An independent Rugby Football League tribunal ruled on charges brought in April, and an independent body upheld the verdict on Thursday. Koukash told BBC Radio Manchester: "You start questioning 'is the sport with this governing body worth keeping my involvement in it and keep investing like I have been doing?'" Independent body Sports Resolutions also upheld Salford's fine of £5,000 for "seeking to avoid declaring payments" to one player and "non declaration of benefits" to two others. "I have no doubt whatsoever the RFL are out to get Salford at every opportunity as long as I'm involved in the club, and the six-point deduction is very harsh," continued Koukash. "It's as harsh as it was a couple of years ago when they deducted a couple of points from the club for fielding 14 players. "When we saw it a few weeks ago, Widnes did it twice and they got a fine, so we can see that they have been targeting Salford for quite a while. "That's probably due to the fact that I'm outspoken against them and they see me as a person who is not welcome in the sport. If that's the case then maybe I shouldn't be in the sport." After the Red Devils were initially charged in March, Koukash had promised "all-out war" if his club were punished by the RFL. In 2013, Salford were fined £5,000 and deducted two points for fielding 14 men during their 34-30 win over Castleford, while Widnes beat Hull FC 46-6 earlier this season when had an extra man on the field. When asked for a response to Koukash's comments, the RFL responded with the same statement released after Salford's appeal was rejected. "The independent body Sports Resolutions upheld the decision by an independent RFL tribunal to find Salford Red Devils guilty of breaching the salary cap in the 2014 and 2015 season," said the statement. "The tribunal found Salford guilty of the following: One of the main points of the appeal was that the independent tribunal found Salford guilty on undeclared payments which Koukash conceded were not registered. Wigan were the last club to be found in breach of the salary cap in 2007 and they were docked four points, compared to Salford's six. "What we couldn't get away from was yes, there were three undeclared payments dating back in 2013 and 2014, two of them for [helping the players pay] rent," added Koukash. "They could be argued due to admin or mismanagement - that's why we are getting the six points deduction, for breaking operational rules and not the salary cap itself. "If you add the three undeclared payments to our spend we do not go over the salary cap. I think it is unfair. Yes, we did not declare the payments, but is it a six-point deduction? No, it is not."

Summary: Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash is considering his future involvement in rugby league after losing their appeal against a six-point deduction for breaching salary cap regulations.


Bell-Drummond (80 not out) and Denly (78) shared an opening stand of 131 after being set 234 to win. Alex Blake smashed two sixes in his 34 not out as Kent reached 236-5. Earlier, Michael Carberry made 61 as he shared a first-wicket partnership of 80 with Jimmy Adams (47), but Hampshire collapsed to 233 all out. Kent's slow left-armer Fabian Cowdrey, who only had five domestic one-day wickets before the match, helped to bring about the demise of Hampshire's innings with career-best figures of 3-32. Bell-Drummond then missed out on surpassing his limited overs best of 83, after Blake took the attack to the bowlers and scored the majority of the runs in their half-century stand. Kent captain Sam Northeast: "If we can get the first powerplay right, do things better up top than we did today, then we can be a proper side in this format. The guys did so well to drag us back into things. "The run chase went fairly smoothly thanks to Danny [Bell-Drummond], who again showed how his one-day game is maturing when opening up alongside an experienced campaigner like Joe [Denly]. "Those two laid the foundations and made life pretty comfortable for the rest of us."

Summary: Kent openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly both hit half-centuries to lead their side to a five-wicket win over Hampshire in the One-Day Cup.


While selling bloodstock to help pay his way through a PhD, he met the woman that would change his life - both personally and professionally - in 2010. At the time, Lucy Wiegersma was getting over the heartbreak of missing out on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing - an injury to her horse meant she had to forgo her place on the British team. "Lucy came to see one of the horses I had for sale," remembers McCarthy, who had always been a showjumper. "She quite liked the horse and she wanted to come back and see more and then she asked me out for dinner. That's how I ended up here." The 38-year-old Tipperary native is now a long way from home. 'Here' is a farm in rural Devon where the Wiegersmas breed and train some of the best three-day event horses in the land. A former showjumper in his youth, McCarthy is now eyeing a place in the Irish three-day eventing team for Rio 2016. "I guess he wouldn't have got involved in the sport if he hadn't have met me, but he's got a huge amount of natural talent and determination," says his now wife Wiegersma. "From when I set him off at his first event, it's all been his will that he's got this far." As well as missing out on Beijing in 2008, the 2006 national champion also had heartbreak four years ago in London when she was first reserve for the British side which won a team silver medal. "I'll get there one day," she tells BBC Sport about her Olympic prospects. But having had a baby in April 2015, Lucy has taken a back seat as her husband has come to the fore, having seen him rise from 101 to 65 in the world rankings. It leads to a fascinating dynamic - the man who has fallen into the sport could go the the Olympics before his wife who has worked on getting there since she was a girl. "I'm very new to the sport and it's very exciting. I'm getting the opportunity to do things that I wouldn't possibly have got in showjumping," he says. "She's delighted to see me come in and do so well in a short time, I think she gets a big kick out of that." But Lucy says she can see a time where they could be competing against one another. "Our careers have kind of crossed at the right moment," she explains. "I've been taking a natural step backwards over the last couple of years and he's only really come into his ascendancy in the last year, so we've not really been competing against each other at the top level, yet. "But I'm hoping to come back to it, so we'll have that joy to come in future years I hope. "He's a fascinating person to watch on a horse. He has a huge amount of technical skill from years and years of showjumping, but he's not had so much experience cross country. "He's very natural at cross

Summary: They say that your whole life can turn on one chance event or meeting, and nothing could be truer for Irish rider Padraig McCarthy.


Spectacular photographs of the solar phenomenon have been shared around the world, but how do you know when it's going to appear and how do you capture it for posterity? Grabbing that perfect shot of the lights is a combination of luck, timing and a bit of know-how, according to David Costley, a keen amateur photographer who took a time-lapse video of the skies above the medieval ruins of Dunluce Castle on the north coast of County Antrim. "It's really about timing, making sure the clouds are clear and that there's no light pollution," he says. "That's why Dunluce is such a good place - you've got a direct view north and it's good to get that clear line of sight." He says he has seen people take good shots of the lights using just their mobile phone camera, but better equipment is needed to get the best results. "In terms of equipment, any DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera will do with eight-second exposure settings to get the nice detailed structures in the aurora," he says. "Because it's moving, if you have any longer exposure it all becomes one big green blur so it's good to get a short exposure and put the sensitivity settings up as high as you can." Images of the light show along the north coast have travelled around the world, according to Eoin McConnell, a tourism ranger who was one of many amateur photographers chasing a glimpse of the aurora. "The photos have gone mad on the internet, which is good as it promotes tourism here which is why I do it - Discover NI and Tourism Ireland retweeted and shared them so they have gone worldwide," he says. "You need a tripod to take aurora photos as you can't hold a camera steady enough for the long exposure. "You also need plenty of practice, as night photography is quite tricky - it's hard to focus on anything in the dark." It's not just the hardened aurora chasers who managed to get great photos of the Northern Lights at Dunluce Castle, according to Maureen Kane, who says she has only begun learning about night photography. "When the lights started to dance, so did I - it was just amazing to watch," she says. How the Aurora Borealis occurs The Northern Lights are caused by the interaction of the solar wind - a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun - and our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. Find out more While the phenomenon is not a new one, social media and websites devoted to forecasting its intermittent appearances have made it easier than ever before to experience the light show close to home. Ronan McLaughlin says he set up the Aurora Alert Ireland Twitter account (@Aurora_ireland) because there was a lot of misinformation on the internet. A veteran aurora-spotter, he is from the most northerly point in Ireland, Malin Head in County Donegal, and first saw the lights in 1988 when he was aged 12. "I remember when I wrote an article in 1994 for a

Summary: The Aurora Borealis - better known as the Northern Lights - have once again been providing a light show above the skies of Northern Ireland.


The proposed new high-speed rail line, HS2, is due to slice right through Fred Moreton's 550-acre farm near Offchurch, Warwickshire. And last week, he finally had his chance to tell MPs on the High Speed Rail Bill Select Committee just how this titanic building project would upend his life. Fred brought along slides for them to see. The thick black line is his land and all the green will be taken up by the railway. He didn't want the line at all, he told them, but if it had to be built, he wanted it in a tunnel so it didn't destroy his business. We were in the slightly jaded, but still grand, Committee Room Five in the House of Commons. The room is as high as it's wide, all portraits and rickety chairs with the Commons logo on the back. Fred was up against two lawyers from HS2. The cost of such a tunnel, they explained to MPs, would be Â£190m. Fred told me later that the first HS2 estimate he'd been given was for Â£80m. "All the details keep changing," he said. At the back of the room, 20 or so other people, all of them affected by the proposed line, patiently waited their turn. There were plenty of quiet little "good lucks" and "you did wells" as the day wore on. After all the big rows, we're down to the nitty-gritty of how you actually get a gigantic, hugely contentious thing built in Britain. A piece of legislation called a Hybrid Bill is being put before the committee of MPs. Think of it as planning permission for phase one of the line - the route between London and Birmingham. It's an inch-by-inch summary of exactly where it will go and how it will be built. And this is the forensic scrutiny that takes place before the final version of the Bill goes before all MPs for a vote, probably next year. If they say yes, the line seems certain to be built. If they reject it, well.... Forget arguments about economics and rail capacity. This is about ordinary people, often living in peaceful villages, who are worried about how their narrow country lanes will cope with all the HGVs and diggers that could soon be appearing in their backyards. They're worried about the school kids who walk along those lanes every day without a path to keep them safe. They're worried their businesses will go bust. The High Speed Rail Bill Select Committee is made up of six MPs, who'll eventually spend around 18 months listening to 2,000 or so people and groups directly affected by the project. From what I saw, their attention to detail was impressive as they drilled down into the whys and wherefores of moving a path here, a lorry route there. Every so often they go on site visits. At one point they joked with a petitioner about how good her biscuits had been when they visited her. She'd been impressed that she got her tin back afterwards. During my brief dip into the

Summary: After four years of battling, it was all over in 10 minutes.


