Amar Mehraj, 29, was one of four men who gang raped a 17-year-old girl while she was unconscious in July 2009 in Oldbury, West Midlands. He then left the country but was caught at Birmingham Airport in November. Police said Mehraj had been jailed for nine years and nine months after admitting taking part in the attack. Three other men were jailed in 2010. Det Con Mark Timmins of West Midlands Police said: "This was a sickening crime against a vulnerable young girl, who was plied with alcohol and drugs before being sexually abused. "Protecting young people from harm is a priority for West Midlands Police and partner agencies and we take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously. "This case just goes to show that we will never give up on bringing offenders to justice. "Thankfully, justice has finally caught up with Mehraj." Mehraj, of Giles Road, Oldbury, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, having admitted his role in the attack at an earlier hearing.

Summary: A man who fled to Pakistan after raping a teenage girl has been jailed after he was caught trying to return to the UK.


The award for Age Concern Jersey is the highest given to voluntary groups by the Queen. The charity, which supports the elderly and campaigns on their behalf, said it was "absolutely thrilled" volunteers had been recognised "by the most prestigious award". It will receive the accolade at the Queen's birthday reception at Government House later this month. Daphne Minihane, from the charity, said: "We couldn't manage without our volunteers. "Not just the present ones, but the ones who have been with us since we started 26 years ago. They've all been fantastic. "It is indeed a great honour." The charity has dozens of volunteers helping in its charity shop, as well as drivers delivering meals to elderly people.

Summary: A charity has won a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in Jersey.


Nearly one-third of voters backed the anti-immigration FN, which won in six out of France's 13 regions. Despite the FN surge, a second round on 13 December will be the decider. It was the first electoral test since last month's Paris attacks, in which jihadist gunmen killed 130 people. The nationalist FN got about 28%, ahead of the centre-right Republicans party led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, which polled just under 27%, and the governing Socialist Party (PS), trailing with 23.5%. The PS said it was withdrawing from the second round in two regions, in the north and south, to try to block a run-off victory for the FN. On Twitter, Marine Le Pen said both the PS and Republicans "are crumbling" and "the French people are sick and tired of that old political world". French press sees traditional parties in meltdown Has France's National Front changed? The far right's charm offensive In a series of interviews she condemned the PS for withdrawing some candidates from the second round, saying the PS was "neither loyal nor democratic" and was "treating its voters like ballot fodder". The PS candidate in a third region, Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine in eastern France, rejected a call from party leader Jean-Christophe Cambadelis to withdraw in the second round. Jean-Pierre Masseret said he could not be expected to leave 5.5 million people in the hands of a Republican party that had veered to the extreme or an extreme nationalist right. Mr Sarkozy refused to do any tactical deals with the PS for the second-round ballot. The result on Sunday was a major blow for Socialist President Francois Hollande, who had seen improved poll ratings after the Paris attacks. France's new regional authorities have wide powers over local transport, education and economic development. The vote is also an important test of FN support ahead of the 2017 presidential election. There is a surly anti-establishment mood in France, of which the National Front- a quintessential anti-establishment party - is taking full advantage. Of course triumph for the FN will not necessarily translate into power. The regional elections (like most French elections) are in two rounds. Next Sunday, voters may rally around the two main parties. But in two regions - the north and on the Cote d'Azur - the National Front has smashed the opposition. In a third - Alsace - its chances are very strong. Others are not beyond reach. Read more from Hugh Marine Le Pen has distanced the FN from her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded it and has been prosecuted for anti-Semitism. She argues that France cannot take in more Muslim immigrants. Widespread anxiety about immigration and the fear of further terrorist attacks are believed to have boosted the FN's support. Marine Le Pen stood in Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie, an economically depressed northern region that used to be a Socialist stronghold. Her niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen stood in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur in the south. Both won more than 40% of the vote, breaking previous records for the party. Marine Le Pen called it a "magnificent result" which proved the FN was

Summary: The triumphant leader of the far-right National Front (FN), Marine Le Pen, says French voters rejected the "old political class" in regional elections that put her party top.


The young sparrowhawk - nicknamed Jack - had spent three days among pipes and beams of the ceiling Monkton Stadium. Staff dragged soft toys along the floor to imitate live prey, then brought in a Harris hawk to frighten it outside. Eventually paper was hung from the ceiling which encouraged it to fly lower down, and it was caught in a net. The bird then flew off into nearby woodland unharmed.

Summary: Soft toys, paper and a hawk were used in a bid to lure a bird of prey which had taken up temporary residence in a South Tyneside sports hall.


The fire in Barn End Lane, Wilmington, was reported at about 07:40 BST, Kent Fire and Rescue Service said. At its peak, eight fire crews tackled the blaze in one of the flats, which spread smoke to neighbouring flats. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Eight people were taken to hospital after the fire, South East Coast Ambulance (Secamb) said. Secamb earlier said nine people were taken to hospital but has since revised its figure. The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance and nine ambulances were called to the scene. For a time, Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford asked patients not to attend its accident and emergency department, saying the hospital was dealing with a "major incident". The Darent Valley later tweeted: "The hospital has been stood down and normal service has resumed in the A&E Department."

Summary: A man in his 70s has died in a fire at a flat in a sheltered housing block.


The rescue means that nine people have been recovered alive from the Rigopiano hotel in the eastern Abruzzo region. At least 15 people are still missing after the avalanche that came after several earthquakes and heavy snowfall. While one more survivor has yet to be rescued, Italian media said other voices may have been heard in the ruins during the night. Five people have been confirmed dead. The first five survivors were taken to safety on Friday, some 40 hours after the avalanche hit on Wednesday. They had reportedly taken refuge beneath a collapsed portion of ceiling, where they were able to light a fire to keep warm for two days. The rescue has been hampered by deep snow blocking an access road. There are also concerns that further avalanches could follow, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported. The first person pulled out on Friday was an eight-year-old boy, the son of a holidaymaker, Giampiero Parete, who had gone to his car when the avalanche struck and first sounded the alarm by calling his boss. The boy's mother, Adriana, was pulled out next, telling rescue workers her six-year-old daughter was still trapped inside. The little girl was also later saved and the family was reunited at a hospital in the coastal town of Pescara. Hospital officials told the Associated Press news agency they had symptoms of hypothermia and dehydration, but were otherwise in good health. Reports said all four children who survived did so because they were all playing in the same games room, that avoided the worst of the damage. The latest rescues, of two men and two women, took place at about 03:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Saturday. Wednesday's earthquakes included four stronger than magnitude 5, in a region already struggling with heavy snowfall that buried phone lines and took out power cables. Many of the guests had gathered on the ground floor of the hotel to await evacuation following the earthquakes. But the avalanche completely buried the hotel at about 17:00 (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday. The force of the snow partially brought down the roof and, according to some reports, shifted the building 10m (32 feet) off its foundations. Rescuers, who were forced to ski and shovel their way towards the site of the avalanche, were reportedly only dispatched hours later. Rescuers are unsure of the exact total of people - guests and staff - who were at the hotel, but say it could be as many as 35. Italy has seen a wave of damaging earthquakes in recent months. The Apennines region saw three magnitude-6 tremors between August and October. It is believed that the geological stress is spread across a number of fault lines in Italy's mountain ranges - with recent earthquakes as the result.

Summary: Four more people were rescued overnight from a hotel in Italy destroyed by an avalanche three days ago.


Researchers from the Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary have found that dogs can recognise certain words and even tell the difference between how the words are being said. They found that the animals can tell if the words are positive like or negative and can understand the tone of voice used to say them. They trained a group of dogs to lie really still in an MRI scanner, which is a bit like an x-ray for your brain. It told scientists how the dog reacted to different things by measuring which part of their brain was used in response the test. The scientists played the dogs recordings of words said in a happy or a normal tone of voice to see how they would react. By looking at the MRI scans the scientists found that the dogs recognised certain words, and could tell the difference between how the words were being said, in the same way that humans do. When the dog was played a recording of a positive message said in a happy voice the scans showed the dogs processed that information in the part of the brain that deals with rewards and happy feelings. One of the researchers Attila Andics explained that: "This shows… that dogs not only separate what we say from how we say it, but also that they can combine the two for a correct interpretation of what those words really meant."

Summary: Ever wondered if your dog can REALLY understand what you are saying?


Last month Cornwall Council's Independent-Lib Dem cabinet voted to go ahead with the bid for Truro to secure the title in 2023. At the time the city's mayor said he had not been consulted about the plans. The decision will now face further scrutiny after Conservative councillors complained. More on the culture bid and other stories from Cornwall They claimed Truro started working on the bid too late and other interested cities, including Leeds and Milton Keynes, had been putting together detailed plans for several years. "We've been told for four years we've got no money, we're a 'no-money council' and you suddenly produce more than £500,000 for a bid to become the European Capital of Culture," said councillor Fiona Ferguson. "I think it's entirely unrealistic to spend money on this sort of thing. It's a vanity project." She claimed Brexit also meant any money invested in the project could be wasted, as the UK may no longer even be eligible to take part. However, in the past three non-EU cities have held the title, Istanbul in 2010, Stavanger in Norway in 2008 and Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2000. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which launched the contest in December, said it was continuing under the assumption a UK city will host the event in 2023. Cornwall Council said the cabinet's decision was being called in on the grounds that there was "inadequate consultation with stakeholders prior to the decision being made" and that there was not sufficient evidence "on which to base a decision".

Summary: A £500,000 bid for Truro to become European Capital of Culture has stalled amid claims it is a poorly-considered "vanity project".


