The 23-year-old captained Inverness Caledonian Thistle to Scottish Cup final success against Falkirk in his last game for the Highlanders before a switch to Pittodrie. Part of their reward for that victory at Hampden Park was advancement to the second round of Europa League qualifiers while Shinnie's new club had to negotiate a tricky first hurdle. However, Shinnie could not have been happier as he was desperate to experience different playing styles after being limited to domestic football at Inverness. Now he and his Dons team-mates are in Croatia preparing for their first-leg tie against HNK Rijeka having seen off Shkendija of Macedonia on away goals in the first round. Derek McInnes's men are probably underdogs against a team who are unbeaten at home in their last 12 European ties. That run includes meetings with Stuttgart, Real Betis, Standard Leige, Lyon, Feyenoord and current Europa League winners Sevilla but Shinnie is undaunted by that record. He is determined to extend his stay in continental competition and hopes Caley Thistle can do likewise now they have finally made it as well. "I loved every minute of both matches in the last round. It was my first time ever playing football in a foreign country," he explained. "Inverness never went away during pre-season and I had never played in a European tie before [facing Shkendija]. "It was brilliant to finally experience what that was all about. I also got a thrill out of the return match at Pittodrie. It was my first game there for the club, so it meant a lot." Shinnie excelled in midfield as Niall McGinn scored the decisive away goal in Skopje. That 1-1 draw was followed by a hard-fought goalless return leg at Pittodrie with Shinnie once again a stand-out but in his more regular left-back berth. Only McInnes knows where Shinnie will feature in the Stadion Kantrida on Thursday but the player himself is happy wherever that turns out to be. "People often ask me where I prefer to play but I'm happy to go in wherever my manager feels is best for the team," he said. "I genuinely love playing in midfield as much as I do at left-back and if I was asked to play in another position for Aberdeen I would be happy to give that a go too. "I'm content as long as the manager feels I'm good enough to be put out on the pitch. "It's then up to me to go out and perform as best as I can to make sure he keeps picking me." Only Mark Reynolds, recovering from shoulder surgery, was missing from the travelling party that left a dull and drizzly Aberdeen for sunny Croatia. The temperature was 36C on arrival in Rijeka and it's not expected to be much cooler at kick-off time, which McInnes admits puts extra demands on the players. Despite that, the Aberdeen manager is confident they can still make it unlucky 13 for a team that have reached the group stages of the competition for the last two years. "We always aim to

Summary: A summer move may have caused Graeme Shinnie to enter the Europa League qualifiers at an earlier stage but the Aberdeen player insists it has only enhanced his first foray into continental competition.


Amond, 28, scored 33 goals last season for Grimsby as they won promotion through the National League play-offs. "There were a lot of clubs in for him but we're delighted that we've managed to tempt him to The Vic," said boss Craig Hignett. Former Chelsea trainee Woods, 26, joined in 2014 from Harrogate Town and has signed an undisclosed deal. He has made 42 league starts for the club over two seasons, having missed the latter stages of 2014-15 with injuries to his ankle and fibula. "Michael is a terrific player and I am delighted we have managed to get him sorted," added Hignett. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Hartlepool United have signed striker Padraig Amond and agreed a new deal with midfielder Michael Woods.


Keogh, 30, has been skipper of the Championship club since joining in 2012, apart from during Paul Clement's eight months in charge from June 2015. The Republic of Ireland international, who scored in the abandoned EFL Cup tie at Grimsby on Tuesday, told BBC Radio Derby being reappointed was "amazing". "Since I came through this door, it's been a great journey," he added. "This club gave me the platform to captain my country and I will be forever grateful. "My son was born in Derby as well so I will always have great affection for this club. It will always be in my heart. "I have loved every second of it. It's six seasons and it has gone in a flash. You can see how much it means to me when I step on to the field. Hopefully we can make some great memories this season."

Summary: Richard Keogh says Derby County will "always be in his heart" after being named as captain by boss Gary Rowett.


Mario Borghezio, who belongs to the Northern League party, condemned Mr Breivik's violence, but backed his stance against Islam. The Northern League is a partner in PM Silvio Berlusconi's government. Mr Borghezio's comments in a radio interview sparked outrage, with opposition calls for the MEP to resign. Mr Breivik's justification for killing 76 people was that he wanted to inflict maximum damage on Norway's governing Labour Party because of its failure to clamp down on immigration. "Some of the ideas he expressed are good, barring the violence. Some of them are great," Mario Borghezio told Il Sole-24 Ore radio station. He agreed with Mr Breivik's "opposition to Islam and his explicit accusation that Europe has surrendered before putting up a fight against its Islamicisation". The Northern League is an avowedly anti-immigration, regionalist Italian political party, key to the governing coalition, and known for its anti-Islamic rhetoric. The controversy sparked swift reaction from fellow MEPs. "My heart goes out to the victims of the atrocities that took place in Norway last week, and to their families. There can be no excuses, no justifications. This was nothing but an act of pure and unmitigated evil," said Nikki Sinclaire. Ms Sinclaire resigned last year from the European Parliament umbrella group, Europe of Freedom & Democracy (EFD), which included her UK Independence Party, as well as Italy's Northern League. She cited the racism of Northern League members in making her decision. "Mr Borghezio's reported comments are shocking and, if accurately reported, reprehensible. They are in no way reflective of UKIP's position or that of the EFD Group," said a UKIP spokesman. But Mr Borghezio is not the only right-wing politician to express sympathy with the ideas of Anders Behring Breivik. A member of France's far-right National Front party has been suspended after writing a defence of the Norwegian attacker on his blog. Jacques Coutela described Mr Breivik as "the main defender of the West", comparing him to Charles Martel, a seventh century leader who halted Islamic expansion in western Europe. "The reason for the Norway terror attacks: fighting the Muslim invasion, that's what people don't want you to know", read the post. Mr Coutela stood as a National Front candidate in local elections in March. "He was suspended today pending a party disciplinary committee," said Steeve Briois, the Front's general secretary. Meanwhile, the leader of the English Defence League (EDL), Stephen Lennon, said the mass killing in Norway was a wake-up call. "What happened in Oslo shows how desperate some people are becoming in Europe," said Mr Lennon, who was convicted earlier this week of leading a brawl involving 100 football fans. "It's a ticking time bomb. If they don't give that frustration and anger a platform as such and a voice - and a way of getting emotion out in a democratic way - it will create monsters like this lunatic." The EDL is also known for its strong stance against immigration. Mr Breivik has posted admiring comments online about the EDL. The League leadership is checking his claims to have contacts among its members.

Summary: An Italian MEP has described the ideas of Norway's self-confessed mass killer, Anders Behring Breivik, as "good" and in some cases "excellent".


Police, fire and ambulance personnel were called to scene at about 15:00. They were assisted by a coastguard rescue helicopter. Unconfirmed reports have said a Ford Transit van and a campervan collided head-on. One person is thought to have been taken to hospital by helicopter with serious injuries. Traffic Scotland has warned drivers in the area to expect delays.

Summary: The A9 Perth to Inverness road has been closed in both directions following an accident near Kincraig.


The 31-year-old has been out since February with a cruciate knee ligament injury but is close to full fitness. After beginning his career at Tottenham he spent time on loan at Swindon, QPR, Gillingham and Norwich and joined Hull in 2006, before switching to the Clarets four years later. "I'm over the moon to secure my future for the next couple of years," he said. "I love it here. If it was for five years to stay here, then I would have signed that."

Summary: Burnley midfielder Dean Marney has signed a new two-year contract until 2017 with Championship side Burnley.


Officials laid wreaths at a memorial to victims of the Ustashe puppet regime, which incarcerated Jews, Serbs and others in brutal conditions. However, the service at Jasenovac was boycotted by Jewish and Serb groups. They say the new Croat government has not acted against renewed use of Ustashe salutes by nationalists. In January, ultra-nationalists shouted pro-Nazi slogans at a rally attended by thousands of people, including Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Ivan Tepes. Similar slogans were also chanted during a football match between Israel and Croatia in March, attended by Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic. Croatia's Jewish community held a separate Holocaust commemoration a week ago. Mr Oreskovic and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic both voiced regret over the boycott. Earlier this month they explicitly condemned the Ustashe regime's crimes for the first time during a visit by Nicholas Dean, the US State Department's special envoy for Holocaust issues. Three-quarters of about 40,000 Croatian Jews were killed by the Ustashe and Jews now make up less than 1% of the population.

Summary: Croatia has held a memorial service for tens of thousands of people murdered by Nazi Germany's allies at the Jasenovac death camp.


The "Total Blackout Tour" will see Rock head to Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Glasgow, Birmingham and London in January 2018. His last tour in the UK, "No Apologies", saw two nights at the O2 Arena in London sell out. The shows also broke a Guinness world record for the largest audience at a comedy show at the time. "I have to say it was one of the best experiences of my career", Rock wrote on his website. "The crowds were incredible. The people were smart and came to have a good time." Rock began his career as a comedian and cast member on Saturday Night Live, and has also featured in films such as Madagascar and Grown Ups. The first UK show will be in Manchester on 11 January, with Rock travelling to Glasgow to play the SSE Hydro on 24 January.

Summary: Comedian Chris Rock will play a show in Glasgow as part of his first UK tour in 10 years.


