Owners of Mila, a Bedlington Terrier, found her cowering in a bush in their Halesowen back garden on Thursday evening. Burglars beat the dog - leaving her with nerve damage - after breaking into the house, West Midlands Police said. Homeowner Julie Green said she was "heartbroken" to find Mila wounded by burglars, who did not steal anything. "Whoever is responsible is heartless," said Ms Green. "She is the friendliest dog and would greet anyone. Even though she is poorly she has been trying to roll over and wag her tail." Vets believe Mila has neurological nerve damage, preventing her from placing her front feet on the ground. Ch Insp Phil Dolby said police are following several lines of inquiry. He added: "This did not happen in the dead of night - there will be people around the Albrighton Road area who could have seen the offender or offenders responsible for the break-in." More on this and other Black Country stories

Summary: An 18-month-old family dog is unable to walk after burglars repeatedly kicked it in the head, police said.


They are seeking guarantees of his total co-operation with the forthcoming abuse inquiry in Northern Ireland. They want to ensure, via him, "the unconditional co-operation from the orders who ran institutions where children were placed". The inquiry will consider allegations dating back to 1945. Margaret McGuckin, of Savia, said she was abused at a Sisters of Nazareth orphanage in Belfast from the age of three. She said they would be asking Cardinal Brady to apply pressure on religious orders to co-operate. "This has been a long and tortuous route for some survivors and victims, re-awakening and reliving memories that were nightmares for some," she said. "We believe that the cardinal holds a key position that will allow that nightmare to end. "We have been led up the garden path so many times, it was just about story telling." "We need to know they are going to support and make a commitment. We need follow-up meetings. We need them to admit rather than pushing people like their lawyers in front of us. "Are they going to be genuine and Christian in their attitude?" Representatives of five religious orders where institutional abuse is alleged to have happened are also at the meeting which began at about 11:00 GMT on Monday. Cardinal Brady came out to welcome the group at his private residence in Armagh. At lunch-time, the meeting was still going on. Savia campaigned for the NI Executive to hold an inquiry into historical institutional abuse. Final preparations for this are being made by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister. It is understood that one part of that process will begin in the next few months. This is where people are given the opportunity to describe what happened to them in private. However, the second part of the inquiry, the statutory process, involves a change in Northern Ireland's law which will have to pass through the assembly. This will require more time. The executive inquiry will include Catholic religious orders, state and voluntary groups. It follows lengthy judicial examinations of horrifying tales of abuse in the Irish Republic.

Summary: The Northern Ireland Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse group (Savia) are meeting Catholic primate Cardinal Sean Brady.


In Nigeria, it is quite common that if you fire someone for gross misconduct, that person will turn up days later in the company of his or her grey-haired, widowed mother and maybe an aged uncle and a pregnant wife. Together, they kneel at your doorstep and beg you to forgive, promising that the recalcitrant person will act differently if re-employed. Sometimes, the sacked person will phone you two months later to say that he or she has been offered employment elsewhere, then beg for a positive reference, while reminding you that the same people you meet on your way up, you shall surely meet on your way down. More likely than not, the repentant former employees are given a second chance. Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani: "My Nigerian-American friend is horrified by this Nigerian culture of wiping clean people's track records" Nigerians are usually willing to give others the opportunity to prove that they have transformed, no matter how grave their previous errors. One of the most recent, high-profile beneficiaries of this second-chance culture is Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's new president. Back in 1983, he brought the country's then fledgling democracy to an abrupt end via a military coup, and his 18-month rule was infamous for draconian policies and human rights violations. While campaigning for the 2015 elections, Gen Buhari assured Nigerians that he was a changed man, that he was well aware of the difference between dictatorship and democracy. Many prominent citizens who had suffered in one way or the other under his rule responded by openly declaring their forgiveness for the retired general. Politician Audu Ogbeh and journalist Tunde Thompson, who were incarcerated under President Buhari's military regime, became active members of his 2015 campaign committees. My Nigerian-American friend is horrified by this Nigerian culture of wiping clean people's track records. She describes her experience as a first-year student at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where the careers counsellors often spoke about the close-knit circle in corporate America, and how easy it is to get blacklisted by all firms based on bad behaviour or poor performance at one firm. The students studied the stories of two alumni who had brought shame and financial ruin to their companies because of their unethical behaviour. "I remember the moods in the lecture rooms after each of these sessions," she said, "when we often swore to ourselves that we would never become subject material for case studies on ethical failures." No such case studies are taught in Nigerian schools. A disgraced CEO here could easily get hired in another high-profile role. Yesterday's vilified plunderer of public funds could metamorphose into tomorrow's icon of philanthropy and champion of the masses. But, one month after President Buhari's inauguration, a paradox appears to exist in the forgiveness extended towards him. Nigerians claimed to have forgiven him for the man he used to be, yet are expressing disappointment that he is not that same man they thought he was. They seem to have expected President Buhari, on assuming power, to immediately act tough: To send corrupt government officials

Summary: In our series of letters from African journalists, novelist and writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani considers Nigerians' tendency to forgive past misdemeanours and what it means for the country's new president.


Consumer group Which? said nearly half of its members surveyed said such reassurance was most likely to make them see red while hanging on the line. Next on the frustration list was being directed to the company's website, and apologies for all operators being busy. Callers would rather be told how long they would have to wait, Which? found. Many also wanted to know where they were in the queue, and to be given the choice of being called back. Nearly half of those asked said that classical music was the most soothing while waiting. Nine in ten of those asked felt that they were prepared to wait on the line for no longer than five minutes. Richard Headland, editor of Which? magazine, said: "Waiting on hold is a waste of time, but some organisations make the experience needlessly annoying through objectionable messages and music. "If these drive you round the bend, vote with your feet and take your custom elsewhere. The best companies know the value of answering your call quickly." Businesses lining up a queuing strategy Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service, a trade body, said: "People are time-poor and less likely to be happy waiting for service as a result. It means consumers are less understanding of organisations that do not make it easy to get in touch. "If businesses want to enjoy ongoing customer loyalty - and attract new business - their focus should be on convenience and efficiency. In short, this means getting it right quickly, and getting it right first time. Anything less, and customers will think twice about spending money or recommending them to others." She pointed out that the phone is now consumers' third most popular method for getting in touch with an organisation, behind face-to-face contact and online.

Summary: Being told that your call is valued is the most annoying feature for those waiting on the phone to a company, a new survey suggests.


Steve Williams, the British ambassador to Bulgaria, was appointed on Tuesday and will take up the post in April. Both islands agreed to set up a Brussels office last year, to ensure their interests were represented in the European Union. Mr Williams said he has a lot to learn ahead of taking up his new job. He said: "I'll be very keen to spend some quality time on the islands to get to know people, to get to know the issues. "Once the office is up and running properly and I'm established it will be really important to come back regularly." Guernsey's Chief Minister Lyndon Trott described the role of the office as "vital" in how the Channel Islands "engage with Brussels and the European Union over the coming years". The appointment of a deputy director to assist Mr Williams in his new role is expected to be announced shortly.

Summary: The man chosen to head up the Channel Islands' new Brussels office has admitted he has little first hand knowledge of the islands.


Maguire is tied for 24th place on level par after a three-over 74 which included two birdies on the front nine and five bogeys on the inward nine. Meadow, 24, posted a level-par 71 to remain one over in equal 24th position. South Korean Inbee Park leads on 11 under. Lydia Ko of New Zealand and the USA's Genna Piller are two behind. China's Shanshan Feng is a further shot adrift on eight under. Northern Irishwoman Meadow began round three with a bogey at the first, but was boosted by four consecutive birdies from the fourth to the seventh holes. A double bogey at the eighth was a major setback for the County Antrim golfer and two further dropped shots and a birdie followed in her second nine. Cavan woman Maguire, 21, and Meadow had carded impressive rounds of 65 and 66 respectively in their second rounds on Thursday to move up the leaderboard. Maguire finished top amateur at the recent British Open when she shared 25th place. Meadow, 24, finished third in the US Women's Open in her first season as a professional in 2014 but has struggled over the last 18 months. The death of her father from cancer last year was a devastating blow for the Ulsterwoman and she has dropped to 473rd in the world rankings. Meadow was a late inclusion in the Olympic field after the Dutch pair Anne Van Dam and Christel Boeljon were withdrawn from the 60-strong field for not meeting their country's qualifying criteria of being in the world's top 100.

Summary: Ireland's women's golfers Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire lie well off the lead after Friday's third round of their Olympic Games competition in Rio.