6 October 2015 Last updated at 08:13 BST The nine-day event will host more than 500 balloons, representing 20 different countries. Thousands of visitors are expected to enjoy the spectacular sights.

Summary: The 44th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is under way in the US.


Molloy has made 40 appearances for the Wildcats since joining from Huddersfield in April 2013. Meanwhile, centre Bill Tupou will also miss Saturday's Challenge Cup semi-final at Warrington after suffering a minor tear in his hamstring. "The injuries are a loss but we've got depth in the squad," head coach Chris Chester told BBC Radio Leeds.

Summary: Wakefield Wildcats second-row forward Jon Molloy will be out for four weeks after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.


The TUC said its research showed top executives receive a year's worth of the minimum wage in just one day. It said the average FTSE 100 boss was paid 123 times the average full-time salary, and called for "reality in boardrooms". A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said she had highlighted action was needed on executive pay. The TUC research indicated the median pay award, discounting pensions, of a major FTSE 100 director soared by 47% in the five years to 2015, to Â£3.4m. That compares with what the union body says was a 7% increase for average wages during the same time frame. It took Sir Martin Sorrell of advertising giant WPP, the UK's highest paid chief executive, less than 45 minutes to earn what an average worker receives in a year, the TUC added. "We're seeing a growing disconnect between Britain's boardrooms and shop floors when it comes to pay," the TUC's Deputy General Secretary, Paul Nowak, told the BBC. Speaking ahead of the TUC annual conference in Brighton he added: "Over the last five years, Britain's bosses have seen their pay rise by nearly 50%. "And at the same time, ordinary working people have seen real terms pay freezes, and we think that's unfair, it's not right, and it's not sustainable in the long term for the health of the economy." Meanwhile, the TUC's general secretary Frances O'Grady, called on the prime minister to "deliver on her promise to put workers on company boards". She added: "This would inject a much-needed dose of reality into boardrooms and help put the brakes on the multimillion pay packages that have damaged the reputation of corporate Britain." As well as promising to put workers on boards, Theresa May has proposed making shareholder votes on executive pay binding, rather than advisory. The prime minister has also said she wants more transparency about bonus targets and for companies to reveal the ratio between chief executive pay and that of its average worker. In a speech to the G20 group of major economic nations last week, she said: "To restore greater fairness, we will bring forward a consultation this autumn on measures to tackle corporate irresponsibility, cracking down on excessive corporate pay and poor corporate governance, and giving employees and customers representation on company boards." Professor Andre Spicer, from the Cass Business School which is part of City, University of London, says some firms are already coming under pressure to curb high managers' pay. He told the BBC: "We're beginning to see disquiet amongst investors at the moment so there's been pushback amongst big executive pay deals at places like Deutsche Bank, Burberry and a number of organisations. "So investors are beginning to become fed up with this. It's likely that we're beginning to see questioning of this widespread practice, that CEOs need to be paid a lot to perform well."

Summary: The pay of directors' at FTSE 100 firms has reached "stratospheric" levels, according to a trade union body.


In the first, a Citation jet with two people on board was involved in an alert at about 13:15. It landed safely. Shortly afterwards at 13:54 police and fire crews were called back to the airport after the pilot of a small plane reported an engine problem. Police said the pilot was able to resolve the problem and had flown to Kinloss or Lossiemouth in Moray. Inverness Airport said the crew of the Citation jet had reported a technical fault as it approached. However, it landed safely and taxied to the stand as normal. "As a precaution, and in line with standard procedures, the airport fire service and other emergency service personnel were called to the scene but were not required," added the airport. The incidents come days after a full emergency was declared at the airport after an aircraft reported a bird strike after taking off. The mail flight from Inverness to Stornoway was forced to turn back after the incident last Friday morning. The Loganair aircraft, with a pilot and co-pilot on board, landed safely a short time later.

Summary: A private jet and another small aircraft have sparked two separate full emergencies at Inverness Airport.


But, after her, who are the world's other longest-reigning monarchs? King Bhumibol's death means that in addition to Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, Elizabeth II can add "world's longest-reigning living monarch" to her long list of titles. Elizabeth became Queen on 6 February 1952 on the death of her father King George VI. She was 25 at the time and on tour in Kenya with her husband Prince Philip. She was crowned the following year, on 2 June 1953. The Queen became the UK's longest-serving monarch on 9 September 2015, surpassing the 63 years, seven months and two day-long reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. Elizabeth II has been married to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for 69 years, 64 of which she has been Queen. Her son, Prince Charles, is the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. At the beginning of both her reign, and that of the late Thai king, Joseph Stalin was leader of the Soviet Union and Harry Truman was the United States president. United Kingdom country profile One of the world's richest men is the next longest-reigning royal and he heads one of the world's few absolute monarchies. Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, came to the throne on 4 October 1967 following the abdication of his father, Sir Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin. He presides over the tiny state, which is surrounded by the state of Sarawak in Malaysia and abutting the South China Sea. It has one of the world's highest standards of living thanks to rich oil and gas reserves. The royal family possesses a huge private fortune and its subjects pay no taxes. As well as being the Sultan, Bolkiah is the prime minister; heads the defence and finance ministries; is a general in the armed forces; an honorary admiral in the Royal Navy; and a police inspector general. He lives in the biggest palace in the world, the Istana Nurul Iman, which has 1,788 rooms. Brunei country profile Affectionately known to her country as Daisy, Queen Margrethe II is Denmark's first queen and its second longest-reigning monarch since King Christian IV (12 April 1577 - 28 February 1648). Margrethe's father King Frederick IX and his wife, Ingrid of Sweden, had a family of three girls and they enjoyed much popular support. In 1953, following a referendum, a new act of succession was passed to allow a woman to ascend the throne. She became Queen when her father died on 14 January 1972. A heavy smoker, an artist, and now aged 76, she largely retains Denmark's affections. In 2012, she marked her 40th Jubilee as Queen Elizabeth II marked her Diamond Jubilee. Queen Margrethe said she had no intention of standing down to allow her son Crown Prince Frederik to take over, as "you are handed your job as the old king or queen dies". She said she was inspired at her own proclamation by Queen Elizabeth's statement on her coronation 19 years earlier that she would dedicate herself to serve the nation. Although she is the first Queen of Denmark,

Summary: The death of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej means Queen Elizabeth II of Britain and the Commonwealth Realms becomes the world's longest-reigning monarch.


The annual hand ba' game took place in Jedburgh on Thursday - one of a number of Scottish Borders towns to stage such events on their streets.

Summary: All images by Dougie Johnston.


Marice Hall, Karen McGee and Lesley Leake work at a Kinsley primary school near Wakefield. They said pay had been cut since it became an academy. After the contract moved from Wakefield Council to private company C&D Cleaning pensions, holiday and sick pay had also been cut, they said. C&D said it was seeking to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. About 100 people marched in Barnsley, where C&D is based, from the Town Hall to the town centre. The three women have been on strike since the beginning of September, with the union Unison taking the employer to an employment tribunal. Lesley Leake said: "We had just had enough, we were sick of going home and crying to our partners. "It has been scary, but we have just got to go to the end and see how it turns out." Marice Hall said: "We love our little job and we just want to carry on with our normal lives and go back to work." Robin Symonds, regional organiser for Unison, said: "It's probably the worst example that I've ever seen, and I've seen some pretty bad examples of low-paid workers who have had their jobs outsourced being thrown to the wolves by greedy employers". In a statement, a spokesperson for C&D said: "C&D were not provided with crucial information at the point of transfer of the three employees. "We will not conduct a public discussion over the issues, as they are and will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. "C&D is actively seeking, as it has all along, to resolve this matter as quickly as possible."

Summary: A march has taken place backing three striking cleaners who say their wages and employment benefits have been cut.


Luther Burrell replaces Farrell at inside centre, while Marland Yarde is picked on the wing ahead of Jack Nowell, who is named as a replacement. Ex-captain Chris Robshaw is back on the blind-side after missing the Wales win. Coach Eddie Jones has opted to start with the same pack which began the final Six Nations game against France. England secured the Grand Slam with a 31-21 victory in Paris, but they have never won a Test series in Australia, winning just three of 17 Tests down under. "It's important we get off to a positive start and we'll arrive ready to play physical and aggressive rugby," said Jones. "We have a young squad with an average age of 24, so we are still developing and improving. It'll be a great challenge for us." Captain Dylan Hartley was more bullish, however. "If we don't expect to win, I don't see the point in even boarding the plane," the 30-year-old told BBC Sport. "We expect to win, we believe we can win, we are here to win." England fly-half Ford, 23, missed six out of seven kicks at goal during the 27-13 warm-up victory over Wales. That performance, combined with Farrell's brilliant form for title-winning Saracens, seems to have influenced the coach's decision. There had been suggestions Maro Itoje might move from lock to blind-side flanker in place of Robshaw, who missed the Wales game to attend his brother's wedding, with Joe Launchbury coming into the second row. Media playback is not supported on this device However, Wasps lock Launchbury - man of the match against Wales - has to settle for a place on the bench alongside Northampton second row Courtney Lawes. Alex Goode, the newly-crowned Aviva Premiership player of the season, has been left out of the 23, while full-back Mike Brown is poised to win his 50th cap. Australia have named three debutants - centre Samu Kerevi, lock Rory Arnold and winger Dane Haylett-Petty - as they bulk up their side. BBC Radio 5 live rugby reporter Chris Jones: Jones has long-spoken about the first Test as a physical battle - and the selection of Burrell in the midfield certainly supports that view. With Jones keen for a ball carrier at number 12, Ford was always likely to be the one to make way, especially with Farrell in the form of his career. Nowell's relegation to the bench is a shock, though. Jones says the Exeter man is "not quite sharp" while Yarde is "in a purple patch". With two locks on the bench - Launchbury and Lawes - Itoje is likely to move to the flank in the second half. It may be a three-Test series, but the message from the England camp here in Brisbane is that Saturday's game is a "must-win". England: 15. Mike Brown; 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Luther Burrell, 11. Marland Yarde; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Dylan Hartley, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Kruis, 6. Chris Robshaw, 7. James Haskell, 8. Billy Vunipola. Replacements:

Summary: Owen Farrell will start at fly-half for England in Saturday's first Test against Australia in Brisbane with George Ford dropping to the bench.