The 24-hour strike by four unions began on Wednesday evening and there will be no Tube service until Friday. Public transport has become busier this evening as commuters make their journey home after work. Unions are unhappy at conditions offered to drivers on a new Night Tube service due to start next month. Live coverage of the Tube strike Latest travel updates on London Underground London Tube strike: Facts to know 12 tips for a first-time cycling commuter How to cope with the Tube strike Tube strike: No beer and sandwiches A long-serving LU train driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC News, "We get paid an amazing salary and the holidays are great too [43 days leave including eight bank holidays] but why should I be forced to work nights and more weekends when that is not what I signed up for? It's about the principle of changing our working conditions without discussions. "I hate striking but I will continue to do so until the company listens or they make it illegal to strike. "I feel sorry for commuters but instead of complaining to staff, they should complain to TfL and stand up for their rights too." Commuters told the BBC they understood the reasons for the strike but they did not think "the impact on commuters was very fair". Transport for London (TfL) have said that buses are being delayed by up to an hour, especially those travelling in zones one and two. River bus service MBNA Thames Clippers tweeted: "We're experiencing high demand at piers due to #tubestrike & expect delays. Please allow extra time to travel." Extra buses have been laid on for the strike and there are hundreds of bicycles available for hire from £2 at a temporary cycle hub in Soho Square, BBC London Travel reports. During the evening rush hour, there were 894 separate traffic jams around the city causing a combined 500 miles (804km) of tailbacks, traffic analysts TomTom said. That was double the congestion of the morning rush hour, but it was not as bad as during the previous Tube strike in July when there were 1,445 jams and 761 miles (1,224km) of delays. "With many Londoners away on holiday and no school runs, the roads were not as congested this morning as they were during the last strike four weeks ago," a TomTom spokesman said. Transport for London said it would have a total fleet of 8,200 buses operating at peak times during the strike with an extra 250 vehicles leased from companies around the country and old buses including Routemasters being brought back into service. But even those aiming to beat the crowds and setting out on their journeys by 06:00 BST faced travel problems. Alessandra Bonomolo tweeted: "6:20am. Couldn't get on the first train - too crowded" while Roxy Baker said: "Not even 6:30 and you can barely get on the 205 at Bow Church... its first stop". People are being encouraged to use alternative modes of transport with some being very creative to reach their destinations. Alan Price,

Summary: Commuters are dealing with long queues and delays as they try navigating London during a strike that has shut down the whole Tube network.


Saints finished fourth and Warrington's victory at Hull means they will face the League Leaders' Shield winners away from home in their play-off semi-final. Tries from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Jack Owens put Saints 12-6 up at the break, with Craig Hall responding. McDonnell's treble after the break helped to seal the win. Theo Fages added the hosts' sixth try to complete the victory, while Wakefield - who suffered a ninth successive defeat and finished bottom of the table at the end of the Super 8s - managed only a Tom Johnstone score in reply after the break. Victory extends St Helens' winning run to four matches leading up to the play-offs, with their only defeat in their past 12 games coming at Warrington in August. They now travel to face the Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday, 29 September, looking to return to the Super League Grand Final for the eighth time in 11 seasons. St Helens assistant coach Sean Long: "Shannon had a great game and went really well against Widnes last week. He's given us a headache for next week. "Full credit to Wakefield who had a real dig at us. We were a little bit off and it wasn't a great spectacle, but we would have taken 32-12 before the game. "The main thing is we came through unscathed for next week." Wakefield head coach Chris Chester: "We played some really good football at times. We wanted to throw the ball around and enjoy ourselves and there was a lot of spirit and pride. "We probably tried too hard in the second half but the final scoreline didn't reflect our effort. "We have got into the top eight through hard work and we now have to continue with our progression." St Helens: Lomax; McDonnell, Percival, Peyroux, Owens; Turner, Walsh; Vea, Knowles, Amor, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greenwood, Thompson. Replacements: Walmsley, Wilkin, Fages, Davies. Wakefield: Jowitt; Johnstone, Lyne, Arundel, B Tupou; Hall, Finn; Simon, Sio, Fifita, Molloy, Ashurst, Harrison. Replacements: A Tupou, Arona, Crowther, Yates. Referee: Joe Cobb

Summary: Shannon McDonnell's hat-trick helped St Helens round off the regular Super League season with a routine home win over Wakefield at Langtree Park.


Defence barrister Stephen Vullo made the announcement to the jury at Southwark Crown Court in London. The entertainer denies four charges relating to alleged assaults on three teenage girls between 1971 and 1983. Mr Harris, 87, was released from prison on Friday and is now appearing in the dock in person, having appeared via a video link in the trial's first week. Kenneth Jeacle, Mr Harris's former tour manager, told the court via video link from Australia he had seen parents encourage their children to "perhaps sit on his knee or perhaps give him a kiss on the cheek". But he said that Mr Harris was never the "instigator" of such behaviour. Mr Jeacle, who worked with the defendant from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, said: "Mr Harris's attitude in these incidents was always that people would approach him. "He would then perhaps open his arms and embrace them but in, shall I say, a fraternal or brotherly style or manner." Mr Vullo asked him whether he had ever seen Harris act inappropriately with his fans, and Mr Jeacle replied: "Categorically, never. "Mr Harris was, in my presence, constantly respectful of children and parents alike." Mr Harris is accused of groping a 14-year-old girl during a music event at the Lyceum Theatre in London in 1971. Two further charges relate to alleged indecent assaults on a teenager in 1978, during filming for ITV celebrity show Star Games. The fourth relates to a 13-year-old girl who claims he touched her breast after filming BBC children's TV programme Saturday Superstore in 1983. Second defence lawyer David Patience read to the jury statements from people who attended the events. They included those who denied seeing or hearing anybody upset or anything of concern taking place. One was from ex-EastEnders and Coronation Street actress Rula Lenska, who was at Star Games. She said: "I can say, hand on heart, I never witnessed anything untoward or suspicious." Another woman, who was five when she attended the It's a Knockout-style event in 1978, said the "incredibly sweet" Mr Harris sat down next to her on a bench and gave her a cartoon. Statements from two boys who attended the filming of Saturday Superstore recalled him being a "very nice fella" and a "perfect gentleman" respectively. The trial continues.

Summary: Rolf Harris will not give evidence in his defence at his indecent assault trial, his lawyer has told the court.


The facility is powered by a set-top box, which also lets content broadcast over the past 24 hours be replayed, even if recordings were not scheduled. The service is included in the price of EE's broadband and landline packages. One expert called the move "hugely significant". EE TV includes more than 70 Freeview channels, including BBC One, ITV, Channels 4 and 5, Sky News and Al Jazeera. In addition, it offers apps for YouTube, Daily Motion and Rakuten's subscription TV and movie service Wuaki.tv, among others The set-top box contains a one terabyte (TB) hard disk, which the firm said could store up to 25 days worth of standard definition content and five days worth of high-definition shows. Mobile customers of the UK network who did not previously subscribe to another service from the firm but who want EE TV will need to sign up for a broadband package. The cheapest one on offer is Â£9.95 a month plus a further Â£15.75 a month for a required telephone line, all for a minimum of a one-and-a-half year duration. The company hopes this will provide them an incentive to switch to its service. "With EE TV, not only can you watch different streams of live and recorded content, on multiple screens simultaneously, but your mobile becomes the remote," said EE's chief executive Olaf Swantee. "This gives each viewer the chance to watch, queue and view what they want, when they want." When I ask EE's chief executive Mr Swantee what potential customers are getting if there isn't any unique content, his answer is "a user interface that stands out." Somehow I doubt that viewers across the land are going to be wowed by that promise. Technology firms, from Microsoft to Google to Apple, have all been trying to change the way we use television for a decade or more. But the viewers have been stubbornly resistant to change. Read more of Rory's thoughts on the EE TV launch on his blog. One industry watcher said he expected the firm's competitors to respond in kind. "It's a logical move from EE and one that's in direct response to BT launching its mobile service next year," said Paolo Pescatore from the consultancy CCS Insight. "With EE's broadband business posting good quarterly subscriber growth it has a strong subscriber base to cross-sell to, and puts it in a far stronger position than other quad-play providers - Virgin Media and TalkTalk. "Today's announcement [also] puts the pressure on others to accelerate their own quad-play plans." However, he added that he believed EE TV needed to offer a better range of content if it wanted to succeed. "EE has taken a sensible approach with its TV service as it doesn't want to be embroiled in bidding wars for premium content," Mr Pescatore said. "However given the exclusion of Netflix, EE must strongly consider forging agreements with other key rights owners including BSkyB for its Now TV service. "The company must also strengthen the range of on-demand services as this is becoming increasingly important to consumers as underlined by

Summary: Mobile network EE has announced a TV service that lets up to three phones or tablets be used to watch different live programmes in the home simultaneously, while a television screens a fourth.


The former US Open champion from Portrush picked up three birdies on the front nine to move into contention. But his challenge faded with dropped shots at the 14th, 17th and 18th leaving him with a level-par 72. McDowell finished on four under for the tournament and six shots behind winner Brian Harman. Harman made a 28-foot birdie putt to win and end Dustin Johnson's hopes of winning a fourth title in his last four starts. World number one Johnson, on his return from injury, shot a five-under 67 to set the clubhouse lead on nine under. Ireland's Shane Lowry (72) ended on three under with Seamus Power (73) back on one over.

Summary: Graeme McDowell carded three late bogeys to finish in a tie for 18th at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina on Sunday.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Mark Rosekind criticised FCA's recall of 11 million cars and handling of fatal accidents. He told a hearing in Washington of failures to inform owners of recalls, delays in repairs, and not doing work. Fiat said it "learned from [its] mistakes and missteps". The recalls cover Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler and Mitsubishi vehicles from model years dating back to 1993. Much of the testimony in the hearing focused on a recall of 1.56 million older-model Jeeps with gas tanks mounted behind the rear axles. The tanks are vulnerable to being punctured in a rear crash. At least 75 people have died in fires involving the Jeeps, according to the NHTSA. "There will be action," Mr Rosekind said. "What you've heard here is that there's a pattern that's been going on for some time." He did not detail the sanctions, although they could be a mixture of fines and orders to buy back or replace vehicles. The NHTSA has yet to decide whether to forward the case to the Justice Department for possible criminal action. "Recall execution is where we have fallen short," said Scott Kunselman, FCA's senior vice president for vehicle safety and regulatory compliance in North America. "We have learned from our mistakes."

Summary: Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) faces action over the mishandling in the US of car recalls, the country's top vehicle safety regulator has said.


