Petersburg performance artist had reportedly sat for an hour and a half on the square on Sunday afternoon, with a nail driven through his genitals into the ground. His "fixation" act, he said, was a metaphor for apathy in Russia. Critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin accuse the veteran leader of presiding over a crackdown on dissent since his re-election in March last year. A police source told Interfax news agency that the article under which Pavlensky was being charged carried a wide range of penalties. starting with a fine and going up to a five-year prison sentence. His graphic act outside the Lenin Mausoleum was recorded on video which was put online. Timing his act to coincide with Police Day, Pavlensky said in a statement published on Sunday: "When the authorities turn the country into one big prison, openly robbing the populace and channelling funds to increase and enrich the police and other security agencies, society accepts arbitrariness and, having forgotten its advantage in numbers, brings the triumph of the police state closer through its inaction." Pavlensky previously attracted attention by sewing his lips together in July of last year and demonstrating outside St Petersburg's Kazan Cathedral in support of the imprisoned Pussy Riot protesters. In May of this year, he wrapped his naked body in a "cocoon" of barbed wire outside the city's parliament. Fellow figures from the Russian arts world praised his Red Square act in comments on grani.ru, with one calling it a "powerful gesture of absolute despair" and another, "a manifesto of powerlessness".

Summary: A naked performance artist who nailed his scrotum to Red Square as a political protest may face up to five years in prison, Russian media report.


Repressive drug law enforcement is driving high rates of infection among injecting drug users, it said. Resources need to be redirected into treatment and prevention. The Commission estimated that of 16 million people worldwide who inject drugs, 10 million are living with hepatitis C. This puts them at risk of fatal and debilitating liver disease. The Global Commission called on governments to decriminalise drug use and provide schemes, such as those which give access to sterile needles, to halt the spread of the disease. The group, which includes seven former presidents, ex-UN chief Kofi Annan and other world leaders, has previously linked the "failed" war on drugs with the spread of HIV. In its latest report it says in some countries with the harshest drug policies more than 90% of people who inject drugs are living with hepatitis C. Eastern Europe and Central Asia have seen the fastest spread of infection and the highest number of infections has been reported in China, the Russian Federation and the USA. Strongly enforced policies criminalising drug use force users away from public health services and locking up vast numbers of injecting users perpetuates the spread of the infection, the Commission warned in the latest report. Hepatitis C is highly infectious and around a quarter of those with chronic infection will develop fatal liver disease. But the disease can go undetected for several years with no or few symptoms and many people are completely unaware they are infected. Governments "must immediately redirect resources away from the 'war on drugs' and into public health approaches that maximise hepatitis C prevention and care", the report recommended. "Hepatitis C has to be one of the most grossly miscalculated diseases by governments on the planet," said commissioner Michel Kazatchkine, who is also the UN secretary-general's special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. "It is a disgrace that barely a handful of countries can actually show significant declines in new infections of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs." The report highlighted Scotland's national Hepatitis C Action Plan as an example of best practice. Launched in 2006, the strategy has led to a four-to-six-fold increase in the provision of sterile injecting equipment and an increase in the number of people, mainly in drug services and prisons, being tested for the infection. The provisions put in place, which also include an eight-fold increase in the number of prisoners receiving treatment for hepatitis C, have led to falling rates of infection. The Commission also highlights the potential for dramatic savings to countries' health and welfare budgets in the long term from preventing cases of liver disease. "The war on drugs is a war on common sense," said commissioner Ruth Dreifuss, who is also the former president of Switzerland. "Repressive drug policies are ineffective, violate basic human rights, generate violence and expose individuals and communities to unnecessary risks. "The hepatitis C epidemic, totally preventable and curable, is yet another proof that the drug policy status quo has failed us all miserably." The World Hepatitis Alliance said: "It is incomprehensible that hepatitis

Summary: The global war on drugs is fuelling a hepatitis C pandemic causing millions of needless infections, the Global Commission on Drug Policy has warned.


NHS England is spending £40m on doctors and other specialist mental health workers as part of its drive to help 30,000 more women by 2021. At present, more than half of the country provides only basic services. One in five women experiences severe depression or in some cases psychosis around the time of childbirth. The funding will pay for more nurses and psychiatrists to provide specialist care for women in their homes and in maternity units, by giving advice on medication and lifestyle, counselling them and helping to minimise the risks to mother and baby if they become ill. The money will also go towards providing buddying and telephone support from mothers who have had similar issues. Some of the 20 areas to receive a share of the £40m include Bristol, Birmingham and Northumberland. NHS England says another £20m will be shared out in 2017. The childbirth charity NCT said the funding was welcome but there was still a long way to go to help all of the 140,000 women every year in the UK who suffer from mental health problems when they are pregnant or during the year after they give birth - known as the perinatal period. Elizabeth Duff, NCT senior policy adviser, said their research found that only 3% of NHS local commissioning groups had a perinatal mental health strategy. "We're particularly pleased to see plans to enable mothers who have experienced similar issues to help others. "Peer support can be a really powerful way to further break the stigma around perinatal mental health." Natalie Ellis, from Sheffield, began to hate everything about herself soon after her son Finn, now seven years old, was born. She had suffered from depression before - but this was different. A news story about pornographic images being taken of young children being abused had really upset her and she found she could not get the abuse out of her head. She began to have other, more troubling thoughts - she started wondering if she could be capable of abusing her own son. These intrusive thoughts would not go away, torturing her for nearly a year, and because she was too scared to tell anyone about them she spiralled into a terrible depression. She admits: "I had a deep hate for myself. I thought I'd rather be dead than hurt Finn. "I thought I was a monster." When she went back to work, she found the courage to look up her feelings on the internet and discovered that they were a recognised symptom of post-natal illness. The relief she felt was huge - "I broke down, ran out of the office and sobbed." Her GP set up counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy and she went on to anti-depressants, but she says it was the online support which really helped turn her life around. "The women on the PNI forum saved my life, because no-one judged me," she says. "They were a massive support network." NHS England is also announcing that anyone who walks through the doors of A&E in a mental health crisis should

Summary: Twenty areas across England are to receive funding to provide more support for pregnant women and new mothers with severe mental health problems.