Planned work at Saltdean Lido was halted last month after it was found an old substation had been removed. Campaigners asked Brighton council to lend them £70,000 for a new one but the council said it would lend £10,000. Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company (CIC) had wanted to avoid fundraising delays to the work, but is now selling bricks for a Wall of Fame. People can pay to adopt bricks which will feature their message or name on the wall to be built early next year. Spokeswoman Bridget Fishleigh said the old substation had mysteriously vanished and no-one could account for its disappearance. She said campaigners could find no photographs to prove it was ever there but they did find cables. They have said the lido will remain a building site until money is found. The CIC has raised £2.8m in grants and is working on a £4.8m lottery bid but Ms Fishleigh said allocated funds could not be reallocated under grant procedures. "We're reaching out to our supporters to help us with this because without power we wouldn't be able to test the pool and we certainly wouldn't be able to run it," she said. The Wall of Fame will have 2,500 bricks and campaigners are urging people to buy them as Christmas presents.

Summary: A fundraising campaign has begun to try to revive plans to restore a Grade II* listed lido.


Col Israel Shomer fired at Mohammed Kasbeh after the 17-year-old threw a stone at his vehicle in the West Bank. Israel's military said at the time that Col Shomer felt his life was in danger. But the video released by B'Tselem appears to show the teenager running away after attacking the vehicle. Soldiers then jump out and pursue him. B'Tselem also said medical evidence suggested that he was shot in the back. The Israeli military has not commented on the video, but the Times of Israel reported that Col Shomer had been interviewed under caution by military police investigating the shooting following its release. The incident took place on 3 July at the Qalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, the scene of frequent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops. A vehicle carrying Col Shomer, commander of the army's Binyamin Brigade, was hit by stones thrown by a group of youths, shattering its windshield. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said at the time that the colonel got out of the vehicle and ordered the stone-throwers to stop, firing a warning shot into the air. When the attack continued, he opened fire at the main perpetrator, it added. The IDF stressed that Col Shomer believed he was in "imminent mortal danger" and several members of the government praised his actions. But witnesses cast doubt on the commander's account. Ahmed Taher, 17, who was throwing rocks beside Kasbeh, told the Washington Post after his funeral: "We were running away." Fahdi Ziad, who works at a nearby petrol station, told the Guardian that three Israeli soldiers - two wearing a helmet, and one without one - chased after the teenagers and opened fire. Mr Ziad said Kasbeh was about 10-15m (33-49ft) from the soldiers when he was shot. "After he fell on the ground the soldier without the helmet went and checked him and kicked him," he added. Palestinian doctors also said the teenager was shot in the back and the side of the head. On Monday, B'Tselem released video footage recorded by a security camera at the petrol station showing the moments before the shooting. It shows a person believed to be Kasbeh running at the Israeli army vehicle as it passes by and throwing a stone. He then runs away as the car then brakes suddenly and at least two soldiers get out, brandishing weapons. In a statement, B'Tselem said the footage showed Col Shomer's claim of self-defence was "unreasonable". "There is no doubt that the shattering of the jeep's front window with a stone endangered the passengers when it happened. However, Kasbeh was shot in the back after the fact, when he was already running away and posing no 'mortal threat' to the soldiers. Feeling a sense of danger is not enough to justify any action." The rights group also noted that the video contradicted the IDF's claim that Col Shomer had carried out "suspect-arrest procedure". "Military open-fire regulations permit shooting at the legs of a suspect in order to facilitate his arrest. They do not permit killing him by firing three

Summary: An Israeli human rights group has published a video it says contradicts the account of an Israeli army officer who shot dead a Palestinian teenager.


The Irish government suggested the formation of the group last week. But on Monday, DUP leader Arlene Foster said she had not been consulted over it and it appeared it would not go ahead. But Mr McGuinness has said he does not think "anybody should have a veto on a good idea". The Irish government government said it proposed the forum to enable groups to work on areas of mutual interest, such as trade, investment and health. The UK's decision to leave the EU dominated a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council on Monday attended by Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness. Mrs Foster said the forum was not on the agenda. Instead, she said existing cross-border bodies would be used to work out the implications on the island of Ireland of a UK withdrawal from the EU. On Tuesday, Mr McGuinness said indications from "very senior civil servants within the [Irish] government" were that Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny would go ahead with the plan. "I spoke to the taoiseach before the meeting of the North South Ministerial Council - he wasn't putting it as an item on the agenda but he stated very clearly to me that he still believed that it would be a very useful thing to do," he said. "I wouldn't be too exercised about the fact that there will be political elements who wouldn't be interested in attending. "The DUP will undoubtedly through different methodologies have their say in relation to all of it." He said he believed the idea of a forum would "get widespread support from most within the political process". Government ministers from Northern Ireland and the Republic drew up a list on Monday of priority areas they intend to work on to limit any potential damage of Brexit. Among the points was an agreement to conduct a "full audit" to "identify the possible impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies" that the island could face. And the two finance ministers will "consider the issue of securing" further funding for regional development from the EU.

Summary: A proposed cross-border forum on all-Ireland issues in the wake of the UK's decision to leave the EU could go ahead despite not having DUP support, Martin McGuinness says.


LeRoy, 68, has replaced Tom Saintfiet, with Togo struggling in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and the country's domestic football in a poor state. He said: "I know it will be difficult; we have only a small chance to qualify for the next Nations Cup and Togo also needs to work on local football. "But I'm happy, I like this challenge." The task appealed to LeRoy to the extent that he ended talks with Tunisia, Algeria and Nigeria over their vacant coaching positions and agreed a three-year contract with Togo after "only a few hours' negotiation" - but only after Saintfiet's departure had been confirmed. "I told them I did not want to discuss the situation before they had an agreement with Saintfiet," LeRoy revealed. "It is always a pity when a coach leaves his job." Togo are third in their Nations Cup qualification group with two games to play and only the winners are guaranteed a place at next year's finals in Gabon. LeRoy feels the best Togo can hope for is to take one of the two places given to the best group runners-up - and the Frenchman knows he must convince talismanic striker Emmanuel Adebayor to commit to the cause. "The key players help the team to get results and win big competitions. I like characters, I like difficult players and I have had a lot of them in my career - starting from Roger Milla (when LeRoy was coach of Cameroon). "But these players I had were also the first ones at training and the last to leave. They worked hard and were at the disposal of the team. "Emmanuel has the potential to be one of the top five strikers in the world; he is powerful, fast, technically at the top level and when he is physically at his best it is very difficult to stop him. "But I want to tell him that nothing is more important then the team, including the coach." Adebayor came out of a self-imposed international exile to play in the 0-0 draw with Tunisia in last month's Nations Cup qualifier. It was his first game since June 2015 and the striker, who is currently with English Premier League side Crystal Palace, has long had a difficult relationship with the Togo Football Association as well as nations team coaches, including LeRoy's predecessor Saintfiet. And following his return to the Togo set-up there have been reports that Adebayor is already unhappy again. "I need to have a big chat with him," added LeRoy. "I like him and I was also very close with him even though I have not been his coach. We have a important Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia in June. "I don't like the term 'star player' because when you see a star in the sky it is completely dark around it. I prefer a player to be like the sun, shining light on all the people around them. Star players belong in individual sport, not in football. I will try to explain this to him." While the immediate

Summary: New Togo coach Claude LeRoy has told BBC Sport he is aware he faces a tough job but took it because he wants to revitalise football in the country.


European football's governing body introduced FFP 'break-even' rules in 2013, requiring clubs to balance their spending with their revenue. PSG more than doubled the world record transfer fee when they spent 222m euros (£200m) to sign Neymar last month. They have signed Kylian Mbappe on loan, and could pay £165.7m for him in 2018. PSG have been owned by the Gulf state of Qatar, via its Qatar Sports Investments fund, since 2011. The French club made made a profit of 10m euros (£9.2m) on revenue of 520.9m euros (£389.6m at the time of conversion) in the 2015-16 financial year, according to the most recent figures published by Deloitte. The six-time French champions have failed to meet FFP rules before - receiving a fine, a spending cap and only being allowed to register 21 players for the Champions League in 2014. Uefa's FFP regulations were approved in 2010 and the first assessments began the following year. The 'break-even' element states clubs can spend 30m euros more than they earn over a three-year period. A Uefa statement said the investigation into PSG would "focus on the compliance of the club with the break-even requirement, particularly in light of its recent transfer activity". It added: "In the coming months, the investigatory chamber of the Uefa club financial control body will regularly meet in order to carefully evaluate all documentation pertaining to this case. "Uefa considers financial fair play to be a crucial governance mechanism which aims to ensure the financial sustainability of European club football."