Louise Kelton, 57, has been formally sworn into the post, which holds legendary status in the United States. It is the oldest federal law enforcement office in America and marshals track down some of the country's most wanted fugitives. Ms Kelton, who moved to Louisiana aged 23, is marshal for the Middle District of Tennessee. She was born on a US air force base in Wales to an American serviceman and a Welsh mother, and was brought up in the Butetown district of the capital, where her mother and brother still live. In 1978, she gave up her job as a physiotherapist and moved to Louisiana, where her father was from. She only intended to stay in the States for year but ended up studying and graduating with honours from Texas Southern University in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She said: "My dad was an American serviceman and I just wanted to see where he was from. "Basically my idea was to come over here for a year and bum around and then come back home, but I ran out of money money in Nashville, so I got a job." Ms Kelton also holds a master's degree in Public Service Management from Cumberland University, Tennessee. She spent 33 years with the Metro Nashville police department, rising through the ranks from patrol officer through sergeant, lieutenant, captain and finally commander of the city's North Precinct before becoming deputy chief five years ago. Marshals are also charged with protecting the federal courts and their officers, transporting prisoners and serving arrest warrants. The role was most famously portrayed by John Wayne and Tommy Lee Jones in Hollywood movies such as True Grit and The Fugitive. She is only the second black woman to hold the post. Ms Kelton's mother and brother still live in the Cardiff home she grew up in. Brother, David Watkins, said: "She's a very high achiever. I've always been proud of my sister. She's my big sister." Former teacher and family friend Betty Campbell said: "She's made us feel really really proud."

Summary: President Barack Obama has nominated a physiotherapist from Cardiff to become a US marshal.


Meeting in Berlin, they also criticised Russia's air strikes in Syria. It was their first summit since Donald Trump won the US presidential election. Mr Trump has criticised Nato and said he hoped for warmer ties with Russia. Meanwhile, Mr Trump and Nato's chief "underlined the enduring importance of Nato", the military alliance said. In a statement, it said Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg had spoken by phone to Mr Trump, congratulating him on his election victory. In the German capital, President Obama - who has been on a farewell trip to Europe at the end of his two terms - met German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. A White House statement later said the leaders had "affirmed the importance of continued co-operation through multilateral institutions, including Nato". It said they had "agreed on the necessity of working collectively to move the transatlantic agenda forward, particularly on bringing stabilisation to the Middle East and North Africa". On Ukraine, the leaders said the sanctions imposed against Russia must remain in place until Moscow fully met its commitments to resolve the conflict. Western nations accuse Russia of sending its troops and weapons into eastern Ukraine to support separatist fighters - a claim Moscow denies. On Syria, President Obama and the EU leaders said attacks on the city of Aleppo by Syrian government troops and Russia "should be immediately halted". Mrs May said the leaders "were united in our condemnation of the atrocities that are taking place there". "We agreed the need to keep up the pressure on Russia, including the possibility of sanctions on those who breach international humanitarian law," she added. Russia launched its air strikes in Syria in September 2015, saying it was acting at the request of President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow denies targeting civilians, saying it is bombing Islamic militants. In a separate development in Berlin, Mrs May said preparations for the UK's exit from the EU were "on track". "We do stand ready to trigger Article 50... by the end of March 2017." German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble earlier told the Financial Times the UK might have to continue paying into EU budgets for more than a decade after it leaves the EU. He said Britain would "certainly have to fulfil its commitments" to the EU until its departure - and possibly after.

Summary: Outgoing US President Barack Obama and EU leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to Nato unity and sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis.


The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations body, predicts that 3.2 billion people will be online. The population currently stands at 7.2 billion. About 2 billion of those will be in the developing world, the report added. But just 89 million will be in countries such as Somalia and Nepal. These are part of a group of nations described as "least developed countries" by the United Nations, with a combined population of 940 million. There will also be more than 7 billion mobile device subscriptions, the ITU said. It found that 78 out of 100 people in the US and Europe already use mobile broadband, and 69% of the world has 3G coverage - but only 29% of rural areas are served. Africa lags behind with just 17.4% mobile broadband penetration. By the end of the year 80% of households in developed countries and 34% of those in developing countries will have internet access in some form, the report continued. The study focused on the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector over the past 15 years. In the year 2000 there were just 400 million internet users worldwide, it said - an eighth of the current figure. "Over the past 15 years the ICT revolution has driven global development in an unprecedented way," said Brahima Sanou, director of the ITU telecommunication development bureau. "ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society."

Summary: Nearly half of the global population will be using the internet by the end of this year, according to a new report.


Some £85,000 was spent by the council to improve a nine mile (14.5km) section of the A4059, between Aberdare and Abercynon, which is prone to flooding. It was part of a £23m scheme to improve roads in the area. Council leader Andrew Morgan said road improvements "continue to be a key priority when it comes to allocating our financial resources". The road, known locally as the "Letty Turner's bends" has also had its drainage system improved. Councillor Morgan said: "We will be investing over £23m in highways improvements, infrastructure and strategic projects over the next three years - this is on top of the £53m we have already invested since 2011 meaning that by 2018/19 we will have invested over £76m in these key areas in recent years."

Summary: Work to help prevent flooding on a main road in Rhondda Cynon Taff has been completed.


The centre scored two tries as Warriors thrashed the Dragons 47-17 to keep their faint hopes of a top-four finish alive. "I think we have to win all of our games and we can do it," said Kiwi Grigg. "Confidence is key and, with five points today, we're on the rise." After a sticky opening period in which they fell 10-0 behind, Glasgow came storming back with seven tries to blow the Dragons away and secure an important bonus-point victory at Scotstoun. Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend was pleased to see his side end a three-match losing run in the Pro12. "We got into our attack flow pretty well," he told BBC Scotland. "When you're moving the ball so much, there will be mistakes, but we were working out where best to target in the Dragons defence. It was also fatiguing them as a side. "Defensively, we just weren't in place in those first 10 minutes and they deserved their lead, but we showed really good resilience. "The switch went on at 10-0. We won the kick-off back, got into their 22 and then eventually scored from the scrum. "It was pleasing. I thought, individually, guys stood up really well. We showed the ambition we like to show when we play here." Townsend echoed Grigg's assertion that Glasgow can still overcome the odds to make the top four but admits they will be relying on the teams above them to slip up even after collecting five points against the Dragons. "We could do with a 10-pointer one week," Townsend joked. "We know we've got a lot of catching up to do and we'll probably have to rely on the teams above us losing. "We'll have to rely on teams like Scarlets and Ulster to slip up and we'll have to get on a really good winning run. "This is an exciting part of the season. We've got Connacht here in three weeks' time, a massive game against the champions. "Then we have a run of Saracens away (in the Champions Cup quarter-final), Munster away two weeks after that. "We'll have more players available and they'll come back (from Scotland duty) full of confidence."

Summary: Glasgow Warriors can still make the Pro12 play-offs but will need to win the last five games of the regular season to do so, says Nick Grigg.


After the game Alan Kernaghan resigned as manager of the Glens. Jamie Gardiner gave the hosts the lead in the first half, with Jordan Campbell adding a second in the 62nd minute. Ciaran Caldwell pulled a goal back, Stephen Park restored the two-goal cushion and Nacho Novo netted what proved to be a consolation late on. Annagh lie bottom of their league, having shipped 12 goals in three games. Glentoran manager Kernaghan had gone into the game under a degree of pressure after a section of Glens supporters had voiced their discontent following a 4-1 league reverse at Coleraine on Saturday. Gardiner completed a fine breakaway by chipping Elliott Morris for the opener in the 19th minute and the County Armagh side had their illustrious visitors in real trouble when Campbell added the second. Caldwell's deflected 25-yard effort three minutes later gave the Glens hope, but that optimism proved short-lived when Park made it 3-1, Novo, Glentoran skipper for the evening, pulling one back from six yards out on 85 minutes. "The first goal was important for us, it gave us a real lift, and hopefully this result will kick-start our season. We fear nobody," Annagh manager Paul Matchet told BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound programme after the game. Glens manager Kernaghan argued: "If we had taken the chances we created, we could have won the game by seven or eight. I am frustrated and I feel the fans' frustration." Elsewhere, holders Cliftonville began their bid for a fifth straight success in the competition with a thumping 11-1 victory over 2011 winners Lisburn Distillery at Solitude. David McDaid and Stephen Garrett both scored hat-tricks, with Chris Ramsey, Jaimie McGovern, Chris Curran, Jude Winchester and Gary Donnelly also getting their names on the scoresheet. Media playback is not supported on this device The Reds' north Belfast rivals Crusaders were comfortable 3-1 winners over Loughgall, while Portadown hammered Donegal Celtic 6-1 at Shamrock Park. Ballymena United survived an early scare when Chris McFall gave Newington the lead midway through the first half, but Cathair Friel, Allan Jenkins, a Tony Kane penalty and Johnny McMurray replied for David Jeffrey's Braidmen. James McLaughlin scored twice as Coleraine saw off Limavady United 3-0 in the north-west derby, while Carrick Rangers got the better of Ballyclare Comrades 2-0 in the East Antrim derby. Declan O'Brien plundered four goals in Glenavon's 5-0 triumph over Tobermore United, while Andrew Waterworth grabbed his first two strikes of the season in Linfield's 5-0 win against Larne. David Healy's outfit are chasing a first League Cup success since 2008. Ballinamallard United were 3-0 victors over Dundela, Ards defeated Newry City 3-1 and Dungannon Swifts romped hime 6-2 over Sport and Leisure Swifts. Annagh United 3 (Gardiner 19, Campbell 62, Park 72) Glentoran 2 (Caldwell 65, Novo 85) Ards 3 (McComb pen 64, 90; McAllister 83) Newry City 1 (Walker pen 70) Ballyclare Comrades 0 Carrick Rangers 2 (Kelly 57, Sally 90+3) Crusaders 3 (Caddell 6, Heatley 23, Carvill 84) Loughgall 1 (Uprichard 65, Copeland s/o 43) Ballinamallard Utd 3 (Mayse 22, McCartney 61, Laverty

Summary: Struggling Championship One team Annagh United caused a major shock by beating Premiership side Glentoran 3-2 in Tuesday's League Cup second round tie.