Blackrock's assessment was that those risks would be "mostly for Scotland, but also for the remaining UK". The report comes as an academic's analysis strongly disputed the UK Treasury's rejection of a currency union post-Yes. Voters in Scotland will decide their country's future on 18 September. They will be asked the "Yes/No" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" Blackrock, which is based in New York and manages trillions in financial assets, will be sending out its 12-page assessment to clients next week. It said a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK "looks infeasible" and would "bring risks to both countries". The asset managers believed the "best of the few choices" Scotland had would be to launch its own currency. The company said oil and gas were critical to Scotland's finances but fiscal spending based on specific oil revenue projections was "uncertain and probably unwise". It reported that banks and insurers would face pressure to move headquarters to a "stronger fiscal state with a more certain regulatory backdrop". However, the report added: "A wholesale exodus of staff and operations would be unlikely, given Scotland's cost advantage over London and other locations." Blackrock also said that fears an independent Scotland would become a "bastion of anti-business sentiment are unfounded, in our view". It said: "The Scottish government would likely go out of its way to accommodate the oil industry in particular. Why risk killing the Scottish grouse that lays the golden egg?" On the issue of renewable energy, Blackrock said both sides had merit in their arguments. It recognised the UK position that at present Scotland received a third of UK subsidies for renewable energy, although it represented less than a tenth of the UK's population. However, it also recognised the pro-independence position that Scotland would no longer need to help fund the UK's nuclear programme. Blackrock's assessment came as Leslie Young, professor of economics at a university in Beijing, claimed the Treasury's currency position did not stand up to scrutiny. He was commissioned by businessman Sir Tom Hunter's new institute to assess the case against a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK. Sir Tom is funding academic reports, research and polling in a bid to help people better understand the issues in the referendum, while he says he remains undecided on his vote. Blair McDougall, of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, said that the report by Blackrock was "a serious piece of work from experts in managing money". He added: "The SNP cannot dismiss this as they have every other warning from experts, employers and economists. "Being part of the UK means lower costs, more jobs and better opportunities for future generations. Losing the pound means losing the strength, stability and security of the UK economy." A Scottish government spokesman responded to the Blackrock report by saying: "The Fiscal Commission Working Group, which comprises economic experts and including two Nobel Laureates, has considered a range of currency options in its detailed report published a year ago, and concluded that it

Summary: The world's biggest investment fund manager has said Scottish independence would bring "major uncertainties, costs and risks".


Gytis Griskevicius, 32, was found guilty of murdering Marina Erte, 33, at her Boston flat on 20 May 2016. The jury in the trial at Lincoln Crown Court heard he was jealous of her relationship with a new boyfriend. Lithuanian national Griskevicius, of St Ann's Lane, Boston, was told he must serve a minimum of 23 years. Read more about this and other stories from Lincolnshire Sentencing him, judge Michael Heath said: "I have detected not a shred of remorse in your body. "You inflicted upon your wife a brutal assault. She suffered a traumatic brain injury. You weren't satisfied with that and you finished her off." The court heard Griskevicius tried to set fire to the flat after killing Ms Erte, who worked at a fruit packing plant in Spalding, but the flames failed to spread. In a statement, Ms Erte's family described her as a "much loved mother, daughter, sister and friend". They said her death "left a big void" in all their lives. Ms Erte's injuries included fractures to both eye sockets, her nose and her jaw. Her naked body was found in the bath by firemen who had been called out by neighbours. Griskevicius, who denied murder, had been celebrating his birthday before heading to Ms Erte's flat. He told police the couple had sex at her flat and she was "fine" when he left her, the jury heard. The couple married in 2010 but had begun divorce proceedings in January 2016.

Summary: A man who killed his estranged wife by drowning her with a shower attachment in a bath after badly beating her has been jailed for life.


Teresa Kidd, 44, admitted stealing the cash from Glasgow-based Maclay Murray and Spens LLP, where she worked as a purchase ledger supervisor. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how she duped bosses into signing documents that paid money into bank accounts owned by her and her then partner. Sentence on Kidd was deferred and she was remanded in custody. Sheriff John McCormick told her: "This was a complex fraud perpetrated repeatedly by a trusted employee at a firm of solicitors in Glasgow over a period of some five years." He also told her: "A custodial sentence is almost inevitable." Kidd, a grandmother, from Cumbernauld in North Lanarkshire, admitted embezzling the cash between October 2006 and November 2011. The court heard how she joined the lawyers firm in 1987 where she "became a trusted member of staff" and was promoted to purchase ledger supervisor. Procurator fiscal depute Lesley Chambers told the court: "As such she was responsible for making payments to creditors, clients and other beneficiaries using money withdrawn from the corporate bank account of Maclay Murray and Spens." The court was told Kidd was in charge of staff within the purchase ledger team. Mrs Chambers said that cash paid out would be drawn up on a "purchase run document" with a list of creditors, the amounts paid and the relevant bank details. This was signed off by the financial controller who carried out random sample checks on outgoing payments. A senior member of staff would check that the amounts tallied up with the outgoing details. The court was told: "Faculty services limited regularly provide the service of advocates to Maclay Murray and Spens and as such they would subsequently submit invoices to them. "The invoices to them were typically for a four-figure sum although in this particular case sometimes they rose to £10,000 and £11,000." Mrs Chambers said that for some reason, unlike most invoices, those submitted by the faculty services did not include their bank details and employees had to manually input the details. Kidd "exploited this" and only targeted invoices relating to the faculty services to carry out her crime. She "double submitted" invoices to the law firm, one with the correct bank details so the cash was paid to faculty services, and a second invoice with her personal bank details. Mrs Chambers added: "This practise of double submitting came to light on January 12, 2012." An investigation into the matter was carried out and Kidd accepted full responsibility for what she had done.

Summary: A financial worker is facing a jail term for embezzling £176,696 from one of Scotland's top legal firms.


Shyan Wright wanted the 23-year-old to hide the gun because her "yard ain't hot", meaning police were not aware or interested in her home. Wright, from Walsall, typed "God forbid the children getting closeâ€¦Lol" when the woman said she had stashed it and eight bullets in her room. Wright, 25, was jailed for five years. She denied aiding and abetting possession of a firearm but changed her not guilty plea to guilty at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday and was sentenced. More updates on this story Wright, from Forrester Street, asked her friend, whose children were aged two and three at the time, in a series of messages on WhatsApp in May 2015. Using the name ShyShy, she said: "I need a big favourâ€¦me and my baby father was wondering if you could hold onto a [gun emoji] for a bit. Ur only one I can trust.", West Midlands Police said. Three days later, she asked her where she had hidden it. When the woman confirmed "in Ma room", Wright joked about her children stumbling across it. Officers raided the friend's home weeks later and recovered the weapon. She was subsequently jailed for five years, West Midlands Police said. Detectives did not discover who ShyShy was until a wider gun crime investigation last year uncovered intelligence on Wright. Her home was raided on 2 November when another phone was recovered that was shown to have been used in the WhatsApp conversation. Det Con Damian Forrest, said both women had "found to their cost the catastrophic consequences of holding on to firearms for someone else". He added "The messages 'laughing out loud' about what might happen if they '[the children] found the loaded gun are truly shocking and sickening."

Summary: A woman persuaded a friend to hide a loaded gun in her home and joked over WhatsApp whether her two young children might find it.


Among the gripes is that bin collections are getting less frequent and cause a smelly pile-up. So what options do parents have? Nappy bins are not always free - or available - across the UK. Dorset, for example, recently introduced a £13 charge for an annual supply of nappy sacks, which are available for children up to age three. Councils in Bournemouth and Poole let households of five people or more buy an extra bin for £43. Kalpana Fitzpatrick, a journalist from London, thinks the charges are "absolutely ridiculous". She tweeted: "Why not introduce a tax for dog owners where councils have to have poop bins instead of introducing a nappy tax?" About eight million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK, according to local authorities, with one baby using enough disposable nappies to fill 40 black sacks a year. Mother-of-three Wendy Richards, who uses reusable cloth nappies, says a nappy bin charge is "understandable". "The average baby goes through a huge amount of nappies," she says. "People don't realise how much landfill waste that is. Someone's got to pay for it." Young parents have complained of a "poo problem" as the time between bin collections has increased, with some areas in the UK having to wait a whole month. Abi Jones, a PA from Essex who blogs about being mother to two-year-old Alfie, says her family has "definitely found it more difficult" since their local council switched to fortnightly bin collections. "Had Alfie been a newborn - and getting through the amount of disposals newborns do - we would have had to make extra trips to the local refuse centre," she says. Anglesey council, which has three-weekly collections, offers parents an extra nappy bin collection. But once a toddler reaches age three the service stops, as by this age the council says most children are potty trained. In Bridgend, the council introduced purple collection bags for nappies and other items, such as incontinence pads, in June after it said smaller households could throw away up to two rubbish bags a fortnight. Councils say the move from weekly rubbish collections saves money and encourages people to recycle more. Local authorities have a target to recycle at least half of all waste by 2020, to meet the European Union's Waste Framework Directive. Councils often make exceptions for large families, disabled children and for people with medical conditions if they need more space for waste. But Carly Dashwood, responding to the charges on Facebook, said they were "disgusting" if parents with disabled children had to pay. She writes: "I have a disabled child and he is in nappies. This is very unfair on people that don't have a choice in the matter." It is not compulsory to use nappy bins or sacks, but councils can fine families if their household waste gets out of control. If a bin is so full it is deemed littering, councils can issue fixed penalty notices of about £60 to £80 - or slightly less for early payment - under the Environmental Protection Act. If the offence

Summary: Parents have raised a stink over "ridiculous" plans by some councils in England and Wales to charge them to take away nappies on top of their household waste.


The 25-year-old, who finished last season on loan at Northampton, has agreed a three-year deal with the Reds. Collins is Crawley's 12th signing of the summer transfer window. "James wants a new challenge and he comes with a very good goalscoring record in League Two," Reds boss Dermot Drummy told the club website. Collins, who has previously had spells at Aston Villa, Swindon and Hibernian, scored 15 goals in 49 appearances last season. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: League Two side Crawley Town have signed James Collins after the striker's contract at Shrewsbury Town was cancelled by mutual consent.