The team tracked the health of nearly 800 villagers from the Chianti region of Italy to see if their local tipple had any discernable impact. They found no proof that the wine ingredient resveratrol stops heart disease or prolongs life. Experts say more research is needed to get a definitive answer. The British Heart Foundation is carrying out its own resveratrol study. Many studies have sought to explain why there is a low incidence of heart disease in France, despite many of its inhabitants eating a high-fat diet. Some put it down to moderate drinking of red wine. Studies have shown that consumption of red wine, dark chocolate and berries reduces inflammation, leading researchers to speculate that their common ingredient, resveratrol, explains why. But Prof Richard Semba, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues found no evidence for this. They chose two small towns in Tuscany as their test ground, and 783 elderly people who were living there agreed to take part in their investigation. The volunteers gave details about their daily diets as well as urine samples for measurement of their resveratrol intake. During the nine years of the study, 268 of the men and women died, 174 developed heart disease and 34 got cancer. But urinary resveratrol was not linked with death risk, heart disease risk or cancer risk. Nor was it associated with any markers of inflammation in the blood, the researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine. Prof Semba said: "The thinking was that certain foods are good for you because they contain resveratrol. We didn't find that at all. "The story of resveratrol turns out to be another case where you get a lot of hype about health benefits that doesn't stand the test of time." He says any benefits of drinking wine or eating dark chocolate or berries, if they are there, must come from other shared ingredients. And it's not clear how much you might need to eat or drink. "These are complex foods, and all we really know from our study is that the benefits are probably not due to resveratrol." Maureen Talbot, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "The results of this study, while interesting, will not change the dietary advice we provide. People should continue to eat plenty of fruit, veg and wholegrains. "We recognise the need to learn more about the action of resveratrol though, so are funding research into its reported disease-combating properties and how it affects the heart and circulatory system. "This research is vital as it could form the basis of future medicines."

Summary: Red wine may not be as good for you as hoped, say scientists who have studied the drink's ingredient that is purported to confer good health.


The muppet was donated by creator Jim Henson's widow Jane, along with nine other characters from the 1955 TV show Sam and Friends. Some of the other muppets in the collection include early versions of Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch. Henson's oldest puppet, Pierre the French Rat, was also donated. Jane Henson said the original characters provided five minutes of fun each night after the local news where they mostly mimed to popular music. "I think people realized that if you put Kermit's face up there, it was just as powerful - we were mostly just doing it to entertain ourselves," she said. The Smithsonian already has a familiar Kermit the Frog puppet made famous on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. But the original Kermit looked more like a lizard, made with ping-pong ball eyes and green felt from an old coat thrown out by Henson's mother. Museum curator Dwight Blocker Bowers said the muppets would be a boon for the museum's collection. "It certainly shows the muppets at the beginning of the career of a large family of entertainers," he said. "More than anything, I think it shows the genius of Jim Henson." Bowers said the museum plans to have the original muppets on display by November in the pop culture gallery. The Hensons are also to give the Smithsonian more puppets in the years to come, possibly including a Miss Piggy to join her amphibian boyfriend.

Summary: The original Kermit the Frog has been donated to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington.


Something Father Simon Lokodo, the country's ethics minister, intends to stop. Find out more The legendary South African jazz trumpeter, who is on tour with his friend of 53 years pianist Larry Willis, tells the BBC about his early music days. Find out more The Indomitable lioness helped Cameroon thrash Ecuador 6-0 at the women's tournament in Canada on Tuesday. Find out more Their tipple of choice is naturally fermented palm wine, produced by raffia palm trees. Find out more He was seen teeing-off at a golfing event on Friday ahead of the African Union heads of state meeting. Find out more

Summary: Some of the quirkier snippets from the news in Africa that we did not know last week:


The walls in the lobby of his San Diego, California, office are dominated by photos in which he's smiling alongside Republicans - Presidents Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush and George W Bush, and 2008 nominee John McCain. He's donated thousands of dollars to Republican politicians over the past several decades. When the self-made millionaire talks about government meddling in private industry - his car dealerships, currency exchange stores and real estate ventures - he takes a page right out of the Republican playbook. "In my business 30% is owned by the United States government and 10% is owned by the state of California. I didn't pick them as partners, but they sure know how to mess in my business," Mr De La Fuente says. "It appears that the more people are trying to be productive, the more government tries to disrupt." The Rocky De L Fuentes of the world ought to have been easy pickings for a Republican Party whose leaders just over three years ago acknowledged that they were facing a demographic doomsday scenario if they didn't broaden their appeal to the growing numbers of Hispanic voters. Because of population growth rates, if the Republican presidential candidate won the same percentage of the Hispanic vote in 2016 as nominee Mitt Romney did in 2012 (27%), according to a study by Republican strategists, he would have to win 64% of the white vote. No Republican has done that since Ronald Reagan's re-election landslide in 1984. 2012 Mitt Romney reiceved 27% of the Hispanic vote and 59% of the white vote 2008 John McCain received 31% of the Hispanic vote and 55% of the white vote 2004 George W Bush received 44% of the Hispanic vote and 58% of the white vote An even more daunting estimate, from UCLA researchers, finds that if Mr Trump wins the same percentage of the white vote that Mr Romney did (59%) he would have to carry 47% of the Hispanic vote - a number only George W Bush in 2004 approached. If the party were to thrive, Republican National Committee analysts wrote in their 2012 post-mortem, they would have to find a way to make their party more welcoming to minority voters - particularly Hispanics. Immigration reform should be a priority. Outreach efforts must be improved. Off-putting rhetoric should be adjusted. Instead the party nominated Donald Trump. And a few months after Mr Trump launched his presidential campaign with a sweeping condemnation of a Mexican nation that he said allows its drug-dealers and rapists to enter the US, Mr De La Fuente - who was born in the US but grew up and attended university in Mexico - announced he was also running for president. As a Democrat. Since then Mr De La Fuente has used his personal fortune to get on the ballot in dozens of states and has received nearly 60,000 votes - good enough for fourth place behind Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. Mr De La Fuente may be an unusual man with an unusual reaction to Mr

Summary: Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente should probably be a Republican.


More than half of the big commercial satellites that are working up there - the ones that relay our TV, phone calls, and internet traffic - were lofted by Ariane vehicles. But that dominance is now under threat from new launchers that promise to undercut Europe's best on price. America's SpaceX - there's no need to whisper the name - is wooing satellite operators with rides on its Falcon 9, for ticket prices that substantially undercut the Ariane 5. Efforts have been made to push forward with a next-generation European rocket - an Ariane 6 - that could be made much more cheaply. But the concept, which has been studied for the past 18 months, has left most observers flat. More importantly, it has underwhelmed the satellite operators as well, which is why a new concept has now been sprung on the world by Airbus Defence and Space, and Safran - the main players in Ariane production. André-Hubert Roussel, the head of launchers at Airbus, said they were left with no choice but to react. "Clearly, there was a strong feedback, which was even given in written form by some commercial operators, that the original design was not fulfilling their needs, in terms of cost, in terms of schedule, and in terms of the risks we would have been taking with what some saw as a kind of disruptive approach, such as a totally new supply chain and a completely new launch pad," he told me. Airbus and Safran have actually proposed two new concepts - a "heavy" and a "medium" -class version of Ariane 6. They call them Ariane 6.1 and Ariane 6.2. The 6.1 would do what Ariane 5 does now - loft the really big telecoms satellites, often two at a time, up to a total payload of 8.5 tonnes. The 6.2 would be used to place spacecraft into what are called Sun-synchronous orbits. These are the low-Earth orbits used by Earth observation missions, and Europe tends to use the Russian Soyuz rocket for this job currently. Ariane 6.2 would replace Soyuz. What is interesting about the new concepts is the degree to which they lean much more heavily on their heritage. "Our new proposal for Ariane 6 is driven by the desire to serve both institutional and commercial customers at a competitive price," explained Mr Roussel. "This led us quite quickly to the conclusion that we needed, first, a family of launchers with a majority of commonalities, and, second, that this family should leverage the fantastic track record of Ariane 5, and not to introduce disruption that would be very expensive for industry and damage the competence, etc. "With a family we also get to improve the cadence. In this business, the fixed costs are significant because of the low flight rate. So as soon as you increase the number of launches, you obtain very direct benefits that translate into the price of the launcher." Whereas the original Ariane 6 concept would use lower-stages comprising all solid-fuel motors (a big departure from the Ariane 5), the 6.1 and

Summary: Europe's rocket industry is currently going through something of an epiphany - the realisation that it must adapt, and fast, or simply become irrelevant.


The culprits tried to to pull the cashpoint at Aboyne Filling Station free using a blue Land Rover Defender at about 01:45 on Sunday. The vehicle was abandoned at the crime scene. Det Insp Richard Taylor appealed for anyone who saw the vehicle in the area in the hours before the incident to contact Police Scotland. It is not known how much money was in the machine. The Land Rover Defender is thought to have been stolen from the Dinnet area.

Summary: Thieves fled empty-handed after an attempted raid on a cash machine in Aberdeenshire failed.


