Alan Mason, 45, of Endmoor, Kendal, knew he had the virus for five years when he started a sexual relationship with the woman, from Barrow. Carlisle Crown Court heard he only told her when she began to feel unwell after contracting the disease herself. He was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting causing the woman, 39, grievous bodily harm. After the hearing, Det Con Damian West, of Cumbria Police, said: "This is a unique case for Cumbria and the sentencing imposed highlights the disregard Mason had for his actions. "Even though the victim has to live with this virus, modern medication means there should be no impact on life expectancy. "However, the virus has a significant day to day impact on those who have to live with it."

Summary: A Cumbrian man who is HIV positive has been jailed for infecting his former partner with the virus.


The department alleges that the funds were "misappropriated" and though it did not name PM Najib Razak directly, he is identifiable in the suit as someone whose account allegedly received huge sums. He has in the past denied wrongdoing. Mr Najib set up 1MDB in 2009 to turn Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub, but it missed debt payments in 2015. The US justice department alleges the "misappropriated" funds financed lavish lifestyles of "multiple individuals including public officials". There is no allegation that Mr Najib spent any of the money but people close to him are accused of using billions of dollars to buy jewellery, art and luxury properties; pay gambling expenses; and hire musicians and celebrities to attend parties. Malaysia's 'most investigated' company 1MDB: The case that's riveting Malaysia The court papers, filed in Los Angeles, allege that money was laundered through accounts in the US. If successful the US justice department would seize assets, including property in the US, UK and Switzerland. The $1bn would only make up a proportion of the money that was allegedly diverted, which comes to more than $3.5bn (£2.6bn). Mr Najib's stepson, Riza Aziz, is named in the court papers, which were filed in Los Angeles. Mr Riza produced the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Wolf of Wall Street. A Malaysian financier and two Abu Dhabi government officials are also among those named. A spokesperson for the prime minister said: "The Malaysian Government will fully co-operate with any lawful investigation of Malaysian companies or citizens in accordance with international protocols. "As the prime minister has always maintained, if any wrongdoing is proven, the law will be enforced without exception." The fund started to attract attention in early 2015 when it missed payments for the $11bn it owed to banks and bondholders. The Wall Street Journal (ESJ) reported it had seen a paper trail that allegedly traced close to $700m from the troubled fund to Mr Najib's personal bank accounts. 1MDB said in a statement last year that it had never given money to the prime minister and called the claims "unsubstantiated". It has repeatedly stated that the company has assets worth more than its debts. Mr Najib has denied taking money from 1MDB or any public funds.

Summary: The US Department of Justice has moved to seize more than $1bn (£761m) from Malaysia's state fund 1MDB.


Today, fossil fuel power stations are usually built with towers that emit vapour as well as greenhouse gases into the air. Special Report: The Technology of Business Make-It-Yourself: The rise of the micro-manufacturers Could high-end camping gear save lives around the world? Could renting Fido make you rich? The maps transforming how we interact with the world Is 'mind control' now a reality? But what if a new kind of power station could create electricity without belching harmful gases into the air? Despite the development of renewable technologies, fossil fuels are still used to generate the overwhelming majority of the world's power, and it is likely they will continue to do so for many years. In the US, about 70% of the country's electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. Other major economies, such as China, are even more dependent. But now Net Power, based in the US state of North Carolina, believes it can redesign the power plant so it can still run on coal or natural gas, but without releasing harmful fumes. Rodney Allam, chief technologist at 8 Rivers Capital, which owns Net Power, says: "The perception has been that to avoid emissions of [carbon dioxide] CO2, we have to get rid of fossil fuels. "But unfortunately, fossil fuels represent over 70% of the fuel that's consumed in the world and the idea that you can get rid of that in any meaningful sense is a pipe dream." The Net Power system is different from currently operating power plants because carbon dioxide, normally produced as waste when making electricity, would become a key ingredient when burning the fuel. A brief history of climate change Carbon dioxide would be put into the Net Power combustor at a very high temperature and pressure along with the fuel, such as natural gas or coal, and oxygen. Using the carbon dioxide as a so-called working fluid - used to make the turbine function - it would pass through the system in a loop, to be recycled and used again. Mr Allam says: "I've developed a system where we can actually make use of the impurity itself to try and assist the removal of that impurity from the power system." In addition, Net Power believes its technology would be cheaper to operate than current power stations. Mr Allam says: "It was my ambition to create a cycle which would be cheaper - or at least as cheap - as existing technology without CO2 capture, and yet go for 100% CO2 capture." The system is geared to enable a process called carbon capture and storage (CCS), which would see the excess carbon dioxide from the fuel combustion funnelled into a pipeline or a tanker instead of being released into the air. Mr Allam says that because the whole cycle happens at a high pressure of about 320 atmospheres, the gas emerges with a pressure and level of purity that is "capture ready" - or ideal for storage. This is different from the carbon dioxide produced by other kinds of power plants, which is mixed with gases such

Summary: Could the smoke stack of a power station soon be a thing of the past?


Made by local volunteers, it gives a simulated experience of flying over the Milford Haven waterway. It has taken two years to build and has been funded by a grant from the Ministry of Defence. A large-scale model of an entire flying boat was also unveiled at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre. The RAF's Air Officer for Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams, said: "Pembroke Dock is really important to the history of the Sunderland, and although there's a full-scale Sunderland aircraft in the RAF Museum at Hendon, what we've done here in Pembroke Dock is really unique."

Summary: A centre which celebrates Pembrokeshire's wartime history has unveiled a full size replica cockpit of a Sunderland flying boat.


Okja, starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, had been booed by some in the audience after the Netflix logo appeared at the beginning. But it then became clear the film was playing in the wrong aspect ratio. The film has been controversial because producer Netflix has refused to screen it in French cinemas. After the jeers, the movie was stopped and restarted without explanation. Some film journalists in the screening uploaded videos of the heckling on social media. The BBC's Lauren Turner, who was at the screening, said: "There was shouting from the upper seats and it became apparent the aspect ratio was wrong, so they restarted it after about 10 minutes. "The second time around the audience booed the Netflix logo again. But there was also some cheering at the same time and a warm round of applause at the end." A statement from the Cannes Film Festival said: "This incident was entirely the responsibility of the Festival's technical service, which offers its apologies to the director and his team, to the producers and the audience." On Thursday, there was also some booing when the Amazon logo came up at the beginning of Wonderstruck, which stars Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. Earlier this week, Cannes jury chair Pedro Almodovar said he agreed that films should have to be screened in cinemas if producers want them to be considered. Indiewire film critic David Ehrlich tweeted: "Okja starts, huge boos at Netflix logo. Then film plays in wrong aspect ratio and Grand Lumiere almost rioted. Movie stopped." The Telegraph's Robbie Collin wrote: "Cannes making an A+ case for the primacy of the cinema experience by projecting the first ten mins of Okja in the wrong aspect ratio." Blogger Elena Lazic said: "That didn't start well. Screen not open properly, significantly cropped at top... the boos at the Netflix logo were immediately followed by boos at the terrible projection." The film is a South Korean-American adventure movie about a young girl named Mija who tries to prevent a multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend, a genetically engineered super-pig named Okja. Speaking after the film, director Bong Joon Ho said he "loved working with Netflix", adding it was a luxury to be given such a huge budget for it. Swinton said: "It's an enormous and really interesting conversation that's beginning. But I think, as in many matters, there's room for everybody." Gyllenhaal added: "It's important to have artistic expression in whatever form we can. "Debate is essential always. It's a useful thing to have this discussion about how art is perceived and distributed." Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: A screening at the Cannes Film Festival had to be stopped after technical problems during the first few minutes of the film.


Baroness Nuala O'Loan, who was Northern Ireland's first police ombudsman, said the issues must be dealt with separately. She said victims were being held "to ransom" during the political stalemate. "If you choose between the ability of people to get prosthetic limbs and welfare reform, that to me is totally morally wrong," she said. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, she accused both the Westminster government and Stormont's devolved government of failing to play their part in resolving ongoing problems caused by the Troubles. Baroness O'Loan said victims who had conflict-related injuries were not getting the financial support needed because of the budget row over welfare reform. "We have people today who are suffering a great deal, we need resources and we need progress on the past in order to enable the present," she said. The former police ombudsman also said ongoing sectarian violence was the result of failure to deal with Northern Ireland's troubled past. "People can think that we're at peace, but we had three deaths last year, we had 94 shootings, we had 26 bombing incidents, 58 firearms recovered. We still have a state of conflict and we need to work as a society towards reconciliation. "The British government need to play their part and our own government need to play their part and I don't think either are doing it at the moment." Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said Ms O'Loan's "argument" had "some merit". "At the start of the Haass talks two years ago, I argued that we should steer well clear of this formula, and bank agreements as we progressed," he said. "I made the same pitch at the start of the Stormont House process, sadly without success, and as a result, victims and survivors once again find themselves in limbo, listening to rumours of the possibility of real progress in service provision, but unaware of the real prospects for actual delivery, not least in the area of better mental health and wellbeing." Mr Nesbitt said Ms O'Loan's intervention had come "hot on the heels" of speculation in a media briefing that the UK government was considering implementing singular aspects of the agreement. "This all has the whiff of softening up the public for a side deal being brought forward over and above the heads of the five Executive parties," he said. "Our concerns over side deals was one of the reasons the Ulster Unionist Party felt unable to fully support the Stormont House Agreement last December, and as time passes, the wisdom of that decision appears to strengthen by the day." The Westminster government had agreed a number of new measures to address Troubles legacy issues during last December's Stormont House Agreement. However, the deal has been in jeopardy since March, when Sinn FÃ©in withdrew its support after a row over how future welfare claims would be dealt with.