The move was confirmed after JTI Gallaher turned down the plan to save about 500 of those jobs. Unite had proposed turning the factory into a centre of excellence for pouch tobacco and cigar production, meaning about 370 redundancies. JTI Gallaher employs about 870 staff, but will shut down completely by 2017. The union had said the redundancies would be voluntary, under its proposal. Unite balloted its members last year, and they voted to support the plan. On Wednesday, Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said he was angry at the rejection of their plan. He described the decision to close the factory as "an extreme case of social dumping where employers seek to minimise costs through chasing lower cost alternatives". "The choice to close JTI's plant at Ballymena but leave production in Trier, Germany, reflects the fact that social protections for workers in Northern Ireland, and the UK as a whole, are substantially weaker than in Germany," he said. "It boils down to the fact that it is much cheaper for the company to make a UK worker redundant than a German one." Mr Kelly called for immediate action from political leaders to put in place increased protection for UK workers and said Unite would now focus on securing compensation for its members at the Ballymena factory. North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said it was disappointing that the closure of the factory had been confirmed. He said he had continued to lobby the UK government to reconsider the introduction of plain-packaging and delay the European Union's Tobacco Products Directive. However, he said "the die has been cast and the tentacles of european bureaucracy have reached in and stripped this factory bare". He said it was now the responsibility of the relevant government departments to reskill the workers. In a statement, JTI Gallaher said it was working in a challenging regulatory and operating environment and that it had "fought very hard" against plain packaging proposals in the UK, the EU's Tobacco Products Directive 2 (TPD2) as well as the trade in smuggled cigarettes. It said its business must "prepare for the negative consequences of these". The firm added that around 80% of cigarette production at its factory in Ballymena was for the UK and the Republic of Ireland and that from 2009 to 2014, cigarette production there had declined by 27%. "These declines will be exacerbated by the implementation of TPD2 which bans small packs - 81% of our current pack formats will be prohibited, which means that 40% of the overall production at Lisnafillan will be affected," it said. The factory has been a major employer in Ballymena, but in October, the firm began consultations on proposals to close its facilities in Northern Ireland and Belgium, with production possibly moving to Poland and Romania. The firm said at that time its restructuring would be phased in, with factory closures completed between 2016 and 2018. When Unite first unveiled its alternative plan in November, it warned it would mean "significant concessions in terms and conditions", as well as the large-scale redundancies. However, it

Summary: A trade union proposal aimed at saving jobs at a tobacco factory in Ballymena, County Antrim, has been rejected.


Stevenage goalkeeper Jamie Jones was tested by Rowan Liburd's header and Garry Thompson's strike from 20 yards. Boro's Tom Conlon had a shot over the crossbar before Jason McCarthy missed the target and Liburd had more chances. The winner came from McCarthy's shot rebounding to Luke O'Nien, who slotted home, while Stevenage almost equalised from 10 yards though Dean Parrett. Stevenage remain in 21st, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Summary: Wycombe Wanderers secured a narrow win over Stevenage to move up to eighth and sit one point from the play-off places.


2 December 2015 Last updated at 09:51 GMT One in 10 engineers are in South Africa are women - but Ms Moosajee wants that proportion to be much higher. Thousands of girls are going through the organisation's fellowship programme, which includes practical workshops in skills development, training and networking. She says: "It's such a proud moment for me to have these girls come up to me and say: "Naadiya, you have changed my life. I'm an engineer because of you." WomEng is currently working across South Africa and Kenya, with the aim of replicating its programmes across Africa and the globe. Women of Africa is a BBC season recognising inspiring women across the African continent. The first series, Africa's Unsung Heroes, introduces eight women who are making a difference in their country - and beyond. Read more here

Summary: South African civil engineer Naadiya Moosajee co-founded non-profit organisation WomEng to help develop the next generation of female engineers in Africa.


Defence Minister Mark Francois said no posts would be lost but 183 people from 1 Force Protection Wing and 3 Squadron at RAF Wittering would be assimilated into four other bases in the UK. He said the move was the latest in a reorganisation that saw disbandments at RAF Leuchars in St Andrews. North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara said it was "regrettable", but was pleased that no jobs would be lost. He added he had received assurances from Mr Francois that the number of people affected would not increase and that it was not a prelude to the eventual closure of the base. RAF Wittering is a logistics and engineering hub and currently has about 1,500 service and civilian personnel. Up until 2010 it was the home of the Harrier jet. Mr Francois said the staff would be transferred to Honington in Suffolk, Marham in Norfolk, Coningsby in Lincolnshire and Lossiemouth in Moray. The move will start in spring 2015.

Summary: Nearly 200 members of the RAF based in Cambridgeshire are to be disbanded.


Last season's Premiership finalists were beaten in the European Champions Cup by Wasps on Saturday and have also lost four league games this term. "I trust the players 100%, it hurts them more than anybody," said Ford. "They want to play as best as they can, they care, the leaders have led and the players have followed." Bath host Worcester on 27 December and Ford admits Warriors will fancy their chances at the Rec. "They will smell blood and think it's a good time to play Bath, they will come firing, we have to meet their physicality," he told BBC Radio Bristol. "It's all about attitude and we need to play with edge." Ford also admits his side have let down supporters this season and says the players are working hard to find ways to turn things around. He also says he is putting himself under pressure to help improve results. "We had a few home truths after that performance (against Wasps) and sometimes that's what it needs," he said. "The lads have got back on the horse and trained really well so they've taken the first steps. "Pressure comes from the way you prepare. I felt pressure today, I felt pressure yesterday because you have to get the tactics right, get the message right to the team, prepare your training and meetings. That's where the pressure comes, on match day I can't do much, it's over to the players. "If you do the job during the week then match day normally takes care of itself. You can't worry about the results otherwise it'll drive you crazy, I've been in the game too long to worry about things like that."

Summary: Bath director of rugby Mike Ford says he trusts his players to turn around their form after an inconsistent start to the season.


It was Englishman Fleetwood's first win since 2013, while Scotland's Jamieson took his maiden title in 2012. The "desert swing" continues at the Qatar Masters on Thursday and Jamieson is one of eight Scots competing. "It's not always going to be the big names that are winning everything," he told BBC Scotland. "You're always going to have the marquee players, but there are a number of other guys who can go and win tournaments. "Four rounds is a long stretch to play good golf for and you've got to manage your game well. If you can keep it together on the day, you're not swinging it as well and still throw in a low round, you're always in with a chance." Jamieson, 33, finished joint-36th in Abu Dhabi, which was the best placing from the seven Scots in action there. That came a month after his tied-fourth finish at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Leopard Creek, South Africa, meaning his 2017 season has got off to an encouraging start. The end of the 2016 European Tour season was a strain for Jamieson, who narrowly kept his card by finishing 107th in the Race to Dubai. "My main goal is to knuckle down early in the year so I can push for bigger and better things as the year goes on," said Jamieson, whose European Tour title came at the Nelson Mandela Championship four years ago. "The last two years for me have been a bit of a struggle compared to my first few years on tour. "Until the last two years I had never experienced that pressure before and it was pretty uncomfortable - it's not something I would like to endure every year." The Qatar Masters is held at Doha Golf Club and the tournament has been running since 1998. It is a par-72 course measuring 7,348 yards, with the par-five ninth hole the longest at 639 yards. South Africa's Branden Grace successfully defended his Qatar Masters title in 2016 to make it two consecutive wins at the tournament, but has opted not to play there this season. Scotland's Paul Lawrie claimed the title in 1999 and 2012, with countryman Andrew Coltart winning the inaugural Qatar Masters in 1998. Yes. Eight of them, including Jamieson and Lawrie. East Kilbride's Marc Warren will aim to build on his promising opening round in Abu Dhabi last week, as will Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay. Cockburnspath's David Drysdale also continues his steady start to the season in Doha, with Linlithgow's Stephen Gallacher aiming to improve on last week by making the cut this time around. Clydebank's Scott Henry is back on the European Tour for 2017 and is in the Qatar Masters field, as is Grantown on Spey's Duncan Stewart. Germany's two-time major champion Martin Kaymer plays in Doha for the first time since 2014 and in-form world number 10 Alex Noren, from Sweden, also features. US Open champion of 2010 - Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell - begins his 2017 European Tour season in Doha. The winner of the Qatar Masters gets a cheque for just

Summary: Scott Jamieson has been heartened by Tommy Fleetwood's triumph at last weekend's Abu Dhabi Championship as he bids for a second European Tour title.


Mr Bailey, 58, was arrested over the murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier but never charged. Ms Toscan Du Plantier was found beaten to death near her remote holiday home in west Cork on 23 December 1996. Mr Bailey told Dublin high court his life has been destroyed for the past 19 years because the police blamed him for a crime he did not commit. However, on Monday, a jury found certain police officers had not conspired to obtain statements from a witness to implicate him in the murder. Mr Bailey, who is originally from Manchester, had sued the Irish police (Garda) and the state for damages. However, most of his claims were struck out in the closing stages of the case because the judge ruled they had not been made within the six year time limit required by law. The case began on 4 November last year and heard from about 90 witnesses.

Summary: Former journalist Ian Bailey, who had sued the Irish state for wrongful arrest for murder, has lost his case.