Due to face Arsenal on Sunday, Notts' players were told the Women's Super League One club cannot stay afloat 15 minutes before Friday's announcement. Previously known as Lincoln Ladies before relocating in 2014, the squad included England's Carly Telford, Laura Bassett, Jade Moore and Jo Potter. Notts finished sixth in WSL 1 in 2016 after reaching the 2015 FA Cup final. In March, a winding-up petition against the club was adjourned for a second time, giving Notts until 3 July to pay debts owed to HM Revenue and Customs. Local businessman Alan Hardy purchased Notts County's men's and women's clubs in December, aiming to clear debts owed to HMRC by both outfits. A club statement said: "Alan Hardy has reluctantly admitted defeat in his bid to save Notts County Ladies Football Club after facing a near-£1m bill to keep the club afloat this season. "The Notts County chairman and owner had hoped to restructure six-figure HMRC debts inherited from Ray Trew and fund ongoing projected losses this season of half a million pounds. "Despite weeks of negotiations with lawyers, HMRC and the Football Association, Hardy has now called time on his plans to save the Ladies set-up. "The club has today been officially withdrawn from the Women's Super League and will play no matches in the Spring Series, including this Sunday's away fixture at Arsenal." Reacting to the news, Notts and England goalkeeper Telford posted on Twitter: "CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE JUST WITNESSED!!! NOTTS COUNTY LADIES NO LONGER EXISTS!!!" Midfielder Danielle Buet added: "Thanks @Official_NCFC left jobless and homeless." Former Arsenal winger Rachel Yankey, who had a spell on loan with Notts in 2016, posted: "Totally gutted for the @Official_NCLFC players, staff and supporters. I hope the @PFA and @fa are doing everything they can to support them." An FA spokesperson said: "The FA is aware of the situation and is liaising with all involved parties. "Our priority is the welfare of the players and we will work closely with them, the PFA and wider stakeholders to support them through this time." With the WSL transfer window having closed, it is not yet clear if any of the Notts squad will be able to sign for another English top-flight club this season. "I am devastated that we cannot continue the Ladies project but the numbers simply do not stack up," said Notts County chairman Hardy. "Continuing would have been little short of financial suicide. "When I took over the club, HMRC and other creditors had in excess of £350,000 of unpaid liabilities. Additionally, I was extremely concerned that to operate Notts County Ladies for the current season was going to cost us approximately £500,000 - a figure principally made up of player and coaching salaries. "Our total projected incoming revenue from attendances and sponsorship was £28,000. "It's a very sad day for me personally and supporters should rest assured I have left no stone unturned in my quest to save the club. "However, having taken all factors into consideration, the only possible outcome is to discontinue our Ladies club. "I would

Summary: English top-flight club Notts County Ladies have folded, two days before their first match of the Spring Series.


1D will continue as a four-piece for their world tour and will still record their fifth album later this year. Zayn said "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band." "I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right." The remaining members of One Direction said: "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future." If this news has upset you then click here to get some advice to help you. I'm quite upset but happy because maybe Zayn will do good on his own but I'm upset because now there are only 4 boys in 1D. Emily, Edinburgh, Scotland I never liked 1D in the first place so I think that Zayn is better off out of the band! Rebecca, Coventry, England I am quite upset about the news but I am glad he made the right decision for him. Sophie, Cork, Ireland Zayn is not my favourite but 1D won't be the same without him. You will be missed! Abi, Gillingham, England I'm so upset to hear that he is leaving. Zayn was my favourite member of the band but I will support him no matter what. I hope the rest of the band have a good future. Sarah, London, England I actually loved One Direction when I was younger, but now I'm in love with 5SOS. It's really sad to see Zayn go. It just won't be the same. Nafseen, Buckinghamshire, England Zayn Malik is the glue of the band. He is the one who holds 1D together. It will not be the same without poor Zayn. Maisie, Kent, England I think that we will hear more from Zayn as a solo artist but I am upset. Martha, Sale, England One Direction have a lovely voice but now Zayn's left the four might sound horrible. George, West Yorkshire, England I think One Direction should get Olly Murs to join them because they are amazing already and Olly would bring it up to a whole new level! Harriet, West Yorkshire, England Although Zayn is not my favourite, it will not be the same without him. I will miss him. Nancy, Portsmouth, England I'm so happy he's left! Ben, Northumberland, England I am really upset that Zayn is leaving One Direction because he was my favourite band member. Amelia, London, England Zayn was my favourite member of the band. It will never be the same without him! Lilly, Weston-super-Mare, England I feel sad that Zayn is leaving because he was my favourite. Melina, Glasgow, Scotland I didn't really like Zayn but I love Niall. The band might be better in the future. Jessica, Darlington, England I'm sad that Zayn has gone but I don't think he's the best member. Beth, England I feel let down because Zayn said on The X Factor

Summary: Zayn Malik has left One Direction, the band has said in a statement.


It comes after two cabinet ministers stepped down on Tuesday over separate scandals, which means a political reshuffle is likely in 2016. Liberal senator Eric Abetz called for Mr Abbott to make a comeback saying he has "more to offer public life". Abbott was unseated by current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in September. "I'm on the record as saying that I believe Tony Abbott has more to offer public life in Australia," Mr Abetz told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC). "I hope that he stays in the Parliament and I hope that there will be a place for him, a prominent place for him, in any future ministry should he decide to stay. Another politician calling for Mr Abbott's return was Nationals Senator John Williams, who told the ABC the move would help "heal the wounds of the past". Cities minister Jamie Briggs resigned yesterday after a female public servant lodged an official complaint about his behaviour in a Hong Kong bar in September. Mr Briggs said that he had failed to live up to the high standards expected of a government minister. Special Minister for State Mal Brough also stepped aside pending the result of a federal police investigation into alleged his role in the illegal procurement of a rival politician's private diary. Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, who leads the Nationals, is widely predicted to retire from politics before the next federal election. An announcement on Mr Truss's future would provide the catalyst for Mr Turnbull to reshuffle his frontbench.

Summary: Supporters of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott have made calls for him to return to a senior government position.