Emergency services were called to Holyhead's Newry Beach at about 22:50 GMT on Sunday. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers believe she is local to the area, although no formal identification has taken place. The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner as been informed. Insp Jason Higgins of North Wales Police said: "We are now in the process of locating and informing her family. Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time"

Summary: A woman's body has been discovered at a beach on Anglesey, police have said.


The big defender, wearing a dressing on a head wound and a shirt with no number, rose high above the Rovers defence to glance home Shane Ferguson's right-wing corner and send 1,200 travelling fans into party mood. Millwall looked to have blown their chance when Billy Bodin made it 3-3 with a superb 30-yard free kick on 74 minutes. An action-packed first half saw the visitors take a fifth-minute lead when Lee Gregory hooked in a close-range volley after a left-wing corner had been headed down. Millwall doubled their advantage 20 minutes later, Steve Morrison heading on another corner for skipper Tony Craig to tap home from only a yard out. Rovers hit back when Jermaine Easter rifled home on 33 minutes after Bodin's deflected shot came back off the inside of a post, but two minutes later the impressive Morrison produced a perfect cross from the right for Gregory to bundle in his second. A right-footed rocket from Chris Lines after more good work from Bodin brought Rovers back to within a goal of the visitors on 42 minutes before the late drama. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Bristol Rovers 3, Millwall 4. Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 3, Millwall 4. Attempt missed. Steve Morison (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Steve Morison (Millwall) is shown the yellow card. Foul by Steve Morison (Millwall). Byron Moore (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt blocked. Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Attempt blocked. Stuart Sinclair (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Fred Onyedinma (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Stuart Sinclair (Bristol Rovers). Foul by Shaun Williams (Millwall). Byron Moore (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Steve Morison (Millwall). Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing. Aiden O'Brien (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Byron Moore (Bristol Rovers). Substitution, Millwall. Jake Cooper replaces Shane Ferguson. Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Aiden O'Brien (Millwall). Attempt saved. Steve Morison (Millwall) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Ryan Broom replaces Ellis Harrison. Goal! Bristol Rovers 3, Millwall 4. Shaun Hutchinson (Millwall) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Lee Brown. Hand ball by Shaun Williams (Millwall). Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Luke James replaces Jermaine Easter. Attempt saved. Shaun Cummings (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Attempt saved. Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Foul by Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers). Shaun Williams (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Goal! Bristol Rovers 3, Millwall 3. Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) from

Summary: Shaun Hutchinson headed an 85th-minute winner as Millwall grabbed the final play-off place in League One with a thrilling win at Bristol Rovers.


Light installations have been placed at locations around the city including Piccadilly, Mayfair, King's Cross, Trafalgar Square and Westminster. Lumiere London runs from 18:30 GMT to 22:30 on Saturday and Sunday. The art installations include a life-size 3D elephant, human figures floating in the sky, giant fish, LED stickmen and stars. The festival has been developed by creative producers Artichoke.

Summary: London has been illuminated by its first festival of light, featuring 30 artists.


A report published by the organisation said there were 116 deaths worldwide in 2014, including 29 in Brazil, 25 in Colombia and 15 in the Philippines. Activists also faced abduction and other threats if they interfered in corporate or state interests, it added. Last year saw a spike in killings related to hydropower programs. Fourteen people died defending their land and rivers against dam projects. Global Witness named Honduras as the most dangerous country for environmental activists, because of "regressive laws" and a climate of "near total impunity". It has the highest number of killings per capita, with 111 deaths recorded since 2002. Members of indigenous groups were increasingly involved in the "scramble for land and natural resources" and accounted for 40% of all deaths last year, it said. In September four Peruvian tribal leaders were murdered on their way to a meeting to discuss ways to stop illegal logging. Berta Caceres, an indigenous Lenca woman, told the report's authors that she had received numerous death threats because of her opposition to a dam that would force her community off their ancestral land. She claims she has been forced to live a "fugitive existence". Activists are often portrayed as enemies of the state, with some countries using anti-terror legislation to target them. The campaign group urged governments and the international community to monitor, investigate and punish those behind what it called a hidden crisis.

Summary: Killings of environmental activists have risen by 20% in the last year, according to campaign group Global Witness.


"The hateful language... from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country," she said, to loud cheers and applause. "Don't stoop to their level. Our motto is, when they go low, we go high." Earlier, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders urged Democrats to back Mrs Clinton. She will accept the party's presidential nomination on Thursday, when a roll call of how states' delegates are voting is to be read out. "While Donald Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths," Mr Sanders said. Some supporters of the senator, who had been Mrs Clinton's rival in the Democratic primary, booed at mention of Mrs Clinton's name; others wore duct tape with the word "silenced" over their mouths. Mrs Obama's speech was widely seen as an attack on Mr Trump, although she did not mention the Republican nominee by name. She said she wanted her husband to be succeeded by "somebody who knows this job and takes it seriously" and that could only be Mrs Clinton. Watch: Michelle Obama speech in full Because of the Democrats' candidate, she said, "my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States." In other remarks, she praised Mrs Clinton as a "true public servant" who had shown "devotion to our nation's children" and "never buckles under pressure". After her speech, President Obama wrote on Twitter: "Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn't be more proud & our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS [first lady]. I love you, Michelle." Mr Trump, who has criticised his rivals, both Republican and Democrat, in sometimes colourful language on Twitter, said Mr Sanders had "sold out" to Mrs Clinton. He also condemned other speakers at the Democratic convention including senators Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren, but made no mention of Mrs Obama. In other key moments from the convention on Monday: The Washington Post said the party's "opening day of discord" ended on a "high note" but USA Today said the Democrats proved "they can be dysfunctional too". The Boston Globe meanwhile asked: "Has Bernie Sanders lost control of his delegates?" But it was the First Lady who was credited with invigorating things. This was Hillary's convention, but it was "Michelle's night" says Gail Collins in the New York Times. The LA Times says she "delivered one of the most passionate Clinton endorsements of the night". 1. What is the point? At a convention, each party formally nominates its candidates for president and vice-president, and the party unveils its party platform, or manifesto. 2. Who is there? There are about 5,000 delegates attending, selected at state and congressional district conventions, and representing each US state and territory. Plus about 15,000 journalists and tens of thousands of other party grandees, lawmakers and guests. 3. What is the schedule?

Summary: US first lady Michelle Obama has denounced Republican Donald Trump and passionately backed Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.


The roundabout at the bottom of Anderson Drive is a bottleneck. Transport Minister Keith Brown urged local residents and road users to have their say on the proposals. Any work on the Haudagain roundabout would not get under way until 2018 when construction of the Aberdeen bypass is complete. Mr Brown said: "The bottleneck at Haudagain has caused congestion for motorists using the A90 for many years. "This option, which is the original preferred option, will provide the best journey time savings, reducing congestion and the risk of accidents. "It will also provide safe crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists. "We will consider all comments made as we further develop our proposals for Haudagain with a view to publishing draft orders in summer 2015 so that we are ready to start work in spring 2018." The exhibition opened at the Lord Provost Henry E Rae Community Centre at noon, and continues on Friday. Meanwhile, Transport Scotland said three tenders had now been received for the contract to build the Aberdeen bypass.

Summary: Plans to improve the notorious Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen with a new dual carriageway link have gone on show.


Media playback is not supported on this device Claude Puel's side, defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg, should have put the tie out of Liverpool's reach inside the first 45 minutes but Dusan Tadic's close-range shot was blocked by keeper Loris Karius and captain Steve Davis blazed another great chance wildly over. Liverpool raised the tempo in front of the Kop in the second half but Daniel Sturridge wasted their two best chances, Fraser Forster acrobatically hooked an Emre Can shot off the line and the hosts also had a late penalty appeal turned down when substitute Divock Origi tumbled under Jack Stephens' challenge. But Southampton broke clear in the closing moments and Long finished convincingly from Josh Sims' pass to send them into the their first final in this competition since 1979, where they will meet either Manchester United or Hull City - a feat achieved without conceding a goal. Southampton's date at Wembley on 26 February is a rich tribute to this brilliantly run club and their understated French manager Claude Puel. Saints were vastly superior over two legs against Liverpool and, despite the home side's complaints about that late penalty claim, no-one could seriously begrudge them their victory. And it was all done without their talisman and key defender Virgil van Dijk, out through injury. Southampton were dangerous on the break in the first half and then, when they needed to be, were superbly organised, disciplined and determined defensively before breaking for Republic of Ireland international Long to strike the killer blow. Southampton have once more demonstrated their ability, as a club, to take the blows of key departures and still achieve. They lost manager Ronald Koeman to Everton in the summer - as well as important components such as Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane to Spurs and Liverpool respectively - and have carried on undisturbed with a Wembley appearance as their reward. Liverpool's laboured performance was in stark contrast to the all-action attacking displays that briefly took them to the top of the Premier League earlier this season. Jurgen Klopp's side looked jaded and have lost their way, with only one win in seven games this year, a third-round FA Cup replay victory at League Two Plymouth Argyle. Liverpool look shorn of threat without £34m summer signing Mane, away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, and lacking an alternative plan when teams as disciplined as Swansea and Southampton have been in inflicting two successive home defeats. Sturridge felt the frustration of Liverpool's supporters for a poor performance and two missed chances, while substitute Origi looks short of confidence. Klopp's decision to play Can and Jordan Henderson together in midfield backfired badly and his decision to leave out Georginio Wijnaldum was questionable. Southampton's players enjoyed every second of their celebrations with their fans in the Anfield Road end as they looked forward to the chance to win their second major trophy, following an FA Cup triumph over Manchester United at Wembley in 1976. Saints had several anxious moments in the second half, especially when goalkeeper

Summary: Southampton reached the EFL Cup final at Wembley with a fully deserved victory over two legs against Liverpool - crowned by Shane Long's late winner at Anfield.