However, the first of the Seattle bands which made up the grunge music scene - a fusion of punk, indie and rock - Soundgarden, released their most successful album, Superunknown, that year. The Grammy-winning album produced the hit singles Black Hole Sun and Spoonman, and helped the band achieve worldwide sales of more than 20 million records. The re-mastered digital version of the album will be released this year to mark its 20th anniversary of release. The group, which reformed in 2010 after a 13-year hiatus, also played the album in its entirety for the first time at the iTunes festival in Austin, Texas, last month. "We were touring at the time of Kurt's death," lead singer Chris Cornell recalls, "and we just came off stage to be told of the reports that they had found Kurt, and he was dead. "We were very emotional. All of the bands in Seattle had grown up together, we were all friends. I wanted to deny it, I didn't want to believe it was true. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to hear." Guitarist Kim Thayil adds: "In some ways, I agree, grunge was already coming to an end at the time of Kurt's death. "Sure, we released Superunknown that year, but all of us, the successful grunge bands, had left Seattle and were endlessly on the road. In the meantime the city was full of musicians moving there, wanting to make it in the industry. It was like LA during the '80s, the Sunset strip and hair metal. It had lost its vibe." In the past, Cornell has described Soundgarden, who formed in 1984, as "the band that created the soundtrack" for grunge music. Out of all the groups that formed in Seattle in the late 1980s - most famously, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Mudhoney - they were the first to sign to a mainstream label. But it was the release of Nirvana's Nevermind album, in September 1991, which put the city, and its then-unique style of music, on the musical map. "I don't think there ever can be those conditions in the industry again to produce something like the Seattle band scene, of which Nirvana were the cultural event," he says. "Seattle was an isolated and provincial place that was left alone for years to develop its musical scene. None of us had overnight success, it's not like suddenly one day Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam all formed. "It all changed after Nevermind, it became commercialised. Everyone wanted to discover the next big thing." "I don't think the grunge movement was actually original," continues Thayil. "It was just a a synthesis of different underground music genres. What made it original was the kind of people doing it - it was our extreme youth. I think most of us were trying to fit in with the rock scene in the city, but because we were also fans of darker music - British bands like Joy Division, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, The Smiths - our shows reached a

Summary: The death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain on 5 April 1994 in Seattle, Washington, has sometimes been described as the event that marked "the end of grunge".


The annual event sees dancing lions, acrobats and floats parade from Shaftesbury Avenue to Trafalgar Square. The new year, also known as the Spring Festival, is based on the lunar Chinese calendar so it changes each year. Each year is marked by one of 12 animals that appear on the Chinese zodiac. This year is the year of the Rooster. The event in London is said to be one of the biggest outside Asia.

Summary: Thousands of people have taken to the streets of central London to celebrate Chinese New Year.


The Pentagon said Khalid al-Dhuby had been approved for release since 2006 and Mahmoud Omar Bin Atef since 2009. Both have been held for more than a decade and have never been charged. Ghana has given permission for the men to stay for two years subject to security clearances, Foreign Minister Hanna Tetteh said. The West African nation has not previously taken any Guantanamo prisoners. The jail was set up following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US to detain what Washington called "enemy combatants". US President Barack Obama has said he wants to close the jail down before he leaves office in 2017. According to military records, Mahmoud Omar Bin Atef is a Yemeni citizen born in Saudi Arabia in 1979 and was handed over to the US following his capture by Northern Alliance Forces in Afghanistan in 2001. His US lawyer, George Clark, described him as a "smart, bright young man" and said his client intended to start a family and find employment. US official documents say Khalid al-Dhuby was born in Saudi Arabia in 1981 and travelled to Afghanistan to fight. They say he was assessed as "a probable member" of al-Qaeda. Dozens of countries have received former Guantanamo Bay detainees, including other African states such as Uganda and Cape Verde. A total of 780 men have been held at Guantanamo since 2002, the vast majority without charge or criminal trial. The US navy base now has 105 detainees, nearly 50 of whom have been cleared for release.

Summary: Two Yemeni detainees held at the controversial US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been transferred to Ghana.


The ark was built by Christians who said they believe the biblical story was a historical event. Critics have said the attraction should not have received tax incentives as it contradicts science education. The ark is based on a biblical story of a man who received an apocalyptic warning from God about a massive flood. Answers in Genesis, the ministry that built the ark, said the ship's dimensions are based on those described in the Bible. The ark is also 85ft (26m) wide and 51ft (15m) high, according to the group. The ark, which is about 40 miles (64km) south of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Williamstown, features displays of animals in cages as well as exhibits on the group's theories on the world's existence. The group believes that God created everything, including dinosaurs, about 6,000 years ago. Scientists have said the dinosaurs became extinct about 65m years before man appeared. Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, said the total cost of the ark is more than $100m (Â£77m). The attraction has been at the centre of controversy in Kentucky, where it was awarded a tax incentive in 2014 worth up to $18m (about Â£14m). The incentive allowed the park to recoup taxes on money made from visitors. The tax break was then revoked after it was revealed that Answers in Genesis would only hire Christian staff members. However, the group sued and won. Opponents of the theme park told the AP it is a violation of separation of church and state. "Basically, this boat is a church raising scientifically illiterate children and lying to them about science," said Jim Helton, who lives about a half-hour from the ark. One of the park's biggest critics is science advocate and former television personality Bill Nye "the Science Guy". Nye debated Mr Ham on evolution in 2014, attracting millions of viewers online. The video of the debate posted on YouTube by Answers in Genesis has more than five million views. Following the debate, Mr Ham announced that a bond offering from Williamstown had raised $62m (about Â£48m) for the project, allowing the group to break ground on the site a few months later. Answers in Genesis estimates that the theme park, which debuted to the public on Thursday, will draw about two million visitors in its first year.

Summary: A theme park in the US state of Kentucky has unveiled a 510-foot-long (155 metre-long) wooden model of Noah's Ark.


The Briton has struggled with injury over the past 18 months and missed the 2015 Doha World Championships. He returned to form by setting the world's best time this year - 10.68 seconds - in July, but says Jarryd Wallace is the leading contender. "In my eyes he's the one to beat," Peacock, 23, told BBC Sport. "I went into London 2012 as clear fastest; it's a very a different pressure this time, but I'm more relaxed." The final of the Games' blue riband event is held on Friday night (23:59) and is stacked with talented sprinters despite the loss of USA's multiple world champion Richard Browne to injury, and the absence of Oscar Pistorius, who is serving six years in jail for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Aside from American Wallace, who has run 10.71, German Felix Streng (10.89) and Amu Fourie of South Africa (11.00) have also performed well this season. Brazil's Paralympic pin-up Alan Fonteles Oliveira is also being backed by some to recapture the form which saw him become a triple world champion in 2013. Media playback is not supported on this device "The sport has moved on hugely in the last four years, it's evolving and people seem to be getting faster," said Peacock. "There were two people sub-11 seconds in 2012 and now there's at least six the last year so it'll definitely be a different experience to London." Peacock's injury struggles were caused by problems with the connection between the stump in his amputated right leg and the carbon fibre blade. After taking time out to heal, and adapt his running technique, the sprinter says he is ready to produce his best form. "I took so much confidence and experience from 2012 which was so special, but I then had some losses in 2014 and missing the Worlds in 2015 was really difficult. "But that taught me quite a lot about myself and I know how to deal with the pressure now." ParalympicsGB have been set a target of 121 medals, one more than they secured at London 2012. Peacock believes the squad can take confidence from the achievements of Team GB, who won two more Olympic medals in Rio than at London 2012. "GB winning so many Olympic medals was great and watching someone like [cyclist] Jason Kenny really stuck with me," he said. "It made me really remember the importance of the confidence factor; knowing what you're capable of and knowing you can win which is something we'll all draw on." Peacock also feels that, despite a slow start to ticket sales and concerns about budget cuts by the organising committee, the event will be a success. "Come the day the Games open, people will be really surprised," he said. "When they see the performances of British athletes, going out getting gold medals it will all be forgotten about. "The Paralympics nailed it for Britain in 2012 and what I want now is for 2016 to nail the Americas. "I want the people of South America to see what Paralympic sport is about -

Summary: London Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock insists he is not the favourite for the T44 100m crown in Rio, despite being ranked world number one.


The squeeze on real incomes continues to grow, though at a slower pace. Average weekly earnings increased by 2.1% compared with a year earlier - slightly higher than last month's 2% increase. But with inflation standing at 2.6%, real earnings still fell by 0.5%, the ONS figures showed. At 75.1%, the proportion of people in work is the highest it has been since 1971 - partly due to the introduction of a later state pension age for women. There were 32.07 million people in work in the three months to June - 338,000 more than for the same period last year. "The employment picture remains strong, with a new record high employment rate and another fall in the unemployment rate. Despite the strong jobs picture, however, real earnings continue to decline," said Office for National Statistics senior labour market statistician Matt Hughes. Analysis Andy Verity, economics correspondent Pay rises improved, up by 2.1% (excluding bonuses) compared with a consensus prediction of 2%. Maybe the economic theory was right after all - and pay is now ticking up because labour markets are tight. It remains, however, a long way short of what would be required to trigger the sort of wage-price spiral about which central bankers have been hyper-vigilant since the 1970s. That employees are prepared to accept wages that shrink by a tiny bit less than they did the last time these figures came out does not exactly bespeak a dramatic new assertion of workers' bargaining power. Read more from Andy here Jobs were created in the construction, accommodation and food services sectors and transport and storage industries. Pay rises improved, up by 2.1% (excluding bonuses) compared with a consensus prediction of 2%. The increase prompted some economists to suggest that wages may finally be responding to an economy which is closing in on full employment. It remains, however, a long way short of what would be required to trigger the sort of wage-price spiral about which central bankers have been hyper-vigilant since the 1970s. That employees are prepared to accept wages that shrink by a tiny bit less than they did the last time these figures came out does not exactly bespeak a dramatic new assertion of workers' bargaining power. Ruth Gregory, UK economist at Capital Economics said the figures gave some signs that the tighter labour market was leading to a recovery in wage growth. "Inflation is likely to fall back next year as the impact of the drop in the pound dwindles. What's more, the tightness of the labour market should deliver further rises in nominal wage growth over the coming quarters," she said. The pound rose rose against both the dollar and the euro following the positive news on jobs, recovering some of the ground lost on Tuesday, before losing most of those gains. However, productivity - or output per worker - continued to decline, the ONS said, issuing preliminary figures for the second quarter. Productivity was 0.1% lower than in the first quarter and "remains at around the same level as its pre-downturn peak". The number of

Summary: Unemployment in the UK fell by 57,000 in the three months to June, official figures show, bringing the jobless rate down to 4.4% - its lowest since 1975.


