Mr Justice Openshaw told the Old Bailey the 87-year-old peer had "advanced and disabling dementia". Both prosecution and defence barristers had agreed at a previous hearing that Greville Janner was not well enough to take part in a criminal trial. Lord Janner is accused of 22 counts of sex offences against boys. The peer, who was suspended from the Labour Party in April, and his family have always denied any wrongdoing on his part. He is accused of 15 counts of indecent assault and seven counts of a separate sexual offence against a total of nine alleged victims. The Old Bailey heard the allegations spanned the years 1963 to 1998. Twenty-one of the charges relate to children who were aged 16 or under at the time. The judge, who made his decisions based on a series of medical reports from four experts, said: "The defendant has advanced and disabling dementia that has deteriorated and is irreversible, and accordingly I find that he is unfit to plead." The judge's ruling was made on the basis that Lord Janner would not be able to understand the charges against him, instruct lawyers or enter a plea. Mr Justice Openshaw summarised the reports, saying that while the public had been "unjustifiably sceptical" over the case, they had a "right to know" how he had come to his decision. Lord Janner is unable to remember key events from his life, with one report from February 2014 saying he could not name his children or grandchildren, remember where he had gone to school, or recall details of his parliamentary career. The most recent report, from September, stated that Lord Janner has no short-term memory, barely recognises his family and "can now hardly speak". A "trial of the facts" is scheduled take place next April, when a jury will decide if he committed the abuse, with no finding of guilt or conviction. It is a relatively rare procedure normally used in cases where a defendant poses a danger and needs to be hospitalised for the safety of themselves and others. Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders decided in April that it was not in the public interest for Lord Janner to face a criminal trial because of his dementia. Her decision was based on expert reports, two of which were ordered by the defence and two by the prosecution. It was overturned following an independent review requested by six of the alleged victims and the decision on Lord Janner's fitness to plead was then handed over to the High Court judge who has now made a ruling on the matter. Greville Janner was made Lord Janner of Braunstone in 1997. He remains a life peer, but has been on leave of absence since 2014. Lord Janner was not required to attend court on Monday. A further hearing was set for 7 March.

Summary: Lord Janner is unfit to stand trial over allegations of child sexual abuse spanning four decades, a High Court judge has ruled.


LL Camps has operated at Merry Hill in Bushey, Hertfordshire, for the past four years, describing itself as the UK's only American-style summer camp. A man aged 25, of Borehamwood, had been bailed until September, said police. They said they would contact families directly should they discover that any children had been affected. A spokesman for Ofsted said: "We can confirm we have suspended the registrations of these early years settings while investigations are carried out. "It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing." In a joint statement, Hertfordshire Police and Hertfordshire County Council said they were working with Ofsted and the "safety and welfare of children is the top priority". Anyone with specific concerns about a child is asked to call Hertfordshire County Council on 0300 123 4043. A statement from the LL Camps team was posted its Facebook page on Thursday. It said the camp had closed with "immediate effect" and it "cannot disclose any further information". The privately-run LL Camps is based at St Margaret's School in Bushey. A school spokeswoman said LL Camps was "entirely non-related to our school" and St Margaret's had "no links to LL Camps except to hire out a part of the Sports Centre site during the holiday periods". The LL Camps website, which has been taken offline, stated it had achieved "outstanding early years provider" awards from Ofsted in 2013 and 2014. It said the camp was about "meeting new friends, expanding interests and learning new skills". It added it was committed to its core values of creating a "caring, nurturing and positive" environment.

Summary: A children's summer camp has been closed by Ofsted after a man was arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.


Raheem Wilks, 19, was the brother of Leeds United's Mallik Wilks. He was shot near Too Sharps on Gathorne Terrace, Harehills, on 26 January. His coffin was taken to St Aidan's Church, Harehills, by horse-drawn hearse. Two men have been charged with his murder and are due to stand trial in October. Read more about this and other stories from Leeds and West Yorkshire The Rev Andi Hofbauer, who led the service, said Raheem "loved life and was a bit of a joker, bit of a clown". "They [his family] described him as fearless. "He desperately wanted to be popular and was well-loved amongst his family and friends." She said the service featured favourite songs chosen by his family and the hymns Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art. Following the service, during which his brother Malik delivered the eulogy, Raheem was buried at Killingbeck Cemetery.

Summary: Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a teenager shot and killed outside a barber's shop in Leeds.


Data collected over three years has been used to measure the wellbeing of more than 300,000 people across the UK. On average, people rated their happiness between seven and eight out of 10. But the largest percentage of people rating themselves at nine or 10 was in Mid Sussex (39.3%). That compares with 21.8% in Wolverhampton. Sara Erriadi, 27, from Bilston said: "I don't have any family here at all so for me personally to be surrounded by people I love would make me happier. "But for everyone else - if we had a bit more sunshine or more things to do - like a fair - that might make people happier." Joyce and Val from Tipton had travelled to Wolverhampton on the tram for a shopping trip. Val said: "A place is what you make it. If you're a happy person you'll be in a happy place." Joyce said: "I always find the people really friendly in Wolverhampton. "There's happy people and there's miserable people wherever you go." Councillor Garry Wall, leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said: "Being happy isn't just about where you are; it's also about who you are with and how you live your life. We live in an area surrounded by beautiful countryside, areas of outstanding natural beauty and enjoy a growing local economy but crucially we have strong local communities." The ONS found ratings of life satisfaction and happiness were at their lowest, on average, for those aged 45 to 59. Across the UK as a whole people in the Scottish Highlands came out happiest, with 43% saying they were a nine or a 10 on the day they were asked. In Bolsover in Derbyshire, 17.2% rated their happiness between zero and four out of 10. However, it still had far more people at the happiest end of the scale as well, with 37% giving themselves nine or 10 out of 10. Liverpool and Wolverhampton were the only places where average happiness was below seven out of 10, at 6.96 and 6.99 respectively. Despite its low happiness rating, however, Wolverhampton has also emerged as the place where people feel the least anxious, with 58.5% rating themselves at zero or one out of 10 for anxiety. Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Ian Brookfield, said: "On the one hand they suggest that people in Wolverhampton are less happy, yet by the same measure, there are fewer unhappy people here than in many other areas. Research shows the better you fit into the personality of your area, the happier you are. Take the test to find the best place in Britain for you Read more on happiness from BBC News: Can we make ourselves happier? Why it's hard to measure happiness "At the same time, the report also shows that people in Wolverhampton have the lowest levels of anxiety anywhere in the UK, which appears to contradict the other findings. And of course, we need to remember this is a fairly small sample size of 1,690 residents over a three-year period. "Wolverhampton and Black Country folk are, by nature,

Summary: The largest proportion of happy people in England are living in Mid Sussex, the smallest in Wolverhampton, according to official statistics.


The officer, 52, was seriously injured when a booby-trap device exploded under his van on Friday, 4 March. Christopher Alphonsos Robinson, of Aspen Park in Dunmurry, County Antrim, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court. The 45-year-old was also charged with possessing an improvised explosive device with intent to endanger life. There was an increased police presence in court for the hearing. A detective constable said he could connect Mr Robinson to the charges. When asked by the clerk if he understood the charges, Mr Robinson did not reply, but let out a loud sigh. A defence solicitor told the court that Mr Robinson was not applying for bail, but said during 16 police interviews, "no evidence was actually put" to the defendant to link him to the attack. Mr Robinson was remanded in custody to appear again on 1 April via video-link. A dissident republican group known as the New IRA has said it carried out the attack.

Summary: A man has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of a prison officer in a bomb attack in Belfast last week.