Researchers in Bristol found 8% more patients died after 30 days if they were operated on between 24 and 36 hours after admission to hospital. The delay is thought to have caused 670 excess deaths in four years. Project leader Timothy Chesser said it was the "first time" the benefits of early surgery had been revealed. Data was collected by a team at Southmead Hospital from the National Hip Fracture Database, the largest such list in the world. The study focussed on 241,446 patients across England and Wales who were admitted to hospitals with hip fractures between January 2011 and December 2014, and the mortality rate for these patients 30 days after they were admitted. Guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2011 called for patients to be operated on either the same day, or the day after, hospital admission. But the new report says that even earlier surgery can improve outcomes for elderly patients who are often frail, with multiple medical problems. "We found 8% more patients died if they were operated on between 24 and 36 hours compared to those given surgery within 24 hours, and the risk increased to 20% for those receiving surgery after 48 hours," said Adrian Sayers, the lead author on the paper. Timothy Chesser, the clinical lead of the research project, said early surgery was not advisable for every patient, but was beneficial in the majority of cases. "We have shown for the first time that early surgery is much better for patients," he said. "The caveat is some of these patients are very sick and would benefit from greater time to get better before surgical procedures."

Summary: Hundreds of lives could be saved if patients with hip fractures were operated on in under 24 hours, a new study reveals.


The position, in her Edmonton constituency office, will now be re-advertised with a Â£9.40 an hour salary. "Kate does not believe in paying anyone less than the London Living Wage," a spokeswoman said. Ms Osamor, who was promoted to Labour's front bench in Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle, campaigns against low pay. The original advertisement, on the W4MP jobs board, for a constituency intern, listed responsibilities including " community-based projects relating to the constituency", gathering and evaluating data and "general administrative support". It asked for degree-level qualifications, "enthusiasm" and "commitment to the full duration of the role". The salary was listed as "expenses" and it was described as a "voluntary role". The advert was withdrawn after Ms Osamor, who entered Parliament in May's general election, came under fire from campaigners in an International Business Times article. Tanya De Grunwald, a campaigner for fair internships and founder of careers website Graduate Fog it was "astonishing" that MPs were still failing to connect the dots between their political principles and their own hiring practices. Ms De Grunwald said it was "great" that the ad had been taken down but she said it was "disappointing that mistakes like this are still happening when surely everyone is aware of how unfair unpaid internships are by now. When you post an ad for an unpaid role you should know in your gut that it's wrong." She said MPs needed to "sort out proper processes for hiring these roles so errors and misunderstandings like this can't happen".

Summary: Labour's shadow equality minister Kate Osamor has withdrawn an advert for an unpaid intern blaming a "misunderstanding" in her office.


A full 21 years later, on 1 October 2016, women who were not even born in her lifetime were left distraught when a MAC make-up line released in her name sold out completely within 24 hours of its launch. MAC is a cult brand, and it is not uncommon for well-hyped celebrity make-up ranges to sell out online within a day - but for that to happen when the pop icon has been dead for two decades is a striking testimony to her legacy. Those unfamiliar with Tejano (Mexican-American) music may never have heard of Selena, who was just hitting the US mainstream when she was murdered. But for many Latina women, she is an inspiration - the first Tejano singer to debut at the top of the Billboard chart when her posthumous crossover album, Dreaming of You, was released in 1996. In 1990, her second album, Ven Conmigo ("Come With Me"), was the first Tejano record to achieve gold status, meaning it sold more than 500,000 copies. And in 1993, the album Live! won her a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Album. Her story was brought to life in the 1997 film Selena, which gave Jennifer Lopez her break-out acting role. It depicts the flamboyant singer's rise from 10-year-old star of her family's band, Selena y Los Dinos, and how she learned Spanish to connect with the Latino community. Though her father was not keen to include the scene where 20-year-old Selena eloped with her lead guitarist Chris Perez and married him the same day, he was talked into keeping it to reflect their love story honestly. While the film focuses on her life, it includes how she was lured to a motel and shot dead by Yolanda Saldivar, the former president of her fan club, when the Quintanilla family found evidence Saldivar had embezzled $60,000 from Selena's fan club and boutiques. The film became the 11th highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, taking $35,281,794, enabling Jennifer Lopez to become the new highest-paid Latina actress, netting a million dollars. Determined to do the role justice, Lopez moved in with the Quintanilla family to understand Selena's life better. A stadium scene depicting Selena's final concert featured an astonishing 35,000 extras - many of whom were fans. As of 2012, Selena had sold over 60 million albums worldwide. Her ongoing relevance was underlined in July, when the Hollywood Hall of Fame confirmed she would get her own star in 2017. Eva Longoria, the Latina actress who became a household name with the TV show Desperate Housewives, was nominated at the same time. Writing on Instagram, she said she was especially overjoyed to share the honour with Selena. "The same year I receive my star, so does my idol, my inspiration, my fellow Tejana, my fellow Corpus Christi native, Selena Quintanilla. She was the reason I even dared to dream that a better life was possible," Eva wrote. "She blazed the way for all of us and I will be forever grateful to her for not only that but for the pure joy I

Summary: On 31 March 1995, at the age of 23, rising Latina superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez was shot dead by the manager of her fan club at a motel in Corpus Christi, Texas.


A UKIP MEP complained about the pictorial instructions on how to vote, which show a pencil hovering over the Remain box. The election watchdog said the graphic "shouldn't have been used". Bristol City Council said it would amend the form and insisted it was not trying to influence the vote. Follow the latest developments on our live page Mike Hookem, a UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said a constituent of his had been alerted to the Bristol area postal voting packs. "Any ballot papers which have gone out with marks showing either remain or leave boxes being ticked in the example need to be recalled and the person responsible needs to be investigated" Mr Hookem said. "It may be an isolated incident around Bristol but in the interests of democracy we cannot take that risk." The Leave.EU campaign tweeted images of the postal ballot instructions and called on supporters to tell them if they had received the packs. Both sides in this referendum campaign are on high alert for any hint of bias, particularly in official documents. So it is, perhaps, no surprise that Bristol City Council's leaflet has caused such a row. The council insists the graphic is entirely innocuous - but UKIP says it is a clear example of establishment bias in favour of the Remain campaign. There is even a suggestion that it could leave the result of the referendum open to legal challenge. The Electoral Commission has told Bristol council not to use it again. But with reports of similar leaflets dropping on doormats around the country it may be too late to do anything about it. A spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission said: "While it is unlikely that postal voters in Bristol might be persuaded to vote a different way because of the graphic in these instructions, clearly it shouldn't have been used. "We are following up with the counting officer for Bristol City to ensure that it is amended before any further postal voting packs are issued to voters in the area." A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "This form is designed to explain the logistics of voting by post and not to suggest how someone should vote. "The placement of the pen graphic was entirely incidental and we do not believe that anybody could reasonably be influenced by such a graphic. "However, given current sensitivities, for all future postal vote dispatches the form and graphic will be amended."

Summary: The Electoral Commission has called on Bristol city council to scrap an EU referendum how-to-vote guide over claims it favours the Remain campaign.


The claim: Sir Michael Wilshaw, England's chief inspector of schools, says there is a noticeable north-south divide when it comes to the rate at which schools are improving, giving children in the North poorer chances of educational success. Reality Check verdict: There is evidence that the children in the North of England have less chance of educational success than children in the South of England at secondary level, but it is difficult to point to a single reason for this. There is a link between deprivation and poorer school results, but the most deprived areas of London have experienced dramatic improvements in schools in the past 20 years. In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday, chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw said that in northern England "children have less of a chance of educational success than children south of the Wash". Delivering the report, he said the gap between the North and Midlands and the South was widening and now stood at 12 percentage points - in the North and Midlands, 72% of secondary schools were rated good or outstanding compared with 84% in the South. This means there are 135,000 more secondary school children being taught in under-performing schools in the northern England and the Midlands than in the South. According to Ofsted, there are more than twice as many secondary schools judged inadequate in the North and Midlands (98 schools or 6%) compared with 44 in the South and East (3%). Sir Michael also said that of the 10 worst performing local authority areas, seven were in the North or Midlands and pupils in these regions were less likely to achieve the highest grades at GCSE. The seven in the North and Midlands were: The three in the South were: The government says the proportion of good schools is increasing in every region. It has certainly increased overall - the proportion of schools judged to be good or outstanding has increased by 12 percentage points since 2011. But improvement is not happening at the same rate across the country, as is clear from the widening gap between the North and the South. The Ofsted report says that in some parts of the North and Midlands, improvement over the past five years has "stagnated". "In 2011, the North West was one of the stronger regions, but the proportion of pupils in good and outstanding schools is now just over three percentage points higher than five years ago," it says. "This means there are only just over 3,000 more pupils in good and outstanding secondary schools in the region compared to an increase of over 90,000 pupils in London in the same period." Some of this difference will be down to a declining pupil population, but according to Ofsted this does not account for it entirely. A report from think tank the IPPR in 2015 found there was a north-south gap in GCSE attainment, in terms of the number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs including English and maths. On average, 55% of pupils in the

Summary: The north-south divide in education was a central theme in Ofsted's annual report for the second year in a row.