Summary: It is "immoral" for the government to refuse to deal with Troubles legacy problems unless welfare reform is agreed, a former watchdog has said.


He joins 13 other contenders in the crowded race. Mr O'Leary, who appears on the reality show Shark Tank in the US and Dragon's Den in Canada, has been seriously exploring a bid since December. He has drawn comparisons to Donald Trump for both his TV and business background and his boastful tendencies. Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper stepped down as party leader in November 2015 after losing the federal election to the Trudeau Liberals. Conservatives pick their new leader on 27 May. Mr O'Leary, a Montreal-born investor and entrepreneur, is pitching himself as the business-minded, fiscally conservative candidate in the packed field of hopefuls. "I am a successful Canadian businessman with a great deal of international experience," Mr O'Leary said in a media statement. "I am the only candidate who can beat Justin Trudeau." He is also positioning himself as the only contender who can stand up to US President-elect Donald Trump on cross-border issues like trade. While he has repeatedly praised Mr Trump and his tactics in interviews, Mr O'Leary has avoided the anti-immigrant rhetoric used by the American real estate magnate during the campaign and has said he does not support many of his policies. Mr O'Leary, born to Lebanese and Irish immigrants, has also criticised a proposal by fellow Conservative leadership contender Kellie Leitch to screen all immigrants for "Canadian values" as "un-Canadian". Still, there are inescapable similarities between the two celebrity businessmen. Mr O'Leary is a self-promoting political outsider with no experience in elected office. He can be pointed on Twitter and has taken to referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a "surfer dude" on the social platform. The Shark Tank cast member is known to float unconventional ideas, including a recent proposal to let people buy seats in the Senate, the un-elected upper house of Parliament. He has been publicly toying with the idea of running to lead the Conservative party for months. Other candidates have been taking shots at him on the campaign trail, including Lisa Raitt, a veteran politician who launched a "Stop Kevin O'Leary" website earlier this month and has targeted him for his "irresponsible populism". He has also been criticised for not speaking French, one of Canada's official languages. Bilingualism is convention among the country's political leaders. Over seven millions Canadians, mostly in the province of Quebec, speak French as their mother-tongue. The Canadian mogul made his run official the day after the French-language only leadership debate in Quebec City. Rona Ambrose, a former Cabinet minister, is serving as interim Conservative leader until the party election in May.

Summary: Canadian businessman and reality TV star Kevin O'Leary is running for the leadership of the federal Conservative party.


Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin agreed over the phone to meet in person, Mr Erdogan's office said. The call came after Turkey expressed "regret" earlier this week to Mr Putin and to the family of the Russian pilot killed in the incident. The fighter jet was shot down near the Syria-Turkey border in November. Turkey claimed that the jet was warned repeatedly after entering Turkish airspace, a claim fiercely denied by Russian officials. In the call, Mr Putin also called an attack on Istanbul's Ataturk on Tuesday "heinous". A spokesman for Mr Erdogan said on Wednesday that "necessary steps" would now be taken to mend the damaged ties between the two countries, and to drop restrictive measures on Russians visiting Turkey. "Reiterating their commitment to reinvigorate bilateral relations and fight terrorism together, the two leaders agreed to remain in contact and meet in person," he said. Turkey angered Moscow in the aftermath of the incident by failing to apologise, despite demands from Russian officials. Mr Putin said he had been stabbed in the back and accused Mr Erdogan of collaborating with so-called Islamic State. Russia responding by hitting Turkey with a raft of sanctions, banning import of Turkish foodstuffs and stopping Russian package holidays to Turkey. Mr Putin said at the time the restrictions would not be lifted until Russia received an apology. The Russian Su-24, an all-weather attack aircraft, was flying in skies above the Turkey-Syria border area on 24 November when it was shot down by Turkish F-16s. The plane crashed in the mountainous Jabal Turkmen area of the Syrian province of Latakia, killing the pilot. A Russian marine involved in a helicopter rescue attempt was killed when the helicopter came under fire from local fighters. The navigator in the jet, Capt Konstantin Murakhtin, survived the crash and was taken to Russia's Hmeimim airbase in Latakia by Syrian government forces. Turkey said planes were warned 10 times during five minutes via an "emergency" channel and asked to change direction. The Russian defence ministry insisted that the aircraft remained within Syria's borders throughout its mission and did not violate Turkish airspace and received no warnings.

Summary: The leaders of Turkey and Russia have spoken for the first time since the downing of a Russian military jet by Turkey sparked a diplomatic crisis.


The UN usually decides to call off search and rescue attempts between five and seven days after a disaster, once no-one has been saved for a day or two - but people have been known to survive for much longer. In 1995, Park Seung Hyun was pulled from the wreckage of a collapsed supermarket in Seoul, South Korea, 16 days after it collapsed and in January 2004, Shahr-Banu Mazandarani, an Iranian woman in her 90s was rescued after nine days buried in the rubble of her home after the Bam earthquake. In one extraordinary case in December 2005, a 40-year-old woman was found buried in what had been her kitchen in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, more than two months after an earthquake hit the region. Doctors said it was a miracle that Naqsha Bibi had survived so long in a space so small she could not move. Julie Ryan, a co-ordinator with UK-based group International Rescue Corps (IRC), says that survival largely depends on what happens the moment the quake first hits. "The ideal situation is you have become trapped and entombed but have some sort of oxygen supply from the outside world, are not injured and also have some sort of access to water," she told the BBC. "You have usually managed to get yourselves into some sort of void where you are enclosed by the building but it doesn't injure you." She said an IRC team rescued three boys who had been buried in the ruins of their school for five days after the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005. "They were laid flat on backs next to each other, with the ceiling touching their noses but totally unhurt," she said. Another boy alongside them had died. After so long in the dark, rescue teams had to cover the boys' eyes as they pulled them out, to protect them from the strong sunlight. Dr Tejsrhi Shah of Medecins Sans Frontieres says many of those injured in earthquakes are so badly hurt they would not reach medical care. But she says that if people are trapped, "just the immobility will reduce your chance of survival". Being unable to move or having injuries to limbs can lead to crush syndrome, she says, where blood flow to the limbs is disrupted. When the crush is removed, a build-up of toxins floods the body and it is unable to cope. Earthquake rescue: How survivors are found "It causes renal damage and shock, people are in agony with the pain and have a high risk of developing renal failure if don't get urgent medical care," she said. Dr Shah says there are reports of people surviving in rubble even longer than two weeks, but such cases are "incredibly rare". "The chances of getting someone out alive decreases with each day," she says. Being trapped in a confined space also means a rising temperature and an increase in carbon dioxide, which, if it reaches too high a level, leads to suffocation. Search teams monitor for rising levels of CO2 in a building - a rise means someone is trapped

Summary: The BBC's Anna Jones examines how people survive in the rubble after an earthquake - and what dictates the duration of search operations.


The M48 Severn Bridge has been shut due to strong winds and an overturned lorry near junction 2 on the A466 (Chepstow), affecting nearby M4 traffic. Arriva Trains Wales reported speed restrictions on some services in north Wales due to the adverse weather. BBC Wales forecaster Sue Charles said 20-40mm of rain was likely with gusts of 80mph possible along exposed coasts due to Storm Gertrude. The Met Office yellow "be aware" warning for strong wind covers north and mid Wales until 18:00 GMT with heavy rain forecast across Wales. Check if this is affecting your journey

Summary: There are weather warnings for winds of up to 80mph and heavy rain on Friday.


The Super League side moved from their Willows home in 2012 after 110 years at their former ground. Former dual-code Wales international Harris, 39, had a 17-month stint as head coach at Salford. "Growing up and playing against Salford for many years, they were always a passionate club," he said. Harris told Rugby League Extra: "I think what's been a big struggle for them is the move to a new stadium. "Part of what was symbolic with Salford whenever I went there was the stadium - although it was creaking, it still had that home feel about it and you're in Salford. "I'm not sure the new stadium has got that and I'm not sure that Salford, as a club, have quite got the identity which they probably had 10 years ago. "It's whether they can recapture that identity of what Salford was, because the fans are fantastic. "If they can capture that identity again, I think that's how they can improve."

Summary: Salford Red Devils have lost some of their identity after their move to the AJ Bell Stadium, says former head coach Iestyn Harris.


Nine Madryn Street, Toxteth, where the drummer lived until he was four, is among 271 homes which are due to be cleared under regeneration plans. Housing Minister Grant Shapps had asked for alternative plans to be considered to renovate the homes. The communities secretary still needs to approve the plans before demolition. Eric Pickles is considering a request by campaigners for a full environmental assessment before the area is razed. The street is one of several known as the Welsh Streets, which were built in the late 19th Century when there was an influx of Welsh people who came to Liverpool to work as dockers. At a planning meeting at Liverpool Town Hall earlier, residents of the streets pleaded with the council to knock down what they called "damp slums" and replace them with modern homes. Opponents of the demolition said the streets had historical importance to Beatles fans as well as potential tourist value. The childhood homes of John Lennon - Mendips, in Menlove Avenue - and Sir Paul McCartney - in Forthlin Road - are preserved as tourist attractions supported by the National Trust. George Harrison's Arnold Grove childhood home remains a private house. A request for the Madryn Street house to be put under a preservation order was turned down by English Heritage last year, which ruled the property had no associations with the success of the Beatles as a group. Liverpool City Council Leader Joe Anderson said the area was in dire need of regeneration. He said: "A majority of the local community have expressed support for our plans since we started consulting on this plan over a decade ago. "They are sick of living in poky, damp infested properties. They want and deserve decent, modern homes with gardens and space for a car and are exasperated and frustrated at the delays to this scheme." He added: "I pledged last year that if a developer came forward with a viable proposal to retain the Welsh Streets then we would look seriously at their plans. I am sorry to say that this has not happened. "It is simply not fair to keep the local community in limbo any longer. "People have been voting with their feet for years and moving away from the Welsh Streets which is why the housing market in the area has completely collapsed." Irene Milson, chair of the tenants' and residents' association, said of the decision to demolish the house: "I can't explain, I really can't explain, it's jubilation. "It's been 10 years of hard work from the start to now, I just can't put it into words." However Phillip Coppell, chairman of the Save Madryn Street campaign, said the fight was not yet over. He said: "Demolition is not a foregone conclusion. We have people waiting in the wings who are prepared to redevelop the area and refurbish so we are still hopeful. "It is an important part of the heritage trail. There are lots of plans to demolish the whole area but we believe that we should keep not only Ringo's house but

Summary: Plans to demolish Beatle Ringo Starr's birthplace have been approved by Liverpool City Council, despite opposition from a government minister.