Summary: Uefa has opened a formal investigation into Paris St-Germain as part of its "ongoing monitoring" of clubs under financial fair play (FFP) regulations.


Bertrand Denarie worked at hospitals in Bristol, Salford and Gateshead from 2013 until early 2015. An investigation by North Bristol NHS Trust found mistakes in 106 cases, including two that led to a delayed diagnosis of cancer. An NHS spokesman said "immediate action" was being taken, with patients "now receiving appropriate care". The results were all follow-up examinations where initial cervical screening tests had shown abnormal results and were collected in colposcopy clinics. The trust said it had contacted all the patients involved. A "final letter" with the findings of the investigation would be sent out to those involved soon. "We are aware that errors may have occurred in relation to the laboratory testing of cervical biopsies at four trusts," the NHS added. "These were discovered as a result of routine audit and are being investigated by the trusts concerned and NHS England, with the support of Public Health England." Of the 106 mistakes found in the Bristol cases, 87 of those led to "no harm" with 11 needing extra testing and two having delays in cancer diagnosis. Dr Denarie worked in Bristol at Southmead Hospital in two periods in from January to April 2014 and then later that year from May to July. He also reviewed cases from St Michaels Hospital in Bristol during those periods. Before Bristol, he worked at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead for nine months in 2013 and worked at Salford Royal Hospital for about four months at the end of 2014. A spokesman for NHS England said investigations at these two hospitals were at a much earlier stage. Salford Royal Hospital said it had identified three errors with the pathologist's cervical biopsy work, which "had the potential to lead to minor harm for the patients concerned". "We've been in contact with those three patients to apologise, explain the outcome of our review and discuss any changes we need to make to their treatment plan," said Dr Pete Turkington, medical director for standards and performance. "It's important for me to emphasise that we are confident no patient has experienced significant harm. However, we apologise unreservedly for any stress or inconvenience that this has caused." The General Medical Council confirmed they were investigating Dr Denarie and that a number of conditions had been placed on his licence. One of those specified he "must not report on any cervical biopsy specimens".

Summary: A pathologist is under investigation after a series of mistakes were made in cervical tests.


Tourists may have caught a glimpse of the future monarch in uniform riding his horse Wellesley in The Mall. As Colonel of the Irish Guards, Prince William inspected the troops ahead of the parade on 17 June. More than 6,000 spectators watched the inspection in Horse Guards Parade. There were more than 200 military horses on parade and 400 musicians. Trooping the Colour has commemorated the birthday of the sovereign for more than 250 years. It also functions as a display of army drills, music and horsemanship. The Duke of Cambridge became the Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011. The last time the battalion trooped the colour in front of the Queen was in 2009.

Summary: The Duke of Cambridge has taken part in the military rehearsal for the Queen's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, for the first time.


Pamela Shimwell-Mayo, receives an MBE for services to Parkinson's and said she was "incredibly emotional". Financial expert Tim Cullen, 70, also receives an MBE for services to International Financial Management. Meanwhile, Judy Arnold, 67, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Cruse Bereavement Care. Mrs Shimwell-Mayo, whose late husband suffered with the disease for 30 years, has campaigned to raise awareness since 1989. The Isle of Man Parkinson's Disease Society Chairman said: "I am in shock. My husband Derek and my mother would have been so proud. "I can't wait to tell my daughters the news." Mr Cullen conceived and established the Small Countries' Financial Management Centre (SCFMC) in 2009. The initiative helps equip government officials from smaller developing countries with skills in financial regulation, public sector management, leadership and negotiation. The 70-year-old, who spent 21 years with the World Bank, said: "It has been enormously satisfying and we have achieved remarkable things on a shoestring budget. "I am absolutely delighted to be honoured, this programme has made a real difference." Since its formation the SCFMC has helped more than 100 people from about 30 countries. Mrs Arnold founded Cruse Bereavement Care in a friend's front room and has gone on to help hundreds of people. She said: "It is wonderful and completely out of the blue. This is testament to the organisation itself and all the people we have helped."

Summary: A founder member of the Isle of Man's Parkinson's Disease Society is one of three Manx residents recognised in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours list.


One pilot died and another jumped clear as the helicopter crashed during an aerobatic display by the elite Berkut squadron in the Ryazan region, about 170km (105 miles) south-east of Moscow. The Russian military has blamed the crash on a hydraulics failure. There have been six other Russian air force crashes in recent weeks. The two-seat gunship was performing stunts and firing flares with three other helicopters. It then began to spin rapidly, before falling to the ground and bursting into flames. Its pilot Lt Col Igor Butenko was killed. His son told Russian media that the accident was not due to pilot error. "There are situations when it's impossible to survive no matter how well-trained the pilot is," he told Lifenews. The Russian defence ministry says the condition of the other pilot's condition is "satisfactory". There were no injuries to spectators at the air show. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash, although the surviving pilot has said that a hydraulic failure was the cause. The country's fleet of Mi-28s will remain grounded until the investigation is completed. The Mi-28 is an attack helicopter widely used in Russia, as well as countries such as Iraq and Kenya. At least five people have been killed in recent military aviation crashes. In the past few years, the air force has received hundreds of new helicopter and planes as part of a programme to modernise and reequip Russia's military.

Summary: The Russian defence ministry has grounded its fleet of Mi-28 attack helicopters after a fatal accident at an air show on Sunday.


Robbie Benson lit up an uneventful first half with a stunning sweetly-struck right-foot volley into the top corner from the edge of the area. The hosts had Adam Hlousek sent-off for a second yellow card on 67 minutes. Michal Kucharczyk equalised with a composed solo effort in added time. Dundalk will go into the Europa League group stages, emulating the achievement of fellow League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers in 2011. The draw will be made on Friday. Legia Warsaw will await the outcome of the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday after becoming the first club from Poland to reach the group stages for 20 years. The visitors, who secured a league and cup double in Ireland last season, had qualified for the qualifying play-off by defeating Belarusian champions Bate Borisov 3-1 in the previous round, aided by a memorable 3-0 second-leg victory. Dundalk boasts a population of just 39,000 and the club went into the second leg of their tie at the Polish Army Stadium having already banked more than £4m for their European exploits, with more set to come as their European adventure continues. Dundalk's chances of progression appeared to be slim after their 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Polish champions in Dublin last week, but Benson's magnificent first-half strike was just reward for Stephen Kenny's side's efforts in the opening half. Benson had come into the side to replace suspended captain Stephen O'Donnell and his perfectly executed goal was his fourth of the season and his second in the competition. Benson went close to grabbing a second in the 63rd minute but his overhead bicycle kick, after David McMillan headed into his path, flew over the bar. Hlousek received his second booking four minutes later for hauling down Ronan Finn but Dundalk were unable to take advantage of the extra man. Kucharczyk's thunderous late strike on the break extinguished the Irish side's hopes and exploited the gaps in their defence as they pushed forward in search of the goal that would have taken the game to extra-time. Match ends, Legia Warsaw 1, Dundalk 1. Second Half ends, Legia Warsaw 1, Dundalk 1. Lukasz Broz (Legia Warsaw) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Daryl Horgan (Dundalk). Foul by Guilherme (Legia Warsaw). Dane Massey (Dundalk) wins a free kick on the left wing. Substitution, Legia Warsaw. Aleksandar Prijovic replaces Thibault Moulin. Michal Kucharczyk (Legia Warsaw) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration. Goal! Legia Warsaw 1, Dundalk 1. Michal Kucharczyk (Legia Warsaw) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe following a fast break. Michal Kucharczyk (Legia Warsaw) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Patrick Barrett (Dundalk). Offside, Legia Warsaw. Guilherme tries a through ball, but Thibault Moulin is caught offside. Attempt saved. Guilherme (Legia Warsaw) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Michal Kucharczyk. Substitution, Dundalk. Michael O'Connor replaces Patrick McEleney. Delay over. They are ready

Summary: Dundalk's attempt to become the first Irish side to make the Champions League group stages fell just short as they lost 3-1 to Legia Warsaw on aggregate after a creditable 1-1 draw in Poland.


Nadal faced a match point but the 18-year-old German missed an easy volley - admitting: "On match point I sucked." Three-time champion Nadal plays Japan's Kei Nishikori next and could face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. Serena Williams beat defending champion Simona Halep 6-4 6-3 to reach the last four in the women's draw. The world number one now plays Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 7-6 and will reclaim the world number two ranking when the new list is released on Monday. "She knows how to play in big stadiums and big matches, big games," Williams said of Halep. Zverev has been widely tipped as the teenager most likely to make the breakthrough among the game's elite and he went agonisingly close to a landmark win over Nadal. The 6ft 6in German, the younger brother of tour player Mischa Zverev, led 5-3 and 40-30 in the final set, only to make three straight unforced errors. Nadal, 29, battled back impressively, but had glowing praise for the teenager, who is set to rise to a career-high ranking of 52 next week. "He is amazingly talented," said Nadal. "He is probably going to be the number one in the world. "With his second serve at 120mph, with a lot of spin and at 124, 123, 120mph, it was impossible. If he puts the first serve in at over 130 mph then you are in big trouble. "So I think that I'm here, and still alive." The world number one beat Spain's Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-3 to set up a quarter-final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. Djokovic had not been at his best in the previous rounds but saw off Lopez with little trouble. "I was very solid. I didn't allow him to come to the net too many times," said the Serb. "It was a good performance." David Goffin beat French Open champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5), while Milos Raonic knocked out sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 7-6 (9-7). In the doubles, Jamie Murray will rise to the top of the world rankings if he wins his quarter-final later on Thursday. Murray and partner Bruno Soares face Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez from 22:00 GMT.