Most of the passengers are reported to be from Latin America. The crash happened on Interstate 10 close to the resort town of Palm Springs in the early hours of Sunday morning. Investigators are examining the cause of the crash, which happened as the bus was bound for Los Angeles. Rescuers used ladders to climb into the bus windows to remove bodies. Five of the injured passengers are in critical condition. The Los Angeles Times described the crash as the deadliest in California for several decades. It said that the bus careered into the rear of the truck at high speed, mangling the front third of the bus. Most of those who died were apparently at the front of the bus, the newspaper reported. The driver was among the fatalities. Officials quoted by the paper said that identifying the victims could take days, because some were not carrying identity cards or had lost their belongings when they were taken to hospital. They have warned that it may not be possible to determine exactly why the accident happened because of the driver's death. Investigators will assess whether he might have fallen asleep or had a heart attack, in addition to determining if there was a mechanical failure or some other kind of emergency. The westbound lanes of the interstate were closed near the crash site but are now reported to have been reopened. According to the Desert Sun newspaper, the tour bus, run by US Holiday, was coming from Red Earth Casino, near Salton City in California. The small Los Angeles-based company, runs trips to casinos in California and Las Vegas. The driver of the bus was one of the owners of the tour company. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records show the company had one vehicle and one driver. According to the data the company held a satisfactory safety rating and had not been in a crash for two years.

Summary: Thirteen people have been killed and more than 30 injured in southern California after a tour bus ran into the back of a lorry, media reports say.


The motorcyclist, a woman in her 50s, and the driver of a Fiat Doblo crashed at traffic lights at the junction in The Avenue, Fareham at about 13:00 BST. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman driving the Fiat was not seriously injured. The eastbound carriageway was closed for several hours with drivers urged to follow diversions. The westbound carriageway remained open.

Summary: A motorcyclist has died in a crash with a car in Hampshire.


Last year, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was booed by fans at the opening match of the Confederations Cup - a curtain-raiser for the World Cup. In an interview with DPA news agency, Fifa head Sepp Blatter expressed concern about social unrest in Brazil. He said he hoped the event would play a part in calming down the protests. Protesters took to the streets of many Brazilian cities shortly before the Confederations Cup in June 2013. They denounced corruption and the perceived high cost of preparations for the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, which will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro. Several of the 12 stadiums that will be used in the World Cup are still under construction. Among the venues still being built is the Arena Corinthians, in Sao Paulo, where the opening match between Brazil and Croatia is due to be played on 12 June. Mr Blatter, however, played down concerns that the stadiums will not be finished in time for the event. "Everything with the stadiums will work out. This is not my first World Cup. In the end, all the stadiums will be ready," Mr Blatter told DPA. Mr Blatter did not elaborate on his decision to scrap the speeches from the opening ceremony. But last year he came out in the support of Ms Rousseff when she was booed by football fans as she opened the Confederations Cup in Brasilia. "Friends of Brazilian football, where is the respect and the fair play, please?" intervened Mr Blatter, who then became the target of the protests at the Brazilian capital's brand-new National Stadium. He told DPA that the World Cup may have a positive impact: "We hope that the World Cup will play a part in calming down the social unrest that we experienced during the Confederations Cup". It is not clear whether the Brazilian government was involved in the decision to remove Ms Rousseff's speech from the opening ceremony. Mr Blatter also said that "the human rights situation" will be taken into account when Fifa awards the rights to host World Cups in the future. The awarding process was criticised when Fifa announced that the 2018 and 2022 World Cups would be hosted by Russia and Qatar respectively.

Summary: Football's world governing body, Fifa, has announced that there will be no speeches at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in June.


The problems began early on Thursday when NIR's 06:15 BST service from Belfast to Newry broke down across a set of points at Central Station. The position of the train meant that NIR could only operate one of its four platforms at Central Station. The train has now been moved and services are returning to normal. The rail junction had been blocked for several hours on Thursday morning. A Translink spokeswoman said the knock-on delays had affected train services between Belfast and Newry, Bangor, Portadown, Larne and Londonderry. The company apologised to its passengers and said it had been working hard to "keep delays to a minimum".

Summary: A broken down train that caused long rush-hour delays on all of Northern Ireland Railways' services is no longer blocking the line at a Belfast station.


Medway NHS Foundation Trust said chairman Denise Harker and chief executive Mark Devlin had decided the time was right for them to move on. The trust was criticised as failing and put in special measures following the Keogh Review in June. It said a new chairman and chief executive were expected to be announced next month. The Keogh Review found the trust, which runs Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, had major failings. It was criticised for poor communication with patients, poor management of deteriorating patients, inappropriate referrals, delayed discharges and long waits in A&E. The hospital was later told by the Care Quality Commission it must take urgent action to improve safety on a maternity unit. In November health regulator Monitor said the hospital's problems were broader than first thought and said it must take urgent action or face leadership changes. The trust said in a statement Ms Harker and Mr Devlin had decided to hand over leadership of the trust to a new team. "I would like to thank Mark and Denise for their dedication and integrity," said Colin Wilby, its senior independent director. "Their commitment to public service is indisputable and we wish them both every success in the future." Earlier this week it was announced Medway Maritime's A&E department would undergo a Â£5m redevelopment. Mark Reckless, Conservative MP for Rochester and Strood, said the hospital had appointed a new medical director and a new chief nurse. "I think they are doing good work and I have seen some improvements but frankly, given the problems, I am not sure its been fast enough," he said.

Summary: Two bosses at a Kent hospital foundation trust put into special measures last year have resigned.


Will that promising full-back relish being thrown deeper into the public spotlight? What if the £200m superstar doesn't settle in Paris? These are the types of questions being asked by clubs as they consider investing eye-watering sums on new players. An emerging field of analysts and experts believe they have the answers. But how do they find them? Ever sent a tweet you've come to regret? Last season, Burnley striker Andre Gray apologised and asked "for forgiveness" after homophobic tweets he sent in 2012 were shared. And, just last week, Chelsea forward Kenedy was sent home from their pre-season tour of China after being accused of xenophobia and racism. He apologised for the Instagram posts. But what can a club learn from a player's social media presence? Ben Wright is head of sport at communications agency Cicero, which produces reports on players for clients across the globe, including seven in the Premier League and two in Spain's La Liga. He says: "We look all the way through a player's online presence. By doing this you can get an idea of what kind of person they are and how their character has evolved over time. "We analyse media coverage, social media, fans' forums, everything that is available online, across 13 languages, to build up a public picture of their life. "Are they using social media late at night? Do they blur the boundaries of public and private? How have they changed over time as they have begun to earn more money? "Are they posting the kind of insight into their private lives that fans really appreciate, or is it all about new cars and new clothes? And are they posting this kind of stuff regardless of whether it's been a good or bad result the weekend before?" Some clubs have developed in-house teams - sometimes within their scouting departments - to perform similar research. But in January, Cicero produced a report on a promising young Premier League player, who will remain anonymous. The analysis uncovered a series of social media posts, dating back several years, that were sexually explicit in nature, and found angry responses to opposition fans that included offensive language. Ultimately, the client who commissioned the report decided not to offer the player what would have been a significant development in his career. Case study: Andrea Belotti Torino striker Andrea Belotti has been linked with a move to the Premier League for much of the summer. In July, Cicero was asked to produce a report on the £90m-rated Italian, and the findings were largely positive. One section in the report - written for a Premier League club - analyses the "tone and approach" of his social media activity, while another addresses the '"likelihood of future issues". Belotti's posts, which featured regular tributes to his wife and family, displayed "no instances of bad language, prejudice or public disagreements", the report said. "It is extremely unlikely he would ever post something or engage with fans on social media in a way that brings himself or his club into disrepute," it added. But, in

Summary: Will a £300,000-a-week salary change a hot prospect's attitude to the game?