Posting a picture of a letter addressed to "Mrs Clegg" on Instagram, she noted the "irony" of the situation. The event, on 8 March, is designed to "celebrate women's success", she added. Ms Gonzalez Durantez is a lawyer specialising in international and EU trade law. She wrote: "The irony of being invited to speak at an International Women's Day event to celebrate women's success, addressed to me as 'Mrs Clegg'." Ms Gonzalez Durantez set up the Inspiring Women group, which recruits women with successful careers to visit and speak to girls at state schools in England. This is not the first time she has criticised the way she is perceived or described. Last year she told Marie Claire magazine: "I find people say of me 'She wears the trousers' and as you can see, it is true, I have very nice trousers. "Or if my husband and I share the school run, it's me who has forced him, dragged him away from his work. "But when people, or in my case the media, are using that label on you, they are not saying you are strong, they are saying you should get back in your box. You should make the dinner and have his slippers ready with a gin and tonic."

Summary: Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, whose husband is former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, has complained after being invited to an International Women's Day event in her married name.


Hallel Yaffa Ariel, 13, who had US citizenship, was attacked as she slept inside her bedroom in Kiryat Arba. A security guard who responded to the incident was wounded before the attacker was shot dead by other guards. Later on Thursday, a Palestinian stabbed and injured two Israelis in the coastal city of Netanya before being shot dead by a passing civilian. The Palestinian health ministry identified the Kiryat Arba assailant as Mohammed Tarayreh, 19, from the nearby village of Bani Naim. Thirty-four Israelis have now been killed in a wave of knife, gun and car-ramming attacks since October. More than 200 Palestinians - mostly attackers, Israel says - have also been killed in that period. The assailants who have been killed have been shot either by their victims or by security forces as they carried out attacks. Some attackers have been arrested. In Thursday's incident, the attacker infiltrated Kiryat Arba before entering Hallel Ariel's home, which is next to a fence surrounding the settlement. Israeli media report that the girl was repeatedly stabbed in the upper body. She was taken in a critical condition to the Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem, where she died shortly after arriving, hospital officials say. The security guard, believed to be a 30-year-old man, reportedly suffered multiple stab and gunshot wounds when he confronted the attacker. He is in a serious condition at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Ein Karem. Following the attack, Israeli troops sealed off Bani Naim and began preparations to demolish Tarayreh's home. "The horrifying murder of a young girl in her bed underscores the bloodlust and inhumanity of the incitement-driven terrorists that we are facing," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. "The entire nation deeply identifies with the family's pain and declares to the murderers: You will not break us." The US state department spokesman confirmed the victim had been a US citizen. Adnan Tarayreh, a cousin of the killer, said Mohammed Tarayreh had dropped out of school and had been working in a bakery, the Associated Press news agency reports. The family, he was quoted as saying, had been surprised by the attack and he speculated that his cousin might have been spurred into action by the death of another cousin killed while attempting to ram his vehicle into Israelis in Kiryat Arba. Kiryat Arba is located on the outskirts of the flashpoint city of Hebron, where many of the recent wave of attacks have taken place. Also on Thursday, a senior United Nations official cited a long-awaited report by the Middle East Quartet as saying that hopes for peace between Israel and the Palestinians were being severely undermined by three "negative trends". Nickolay Mladenov told the UN Security Council that they were continuing violence, terrorism and incitement; Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank; and a lack of control of the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Authority. The Quartet - which comprises the UN, the European Union, United States and Russia - was likely to release the report on Friday, he said. The last round of

Summary: An Israeli girl has been stabbed to death at a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank by a Palestinian.


The UK government suspended flights to the Red Sea resort in November after the suspected bombing of a Russian passenger jet killed 224 people. So-called Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the attack. Over 16,000 Britons stranded in the area were brought home on a series of rescue flights amid increased security. No flights have operated between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh since 17 November, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel using the resort's airport. British Airways has said it will not operate flights to the Egyptian resort until after 13 February at the earliest, while Monarch services are currently suspended up to 24 January. EasyJet has stopped services until 29 February, while Thomson and Thomas Cook this week both extended their suspension of services until 23 March. The Association of British Travel Agents has said the decision about whether to use Sharm el-Sheikh airport is being made by the UK authorities rather than the airlines. Travel analyst Bob Atkinson, from Travel Supermarket, said the length of the suspension suggested that security issues at the airport were proving difficult to solve. He said services would resume "at some point", but added: "The longer it goes on makes you think, 'Why are they delaying it so long if it's as simple as making sure security checks are in place?'" But the Egyptian authorities would be doing "everything possible within their powers" to give the UK confidence about the safety of its citizens, so as not to lose out on tourist trade, he added. On Tuesday, the Egyptian government announced it had hired global risk and security consultancy firm Control Risks to conduct a review of airports across the country. The announcement was welcomed by British ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, who said he hoped flights would resume "as soon as possible". "Britain was the first to raise security concerns about Sharm airport and Britain wants to be the first to restart flights, so that tourism can lead the revival of Egypt's economy," he said. The crash on 31 October involved an Airbus A321, operated by the Russian airline Kogalymavia, which had taken off from Sharm el-Sheikh for St Petersburg, but crashed into the Sinai desert killing everybody on board. UK investigators believe the crash was caused by a bomb put in the hold of the plane prior to take-off.

Summary: Travel firms Thomson and Thomas Cook have extended a suspension of flights to the Egyptian holiday resort of Sharm el-Sheikh until at least 23 March.


The Glasgow Warriors coach will replace Cotter as Scotland coach next summer. "I would have thought he would already have been looking to go elsewhere," former Scotland scrum-half Lawson said. "The risk of potentially losing Gregor before Vern Cotter had done his bit - had he taken them through to the next World Cup - is now nullified." Townsend served as Scotland's backs and attack coach for three years, and his Glasgow players have provided a large percentage of the squad under Cotter. "In many ways he's perfectly positioned to step into that role," Lawson told BBC Scotland. "He's obviously been in and around the Scotland coaching environment before and naturally the two professional clubs work very closely with the national team as it is. "He's gone in at Glasgow, taken a year or so to build the squad he wants, the culture he wants and the playing style he wants. "And by the time he steps in, he'll have had four to five years as head coach of Glasgow and that will stand him in incredibly good stead." Cotter's future beyond the summer of 2017 remains unclear, though Lawson thinks approaches from elsewhere may have convinced him to move on after his contract expires next year. "Obviously somebody has offered him the chance to go elsewhere," added Lawson, who won 31 caps between 2006 and 2012. "Whether that's back to New Zealand or elsewhere we'll see. "As much as we're shocked and disappointed [at losing Cotter], we're incredibly fortunate that we have one of the best and most sought-after coaches in the northern hemisphere, in the shape of Gregor Townsend, to come in and pick up as head coach."

Summary: Rory Lawson believes the risk of Gregor Townsend leaving Scotland may have influenced the decision to name him as Vern Cotter's successor.


Canon Jeremy Pemberton was refused a licence to work as a hospital chaplain by the then acting bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. Mr Pemberton brought a discrimination case which started in June. The Nottingham Employment Tribunal heard final submissions from both parties earlier on Tuesday. Although Mr Pemberton was employed by the NHS, a required licence from the diocese to work at King's Mill Hospital in Mansfield was refused by the Rt Revd Richard Inwood. He argued that the marriage was against the Church of England's teachings. Thomas Linden QC, representing the church, said: "The state should not be saying to a religious organisation you can or can't choose this person as your priest. "The tribunal should say it's clear on the evidence what the church thinks of same sex marriage." He argued Mr Pemberton went against the doctrine of the church when he entered his same-sex marriage in "a blaze of publicity". Sean Jones, representing Mr Pemberton, suggested the church would not have had an issue with Mr Pemberton if he was in a civil partnership, even though he claimed they were nearly the same. He added that nothing stopped clergy from entering into civil partnerships and questioned why it should be different now another type of "civil union which the state calls marriage" has been introduced. A final conclusion is not expected until next year.

Summary: A clergyman may have to wait until next year to find out whether a decision to remove his right to officiate after he married another man was discriminatory.


Kirsty Williams said party membership in Wales has grown since last year's general election. Speaking on BBC's The Wales Report programme, she said her party had returned a better result than expected in assembly elections five years ago. She also refused to rule out a deal with other parties this year. "Since the general election, which was a very, very difficult set of results for us, our party membership in Wales has grown," she explained. "We have record numbers of people out on the streets delivering campaigns." Speaking about the last assembly elections, she said: "We defied expectations, we returned with a strong Liberal Democrat group that has punched above its weight for the last five years. "I'm sure we can defy expectations again." She also insisted the Welsh Lib Dems' record proved they can deliver on their promises. Later in the interview, Ms Williams said she would not rule out a deal with any other party after the election to achieve her objectives but she was quick to point out that collaboration with UKIP was unlikely, as their values were "so far apart". Last week, informal talks between the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Plaid Cymru for an assembly electoral pact failed to reach an agreement. When asked if it was her party that pulled the plug on the talks, Ms Williams said: "We were approached informally by another political party about a proposition of doing a pre-election pact. "We didn't think it was the right way to go." Ms Williams added: "What keeps me going is that I know there are no political parties in this coming election that are committed to ensuring that there are the right number of nurses in our hospitals. "We had to drag the Labour party kicking and screaming to introduce a system that put money into the education of our poorest children, and its working, its making a difference."

Summary: The Welsh Liberal Democrats can "defy expectations" in the forthcoming assembly elections, the party's leader has insisted.