In a thinly veiled attack on president Sepp Blatter's leadership, Michael Garcia reiterated the need for "greater transparency". "The investigation and adjudication process operates in most parts unseen and unheard," continued Garcia. He added that the organisation needs a "leadership that sends a message that the rules apply to everyone". Talking about the current investigation process, Garcia said: "That's a kind of system which might be appropriate for an intelligence agency but not for an ethics compliance process in an international sports institution that serves the public and is the subject of intense public scrutiny." American lawyer Garcia concluded his lengthy investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process last month and handed his report to Fifa's ethics adjudicator Hans Joachim Eckert, but he is disappointed by the world governing body's insistence on keeping his report confidential. In a keynote speech at an event organised by the American Bar Association in London, Garcia added: "The natural next step of the development of an effective ethics process at Fifa is greater transparency. "The second element that is vital to fulfilling the promise of this reform process is tone at the top. "More simply put, the second element an institution like Fifa needs in order to meet the challenge of ethics enforcement is leadership. An ethics committee - even a serious, independent ethics committee backed by a strong code of ethics - is not a silver bullet. "What is required is leadership that sends a message that the rules apply to everyone; leadership that wants to understand and learn from any mistakes or mis-steps the ethics committee may have identified; leadership that makes it clear to everyone - this is what we've set up the ethics committee to do, this is why they do it, and this is what they've done. "It's that kind of leadership that breathes the life into a code of ethics. Because true reform doesn't come from rules or creating new committee structures. It comes from changing the culture of the organisation." Garcia's views on publishing the report have been supported by a number of Fifa executives, including Uefa president Michel Platini and Britain's representative Jim Boyce. But Fifa president Blatter insists the contents of the report must remain confidential, and that no member of his executive committee made a specific request when the issue was raised in a meeting earlier this month. Garcia said other sports organisations have already demonstrated the value of transparency, highlighting the publication of a report into allegations concerning the 2002 Winter Olympics being awarded to Salt Lake City, which allowed the International Olympic Committee to "move forward". He added: "We have seen that recently with the NFL where a lack of transparency in its initial investigation concerning Ray Rice fostered scepticism and questions about the integrity of its leadership. Now the NFL has has to bring in outside counsel to investigate the investigation. "Notably, the NFL has made clear the results of the new investigation will indeed be made public. "That in turn would help foster a culture of compliance internally and

Summary: Fifa's chief independent ethics investigator has called for a "change of culture" at the organisation.


The team's drivers - world champion Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton - won 19 of the 21 races in 2016 and sealed the title with four races to spare. Red Bull, though, gave Mercedes plenty to think about with their drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo often getting the very best out of the car. But which team did most BBC Sport website readers choose as the best of the season? Here are the results... They dominated the season and dominated the picks in the BBC Sport selector. Statistically Mercedes swept aside all before them. As well as winning 90% of the races, a silver arrow also took pole position in all but one race - Monaco, where Ricciardo started at the front of the pack. With Rosberg retired and Hamilton's new team-mate yet to be confirmed, their rivals can only hope that Mercedes may find it difficult to match such an all-conquering campaign as the new guy settles in, and new rules take effect. After finishing fourth in the constructors' championship last season, Red Bull rose from that disappointment to cement themselves as the best of the rest. They may not have had the package to truly challenge Mercedes but they certainly won plenty of fans, thanks to their drivers' skill on the track and character off it. The fearless Verstappen completed 78 overtakes in 2016 - a new F1 record - while Ricciardo was consistently impressive in the second half of the season, finishing on the podium in seven of the last 11 races. One to watch in 2017, especially as aerodynamics become a more important factor with the new rules. Do not forget who will be leading their design package - one Adrian Newey. They may have a smaller budget than the leading teams in Formula 1, but Force India certainly knew how to get the most out of what they had as they finished a hugely impressive fourth in the constructors' championship. Both Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg consistently finished inside the top eight, with Perez also managing to climb the podium twice - finishing third in Monaco and Baku. Jennie Gow: 1) Mercedes, 2) Red Bull, 3) Manor Mercedes: "They have been on top of their game once again. There have been reliability issues for Hamilton but the team have an outstanding car and winning their third title gives them bragging rights this season. Let's see what they can do next year." Manor: "The fact that they are even on the grid is impressive after all the challenges they have faced. The single point that they won in Austria is a major achievement and almost gave them 10th place in the championship. With such a small budget to work from and a small team compared to others, you have to take your hat off to the them and hope that despite losing 10th place to Sauber in Brazil, the team continue to flourish in 2017." Tom Clarkson: 1) Mercedes, 2) Red Bull, 3) Force India Red Bull: "Even with that botched pit-stop at Monaco, which cost Daniel

Summary: It was another dominant season on the track for Mercedes as they won the constructors' championship for the third consecutive season.


Just over 60% of voters taking part in the referendum backed the controversial pact, which is aimed at enforcing budget rules in the eurozone. Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Ireland had sent a "powerful signal" that it was committed to overcoming its economic challenges. Opinion polls had suggested a "Yes" camp win. A "No" vote would not have blocked the pact, but it would have barred Ireland from emergency EU funding when its bailout package expires in 2013. In late 2010 Ireland received an EU-IMF bailout worth 85bn euros (Â£68bn; $105bn) after debts overwhelmed its banks. The treaty must be approved by 12 of 17 Eurozone countries, but Ireland was the only one putting the issue to a public vote. Speaking after the results came in, Mr Kenny said Ireland had to now work with the EU to boost growth across the eurozone. "The developing situation in Europe's banking sectors needs a comprehensive solution and Ireland's banking debt must form part of that solution," Mr Kenny told a news conference. He said the move would not solve all of the country's problems, but that it was "one of the many foundation stones" needed to ensure the future stability of Ireland's economic position. It would enable investment and create jobs, he said, as well as allow Ireland access to funds from the European Stability Mechanism should it require it. Returning officer Riona Ni Flanghaile said the "Yes" campaign won by a margin of just over 300,000 votes, with a total of 955,091 casting ballots in favour, compared with 629,088 against the agreement. Fewer than half the 3.1m registered voters turned out on Thursday, with the percentage ranging from the low 30s in some regions to the mid-50s in some parts of the capital, Dublin. The dominant parties in the Irish parliament (Dail) were in the "Yes" camp - Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail - while the "No" camp was led by Sinn Fein and the Socialists, who have far fewer seats. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said it was a "sigh of relief from the government rather than a celebration". An Irish 'Yes' but no celebrations Speaking earlier, "No" voter Gerard Cunningham told the Associated Press: "Banks in Germany and Britain and elsewhere were just as responsible for the mess we're in. "We're sick to the back teeth of being told it's all our own fault." Another voter, Bridget Connolly, said she voted "Yes". "The treaty will solve nothing, but... we're going to need European money next year, plain and simple," she said. "We can't afford to be thumbing our noses at Europe right now." The pact, signed by all EU members except the Czech Republic and the UK, allows EU member states to co-ordinate their budget policies and impose penalties on rule-breakers. It is an inter-governmental agreement, legally binding on all those who ratify it. It is called a "treaty", but is separate from EU-wide treaties which have to be signed by all 27 member states. It commits all ratifying members to achieve budget deficits of less than 0.5% of economic output.

Summary: Voters in the Republic of Ireland have approved the EU fiscal pact, according to official results.


They include several Brazilians, two Americans, a South African, an Australian, a Briton and a French man. The accused were employed at the time by the companies involved - Brazil's Samarco and Vale, and BHP Billiton. In November 2015 a mine dam burst, killing 19 people and polluting miles of Brazil's waterways. According to the lead prosecutor in the case, Jose Leite Sampaio, the companies were aware there was a risk of collapse but ignored it. They immediately rejected the charges and said they would defend their staff. Mr Sampaio accused Brazilian mining company Vale, Anglo-Australian giant BHP Billiton and iron ore producer Samarco, which they co-own, of pursuing profits rather than attending to safety. "Security was always of secondary importance. The increase in production at Samarco sought to compensate for the falling value of the ore in order, not only to maintain, but also to boost profits and dividends," Mr Sampaio said in a televised news conference near the site of the disaster. Vale said in a statement that it "vehemently rejects the charges" and that it would defend its staff members. It said the evidence showed there was no knowledge the dam could fail before the collapse. BHP said it "rejects outright the charges against the company and the affected individuals. We will defend the charges against the company, and fully support each of the affected individuals in their defence." Before the case can go to trial, the charges need to be approved by a judge. Millions of tonnes of muddy mine waste were released on 5 November 2015 when a dam collapsed. A village was flattened and drinking water was affected for hundreds of thousands of people. The sludge eventually pooled out into the Atlantic Ocean. The disaster drew comparisons with the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, as the Brazilian authorities sought redress for the environmental devastation from the companies it deemed responsible. The mining companies have managed to reach a deal with Brazil's environmental authorities to set up an institute that will help clean up the pollution and rebuild some communities for the next 10 years. But prosecutors tasked with finding the guilty parties are less willing to compromise. In a 273-page document, they blamed top managers, accusing them of merely using "bandages" to deal with a serious threat. Prosecutors also want the accused to respond to a popular jury, assuming these charges get the go-ahead from the judge. The companies responded by accusing prosecutors of ignoring the evidence against those claims. As the Samarco tragedy approaches its first anniversary, it seems that this case will still drag on for years to come. The accused include Ricardo Vescovi, who was chief executive of Samarco at the time of the disaster. Under Brazilian law qualified homicide is similar to, but more serious than, a manslaughter charge. The accused, if found guilty, could face sentences of up to 54 years.