The 51-year-old Welshman was only appointed in May, but the club are 16th in the table after Saturday's 4-0 home defeat by Swindon Town. Saunders lost 11 of his 20 league games in charge, and the Spireites are only four points above the relegation zone. Chairman Dave Allen said: "We will not be rushed into making a decision on a new manager." Chesterfield's last league victory was a 3-0 win over Southend on 20 October, and they have lost their last four games. Saunders succeeded Paul Cook as Spireites manager, signing a two-year contract. Cook had guided the Derbyshire side to the League One play-offs, where they lost to Preston, before leaving to take over at Portsmouth. Former Wales international Saunders had previously managed Wrexham, Doncaster Rovers and Wolves, and ended last season in interim charge of Crawley Town, but was unable to stop them being relegated to League Two.

Summary: League One side Chesterfield have parted company with boss Dean Saunders after just six months in charge.


Simon Walker, head of the Institute of Directors (IoD), told the BBC that Sir Philip Green had a moral responsibility to the retailer's staff. The IoD normally promotes the cause of business, but Mr Walker said there were still many unanswered questions. Sir Philip is due to give his side of the story to MPs later this month. It was announced on Thursday that the department store will be wound down with the loss of up to 11,000 jobs after efforts to find a buyer failed. BHS, sold by Sir Philip last year for £1 to former racing driver Dominic Chappell, went into administration in April. Mr Walker told the BBC's Today programme that the collapse of BHS "has the potential to be deeply damaging to the reputation of British business". He said: "We spend a lot of time agonising about the loss of trust in the business community, and I think we can see why this is. I think there is a lamentable failure of behaviour and there are a lot of questions that need to be asked." Asked if he could defend Sir Philip's handling of the company, Mr Walker replied: "No, I can't." Sir Philip, he said, has "moral responsibilities" over the demise of the firm and plight of the pension scheme. The billionaire owner of the Arcadia retail empire has been accused of taking money out of BHS while the pension fund sank deep into deficit. Mr Walker said: "You can't just get yourself off the hook by selling a business to someone who's been bankrupt three times and is a former racing driver with no retail experience." He acknowledged that "BHS was probably going to fail anyway", but added: "It's the manner of its failure and the fact that it ends up dumping huge liabilities on to the taxpayer that is a problem, and it is the lack of due diligence in selling it (to Mr Chappell)... something's wrong". Two Commons select committees are holding hearings into the demise of BHS, and Sir Philip, Mr Chappell and other directors are due to give evidence later this month. Sir Philip said on Thursday that he was "saddened and disappointed" by the biggest retail collapse since Woolworths in 2008. A spokesman said the owner of the Topshop chain had hoped to see the company sold as a going concern. 163 stores to close 11,000 jobs at risk, including: 8,000 members of staff and 3,000 non-BHS employees who work in the stores Arcadia advisers have previously said that the business was sold to a company, not an individual, and that they were presented with a credible business plan. BHS's administrators Duff & Phelps said on Thursday that they had failed to find a buyer and that all 163 stores would be holding closing sales over the coming weeks. The jobs of 8,000 members of staff are likely to go, while a further 3,000 jobs of non-BHS employees who work in the stores may also be at risk. John Hannett, of the retail union Usdaw, said there were "serious questions about

Summary: A business leader has accused the former owners of BHS of "lamentable failures", saying its collapse has fuelled public distrust of UK plc.


In addition to the ban for single women, married women can only freeze their eggs in specific circumstances - for instance when they are to undergo chemotherapy, state media say. The ban is not new but caught attention after news that actress Xu Jinglei had gone to the US to have her eggs frozen. Many have ridiculed the ban and described it as sexist. The debate began in July, after Xu Jinglei, 41, said that she had frozen her ova, or egg cells, in the US in 2013. The 41-year-old, who is considered one of China's "Big Four" actresses, said she had taken the decision because she might want children in the future. Then on Sunday, state-run broadcaster CCTV ran a report on the subject, which highlighted some of the risks associated with the procedure and said the ban was "in accordance with family planning policies". The report triggered a barrage of criticism on Chinese social media, with close to 33,000 comments on CCTV's weibo (microblog) thread alone, and more than 11 million views for hashtags related to the subject. "We don't even have control over own own ovaries anymore!" user "Kitty is a Lace Lover" wrote. "Its meaning is that unmarried women don't have the right to reproduce," user Fish girl wrote. Many questioned why China allowed male sperm donors, but prevented women from freezing their eggs, while others mocked the ban as an attempt to force more women to marry and have children in a hurry. "This ban should help the men that no one wants!" one user wrote. There are fewer limitations on the storage of sperm in China. State media say the restrictions are designed to combat a black market in human eggs, and have stressed the possible health risks associated with the procedure. China introduced its one-child policy at the end of the 1970s to curb rapid population growth - but eased the policy in 2013 amid concerns over the country's ageing population.

Summary: There has been intense debate in China over a controversial ban on single women freezing their eggs.


Newly promoted Bristol City host Reading as they get the top-flight season under way on the previous day. Teams will play each other just once in a one-off, transitional competition before the WSL's switch to a winter calendar for 2017-18. For top-flight teams, the league runs over six weeks until Saturday, 3 June. The WSL 2 Spring Series starts on 11 February with a game between London Bees and Brighton, who are making their debut after promotion, and concludes on Sunday, 21 May. There will be no promotion or relegation at the end of the Spring Series, but trophies will be awarded to each division's winner. "It's set to be an exciting few months for the domestic women's game with clubs competing for this one-off trophy and the Women's FA Cup final in May," said FA director of football participation and development Kelly Simmons. "It's important that we keep building this momentum ahead of the Euros and for the return of the WSL in September." WSL 1 Saturday, 22 April, 18:00 BST: Bristol City v Reading Sunday, 23 April, 14:00 BST: Birmingham City v Sunderland, Manchester City v Chelsea, Yeovil Town v Liverpool TBC (22 or 23 April depending on venue confirmation) - Arsenal v Notts County WSL 2 Saturday, 11 February, 14:00 GMT: London Bees v Brighton & Hove Albion Sunday, 12 February, 12:00 GMT: Durham v Millwall Lionesses Sunday, 12 February, 14:00 GMT: Aston Villa v Watford, Oxford United v Everton, Sheffield FC v Doncaster Rovers Belles

Summary: Women's Super League One champions Manchester City will start their Spring Series campaign at home to 2016 runners-up Chelsea on Sunday, 23 April.


It is up for six Razzies - including worst picture, worst director, worst actor and worst actress. Jupiter Ascending, Pixels, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 also have six nods each for the Golden Raspberry Awards, to be announced next month. The awards launched in 1980 as a spoof of the Oscars. Nominees for the Razzies have been named the day before the Oscars shortlist is announced. Superhero film Fantastic Four, sci-fi adventure Jupiter Ascending, comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and Adam Sandler's video game film Pixels complete the line-up for worst picture. Fifty Shades of Grey, the film version of EL James' erotic novel detailing the sadomasochistic affair between student Anastasia Steele and billionaire Christian Grey, is also nominated for worst screenplay. Its stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are cited for worst screen combo. Sam Taylor-Johnson, nominated as worst director, has since pulled out of directing its planned two sequels. The next Fifty Shades film is due for release next year. Sandler is Razzie-nominated for a fifth consecutive year and could pick up awards for worst actor, for Pixels and The Cobbler, and worst screen combo, for "Adam Sandler and any pair of shoes" in the latter film. Eddie Redmayne, tipped for an Oscar nomination for his role in The Danish Girl, is in contention for worst supporting actor for playing villain Balem Abrasax in Jupiter Ascending. Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum are nominated for worst actress and worst actor for the Andy and Lana Wachowski-directed film. Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow gets a worst actress nod for comedy heist Mortdecai - with co-star Johnny Depp scoring two nominations, for worst actor and worst screen combo for his partnership with his glued-on moustache. It isn't all bad news for the nominees however, with the Razzie Redeemer Awards rewarding previous Golden Raspberry recipients who have gone on to do good work in the past year. Nominees for that prize include Sylvester Stallone, for his Golden Globe-winning role as Rocky Balboa in Creed, director Elizabeth Banks for Pitch Perfect 2, M. Night Shyamalan for directing horror film The Visit and Will Smith for Concussion. The winners will be announced in Hollywood on 27 February - the day before the Oscars ceremony - having been voted for online by around 900 members of the Razzies committee. Those "honoured" for the worst films of the past 12 months will win a gold spray-painted trophy worth $4.97 (£3.44) if they bother turning up - but unlike the Oscars, the winners usually stay away. Sandra Bullock is among those who have attended the ceremony - showing up with DVDs of All About Steve to hand to the audience after being named worst actress in 2010.

Summary: The contenders for the worst films of the year have been announced, with Fifty Shades of Grey dominating the nominations.