The Labour leader said a new law would allow family and friends of deceased men to seek the quashing of historical convictions for "gross indecency". Legislation would be known as "Turing's Law" in memory of Alan Turing, he said. The Enigma code-breaker was convicted of "gross indecency" in 1952 and was only given a posthumous pardon in 2013. Homosexuality was illegal until it was decriminalised in England in 1967. Mr Turing was convicted for gross indecency in 1952 in connection with an affair with a 19-year-old man, after which he was chemically castrated. The conviction meant he lost his security clearance and had to stop the code-cracking work that had proved vital to the Allies in World War Two. The mathematician was only given a royal pardon in 2013, nearly 60 years after his death by suicide in 1954. This followed an official apology by former prime minister Gordon Brown in 2009 for how Mr Turing had been treated. Relatives of Mr Turing have led a high-profile campaign to secure pardons for the 49,000 other men convicted under historical indecency laws. Announcing his support for the move, Mr Miliband said: "What was right for Alan Turing's family should be right for other families as well. "The next Labour government will extend the right individuals already have to overturn convictions that society now see as grossly unfair to the relatives of those convicted who have passed away." Asked whether David Cameron would back Mr Miliband's proposals, No 10 said the prime minister "will always continue to look carefully at what more can be done to right these wrongs". A spokesman pointed out that the coalition government had already passed legislation to allow individuals with historical convictions or cautions for certain homosexual activities to apply for them to be removed from criminal records. "It was this government that introduced that 2012 act," said the spokesman. "It was under this government that Mr Turing received the pardon through the use of the royal prerogative." A pardon is only normally granted when the person is innocent of the offence and where a request has been made by someone with a vested interest such as a family member. But, in Mr Turing's case, a pardon was issued without either requirement being met, after an intervention by Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling.

Summary: A future Labour government would pave the way for posthumous pardons for gay men convicted under historical indecency laws, Ed Miliband has said.


Tata Steel blamed the decision affecting the plant's hot strip mill on "continuing poor UK steel demand". The Welsh government said it was "hugely disappointing news" that would be a blow to the local economy and community. Tata employs about 7,500 staff in Wales, with about 1,400 at Llanwern in Newport. The Indian-owned company said the plant was expected to remain mothballed until the UK economy and steel demand justified a restart. In the meantime the market would be supplied with material from Tata Steel's other hot strip mill in south Wales at Port Talbot, where costs are lower, the firm said. The Llanwern cold rolling mill and Zodiac galvanising line would continue in operation. The jobs to go consist of roles carried out by fixed-term contract employees, agency workers and contractors, said the company. Jon Ferriman, strip products hub director for the company at Port Talbot and Llanwern said the decision had been made with great regret. "I would like to pay tribute to those valuable people who have helped us make the flexible working model a success at Llanwern," he said. "Clearly this is a very difficult time for them. "The Llanwern hot rolling mill is an important operation for us, and our intention is to bring it back into operation as soon as market conditions permit." Mr Ferriman said the decision was not connected to the effects on primary steelmaking of UK or EU environmental legislation. Keith Hazlewood, GMB national secretary, said the announcement "yet again demonstrates what a rollercoaster industry the steel industry is". He added: "This decision is a devastating blow for the UK steel industry, the economy and the local community of Newport, south Wales and the supply chain in the surrounding area, especially at this time of the year." Last month, the company announced it was cutting 70 jobs by closing its construction products business at the same site. Mr Hazlewood said the GMB along with the other steel unions would work with the company "to mitigate any compulsory job losses." Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said she understood the disappointment being felt in Newport as a result of Tata's decision. But she added: "I am aware this is not the first time the company has taken this decision and I remain optimistic that the rolling mill will be brought back on line when economic circumstances allow. "Given the difficult economic climate faced by all businesses in Wales it is important both they and government - whether in London or Cardiff - remain sufficiently flexible to adapt quickly to changing circumstances." Mrs Gillan said that while the UK government was putting in place measures to support business, the Welsh government also had a key role to play in helping the local economy and create jobs. "Today's news underlines the continued importance of our two governments working together, rather than in isolation, in the interests of the Welsh economy," she said. John Griffiths, Labour AM for Newport East, commented: "This is yet another hard blow for workers at Llanwern, after the 70 job losses announced in November."

Summary: Part of Llanwern steelworks in south Wales is to be temporarily mothballed, with the loss of 115 jobs.


American Jack Robertson has become a fierce critic of the way the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) have so far dealt with the crisis. Both organisations have defended their handling of the situation but Robertson has become increasingly frustrated. In a lengthy and revealing interview with David Epstein of the investigative journalism website ProPublica, he says he was forced to take matters into his own hands when it appeared his work was being hampered. "I was working 11 hours a day, sometimes 18 hours," said the 56-year-old, who was Wada's chief investigator until January 2016. "Once it was exposed in the media, then I got some manpower to do the investigation." Robertson also believes Wada and the IOC need new leadership. "The people I worked with at Wada were absolutely amazing, the best in the field," he said. "But it's my feeling they've been betrayed by their leadership. "I lost much of my voice to throat cancer, so I know a thing or two about cancer. And this is like cancer, if you don't get all of it, it can come back worse. "We've seen it in Fifa, you have to take out the boss, but you have to take out their henchmen, too, those who would follow them for their own careers. Everyone who supported them in their decisions has to go." Robertson has been an outspoken critic of Wada president Sir Craig Reedie, accusing the 75-year-old Scot of failing to take prompt and decisive action in the wake of the Russia revelations. Reedie, who is also a member of the IOC's executive committee and a former chairman of the British Olympic Association, has consistently defended his actions and those of Wada. Robertson is also critical of IOC president Thomas Bach, saying the German - a former Olympic fencing champion - has failed to protect the whistleblowers who helped expose Russian wrongdoing. Robertson is referring to Yuliya Stepanova, the Russian 800m runner whose testimony helped shed light on the scale of doping in Russian sport. She was set to compete under a neutral flag at the Rio Olympics only for the IOC to rule that the 30-year-old should not be allowed to take part as she had previously failed a doping test. Less than 36 hours before the official opening ceremony in Rio starts, the IOC is still working out which Russians should be allowed to compete following calls for the country to be kicked out of the Games completely. In the meantime, Reedie continues to say his organisation is doing what it can to crack down on the dopers and says there is a "lack of understanding about what Wada is all about". But Robertson says time is running out. "We can't just keep going from scandal to scandal," he said. "And if this scandal isn't enough to bring about change, then nothing ever will be." Wada's chief investigator until leaving the agency in January, he was responsible for exposing the state-sponsored doping programme in Russia that sent shockwaves across the sporting world. He also helped

Summary: The man who helped expose Russian state-sponsored doping says he leaked information about his investigation to the media to force anti-doping chiefs to provide him with additional resources.