Summary: Brazilian prosecutors have filed homicide charges against 21 people a year after an iron ore mine disaster in the state of Minas Gerais.


The YouTuber, who has more than six million followers, is taking a break from her online world "for a few days" because she says it is "clouding up" her brain. The news comes the same week that she admitted she had "help" from her publisher in writing her debut novel, Girl Online. Zoella "worked with an expert editorial team" said a spokesperson from Penguin. It also said it was part of a publisher's role to "help" new talent. Zoella's boyfriend, Alfie Deyes, has also said he is quitting the internet and thanked fans for their "understanding". He said the pair plan "to have some time to ourselves" during their break. Earlier this year Alfie, who runs Pointless Blog, released his own book. YouTubers celebrate "vlogmas" in the run-up to Christmas, where the stars post videos every day during Advent. Because of their break, it seems Alfie and Zoella won't complete the series of videos. In a post previously shared on Twitter, Zoella said of the revelations about her novel: "Of course I was going to have help from Penguin's editorial team in telling my story. "The story and characters of Girl Online are all mine." Another writer, Siobhan Curham, who is thanked in the book's acknowledgements, has been responding to Twitter comments about the Girl Online revelations. Zoella, whose real name is Zoe Sugg, is also thought to have recognised the author's contribution during promotion for the book. Ms Curham has yet to respond to Newsbeat's request for a comment. A spokesperson for Penguin said: "As publishers our role is, and always has been, to find the very best talent and help them tell their story and connect them with readers. "Talented You Tube entrepreneurs such as Zoe are brilliant at understanding and entertaining their audience. "For her first novel, Girl Online, Zoe has worked with an expert editorial team to help her bring to life her characters and experiences in a heart-warming and compelling story." Penguin added: "We are proud to be have been able to help Zoe tell her story and that the book is proving so successful in getting young people reading." Many of Zoella's fans sent positive messages to the YouTube star after her announcement, saying that they still "loved" the book. More than 78,000 copies of Girl Online were sold in its first week of publication. After the figures were released, Zoella, whose real name is Zoe Sugg, tweeted: "I'm legit blown away by this. I never in a million years thought that so many of you would pick up a copy of Girl Online. Almost want to cry." The record is the highest since Nielsen BookScan began collecting information on the book market in 1998, according to The Bookseller. It is the first of a two-book deal Zoella has with Penguin. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Zoella has temporarily quit the internet.


The punishments were handed out by the ethics committee of football's world governing body, which is investigating the three over corruption allegations. It also banned ex-Fifa vice-president Chung Mong-joon for six years. Issa Hayatou, who heads Africa's football confederation (Caf), will act as Fifa president during Blatter's ban. Uefa - European football's governing body - gave Platini its "full confidence" and said it "saw no need" to replace its current president while he is suspended from all football duties. Platini - and Chung - are still hoping to replace Blatter at the top of Fifa when he steps down as president in February. Hayatou, meanwhile, has issued a statement saying he will only serve on an interim basis and will not be standing for election. Blatter, Platini and Valcke are banned from any football activity in the interim. They deny any wrongdoing. A statement issued by Blatter's lawyers said the president was "disappointed" the ethics committee had not followed its own code in allowing him an opportunity to be heard, and claimed the suspension was based on "a misunderstanding of the actions of the attorney general in Switzerland". It added: "President Blatter looks forward to the opportunity to present evidence that will demonstrate that he did not engage in any misconduct, criminal or otherwise." Former France midfielder Platini described the developments as "farcical", with the allegations against him "astonishingly vague" and "based on mere semblances". Platini said he was driven by "staunch defiance", more than "a sense of injustice or a desire for revenge", to defend himself. He said: "I refuse to believe this is a political decision taken in haste in order to taint a lifelong devotee of the game or crush my candidacy for the Fifa presidency." His ban - which can be appealed against, or even extended - means he will not be able to attend the Euro 2016 draw in Paris on 12 December. Media playback is not supported on this device Uefa's executive committee will hold an emergency meeting next Thursday and called for a "very rapid final decision" from Fifa, but said it "stands fully behind" Platini. The Football Association, which last week reiterated its support for Platini's presidency bid, said it would "await the results" of Fifa's inquiry and the Swiss investigation, while chairman Greg Dyke said the organisation would withdraw its support if Platini is found to have "behaved dishonestly". Chung said he was not surprised by his ban, but described it "as a most blatant miscarriage of justice", adding that Fifa was "in total meltdown" and the investigation against him was "politically motivated" against his presidential campaign. Britain's Fifa vice-president David Gill has called for an emergency meeting of its executive committee following Thursday's developments. Fifa's ethics committee began its investigation into Blatter after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against the 79-year-old. He is accused of signing a contract "unfavourable" to Fifa and making a "disloyal payment" to Platini. The ethics committee also opened an inquiry into Platini over the 2m euros (£1.35m) payment, which was made nine years after the

Summary: Fifa has provisionally suspended its president Sepp Blatter, secretary general Jerome Valcke and vice-president Michel Platini for 90 days.


Media playback is not supported on this device And as he looks back on the year when his career as a professional sportsman came to an abrupt end at the age of 26, he admits to being "very, very lucky". Taylor's heart was beating at 265 beats per minute for six hours. Most people would have passed out in about 10 minutes. "Thankfully I was so fit I could withstand it. Six hours is a good effort," he told BBC East Midlands Today. "It's ironic, that because I am so fit and did so much exercise it ultimately saved me. It's a funny one." Taylor's heart condition - Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) - gets worse with exercise, but had never been diagnosed until he felt ill during pre-season with Nottinghamshire in April. Retirement was inevitable, and the internal defibrillator he had fitted two months later has already saved his life for a second time. "My operation was not to make anything better," he said. "This condition can't get better, but if something goes wrong it is a safety net. "If it happens again - and it has - it certainly did its job. It gave me a massive shock. But it did its job." Taylor treasures the memories of what proved to be his farewell to international cricket. He played in all four matches in last winter's series win over South Africa, taking two stunning catches in the brilliant third Test victory in Johannesburg. "Who would have thought my best moment in cricket was my last moment in cricket?" said Taylor, who won seven Test caps. "All I wanted in my career was to play for England and I had fought so hard and there had been so many ups and downs. I felt I should have played far more than I did. "Then it was all taken away from me. It kind of summed up my career. I got there and it got taken away from me. "The best moment I have ever had in my life was one of the last days playing cricket for England, catching those catches in Joburg, winning that game with England, playing for your country amongst some great guys. "It doesn't get much better than that. I achieved it, but I just did it less than I imagined and hoped. But I can't complain." Taylor does not complain because he is still alive, but the stubbornness which underpinned his cricket career very nearly led to his demise when he knew all was not well playing for Notts against university side Cambridge MCCU in April. "It was very lucky a few things happened," the ex-Leicestershire player said, recounting the sequence of events and "what ifs" that led to his diagnosis. "I am lucky I have a girlfriend for starters - in a lot of ways! I am lucky that Jose was off work and I rang her to say I was ill. "And if I hadn't forgotten my keys for my house I wouldn't have got my mum involved. She found me curled up in

Summary: The very thing that almost killed former Nottinghamshire and England batsman James Taylor also saved his life.


Gloucestershire Police said they had received allegations that Opus Fine Art in Stow-on-the-Wold had been "dishonestly retaining or selling" art. The gallery deals in works by high profile artists including Damien Hirst. A police spokesman said investigations were ongoing to establish ownership of the seized property. The Independent newspaper reported the owners, Donald Smith and Emma Poole, were believed to have moved to the south of France.

Summary: A large number of works of art have been seized from a Cotswold art gallery after allegations of fraud and theft.


He faced criticism online after comparing costume designer Jenny Beavan to a "bag lady" when she picked up her Bafta for Mad Max: Fury Road. The presenter later insisted Beavan was a "dear friend" and had "got" the joke. Fry said he has not "slammed the door" on Twitter but said the site had become a "stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous". Writing on his official website, he said people needed to "grieve" for what Twitter had become, writing: "I like to believe I haven't slammed the door, much less stalked off in a huff throwing my toys out of the pram as I go or however one should phrase it. "It's quite simple really: the room had started to smell. Really quite bad." Fry has been presenting the Bafta film awards for 11 years and audiences have become used to his cutting wit, often involving quips about many of the stars involved. Beavan, who won the Bafta for Best Costume Design for Mad Max: Fury Road, came onto the stage at London's Royal Opera House wearing a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and dark trousers. Following her acceptance speech and once she had left the stage, Fry said: "Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to the awards dressed like a bag lady." But he posted a picture of the pair at a party later in the night to show his comment had not been taken badly, captioning it: "Jenny Baglady Beavan and Stephen Outrageous Misogynist Swine Fry at the after party." Fry followed that up by saying in an expletive-ridden tweet that his critics were "tragic people". His latest comment continued: "A stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous who love to second-guess, to leap to conclusions and be offended - worse, to be offended on behalf of others they do not even know. "It's as nasty and unwholesome a characteristic as can be imagined. It doesn't matter whether they think they're defending women, men, transgender people, Muslims, humanists â€¦ the ghastliness is absolutely the same." He said "the tipping point had been reached" but added: "I don't feel anything today other than massive relief, like a boulder rolling off my chest. I am free, free at last." The former QI host had more than 12 million followers on Twitter at the time he left the site. Glamour editor Jo Elvin was among those who criticised Fry for his "uncool" comments, saying she was glad Beavan "wore what she wanted". Comedian Tiernan Douieb described Fry as looking like he was dressed like "an unused Subbuteto (sic) table". Showbiz journalist Beth Neil wrote: "Stephen Fry's 'dressed as a bag lady' joke about the winner of costume design was horrid. True colours, there." Fry received support from Twitter users however, including several celebrities. Radio 1 Scott Mills DJ wrote: "I thought Stephen Fry was an excellent host tonight. Dealing with the biggest stars in the world is scary. I find this. He is a natural." Comedian Matt Lucas joked: "Stephen Fry Didn't you get the memo? No-one is allowed to

Summary: Bafta show host Stephen Fry has confirmed he has left Twitter declaring "the fun is over".