The worst-affected state was Puebla in central Mexico, where at least 28 people were killed after torrential rains set off mudslides. Puebla Governor Rafael Moreno Valle said dogs had been brought in to search for those missing. Officials said some outlying areas had not yet been reached. At least 40 people have been confirmed dead after Tropical Storm Earl moved over Mexico on Saturday. Earl had earlier hit Belize and Guatemala in Central America. But it was in the Mexican states of Puebla, Veracruz and Hidalgo where its heavy rains caused most damage. Among those killed in Puebla were 15 children who died when their homes were buried by mud which slid down the rain-soaked hills. A whole hill collapsed near Huauchinango, sweeping down on a nearby village. "It is a tragedy what has happened to our people in Huauchinango," Mayor Gabriel Alvarado said. About two hundred people were left homeless in the state of Puebla alone. In neighbouring Veracruz, 11 people were killed and in Hidalgo a 15-year-old died in hospital after being pulled from the mud. More than 10,000 people were affected and 18 villages remained cut off in the eastern state. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned of another storm approaching Mexico. It said Tropical Storm Javier could strengthen into a hurricane by Monday afternoon local time. "On the forecast track, the centre of the tropical cyclone should pass near or over the southwest coast of Mexico later today, and approach the southern portion of Baja California peninsula on Monday," the NHC said.

Summary: Emergency workers in Mexico are searching for survivors after landslides killed dozens in the wake of Tropical Storm Earl.


Mr Coulter died after being shot in the head as he and a friend left Jerky Chicken restaurant in Walham Grove, Fulham. The Met said "it would appear the gunman had been lying in wait" for the pair to return to their car. Detectives believe the gunman made off on foot towards North End road after shooting Mr Coulter. The victim was shot as he was getting into the front passenger seat of the silver and black Renault Captur. No arrests have been made. A post-mortem examination has been arranged for Thursday. Det Chf Inspr Noel McHugh said Mr Coulter's murder had "shocked the local community".

Summary: Detectives investigating the murder of a 24-year-old man shot in a suspected ambush have named him as Salim Coulter.


His comments were captured in a recording of a closed-door meeting, the Daily Beast reported. The current round of direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians appear to be at an impasse. But President Barack Obama has said the US will not abandon its peace efforts. By Paul DanaharBBC Washington bureau chief The US state department is telling everyone that it's no big deal that John Kerry used the 'A' word to describe the impact on Israel if the two-state solution for the Israel-Palestinian conflict collapses. A spokeswoman has pointed out that senior Israeli politicians have also referenced apartheid before when talking about the risks to Israel's reputation. This point though is frankly spin. It is one thing for Israeli politicians to use provocative language in their own political arena. When used by the US secretary of state it adds legitimacy to the debate about whether there is an equivalence between the old South African regime and the situation on the West Bank. Whether the "apartheid" reference was a gaffe or deliberate there is no doubt that Secretary Kerry believes Israel's government is stubbornly ignoring his warnings that a failure to agree a peace deal will feed a campaign trying to delegitimise their state. Mr Obama has previously rejected the use of the term "apartheid" in discussion of the Middle East peace process, calling it unhelpful and inaccurate. But in remarks before a group of high-ranking officials from the US, Europe and Japan known as the Trilateral Commission, Mr Kerry used the word. "A two-state solution will be clearly underscored as the only real alternative," Mr Kerry said, according to the Daily Beast. "Because a unitary state winds up either being an apartheid state with second-class citizens - or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state." Mr Kerry also reportedly suggested a peace deal was more likely to come with a change in Israeli and Palestinian leadership, and strongly criticised Jewish settlement construction on occupied territory. The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) condemned his comments as "deeply troubling". "Any suggestion that Israel is, or is at risk of becoming, an apartheid state is offensive and inappropriate," it said in a statement. In a statement to the BBC, the US state department noted that Israeli leaders had used the term "apartheid state" before, to warn of the consequences of the failure of the peace process. "Secretary Kerry, like Justice Minister [Tzipi] Livni, and previous Israeli Prime Ministers [Ehud] Olmert and [Ehud] Barak, was reiterating why there's no such thing as a one-state solution if you believe, as he does, in the principle of a Jewish state," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. "He was talking about the kind of future Israel wants and the kind of future both Israelis and Palestinians would want to envision. The only way to have two nations and two peoples living side by side in peace and security is through a two-state solution. And without a two-state solution, the level of prosperity and security the Israeli and Palestinian people

Summary: The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has warned that Israel risks becoming "an apartheid state" if a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians does not emerge soon.


Stevenson was under contract until the end of the season, but having started just four games during this campaign, an early release was agreed. The 31-year-old had a spell with Exeter during the 2008-09 season, before a two-year spell with Harlequins. He moved back to Belfast in 2011 to join his home province, Ulster. Lock Stevenson made 89 appearances for the Irish province, scoring one try, which came against Treviso at Kingspan Stadium earlier this season. "I am extremely proud to have played a part in this Ulster team over the last five seasons. Every time I pulled on the shirt it meant something to me" said Stevenson. "However, the time is right for me to face a new challenge and I am excited about being part of Exeter Chiefs again. "I appreciate how Ulster have handled this and I wish them every success for the rest of the season." Ulster's Operations Director, Bryn Cunningham, commented that Stevenson would be "missed both on and off the pitch". "Player welfare is crucial for this club and in dealing closely with his agent and Lewis himself, we believe that this outcome will give him the best chance of furthering his rugby career," stated Cunningham. "It also gives an opportunity during the remainder of the current season for Academy players like John Donnan and Alex Thompson, who have been working with Pete Browne in the 'A' set-up, to move up the pecking order, therefore getting exposure at a higher level, as we continue to develop our young, home-grown indigenous players." "With the addition of the very promising and exciting Kieran Treadwell coming in next season, plus the current impressive displays and continued improvement of Alan O'Connor, this again bolsters our resources of planning for the future in the second row department."

Summary: Second row Lewis Stevenson is to join Exeter Chiefs with immediate effect after being released from his contract with Ulster Rugby by mutual agreement.


West Wales and the Valleys qualify for more than Â£2bn in EU aid between 2014 and 2020, due to low levels of wealth. But the money - which has been paid ever since 2000 - will come to an end once the UK leaves the European Union. The Conservatives' manifesto says the party aims to create a "Shared Prosperity Fund", with Welsh ministers to be consulted on the details. The campaign document says the current EU scheme is "expensive to administer and poorly targeted", pledging its replacement will be "cheap to administer, low in bureaucracy and targeted where it is needed most". The manifesto, published on Thursday, states: "We will use the structural fund money that comes back to the UK following Brexit to create a United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund, specifically designed to reduce inequalities between communities across our four nations. "The money that is spent will help deliver sustainable, inclusive growth based on our modern industrial strategy." Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mark Williams said EU aid had been essential "in creating and safeguarding jobs, bringing our infrastructure into the 21st Century in many parts of the country, and providing opportunities for new entrepreneurs". "Liberal Democrats would launch a Â£100bn package of additional infrastructure investment for the UK, to create jobs, build homes, and invest in the green economy to create an economy that works for everyone," he said. Plaid Cymru has promised to demand that Wales continues to receive "every single penny" of the money it currently receives from the EU, once the UK leaves the bloc.

Summary: A new fund to replace EU economic aid will be created by the Conservatives if they win the general election.


The Grade-I listed landmark, which has been owned by the council since 2010, needs "essential" strengthening work to be carried out on its steel structure. A council report says a continuing £6m steel renovation project has cost extra money, but the loan will be recouped from the income of leisure assets. Councillors will consider the proposal on 20 July. Deputy leader of Blackpool Council Gillian Campbell said the tower was "a vital asset to town" which the council was "committed to keep in a good condition". "Our acquisition of the tower was all about making sure it is looked after for many years to come and this work will make sure that continues to be the case," she added. The seafront tower opened in 1894 and its design is inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Summary: Councillors in Blackpool are to be asked to approve borrowing of £1.8m to repair the resort's tower.


Zakariya Ashiq, 20, from Coventry, was found guilty of two counts of preparing acts of terrorism at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in November after failing to cross into Syria from Jordan. He admitted trying to get to Syria but said he had been forced to leave the UK because he was being "harassed" by MI5.

Summary: A British man who attempted to join Islamic State in Syria has been jailed for six years.


Former US Open champion McDowell, 37, has fallen to number 83 in the world and was not one of Clarke's three wildcard selections for Hazeltine. "G-Mac is a good friend and I was speaking to him frequently during the qualifying process," said Clarke, 48. "It was very difficult, but he is just not firing on all cylinders right now." McDowell has played in the last four Ryder Cups - holing the winning putt in 2010 at Celtic Manor - and Clarke said it would be strange not having his compatriot around Europe's Ryder Cup team later this month. But he has been impressed by the reaction of the Portrush-raised player to his disappointment of missing out on the team for the first time in a decade. Media playback is not supported on this device "The messages he has sent show the class of the man," said Clarke. "He has been wishing us all the best and volunteering to help in any way he can." The European captain also says he is not worried that six of his team have not played in the Ryder Cup before. Danny Willett, Thomas Pieters, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan, Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Wood will make their debuts in Minnesota from 30 September to 2 October. "The Ryder Cup will be different to anything they have played in before, but they aren't rookies anymore really," added the former Open champion. "They play all over the world and I have confidence that the guys will go over there and perform. "The Americans are desperate to win the cup back but I believe in our team."

Summary: European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke admits it was difficult to leave his close friend Graeme McDowell out of the team to face the United States.


The latest saw NHS Orkney's headquarters at Garden House broken into overnight on Tuesday, with property stolen. The spate of incidents happened within the space of a week. Police in Kirkwall are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

Summary: Police in Orkney are investigating a spate of break-ins and attempted break-ins in Kirkwall.