Dyfed-Powys Police said its officers made arrests relating to controlled drugs at the dance party near Llanddewi Brefi over the bank holiday weekend. Local people and councillors have called for action to ensure more raves are not held. Organisers of the event had relayed the remote location to people via text and email rather than social media. Police said they became aware of a "large gathering" late on Saturday, 28 May but because it was already on a "a very large scale" the decision was made not to break up the party. Instead, officers stayed at the event to ensure more people could not enter the site. The police helicopter helped to gather intelligence and evidence and arrests were made. Llanddewi Brefi councillor Rhodri Evans said: "I have had quite a few people in Llandewi expressing their concerns - people driving through the village at very high speeds and perhaps putting people in danger." He added that the area was "quiet and peaceful" and villagers wanted to ensure more raves were not held. Officers have urged landowners to be vigilant to people enquiring about their land in the guise of hiring it for apparently acceptable activities such as gymkhanas and scouts and guides events.

Summary: Police are investigating after about 2,000 people turned up for a three-day illegal rave in Ceredigion.


Sufism or Islamic mysticism was once suppressed by the Taliban, but the sect is recovering its place in the country and its millions of followers are once more emerging from the shadows. Sufis have considerable influence in both rural and urban settings - they are an effective popular force to bring change into society - and people consider them as disinterested mediators in disputes. ''The influence of Sufis will be very significant in bringing peace and tranquillity,'' says Sayed Mahmood Gailani, a Sufi master. ''There are a few people with Sufi backgrounds who are involved in the peace process. But there hasn't been any concerted effort to give the Sufis a systematic and prominent role in it.'' Sufism in Afghanistan is considered an integral part of Islam. People in general respect Sufis for their learning and believe they possess "karamat" - a miraculous spiritual power that enables Sufi masters to perform acts of generosity and bestow blessings. Ziyarats - Sufi shrines - are popular pilgrimage sites all over the country. In addition to Afghanistan, Sufi orders have millions of followers in both Pakistan and India too. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the following armed resistance by the mujahideen resulted in the arrival of thousands of Middle Eastern fighters and the introduction of foreign ideologies including Wahabism. Wahabism insists on a literal interpretation of Islam and sees Sufism and its ideas as anathema. This created tension between Sufis and Ulamas (religious scholars) in some parts of the country. But it was during the Taliban's rule (1996-2001) when many Sufis were driven underground. A number were initially part of the Taliban movement but gradually people influenced by the Wahabi ideology became more prominent. Sufis were silenced. Some Sufis, especially members of the Chishtiyya Sufi Order which considers music to be an effective route to reach Allah, were prosecuted. "The Taliban invaded Sufi gatherings, humiliated and beat up many of them and their musical instruments were smashed,'' said Afghan Culture Minister Sayed Makhdoom Rahin, who has a Sufi background. ''Sufis are free to hold their ceremonies once again with the same old exuberance denied to them by the Taliban.'' Given the respect and influence Sufis enjoy among the local population, their involvement at the grass roots level could help the peace process in war-torn Afghanistan. Although Taliban members come from various backgrounds, some have great respect for Sufis and are even followers of Sufism. "Influential and knowledgeable Sufis can persuade a large number of Taliban to lay down their arms and can also provide guarantees to the Taliban about their safety and peaceful future,'' a Sufi leader, Ahmad Shah Maududi, said. ''But we need to be careful and vigilant because many so-called Sufis have exploited and fooled ordinary people in the garb of Sufism.'' Sufism has been part of Afghanistan almost as long as Islam itself - more than 1,300 years. Afghanistan is commonly called "the home of Sufi saints". The mystics have been an integral part of the life of the people for centuries. The word Sufism is derived from "suf",

Summary: As the Afghan government and its international allies intensify efforts to bring the conflict to an end, the role and influence of mystics is being sought to help bring the Taliban into talks on a political solution.


A large number of rail operators are not running any services, with only a limited service operating on others. Labour said that in opposition the Tories had "attacked the Boxing Day rail shutdown", but done nothing about it while in government. The Department for Transport said it was for train operators to decide on the level of service on specific days. Rail operators that are not running services on Boxing Day include Arriva Trains Wales, c2C, CrossCountry, East Midlands, Grand Central, Great Northern, Great Western, London Midland, Northern Rail, South West, Thameslink, TransPennine Express and Virgin. The Christmas period also sees 200 sets of rail engineering works being carried out, with London, Manchester and Cardiff among the cities hit, and Heathrow Express is also suspended for six days. Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: "Tory ministers' handling of the Boxing Day rail standstill is making it much harder for families and friends to visit one another this Christmas break. "In opposition the Tories attacked the Boxing Day rail shutdown. They've now had more than six years to do something about it but haven't. "Their lack of action, even despite the chaos of previous years, gives the impression they don't really care about it at all. The Tory hypocrisy on this issue is astounding." A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "Deciding the level of service on specific days is a matter for train operators. "But we know some passengers want to travel on Boxing Day, and that's why we have worked with the rail industry to ensure there are limited services on some franchises on that day, and that the scope for Boxing Day services is considered when we are planning future franchises. "Network Rail and train companies have ensured that a large part of the railway will remain open over the Christmas/New Year period and alternative routes are provided where the lines are closed for essential engineering work, and that these are communicated properly to the public." Travellers are also being urged to check weather conditions before setting off as Storm Conor descends on northern parts of the UK. A yellow "be aware" warning has been issued for western and northern Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. After a lull following disruption caused by Storm Barbara, high winds and snow are expected to sweep across parts of northern Scotland, peaking on Boxing Day when gusts could reach 90mph.

Summary: Labour has accused the Conservatives of "hypocrisy" over the Boxing Day "standstill" on the rail network.


It is understood that the Indian owners of the plant fear that the current UK political uncertainty could derail efforts linked to the planned sale. Concerns centre on proposed changes to the pension scheme which are crucial to securing the future of the business. The government says its consultation on the scheme is closed, and it will respond in due course. Tata announced in March that it was considering selling its UK steel business, putting 11,000 jobs at risk. But buyers are reluctant to take on the huge steelworkers' pension scheme, which has 130,000 members. Including spouses and children, hundreds of thousands of people depend upon it. The scheme also has a deficit of about Â£700m. In May, the business secretary Sajid Javid launched a consultation outlining options to resolve the pensions issue. But it is understood that Tata now has concerns that the political uncertainty surrounding the Tory leadership battle could derail the process. "It's clearly an incredibly busy time in UK politics," a source close to the company said. "Nevertheless, the company still hopes that the hundreds of thousands of people in Britain who are dependent on a steel pension will not be left worse off by the current political leadership uncertainties." The consultation on Tata's pension scheme is being handled by the Department of Work and Pensions. On Wednesday the Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party. He is being backed by Sajid Javid, who hopes to become chancellor if Mr Crabb wins. Mr Javid has led efforts to resolve the crisis in the steel industry which has intensified under his watch. That's led to concerns that the leadership race could take priority over efforts to resolve the pensions issue. The consultation on the scheme closed on 23 June, with a government response due four weeks later, just before the summer parliamentary recess. The Tata Steel pension consultation included a plan to base the scheme's annual increase on the CPI measure of inflation rather than RPI, a move expected to save billions of pounds. While reducing payouts, the plan would leave most pensions holders either better off or no worse off compared with entering the Pension Protection Fund - the industry lifeboat for pension schemes that go under. But the plans have been criticised for setting a precedent that could lead other employers to attempt to dilute their pensions promises. A DWP spokesman said: "Our consultation into the British Steel Pensions Scheme has now closed. We have received over 5,000 responses and will respond in due course." You can follow John at @JohnMoylanBBC

Summary: Fresh concerns have emerged over the future of Tata Steel's UK assets, which include the huge Port Talbot works.