Currently scratch cards and display discs are used, but Transport Minister Deputy Eddie Noel advertised for a new app-based cashless system. He said this would eventually be rolled out to street parking as well as the island's 46 car parks. It would run alongside the scratch cards so people without a smart phone could still pay to park. The price of a scratch card is 76p per unit with a monthly season ticket costing Â£123.31, and Mr Noel said the new system would cost the same as scratch cards. Mr Noel said it would give people a greater flexibility and make it easier to police as it would be likely to use number plate recognition. It should be in place by the middle of 2016.

Summary: A new cashless payment system will be introduced into Jersey car parks under new plans by the States.


JJ McMenamin, 30, had failed to attend court for alleged driving offences. Officers searched Leyburn, North Yorkshire, for the suspect over the weekend, calling in the force helicopter and sniffer dogs. Earlier Mr McMenamin filmed himself walking up to Harrogate police station dressed as the character. Mr McMenamin shared his arrival at the police station on Facebook Live, saying at one stage: "I'm right outside the cop shop now, let's see how it goes." He had previously taunted police in a series of posts and videos on his Facebook page, including sharing a photo of his head superimposed on an image of children's book character Where's Wally with the caption, "Dude... I'm right here." In another video, Mr McMenamin sang along to Kenny Rogers' The Gambler on the car stereo and laughed as he played Lionel Richie's Hello, which contains the line "is it me you're looking for?", and the Spencer Davis Group's Keep On Running. In another Facebook post the 30-year-old, originally from Middlesbrough, shared a picture of Where's Wally in a police mugshot, with the caption "Hide Seek Champion 2016-2017". A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "A 30-year-old man from Middleham has been arrested after he handed himself in to officers at Harrogate police station. "The arrest comes after extensive police searches for the man over the weekend." A warrant was issued for Mr McMenamin's arrest after he failed to appear at Northallerton Magistrates Court on 19 December to face charges of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. He was due to attend a hearing at the same court on Monday.

Summary: A wanted man who taunted police by dressing as Where's Wally handed himself in while broadcasting the event on Facebook.


Platt, 19 and Thomson, 21, have both joined the National League outfit until the end of the season. Both players played for Rovers' under-21 side this term in the EFL Trophy, but are yet to play a senior game. Blackburn are currently 22nd in the second tier, while Barrow are seventh in the National League.

Summary: Barrow have signed defender Matty Platt and midfielder Connor Thomson on loan from Championship club Blackburn Rovers' development side.


Currently, they can start school at the beginning of the term in which they have their fourth birthday. But Powys council's cabinet approved the plans on Tuesday, which will see children start school in the September. The change will be introduced from September 2017 and will save £1.2m a year. The council also voted to increase the hours of free pre-school provision from 10 hours per week to 12.5 hours. Councillor Arwel Jones, cabinet member for schools, said: "There's no secret that we are proposing this revised policy to help in our bid to meet the £27m budget savings target over the next three financial years." He added: "Today's decision will bring us in line with the majority of other councils in England and Wales where children start school in the September after their fourth birthday."

Summary: Children in Powys will only be able to start primary school after turning four years old, it has been decided.


He was selected to fight the South Basildon and East Thurrock seat after ex-Tory MP Neil Hamilton pulled out. In a recording obtained by the Mail On Sunday, Mr Smith made offensive remarks about gay people, other UKIP members and Chigwell in Essex. He later issued a "wholehearted and unreserved apology". UKIP leader Nigel Farage told BBC News that Mr Smith had resigned "by mutual consent", and described his behaviour as "loutish and wholly inappropriate". He said UKIP had had "great difficulty" with the Basildon selection, adding: "The party has got to grip this and sort it out, in short order". Mr Farage also said UKIP's national executive committee had the power to impose a candidate if it wanted. UKIP hopes to make a serious challenge for the South Basildon and East Thurrock seat in the forthcoming general election, in which it is seeking to win a handful of seats and potentially hold the balance of power. But Mr Smith's resignation, four days after he was re-adopted as a candidate, capped a week of negative headlines for the party. Mr Hamilton pulled out of contention for the seat amid questions raised by the party over his expenses while another candidate, Natasha Bolter, withdrew amid an investigation into allegations she made against Mr Bird, whose job is to vet election candidates. Following his resignation on Sunday, Mr Smith said in a statement: "I want the best for South Basildon and Thurrock and I want to see the real issues discussed that touch the lives of people. "Therefore I have chosen to resign so that UKIP can win this seat next May." A parliamentary candidate resigns having tried blaming his racist comments on taking painkillers. This comes days after an alleged sex scandal at UKIP Head Office in which the party's chief executive did - or did not - sleep with another candidate. Meantime a wealthy donor is said to be threatening to stop funding the party if his friend doesn't get a seat. You may think that UKIP's week of bad headlines is just a diverting soap opera. You may think it simply shows the growing pains of Britain's fastest growing political force. You may think it has no significance at all. If so, you'd be wrong. Read Nick's full blog During the recorded conversation, Mr Smith talks about UKIP's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group. He can be heard jokingly referring to it as BLT UKIP, and adds "what the old poofter groups call themselves". He jokes about "shooting peasants" from the Essex town of Chigwell and supporting "a peasant's hunt through Chigwell village". A UKIP spokesman confirmed to the BBC that Mr Smith had apologised to Mr Farage for allegations made against him during the phone call - which Mr Smith has since retracted. UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe, the party's immigration spokesman, said that "racist and homophobic language" would not be tolerated. "When there is someone who has come out and expressed these type of views, which I abhor and dislike intensely, we have acted rapidly and we have got

Summary: Kerry Smith has resigned as a UKIP prospective parliamentary candidate after apologising for offensive remarks he made in a phone call.