It concluded that inaccurate blood tests would give too many people an incorrect diagnosis, while lifestyle changes had a low success rate. But the director of the NHS programme said its approach was based on "robust evidence". The programme started last year and will cover all of England by 2020. Type 2 diabetes leads to 22,000 early deaths every year in England and costs the NHS Â£8bn. In the UK, about 3.2 million people have type 2 diabetes and this is predicted to rise to 5 million by 2025. The UK's National Diabetes Prevention Programme, which aims to identify thousands of people at high risk of developing the condition each year, follows a "screen and treat" approach. This involves a screening test for pre-diabetes, then tailored treatment or advice on diet and lifestyle to prevent the disease developing. But after analysing the results of 49 studies of screening tests and 50 intervention trials, University of Oxford researchers said the policy would benefit some, but not all those at high risk. They also said a population-wide approach to diabetes prevention would be a useful addition. In the BMJ study, they found that two blood tests - HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose - were inaccurate at detecting pre-diabetes, although they are the only ones available to doctors and patients. They also found that lifestyle interventions lasting three to six years showed a 37% reduction in relative risk of type 2 diabetes - equivalent to 90 fewer people in every 1,000 developing the disease. When treated with a drug that helps lower blood sugar levels, 80 fewer participants out of 1,000 developed diabetes compared with those not taking the drug. The authors concluded: "As screening is inaccurate, many people will receive an incorrect diagnosis and be referred on for interventions while others will be falsely reassured and not offered the intervention. "These findings suggest that 'screen and treat' policies alone are unlikely to have substantial impact on the worsening epidemic of Type 2 diabetes." However, Matt Fagg, programme director for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, said it was "a key part of the solution" and was "based on a comprehensive collation of robust evidence". He added: "Diabetes prevention also needs to start even earlier - we're committed to reducing obesity and creating a more active culture so that we see fewer people at risk in the first place." And Jonathan Valabhji, national clinical director for obesity and diabetes for NHS England, said the NHS programme was not a screening programme -"it empowers people who have already been identified through routine clinical practice to reduce their risk". "As this BMJ paper highlights, such lifestyle interventions have been clearly shown to work. "The NHS is not willing to sit idly by while these individuals progress to Type 2 diabetes," he said. Prof Norman Waugh from Warwick Medical School said there was a balance to be struck between screening and treating individuals, and the public health model of changing behaviour in the whole population at risk. Public health measures could include helping people to control their weight, introducing

Summary: The NHS programme for screening those at high risk of type 2 diabetes is unlikely to have much impact, an Oxford University study in the BMJ suggests.


In a letter to the PM, the group of 27 charities - including Oxfam and Amnesty International - say the UK should take a "proportionate" share of refugees. They praise the commitment to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years but say more needs to be done. A government spokesman said the UK has a "long and proud history of offering sanctuary" to those in genuine need. The letter, coordinated by the British Refugee Council, asks Mr Cameron to show a "new resolve" to deal with the crisis, which saw nearly 4,000 people drown last year and hundreds of thousands more face danger and hardship while fleeing violence. The group, which also includes the International Rescue Committee, Liberty and ActionAid, wrote: "Last year's announcement that the UK will resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years was a welcome first step, but given the numbers of people searching for safety across the globe, this response is clearly inadequate: it is too slow, too low and too narrow. "The UK can and should be doing much more to ensure that refugees are not compelled to take life-threatening journeys or forced into smugglers' hands." They endorse principles set out by 350 former judges and lawyers in October which include taking a fair share of refugees and establishing safe and legal routes to the UK for those seeking protection. Refugee Council chief executive Maurice Wren said: "There are no easy answers to a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude. "However, the solution must not be to spend another year impassively watching on while desperate people drown or are forced to endure a march of misery across the continent as they try to find a safe haven or to be reunited with their loved ones. "This year the prime minister must open his heart and show true statesmanship by welcoming far more refugees to the UK, enabling them to travel here safely and legally to live lives free from violence, tyranny and oppression." The government spokesman said: "The United Kingdom has a long and proud history of offering sanctuary to those who genuinely need our protection, with each claim for asylum judged on its individual merits. "The terrible images we have seen in the last year have moved us all, strengthening our resolve to help prevent more people suffering such a fate. "That is why we are resettling people directly from the countries neighbouring Syria, to which so many refugees have fled, and we have already met our target of welcoming 1,000 of the most vulnerable before Christmas." He said the government was also providing "life-saving aid to those most in need", both in and around Syria and in Europe, and working with other countries to "ensure systems are in place which properly address unfounded claims for asylum".

Summary: David Cameron's response to the refugee crisis is "clearly inadequate", leading aid and refugee agencies claim.


The High Negotiations Committee (HNC) proposed holding six months of negotiations with President Bashar al-Assad, accompanied by a full ceasefire. Mr Assad would then hand over power to a unity government that would run Syria for 18 months and organise elections. Syria's deputy foreign minister later insisted Mr Assad would not step aside. Faisal Mekdad told the BBC that demands that the country's elected leader be removed were "crazy" and "unbelievable". "We are saying, let the Syrian people decide their own fate. Their own future without intervention. Don't make preconditions who will rule Syria," he said. Mr Assad has consistently refused to step down since the beginning of the war, which has left more than 250,000 people dead, and correspondents say the recent battlefield successes of his forces have only hardened that view. The HNC's "Vision for Syria" was unveiled in London by its general co-ordinator, Riyad Hijab, who defected in 2012 while serving as prime minister. He said the plan envisaged three phases: If the document on a transition in Syria had been produced by the political leaders of a victorious army at the gates of Damascus, it could be seen as an enlightened blueprint for the future. But the regime in Damascus will dismiss it, because President Bashar al-Assad seems more secure in the capital than at any other time since the war started. In 2013, when the chemical attack on the city's rebel-held eastern suburbs seemed certain to provoke American air strikes the regime looked shaky and afraid. But the strikes never came, and since then the president and his men have strengthened their positions. Crucially, Russia has intervened directly on the battlefield. President Assad cannot win as things stand, but he cannot lose either. The war gets more complicated every year. Regional superpowers, and the world's most powerful countries have intervened. Dozens of different, and sometimes overlapping rebel groups operate on the battlefields. All have their own agendas. It's a mini world war. No wonder diplomacy fails. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said the plan would test Mr Assad's allies. But Adel al-Jubeir told the BBC he was not optimistic that Russia and Iran were prepared to put the "necessary pressure" on the president "in order to comply with the will of the international community". Mr Jubeir will discuss the HNC's blueprint with other foreign ministers from the Friend of Syria group of countries that support the opposition. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is hosting the meeting, wrote in The Times that there "was still a chance that this vision can be made to work". "If the Russians and Americans can together create a ceasefire, then the talks can restart in Geneva with the difference, perhaps, that all sides will by then have seen at least the scaffolding of a post-Assad Syria," he added. Moscow and Washington, which backs the opposition and insists Mr Assad must go, have so far failed to reach an agreement on a new cessation of hostilities. After a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in China on Monday, Barack Obama

Summary: The umbrella group representing Syria's political and armed opposition factions has set out a plan for a political transition to end five years of war.


The firm is to license a new cancer treatment to Californian company Genentech. The treatment is a class of drug molecules developed by Almac's discovery division. Genentech will make an upfront payment of around £9m with further payments and possible royalties to follow. Almac will be eligible to receive up to £225m in milestone payments plus royalties on commercial sales of any products developed by Genentech The two companies will also run a two-year joint research programme funded by Genentech The drug molecules are called inhibitors of ubiquitin specific proteases. They block the activity of an important cancer pathway which is believed to play a key role in tumour development. Tim Harrison, vice president of drug discovery at Almac, said they have been "a highly sought after, yet elusive drug class, proving difficult to identify despite significant efforts from both pharmaceutical and biotech companies". He added that there was now "an exciting opportunity to fully exploit this novel biology". Genentech was founded in San Francisco in 1976 and is widely considered to be the world's most successful biotechnology company. It has developed products such as the cancer drug Avastin and the stroke treatment Activase. In 2009, the Swiss drug company Roche took control of Genentech, paying £30bn for the 44% of the firm it did not own. Meanwhile, California-based CV6 Therapeutics Ltd is to partner with the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen's University, Belfast for a research and development project. The project aims to develop a new drug with the potential to make chemotherapy more effective and represents a total investment of £5.5m. Invest NI has offered assistance of £2.5m towards the project, which includes part funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Summary: Craigavon-based pharmaceutical firm Almac has signed a deal with one of the world's largest biotech firms that could be worth more than £200m.