The trio will join 12 other celebrities on the 2017 series, which launches on BBC One next month. McGee is best known as the widow of magician Paul Daniels, while Burke won 2008's X Factor and is a West End star. Peacock has won two Paralympics sprinting gold medals and is the first celebrity hopeful to have a disability. His appearance follows that of former Royal Marine and fellow amputee Cassidy Little, who took part in a "people's" edition of Strictly in 2015 as well as that year's Christmas show. The new series of Strictly will begin with a launch show on BBC One on 9 September. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will return to host the first series not to have Len Goodman as a judge. Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel Horwood will instead be joined by international ballroom champion Shirley Ballas. Here is a complete rundown of the contestants for the show's 15th series: Debbie McGee found fame at the side of Paul Daniels on his TV magic show in the 1980s and went on to marry him. Her Strictly appearance comes seven years after her late husband took to the dancefloor on the show's 2010 edition. He died last year. Speaking of her own impending appearance, she said: "The excitement is overwhelming. I can't stop smiling. It's been the hardest secret I have ever had to keep!" Jonnie Peacock has won gold in the T44 100m at two Paralympics, two World Para Athletics Championships and two European Championships. But can he win the Strictly glitterball? The 24-year-old had his right leg amputated below the knee after contracting meningitis as a child. "The opportunity to be the first contestant with a disability to take part in Strictly's main show was too good to turn down," he said. "I've got no previous dance history outside of the occasional 'worm' at a mate's party and I know this will be a challenge and a new experience. "I can't wait to see what I can achieve and how far I can push myself." Alexandra Burke took The X Factor by storm in 2008, with her winner's single Hallelujah selling more than a million copies. Since then, she's established herself on stage in such musicals as The Bodyguard and Sister Act. "I love this show and have followed it from the beginning, so being able to be a part of it is just a dream come true for me," she said. "I am very nervous as I am a singer not a dancer, but I am going to give this my absolute everything." Chizzy Akudolu left Holby City in June after five years. Before that, she had roles in The Inbetweeners, EastEnders, Silent Witness, Hollyoaks and Twenty Twelve. Viewers have already seen her strut her stuff in BBC One's Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief. She appeared with two Casualty stars earlier this year, finishing second with a routine set to Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk. She said: "When I was 13, I made the finals of a disco dancing competition once

Summary: TV personality Debbie McGee, singer Alexandra Burke and Paralympian Jonnie Peacock are the final contestants to be announced for Strictly Come Dancing.


A source close to Mr Gupta said the discussions had not been substantive but he would seek further talks when he flies back to the UK early next week. Government help on energy costs and plant modernisation are issues he wants to discuss, according to the source. The government declined to comment. It comes as the government said it was ready to offer financial support to "clinch a buyer" to save the steelworks, where more than 4,000 jobs are at risk. Tata Steel - which announced last week that it was selling its loss-making UK businesses - has said it will close the plant unless it finds a buyer. German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp has also been touted as another potential buyer, according to reports. Tata directly employs 15,000 workers in the UK and supports thousands of others, across plants in Port Talbot, Rotherham, Corby and Shotton. It said it was "committed to running a meaningful process to explore strategic alternatives" for its UK business. What's going wrong with Britain's steel industry? Tata Steel UK: What are the options? Is China to blame for steel woes? Mr Gupta's commodities firm Liberty House has already saved several UK steelworks. A source close to the businessman said he was "definitely interested" in Tata's "downstream" operations and was looking at options which would keep liquid steel-making in the UK. BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Mr Gupta wanted to discuss possible government help to replace Port Talbot's traditional blast furnaces with modern electric arc furnaces and energy costs. The source said it would not be an open-ended commitment, would protect most of the jobs at the site and could make it more profitable in the long term. Extra relief from carbon tax is another important issue, according to the source. On Sunday's Andrew Marr show, Business Secretary Sajid Javid said he would rule nothing out, but he maintained the government's view that nationalisation was not the answer to the crisis. It wants to find a commercial buyer for the Port Talbot plant, saying this will offer a "long-term, viable future". Mr Javid signalled that ministers were working on plans to reduce energy costs and take on some of the pension liabilities to make a purchase more attractive to investors. Tata Steel has said there is "no fixed timeline" for the sale process but stressed that urgency is needed to avoid "a long period of uncertainty" employees and customers. It said the sale process began on 30 March and added: "Tata Steel Europe is in the process of finalising the appointment of advisers and will soon launch a process globally of seeking an investor for the UK operations." Labour says the government should be prepared to take the Port Talbot plant - which Tata says is losing Â£1m a day - into public ownership to safeguard its future until a buyer can be found. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggested the government could maintain a stake in the plant after a sale. He has also urged ministers to speed up infrastructure projects, such as HS2, to support the steel

Summary: Tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has held initial talks with the government over the possible purchase of parts of Tata Steel's UK business, including Port Talbot steelworks, the BBC understands.


In a landmark hailed as "long overdue", Prof Maryam Mirzakhani was recognised for her work on complex geometry. Four of the medals were presented in Seoul at the International Congress of Mathematicians, held every four years. Also among the winners was Prof Martin Hairer from the University of Warwick, UK, whose work on randomness could prove useful for climate modelling. Awarded by a committee from the International Mathematical Union (IMU), the Fields Medal is regarded as something akin to a Nobel Prize for maths. It was established by Canadian mathematician John Fields and comes with a 15,000 Canadian dollar (Â£8,000) cash prize. First awarded in 1936 and then every four years since 1950, the medal is awarded to between two and four researchers, who must be no older than 40, because Fields wanted to encourage the winners to strive for "further achievement" as well as recognise their success. The other two medals were won by Dr Artur Avila, a Brazilian mathematician who earned his PhD in dynamical systems at the age of 21, and Prof Manjul Bhargava, a Canadian-American number theorist at Princeton University. In becoming the very first female medallist, Prof Mirzakhani - who teaches at Stanford University in California - ends what has been a long wait for the mathematics community. Prof Dame Frances Kirwan, a member of the medal selection committee from the University of Oxford, pointed out that despite maths being viewed traditionally as "a male preserve", women have contributed to mathematics for centuries. She noted that around 40% of maths undergraduates in the UK are women, but that proportion declines rapidly at PhD level and beyond. "I hope that this award will inspire lots more girls and young women, in this country and around the world, to believe in their own abilities and aim to be the Fields Medallists of the future," Prof Kirwan said. Prof Sir John Ball, another British mathematician and a former president of the IMU, agreed that Prof Mirzakhani's win was "fantastically important". Speaking to BBC News from the congress in Seoul, South Korea, he said that a female winner was overdue and that Prof Mirzakhani is one of many brilliant women mathematicians. He added that the committee had an unenviable job choosing the winners. "These four are really deserving of this recognition, but of course any work at this level also builds on exceptional work by other people." Prof Mirzakhani's seminal research concerns shapes called Riemann surfaces. These are convoluted mathematical objects that can be analysed using complex numbers - i.e. numbers with real and imaginary parts. In particular, she has studied "moduli spaces" of these shapes, which map all of the possible geometries of a Riemann surface into their own, new space. Prof Alison Etheridge, a lecturer in applied mathematics at the University of Oxford, said she was thrilled by the announcement. "Women are doing so well now in mathematics that this is just icing on the cake," Prof Etheridge told the BBC. "It's the sort of thing which will really catch the public's imagination - and as a result I

Summary: An Iranian mathematician working in the US has become the first ever female winner of the celebrated Fields Medal.


Rex Tillerson, who has no previous political experience, will be visiting countries in the shadow of North Korea's nuclear programme. Global superpower China may be the key to that problem, and to stability in the region, but relations with the US are strained at the moment, partly over comments Mr Tillerson himself has made. His first true test as a diplomat is a potential powder keg. So is the former oil boss up to the task? Rex Tillerson has kept a remarkably low profile in his first month or so in office, giving no press briefings in six weeks, and sticking to prepared statements. Any hopes that reporters might see him in action on this Asia trip were dashed, however, when it emerged he wouldn't be bringing the state department press corps along. Instead, Mr Tillerson will be taking a single reporter from a conservative website, the Independent Journal Review - because of the small plane being used, the state department said. The journalist, Erin McPike, recently wrote about Tillerson in a piece on "Exxon Mobil's special treatment from the White House". The trip is seen as important because Mr Tillerson will be trying to conduct high-level diplomacy in a region shaken by his president's public comments. Donald Trump has tweeted that China needs to be "taken on" and decried the country's "military complex" in the South China Sea. The president has said that South Korea "makes a fortune on us" while the US defends it, and has accused Japan of "currency manipulation". Such remarks have led to uncertainty in the region about the direction of US foreign policy, something Mr Tillerson will have to deal with. Mr Tillerson's trip starts with Japan, which is likely to be the easiest leg of the journey. He is scheduled to meet the foreign minister, as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - who Trump has already met, and "had a great time" with. But the military threat from North Korea is likely to dominate the discussion. The secretive isolationist nation has continued its development of nuclear weapons despite sanctions and threats from the international community. Two nuclear explosion tests and more than 20 missile launches in the past year have increased tensions. Both Japan and South Korea, which are US military allies and host US troops, are within missile distance of North Korea. But it is China, as North Korea's only ally on earth, which holds the power to affect change. Donald Trump has accused China of ignoring the North Korea situation, and essentially allowing it to worsen. But Beijing has taken relatively strong steps in recent weeks. Early in March, it asked Pyongyang to stop its missile tests to "defuse a looming crisis", and earlier dealt its ally a severe economic blow by banning coal imports. Mr Tillerson is likely to urge China to do even more. But at the same time, he'll have to smooth over another row that the US is involved in. The United States has deployed the Thaad missile defence system (that's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) in South

Summary: The new US secretary of state is heading off on his first trip to Asia, where diplomatic tensions run high.