The government has granted planning permission for the 15-year project including new stages and streetscapes at the site in Iver Heath. South Bucks District Council (SBDC), which turned down the "inappropriate" plans, said it was "disappointed". The latest Star Wars film, Episode VII, is currently being filmed at Pinewood. It has been home to more than 1,500 movies over 76 years including the most recent James Bond movie, Skyfall. The expansion project, known as the Pinewood Studios Development Framework (PSDF), will double the existing studios by adding a total of 100,000 square metres of new facilities, including 12 large stages, workshops and production offices. A studio spokesman said the expansion would "secure future growth". The studio said the decision by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, "will address the clear need for additional capacity in the UK". Pinewood chief executive Ivan Dunleavy said: "We want to begin construction as soon as possible." In 2012, the government rejected a previous plan, which included more than 1,000 homes. The studio submitted its latest application in February 2013, following "extensive public consultation". It was rejected by the local council and the studios submitted its appeal to the Planning Inspectorate the following May. Nearby councils have always opposed the plans as an expansion into green belt land. Councillor Roger Reed said SBDC had presented "extensive and well informed objections". "We must now look forward and recognise the importance of Pinewood and the benefit they can bring to the local and wider economy," he added. Parish councillor Sylvie Lowe, who represents Iver, said she was "surprised" at the decision and the council was considering its options.

Summary: Pinewood Studios is set to double in size after winning an appeal against the rejection of its £200m expansion plan.


See a queue, get in it. Apologise even though you were the one bumped in to. Cheer when a glass is smashed in the pub. The English way of playing one-day cricket - nice and steady at the start, wickets in hand, have a bash at the end - last had major success 24 years ago with a run to the 1992 World Cup final. If that was a time when the tortoise managed to keep pace with the hare, then the following 23 years saw the rest of the world accelerate past England. Those nations did so to such a degree that at times it looked as if they were playing a different sport. Former off-spinner Graeme Swann tells a tale of how England were told that if they scored 239, they would win 72% of games. "In the 2011 World Cup quarter-final against Sri Lanka in Colombo, we had batted to our plan almost perfectly and scored 229. Jonathan Trott got 86 in 115 balls," said Swann. "Everyone said 'brilliant'. Then Sri Lanka knocked them off in 39.3 overs." The nadir came at the 2015 World Cup, an embarrassing exit sealed with defeat by Bangladesh, a result described as "pathetic" by legendary England all-rounder Sir Ian Botham. It was thought by many than an inflexible approach and an over-reliance on statistics hampered Eoin Morgan's men in Australia and New Zealand. Now, instead of looking at data, England see the ball and whack it out of the ground. There is a new English way, one that was born in their first completed ODI after the World Cup. On that sunny afternoon at Edgbaston, with current assistant coach Paul Farbrace keeping the hotseat warm for Trevor Bayliss, England plundered their first ODI score in excess of 400 against a New Zealand side who had previously provided them with a blueprint on how to play the 50-over game. "A lot has can be said for former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who is best mates with Eoin Morgan," said Swann. "He tore up the book in and said to his team: 'Whatever has happened in the past in nonsense. It's a new game, play with freedom and your team-mates back you.' England are now playing with a similar amount of freedom. "Morgan has taken that to the England team, Trevor Bayliss has allowed that to happen and director of cricket Andrew Strauss has separated the one-day team from the Test team. It was a blatant move that had to be made - it just took some chutzpah to do it." Since the 2015 World Cup, England's win ratio in ODIs of 1.75 - which is 1.75 wins for every defeat - is bettered only by world champions Australia's 2.13. Former captain Michael Vaughan has called this team the best England one-day side he has seen, while BBC Test Match Special's Simon Hughes, the ex-Middlesex seamer, wrote in the Times that the current crop must grab their opportunity to win a global trophy in the next decade. In the main, England's spectacular upturn has

Summary: There is an English way of doing things.


Philip Hammond called for EU laws to be overhauled to make sure that people coming from Africa to Europe could be returned to their home country. Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn accused Mr Hammond of "scaremongering". Steve Symonds of Amnesty International UK described Mr Hammond's "mean-spirited response" as "shameful". "Rather than throwing up the drawbridge and talking about how Europe can 'protect' itself from migrants, Mr Hammond should be working with our EU partners to ensure that people don't drown in the Mediterranean or get crushed beneath lorries at Calais," he said. Mr Benn added that Mr Hammond should "think more carefully about what he says". "We need responsibility and international leadership from this government, not scaremongering," he said. "Those fleeing Syria are desperate refugees from a country being torn apart by war." Speaking during a visit to Singapore, Mr Hammond said: "So long as the European Union's laws are the way they are, many of them will only have to set foot in Europe to be pretty confident that they will never be returned to their country of origin. "Now, that is not a sustainable situation because Europe can't protect itself and preserve its standard of living and social infrastructure, if it has to absorb millions of migrants from Africa." He said the problem had to ultimately be resolved by being able to return those who are not entitled to claim asylum back to their countries of origin - something Mr Hammond described as "our number one priority". This, he added, was key to resolving the "crisis" at Calais, where thousands are gathered in the hope of crossing the Channel into the UK. There have been increased security measures introduced in Calais in recent weeks, after hundreds of attempts by migrants to break into Channel Tunnel terminals. On Saturday, 18 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested after a lorry was stopped on the M1 in Hertfordshire. Mr Hammond went on to say more could be done to protect the Channel Tunnel from illegal migrants. "Having reviewed the situation in the light of the crisis, it is clear that there is more that can be done to enhance the physical security of the tunnel. "But we also have to work with our French colleagues to try to deal with the root cause of the problem. So long as there are large numbers of pretty desperate migrants marauding around the area there will always be a threat to the tunnel's security." A new fence about a mile long, built to stop migrants from getting to the UK via the Channel Tunnel, has been built in Calais and was paid for out of Â£7m made available by the British government.

Summary: Europe will not be able to preserve its living standards if it has to absorb millions of migrants from Africa, the foreign secretary has said.


Author JM Barrie credited the gardens of the town's Moat Brae house as his inspiration for the work. Ms Lumley unveiled a wood-carving of his most famous creation at the entrance to the town. She is already a patron of the appeal launched last week to turn Moat Brae into a children's literature centre. The Peter Pan statue was provided by the action group, the People's Project, which is working to improve the appearance and reputation of Dumfries. Ms Lumley said she was amazed at the work which had gone into the wood-carving. "I absolutely love it - I am so impressed that it is all made out of one enormous spruce tree trunk," she said. "It is absolutely enchanting and it is standing outside the garden centre so everybody who is driving past on the road can see it."

Summary: The actress Joanna Lumley has unveiled a statue of Peter Pan to recognise the part Dumfries played as birthplace of the children's classic story.


The £175m footbridge would link Temple with the Southbank, but has been criticised over its location and cost. Already approved by Lambeth Council, it is the idea of actress Joanna Lumley and has been designed by London 2012 cauldron creator, Thomas Heatherwick. The Mayor of London will make the final decision. Westminster councillors voted 3-1 in favour of the bridge which will cost £3.5m in annual maintenance. At a planning meeting concerns were raised about the potential loss of views, with heritage groups worried the sight of St Paul's Cathedral will be lost for some. Civil engineers have also called it "the most expensive footbridge in the world". Bridge consultant Simon Bourne told BBC London the cost is "five to 10 times more than you'd expect a footbridge to be". He said that is because of its copper cladding. By Tom EdwardsTransport correspondent, London Campaigners feared the planning committees were just a formality as both Lambeth and tonight Westminster had nothing financially to lose with a garden bridge. In a hot, packed room on the 17th floor there were shouts of "shame" and "you're turning it into a theme park" from some in the audience. Supporters kept quiet. And while both councils gave planning permission to the garden bridge, both committees have attached strings to the project. Westminster said Transport for London must act as guarantor on the £3.5m annual maintenance costs or the project won't get built. Will TfL like that? Will the mayor tell them to underwrite maintenance or could there be another solution like a surety? The Garden Bridge Trust will be delighted at gaining permission. This is a big step for them but campaigners will already be plotting other ways to stop the bridge. He said: "One has to view this bridge to a certain extent not as a piece of infrastructure, but as a piece of art. It's not value for money and I don't think it's good design." But Lord Mervyn Davies, chairman of the Garden Bridge Trust, said: "I think it's a reasonable cost for what is going to be an iconic bridge and I think the cladding is important because it needs to be visually beautiful. "It needs to be able to stand the test of time." Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster Council, chaired the planning committee and said: "This is something that is iconic and absolutely unique, and will be recognised right across the world. "I understand the concerns about potential loss of views, but there is no doubting that this bridge will bring substantial and significant benefits to London." Transport for London has agreed to pay £30m in enabling costs to be matched by the Treasury. The Garden Bridge Trust says it has raised about £120m which will go towards running costs as well. As the bridge is a major infrastructure project, the Mayor of London will have the option to call it in for further scrutiny, or allow the bridge to go ahead as set out in the applications that were put before Lambeth and Westminster councils.

Summary: Plans to build a garden bridge across the River Thames are a step closer after Westminster City Council approved planning permission.


A so-called Special Area of Conservation (SAC) has been created in the Inner Hebrides and Minches. The facility is the largest conservation area for the marine species in Europe. Scientists warned earlier this year that numbers of harbour porpoise were falling because of difficulties with catching food and breeding. They had called on the Scottish government to act and introduce protected sites for the animals. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said she was pleased to designate the first SAC and added: "This will help maintain the favourable conservation status and provide protection to the species and their habitats." WWF Scotland director Lang Banks welcomed the move and said he was hopeful more such sites would be established in future. He said: "It's fantastic news that Europe's largest Special Area of Conservation for harbour porpoise is to be located off the west coast of Scotland. "We've long called for greater protection for this species and we look forward to working with the Scottish government and others to ensure that this site contributes to a coherent and well-managed network of marine protected areas."

Summary: A new conservation area has been set up in waters off the west of Scotland to help protect harbour porpoise.