Summary: Rafael Nadal reached the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells after winning the last five games to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 6-0 7-5.


No suspicious packages were found and passengers were being allowed back in the terminal buildings. Earlier, flights were on hold after the airport received a "very specific threat" by phone at 14:00 (19:00 GMT). Local news channel KENS 5 reported that one flight was diverted, three cancelled, and 28 delayed. As the airport was reopened, officials warned there was heavy road traffic in the surrounding area. While the airport was closed local news sources reported that dogs trained to detect bombs raised suspicions over three cars in an airport car park, indicating there could be explosives inside. Airport officials confirmed that all three cars were eventually cleared. Meanwhile, passengers were herded onto the runways, away from the airport buildings, before they were taken to a nearby high school while the search was under way. About 2,000 passengers were cleared out of the airport during the evacuation, Fire Department spokeswoman Deborah Foster told the Associated Press. The incident was brought to officials' attention at about 14:00, and the airport tweeted confirmation that it was evacuating the terminal buildings at 14:35. San Antonio International Airport handles about 260 flights, carrying between 14,000 and 15,000 passengers each day, airport spokesman Rich Johnson said. The spokesman said incoming planes landed they were directed away from the airport buildings. Other planes were also asked to wait on runways, the spokesman said.

Summary: The international airport in San Antonio, Texas, has reopened several hours after it evacuated passengers and searched for an alleged bomb threat.


It's all about #TheDress and whether it's blue and black (#blueandblack) or white and gold (#whiteandgold). The whole debate started when Scottish singer Caitlin McNeill posted a picture of a dress on her Tumblr blog. She asked her followers: "Guys please help me - is this dress white and gold, or blue and black? Me and my friends can't agree and we are freaking... out." Caitlin told Newsbeat that it all started when her friend's mum wore the dress at a wedding. "Two of my very good friends were getting married and they has asked me to put together a band to come and play at the wedding," she says. "This was a wedding on the tiny island that we come from on the west coast of Scotland called Colonsay and about 100 people were there. "A week beforehand the bride had been sent by her mother a picture of the dress she was going to wear and when the bride showed her fiance, they disagreed about what colour it was. "She was like, 'It's white and gold' and he said, 'It's blue and black'. "So they posted it on Facebook to try and see what their friends were saying but that caused carnage on Facebook. "We forgot about it until we saw it at the wedding which the mother of the bride was wearing and it was obviously blue and black." Read Newsbeat's interview with Caitlin McNeill YouTube talent manager Sarah Weichel then spotted it on Tumblr and the rest is Twitter history... Turns out a lot of people cared and thousands are still debating the colour of that badly-taken snapshot. Various US news outlets have written stories about how the human eyes see different colours and why some people see blue and black while others see gold and white. BuzzFeed's original article has been shared more than 20 million times and tech site Wired explains the science of colour. The prime minster of Singapore liked the bit about science so much, he posted about it on his Facebook page. And photo experts Adobe got involved as well, sending out this tweet. It got celebrities talking on Twitter. And then the memes started... It's all great news for the makers of the Â£50 dress. A quick check online shows Roman Women's Lace Detail Bodycon Dress is available in Royal Blue - so blue then... And the company says it's looking into doing a gold and white version of the dress. A spokesman told Newsbeat: "We're looking into getting it through the approval stages. "We want to do it but it depends on the speed. We're trying to get it done as soon as possible. "We are in contact with the suppliers to establish if we can get it manufactured in white and gold." Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: It's the debate of the year so far - well - on Twitter at least and has been the top trending topic worldwide.


The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 12.53 points at 18, 268.50. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 9.17 points lower to 5,306.85, while the S&P 500 gained 1.04 points at 2,160.77. Social media website Twitter, plunged 20.10% on reports that Google and Apple were unlikely to bid for the company. Friday's employment report is expected to show whether the economy is strong enough to absorb an interest rate hike. A growing number of US Federal Reserve officials have argued for higher rates as the labour market remains solid and inflation inches towards the central bank's 2% target. "At the moment, what is driving the U.S. market is a repricing around expectations of near-term Fed action," said Bill Merz, investment strategist at US Bank Wealth Management in Minneapolis. On Wednesday, shares in Twitter had closed 5.74% higher after a report in the Wall Street Journal said the website was expected to receive takeover bids this week. Salesforce is now thought to be the most likely buyer of the business after its chief executive was implicated as a suitor earlier this week. Chief executive Marc Benioff told CNBC on Wednesday that he would not "start a precedent by having to address specific deals". He then added: "The reality is we have to look at everything, but we're going to pass on most things.". Salesforce.com's shares closed up 4.15% at $71.26. Retailer Wal-Mart, saw its shares end the day down 3.22% after saying its profits would be flat next financial year.

Summary: (Close): US stocks were little changed on Thursday ahead of crucial jobs data which are expected to give more insight into whether there will be an interest rate cut by the end of the year.


Cardiff council has issued travel advice to drivers, with roads shutting from 06:30 BST and reopening at about 12:30. East Tyndall Street, Lloyd George Avenue and Bute Place are among those being closed for the triathlon. Drivers heading to the Extreme Sailing event before midday have been advised to follow signposted routes to the bay. The council said the best route to get to the sailing would be the A4232, exiting at the junction for Mermaid Quay and the central link road. A cycle diversion is also in place around Britannia Park, between Cardiff Bay and the barrage. Roads closed during the triathlon:

Summary: Road closures have been announced ahead of Cardiff Bay's triathlon and sailing events on Sunday.


The first teenager has been bailed after admitting possessing a machete as disorder broke out at the Intu Bromley centre. Shoppers panicked after rumours of a gunman. Armed police were called at about 15:45 GMT and found a boy with a head injury. Two knives were recovered. Both boys have also been charged with common assault and violent disorder.

Summary: A second 16-year-old boy has been charged over an alleged knife fight at a London shopping centre on Boxing Day.


The meetings will take place in October at a mountain resort in North Korea. The decision follows an agreement last month that de-escalated tensions sparked by a border mine explosion that injured two South Korean soldiers. Thousands of Korean families have been separated with little or no contact since the war ended in 1953. The highly emotional reunions of family member who have not seen one another in decades have been infrequent, and depend hugely on the state of relations on the peninsula. The BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul says the reunions, which started in 1988, used to be annual but have often been cancelled in recent years as relations frayed. The last round was held in February 2014. About 66,000 South Koreans remain on the waiting list to see their relatives, many in their 80s and 90s, our correspondent adds. The upcoming reunions, slated to be held at the Diamond Mountain resort in Mount Kumgang from 20 to 26 October, will see 100 people from each side selected. Source: Korea Red Cross The decision came after Red Cross officials from both countries held talks earlier this week at the border village of Panmunjom. Communication between relatives across the border is highly restricted and almost non-existent. The two countries remain technically at war as the Korean War ended with an armistice.

Summary: North and South Korea have agreed to hold rare reunions for families separated by the Korean War, according to Seoul.


Scott Coleman, 41, from Liverpool, was caught in 2003 but was freed on bail and failed to reappear. He was finally detained in Amsterdam earlier this year before being extradited. Coleman admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and was jailed for five years. Lord Glennie jailed him for four years for his involvement in the heroin supply and a further year for failing to appear. The judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: "The court cannot turn a blind eye to this flaunting of its authority." Coleman is also wanted by the Spanish authorities after he was sentenced in his absence to more than six years imprisonment for a drugs offence there. Defence solicitor advocate Ewen Roy said Coleman made "a series of dreadful decisions" some time ago. He said that before he became involved in bringing drugs to Scotland he had no involvement in crime, but was under financial pressure at the time. Coleman acted as a courier in the supply of drugs from Merseyside to the north east of Scotland. A major police operation targeting the large scale illegal trade resulted in the jailing of brothers Derek and Jason McAllister for 12 and 10 years in 2006.

Summary: A man who went on the run for more than a decade has been jailed for trafficking heroin worth more than £200,000 into Aberdeen.


On the second anniversary of Stephen's death, the charity has also outlined how the cash has aided cancer services for young people. Stephen died on 14 May 2014, after contracting bowel cancer. The 19-year-old, of Burntwood, Staffordshire, became well known after posting a picture online of his "final thumbs up" from a hospital bed. He had pledged to raise £1m himself for the charity and hit the target three weeks before his death. The trust said £2.7m had been spent refurbishing cancer units at hospitals across the country, with four more - in Cambridge, Hull, Newcastle and the Wirral - now to benefit. A total of £1.6m has been used to train specialist nurses, as well as fund the charity's International Conference and Adolescent and Young Adult Global Cancer Congress in December. Stephen's legacy is also helping fund JTV Cancer Support, a project helping young sufferers express their feelings and record their personal journeys. Around £500,000 has been spent on education and awareness programmes, and £200,000 on conference weekends for youngsters called Find Your Sense of Tumour. Stephen's mother Jane has now been made an official ambassador for the trust. "Not a day goes by when I don't miss my brave and brilliant son. But when I think about everything he achieved and how much he's helping other young people, it makes me feel so proud," she said. "With his voice in my ear, I've run a marathon, jumped out of a plane and in a few months, I'll be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. "I'm honoured to call myself an ambassador for Teenage Cancer Trust, and feel privileged to be able to continue to spread Stephen's unique message of positivity." Kate Collins, director of fundraising and marketing at the charity, said: "Stephen was the most incredible young man and has helped us take huge steps forward for young people with cancer."