Rovers took a 24th-minute lead at the Silverlake Stadium when Christian Doidge sweetly headed in Keanu Marsh-Brown's cross from the right for his 14th league goal of the season. Eastleigh twice went close before Ayo Obileye levelled 10 minutes later, bundling in Luke Coulson's teasing corner at the back post. Towards the end of an exciting first half, Forest Green's Dale Bennett made a fine block from Hakeem Odoffin's shot. Eastleigh introduced newly-signed striker Darius Henderson at half-time but Rovers initially threatened most, although Ben Strevens headed just wide with 12 minutes to go amid late chances for both teams. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Eastleigh 1, Forest Green Rovers 1. Second Half ends, Eastleigh 1, Forest Green Rovers 1. Ben Strevens (Eastleigh) is shown the yellow card. Dale Bennett (Forest Green Rovers) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Marcus Kelly replaces Keanu Marsh-Brown. Substitution, Eastleigh. Scott Wilson replaces Hakeem Odoffin. Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Shamir Mullings replaces Rob Sinclair. Substitution, Eastleigh. Jai Reason replaces Sam Togwell. Substitution, Eastleigh. Darius Henderson replaces James Constable. Second Half begins Eastleigh 1, Forest Green Rovers 1. First Half ends, Eastleigh 1, Forest Green Rovers 1. Sam Togwell (Eastleigh) is shown the yellow card. Goal! Eastleigh 1, Forest Green Rovers 1. Ayo Obileye (Eastleigh). Goal! Eastleigh 0, Forest Green Rovers 1. Christian Doidge (Forest Green Rovers). First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Summary: Forest Green missed the chance to go level on points with National League leaders Lincoln as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Eastleigh.


Starting on Sunday, an eight-day surfing safari will take a group of tourists into North Korea to experience its remote, sandy beaches. The expedition, led by Italian champion surfer Nicola Zanella who also coaches China's national surf team, will explore, map and evaluate surf spots along the east coast. But what kind of experience will it really be to surf in the hermit kingdom? A potentially "dangerous one", according to North Korean expert and former Associated Press Pyongyang bureau chief Jean Lee in Washington DC. "The country does have some beautiful, white sandy beaches along its east coast but I can't think of a place that is more antithetical to surfing's 'hang loose' culture." Mr Zanella, who lives in China's island province of Hainan, will be visiting North Korea for the first time. "There are many reasons to surf in North Korea. Waves are empty, un-surfed and they break on pristine beaches where few foreigners have set foot," he said. He also told the BBC that the tour aims to educate young North Koreans on water safety and will help build "a solid local surf culture". The surf tour has received "official approval from the North Korean government" and will kick off in the capital, Pyongyang, according to Andrea Lee, tour group organiser of the US-based Uri Tours which regularly takes groups to the North. Surfers will be taken to several prominent monuments to pay respects to late leaders Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung as part of "official protocol", she explained, before the sport begins. "We are always looking to diversify our tour offerings to give travellers unique ways to experience North Korea. We are also big proponents of sports tourism; our past tours included skiing and running in the Pyongyang Marathon and that allowed our tourists the greatest interaction with locals." She also told the BBC the response so far had been "overwhelming and encouraging". "We've been contacted by surfers from all over the world who want to join the tour so we already have a pretty diverse group of all skill levels." The heavily patrolled waters of North Korea's east coast lie between the seas of Japan and Russia. Satellite images show the remote coastal communities of Sijung and Hamhung, both dotted by outlying islands and boasting clear blue seas. But according to Jean Lee, North Korean waters wouldn't deliver any "promising surf". "I've gone swimming at Majon beach and have been to Sijung; this isn't big surf. The waves are pretty flat this time of year." She also said that while some North Koreans love going to the beach, she has never seen a surfer. "Most of the people I met at the public beaches were factory workers or farmers who were visiting for the day. There are fisherman working along the coast too, but they don't live at the beach," she said. "Korea may be a peninsula but watersports isn't part of tradition. But if North Korea wants surfers, they'll certainly assign that challenge to their young athletes so that they're catching waves by September." North Korea has

Summary: Forget Namibia, Antarctica or even England's Severn Estuary; is North Korea about to become one of the world's most unusual surf destinations?


Media playback is unsupported on your device 21 December 2014 Last updated at 18:39 GMT Thieves broke into the family's home in Bangor just days after the burial of eight year old Chloe who suffered from a rare condition. Christmas presents were also stolen when the robbers gained entry to the house in the Sinclair Avenue area on Friday night. BBC Newsline's Martin Cassidy reports.

Summary: A young mother has appealed for the return of a laptop containing the last photographs of her terminally ill child.


The leaks from a secret BND report suggest that its monitoring station at Bad Aibling spied on France's presidential palace and foreign ministry, and the European Commission. The US National Security Agency also allegedly spied on some European firms. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere denies claims of a cover-up. The BND reportedly collected information on European firms at Washington's behest to check if they were breaking trade embargos. According to the reports, the BND did not target German or US officials in the surveillance, as they are protected by a BND-NSA agreement signed in 2002. However, it has emerged that the German government knew about NSA spying on European arms businesses as early as 2008. The government found "shortcomings" in the BND's operations, German TV reports. Minister under pressure - by the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin: Yesterday the tabloid newspaper Bild printed a picture of Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere - his nose elongated to Pinocchio proportions. "Herr de Maiziere!" the accompanying headline screamed. "You lie with impunity!" There's outrage here that Germany - for so long seen as the victim of American espionage - may have helped US spies to target other Europeans. And pressure is building on the government to reveal how much it knew. As the former minister in charge of the chancellery, Thomas de Maiziere was directly responsible for Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, in 2008. And that is when, it's claimed, the BND first told the chancellery that its agents were now helping the NSA to spy on European aviation, aerospace and defence companies. Mr de Maiziere has denied all knowledge, and maintains that he hasn't deceived anyone. But he says that - because the information is all classified - he is unable to comment publicly. Yet there are questions about who else was aware. Another German newspaper devoted its front page to a "wanted" poster. Among the mugshots of politicians and civil servants was Chancellor Angela Merkel herself. Spy scandal turns tables on German government Mr de Maiziere denies having had any knowledge of malpractice at German intelligence. But he called for the internal BND report to be presented to a parliamentary committee, "the sooner the better". The huge scale of NSA surveillance in Europe - including joint spying operations with the UK's GCHQ - was revealed in 2013 by US whistleblower Edward Snowden. There was outrage in Germany because of the scope of NSA spying, which allegedly included snooping on Chancellor Merkel's mobile phone conversations. The revelations strained German-US diplomatic ties. Last July Germany expelled a CIA official based at the US embassy, as reports surfaced of several Germans having spied for the NSA. Germany's leftist Die Linke party accused the German government on Wednesday of "lying" in connection with NSA activities. German media reports speak of NSA attempts to spy on Airbus and Eurocopter, now known as Airbus Helicopters, via the BND.

Summary: Germany's national intelligence agency, the BND, spied on top French officials and the EU's headquarters on behalf of US intelligence, German media report.


A bottle of Deanston 12-year-old malt was broken over the bow of the 90-metre Offshore Patrol Vessel in a ceremony at BAE Systems' Scotstoun yard. The ship is expected to go into service next year and will be used for counter-terrorism, anti-smuggling and defence. The MoD said work on HMS Forth and her sister ships was sustaining 800 Scottish jobs. The vessels will be equipped with a 30mm cannon, a flight deck capable of accommodating a Merlin helicopter, and will be manned by a crew of 58 sailors. It is the first of a fleet of new Batch 2 River-class OPVs being built on the Clyde, which are all expected to be in service by 2021. Their construction has filled a gap in the order books of the Govan yard, where work is due to begin on eight Type 26 frigates this summer. The Type 26 frigate, which is principally designed for anti-submarine warfare, will partially replace the current Type 23 frigate. Each ship will carry a crew of 118, have a top speed of more than 26 knots and a range of 7,000 nautical miles. The first vessel is due to enter service in the early 2020s. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said that the work would safeguard hundreds of skilled jobs until 2035. HMS Forth, the fifth Royal Navy vessel to bear the name over the past two centuries, is affiliated with the city of Stirling. The MoD said the name maintained a connection that began when the people of the city adopted a previous ship with the name Forth during World War Two. Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin, said the programme to build the ship was a vitally important part of the government's 10-year, Â£178bn plan to supply the Armed Forces. She added: "From counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, to securing the UK's borders on patrols closer to home, the Royal Navy's new Offshore Patrol Vessels will help protect our interests around the world."