She is 22 years old and Um Ahmad is not her real name, but nobody likes to give their real name in Syria these days. Wearing a veil under her pink coat, she lights a cigarette and recalls the first days of the movement. "I used to go door-to-door knocking on women's houses to encourage them to take to the street," she said. Though Um Ahmad presents herself as a member of the conservative Islamist Salafi movement, she and her fellow protesters were not calling for a state ruled by Sharia law. "We were going out for our call for freedom, democracy and a civil state," she explained. Um Ahmad has been detained before and is now in hiding after joining Free Syrian Army (FSA). "The only way forward is to fight this regime with weapons," she said. She joined the ranks of the Ghouta Revolutionaries brigade, part of the Damascus suburb's military council, helping with logistics. "I joined the Ghouta Revolutionaries because this brigade doesn't have a conservative Islamic name, not like the rest of the brigades across the country," she explained. The eastern suburbs of Damascus, known as Eastern Ghouta, have always been seen as the conservative part of the city. In most parts it is hard to find a woman who is not veiled. That is especially true in Douma, a town that has around 800,000 inhabitants. Douma was the first area in the suburbs to witness anti-Assad demonstrations back in March in 2011, only one week after protests were broken up by the authorities in the flashpoint town of Daraa. On 24 March, the people who demonstrated in Douma were not only townspeople but young students of different religious and social backgrounds from across the country. They met at the university dormitory and went out to protest together. But now the scene is very different. "There are various FSA brigades in Douma and most of the time they don't coordinate with each other," Um Ahmad said. "The one that is most powerful and more organised is Liwaa al-Islam. They are the ones with the biggest funding and more weapons". Liwaa al-Islam is a conservative group applying Islamic Sharia. And this is what many in Syria - including many in the the opposition - do not want to see. "They have set up a Sharia court and they prosecute whoever they suspect as an agent of the regime or amongst the security themselves. In most cases they are killed," Um Ahmad said. Liwaa al-Islam is getting most of its funding from Saudi Arabia, mostly from Syrians living in the kingdom. They are also reported to have weapons which they have taken from regime forces. Abdulwahed, who is close to the group, recently joined the FSA after his home was destroyed by government shelling. "We have got nothing else to lose, we have to fight and we only have hope in God to help us topple this regime." When asked about Islamic law being implemented, he did not see a problem in that. "They now have judges who are looking

Summary: Um Ahmad was the first woman to join the protests in Douma, a town on the eastern outskirts of Damascus.


The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is overseeing the dismantling of several UK sites, including Dounreay near Thurso in Caithness. Representatives from the NDA and oil and gas experts have met in Aberdeen to share information. One of the areas covered was the decommissioning of oil pipelines. The event was held at Aberdeen's Oil and Gas Technology Centre. The NDA said it was actively looking outside its sector for technologies to use in the decommissioning of nuclear power sites. Among major Scottish oil and gas installations being decommissioned are the Buchan Alpha floating production vessel off Aberdeen, and the Beatrice complex in the Moray Firth.

Summary: The nuclear industry is looking at how it might use technologies being used in the decommissioning of North Sea oil and gas installations.


Women's rights activists held a rally outside the parliament building in Warsaw, with more action expected on Monday. Poland's MPs rejected a near-total ban on abortions on 6 October after mass protests against the move. But there are new proposals to outlaw abortions in cases where foetuses are unviable or badly damaged. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the governing Law and Justice Party (PiS), has said his socially conservative party is working on a new restrictive bill. In an interview on 12 October (in Polish), he said: "We will strive to ensure that even in pregnancies which are very difficult, when a child is sure to die, strongly deformed, women end up giving birth so that the child can be baptised, buried, and have a name." Why the outcry over abortion laws in Poland? The Catholic country already has among the tightest abortion laws in Europe. Currently the procedure is only permitted when there is severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, or a serious threat to the mother's health, or when pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. The draft law that went before Poland's parliament earlier in October called for women who had abortions to be punished with a five-year prison term. Doctors found to have assisted in an abortion would have also been liable for jail time. But it was defeated after nationwide "Black Monday" protests that saw tens of thousands of people dressed in black - most of them women - take to the streets. Women also stayed away from work and school and refused to do domestic chores, in a protest inspired by a women's strike in Iceland in 1975. Sunday's street protests are expected to continue on Monday, when some women are also planning another strike. Activists warn that more restrictions on abortion would drive the practice further underground. Estimates say there are already far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared with about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations.

Summary: Polish protesters have launched fresh demonstrations against efforts to further tighten abortion laws.


Damien Reeves broke the deadlock by finishing via the crossbar from James Lawrie's cross before Josh Ginnelley doubled the lead after a 50-yard run. Jake Moult ended the game as a contest, converting a penalty after the lively Lawrie was fouled by Omar Beckles. And Jordan Sinnott completed the Shots' miserable afternoon, scoring after good work from Ginnelly. Media playback is not supported on this device Aldershot Town boss Barry Smith told BBC Surrey: "We didn't defend properly and their front four caused us so many problems. "It was down to us not defending properly for the first goal. It comes from a centre-back not being dominate and we couldn't get a grip in the game. "We lost battles all over the park today. Once you cross that white line it is down to the players to make sure they are doing the jobs that they've been asked."