Summary: More than £5.5m has been raised in memory of teenager Stephen Sutton, the Teenage Cancer Trust has revealed.


Figures from the UK government showed 4.7% of South Wales Police officers and 3.7% of Gwent Police officers were absent for at least 28 working days between March 2016 and March 2017. Bedfordshire and Greater Manchester are joint third highest as 3.3% of officers have a recognised medical condition. Figures showed City of London Police had no officers on long term sick. "South Wales Police is Wales' largest force and among the busiest in England and Wales, dealing with more than 1,000 incidents every day of the week," said Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis, whose force employs 2,893 officers. "We police some of the biggest events in the country from major sporting fixtures to large-scale international and diplomatic occasions. "While officers are proud and professional in the way in which they serve the communities of south Wales fewer officer numbers means they are under greater strain than ever before. "Additionally the reductions have meant we have focused on our front line resilience which means there are fewer non-operational posts for officers to return into if they are not fit for operational duty." Wales' two other forces had figures of 1.4% for North Wales Police while 1.7% of Dyfed-Powys Police officers were off on long-term sickness. The Home Office statistics also show the number of police officers in Wales signed off work due to stress has more than doubled over the past four years. A Freedom of Information request showed 86 officers across the four Welsh police forces were too ill to work in June due to mental health issues. In June 2013, it was just 37 - marking an increase of more than 130%. South Wales Police had the highest number - 60 - off work due to stress in June. North Wales (1,445 officers) and Dyfed-Powys Police (1,156) both had eight officers signed off, while Gwent, with 1,172 officers, had 10. The Police Federation described the figures as "the tip of the iceberg". Vice chairman Calum Macleod said: "This is because of the stigma attached, because they don't want to let their colleagues and the public down as well as concerns it might hamper their career prospects." He said a cut of 20,000 officers in England and Wales since 2009 increased the pressure on those on the front line. "You are having officers' rest days cancelled without being given appropriate notice - so they are spending less time with families," he added. In April, mental health charity Mind Cymru launched its Blue Light Programme, offering support and training to emergency workers dealing with stress but Mr Macleod believes this should be done by employers, not charities. South Wales Police ACC Lewis said the force gave officers "all the support" it could, adding: "We are continuing to work hard to ensure we create a workplace where it's okay to talk about mental health." Gwent Police said it had a confidential service for all employees, available "seven days a week, 365 days a year", which included counselling. North Wales Police welcomed its reduction in officers signed off, putting it down to "colleagues working

Summary: Two Welsh police forces are top of the long-term sick leave table of the 43 forces in England and Wales.


Northumberland County Council is planning to scrap Haydon Bridge station as well as downsizing West Harton Community Station. Dave Ledger, chairman of the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Authority, said the council had "no choice" but to make the cuts. The council also plans to scrap engines in Ponteland, Seahouses and Wooler and replace them with smaller appliances. It has to save £500,000 on top of £1.5m cuts and has just finished a three-month consultation on its proposals. The authority said a number of concerns had been raised, including how the county would cope in the face of further flooding when fire crews are called to help. During the consultation it received three petitions, 84 online responses and 76 letters raising concerns over the plans, a spokesman said. Mr Ledger, who is also the deputy Labour leader of Northumberland County Council, said: "To say I am concerned about the future is an understatement. "We simply have no choice. The Government keeps saying we have choices - well I'd like them to tell us what the choices are." The fire service has 88 full-time firefighters and 180 on-call officers in the county. A full cabinet meeting will be held on 21 March when a final decision will be made. Mr Ledger added: "Should the recommendation be approved, we will continue to have 21 emergency response vehicles and, through the introduction of smaller fire appliances, in some areas we will be able to increase the cover we provide."

Summary: A fire station in Northumberland is facing closure amid £500k budget cuts.


All are members of the Diocese of West Yorkshire and Dales Motorcycle Club, formed for clergy and lay motorcyclists. Ten bikes will start the trip on Monday from Leyburn in North Yorkshire. Reverend Michael Hepper from St Matthew's in Leyburn said it would be a "very different kind of retreat". The 725-mile round trip will begin with a 200-mile ride to Barnard Castle, over the moors to Hexham and through the Kielder Forest to Jedburgh and Edinburgh. The riders will continue to Fionnphort on the west coast of Scotland via the Trossachs and the Isle of Mull. The "pilgrimage" ends on the island of Iona, known as "the cradle of Christianity" because St Columba is said to have landed there by coracle from Ireland in AD563, bringing the Gospel. Mr Hepper said the trip would be "a spiritual experience and an adventure". Reverend Neal Lefroy-Owen, of St Hilda's, Halifax and St John's, Warley, said: "It's great to be able to share my love of riding with fellow Christians from the new diocese and to get to know them better." Reverend Canon Stephen Kelly - area dean of Wakefield and priest in charge of Woolley and West Bretton, Reverend Canon Paul Tudge of Farsley near Pudsey, and Reverend Vic Iwanuschak, Incumbent of All Saints Pontefract will also take part in the pilgrimage ride. Five lay riders and four pillion passengers will accompany them.

Summary: Five Yorkshire vicars are preparing for a five-day motorbike "pilgrimage" from Yorkshire to Iona off the west coast of Scotland.


Resuming on 329-3, in reply to Middlesex's 98 all out on day one, Tom Fell went early for 171. But Kohler-Cadmore, 97 overnight, went on to finish on 130, with Ben Cox on 53, when the hosts declared on 431-5. Middlesex were then bowled out for 205 after a 72-run last-wicket stand from Tim Murtagh and John Simpson (50 no). Having initially looked comfortable second time around on 44-0, three wickets went down in eight balls when a double breakthrough for Ed Barnard got rid of ex-England openers Sam Robson and Nick Compton before Jack Shantry removed Paul Stirling. After a brief break for rain, Dawid Malan and Neil Dexter briefly shored things up in a stand of 48, but Shantry made another breakthrough, West Indian signing Shannon Gabriel struck twice and another collapse, this time of six wickets for 31, was under way. Having delayed the scheduled tea interval for half an hour, the last-wicket rearguard action between Simpson and Murtagh looked like extending the third day into a third session. But, right on the stroke of tea, already relegated Worcestershire completed their season with victory when Murtagh was last out for 24 - the second of successive Middlesex run-outs. Middlesex's defeat - only their second of the Championship season - could cost them second place to Nottinghamshire in the Division One table and their best finish since the introduction of two divisions in 2000. It would mean an £81,000 disparity in prize money if third-placed Notts can pip them for second by beating relegation battlers Hampshire. Worcs coach Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "We're relegated but the players have tried so hard all season, they had a lot of pride and purpose and really showed what they can do. "There have been a lot of frustrations during this year but we shan't get too down. We've now beaten three First Division teams by an innings. "Tom Fell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore batted really well in this match. We have a lot of young players who are only going to get better and, I'm delighted to say, going to get better playing for us." Middlesex coach Richard Scott told BBC London 94.9: "To come here and lose to a side already relegated is disappointing. "It will probably take a couple of weeks' reflection to find out what went wrong. But we have a lot to be proud of. "We won seven games, did the double over Durham and Sussex, which is no mean feat, and there was the game at Lord's against Yorkshire, the highlight of the season."

Summary: Worcestershire youngster Tom Kohler-Cadmore made his maiden first-class century at New Road as Middlesex were beaten by an innings and 128 runs.


The protest, organised by the GMB union, took place outside a meeting of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CPCCG). The union said outsourcing the multi-million pound contract was a move towards breaking up the NHS. But the CPCCG said the bidders were a mix of named NHS and private providers. Steve Sweeney, GMB regional organiser, said the protest near the Masonic Hall in Cambridge was part of its "fight to defend NHS services". He said: "The NHS should be publicly run, publicly owned and publicly accountable." Five bidders are in the running: Clinical lead for the CPCCG's older people's programme Dr Arnold Fertig said: "There is a mix of named NHS and private providers bidding in the procurement process. "This process is about getting the best possible health services for older people and providing them in joined-up and innovative ways. "The intention is that older people will experience a much better service than what is currently being offered. We are following a legally agreed procurement process."

Summary: A demonstration against outsourcing Cambridgeshire healthcare services for older people has been held as bidders for the contract were announced.


Matthew Taylor, a former adviser to Tony Blair, said it was "fair" that self-employed people paid more tax. But there still needed to be a "small differential" as there were differences in rights over issues such as pensions and parental leave. That would rule out further National Insurance rises for the self-employed. Mr Taylor also said it was likely there would be reform of employment laws to change the way companies such as Deliveroo and Uber, which use self-employed workers, operate. What the Budget means for you At a glance - Budget key points Think tank backs National Insurance rise "Tax rises are never popular, but as tax rises go, this is pretty fair," Mr Taylor told me. "It's economically rational and it strengthens the long term resilience of the tax base. "So if you are going to raise taxes, it is a pretty good way to do it." "The government has left a small differential so that employed people will pay 12% of their salary in National Insurance, self-employed 11%," said Mr Taylor, who is also the chief executive of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. "That recognises that there is still [a] small difference in entitlements - that seems to be pretty fair - I don't think there needs to be more reform in that area." The Chancellor is facing controversy after he announced that the National Insurance rate for the self-employed would increase by 1% next year and 1% in 2019. That will raise about Â£2bn more for the government by 2022. The move has been attacked for penalising entrepreneurs who have set up their own businesses. But Mr Taylor said it was right that the self-employed chose that route because it gave them autonomy rather than tax advantages. He also said that the self-employed would be helped by the abolition of what is called National Insurance Contributions 2, which was announced in 2016. "Self-employment is great and most people who choose it, choose it because it gives them flexibility - not because it gives them tax benefits," he said. "There is an outdated element to our system - which is where people who are self-employed pay lower national insurance contributions because they get fewer benefits," he said. "But last year the government said that self-employed people would get access to pensions and yesterday the Chancellor said they would get access to paid parental leave. "That means there is virtually no difference in the entitlements that employed people have and self-employed people have. "This gap [in tax] is no longer rational; it no longer serves a purpose." Mr Taylor said he understood why the government had not tackled firms who have been criticised for gaining a tax advantage by using self-employed people. Companies that use self-employed workers, such as Deliveroo and Uber, do not pay National Insurance contributions for their employees or pension contributions. Mr Taylor said it was likely that there would have to be reform. "Over the medium to long term we shouldn't be taxing employment, we should be taxing labour," he

Summary: The man reviewing the new world of work for Number 10 has told the BBC that controversial tax increases for the self-employed go far enough.