Clark, 33, and Hunter, 29, receive MBEs after helping England lift the World Cup for the first time in 20 years. Northern Ireland boxer Patrick Barnes, 27, and Scotland's judoka Euan Burton, 35, who both won Commonwealth gold medals last summer, are made MBEs. Athlete Steve Cram, 54, a former 1500m world champion, has been awarded a CBE. Media playback is not supported on this device BBC athletics commentator Cram, who was made an MBE in 1986, spent 13 years as the head of the English Institute of Sport, until he stepped down from the post in August. Under Cram's chairmanship, the EIS has played an increasingly important role in developing sports science and sports medicine for elite athletes in more than 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports, and contributed to the record medal haul at the London 2012 Olympic Games. "It's really fantastic to have this recognition, especially all these years after I stopped competing," said Cram. "A large part of my journey since then has been the EIS and we have put a lot of things in place to give support to our Olympic programmes." Another former athlete, Dame Mary Peters, 75, the 1972 Olympic pentathlon champion, is made a Companion of Honour, and Wendy Sly, who won silver in the 3,000m at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, receives an MBE for services to athletics. The awards include recognition of the success of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Burton, who was Scotland's flag bearer at the Glasgow Games, retired after winning judo gold in the 100kg division, while Barnes won gold in the men's light-flyweight boxing competition. Kate Richardson-Walsh, 34, captain of the England women's hockey team that won silver at the Commonwealth Games, also receives an MBE. Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, receives a CBE and Jon Doig, the chief executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland, an OBE. Brendon Batson, 61, receives an OBE for services to football after being made an MBE in 2000. The former West Bromwich Albion defender, 61, who has been chair of Sporting Equals since 2010, is a major supporter of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign and an ambassador for anti-discrimination body Kick It Out. Former Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus, 41, is awarded an MBE for services to football and charity in Portsmouth, while Jim Boyce, 70, a vice president at world football's governing body Fifa, receives the OBE for services to football in Northern Ireland. David Collier, 59, who stepped down as chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board last summer after a successful 10-year spell, receives an OBE. Edward Gillespie, 62, who spent 32 years as the managing director at Cheltenham racecourse, has been awarded an OBE for services to horse racing. Awards to grassroots sport include a British Empire Medal to Shirley Callaghan, who has dedicated more than 31 years of voluntary service to gymnastics at Ladywell Gymnastics Club in London. Dame Mary Peters. For services to sport and to the community in Northern Ireland. Steve Cram MBE. For services to sport. Brendon Batson MBE. For services

Summary: Women's Rugby World Cup winners Sarah Hunter and Rochelle Clark are among the sports stars recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours.


Timothy Pawlett, 52, from Haverfordwest and Gareth Clement, 55, from Crymych, are alleged to have left Fishguard port early or arrived late while still claiming full working hours. It meant they had been overpaid a combined total of over £1,800. They both deny a single charge of fraud and the trial at Swansea Crown Court continues. Prosecuting, Nicholas Gedge told the court Mr Pawlett was secretly logged leaving his post early or arriving late 72 times between 1 November 2015 and 17 February 2016. Mr Clement was said to have left early on 54 occasions. In some instances they had left two hours early. It meant Mr Pawlett had been overpaid £1,100 and Mr Clement £710. The alarm was raised when their boss, Det Sgt Ian Hardy could not find either of the officers before their shifts had ended. "He was a little curious," said Mr Gedge, especially when he found both had recorded completing their full shifts. The following night he parked outside Fishguard harbour and saw Mr Clement driving away 40 minutes early. He drove to Mr Pawlett's home and saw his car already parked outside, which meant he must have left 30 minutes early. Det Sgt Hardy asked for a camera with automatic vehicle number plate recognition technology to be checked and discovered "numerous" examples of them leaving early. After their arrests neither officer disputed the data. Mr Clement said he had been having personal and family difficulties while Mr Pawlett said he had been suffering from anxiety and depression.

Summary: Two Pembrokeshire police officers left work early 126 times in three months, a jury has heard.


The 18-year-old won his first Grand Slam title along with Gordon Reid. The second seeds came from a set behind to beat top seeds Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer 4-6 6-1 7-6 (8-6). "I actually had to re-watch the match point because I just couldn't remember what had happened," Hewett told BBC Radio Norfolk. "One of the players asked what was the rally like at match point and I couldn't answer them, I just couldn't remember what had happened - it was an insane moment. "Thoughts start coming in your head about winning two or three points before, you've just got to try to keep as calm as possible." Despite his success, Hewett was asked if he would rather be a Wimbledon champion or watch his team Norwich City win at Wembley? "Wembley, all day long."

Summary: Wimbledon men's wheelchair doubles champion Alfie Hewett has revealed that he forgot the winning rally of their final.


She died in Milan after a long illness, Italy's Ansa news agency reports. Jonathan Newhouse, chairman of publishers Conde Naste International, described her as "one of the greatest editors who ever made a magazine". Celebrities including Madonna, Kanye West and Victoria Beckham paid tribute to her. In a post on Instagram, Madonna posted a photo of her with the caption: "RIP Franca Sozzani! A trail blazer and a True Rebel! You are loved and adored by so many! We will miss you." US fashion model Kendall Jenner tweeted: "Rest peacefully, Franca Sozzani." Sozzani took charge of Vogue Italia in 1988 and became a key figure on the global fashion scene. In 2008, she produced an "all black" issue, featuring black models only. It became an international hit. Once asked how to define style, she said: "I think people should buy more mirrors than clothes, to see themselves before going out... but I think that clothes need to correspond to one's own personality. That is style." Sozzani was also a champion of humanitarian causes. She served as goodwill ambassador to fashion for the UN, supporting workers in the fashion world in Africa and Asia and helping to raise money to fight hunger. In a tribute on the Vogue website, US Vogue editor Anna Wintour described Sozzani as "warm, clever, funny". "She made everything she worked on appear effortless, regardless of whether it was an event for several hundred; a whirlwind trip to Africa to support the continent's emerging designers; or the creation of yet another newsworthy, provocative, and utterly spellbinding issue of Italian Vogue," she said. Sozzani attended the Fashion Awards in London earlier this month where designer Tom Ford presented her with the Swarovski award for positive change.

Summary: Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia for 28 years and a champion of Italian fashion, has died at the age of 66.


Fourteen-year-old Karen hides the stump of his left hand in his pocket. His siblings gather round as he looks at Facebook on the family laptop. "I can't forgive myself for what happened," says his mother, Ludmila Bagdasaryan-Mirzoyan. Two years ago Karen found a live anti-aircraft shell in the garden. After he started playing with it, the relic from the 1990s war with Azerbaijan exploded in his hands. The family live in Madagis, a village in the landlocked mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh, close to the frontline with Azerbaijan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union there was all-out war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, from 1992 to 1994. An estimated 30,000 people were killed. Despite a ceasefire of 20 years, the area is heavily militarised. There are frequent shootings across the frontline. Each side blames the other for military casualties, which have risen sharply in recent months. Ludmila says her children often hear gunfire or warning sirens. "They wake up and ask me: 'Mum has war started again?'" she says. Azerbaijan lost swathes of territory during the conflict, and more than 600,000 ethnic Azeris from Karabakh and nearby regions were forced to flee. More than 300,000 ethnic Armenians who used to live in Azerbaijan were also displaced by the conflict. Today, a drive through Nagorno-Karabakh reveals many abandoned homes. Some lie in ruins, others are intact, with overgrown gardens, behind still padlocked but rusting gates. Time, it seems, has been frozen here. But the conflict itself is very much alive. Peace negotiations mediated by the Minsk Group, under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), have seen little progress. "If we look at the peace process what it really represents is what I call 'back to basics' diplomacy," says Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Centre, a think tank based in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. "It's no longer about negotiating over Nagorno-Karabakh, rather it's back to basic, minimum objectives. "The first goal of the mediation is to keep the peace process alive and the second goal is to prevent war, rather than any real diplomacy over negotiations where they can't even agree on the agenda. That's how far apart the two sides are." Internationally, Nagorno-Karabakh is considered part of Azerbaijan, but its Armenian inhabitants call themselves citizens of the Artsakh Republic and remain the sworn enemies of Azerbaijan. The territory has its own flag, an international airport, police and armed forces, although regular Armenian soldiers serve on the frontline. In reality, Nagorno-Karabakh is isolated. Financially and militarily it depends on Armenia. Its subjects hold Armenian passports. And the international airport stands empty, because Azerbaijan has threatened to shoot down any planes. Frustrated by the lack of a diplomatic solution, Azerbaijan's leadership has threatened to retake the territory militarily. Oil-rich Azerbaijan has spent billions of US dollars on modern weaponry. And most of the arms are supplied by Russia. That is deeply unpopular with Armenia. It counts Russia as its strategic ally, and hosts Russia's only military base in the region. "We are concerned that Russia, for all sorts of reasons, is

Summary: Amid fears that a "frozen conflict" is developing in eastern Ukraine the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie examines life in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh, scene of one of the former Soviet Union's most protracted conflicts.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 21-year-old clocked the fastest times of both the first and second runs and claimed gold by 1.64 seconds. Wendy Holdener, of Switzerland, was second and Sweden's Frida Hansdotter finished third. Great Britain's Alexandra Tilley came in 25th as she finished 5.45 behind the winner in St Moritz on Saturday. Shiffrin's third win in the slalom equalled the record of German Christl Cranz, who completed her treble in 1939.

Summary: American Mikaela Shiffrin won a record-equalling third consecutive world slalom gold with a dominant victory at the Alpine World Ski Championships.