Summary: Altrincham moved out of the National League relegation zone with an impressive victory over Aldershot.


Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr's brother said he was found guilty of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom, "disobeying" its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces. The cleric was a vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that erupted in Eastern Province in 2011. His arrest two years ago, during which he was shot, triggered days of unrest. Oil-rich Eastern Province is home to a Shia majority that has long complained of marginalisation at the hands of the Sunni royal family. Protests began there in February 2011 after the start of the pro-democracy uprising in neighbouring Bahrain, which has a Shia majority and a Sunni royal family. The Saudi authorities deny discriminating against Shia and blame Iran for stirring up discontent. Sheikh Nimr's brother Mohammed said on Twitter that he had been sentenced to death by Riyadh's Specialised Criminal Court, which tries terrorism cases, on Wednesday morning. A statement by the cleric's family described the verdict as "discretionary", saying the judge had the option of imposing a lighter sentence, according to the Associated Press. It also warned that the trial had been "political" and had set a "dangerous precedent for decades to come". When Sheikh Nimr, who holds the rank of ayatollah, went on trial in March 2013 prosecutors called for his execution by "crucifixion", a punishment which in Saudi Arabia involves beheading followed by public display of the decapitated body. Human rights groups expressed concern at the time that he would not receive a fair trial. They also said he had still not been given access to adequate medical care for the gunshot wounds he received during his arrest in July 2012, something denied by the authorities. Police shot Sheikh Nimr in the leg four times in disputed circumstances as they detained him after a car chase in Eastern Province's Qatif district. Officials said he rammed a security forces vehicle, leading to a gun battle. However, his family disputed the allegation that he resisted arrest and insisted that he did not own a weapon. The cleric was held for eight months before being charged and reportedly spent the first four in an isolation cell at a prison hospital in Riyadh. Activists and relatives say Sheikh Nimr, who has a wide following among Shia in Eastern Province and other states, supported only peaceful protests and eschewed all violent opposition to the government. In 2011, he told the BBC that he supported "the roar of the word against authorities rather than weapons... the weapon of the word is stronger than bullets, because authorities will profit from a battle of weapons". His arrest prompted days of protests in which three people were killed. Human Rights Watch said more than 1,040 people had been arrested at Shia protests between February 2011 and August 2014. At least 240 are still believed to be in detention. "I think the message that Saudis are saying is: 'We will arrest anybody. We don't care how high profile they are... nobody is above this. We don't have any tolerance. We don't have any flexibility,'" HRW Middle East researcher

Summary: A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced the Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr to death, his family says.


His 16 years in office made him the longest-serving German chancellor since Bismarck and he was once described as the greatest European leader in the second half of the 20th Century. He was a passionate supporter of greater European integration and was one of the main architects of the Maastricht Treaty. Yet the end of his career was marred by economic problems in the old East Germany and a financial scandal within his own CDU party. Helmut Josef Michael Kohl was born on 3 April 1930 into a conservative, Catholic family, His political outlook was shaped by his experiences in his hometown of Ludwigshafen in the Rhineland during World War Two. Because of its huge chemical works, the town was heavily bombed and, at the age of 12, the young Helmut found himself helping to recover the charred bodies of his neighbours from the rubble. What he once described as "the blessing of a late birth" freed him from any taints of Nazism. After studying politics and law at Heidelberg University, Kohl entered politics in the German federal system where, in the Rhineland Palatinate, he rose to become the youngest Land [federal state] minister-president at the age of 39. He built up a large network of political allies and forced through important changes, among them the law that outlawed denominational schools unless 80% of the parents approved. Three years later, Kohl became national chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the dominant post-war West German political party. He was the CDU's candidate for chancellor in the 1976 election, but was defeated by the Social Democrat/Free Democrat coalition of Helmut Schmidt. Four years later, Kohl looked on as another CDU candidate, and great rival, the Bavarian Prime Minister Franz Josef Strauss, also went down to defeat by Schmidt. A bear of a man, Kohl was often ridiculed for his love of food - one nickname being "Birne" or pear - and for his often clumsy provincial manner. Beyond this, Kohl's critics relentlessly mocked him for what they said was his lacklustre oratory and apparent lack of vision. But many underestimated his ability to wield power, which he managed through a complex, but highly effective, network of patronage and political cronies. In 1982, after the Free Democrats had left the ruling coalition, he took over as chancellor from Helmut Schmidt, and would go on to win the next four general elections, staying in power for 16 years. The 1980s witnessed a golden age of German economic and political power. Together with his closest ally, France's President Mitterrand, Kohl shaped the federal ideal of the European Union and laid the groundwork for the creation of the single currency. In 1987 there was a groundbreaking visit to West Germany by the East German leader, Erich Honecker. It was part of Kohl's policy of detente with the East, something his party had firmly rejected just 20 years before. Two years later, the Berlin Wall came down and Kohl began the negotiations that would lead to reunification. Having realised that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's attempts to reform communism

Summary: Helmut Kohl earned his place in history by securing the successful reunification of Germany after the collapse of communism.