The targeted area is controlled by the so-called Islamic State group and has been under heavy bombardment from government-aligned forces. Dozens of people are said to have been killed during the combined assaults. IS members recaptured the city on Sunday, hours after Russian air strikes appeared to have driven them back. Sources in Hama province reported seeing dead bodies with no visible injuries, according to the UK-based group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The death toll was put at at least 40 by one citizens' group in Hama province. The Syrian government and its Russian backers have previously denied using chemical weapons. IS was previously driven out of the ancient desert city of Palmyra in March with the support of Russian air strikes, but the jihadist group seized it again in a sudden assault that started last week. The surprise setback for Syrian government forces came as they and their allies turned their attention to fighting local opposition forces in Aleppo and Damascus. IS destroyed a number of monuments and beheaded the archaeological director during its 10-month occupation of the Unesco World Heritage site and the adjacent city of Tadmur. Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins. The jihadist group, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighbouring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous.

Summary: Dozens of people have been killed in air strikes and a suspected gas attack near the Syrian city of Palmyra, monitoring groups say.


The Birmingham-born musician will host Jazz Now alongside singer Emma Smith and Irish trumpeter Al Ryan every Monday night from 4 April. It replaces Jazz On 3, which has been running for 18 years. That show's host, Jez Nelson, will move to Jazz FM. Kinch said he wanted the new show to "shake up our jazz world with a bit of controversy". Its remit is to explore the "vibrant new and underground jazz scene" - broadcasting from car parks and dance music clubs as well as established jazz venues. Kinch's appointment is significant because he bridges the divide between the often closeted world of jazz and contemporary mainstream music. A double MOBO-award winner and Mercury Prize-nominee, he has been described as one of British music's "freshest and most exciting prospects". "Mr Kinch demonstrates what England has to teach [the USA] about narrative Hip-Hop," wrote The New York Times, reviewing his first US show in 2004. The first edition of Jazz Now will feature a concert by the British trio Malija; an interview with Mobo-winners Binker and Moses, and newly discovered recordings of organ legend Larry Young. The following week will see the launch of a regular series of masterclasses by influential musicians, the first of which features saxophonist and composer Patrick Cornelius. Future episodes will include the world premiere of Hans Koller's new composition, Twelve Re-Inventions for George Russell; up-and-coming trumpeter Ralph Alessi; and coverage of the BBC Young Musician 2016 Jazz Award. "The underground and emerging jazz and wider contemporary music scene is really exciting right now," said Alan Davey, Controller of BBC Radio 3. "We wanted to bring that scene to our audiences and through enlisting expert performers such as Soweto, Emma and Al, I am confident Jazz Now will do just that."

Summary: Renowned saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch is to front a new-look jazz show on BBC Radio 3.


Amarjeet Singh-Bhakar, 37, died after a disturbance on Prince Edward Avenue, Rhyl, at about 03:00 BST. The 15 and 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were remanded in custody until a hearing at Mold Crown Court on Thursday. Wrexham Magistrates' Court heard one of the youths was also charged with wounding another man. Four other men - Mr Singh's cousin, Amar Singh, 28, and younger brother, Mohanjeet Singh, 18, Ameer Hamza Wahid, 24, and Sanah Ullah, 30, all from Greater Manchester - have been remanded in custody until 2 June, charged with violent disorder. A 15-year-old youth, also from Greater Manchester, was charged with violent disorder and remanded in youth detention until 2 June. In a statement released by North Wales Police, Mr Singh-Bhakar's wife, Sushi, said her shopkeeper husband had been a "real family man". "He was so caring and everything he did was for his family and his two children," she said. "He was my soul mate and everyone loved him to bits. We will miss his smile and the way he lit up a room when he walked in."

Summary: Two youths have appeared in court charged with murder following a stabbing in Denbighshire on Sunday.


The significance of General Muhammadu Buhari's victory should certainly not be underestimated. An electorate that has savoured the rich experience of ousting an incumbent by the mere act of voting cannot easily be persuaded to forget it. And that must surely be a contagious experience on a continent where, it is often said, roughly one in five people are Nigerians. Besides, this was no "people's revolution" - something that the continent's remaining strongmen could loudly dismiss as a dangerous threat to the natural order of things. Instead Nigeria's election was something much more prosaic, and more subtle - a challenge to entrenched autocracy. It was, despite the disruptive efforts of a few, a very ordinary thing: A peaceful, modern, well-monitored, uncontestable transfer of power. Nothing to be feared. A casual precedent that should echo loudly around the region. "It establishes a link between performance and accountability - knowing that if you don't perform you can be thrown out of power by the electorate, not by the military," Adekeye Adebajo, from the Centre for Conflict Resolution in Cape Town, told me by phone. "It's an incredibly powerful incentive for better governance in the future. "It sends a strong signal to the rest of the continent. There will be autocrats in Khartoum, in the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda, who are thinking of staying on in power. They won't welcome this." The election also gives Nigeria more credibility and clout within the West African grouping Ecowas, at the African Union, and internationally, as the continent seeks to shrug off the enduring influence of former colonial powers like France. Nigeria's leaders can no longer be dismissed as hypocrites when they lecture neighbours like Mali, Niger, Guinea and Guinea Bissau, on the need to keep the military out of politics. That can only be a good thing for African democracy. On a more nuts and bolts level, these past few days have been a valuable reminder of quite how difficult it is becoming to rig an election. Social media, fingerprint scanners, and an army of young volunteer observers armed with mobile phones have all played their role - as they have done in other recent African elections - in limiting the possibilities of ballot stuffing and other shenanigans. That's not to say people didn't try to rig this election - and won't in the future. But once the data is out there - posted online - it becomes much harder for the backroom cheats to cook the books. Five reasons why Goodluck Jonathan lost Profile: Muhammadu Buhari Then there's President Goodluck Jonathan's abrupt decision to accept defeat - a move made, I'm told, without consulting some key officials and against the wishes of many in his party. It was a bold, selfless move that may well have saved many lives in Nigeria. It will go down as a new milestone for African democracy, and may help redeem Mr Jonathan's presidency, at least partially, in the eyes of his many critics. Does that mean Nigerian democracy is safe? Perhaps not. A new man may be coming to power.

Summary: After the anxiety and drama of the past few days in Nigeria, it is tempting to get carried away by the impact of this ballot - what it represents for both Africa's largest democracy and for those countries on the continent still wrestling with the notion that power can change hands without the world coming to an end.


Footage shows two men accosting Vuyo Mvoko, from the national broadcaster SABC, who was outside a Johannesburg hospital to report on the arrival of Zambia's president for medical tests. Mr Mvoko later said one of the muggers threatened him with a gun when he did not want to give up his mobile phone. The robbers appear unconcerned by the presence of the camera. Shortly afterwards, Mr Mvoko, who is a contributing editor for the national news channel, tweeted that he was safe and sound and posted a link to a video of the mugging, which has gone viral. Police said the robbers took laptops and mobile phones and that officers were investigating in the incident. "Hopefully someone will be able to identify them and get them arrested," Mr Mvoko told the BBC's Newsday programme. He said it took him a while to realise what was happening as it was less than a minute till he was due to go live near the Milpark Hospital. "I couldn't understand why they'd walk right in front of the camera because the light is on and they could see that - and our car is branded, so they could see that this is a live broadcast." The thieves told him to hand over his phone, which he said was in his hand. "Because I wasn't giving him the phone, he then called the other one who had a gun, and said: 'Dubula le nja' [Shoot this dog]," Mr Mvoko told SABC. At this point he said another member of the team screamed at him to hand over the phone, which he did. The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says Milpark is a relatively quiet area, not normally associated with crime. The SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) has condemned the mugging. "Every South African lives with the reality of crime, but to see thugs brazenly ignoring television cameras and robbing media workers in the course of their work, yet again brings home the level of criminality in our society," a statement from the forum said. Zambia's President Edgar Lungu, who had collapsed at an event on Sunday, went to South Africa for tests after his doctors found that he needed throat surgery.

Summary: One of South Africa's best known TV journalists has been mugged on camera as he waited to go on air.