The firms' respective arrangements with Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg will be investigated. Announcing the move, tax commissioner Algirdas Semeta said that "fair tax competition is essential". Last year, a US Senate investigation accused Ireland of giving special tax treatment to Apple. The European Commission will look at whether the companies' tax affairs breach EU rules on state aid. Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said: "In the current context of tight public budgets, it is particularly important that large multinationals pay their fair share of taxes." Countries in Europe cannot allow certain firms to pay less tax than they should, Mr Almunia added. The investigations will focus on "transfer pricing", or whether the countries allowed the multinational firms to charge one part of the company over the odds for goods or services from another part of the company as a way of shifting profits. Under Commission rules, companies must charge their subsidiaries market rates. Sanctions for a breach of tax rules could include an attempt to claw money back from Apple, Starbucks and Fiat. Apple said that it had not had "any special tax deal with the Irish government". "We have received no selective treatment from Irish officials," the company said. "Apple is subject to the same tax laws as scores of other international companies doing business in Ireland." The Irish finance ministry said Apple "did not receive selective treatment and there was no 'special tax rate deal'". "Ireland is confident that there is no state aid rule breach in this case and we will defend all aspects vigorously," the Department of Finance said. Last year's US Senate committee investigation revealed that Apple had been able to funnel profits into Irish subsidiaries or "ghost companies" that had no declared tax residency anywhere in the world, cutting billions from its tax bill. The Senate committee hearing revealed that Apple designated its Irish entities as unlimited companies, which meant it did not have to publish annual accounts. The Irish arrangement allowed Apple to pay just 1.9% tax on its $37bn in overseas profits in 2012, despite the fact the average tax rate in the OECD countries that make up its main markets was 24% last year. In a 40-page memorandum, the Senate committee said: "Ireland has essentially functioned as a tax haven for Apple." Coffee giant Starbucks has been embroiled in a tax controversy for a number of years. In 2012, the multinational admitted that it had a special tax deal with the Dutch government which allowed it to transfer money to its Dutch sister company in royalty payments. Starbucks said on Wednesday that its Dutch tax arrangements conformed with financial law. "We comply with all relevant tax rules, laws and OECD guidelines and we're studying the Commission's announcement related to the state aid investigation in the Netherlands," a Starbucks spokesperson said. The Dutch finance ministry said it was confident that its tax system was "robust". "We are confident that the investigation by the EC will in the end result in the conclusion there is no state aid involved," a spokesman told the BBC. The

Summary: The European Commission is to open a formal investigation into Apple, Starbucks and Fiat in relation to tax arrangements with three EU countries.


The Northern Ireland striker headed home on the hour mark as Ian Cathro's side struggled at Borough Briggs. Dunfermline, having played a game more, top Group B after a 9-8 penalty shootout win over East Fife following a goalless draw. The shootout victory meant the Pars picked up two points with East Fife taking one. After 17 penalties without a miss, Ben Gordon was the unlucky man to fail with his spot-kick. Hearts head coach Cathro was happy to see summer signing Lafferty open his account for the club. "We anticipated it would be difficult, it's not an easy place to come and play," he told BBC Scotland. "They defended well and we had to be patient. "I'm pleased that we stayed calm and that Kyle (Lafferty) got a goal. It was a good finish." In Group A, Inverness Caledonian Thistle held on to top spot despite needing a shootout following a 0-0 draw away to Stirling Albion. Liam Polworth and Iain Vigurs were the only ones to score in the shootout to hand John Robertson's men a 2-0 win on penalties and the bonus point. In the derby between Brechin City and Forfar Athletic, Mark Millar took the game to spot-kicks with a late penalty after Isaac layne had given Brechin a second-half lead. Brechin moved into third place, one point behind Falkirk, after Kalvin Orsi's winning penalty earned the bonus point. Inverness Caley Thistle manager John Robertson blamed a lack of a killer instinct for his side failing to earn all three points. "In terms of the ball, we dominated most of the match," said Robertson. "We knew Stirling would be at it and they were, all credit to Dave Mackay and his team. "We lacked belief in the first half, had great chances to score and didn't take them. Second half we said up the tempo and get at them, which we did. But we just couldn't find that killer instinct. "The more it went, the more frustrating it was. I thought we were going to be here until midnight with the penalties. Two scored out of eight, that's incredible. Two of our guys missed the target and for professional players that's bad technique."

Summary: Kyle Lafferty scored on his debut to give Hearts a 1-0 win over League Two Elgin City in the League Cup.


The Anglo-Dutch giant said profits on a current cost of supply measure (CCS) - which strips out price fluctuations - jumped to $3.4bn (Â£2.6bn) from $1bn last year. A 55% rise in oil prices in the first quarter of 2017 compared with a year earlier was the main driver of profits. Excluding one-off items, profits on the CCS measure were $3.86bn, up 136%. Shell joins rivals BP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Total in reporting better-than-expected results. More than $1bn in cost savings and budget cuts made over the past three years from cost-cuts and assets sales have also helped to increase cash flow and boost profits. But Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden said the company would be making $25bn worth of investments this year in new oil and gas projects. "We continue to reshape Shell's portfolio and to transform the company," he said in a statement. Oil and gas production, known as upstream, rose 2% in the quarter to 3.752 million barrels of oil equivalent from 3.905 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. A number of new fields continued to ramp up output, particularly in Brazil and Kazakhstan. Earnings from refining, marketing and chemicals also rose 20% to $2.5bn. "We saw notable improvements in upstream and chemicals, which benefited from improved operational performance and better market conditions," Mr van Beurden said. Investors welcomed the results, marking Shell's shares up 3% at the start of trading. Energy producers across the world are reaping the benefits of higher oil prices, which have strongly increased their revenues and profits. Crude has recovered thanks to the Opec oil producers' cartel adhering to a production cut agreed late last year. However, the oil price has eased back recently.

Summary: Royal Dutch Shell's profits surged in the first three months of the year on the back of rising oil prices.


English Heritage has organised the trek on horseback and foot from York to East Sussex to mark the 950th anniversary of the famous clash. The volunteers will arrive on the battlefield 950 years to the day since Harold fought William of Normandy. Nigel Amos, leader of the march for English Heritage, said it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity". King Harold defeated a Viking army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in East Yorkshire, on 25 September, 1066, before travelling south to face the Normans. On 14 October, he fought and was killed at the Battle of Hastings. William then seized the English throne. Emily Sewell, head of events for English Heritage, said 1066 and the Battle of Hastings was "one of the most famous battles and most transformative years in English history". Nigel Amos, who is leading the march on behalf of English Heritage, added: "There's nothing like a personal experience to understand what it was like and offer an even more authentic window on that world to inspire and inform others."

Summary: A group of "warriors" are staging a 300-mile march to echo King Harold's journey to the Battle of Hastings.


It has been nearly a month since Sharp accepted Foxconn's more than 600bn yen (Â£3.7bn; $5.4bn) offer, but no final agreement has been signed. According to reports, Foxconn is looking to reduce the price it pays. Japan's benchmark Nikkei index, on which Sharp is listed, closed up 1.9% at 17,048.55 on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Asian stock markets had a mixed day. In South Korea, the Kospi index ended 0.35% higher at 1,996.81, while in Australia the S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.3% to close at 5,166.62 after data showed house price growth cooled in the final three months of 2015. Stocks in China snapped their recent winning streak. Markets had rallied on Monday after China relaxed margin trading rules, but on Tuesday the Shanghai Composite closed down 0.6% at 2,999.36. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index ended the day down 17.40 points at 20,666.75.

Summary: Shares in Japanese electronics firm Sharp have fallen by 6.5% on concerns a delayed takeover deal with Taiwan's Foxconn may fall apart.


The fire on 1 January destroyed the nursery and infant classrooms at Coed Eva Primary School, Cwmbran. The teenager, together with six others, was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. The others, two aged 15, two aged 19, a 16-year-old and a 21-year-old, were released without charge last month. A reward of up to ??5,000 is being offered by Crimestoppers for information about the fire that leads directly to an arrest and conviction.

Summary: A 15-year-old boy who was arrested following an arson attack on a Torfaen school has been released without charge.


Pathologist Prof Guy Rutty said David "Les" Ross, 39, had probably been rolled "in a foetal position" when he was attacked on 17 December 2012 at Corby's Village Inn Express. Sitting at Kettering Magistrates' Court, coroner Anne Pember recorded a verdict of "unlawful killing". Mr Ross's family said his death was "a senseless act of violence". Northamptonshire Police are treating his death as murder and an investigation is ongoing. No-one from the force attended the inquest. Mrs Pember said Mr Ross was well known in Corby, where he had previously worked as a taxi driver and nightclub bouncer, and had opened the Rubix nightclub in the weeks before he died. Leanne Martin, who worked at the Village Inn Express in The Jamb, told the inquest Mr Ross had asked to stay in the hotel because his own house in Chelveston Drive had been broken into. Another worker at the hotel, Paige Lindsay, said she had discovered Mr Ross's body "on his back with his feet towards the door". Paramedic Michael Rowlatt told the inquest Mr Ross had been wearing boxer shorts and a white vest or t-shirt. He said there had been blood on the carpet and on the bed side cabinet. Prof Rutty said Mr Ross had injuries to his face, chest and arms. He said some of the wounds might have been from a fight the previous night, but that others were caused by a "ring on a fist". A statement from his family said they are "torn apart with grief" by an attack "carried out in a cowardly manner". It said: "There are people still walking around in Corby who know what happened to David, who attacked him and why."

Summary: A nightclub owner found dead in his hotel room had suffered injuries to his face, chest and arms, an inquest heard.


Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant said last month he was not convinced Communities First was the "most effective way to deliver for Wales". He said there would be a new approach but, so far, community groups supported by the scheme say they are in the dark. The Welsh Government said no final decision had been made. In Swansea, Faith in Families, which runs three family centres, said it would be forced to close without Welsh Government support. It is converting St Teilo's Church in Swansea into a Â£1m community hub with half the money provided by the Welsh Government. Boss Cherrie Bija said: "We are not going to give up on these families." She added that people were "really disappointed" after hearing the phasing out of Communities First would have a knock-on effect on the services the centre could deliver. Communities First spends about Â£30m each year, with more than Â£300m spent since it was launched in 2001 and, at one point, it was supporting about 200 projects. In Flintshire, Dave Wisinger, the county councillor for Queensferry, said the Communities First office covering his area provided crucial support. "There has to be something else to take over," he said. "And I would have thought the minister, if he has a serious look at this, he will appreciate the good work that's been done and he will keep these staff on, or as many as they can...maybe under another project." Communities First supports four dementia cafes in Flintshire, helping those with the condition and their families, as well as running food banks, lunch clubs and family learning sessions. It also runs job search clubs and employability courses. Mother-of-two Kelly Latham from Garden City, who attended once such course in Mold, said: "I've been unemployed for nearly five years now.... child care's a big issue for me... and they've sorted it all out for me." A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Although the communities secretary has said he is minded to phase out Communities First, no final decision has been made. "We are currently seeking views on this and how to engage, support and strengthen communities and would urge anybody with an interest to have their say. "It is too early to speculate on how any new approach might impact on particular areas."