Jordan believes the 84-year-old, who has been in charge since 1978, should allow "somebody radical" to take over. F1 owners CVC Capital Partners and RSE Ventures, working with investors from Qatar, are in talks about a takeover of the sport. "I think he's done a remarkable job but time has played its role and he should go," Jordan told BBC Radio 5 live. "We need to leave it for the next generation in a better state. He has to keep asking himself that and where the timeframe is for him to leave. I think it's now." Media playback is not supported on this device RSE Ventures is headed by Stephen Ross, the owner of NFL franchise Miami Dolphins. They are planning a bid for CVC's 35.5% controlling stake in the holding company that owns F1. Ecclestone's position at the head of F1's commercial arm has come under scrutiny in the past year - he fought bribery charges in Germany while there have been concerns that the sport is losing its appeal. While acknowledging how Ecclestone had grown F1, Jordan welcomed the possibility of new people running a sport which is "going through a bit of a dip". He added: "The man is a legend. He has taken the sport from absolutely nowhere but, at the end of the day, he's not immortal. He may think he is but he's not. "There are times you have to say 'look, I've done everything that I can do'. "It does need somebody radical in there who is going to really shake it all about and go back to basics." Max Mosley, the former president of motorsport's governing body the FIA, told 5 live on Wednesday that Ecclestone's role "won't change" if a takeover of F1 is completed.

Summary: Bernie Ecclestone should step down as Formula 1 supremo, says BBC chief F1 pundit Eddie Jordan.


The agent, known by the alias Jack King, infiltrated a group of pro-German activists in south-east England in a previously unknown wartime operation. His undercover work led to the identification of hundreds of people willing to pass secrets to the enemy. Files in the National Archives describe King as a "genius" at his work. By Gordon CoreraSecurity correspondent, BBC News We had known that MI5 controlled German spies dropped into the UK under the Double Cross system but little was known about operations to control domestic sympathisers. This one began in a low-key manner with a correspondence club in which lonely people would write to each other but it would lead to the identification of potentially hundreds of people in Britain willing to help the Nazis. Since Britain was never invaded, it's impossible to know how the country would have actually reacted, but the files suggest there were at least a few hoping for Hitler to take over and actively offering assistance. The role of the MI5 agent Jack King is also intriguing. Quite who he was seems something of a mystery but senior officials in MI5 clearly rated him highly for his ability over years to undertake risky work in reeling in more and more Nazi sympathisers by convincing them he was linked to the Gestapo - and doing so without ever getting too close to provoking them to do anything too damaging. In 1942, King - also referred to as SR in the files - met Marita Perigoe, described as a "crafty and dangerous woman" of Swedish and German origin. Despite being married to a member of Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, she had no time for the group and regarded them as "insufficiently extreme". MI5 said of her: "She was found to be so violently anti-British and so anxious to do anything in her power to help the enemy that it was felt that special attention should be paid to her." It went on to say she was not a "neurotic nor feminine type; she is masterful and a somewhat masculine woman". "Both in appearance and mentality she can be described as an arrogant hun." King managed to convince her that he was a representative of the Gestapo looking for people who were "100% loyal to the Fatherland" and could be relied on in the event of an invasion. He exploited the group's taste for the cloak-and-dagger aspects of espionage work by offering them invisible ink for secret communications and arranging meetings in the basement of an antiques shop. MI5 regarded some members of the group as unstable but warned they were still dangerous. Hilda Leech was "unstable and neurotic" and was trying to pass on reports of highly secret research on jet aircraft, while astrologer Edgar Whitehead - a "bit of a mystery man" - was passing on information about secret trials on an amphibious tank. MI5 drew up plans to issue members with special badges to be worn in the event of an invasion - supposedly to identify them as friends to the Germans but in

Summary: An MI5 agent pretending to have Gestapo links secretly controlled a vast network of UK-based Nazi sympathisers, newly-released files reveal.


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Summary: The BBC has extensive live athletics coverage across TV, desktop, mobile, tablet and app.


And the guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) were well placed to profit from the illegal drugs trade. Today, there are still small fields of bright green coca cut from the virgin jungle, but the rebels have found a more lucrative, and far safer, source of income: gold. It was here the US military aid package, known as Plan Colombia, which has amounted to some $8bn (Â£5bn) since 1999, was concentrated. Since 2000, fleets of spray planes have dropped glyphosate chemicals over the coca bushes, managing to reduce, but never eradicate, drug production. What the chemicals have done is push local farmers into the new, informal industry of gold mining. "We estimate that the Farc here make 800m pesos ($450,000) a week from illegal gold mining," said Jhimmy Calvache, the acting mayor of Mocoa in Putumayo province. Colombia has vast gold deposits, especially along the rivers that wash down from the Andes Mountains. It was gold that drew the Spanish conquistadors here in the 16th Century, and now, with prices high for precious metal, gold fever has returned. Mechanical diggers operate along the riverbeds and banks in Putumayo, protected by heavily armed rebels who allow no access to the sites and impose huge "taxes" on production. In March, police sought to send in investigators to find out how much gold was being extracted. They ran into trigger-happy guerrillas and it was decided that, without massive army support, there was no chance of making any meaningful inquiries. The operation was abandoned. While the illegal exploitation of gold in Putumayo is still in its infancy, it is well developed in other parts of the country. In the northern department of Antioquia, the Farc have established a series of extortion schemes on the gold miners, legal and illegal. For every mechanical digger that enters their territory, the rebels charge an initial "tax" of up to $3,000 and another $2,000 per piece of heavy machinery for every month of operation. In the gold-rich municipality of Anori in Antioquia, authorities believe there are up to 120 diggers operating, earning the local Farc unit a monthly income of at least $240,000. There are 125 municipalities in Antioquia. "Gold is now more lucrative than coca," says Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo. The guerrillas are not just extorting money but running some mining operations themselves or demanding a percentage of all production. The advantage of gold is that it is perfectly legal to transport and sell, unlike cocaine. Indeed, legally registered mines have become a favourite acquisition for drug traffickers as well, as they are perfect vehicles for laundering money. The mining companies can claim any amount of gold is being extracted and then traffickers put all their money from cocaine sales through the books. On condition of anonymity, a mine worker in Anori played the recording on his telephone of a call he said was from the Farc demanding payment. "Don't try my patience this month," growled a low voice, "don't make me look for you, or the machines will be burnt and you may become a

Summary: A decade ago, the Colombian region of Putumayo was the main production centre for coca, the raw material for cocaine.


Eamon Bradley, from Benview Estate in Coshquin, was arrested in October 2014, after he returned from Syria. He is charged with providing training in the making or use of firearms in Syria. He is also charged with possessing a grenade in Syria with intent to endanger life. The charges relate to dates between 4 January and 28 October 2014. Mr Bradley was arrested at his then home in Melmore Gardens in the Creggan area of Derry. A solicitor told Londonderry Magistrates Court that she was still awaiting the results of investigations being carried out by members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's E-crime branch. She said the investigating officer was now in receipt of a number of computer downloads that contain 9,000 images, all of which have to examined forensically. A four-week adjournment in the case was granted and the defendant was released on continuing bail.

Summary: Nine thousand images are to be inspected in the case of a Londonderry man charged with committing terrorist offences in the Middle East.


The man, named as 24-year-old John Santos Gurgao from Brazil, swallowed 0.8kg (1.8lb) of the drug, the Irish Times reported. It is believed that one or more of the packages burst during the flight. A Portuguese woman in her 40s, also on the flight from Lisbon, was arrested on suspicion of drugs offences. It is not clear if her arrest is linked to the man's death. Toxicology tests have been carried out on the consignment found in the man's stomach, which reportedly had a street value of around Â£40,000 ($61,900). Passengers said the man became agitated and then violent and had to be restrained. A doctor and a nurse treated the man aboard the plane after he lost consciousness. The captain declared a medical emergency and diverted the plane to Cork airport, landing early evening local time. About 170 passengers and crew members were taken from the aircraft and were interviewed by police about the incident.

Summary: A man who died after being restrained on an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin had reportedly ingested a number of small packages of cocaine.