Media playback is not supported on this device Britain's most decorated Olympian was at Drumchapel Sport Hub in Glasgow as agency sportscotland announced that it had surpassed Holyrood's target of 150 community sport hubs in 2016. "It's fantastic to see that they've actually committed to this," said Hoy. "The target is to try to have 200 community hubs open by 2020." There are now 153 operational hubs across the country with at least one in each of Scotland's 32 local authorities. Hubs aim to increase the number of people of all ages participating in sport and physical activity across Scotland. The national agency for sport has also announced a new £6m investment of National Lottery money over the next four years to further develop existing community sport hubs and to help reach the target of new hubs. Hoy told BBC Scotland: ''The community sports hubs are about the community, providing somewhere that people of all the community, of all ages and all levels of fitness, can come and get fit and have fun - improve their lives basically. "It's about participation, enjoyment and health, but if we create an Olympic champion off the back of it then all the better." Hoy, meanwhile, who won six gold and one silver Olympic medals in the velodrome, believes the current British cycling team is looking good ahead of the Rio Olympics. "The British team are coming on to form at just the right moment," he said. "They've had a lot of criticism, some of which has been unfounded or a little bit harsh. Teams go through transitions and new riders come in to peak at the right time. "By definition you're going to be off your peak at others times and I think we should be judged by the performances in Rio." A knee injury kept Scotland's Katie Archibald from competing for the British team at the World Championships in London this month but she is striving to be fit for Rio, and Hoy certainly hopes that the case. "Katie is integral to the success of the British pursuit team for the women, and she'll be disappointed that she missed the World Champs," said Hoy. "But it will fuel that passion and that hunger to work hard and make it to the Olympics. "They (the women's pursuit team) performed well in the final ride by winning the bronze medal and setting the quickest time they'd ever done before but there's more to come and I think once Katie gets back she'll be firing on all cylinders and she help the team."

Summary: Sir Chris Hoy says the commitment shown by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery will help ensure the Commonwealth Games legacy continues.


Media playback is not supported on this device Fox initially showed neat footwork to avoid a challenge from Alfredo Morelos. But he then delayed making the clearance, allowing the striker to steal the ball from his toes and roll it into an empty net for 2-0. "He feels low enough about it. He's a great professional and will bounce back," McIntyre told BBC Scotland. "He's made a glaring mistake today, he knows that and doesn't need me to tell him. "The mistake is what it is - Scott knows he has to do better there - and the other two goals were preventable. He doesn't need to say anything. "He's been fantastic in my time here and produced save after save that's won us points." Morelos had already powered a header beyond Fox before the goalkeeper's error of judgement, with Rangers dominating the first half in Dingwall. The hosts improved after the interval, with Thomas Mikkelsen reducing the deficit with a header before Eduardo Herrera made the points safe for the visitors with a late finish. Media playback is not supported on this device "I don't think we were brave enough in possession of the ball," said McIntyre. "We took too long to make our passes and we didn't get enough pressure on Rangers. "We've had a lot of plaudits in my time here when we've come up against the big boys, but today I felt we went into our shells in that first half and that's the first time I have had to say that to the team as a group. "The second half was a lot better and it had to be. We made the system change, but it's nothing to do with systems, it's about being brave, taking the ball in tight situations. "I felt we fed their support the way we gave the ball away in areas of the pitch and that just gathers momentum for Rangers." County have gone three games without a win, but McIntyre had still been pleased with aspects of their previous play. "I described our first-half performance against Motherwell last week as one of our best in my time here, that's probably the worst," he added. "There was a lack of belief there and, when you give the ball away as much as we did, a few players went into their shells, it's as simple as that. I can't hide from that. "It's not good enough and I won't accept that type of first-half performance. The players are fully aware of that. "They show a reaction by getting a goal back and being better, but it's a long way back when you concede the kind of goals we conceded."

Summary: Ross County manager Jim McIntyre is backing goalkeeper Scott Fox to recover from the error that gifted Rangers a goal in Sunday's 3-1 defeat.


Marcus Evans is among nine people investigated over ticket scalping, conspiracy and ambush marketing. Mr Evans, who runs his own sports hospitality company, denied any wrongdoing and said the allegations are "totally without foundation". The exact full charges against Mr Evans have yet to be confirmed to the BBC. Follow updates and reaction to this story Brazilian prosecutor Marcos Kac told Associated Press he had decided to charge Mr Evans, along with Olympic Council of Ireland President Patrick Hickey and seven others, after reviewing the police investigation. Police investigator Aloysio Falcao said authorities also wanted to speak to IOC President Thomas Bach about email exchanges between him and Mr Hickey. Mr Bach will not be attending the opening of the Paralympic Games later. The authorities have no evidence that Mr Bach knew about the alleged ticket scam, the investigator said. A spokesman for Mr Evans, who runs the Marcus Evans Group and THG Sports, confirmed he was aware of the charges but referred to previous statements which said the companies had "acted at all times lawfully and any suggestion to the contrary is just not true". Ticket scalping, or ticket touting, involves the resale of tickets for admission to events at a higher price, while ambush marketing involves a company trying to associate its products with an event that already has official sponsors. Mr Hickey, 71, has formally stood aside as president of the Olympic Council of Ireland and European Olympic Committees' president during the investigation. Kevin Mallon, who has also had charges passed against him, is the Dublin-based director of Mr Evans' hospitality company THG Sports. Police allege Mr Hickey plotted with businessmen to transfer tickets illegally from a sports company called Pro 10 to THG Sports, which was a non-authorized vendor and allegedly sold them for very high fees. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

Summary: The owner of Ipswich Town Football Club has been charged in connection with a ticket-touting case in August's Olympic Games in Brazil.


Abbey Road is full of gremlins. Giles Martin - son of record producer George Martin - can't play any music through his mixing desk at the iconic North London studios. He re-boots his computer while two engineers crawl on the floor, plugging in cables and fiddling with various switches. At one point, someone unplugs a hard drive. "Oh God, you've just deleted the Beatles," Martin deadpans. Eventually, the equipment springs to life. The producer dismisses a workman, who has appeared to drill locks into the door, and apologises for the delay. "I just moved into this studio yesterday," he explains. With that, Martin loads up a file that contains dozens of versions of the Beatles' back catalogue. There are the original recordings, mono mixes, stereo remasters and various other snippets - all of which Martin can flick between at will. He used these tracks as a reference while producing a new DVD compilation, Beatles 1+, which sees the Fab Four's biggest hits re-imagined in stereo and 5.1 surround sound, accompanied by restored promotional videos and films. "The goal is to bring the band closer to you," says Martin. "To have that same feeling at home that I get when I put on the tapes in the studio." Rather than viewing the originals as sacred, the band appreciate their music being tweaked this way, he says. "My dad went to see John Lennon in 1980 before he died, and John said to him: 'Do you know what I'd really like to do? I'd love to record everything again.' "Dad said, 'Really? How about Strawberry Fields?' "And John said: 'Especially Strawberry Fields.'" Counter-intuitively, Martin's new mixes are often simpler than the existing stereo versions - but he has a solid explanation. Up to Yellow Submarine, the Beatles treated the mono mixes of their albums as the definitive documents. The stereo versions were created as an afterthought, often without the band's involvement. "My dad was never happy with the extreme panning that went on," explains the producer. "You'd have the band on one side and all the vocals on the other. "And you have what I call the socks and sandals brigade saying: 'The only way to listen to Sgt Pepper's is in mono.' To be honest, they're probably right, but no-one does that any more." So he set about recapturing the power of those mono recordings. "In Beatles world, if you can make something more aggressive, they want it more aggressive," Martin says, cueing up Paperback Writer to prove his point. "If you listen, this mono mix is very crunchy, very in your face," he says, as the textured harmonies give way to Paul McCartney's guitar riff. "The stereo sounds wider," Martin continues, switching seamlessly to that version, "but the problem is that all the action - the guitar and drums - are on the left speaker." "The guitar riff is what you remember about that song," he says, but it loses its oomph by being shifted to one side. Accordingly, the new mix puts the instruments into a focussed central point, while spreading

Summary: Giles Martin reveals how he took The Beatles master tapes and remixed them in surround sound for the Fab Four's new video collection.


The video shows two masked men firing a volley of shots into the air as two children stand nearby. It was posted on a YouTube channel called IRSP (Irish Republican Socialist Party) Media Belfast. The channel indicates that the video was filmed at the funeral of Barry McMullan on Monday. The published description of the video reads: "Irish Republican Socialist Movement lay Comrade Barry McMullan to rest with full honors (sic). Belfast, June 26th 2017." Det Ch Insp Gary Reid said: "Police are aware of the footage showing shots apparently being fired by masked men in west Belfast in recent days. "An investigation is underway."

Summary: Police have launched an investigation after video emerged of shots apparently being fired at a republican funeral in west Belfast.


He also resigned from the 2014 World Cup organising committee. Mr Teixeira, who led the federation for 23 years, had come under pressure over corruption allegations, which he has denied. He has been investigated on suspicion of crimes including tax evasion but has never been convicted of any offence. Former Sao Paulo Governor Jose Maria Marin, 79, will be replacing Mr Teixeira in both posts. Mr Marin read out the letter in which Mr Teixeira announced his "permanent resignation". Mounting speculation Mr Teixeira said he was leaving with a sense of "mission accomplished". "Football in our country is associated with two things: talent and disorganisation," he wrote. He said he had done what was within his reach, sacrificing his health. Last week, Mr Teixeira announced he was taking leave of absence for medical reasons. However, he did not specify the nature of his health problems. Mr Marin said nothing would immediately change at the football federation or at the World Cup organising committee under his command. Pressure started growing on Mr Teixeira to resign after new corruption allegations surfaced earlier this month. But state federations voted unanimously to confirm him in the posts. In 2001, the Brazilian Congress investigated Mr Teixeira on suspicion of 13 crimes, including tax evasion, money laundering and misleading lawmakers, but no charges were brought. He has also been investigated for allegedly taking kickbacks from a marketing firm that worked closely with Fifa in the 1990s. And the English Football Association accused him of improper conduct during bidding for the 2018 World Cup. He has denied all the allegations and has never been convicted.

Summary: The head of Brazil's football federation, Ricardo Teixeira, has stepped down from his post, days after taking sick leave.