At this week's European Council, David Cameron will call for "greater co-operation" and a halt to the traffic in "guns from the western Balkans". Mr Cameron will also propose a "new EU-wide ban on all high-powered semi-automatic weapons". The EU's response to the Paris attacks will be discussed at the meeting, which begins on Thursday in Brussels. Number 10 said that alongside a ban, measures would include greater sharing of ballistics data, a plan to improve intelligence about firearms in the western Balkans, action to take firearms out of circulation and a "clear implementation" plan for all member states. Mr Cameron said the "horrific terrorist atrocities" in Paris showed the scale of the threat facing Europe. "A terrorist threat in one country is a danger to all of us, so I believe there is more we must do together to tackle the terrorist threat posed by Daesh," Mr Cameron said. "We need to ensure that terrorists do not have the weapons with which they can wreak such tragedy." Mr Cameron will also call for greater efforts to undermine online radicalisation and the ideology of so-called Islamic State, referred to by the government as Daesh. Nils Duquet, a researcher at the Flemish Peace Institute in Brussels, said in an article for the BBC that in several recent attacks, including in Paris, there was a connection between the guns used and Belgium. He said an increase of heavy firearms on the illegal market in Belgium was mainly linked to smuggling from the Balkans. Hundreds of thousands of military weapons stayed in the hands of citizens after the Balkan wars of the 1990s, he said. A semi-automatic firearm is self-loading, firing a single round each time its trigger is pulled. A total of 130 people died and hundreds were wounded in the 13 November Paris attacks, when gunmen and suicide bombers attacked a concert hall, a stadium, restaurants and bars almost simultaneously.

Summary: The EU should crack down on the illegal gun trade, the prime minister will urge in the wake of the Paris attacks.


The Downham Market blaze is believed to have started during the night where a £250,000 fire engine was parked. The fire station, built in 2006, had no sprinkler system. Norfolk fire service is still waiting for a full forensic study and said the inquiry was "long and complex" but an independent report had been received. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is assisting with the investigation and their findings reveal it is believed the cause of the fire was due to an electrical fault in one of the appliances at the fire station. "We are in discussion with Norfolk Constabulary to consider options for a joint location at the site with shared accommodation," a spokesman said. "We currently have temporary accommodation in place and the station is fully operational from that location." At the outset the fire service recognised the investigation was going to be a "challenge" for experts. The fire engine was so damaged and the heat was so intense a forensic investigation was needed but experts were optimistic they would find evidence of a cause. Head of community safety Stuart Horth said the fire had created concerns. "Checks have been made at other fire stations to identify potential risks and all were registered as safe," he said. The £1m single storey fire station was officially opened in July 2006. It had an appliance bay where the fire is believed to have started, lecture room, offices, a kitchen and storage areas. A year before the opening the fire station received a new state-of-the-art rescue pump. The site was also shared with Norfolk Police and this was said at the time to be a great advantage.

Summary: An electrical fault in an appliance parked at a "state-of-the-art" Norfolk fire station caused a disastrous blaze in April last year, a report has said.


Mr Rusbridger, who was the editor-in-chief for 20 years until last summer, was due to start the role in September. He said newspapers had been "battered by turbulent and economic forces that were difficult to foresee last summer". The current chair of the Scott Trust, Liz Forgan, will remain in post until her successor is appointed. Mr Rusbridger will also resign as a trustee. In an email to Guardian staff, published by Buzzfeed, he said he had a "fantastically interesting new life in Oxford" to look forward to. He wrote: "I have been on the Trust long enough to understand its role. "We all currently do our journalism in the teeth of a force 12 digital hurricane. It is surely obvious to anyone that changed circumstances will demand dramatically changed solutions." Ms Forgan said: "Alan Rusbridger's contribution to the Guardian over 20 years as editor-in-chief is immeasurable. "He has been the creative leader of this place and an inspiration to generations of journalists. His decision reflects his enormous integrity and his dedication to the Guardian." Mr Rusbridger joined the Guardian in 1979 as a reporter and became editor in 1995, succeeding Peter Preston. Under his management, the paper moved from its office in London's Farringdon to Kings Cross and embraced digital journalism. Mr Rusbridger also changed the size of the newspaper from broadsheet to Berliner format. Mr Rusbridger was succeeded at the Guardian by Katharine Viner, the paper's first female editor-in-chief.

Summary: Former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger will not become the head of the Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian Media Group, he said on his Twitter account.


More than 220 million people were immunised across 16 countries in the continent's meningitis belt. In 2013 there were just four cases across the entire region, which once faced thousands of deaths each year. However, there are fresh warnings from the World Health Organization that "huge epidemics" could return unless a new vaccination programme is started. The meningitis belt stretches across sub-Saharan Africa from Gambia in the west to Ethiopia in the east. In the worst epidemic recorded, in 1996-97, the disease swept across the belt infecting more than a quarter of a million people and led to 25,000 deaths. Unlike other vaccines, the MenAfriVac was designed specifically for Africa and in 2010 a mass vaccination campaign was started. Laboratory-confirmed cases of meningitis A have been falling ever since: "The disease has virtually disappeared from this part of the world," said Dr Marie-Pierre Preziosi from the World Health Organization. The mass immunisation programme was aimed at people under 30. However, routine vaccination will be needed to ensure that newborns are not vulnerable to the disease. Projections, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, showed the disease could easily return. Dr Preziosi told the BBC News website: "What could happen is a huge epidemic that could sweep the entire area, that could target hundreds of thousands of people with 5-10% deaths at least. "There will be major epidemics in 10 to 15 years, so the call to countries now is, 'Do not stop your efforts - you need to introduce the vaccine into routine immunisation programmes.'" A new vaccine has been approved for children between nine and 18 months old. Ghana is introducing the jab and eight more countries are lining up to do so next year. Dr Mark Alderson, from the global non-profit healthcare organisation Path, told the BBC: "It is a remarkable success story." However, he warned other types of meningitis - C, Y, W and X - were also a threat. He added: "Outbreaks of other sera groups are unpredictable and meningitis C is Niger is a case in point. "If meningitis A is gone there will continue to be outbreaks in the other sera groups. If we really want to eliminate meningitis from the meningitis belt then the best way is to introduce a polyvalent vaccine [against A, C, Y, W and X]." Meningitis A strikes in the the dry season in Africa and while it starts like a cold with headache and fever it can soon lead to convulsions, coma and death. Follow James on Twitter.

Summary: A mass vaccination programme against meningitis A in Africa has been a "stunning success", say experts.


The ride-hailing app went to court after Transport for London (TfL) said that drivers should have to prove their ability to communicate in English. Uber argued that the standard of reading and writing required by the test was too high. The US firm said the test was "unfair and disproportionate" and it would appeal against the court's decision. The ruling will also apply to all minicab firms in London. "TfL are entitled to require private hire drivers to demonstrate English language compliance," said Judge John Mitting as he rejected Uber's claim. Tom de la Mare QC, for Uber and the drivers, told the judge that the language requirement would result in 70,000 applicants failing to obtain a licence over three years. The proposals would have a disproportionate impact on drivers from countries where English was not generally spoken and give rise to "indirect discrimination on grounds of race and nationality". TfL argued that the requirements were vital to ensure passenger safety and to raise standards. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: "Drivers being able to speak English and understand information from passengers and licensing requirements is a vital part of ensuring passengers get the high standard of service they need and deserve. "TfL will of course look at the High Court judgment in detail to ensure all our policies fully comply." Sam Dumitriu, head of projects at the Adam Smith Institute, a conservative think tank, criticised the ruling. "These tests are not only expensive but excessive, and will do little to improve public safety. We've already seen London taxi drivers of 20 years or more struggling with essay questions about the Aurora Borealis and snowboarding, do we need them to have read Shakespeare too?" he said. "There's clearly no public interest here, only the interests of the vocal Black Cab Lobby. Sadiq Khan should listen to drivers and scrap them." Uber said the judge ruled in its favour on three other points, including not having to open a UK-based call centre.

Summary: Uber has lost its attempt to prevent its drivers being forced to take English language tests.


The expedition to the north-eastern Antarctic peninsula will study how they reacted to previous climate changes. The polar experts will collect 100 boxes of rock samples to date how long they have been exposed to sunlight. A team from Aberystwyth and Swansea universities spent five months studying the Greenland ice sheet last year. The Antarctic team will be led by Professor Neil Glasser of Aberystwyth University. Prof Glasser and his colleagues will hunt for clues about how the glaciers and ice sheets behaved in past climates and what we can expect in the future. The Antarctic peninsula has suffered above average warming over the past 50 years, with around a 2.5Â°C temperature increase since 1950, said the universities. This warming is causing glaciers and ice shelves to melt, releasing large volumes of fresh water into the oceans which not only raises sea level, but also influences regional climate change. However, scientists do not fully understand the relationship between air and sea temperature, and the melting of ice. It is difficult for them to assess whether the melting being observed at the moment is unprecedented in the context of geological time. To address these outstanding questions, the team will collect samples of rock to date their exposure to cosmic radiation and analyse how glaciers and ice have retreated since the last ice age, around 20,000 years ago. "The collapse of Antarctic ice shelves is largely thought to be caused by warming of the atmosphere, but it appears that changes in sea temperature and ice-shelf structure are also important," said Prof Glasser. "With the climate expected to warm in the future, it is important for us to understand how Antarctic glaciers and ice shelves behaved in the past so we can predict how they will react in years to come if temperatures continue to rise." The team of three scientists and one British Antarctic Survey (BAS) field assistant will be dropped off by the Royal Research Ship Ernest Shackleton on James Ross Island, just off the Antarctic Peninsula. They will be heavily laden with equipment including four quad bikes, two trailers, scientific equipment, tents and enough food and fuel to last three months. "Normally when researchers work in Antarctica they operate from a research ship or at an established station, whereas we will be dropped off with all our kit and left for two months with just radio contact to the rest of the world," said Dr Jonathan Carrivick from the University of Leeds, who will take part in the trip. The research is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.

Summary: Scientists from Aberystwyth and Leeds have joined forces to learn how glaciers behaved in the past so they can predict the future.


The tradesman was using a portable toilet on a Sydney building site on Wednesday morning when he was bitten. A spokesperson for St George Hospital confirmed that a 21-year-old man was treated for a redback bite. The redback spider, closely related to the black widow spider, is distinguished by a long red stripe on its abdomen. The spider's bite causes severe pain, sweating and nausea. The BBC spoke to the owners of the property who confirmed that the man had been bitten on the penis as described in media reports. He was later discharged from hospital in a stable condition. Although there are recorded cases of deaths from redback bites, none have occurred since the development of antivenom in 1956.