Dozens more bodies were retrieved from the ruined eight-storey Rana Plaza on Sunday. Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster has sparked nationwide anger. A preliminary government investigation said this week vibrations from four generators on the upper floors triggered the collapse. Main Uddin Khandaker, head of a government inquiry team, said the generators started up after a power cut, sending powerful vibrations throughout the building, which - together with the vibration of thousands of sewing machines - triggered the collapse. The building had been constructed with weak materials, such as sub-standard steel rods, Mr Khandaker added, which meant it could not withstand the vibrations. The architect of the building has said it was designed to house shops and offices rather than factories or industrial equipment, and that three floors had been illegally added to the original building. On Sunday evening, police working at the site of the collapse in Savar, outside the capital Dhaka, put the death toll at 610. But they would not say how many more bodies were likely to be recovered from the area. Profile: Rana Plaza owner Nine people have been arrested in connection with the collapse: the building's owner Mohammed Sohel Rana, his father Abdul Khalek, four owners of garment factories that operated inside the building, and three engineers. Factory workers have held daily protests demanding improved safety regulations and calling for tough punishments for those responsible for the disaster. But Bangladeshi Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said on Friday he did not think the collapse would have a "really serious" impact on the country's garment industry. Steps had been taken to prevent future accidents, he added. Bangladesh has one of the largest garment industries in the world, with factories supplying Western retailers such as Primark in the UK and Italy's United Colours of Benetton. The EU has said it is considering "appropriate action" to encourage an improvement in working conditions in Bangladesh's factories, including the use of its trade preference system, which gives Bangladesh duty- and quota-free access to markets in member states.

Summary: More than 600 bodies have been pulled from the rubble of a Bangladeshi clothing factory complex that collapsed last week, police say.


Mohini Arora, 25, died in a crash on the M20 in Kent on 13 November last year when her BMW was in collision with a Peugeot 206 driven by Ion Rusu, 25. Rusu, of College Avenue, Gillingham, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit, and driving while over the prescribed limit. Rusu was also banned from driving for eight years.

Summary: A drunk driver who caused a motorist's death has been jailed for six years.


The job cuts - to its employee base of around 94,000 people - comprise part of its $4bn reduction in operating costs. Shell also said it was cutting investment by $7bn to about $30bn this year, down 20% from 2014. The firm announced profits of $3.4bn in the three months to 30 June, a 35% decrease compared with last year. Shell said that it was "planning for a prolonged downturn" in oil prices. The price of oil is currently about $53 a barrel, sharply down from about $110 a barrel a year ago. Chief executive Ben van Beurden said: "We have to be resilient in a world where oil prices remain low for some time, whilst keeping an eye on recovery. "We're taking a prudent approach, pulling on powerful financial levers to manage through this downturn, always making sure we have the capacity to pay attractive dividends for shareholders." It also announced that it was selling a 33% stake in its Japanese business, Showa, to petrochemical group Idemitsu for about $1.4bn. Shell said it had seen $20bn of asset sales in 2014 and 2015, and it expected to see $30bn in sales between 2016 and 2018. "Today's oil price downturn could last for several years, and Shell's planning assumptions reflect today's market realities," the company said. "The company has to be resilient in today's oil price environment, even though we see the potential for a return to a $70-$90 oil price band in the medium term." In April, Shell announced that it was buying gas giant BG - the UK's third-largest energy company - for Â£47bn. In its latest announcement of job losses, Shell said its deal with BG "should enhance our free cash flow" and be "a springboard to change Shell into a simpler and more profitable company". It added that it planned to reduce costs further in 2016.

Summary: Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has announced it is to shed 6,500 jobs as part of cost-cutting plans as it seeks to counter falling oil prices.


The 29-year-old was jailed for six years last March for sexually touching and grooming the 15-year-old fan. He was refused leave to appeal his conviction and sentence in July, but launched a second bid late last year. A panel of three appeal judges turned down the former Sunderland player's latest bid. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.

Summary: Ex-England footballer Adam Johnson has lost a Court of Appeal challenge against his conviction for sexual activity with a schoolgirl.


The inquiry, which is investigating claims of child abuse in Jersey's care system back to 1945, has heard evidence from 203 witnesses. The next phase, in May, will hear from those who worked in children's services and those accused of abuse. Chairman Frances Oldham thanked all those who had come forward and contributed to the work of the inquiry which started in 2014. The now closed Haut de la Garenne children's home is among the island institutions at which accounts of abuse have been heard by the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry. Ms Oldham said: "Whilst there have been some positive accounts, most of what we have heard has related to painful and damaging experiences. "The first phase of the inquiry has been slow and painstaking, not least because of the difficulty many of the victims have had to wrestle with emotionally in terms of firstly giving a statement and then deciding whether to give evidence in public. "We must establish the truth about how mistreatment of children remained hidden for so long and what was done when concerns were raised." Chief Minister Ian Mr Gorst has set a deadline of December 2016 for the inquiry to conclude its investigations.

Summary: Jersey's child care inquiry has completed the first phase of evidence.


He was regarded by critics as one of the greatest Caribbean poets. The writer's collections include In A Green Night: Poems 1948 - 1960 and his epic work, Omeros, which draws on Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992 and the TS Eliot Prize for Poetry in 2011. His winning collection for the TS Eliot Prize, White Egrets, was called "a moving, risk-taking and technically flawless book by a great poet" by the judges. The Nobel Committee, announcing his prize, said: "His poetry acquires at one and the same time singular lustre and great force... Walcott's style is melodious and sensitive." Derek Walcott found that he was often defined as a black writer. That is not how he saw himself. He was, he said, first and foremost, a Caribbean writer. Dante, Shakespeare, Chaucer and Yeats were all addressed and reassessed through his Caribbean-focussed literary lens. As was Homer - in 1990 - when he wrote his epic poem Omeros - in which Achilles finds himself relocated to the West Indies. His great skill, and gift to literature, was the way in which he used his unique poetic voice to explore and explain the world from a largely unseen perspective. He was never parochial or nationalistic, quite the opposite in fact. Derek Walcott was a master at using the specific to identify common ground and universal themes, illuminating both the individual and the collective. The poet won many other prizes, including a MacArthur Foundation award - the so-called "genius grant". Walcott said at the time: "It's nice to get it, because it gives you four or five years of a great deal of security - the tough thing is when it's finished! "It has a very bad connotation, this idea of a 'genius' - I'm not denying the fact that I'm prodigious, I'm not denying the fact that I wrote well... to me it's a gift. I feel blessed that I was gifted." Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 1992, he said he had written as far back as he could remember and recalled his mother, a schoolteacher, reciting Shakespeare at home. His father, who died while he was still an infant, had also written poetry, he said. "I heard that kind of sound at home from when I was very young," he said. "I always knew that was what I wanted to do - to write, particularly poetry." Born in 1930, he studied at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, before moving to Trinidad in 1953, where he worked as a theatre and art critic. He published his first collection, 25 Poems, at the age of 18. He was also an accomplished painter and playwright. The Cultural Development Foundation of St Lucia paid tribute to Walcott, saying in a statement: "The world has lost one of its noted literary icons. "Our sympathies extend to St Lucia as a nation, who without doubt are proud and honoured to call him a true son of St Lucia. "He was very vocal about the

Summary: Nobel laureate poet Derek Walcott has died aged 87 at his home on the Caribbean island of St Lucia after a long illness, local media reports say.


Scotland goes to the polls to elect its local councillors on 4 May. The Lib Dems are putting forward candidates in a record number of wards, aiming to build on recent by-election wins. Party leader Willie Rennie said Lib Dem candidates would "put people first", accusing the SNP and Greens of "putting independence first". The Lib Dems are looking to bounce back from the 2012 elections, where they lost more than half their council seats in the aftermath of a coalition deal with the Tories at Westminster. The manifesto describes the party as "intent on winning more seats and playing a major part in Scottish councils". While campaigns in different council areas will highlight local issues, the manifesto sets out the party's national priorities, including mental health, education and scrapping the council tax. It also underlines the party's backing for a reformed federal UK and "continued membership of the European Union", proposing a referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal. At the launch event in Inverkeithing, Mr Rennie said he was confident the party could build on by-election wins and gain seats across Scotland. He said: "Local Liberal Democrat councillors have an impressive record of action and service for their communities. They work all year round for local people, not just at election time. "This year's elections present an excellent opportunity to build on our by-election successes across the country with gains from all parties. We are contesting more wards and looking to win more seats on 4 May. "As the SNP and Greens put independence first, Liberal Democrats will put local people first. Scotland does not need another divisive independence referendum."

Summary: The Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched their national manifesto for May's local authority elections.


Five workers from Scottish Water dug a two metre (6ft) hole and spent 12 hours retrieving the rubbish dumped down a manhole at Milnafua near Alness. Scottish Water said it believed someone had used the pipe as a fly tip. Other items pulled out included a yellow cricket bat, a sandcastle mould and a paint pot. Garry Kirkwood, Scottish Water's customer manager for sewer response, said: "It looks like someone has looked to use this manhole as some kind of tip. "Some may see comedy about this incident but there is an underlying serious matter - sewers are not a dumping ground for household refuse or unwanted items. "Blocked sewers cause serious problems to the network such as floods that affects homes, businesses and roads as well as the cost of having to get crews out to clear the blockages." He added: "To have a crew of five to be tied up for 12 hours on this urgent clear-up job also means that other repair incidents had to be delayed." It is not the first time Scottish Water workers have had to recover large objects from blocked sewers. DuringI 2014, the company said its staff had pulled a large Winnie the Pooh teddy, a bike, a fax machine, jeans and a snake from Scottish sewers.

Summary: A plastic rocking horse, a dining chair, a child's scooter and a football were found to be blocking a sewer pipe in the Highlands.