Summary: Community groups are seeking assurances following the announcement that a scheme which supports deprived areas in Wales is set to be dropped.


The Care Quality Commission found three-quarters of the 79 hospital trusts visited under its new inspection regime so far had safety problems. Over 40% of care and nursing homes and home care services and one in three GP services also had problems with safety. Lack of staff - in terms of skills and numbers - was identified as a major issue. The way medicines were managed and how mistakes were investigated and learnt from were also highlighted. Among the individual cases flagged up were: The findings - contained in the CQC's annual report - are effectively a mid-term update of the new tougher Ofsted-style inspection regime. They cover the first 14 months of the inspection programme, which was launched in April 2014 and is expected to be largely completed by April 2016. So far more than 5,000 organisations have been inspected - nearly half of hospitals, 17% of care services and 11% of GP surgeries and out-of-hours providers. However, those deemed most at risk have been predominantly targeted first, so the level of failure is not necessarily representative of the overall sector. 5,439 organisations inspected 14 months into 24-month inspection programme 47% of hospitals inspected 17% of social care services 11% of GP services During the inspections, CQC experts look at a range of different issues, including the quality of management, whether staff are caring and safety. Each organisation - from GP surgery to hospital - gets a rating for each, resulting in an overall rating of inadequate, requires improvement, good or outstanding. The results of these are widely published throughout the year, whereas this report looks at some of the common problems identified during the whole process. Of all the issues looked at, the CQC said most concerns had been raised about safety. Some 13% of hospitals were judged unsafe, 10% of social care services and 6% of GP services. Once those judged to be not safe enough are included, it brings the numbers with safety problems to 74% for hospitals, 43% for social care services and 31% for GPs. The report said improving leadership was the key to tackling the problems. David Behan, CQC chief executive, told Radio 4's Today programme: "What we know from our report and from other research is that the leadership of an organisation sets the culture of that organisation. "If the leadership says the important things around here are quality and safety, then that's what people attend to." Royal College of Nursing general secretary Janet Davies believes financial problems are a major factor - last week it was revealed trusts had already racked up a deficit of nearly £1bn in the first three months of this financial year, greater than the overspend for the whole of 2014-15. She added nursing care, whether in hospitals, care homes or the community, depended on having the right number of staff with the right skills and support. She added: "There must be more investment in training nurses, keeping nurses and listening to nurses." Katherine Rake, chief executive of Healthwatch England, the patient watchdog, said it was vital to learn

Summary: Safety across the NHS and care sectors in England is a "significant concern", with particular problems in hospitals, inspectors are warning.


So often repeated are the words of the Swedish diplomat Dag Hammarskjold, the organisation's most beloved secretary general, they have come to serve as a mission statement of sorts. Additionally, they function as a crude benchmark against which the work of the United Nations can be judged. When the organisation was formed in 1945, in the aftermath of World War Two and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, "hell" would have been the outbreak of a third global conflict and nuclear Armageddon, neither of which has come to pass. But in those post-War years, as the full horror of the Holocaust was uncovered, "hell" also meant genocide, a word which had only just been coined: the systematic massacre of thousands of people because of their ethnicity, religion, race or nationality. Here, the UN has not always been able to halt the descent into the abyss. To its member states' eternal shame, on some occasions it has been a bystander to genocide. In any historical ledger, Rwanda and Srebrenica stand out as ghastly failures. During the Rwanda genocide, UN peacekeepers deployed in the country concentrated on evacuating expatriates and government officials, failing to intervene as 800,000 Tutsis and sympathetic Hutus were slaughtered. In Srebrenica in July 1995, more than 8,000 Muslims, mainly men and boys, were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces, which barged past Dutch soldiers wearing the distinctive blue helmet of the UN peacekeepers as if they weren't there. What made the massacre all the more horrifying was that the Muslims had sheltered in enclaves deemed "safe areas" under the protections of the UN. In some conflicts, such as Yugoslavia, the UN was slow to respond. In others, such as Vietnam and the Iraq war, it was sidelined. Its efforts to broker peace talks during Syria's civil war, now in its fifth year, have always ended in failure. Now, a third UN envoy, the Italian diplomat Staffan de Mistura, is trying, without success so far, to break the impasse. Peace has also proved elusive in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one of the UN's first major dilemmas following its formation in 1945 and a long-running bugbear. Sometimes the UN has been part of the problem rather than the solution. Blue-helmeted peacekeepers have been accused of a litany of sexual abuses, most recently in the Central African Republic. In Haiti, peacekeepers from Nepal were the source, the evidence suggests, of a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 8,000 people - though the UN refuses to accept any legal liability. While the UN sees itself as a force for democratisation, it is a ridiculously undemocratic organisation. Its locus of power is the Security Council, where the five permanent members - the US, Britain, France, China and Russia - still wield crippling vetoes. The Security Council, like amber encasing an extinct insect, preserves the influence of the victors from World War Two, freezing a moment in a time. Tellingly, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt coined the phrase the "United Nations," he was referring not to the countries of the world but rather the Allied powers. Germany

Summary: "The UN was not created to take mankind to heaven, but to save humanity from hell."


The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said production dipped 1% last month against October last year, to 151,795 units. However, exports rose for the 15th month in a row, with 122,765 cars built for overseas markets, a 1.7% rise. This offset a 10.9% fall in production for the home market. Exports accounted for 80.9% of UK production in October. The SMMT said the UK motor industry remained strong, with production up by 9.2% so far this year, and more than 1.4 million vehicles produced. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "October's figures underline the export-led nature of the industry, with eight out of 10 cars built for overseas customers. "Despite model changes which have ended the consistent growth pattern of the past year or so, we are still on track for a record number of exports." Concern about the UK car industry's position in a post-Brexit world has prompted executives to urge the government to help shield the sector from any deterioration in trade relations. Government promises of "support and assurances" to Nissan helped persuade the Japanese carmaker to build both the new Qashqai and the X-Trail SUV at its Sunderland plant. Mr Hawes said in a statement on Thursday: "Given this dependence on global trade, it is crucial that British-built cars remain attractive to international buyers and exports are not subject to additional tariffs, costs and other barriers to successful trade. "It is also essential government ensures there is economic stability and a competitive business environment to ensure we continue to attract the global investment that is behind this performance."

Summary: UK car manufacturing slipped in October for the first time in 14 months amid slower domestic demand, according to the industry's trade body.


Margaret Loughrey, 50, from Bridge Street, Strabane, admitted a number of offences. She was ordered to pay £559 for damaging the driver's glasses and £200 compensation to the driver. Ms Loughrey's win was the largest ever jackpot win in Northern Ireland. As well as assaulting the driver, Ms Loughrey also pleaded guilty to causing criminal to his glasses and SatNav during the incident in his taxi at Chestnut Park in Strabane on 14 May. Ms Loughrey's solicitor said she had come to court with a clear record and had been drinking vodka with friends all night before the incident. He described her behaviour as shameful and said it was unfortunate her reputation was now blemished. The deputy district judge at Strabane Magistrates' Court said he believed it was a "one-off incident" caused by Ms Loughrey consuming a lot of alcohol. "You have had more advantages than most people in the last number of years, but they have obviously brought some problems," he said. "I accept you have made a major contribution to the local community, but you will be treated as anyone else will be treated coming before the court with a clear record."

Summary: A County Tyrone woman who won £27m in the Euromillions draw in 2013 has been ordered to complete 150 hours of community service after pleading guilty to assaulting a taxi driver.


Opener Lumb made 105 as Notts reached 274-5 from a weather-reduced 42 overs. Chasing 252 from 37 overs after further rain, Paul Collingwood (69) and Michael Richardson (64) kept Durham in touch. Richardson then fell to Harry Gurney (5-51) with two balls left, but Keaton Jennings hit a six and a four to win it, taking them to 254-8. The hosts had looked unlikely victors heading into the final over, requiring 12 runs but having not found the boundary for 35 deliveries. Their task looked even harder when Richardson was dismissed by Gurney, only for number nine Jennings to club the next ball for six and then squeeze the final delivery for four. Earlier, Lumb had continued his recent fine form by compiling a 101-ball 105 that featured 12 boundaries. The 36-year-old, who has not represented England since 2014, followed up scores of 184 and 133 against Northants and Warwickshire in his previous two One-Day Cup innings with a third successive century.

Summary: Michael Lumb's third straight One-Day Cup ton could not stop Nottinghamshire slipping to a last-ball two-wicket defeat by Durham at Chester-le-Street.