Summary: The first of a fleet of five warships being built on the Clyde has been formally named HMS Forth.


Jonathan Moyo, minister of tertiary education, told reporters it was a fitting tribute to the 93-year-old president's "commitment to education and his exemplary leadership". It is unclear where the money will come from in a country where unemployment and poverty is endemic. Economic output has halved since 2000. Last year, more than four million Zimbabweans were in need of food aid due to drought. The country was once known as the breadbasket of southern Africa. Despite this, the cabinet has agreed to spend $800m building the new university in Mazowe, 35km (20 miles) outside the capital Harare. Another $200m has been set aside for an endowment fund for research and innovation at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe University, which will focus on science and technology, Mr Moyo said. He would not be drawn on where the funds were coming from. Africa Live - read more on this and other stories The announcement of the new university was met with derision from opposition parties, which hope to end Mr Mugabe's 37-year reign at next year's general elections. "This is populism that defies logic," said Obert Gutu, a spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). "It is meant to stroke Mugabe's ego because we know this government is broke." Zimbabwe already struggles to pay for education - as well as public services and infrastructure like roads and hospitals - spending 90% of the country's annual budget on wages. The MDC says the money would be better spent on Zimbabwe's existing universities, where students face crumbling infrastructure and a lack of accommodation. According to state media, Mr Mugabe has seven earned degrees and 11 honorary degrees. He is a trained teacher and after coming to power in 1980, his government massively increased the provision of state education to the previously disadvantaged black majority. Zimbabwe recently had the highest literacy rate in Africa, at 90% of the population. Mr Mugabe's wife Grace was awarded a controversial PhD from the University of Zimbabwe in 2014.

Summary: Zimbabwe is to build a $1bn (Â£770m) university dedicated to the man accused of leading his country to the brink of economic collapse, Robert Mugabe.


The Air Departure Tax (Scotland) Bill is designed to replace air passenger duty with a devolved Scottish levy. Ministers want to cut the tax by 50% before eventually abolishing it "when finances allow". MSPs backed the general principles of the bill in the first stage of the legislative process, but many asked for more details on the plans. The legislation passed the stage one vote by a margin of 112 votes to four, with six members abstaining. The bill will now progress to the committee stage, before a further debate and vote in the chamber later in the year. The finance committee had backed the general principles of the bill, but said it was "essential" that more information was provided. MSPs called on Finance Secretary Derek Mackay to commission an independent economic analysis of the proposed 50% cut, to be published before or at the same time as consultations begin on rates and bands. Mr Mackay, who argues that the tax is "a barrier to Scotland's ability to secure new direct international services and maintain existing ones", wrote back to the committee saying this review would be carried out. The bill is "enabling" legislation, which sets out how new devolved powers would be used but does not go into detail about rates and bands. A number of groups have voiced concern about this in sessions of the finance committee, including the Chartered Institute of Taxation, who said detail on rates should be included in the legislation. And finance committee convener Bruce Crawford, an SNP MSP, said the group was "disappointed by the government's lack of information on exemptions to the tax, and on the economic, social, financial and environmental impacts" of cutting the levy. Mr Mackay told MSPs that he was listening to recommendations from the committee, saying he agreed that evidence was required and that the tax should be monitored over time. He said he would come back to discuss rates and bands in due course, saying a "consultative and collaborative" approach would be taken, but urged members to back the general principles of the bill and the devolution of the tax in the first place. The Scottish Conservatives have backed the abolition of duties on long-haul flights, which finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said would encourage more direct long-haul flights from Scotland, cutting connecting flights and thus the country's carbon footprint. He said it made sense to have the legislation in place, given it simply creates a mechanism for the implementation of the devolved tax. Scottish Labour also agreed that power over tax should be devolved, and thus backed the bill - but spoke out against the planned cut. Transport spokesman Neil Bibby said cutting the duty would provide "a huge tax break to airlines who simply don't need it". The Scottish Greens oppose cutting aviation tax, but decided to abstain in the stage one vote. Co-convener Patrick Harvie said the bill was "bereft of meaning, intent and purpose", but said it could be fixed later in the legislative process. Meanwhile, the Scottish Lib Dems opposed the legislation, with Mike Rumbles

Summary: Plans for a devolved aviation tax have passed the first legislative hurdle after a vote at Holyrood.


Greater Manchester Police said the corrosive liquid hit a man and a woman in the eyes on Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, Manchester on Friday evening. Shortly afterwards, bleach was thrown at a second man on the same road by a passenger in a silver Ford Fiesta heading towards Audenshaw. Police said those affected were "lucky" to escape serious injury. Insp Cherie Dunn, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "I am so thankful that none of the victims of these senseless attacks has been seriously injured. "We could easily have been dealing with life-changing injuries. "Anyone thinking that throwing bleach at people is funny or that a crime like this does not have consequences couldn't be more wrong. "The victim's here were lucky. Bleach attacks could have had catastrophic consequences."

Summary: A pregnant woman was among three people targeted when bleach was thrown from a car in two separate attacks.


NTS said four chicks had hatched from one nest at the Mar Lodge Estate. One male chick has been satellite tagged as part of the RSPB's Hen Harrier Life project. The species was pushed to the brink of extinction by the early 1900s. Numbers recovered but there are still only about 500 breeding pairs in Scotland. The large raptors are found mainly in moorland areas. Mar Lodge Estate property manager David Frew said: "It is fantastic news and really exciting to see these birds returning to the estate for the first time in living memory. "We have worked hard to create an environment where raptors can thrive, and it is great to see that our approach to management is paying off." Will Boyd-Wallis, from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: "We very much hope that the careful management undertaken by the National Trust for Scotland alongside other estates in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership and in the wider National Park will lead to many more pairs successfully returning to the area." Blanaid Denman, from the RSPB's Hen Harrier Life Project, said the news was "amazing", given the "parlous state" of Scotland's hen harrier population. She added: "National surveys show a 20% decline in just six years between 2004 and 2010 and east Scotland in particular has seen only a handful of successful breeding attempts in recent years. "All this makes the return of hen harriers to Mar Lodge even more exciting and a wonderful cause for celebration." From the end of the summer, people will be able to follow the tagged chick's adventures online via the Hen Harrier Life Project website. In the meantime, Mar Lodge Estate is running an online poll to name the chick.

Summary: Rare hen harriers have bred successfully at a National Trust for Scotland (NTS) estate in the Cairngorms for the first time in living memory.


He was reported missing from Manor Road, Arleston, Telford, in Shropshire at about 15:00 GMT but found "safe and well" at about 18:30. It is not yet known where the boy was found, but he has since been taken to a hospital for a precautionary check-up. Two local women, aged 41 and 53, are currently in police custody. The force launched an urgent appeal following the disappearance, asking anyone with information to contact them. A spokesman said: "We are pleased to confirm that the missing baby boy has been found. "He is currently being checked over by hospital staff and will be reunited with his family shortly."

Summary: Two women have been arrested on suspicion of child abduction after a nine-week-old baby was taken from his home.