The first-stage booster, which was previously used on a mission 11 months ago, helped send a telecommunications satellite into orbit from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. It marks an important milestone for SpaceX in its quest for re-usability. Traditionally, rockets are expendable - their various segments are discarded and destroyed during an ascent. The California outfit, in contrast, aims to recover Falcon first-stages and fly them multiple times to try to reduce the cost of its operations. And to emphasise this point, Thursday's booster was also brought back under control to land on a barge stationed out in the Atlantic. "I think it's an amazing day for space," said Elon Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX. "It means you can fly and re-fly an orbit class booster, which is the most expensive part of the rocket. This is going to be, hopefully, a huge revolution in spaceflight." The lift-off had occurred on cue at 18:27 EDT (22:27 GMT; 23:27 BST). The satellite passenger, SES-10, was ejected some 32 minutes later. This spacecraft is now being manoeuvred by its own thruster system to a position over the equator from where it can deliver TV and telecom services to the Caribbean, Brazil, and other regions in Central and South America. SpaceX has become adept in the past two years at bringing first-stage boosters home after they have completed their primary task of getting a payload out of the thicker lower-reaches of the atmosphere. The segments autonomously guide themselves back to the floating platform or a coastal pad to make propulsive landings. Thursday's mission was the first time one of these "flight proven" vehicles had been re-launched. Other landed boosters will now be used on future missions. Another six this year, most likely. Some customers may still insist on a brand new rocket, but if SpaceX can demonstrate routine, untroubled performance from these second-hand vehicles then satellite operators will get increasingly comfortable with the concept. Getting away from expendable rockets has been a long quest. Famously, Nasa's space shuttle system was partially re-usable. Its white solid-fuel strap-on boosters, for example, would parachute into the Atlantic after each launch. The casings of these boosters were then refurbished and re-used numerous times. And yet the complexities of servicing the shuttle system after every flight swamped any savings. SpaceX hopes its simpler Falcon 9 rocket can finally deliver a practical commercial solution. It believes its technology will eventually permit rapid turnaround, with boosters flying perhaps 10 times before being retired; maybe even up to 100 times with a certain level of refurbishment. "With this being the first re-light we were incredibly paranoid about everything," Mr Musk said. "The core airframe remained the same, the engines remained the same - but any auxiliary components that we thought might be slightly questionable, we changed out. Now our aspiration will be zero hardware changes, re-flight in 24 hours - the only thing that changes is that we reload propellant." SpaceX hopes its simpler Falcon 9 rocket can finally deliver a practical commercial solution. It believes its technology will eventually permit rapid turnaround,

Summary: California's SpaceX company has successfully re-flown a segment from one of its Falcon 9 rockets.


The 41-year-old, from Crawley, West Sussex, is believed to have bombed a jail in Aleppo on 6 February. The footage shows Majid next to a large armoured truck bomb that was driven into the walls of the prison. His family said they believed he was in Syria for humanitarian purposes. Anti-terror police searched Majid's house in Langley Green on Wednesday. Officials have not confirmed his identity citing a lack of DNA evidence, although community sources in Crawley have confirmed to Mr Gardner that Majid is the man in the video. Mr Gardner said: "The 43-minute video clearly shows Mr Majid from Crawley in Sussex, dressed in white next to the large armoured truck bomb, which he is believed to have driven into the walls of Aleppo prison on 6 February." Majid is believed to have been responsible for the prison attack that resulted in inmates escaping. By Frank GardnerBBC security correspondent This video provides the final chilling proof that a Sussex man, loved by his family and friends, chose to blow himself up in Syria in the cause of jihad. Abdul Waheed Majid told them he was going for humanitarian reasons. But the video, apparently filmed in a wood in northern Syria last week, clearly shows him surrounded by armed jihadist fighters and next to the armoured truck bomb later rammed into the walls of Aleppo prison and detonated. The suicide bombing has alarmed counter terrorism officials here in Britain as they fear that other jihadists who go out to Syria may come into contact with hardcore al-Qaeda operatives who may urge them to turn their attentions away from the Syrian regime and instead attack targets in the West. The bombing, in the north of Syria, is thought to have been the first carried out in the country by a Briton. People living near Majid's home told the BBC he left some weeks ago for Syria. An al-Qaeda-linked rebel group, the al-Nusra Front, had named Majid by an alias - Abu Suleiman al-Britani. Counter-terrorism police raided a second house in Crawley on Thursday, which was believed to have been occupied by one of Majid's close friends. That house is also the former home of schoolgirl Sarah Payne's killer Roy Whiting, according to neighbours. The South East Counter Terrorism Unit said there had been no arrests following the searches in Crawley. The Manchester home of student Abu Layth has also been searched by police. He is believed to have been killed while fighting in Syria. Inquiries are continuing into how Layth, whose family name is Khalid Raoufi, died. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed his family is not under investigation.

Summary: A video has been posted online showing British man Abdul Waheed Majid, who is thought to have carried out a suicide bombing in Syria, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner has said.


The Broncos needed to better Salford's result at Batley to keep their hopes of a Super League return alive, but the Red Devils won 42-14 to finish fifth. Rhys Williams scored three of London's nine tries against Featherstone, who lost all seven games in the Qualifiers. Both clubs will play in the Championship again in 2017.

Summary: London Broncos thrashed Featherstone in their final Qualifiers match but Salford's victory meant they missed out on a place in the Million Pound Game.


Prosecutors say managers at Peanut Corporation of America shipped peanuts and products they knew were tainted. More than 575 people in more than 40 states were sickened in the outbreak, including hundreds of children. A lawyer for former owner Stewart Parnell said inspectors had been aware of the company's testing practices. The charges carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, prosecutors say. Mr Parnell, his brother, former Vice-President Michael Parnell, as well as former plant managers Samuel Lightsey and Daniel Kilgore, have been charged with fraud, selling "adulterated and misbranded food", and conspiracy. In addition, former plant worker Mary Wilkerson was charged with obstruction of justice. Kilgore has already pleaded guilty in the case. Prosecutors say the Parnells, Mr Lightsey and Kilgore conspired to manufacture and sell peanuts and peanut products that lab tests had shown were tainted with salmonella. They created fake certificates saying the foods were safe, when in fact they had either not been tested or had been found to have been contaminated, prosecutors said. Stewart Parnell, Mr Lightsey and Ms Wilkerson lied to visiting government inspectors, they said. "When those responsible for producing or supplying our food lie and cut corners, as alleged in the indictment, they put all of us at risk," said Stuart Delery, head of the justice department's civil division. "The Department of Justice will not hesitate to pursue any person whose criminal conduct risks the safety of Americans who have done nothing more than eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich." After federal prosecutors unsealed the indictment on Thursday, lawyers representing Stewart Parnell promised "a vigorous defence". "As the facts in this case are revealed, it will become apparent that the FDA was in regular contact with [Peanut Corporation of America] about its food handling policy and was well aware of its salmonella testing protocols," the law firm said in a statement. After the outbreak, the US Food and Drug Administration found widespread contamination at the company's plant in Blakely, Georgia, after identifying it as a possible source of the tainted peanuts and peanut products. The plant roasted raw peanuts to make granulated peanuts, peanut butter and peanut paste. The products were sold across the US. The company went bankrupt after a recall of its products. In 2010, a judge approved a $12m (??7.7m) settlement to compensate more than 100 salmonella victims.

Summary: Former managers at a peanut company have been charged in the US state of Georgia over a salmonella outbreak that caused nine deaths in 2008 and 2009.


The Environment Department published its Island Development Plan setting out planning policy for the island. It took three years to produce and includes proposals for increasing the amount of affordable housing and the regeneration of old vinery sites. Environment Minister Deputy Yvonne Burford claimed the plan balances the improving the economy with environment. If approved by the States, housing developers building five or more units would be required to make up to 30% available as affordable accommodation. Before the draft Island Development Plan is adopted by the States it will be subject to independent review by two planning inspectors.

Summary: Housing developers could be made to make 30% of a development affordable housing under new government plans.


The national average for take-up of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for 12 and 13 year-olds is 86%, but in Cornwall it is 57%. Cancer charities called for the vaccine to be introduced in local schools. Some GPs claimed the figures do not reflect the true picture. NHS England said the data was being reviewed. It also said it was reviewing the delivery system in the South West but that the county's rural nature made a schools-based programme "more challenging". The vaccine is offered in schools across most of England, but in Cornwall 12 to 13 year olds must see GPs for the jabs. Robert Music, chief executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said the vaccine would "have a major impact on reducing incidences of cervical cancer" in the UK. "We have been calling for a couple of years now to change how the programme works in Cornwall," he said. "A schools-based programme means you can offer it to kids while they're at school rather than having to take them out to have the vaccine twice." The HPV vaccination is offered in two separate injections over a one-year period but up until last year it was three jabs. It protects against two strains of the sexually transmitted infection believed to cause 70% of cervical cancer cases. Uptake in Cornwall has remained well below the national average for the past five years. However, Dr Sarah Gray, GP Specialist in Women's Health, said the way the figures were recorded was misleading: "What NHS England have counted is the number of jabs in a school year. "If they don't quite get all three within a year it looks like we've failed," she said. She also said Cornwall was doing well at immunising older teenage girls. Louise Blenkinsop from Falmouth, 32, recovered from cervical cancer in 2013 after "gruelling treatment" and was left unable to have children. "It is ridiculous that Cornwall is being overlooked. Provision should be made equal across the country," she said. NHS England is responsible for commissioning the vaccine on behalf of Public Health England. A spokesman said: "Cornwall is a very rural county with a number of factors which make a school based model logistically more challenging to deliver than it would be in many other parts of the country." He said the system was being reviewed "to assess both clinical effectiveness and value for money" and that checks were being done on last year's data to make sure it was accurate.