An article in Buzzfeed suggesting that the social network was about to introduce what is known as an algorithmic timeline - promoting tweets deemed most relevant rather than publishing them in reverse chronological order - sparked a wave of what can only be described as furious panic. Under the hashtag #RIPTwitter, thousands, perhaps millions, told the world that this was the end of civilisation as we know it, that a beautiful thing was being crushed, that the company, whose share price has been tumbling for months, was signing its own death warrant. Finally, the CEO Jack Dorsey was forced to react. "Hello Twitter!" he called out. "Regarding #RIPTwitter: I want you all to know we're always listening. We never planned to reorder timelines next week." He went on "Twitter is live. Twitter is real-time. Twitter is about who & what you follow. And Twitter is here to stay! By becoming more Twitter-y." But was Dorsey right to blink in the face of pressure? And should he be "always listening" to his users? That depends on whether you believe the hoariest old cliche of management books: "The customer is always right." I certainly sympathise with those who say that Twitter isn't broken, so it does not need the kind of radical fixing implied by an algorithmic timeline. For me, it works just fine, connecting me to like-minded communities of dog-owners, sourdough loaf bakers, and gadget enthusiasts, while providing the best breaking news service on the planet. Like many other heavy users of Twitter, I have been sniffy about recent innovations such as "Moments" and would rather things carried on just as they are. But perhaps Mr Dorsey and his management team should not be listening to people like me - we're almost certainly going nowhere. He has to cock an ear to the concerns of three other constituencies - investors, advertisers and the people who use Twitter infrequently or not at all. Because the crisis in his company is not about revenues, which are growing nicely, and it's not about what loyal users think - it is about growth. The last set of results showed Twitter user numbers had barely moved over the previous three months, up just four million. Investors who bought into the business when it floated on the hope that it would grow at the same rate as Facebook, shuddered at that news and will be watching nervously when the next set of results is published on Wednesday. Advertisers are asking why they should spend money with a network when it is not delivering the kind of audience available elsewhere. So Twitter's top team is trying all kinds of tricks to make the experience of joining and using the network more intuitive. And there's another reason why Jack Dorsey might be tempted to ignore those users protesting about a change that has not even happened yet. If he looks at the history of Facebook, he will see that just about every innovation introduced by Mark Zuckerberg has met with dismay from existing users. Here's how Techcrunch reported the arrival of

Summary: For the last 48 hours Twitter has beenâ€¦ well, all of a Twitter.


North-East Labour MSP Richard Baker highlighted the recent postponement of operations at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as proof of a lack of funding for health services in the area. Mr Baker said the situation had reached crisis point. NHS Grampian has apologised to the patients affected. It admitted that since the 6 January it has been experiencing pressure on hospital beds, resulting in a number of operations at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary being postponed. Mr Baker told BBC Scotland: "We have had serious issues in terms of local health services. It's now absolutely clear this requires a response." In a statement, the Scottish government said NHS Grampian and local authority partners were working very closely to address the issues, and meetings would assess what further help could be provided.

Summary: Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil has been asked to investigate a reported catalogue of problems at NHS Grampian.


Angelika and Marcin Klis had not been seen since the explosion at the Ariana Grande concert on Monday night. The couple's daughter Alex Klis, 20, a student at York College, had posted an appeal on Facebook for information about their whereabouts. The Polish foreign ministry confirmed two Polish nationals had been killed. It is understood Mr Marcin, 42, worked at York Cars Taxi Service, a cab company in York. Mr Marcin and his wife, aged 39, had taken a picture of themselves together in Manchester shortly before going to the concert to collect their daughters. This was shared on social media by their daughter on Tuesday. She wrote: "Anyone who is in any safe place or hospital in Manchester, if anyone comes across my parents please please let me know as they've been missing ever since the attack, this is a picture taken tonight so this is exactly what they were wearing." In a statement, the Polish foreign ministry said: "We share the pain of the family and the loved ones of the victims and express our most sincere condolences. "Consuls have offered assistance to the family of the victims." The Polish Foreign Minister, Witold Waszczykowski, told a radio station: "The parents came after the concert to collect their daughters and unfortunately we have information that they are dead. The children are safe." Dr Alison Birkinshaw, principal at York College, described the deaths as "devastating news for Alex and her family, the whole college and the wider community". She said: "We are in touch with Alex and will do whatever we can to support her and her family." A JustGiving page has been set up to raise money for Ms Klis and her sister Patrycia and has so far raised more than Â£4,000.

Summary: A Polish couple living in York who had gone to Manchester Arena to pick up their daughters have been killed in the terror attack.


Corrie Mckeague, 23, vanished after a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on 24 September. Experts from McKenzie Intelligence Services were brought in to assist Suffolk Police after Â£51,000 was raised through an online crowdfunding page. Forbes McKenzie said his team would add "clarity" to the investigation. What do we know about Corrie Mckeague's disappearance? He said: "Our mission is to create clarity from the huge amount of data that has emerged. "We think the phone is a key piece of information. "Where the phone finished is indicative of where Corrie was last. "I'm very interested in what other phones were co-located with Corrie's phone." Mr McKenzie, whose company is based in London, said he had three specialists, including himself, working on the case. He stressed his team was "not running a parallel investigation" to Suffolk Police but was there to "add value" to what the force was doing. The team's first task would be to collate all of the information available on social media feeds, CCTV and areas that have and have not been searched, he said. "We are plugging the gaps that Suffolk Police just doesn't have the people power to do. "This investigation might prove to be the very first crowdfunded and crowd-data sourced investigation," Mr McKenzie added. About 5,000 people pledged support to the crowdfunding page after the family of Mr Mckeague, from Dunfermline, Fife, expressed concerns about the police investigation. The RAF Honington gunner was last seen at about 03:25 BST walking alone in the Suffolk town. A second public search for Mr Mckeague will take place on 22 January. More than 60 volunteers joined in the first on 17 December.

Summary: A private detective hired through a crowdfunding appeal has said a missing airman's mobile phone is "key" to the investigation.


The amount that landlords will be able to claim will be set at the basic rate of tax, which is currently 20%. The move is aimed at creating a "level playing field" between homeowners and investors, chancellor George Osborne said. The change will be introduced over four years from April 2017. Currently property investors can claim tax relief on their monthly interest repayments at the top level of tax they pay, meaning the wealthiest can claim as much as 45%. Mr Osborne said the current system gave buy-to-let landlords "a huge advantage in the market", compared with home buyers. "The better-off the landlord, the more tax relief they get," he said. Buy-to-let properties now account for over 15% of new mortgages, something the Bank of England warned last week could pose a risk to the UK's financial stability. Separately, Mr Osborne said tax relief for people who rent out a room in their home would be increased from its current level of Â£4,250 - where it has been frozen for 18 years - to Â£7,500 from next year. Nicholas Leeming, chairman of national estate agents Jackson-Stops & Staff, said the changes to tax relief would hit many small and older private investors. "This is a major blow to a sector that is heavily reliant on private investors and who provide a crucial supply of property to the private rental sector," he added. He also warned the move could hit the supply of rental properties making it harder for people who wanted the flexibility of being able to rent rather than buy. Graham Davidson, the managing director of Sequre Property Investment, a firm which specialises solely in buy-to-let investments, said about half of its customers were cash buyers, meaning they would not be affected by the move. But he said those that were affected were likely to increase their rental fee to compensate for the higher tax bill. "The single biggest impact will be to tenants rather than landlords," he warned. But the director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, Paul Smee, said the fact that the change was being introduced slowly would soften the blow. "The phasing is important. We will need to understand whether this will have a behavioural impact on higher-rate buy-to-let landlords, but a four-year timetable does at least reduce the risk of sudden market shocks," he said. Shares in house building firms fell, with Barratt Developments down 5.7% and Redrow down 5.2%. July 2015 Budget full BBC online coverage BBC Budget Live HM Treasury link to Budget documents

Summary: Buy-to-let landlords face cuts in the amount of tax relief they can claim on mortgage interest payments, the government has said.


An estimated 30,000 runners took to the city's streets with both the 10k event and half-marathon taking place on Sunday. Haile Gebrselassie was forced to abandon the defence of his title won in last year's half-marathon event. The Ethiopian pulled up at the roadside with breathing problems 20 minutes after starting. He told the BBC: "I'm OK now, after I dropped out at 20 minutes I was struggling a bit with the breathing and I'm OK, not too bad actually." Last year the 41-year-old set a new world age group record by completing the race in 61 minutes nine seconds. The half-marathon was won by South African Stephen Mokoka with a time of 61 minutes 25 seconds. Kenyan Edna Kiplagat was the first woman to finish, setting a new race record for the women's event in 67 minutes, 57 seconds. Sean Fontana from Victoria Park ACC was first across the finish line in the 10k with a time of 31 minutes, three seconds. Simon Lawson won the wheelchair race with a time of 29 minutes, 10 seconds. After starting from George Square, the half-marathon runners passed through ÂBellahouston and Pollok parks then back to the city centre towards the finish at Glasgow Green. On "Super Saturday" more than 3,000 people took part in a number of junior and family races. The run is described as Scotland's biggest mass participation event. Councillor Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life said: "Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run. "Whether this was their first time taking part in Scotland's premier celebration of running or the latest of many, the achievement of completing the course will live with them for the rest of their lives."

Summary: Thousands of people have been taking part in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run in Glasgow.


Ian Elliott is head coach for the City of Coventry Water Polo teams, which compete at the highest national and European levels. He said the teams were "under threat" from the proposed pool changes. Coventry City Council said it was considering the inclusion of a 50m pool in its new site proposal. Ed Ruane, cabinet member for sport at the council, said the current facility costs Â£2,000 a day to run. The council believes the existing Fairfax Street sport centre is no longer fit for purpose. Instead it is proposing a new 25m water park. Mr Elliott said the city's teams had been "supported strongly by Coventry City Council" but did not want to lose the current pool, which "is ideal for water polo". The pool is home to water polo teams for youths and seniors of both sexes. They currently have two girls in the academy GB squad and six youths in British water polo regional training. Charlotte Noble, goalkeeper for the ladies team, said: "Hopefully people can realise how important the pool is to us." Water polo is just one of the activities that could be affected by the pool closure. Earl Radtschenko, 17, from Coventry, is a swimmer who hopes to represent Britain in the Rio Olympics. He said: "I believe the desire to succeed comes from within, but having a 50m pool and an Olympic coach in Coventry has certainly helped." Adam Ruckwood, the City of Coventry Swimming Club's head coach and a former Olympian, said some swimmers would have to leave the club if the facility closed, "which would be an absolute tragedy".

Summary: The closure of the only 50m swimming pool in the West Midlands, could threaten the future of a successful Coventry sport, a coach has said.