Media playback is not supported on this device Bingham, 39, won his first world title in 2015 after beating Shaun Murphy, who comes up against Anthony McGill. Five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Dave Gilbert, world number one Mark Selby plays Robert Milkins and Judd Trump meets Liang Wenbo. Bingham begins his campaign at 10:00 BST on Saturday, playing to a conclusion from 19:00 on the same day. World number two Bingham, who won a shock maiden world title last year despite being a 50-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, drew one of the most difficult qualifiers in Carter. O'Sullivan and Selby will be confident of progressing after gaining favourable draws, but in-form Trump, who won the China Open earlier this month, faces a significant test in 2015 UK Championship runner-up Liang. "The very first match that came out, Trump against Liang, what a first round that is," said World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn. "That will be sensational and my pick for the first round." All eyes were on China's number one player Ding Junhui, who had to qualify after slipping out of the top 16, and he comes up against Englishman Martin Gould. Other standout ties see Northern Irishman Mark Allen come up against world number 74 Mitchell Mann, the only debutant this year, and an all-Scottish clash between Stephen Maguire and Alan McManus. "Just because he is number 32 seed, it still won't be easy," said Allen. "I won the Players Championship, the last tournament I played in, but it is different pressure here. The place brings back special memories and there is so much history here." This year's tournament sees 28 of the top 32 players in the world in action, with every champion from this century looking to win the title again. Full draw Stuart Bingham v Ali Carter Stephen Maguire v Alan McManus Ricky Walden v Robbie Williams John Higgins v Ryan Day Judd Trump v Liang Wenbo Martin Gould v Ding Junhui Mark Williams v Graeme Dott Neil Robertson v Michael Holt Shaun Murphy v Anthony McGill Marco Fu v Peter Ebdon Barry Hawkins v Zhang Anda Ronnie O'Sullivan v David Gilbert Mark Allen v Mitchell Mann Joe Perry v Kyren Wilson Michael White v Sam Baird Mark Selby v Robert Milkins

Summary: Defending champion Stuart Bingham faces two-time runner-up Ali Carter in the first round of the World Championship.


But the objects are just some of the Mary Rose artefacts which have gone on display at Swansea University. Researchers have been examining the artefacts from Henry VIII's warship, which was raised in 1982, to discover more about the ship's crew. Their work has revealed that many of those who perished when the boat sank in 1545 were "superb athletes". Sport physiologist Dr Nick Owen said the skeletons and objects raised with the Mary Rose have given them a "wealth of information". "The abnormalities in some of the crew's radius bones shows that they'd have been supreme athletes," Dr Owen said. "Today an Olympic bow has 48 lbs of tension, but to fire a Mary Rose bolt (arrow) would have taken well over 100 lbs." Dr Owen believes that as well as providing a glimpse into the past, his team's discoveries can offer an insight into the injuries of modern athletes. "You can see similar abnormalities in elite tennis and squash players," he said. "Top sportsmen are singled out for elite training from such a young age. "The cream of archers on the Mary Rose would have been in training since they were seven years old." Dr Owen's team, including scientists from the University of Bradford, have already succeeded in creating an online 3D image of some of the sailors, which can be remotely studied by scientists. The next challenge is to see what lies inside the bones. "Once we can conduct Micro CT scans, we'll be able to see what changes being one of Henry VIII's elite archers caused internally," Dr Owen explained. "These very fine scans will help us discover how their lifestyle and diet affected their bone structure from the inside." The Mary Rose artefacts are on display to mark the university's research and innovation awards evening.

Summary: A boot, some old skeletons and a block of wood might not sound like the type of thing to entice you to Swansea.


Media playback is not supported on this device Captain Thiago Silva set Luiz Felipe Scolari's side on the way with an early goal, and Brazil looked to be set for a comfortable passage into the last four after David Luiz's brilliant second-half free-kick. In a magnificent atmosphere built on a cascade of colour and a wall of sound, new World Cup star James Rodriguez set up a thrilling finale when he pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with 10 minutes left. In a frantic closing phase, Colombia were unable to force the chance that could have brought extra time, and it is the hosts who will meet Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, a game which will be live on BBC One. "It was a fantastic occasion and a great game. Not in terms of quality but in terms of endeavour and passion. "The game was scrappy and bitty but Brazil wanted it that little bit more. Colombia were overawed from the beginning and lost the game after conceding the first goal. "The South American way is win at all costs and you saw that today. Yes, they gave away fouls, yes David Luiz was trying to put James Rodriguez off for the penalty, but if Brazil win this World Cup playing like that nobody will be bothered. "If they lose, different story." But Brazil will be without superstar and main striking hope Neymar, who has been ruled out of the World Cup with a fractured vertebra after being kneed in the back by Juan Zuniga. They will also be missing captain Thiago Silva, who is suspended after being booked. Colombia had complaints of their own, chiefly the lack of protection offered to Rodriguez, who was on the receiving end of some fierce challenges as Brazil sought to nullify his influence. He broke down in tears at the final whistle as he was consoled by the Brazil players who had offered him none of that commodity during a harrowing physical ordeal which proved he has the courage to go with his natural ability. Brazil and their supporters, in contrast, went wild with elation at the final whistle. The goal of reaching the final - and making up for the 1950 World Cup loss to Uruguay in Rio that is still one of this nation's darkest sporting days - lives on. Germany, who beat France 1-0 in their quarter-final, will need to show mental strength to cope with the tidal wave of emotion and support that Scolari hopes will carry Brazil to the Maracana a week on Sunday. Fortaleza offered up a cauldron of noise and a sea of yellow shirts in an atmosphere that ensured Brazil would launch into a series of adrenalin-fuelled attacks. Scolari's hope was to push Colombia into unknown territory and the strategy was helped by a goal built largely on defensive carelessness after seven minutes. Neymar's corner was a routine affair with little serious menace but it was allowed to drift to the far post, where Carlos Sanchez switched off to allow Silva to bundle home.

Summary: Brazil secured a World Cup semi-final against Germany with victory over Colombia on a night of gripping tension and passion in Fortaleza.


Three people were stabbed when thousands gathered for a water fight in the park which descended into violence last week. The 18-year-old man was arrested earlier and remains in custody. Another man, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, have also been arrested in relation to disorder in McDonald's in Marble Arch. Eleven people have now been arrested after the events on Tuesday 19 July. The arrests came after police released a gallery of photos of suspects linked to the disorder that saw three people, including a police officer, stabbed. A second officer suffered injuries from a flying bottle as officers tried to contain aggressive crowds that had gathered.

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stabbing during a night of disorder in London's Hyde Park.


Warnock was appointed on a short-term contract on Thursday, three days after Neil Redfearn's dismissal. Kevin Blackwell, who has worked with Warnock since 1986, will join him at Rotherham as assistant coach. "This is the 14th time I've retired and my 15th comeback, but I do enjoy it," Warnock told BBC Radio Sheffield. "I didn't expect to be here this time last week, but that's football. I've never been a manager just to do things for the sake of it. "I was probably the best bet for them - my wife hasn't been so well but she told me to go for it, and that's what I'm going to do." Rotherham are 22nd in the table and without a win in five games, and Warnock's primary task is to save them from relegation. "I'm only here for 12 weeks and I'm not going to change everything in 12 weeks. I need to get results as soon as possible," he said. "I think when I finish football, the fans will remember that when I've left a club, I don't think I leave them in worse-off situations. "They all have memories of what I've done and enjoyment, and that's what football is about, not falling asleep watching your team play." The 67-year-old has been without a managerial role since December, when he left Queens Park Rangers after a spell as temporary boss. "We know it is going to be difficult, but there will be some players at Rotherham now who will really give me satisfaction," he added. "They are a genuine bunch - there's no bad eggs as far as I can see. The club is the most important thing and we all have to be singing off the same hymn sheet."