Summary: Girls in Cornwall who are not being vaccinated against cervical cancer are missing a "life-saving opportunity", a charity has said.


Matthew Stockdale claims he was repeatedly cut up and shunted three times by the other motorist. He said he made six 999 calls and was connected to three police forces. Northamptonshire Police, which took the first call, has apologised for the communication failures, saying it plans to interview the lorry driver. The force says it is carrying out a "live investigation", but no arrests have yet been made. Bedfordshire Police is due to interview Mr Stockdale. Dashcam footage of the encounter, recorded on the M1 near Northampton on 11 November, shows the lorry hitting Mr Stockdale's car. "I honestly thought I was going to die," he wrote in a police statement. "My life literally rushed before my eyes. Whilst that sounds dramatic, I can honestly say I have never felt fear like it. I began shaking uncontrollably." The former special constable said he was driving southbound towards his home in Northampton when a lorry began flashing him, sounding its horn and driving up to the rear of his car. Footage shows the lorry apparently bashing his car as it passed at about 20:40 GMT, and repeating the action 14 minutes later. Mr Stockdale then called 999 and was connected to Northamptonshire Police. After the second incident, he was connected to Thames Valley and then Bedfordshire Police. Despite assurances from all three forces that help was on the way, he said no-one arrived. Mr Stockdale, who runs a dashcam company, followed the lorry to a depot in Dunstable where an ambulance took him to hospital with neck and shoulder pain. Bedfordshire Police had called the paramedics and one of its officers arrived at the hospital nearly three hours after the first call was made. Footage shows Mr Stockdale stayed in the middle lane for some time, which motorists can be fined for, but he said he was about to move over when the lorry driver began to "intimidate" him. The Northamptonshire force said it could not attend because officers trained to deal with such incidents were in pursuit of a stolen car. The force has seen the footage and an investigation is under way but no arrests have been made yet, a spokesman confirmed. Supt Dennis Murray, who is in charge of the force's control room, said: "What we should have done was contact the other forces... that's a failure on our part, for which I apologise to the driver of that vehicle." The lorry driver, who lives in Bedfordshire, was employed by Wincanton hauliers through an agency. A spokesman confirmed he is "no longer conducting deliveries". Liability for the car damage has been accepted by the firm's insurers.

Summary: A driver who says he was "deliberately and repeatedly rammed" by a lorry has criticised police for failing to respond to his calls for three hours.


Twin B and Yasmin Evans announced on 1Xtra that the R&B singer, who's influenced the likes of Alicia Keys and Rihanna, will be playing at 1Xtra Live. It's the seventh year the flagship gigs have taken place and this year it's all happening in Birmingham. Mistajam and DJ Target will be hosting shows live from the National Indoor Arena (NIA) on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra on 15 November. Mary J Blige has won multiple Grammy awards, was ranked ninth in music channel VH1's list of the 100 greatest women in music (Madonna was number one, if you're wondering) and has sold millions of records around the world. Next month we'll get to hear some of her most famous songs live, including No More Drama, Family Affair, Real Love and I'm Going Down. She joins a 1Xtra Live line-up that already includes Rick Ross, who'll be performing his first ever live show for the BBC. Jess Glynne, Fuse ODG and Lethal Bizzle will also be on stage. George Ergatoudis, Head of Music, Radio 1 and 1Xtra, said: "There are not many events in the world that can boast having both Mary J Blige and Rick Ross. "For 1Xtra Live we've pulled together a bill featuring 1Xtra favourites from both the UK and abroad - Birmingham is in for an amazing night of live music." Joining the stars at the NIA will be 1Xtra DJs like Trevor Nelson, Charlie Sloth and Sarah Jane Crawford. There are 10,000 tickets available for the show. Tickets will go on sale on a first come first serve basis at 18:00 BST on Thursday 23 October. They'll cost Â£10 each plus handling fees and you have to be 16 or over to attend. Full terms and conditions are available on the 1Xtra website. If you can't make it to the Midlands, the show will be available to watch on the Red Button and will be streamed on the 1Xtra website. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Sigma, Fuse ODG, Tinashe and now Mary J Blige.


Gerry Holtham was commissioned by the Welsh government to look at the pros and cons of the way that government gets its budget. He found, among other things, that Wales would be treated more generously if Wales were funded on the basis of need rather than the population-based Barnett formula. Politicians have used his findings ever since to make the case for a change to the formula on the basis of the shortfall suffered by the Welsh government. I've been talking to Gerry Holtham as part of a discussion on a report he wrote for the Institute of Welsh Affairs. So how big is that shortfall? He told me: "At the time we did the research it was Â£300 m to Â£400 m a year less than it would get if it were an English region getting needs-based grants. We don't know what that is now. "Given the squeeze on public finances it's probably a smaller number, the shortfall is probably less than it was then. Even then, it was only a couple of per cent of the Welsh budget so we're probably down to one per cent of the Welsh budget." In comments that may yet be worth recalling the next time you hear a politician use his figures, he added: "It's not going to change the world. Welsh government has to find a way forward apart from just complaining about the grant."

Summary: He is Wales's most quoted economist, his name often called in aid by those who think the country is under-funded from Westminster.


NSPCC Cymru said just two children were reported to North Wales Police in 2013, rising to four in 2014 then 28 in 2015. Most of those reported - 24 - were aged 15 or under while 10 were 16 or 17. Des Mannion, head of service at NSPCC Cymru said: "It is very worrying that more children are sharing explicit images of themselves." He added: "Although the figures in north Wales are relatively small, the fact that there has been a sharp increase in the number of cases reported to police is a concern." The NSPCC wants children to be warned about the dangers of sexting through compulsory online safety lessons and wants to see the next Welsh Government implement a plan for this. While the majority of these types of images were shared via mobile phones, they were also sent using apps such as Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Mr Mannion added: "We are very concerned that children are putting themselves at risk of exploitation or bullying in this way. "Children need to be taught about the dangers of sexting and how the consequences can be devastating if they lose control of an image." In February, police in England and Wales began producing new guidelines designed to avoid "criminalising" children caught sending indecent images to each other.

Summary: A rise in under-18s being reported to the police for distributing indecent images of children has raised concerns over 'sexting'.


With the game's first attack, Potts found the the bottom corner after Cullen's classy touch and flick. Ollie Watkins was denied by Sam Slocombe before David Wheeler lobbed the keeper to deservedly put Exeter level. Blackpool had numerous chances before Cullen's prodded in Potts' low cross. Paul Tisdale's Exeter side dominated possession throughout and almost forced extra time when Watkins headed over in stoppage time. The Tangerines, who only had around 6,000 supporters at Wembley because of an ongoing boycott by fans in protest against the club's owners, lost skipper Tom Aldred to injury before the break but were not deterred. The margin of victory could have been bigger for Gary Bowyer's men, with substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel shooting wide and Kyle Vassell seeing an effort saved as Exeter left themselves vulnerable to counter-attacks late on. As recently as 2011 Blackpool were in the Premier League, but their drop to the second tier after just one season in the top flight was compounded by successive relegations in the past two seasons. There have been well documented off-field problems too, with the Blackpool Supporters' Trust repeatedly calling for much-maligned owners Owen and Karl Oyston to step aside. One thing the Lancashire club have not lost is their knack of successful play-off campaigns, with this their fifth final victory - more than any other club. It also adds to the trend of teams finishing seventh, the final play-off spot in League Two, going up - as it has now happened in five of the past eight fourth-tier campaigns. More to follow. Match ends, Blackpool 2, Exeter City 1. Second Half ends, Blackpool 2, Exeter City 1. Colin Daniel (Blackpool) is shown the yellow card. Hand ball by Lee Holmes (Exeter City). Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Exeter City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by David Wheeler with a headed pass. Jordan Flores (Blackpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Jack Stacey (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jordan Flores (Blackpool). Foul by Jake Taylor (Exeter City). Bright Samuel (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the left wing. Sam Slocombe (Blackpool) is shown the yellow card. Attempt saved. Kyle Vassell (Blackpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bright Samuel. Attempt missed. Bright Samuel (Blackpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Brad Potts. Attempt missed. Lee Holmes (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Colin Daniel. Offside, Blackpool. Sam Slocombe tries a through ball, but Kyle Vassell is caught offside. Foul by Jordan Moore-Taylor (Exeter City). Kelvin Mellor (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Will Aimson. Jordan Moore-Taylor (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Will Aimson (Blackpool). Attempt missed. David Wheeler (Exeter City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted

Summary: Mark Cullen and Brad Potts starred to help Blackpool return to League One at the first time of asking with victory over Exeter in the play-off final.


The South Africa-born 30-year-old claimed 6-66 on his debut against Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford. Wagner, who had a stint with Northants in 2014, joined the Red Rose as their overseas player for the 2016 campaign. "It's a great club and a great place. I always had something for Lancashire when I played here for Ormskirk in 2008," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I came to watch quite a few games for Lancashire and when England played here as well, so I love the ground and everything about it. "For me to come over here was an easy decision and to come and play a part in such a special club is pretty awesome. I'm lucky to be here." Wagner's figures were the best by a bowler making his Lancashire first-class debut since 1923.