Summary: An Australian man has taken himself to hospital after a venomous redback spider bit him on the penis.


The woman alleges the former TV star and artist assaulted her at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London in 1977. The woman told the trial "it was like a hawk pouncing on his prey" as Mr Harris spread his hands over her body. Mr Harris, appearing at Southwark Crown Court via video link from Stafford Jail, denies seven charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault. The woman, who has been disabled since birth, was totally blind and had to walk with a stick when the indecent assault allegedly took place. She was 27 at the time and a jury was told how the incident left her feeling "absolutely invaded". In a pre-recorded interview from July 2014, the court heard her recall hearing a door to the hospital room she was in opening and recognising the voice of the TV star, whom she had been expecting to meet. She said she remembered feeling hot air from Mr Harris's nostrils and his beard tickling the back of her neck after he approached "from absolutely nowhere", and could tell he was getting excited as his breathing got heavier, the court heard. "I have never met anyone who could spread their hands across my body so quickly," she said. "They covered all my back really really fast and he got his hands going up both sides of my body and he was saying, 'Well don't you like this then?' and I said 'No I don't like it. Nobody has ever touched me like this, get off'." He then allegedly replied: "Well you can't see me." The complainant, who has two full-time carers, went on: "What annoyed me was that I just could not escape, and being blind I couldn't always tell where he was. "I was completely and utterly trapped." The woman said: "One (complainant) later described him as an octopus. I thought 'that's exactly what it felt like with his arms and fingers spread as far as he could spread them'." The woman said the way he had allegedly taken "advantage" of her was "as degrading as it gets". She went on: "No-one has ever behaved like that to me in my life and I want to say even my husband, at his most passionate times, never covered my body in a way that he has done." The alleged victim said she repeatedly asked Harris to stop touching her and at one point he replied: "Don't be like that, I'm only being friendly." She then said she grabbed his fingers and bent them back in a bid to stop the entertainer squeezing her breasts. She said he allegedly responded: "'I can't get to you now'." The court heard how after the alleged assault, she spent a while with Mr Harris in the room during which he spent a few moments teaching her how to play the didgeridoo he had brought. Wearing a black suit and black-and-white tie Mr Harris appeared via video link from Stafford Prison where he is serving a sentence for a series of offences of indecent assault carried out on four

Summary: A blind, disabled woman felt "utterly trapped" by Rolf Harris as he groped her, a court has heard.


The two English players shared the first four frames before O'Sullivan hit a 124 clearance to edge ahead in the semi-final in Cardiff. O'Sullivan, a three-time champion, then made breaks of 94 and 88 to lead 5-2 before winning with a 78. Australia's Robertson beat Northern Ireland's Mark Allen 6-4 to reach his second final, to be played on Sunday. Robertson, the 2007 champion, had trailed 2-0 in the best-of-11 frame match, but won the crucial third frame after a foul by Allen, of Northern Ireland. The world number three then won five consecutive frames to lead 5-2 and withstood a comeback by Allen to reach the final. Speaking after the semi-final, O'Sullivan, 40, compared Robertson to cinematic cyborg law enforcer RoboCop. "I have watched him through the UK Championships and he never showed emotion through the whole tournament, " O'Sullivan told BBC Sport, ahead of the best-of-17 final. "It shows what an unbelievable professional he is. He is Robocop, he is like the new Steve Davis or Stephen Hendry." Robertson, 34, believes O'Sullivan is the favourite for the title. "I don't mind flying under the radar," he added. "It is nice, I can be the underdog."

Summary: Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Joe Perry 6-3 to reach the Welsh Open final where he will play Neil Robertson.


8 November 2016 Last updated at 10:40 GMT It's about 30 metres long and it's thought it may have been caused by work on an underground train line in the city of Fukuoka on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. It began with two smaller holes that grew steadily until they formed one huge crater. Nobody has been hurt by the sinkhole but it has affected power, water, and gas supplies. People who live and work nearby have been evacuated. Check out this video.

Summary: Check out this giant sinkhole in a road in Japan!


The match was abandoned in the second half after a brawl involving players and staff, with Russia's Igor Akinfeev having earlier been struck by a flare. The Montenegrin FA (FSCG) has been charged with holding a match that was not played in full, while both the FSCG and Football Union of Russia have been charged with the throwing of fireworks and other missiles by fans. Russia have lodged a formal complaint with Uefa, demanding they be awarded victory from a match that was 0-0 when it was abandoned by German referee Deniz Aytekin. Goalkeeper Akinfeev was stuck on the head by a flare in the first minute of the Group G clash at the Gradski Stadion, leaving the field on a stretcher. He was taken to hospital in the Montenegrin capital with a neck injury and minor burns, but was discharged after an examination determined he had no major injuries. Following a delay of more than 30 minutes, the match restarted but it was abandoned on 67 minutes when fighting broke out after Russia midfielder Roman Shirokov's penalty was saved and team-mate Dmitri Kombarov was struck by a missile. Russia and Montenegro, who included Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic in their starting line-up, are tied on five points in the group.

Summary: Uefa has charged the Montenegrin and Russian football associations following the abandonment of Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier in Podgorica.


The Cardiff teenager, fresh from his A-levels, bowled top-scorer Ben Duckett for 80 with the ball before lunch, and later ran through the lower order, finishing with 5-28. Earlier Duckett and Rob Newton (78) had put on 140 for the first wicket. Glamorgan reached 23-0 in 11 overs by the close of play. Northants had looked set for a substantial total as Duckett and Newton sailed along at more than four runs an over against some bowling of variable quality. But no-one after the openers made a real contribution as the home side lost their last nine wickets for 84 runs. Carlson, who was picked mainly for his batting, bowled his first three victims and had two caught at cover, while another young spinner, Owen Morgan, took two wickets. Carlson studied at Whitchurch High School, known for producing Welsh sports stars Gareth Bale, Sam Warburton and Geraint Thomas, and has a place at Cardiff University in 2017 after gaining three A grades in his A levels. Glamorgan's Kiran Carlson told BBC Wales Sport: "I was playing in a second-team game at Newport and was told Mesch (Craig Meschede) had failed a fitness test so I had to get to Northampton, it was amazing. "I'm a batsman by trade and bowl a bit of part-time spin but today it came off, I wasn't expecting to bowl but that one over before lunch saw a bit of spin. "From there I knew I was going to have to play my part in the game- to make my debut as a batter and get a five-wicket haul was a bit mad, but I'm really happy. "(At Whitchurch School) they promote sport so much and if you're elite in your sport they just love it and let you get on with training." Northants opener Ben Duckett told BBC Radio Northampton: "From the position we were in, it's a pretty poor total after a good start with 140 for one, to collapse like that. "I thought it was a flat wicket, there was only the odd one in the morning that turned from the left-arm spinner (Morgan), then the right-arm offie (Carlson) on debut ended up getting a five-for but there were a few poor shots including myself. "We can definitely keep them below 269 if we bowl well with the spinners, the first-innings lead could be very important for us because if the wicket's doing that on day one, I don't know what it'll be like on day three."

Summary: 18-year-old Kiran Carlson enjoyed a dream Championship debut for Glamorgan, claiming five wickets with his spin as Northants stumbled to 269 all out.


Stephen Clarke, 59, of Wednesdbury, admitted causing the death of Farzana Kousar, 39, by dangerous driving. The High Court in Glasgow heard how his Mercedes Sprinter van drifted across the carriageway and killed her. Judge Lord Boyd deferred sentence until 30 January at the High Court in Edinburgh and continued Clarke's bail. The court was told Clarke had travelled more than 200 miles before ploughing into the car which mother-of-four Ms Kousar was in on the hard shoulder of the motorway on 22 December 2014. She was getting out of the passenger door to check the car because the engine was overheating when she was struck. She repeatedly said "I'm dying" while lying injured on the road before she lost her life. The court heard self-employed Clarke was a courier driver with UK Express Logistics, sub-contracted since August that year. Advocate depute Bruce Erroch told the court he had left Coventry at about 01:20 and stopped at Southwaite services at about 05:00. Clarke was on his way to Glasgow when the collision happened on the motorway where Ms Kousar was a passenger in a car parked on the hard shoulder. She had opened the door of the car and was making her way out of the Toyota at about 05:30. Just before her car stopped, a lorry driver, Frank Keiller, saw Clarke's van overtake him then "drift into the middle lane" forcing him to brake. Mr Erroch said: "The van drifted back out again and then into the hard shoulder. "Mr Keiller saw Clarke's van appear to 'jolt' and accelerate during these manoeuvres, causing him to think that the driver was asleep. "Clarke accepts that he was indeed falling asleep at this point of his journey and that he had fallen asleep at the point of collision." Clarke's van veered fully into the hard shoulder and struck the Toyota, sending it into a spin before it ended up in the middle lane. Immediately after the crash, passers-by stopped to help and Craig Usher saw Ms Kousar lying on the road. The court heard the driver of the car was uninjured and Ms Kousar was able to tell Mr Usher that she had pain in her back and that she was dying. She lost consciousness and, despite efforts by Mr Usher to save her, paramedics pronounced her dead at 06:11. Clarke told those nearby: "Oh God, what have I done? Is she dead? I didn't see the car." He told police he was the driver of the van and said: "I don't think I was on the hard shoulder. I may have been. I hope not." In March this year, during a police interview, he was asked if he had fallen asleep and said: "I hope not. I don't think I did. I'm not going to say I didn't." A post-mortem examination revealed Ms Kousar's cause of death was chest injuries due to the collision. Defence counsel Matthew Jackson said the working practices of the sub-contracting firm were investigated after a similar fatal crash near the same area took place a month earlier.

Summary: A court has heard how a van driver from the West Midlands fell asleep at the wheel causing the death of a Glasgow woman on the A74(M) near Lockerbie.