Summary: Rotherham United manager Neil Warnock said he does not leave clubs "in worse-off situations" after taking charge until the end of the season.


Jason Chung Yai-Ho, from Glasgow, was last seen in his inflatable red kayak off Traigh beach near Arisaig at about 16.30 on Wednesday. He had set off despite an off-duty police officer warning him not to go out because of squally weather. Two lifeboats, coastguard rescue teams and helicopter and police search dog teams have been involved in the search. The helicopter search was stood down on Thursday night but coastal searches from Mallaig to Gortenachullish continued on Friday and Saturday. Mr Chung Yai-Ho is 5ft 8in tall with short dark hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing a black waterproof jacket, black waterproof trousers and a black buoyancy aid. His car, a red 2003 Toyota Corolla, was found parked near to the beach and has been recovered by the police. A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Over the weekend there will be continued searches co-ordinated by police based in Fort William. "Local officers will be supported by specialist search teams and dog units. Further assistance will be provided by HM Coastguard and the Lochaber mountain rescue team. "If anyone has seen Jason or has any information regarding his current whereabouts or movements prior to when he was last seen on Traigh beach, they are urged to contact police on 101."

Summary: Searches are continuing for a kayaker missing in the Highlands for three days.


The H5N8 strain of the infection was confirmed in chickens and ducks in the Pontyberem area on Tuesday, after the birds were culled. It is the same strain of the virus found in an infected wild duck in Llanelli and turkeys in Lincolnshire. An avian flu prevention zone has now been extended to all of Wales. The Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths made the announcement on Wednesday based on "expert advice." The prevention zone was originally introduced on 6 December 2016 and will be in place until 28 February 2017. It aims to protect poultry flocks and other domestic birds from the disease with enhanced biosecurity measures, such as a requirement for all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors or separate from wild birds. Ms Griffiths said: "My message to bird owners, including to back yard flock keepers, is to adhere to the requirements set out in the prevention zone, remain vigilant for signs of disease and practice good biosecurity at all times." The outbreak has also forced the National Welsh Poultry Weekend event in Pembrokeshire to be cancelled. Speaking on Wednesday, chief veterinary officer Prof Christianne Glossop said: "It's disappointing that the infection, which we first of all found in wild birds in Wales, has seemed to have spilt over into a domestic flock, but it's not surprising. "What we need people to do is to be really vigilant - and we are very grateful to the owners of these birds, that they noticed signs of disease and they called a vet." Prof Glossop said the Pontyberem birds had "quite severe" symptoms. "We know that we are dealing with highly pathogenic flu in the birds in Lincolnshire - so yes - it is quite a virulent stain of the virus," she told BBC Radio's Good Morning Wales programme. The chief vet said bird owners should get veterinary advice if they see symptoms such as their birds: Members of the public have been encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location. Public Health Wales has said the risk to public health was "very low" with the Food Standards Agency having also said avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. Dr Hazel Wright, senior policy officer at the Farmers' Union of Wales, said: "This is a worry for our poultry farmers and anyone who keeps chickens, ducks and other poultry in a small or private capacity. "I urge those who keep birds to follow the official guidelines provided by the chief veterinary officer and practise the highest level of biosecurity."

Summary: The chief vet for Wales has urged poultry and bird owners to remain vigilant following the outbreak of avian flu in Carmarthenshire.


His 14th-minute volley, in the last game of his emergency loan from Celtic, was enough to see off a determined Dumbarton side. The hosts created several openings and will wonder how Christian Nade failed to score from close range. It was not vintage from Hibs, but a potentially important win in the title race as Dundee United could only draw. Technique alone was not enough to separate Hibs from the home side - and both Martin Boyle and Chris Humphrey found early runs affected by a bobbly surface and Marvin Bartley had to hack a Gary Fleming shot clear from inside the area. The visitors had to be resourceful and their shrewdest, most assured figure inevitably delivered a telling moment. When Humphrey's cross was headed away inside the area, the ball dropped to Commons and he carefully steered the ball into the bottom corner. The goal ought to have empowered Hibs, but they were unable to take command of the game. The home side, instead, proved persistent and Lewis Vaughan briefly rose to prominence. First, he created a chance for Robert Thomson with good skill, only for Hibs captain David Gray to make a goal-saving tackle, and then drew a good save from Ross Laidlaw with a powerful shot from 25 yards. Hibs were more assertive after the break, with Boyle making several forays down the left with his quick and direct running. Lewis Stevenson also saw a strike bundled away by Dumbarton goalkeeper Alan Martin, with Humphrey then shooting wide The home side remained ambitious, though, and some neat skill from Vaughan saw him skip past two Hibs defenders only for Laidlaw to rush out and smother the ball at his feet. Gray then had to head another effort off the line. On a rare foray upfield by Hibs, an attack ended with Dumbarton defender David Smith clearing off the line. Moments later, Nade should have equalised at the back post, but failed to connect. Dumbarton manager Steve Aitken: "My team were magnificent. They were up against a strong side, a big club and Neil will get them over the line, but we matched them and for spells were better. On another day, we would have taken more. "We had chances, Christian's probably came too quickly at him. "If they can keep giving me that [level of performance], we'll be fine." Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon: "It was very tough. Dumbarton are on the up, Stevie's going a great job, [and it was] difficult conditions. "It's a fantastic win and in the end we missed some good chances to put a more flattering scoreline on it. "Dumbarton put us under pressure for periods of the game and we had to see it out. In the end, we just about deserved to tip over the line." Match ends, Dumbarton 0, Hibernian 1. Second Half ends, Dumbarton 0, Hibernian 1. Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Tom Lang. Attempt missed. Christian Nade (Dumbarton) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt blocked. Tom

Summary: Kris Commons cracked in the only goal as Hibernian stretched their lead in the Championship to six points.


Podiatrist Steve Hardie, who worked for Peterborough Community Services, has appeared before a Health Professions Council fitness to practise hearing. He is also accused of "rude" behaviour towards two male patients he believed to be a gay couple. Mr Hardie denies misconduct and denies his fitness to practise was impaired. The hearing was told Mr Hardie treated a high-risk diabetic patient who had an ulcer on his foot in May 2005. But he failed to give him a full assessment and gave him a follow-up appointment that was too far in the future to be "in keeping with usual practice", the hearing was told. Mr Hardie later explained his actions to his line manager, Joanna Hood, by saying the patient was an "effeminate man", the tribunal at the Health Professions Council in London was told. Vicky Lord, representing the council, said: "Miss Hood was aware he didn't approve of homosexuality. He had quoted his Christian faith as a reason for his views." Mr Hardie is also accused of walking out of a child protection training session in June 2006 because he believed the trainer had "made passes" at him, including an incident in which the man smiled at him with "eyes twinkling". In a further incident, Mr Hardie has admitted refusing to go into a clinic in February 2007 with a work colleague because of the man's sexual orientation. On another occasion, in June 2009, Hardie asked a colleague to swap a patient, known as Patient D, who was HIV positive. When challenged, he said that "everyone's beliefs were respected except his, and that Patient D's lifestyle was not in keeping with his beliefs because Patient D was 'you know'," Miss Lord said. "He thought that because he was HIV positive he was also gay." In a further allegation of misconduct, Hardie is said to have refused to declare to the trust that he was also undertaking private podiatry work in Peterborough.

Summary: A Christian health worker asked a colleague to treat one of his patients because he believed the man was homosexual, a hearing has been told.