Speaking to presenter Kirsty Wark, an emotional Allen described how she was stalked by Alex Gray intermittently for seven years, although she was unaware of his identity for much of that time. She tells how she gave the police letters which he had sent to her, and how police refused her request for a photograph of her stalker so she could have some idea of what he looked like. Eventually she was shown one, albeit briefly. In October 2015, he finally broke into her house while she and her children were in bed. The Metropolitan Police said it took stalking "extremely seriously" and sought to put victims at the heart of any inquiry. You can hear Allen's abridged story here. Below, we print more extracts from her 25-minute interview with Wark. Early in 2009 I played a concert at Koko which is a relatively small venue in Camden. I was on stage singing and during the concert I saw - often people hold banners up or messages for me - and I saw this banner that said "I wrote The Fear, where's my money" and I immediately knew that it was him and that was quite terrifying because I didn't know if he had a weapon on him ... Also I was the only person in the building that knew who he was and that was a really isolating moment for me, knowing that he knew that I knew but nobody else knew. I finished the song and then ran to the side of the stage where my assistant, who had been there, was on the side of the stage and said "Vicky, that's him. Can you call the police." They came and installed a panic alarm at my flat. (She had no cause to use it). They came back and took it after six months - I didn't think there was much point in my objections. I knew what the answer would be - which was "it's been six months, there hasn't been any contact, we're going to take the alarms away now". I believe it was in 2012. They [the police] said "no" at first and we pushed them for a photograph and they came over and showed us a photograph and then took it away. I assumed that they would call me into the police station and there would be a line up but they didn't. I knew the outcome of the bail hearing might be that he's out on bail so I wanted to be there for that bail hearing on the off-chance he was released. I didn't quite trust the system to call me and find me if he was released so I wanted to make sure for myself that a) it was the right person and b) that he wasn't going to be released and, if he was, that I knew about it straight away. I kept asking the police where are these letters, were they adding them to the indictment because, as far as I was concerned, that built our case for stalking but it

Summary: The singer Lily Allen has spoken to BBC Newsnight about her experience of being stalked and how she believed the police response was to "victim-shame".


A warrant was issued for the arrest of Tina Beloveth Powerful, 47, from Milton Keynes, on 24 July. She had previously been found guilty of fraud and false advertising but failed to attend her sentencing hearing. Thames Valley Police said Powerful had not been arrested but refused to say if any attempt had been made to find her. The BBC has repeatedly asked if officers were aware of Powerful's whereabouts or if any attempts had been made to find her. £8,000 Estimated cost of the prosecution 11 times the case has come to Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court 3 times Tina Beloveth Powerful has failed to appear for sentencing October 2014 when the case first came to court A police spokeswoman said the force was unable to "comment on the suspected whereabouts of individuals or our attempts to locate or arrest them". She said this was "because we wouldn't want the person concerned to attempt to evade arrest". Milton Keynes Council has estimated the prosecution will cost around £8,000 if it is ever completed. Milton Keynes North MP Mark Lancaster, a Conservative, has said the cost was "disproportionately" high. Tina Beloveth Powerful timeline: •17 October, 2014: Tina Beloveth Powerful was first listed to appear at magistrates' court, but failed to attend •11 November, 2014: The case was adjourned three times, including two no shows, before Powerful pleaded not guilty •24 April: On the seventh time the case had gone to court, the trial had to be adjourned after Powerful shouted at magistrates •19 June: Powerful found guilty •10 July: Powerful supplied a sick note to the court, case adjourned •17 July: Powerful failed to attend sentencing for a second time. A warrant was issued for her arrest •24 July: Despite being arrested and bailed to appear at the court, Powerful again failed to attend. An arrest warrant, without bail, was issued

Summary: Police have refused to say if they are still pursuing a bogus business school owner who has been on the run for three months.


Mr Liu's family had been informed of the situation, medical staff in the north-eastern city of Shenyang said. The dissident was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer in May. He was imprisoned in 2009 on charges of inciting subversion against the state after he helped to write a petition calling for political reform in China. "Liu Xiaobo's liver function has worsened, his bilirubin levels are gradually rising," the hospital said in a statement. Bilirubin is produced by the liver, and high levels of it can indicate liver failure. A photograph showing the dissident looking frail was shared among friends and fellow activists on Thursday. He is standing beside his wife, Liu Xia. In an open letter to the authorities, his friends have asked to be allowed to visit him on a "humanitarian basis". "We feel this is deeply tragic and realise that Liu Xiaobo has few days left and fear he is near death," it says. "At this moment, we urgently need to go to visit him to bring to Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia their friends' care and well wishes." On Wednesday, China invited medical experts from the US and Germany to help treat Mr Liu. Authorities said the decision was made at the request of his family. The decision came ahead of the G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany. Diplomatic sources in Beijing say China has been nervous the issue might overshadow President Xi Jinping's appearance at the summit, Reuters reports. Mr Liu, who was a key leader in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, won the Nobel peace prize in 2010. His wife Liu Xia has been under house arrest since then - but she has never been charged. Mr Liu has three years left to serve of his sentence for "inciting subversion" after drafting Charter 08 - which called for multi-party democracy and respect for human rights in China. Amnesty International has said he should never have been jailed.

Summary: The Chinese hospital treating imprisoned Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo for advanced liver cancer says his condition has worsened.


Police said an officer was responding to an emergency call at 19:00 BST when the car collided with a Ford Fiesta and hit a lamp-post on Park Road, Toxteth. The police officer was taken to hospital with a back injury. The occupants of the Fiesta were assessed by paramedics at the scene. An investigation into the circumstances of the collision is under way. Two 14-year-old boys from Aigburth have been arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery in relation to the original 999 call.

Summary: A police car flipped on its side as it went to the scene of an attempted robbery last night in Liverpool.