Summary: New Zealand seamer Neil Wagner has spoken of his pride at being able to play for Lancashire this season.


"We have regressed in that sense," said the journalist and TV presenter, as he visited St Thomas the Apostle College in Nunhead, as part of a pre-election project to engage young people in politics and democracy. "There is no historical imperative that everyone in politics has to come from private school," he said. And the narrowing of the social backgrounds of politicians was "one of the reasons our politics is less effective and less representative", said the editor of Private Eye. When he was at university at Oxford, after attending an all-boys private school, he said there was a strong presence of grammar and comprehensive school students, running magazines and debating societies. "It wasn't just loads of people from fee-paying schools, it was more of a parity, and I think that's been lost." Such a deepening division, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, and "squeezing out the middle entirely", was a waste of potential talent, he told pupils. "There's no point having a whole country full of young people if you don't give them the opportunities, if we say, 'Oh no, we only want 7% of the country to do anything - just you lot and not you lot.' "There is a real problem with the poor not moving, being less socially mobile. It's very bad for any society." Mr Hislop was visiting the Catholic secondary school as part of the Speakers for Schools project, in which people from a range of industries give talks in state schools, offering the kind of horizon-raising perspectives that might be taken for granted in the independent sector. In a school hall question-and-answer session, Mr Hislop cast a critical eye over the education system. "On the whole it has failed quite a lot of the population in terms of providing a first-class education. "It's been endlessly reformed," he said, and "along the way a lot of the essentials were lost". St Thomas the Apostle College has been rapidly improving, now rated as outstanding, and has adopted a strong emphasis on good behaviour and discipline. "I'm interested in finding a school like this which has essentially seemed to me to have discovered some of the more traditional educational values. "I appreciate people who have got jackets on, wear ties, understand the importance of discipline and the importance of education itself. These seem to have been lost a bit." He also warned against "too much testing" in schools. "You lose the bits round the sides, what education is about, the interesting bits, reading off the subject, engaging in things that aren't strictly, 'You must pass this at level seven.' "I know why it happened - people thought we can't have people coming out of school who can't read or write, so that's all we're going to teach. "But I think we have to be slightly more ambitious than that." Seeming more moralist than satirist, he said schools needed "discipline, a desire to learn. If a school doesn't have an environment where people can learn, then it will fall apart". He told the pupils, boys

Summary: The gap between those educated privately and by the state is getting wider and social mobility is weaker than 30 years ago, Ian Hislop has told an audience of south London teenagers.


Something we have always taken for granted - the sea - could help us keep the lights on and generate a new industry. The proposals for the world's first tidal energy lagoon off the Swansea coast could produce enough energy for a small city. Other projects could follow in Cardiff, Newport and Colwyn Bay. But can the Welsh economy cash in on this potential opportunity? While our onshore wind industry has largely been developed by foreign investors, there seems to be a political will to make sure that does not happen with new sources of energy. The UK is having to look at replacing its ageing power stations while looking to the future with renewable energy, such as tidal power, playing a larger part. In its latest infrastructure plan, the UK government said its discussions with Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd will look at whether a potential project in Swansea Bay is "affordable and value for money for consumers". But who will pay for it? It is reported that the Swansea lagoon project has already attracted more than £200m from two financial institutions, Prudential and Infrared; they are the cornerstone equity funders. It will also be funded by private individuals and £400,000 raised from shares sold in the community. The rest will be covered by borrowing from banks, with this money being repaid as customers pay their bills. The government is set to pay for 20% of major infrastructure projects in the next few years, particularly transport, but it expects private money to pay for most of any tidal developments. For its project off the coast of Swansea, Tidal Lagoon Power has already set a target of half of the £1bn capital expenditure staying in Wales, rising to 65% for the UK as a whole. "The project will lay the strongest possible foundations for a brand new industry in which Britain can lead the world," says chief executive Mark Shorrock. The Welsh Economy Research Unit says this could mean an extra £300 million being spent in Wales over the three years it would take to build and would increase the output of the Welsh economy by £173m a year. What does this mean in terms of people's livelihoods? One of the companies which would look to bid for work is one that took a hit from the closure of the Murco oil refinery last year. Ledwood in Pembroke Dock had 1,000 workers at its peak but now employs 200, with the workforce cut by a third as a knock-on from the refinery shutting down. Roger Evans, chairman of the Tidal Industry Advisory Group, said Mr Shorrock is "absolutely passionate" about creating a Welsh and UK supply chain. "We're talking potentially about 35,000 jobs. We've already identified several Welsh companies that are more than capable of partaking of that opportunity," he said. General Electric in Rugby, Warwickshire, and Austrian-based Andritz Hydro are together bidding for the £300 million contract to supply 16 turbines for the Swansea lagoon. Most of the components for the turbines will be made in the UK and south Wales businesses

Summary: The way we look at the tides - and going to the seaside in parts of Wales - could be changed forever.


The Czech-born American took charge of an hour-long coaching session at Queen's Club in London. Murray will play France's Nicolas Mahut in his Aegon Championships opener, but rain delays mean the match is unlikely to start before 14:00 BST. Murray and Lendl's morning practice was cut short by the weather and more rain is forecast through the day. Lendl arrived from the United States on Monday evening, having last week agreed a deal to resume his coaching role alongside Murray. The pair split in March 2014 after a successful two-year period that saw Murray win his only Grand Slam titles at the US Open and Wimbledon, as well as Olympic gold. Their practice session on Monday lasted an hour before the rain arrived, with British number seven Alex Ward providing the opposition across the net. Lendl worked in tandem with Jamie Delgado, who joined Murray's coaching set-up earlier this year, with the former world number one directing the drills. Mahut, ranked 51st, should provide a stern test of Murray's grass-court level when the pair meet, the Frenchman having won an ATP title on the surface in the Netherlands on Monday. Murray, a four-time champion at Queen's Club, lost to Mahut in the second round in 2012.

Summary: Ivan Lendl returned to coaching duties with Andy Murray for the first time in over two years on Tuesday.


RMT general secretary Mick Cash said it was "shocking" to have "sprung this announcement once all the Christmas deliveries have been completed". Employees and sub-contractors working for the firm have been sharing their stories and reactions. Stefan Thorrington in Exeter, Devon I have five vans in City Link colours and five drivers who have all been working flat-out up until Christmas Eve to make sure everything was delivered. We didn't have any warning about this whatsoever - drivers even knew which routes they were going to cover on Saturday. Last night I was pondering what to do. None of the managers at the depot knew about this - they were under a lot of pressure to deliver everything by Wednesday. However, I do think someone must have known what was going on. I don't know what's going to happen now. The main question is do I get paid? Paul Horner, Kirkcaldy I'm a sub-contractor at a local City Link depot in Fife and have been there for three years. I'm totally and utterly gutted. This has happened after they spent money on new uniforms and new scanners. Everyone thought we had turned a corner and things would be getting a lot better, but obviously not. I found out on Christmas Day. I'm still pretty numb. I've just told my fiancÃ©e (I couldn't bring myself to tell her yesterday). She's distraught. I just hope I get paid at the end of the month because, like all the other sub-contractors, I need money to live on, to pay for the van and the diesel. Irfan Khan, Beckton, London We have 20 drivers and a fleet of vans that need paying up. We have probably lost Â£70,000 in unpaid invoices. We haven't got the capital to pay it so we'll probably sell the vans, and the drivers probably won't get paid. We just don't know what's going to happen. We've worked until midnight nearly every day last week up to Christmas. I have not slept since finding out, I've been going crazy. Geoffrey Goddard, Teddington I work for City Link as an infrastructure engineer in the Heathrow office, I have been employed as a permanent employee for six months now. I almost half expected it but we hoped we could turn the company around. I could see a few faults. There were lots of layers of management, there were basics which needed doing and no engineers on the ground. They weren't getting the fundamentals right. Simon Judd, Essex I'm a sub-contractor with City Link, now find I have a liveried van and no work. I doubt if I'll get paid for my last two weeks' work, nearly Â£2,000. They've got rid of most employed drivers at my depot, and presumably nationwide. Just have to hope I can find some work elsewhere, after getting the van made white! I worked for the company for eight or nine years but recently became a self-employed driver for them. Most drivers at this depot are self-employed, so I don't know about the figure of 2,727 people, it depends how

Summary: Parcel delivery firm City Link announced on Christmas Day that it was going into administration.


Gen Martin Dempsey said the "vast majority" of documents taken by the ex-NSA contractor were military-related. Since last year, news organisations have published dozens of stories based on the leaked intelligence documents. Mr Snowden faces spying charges in the US but has been given asylum in Russia. Gen Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, told the House armed services committee on Thursday that a mitigation task force had been established to investigate the extent of Mr Snowden's theft and to determine how to overcome it. "We're working our way through that which we believe he has exfiltrated," Gen Dempsey said. "And we have, I think, a fairly significant amount of knowledge in that regard. "The vast majority of [the pilfered documents] were related to our military capabilities, operations, tactics, techniques and procedures." Gen Dempsey said the "magnitude of this challenge" suggested the task force would need to run for about two years. "I suspect it could cost billions of dollars to overcome the loss of security that has been imposed on us," he said. Mr Snowden, a former technical contractor for the National Security Agency who fled from the US in June, faces espionage charges in the US.

Summary: It will take the US two years and possibly billions of dollars to overcome the harm done by Edward Snowden's intelligence leaks, the top-ranking US military officer has said.