Consignments made out to be genuine brands are being sold by people using fake profiles on buy and sell pages for the south-east of England. Cheap tobacco purchased by BBC South East was found to contain double the lead content and a third more cadmium than genuine products. Facebook said content in breach of its commerce policy was always removed. The cut-price tobacco and cigarettes are being sold through the social media site's Marketplace pages and offer hand delivery. Undercover reporters arranged to meet a seller in Tunbridge Wells and purchased items marketed as Mayfair cigarettes and Amber Leaf rolling tobacco. When analysed, they were found to have higher than normal levels of lead and cadmium - both toxic metals that can cause damage to the liver, kidneys and brain. Jon Griffin, analyst at Kent Scientific Services, said: "We are not good as human beings in getting rid of contaminants. "So the likelihood is you are going to be taking in more of those contaminant metals and they will remain in your system in organs, in the brain, in other organs in the body and you will not get rid of them. "Over a period of time there's a bigger potential health risk." Manufacturer JTI, which makes the real Mayfair and Amber Leaf products, confirmed the items were counterfeit. In a statement, the Weybridge-based company said: "Over the past year, JTI's actions have led to the removal of just under 3,000 listings relating to the illegal sale of its brands on [the social media site]. "These products have an estimated street value of [more than] Â£400,000." Facebook said it investigates any reported prohibited activity and it had removed the post advertising the counterfeit tobacco. Almost identical adverts for tobacco have since been placed on other buy and sell pages, using different profiles, the BBC has found. You can see more on this story on Inside Out South East on BBC One at 19:30 BST on Friday 31 March, and later on the BBC iPlayer.

Summary: Counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco are being advertised and sold through Facebook, an investigation has found.


11 July 2017 Last updated at 15:55 BST On the tiny island of Muck in Scotland there's only one school with just 9 pupils! Muck measures just 2.5 miles from east to west and has a population of around 27 people. Whitney went to spend a day at the island school...

Summary: What's it like to have your whole school in just one class?


In summer 1974, the UK got its first sense that something interesting was happening at a scruffy theatre on Hope Street in Liverpool. A Beatles musical called John, Paul, George, Ringo... and Bert, written by a 26-year-old playwright called Willy Russell and starring unknown actors Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill, Anthony Sher and Barbara Dickson, had become a big hit. It was seen by 15,000 people in six weeks before transferring to the West End, where it ran for a year and won a string of awards. That would have been fairly impressive. But when the show moved to London, most of the Everyman's company moved with it, leaving a big gap back in Liverpool. A young Jonathan Pryce was charged with assembling a new acting company, and signed up Julie Walters, Bill Nighy, Matthew Kelly and Nicholas le Provost to appear in The Taming of the Shrew that October. That play would also have featured Pete Postlethwaite as Petruchio. But he had just accepted another job at the Playhouse, the Everyman's city rival. He came on board for the next production, however, for a period that saw the Everyman act as a springboard for the careers of some of Britain's most popular and acclaimed actors. The story of the Everyman's class of '74 has come to the fore again, but is tinged with sadness following Postlethwaite's death. His conviction and charisma made a big impression on his fellow cast members. "Peter was at the centre of that amazing ensemble in Liverpool in the early 70s," recalls Walters. "I was in a production of Brecht's Coriolanus with him and I have never ever seen anybody act like that. "It was just absolutely extraordinary. Talk about being enthralled - the audience were completely terrified part of the time. "I've never seen anything like that before or since. When he came off stage, his mother said to him: 'Oh Peter, you'll go round the bend if you carry on like that.'" Pryce recalls Postlethwaite as an "enormously likeable, hugely talented, compassionate, political man". "You couldn't help but like him, and audiences loved him. And he had a great sense of fun about him," he says. Pryce puts the theatre's golden spell down to its former artistic director Alan Dossor, who was determined to reflect real life in the region and to draw the city's population in. That included a highly political agenda, with Dossor commissioning plays about local issues and scandals. "The idea was to tackle the political establishment," Pryce recalls. "There were lots of targets at the time, and it was felt that it was possible to do things at a local level." Dossor's determination to put real voices on stage was coupled with an attempt to nurture the talent of his performers. "People were taken care of," says Pryce, who went on to win two Laurence Olivier Awards in the West End as an actor and a pair of Tony Awards on Broadway. "It was a family. You look back on it and think, yes, it was an extraordinary time. For a lot

Summary: Pete Postlethwaite, who died last week, was part of a remarkable group of young actors and writers who started their careers at the Liverpool Everyman theatre in the 1970s, alongside Julie Walters, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce and Willy Russell.


29 December 2016 Last updated at 18:10 GMT Ryan Holmes, 21, has covered more than 2,500 miles so far, running an average of two races a week. His efforts have also raised thousands for Cancer Research in honour of a good friend who is suffering from myeloma. "It's been challenging at times but it's been a good journey," he told BBC South East Today.

Summary: A Whitstable man is aiming to become the youngest person to run 100 marathons when he completes a race in Deal on New Year's Eve.


Residents were evacuated from Kirkennan Drive, Dalbeattie, on Tuesday afternoon after the weapons were found while a house was being cleared. A team from the Royal Logistic Corp examined them and found them to be inactive. The A710 (Port Road) through Dalbeattie was closed for two hours during the alert. A spokesman for the Royal Logistic Corp bomb disposal team said: "The ordnance was fully examined and found to be inactive. It has been removed from the house and we have taken it away."

Summary: Bomb disposal officers have removed a shell and hand grenade from a house in Dumfries and Galloway.


Title-chasing Argyle had stuttered of late with only one win in six games and failed to get a shot on target until their 69th-minute opener when Graham Carey floated a free-kick to the far post from the right-hand edge of the box and Sonny Bradley headed home at the far post. The points were sealed shortly afterwards when Krystian Pearce was booked for a foul on Carey 25 yards from goal and the Plymouth man's free-kick was unstoppable into the top-left corner. Somehow Mansfield had failed to score in a one-sided first half. Inside the first three minutes Ben Whiteman curled wide of the far post and Alex MacDonald forced Luke McCormick to save at his near post after Argyle were caught out by a quickly-taken free-kick. Matt Green was just unable to lift the ball high enough to beat the keeper after reaching Gary Sawyer's short back header after nine minutes. MacDonald wasted two more chances, firing over after great work by Matt Green and tamely volleying at the keeper while Rhys Bennett headed a corner straight at McCormick. Argyle's lone first-half chance came when Carey curled a 20-yard free-kick just wide after 18 minutes. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Mansfield Town 0, Plymouth Argyle 2. Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 0, Plymouth Argyle 2. Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high following a corner. Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Yann Songo'o. Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner following a corner. Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Ryan Donaldson. Attempt blocked. Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Foul by Malvind Benning (Mansfield Town). Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the right wing. Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Gary Miller replaces David Fox. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Alfie Potter replaces Alexander MacDonald. Attempt saved. Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) with an attempt from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation. Hayden White (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Ryan Donaldson (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Ryan Donaldson (Plymouth Argyle). Attempt blocked. Malvind Benning (Mansfield Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Foul by Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town). Ryan Donaldson (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Danny Rose replaces Matt Green. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Shaquile Coulthirst replaces Lee Collins. Goal! Mansfield Town 0, Plymouth Argyle 2. Graham Carey (Plymouth Argyle) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top left corner. Krystian Pearce (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by

Summary: Two goals in five second-half minutes saw Plymouth earn victory after being given a searching examination by play-off chasing Mansfield.


Until now the product - which suggests "answers before you ask" - had been limited to devices running Google's own Android operating system. Unlike the original version, Google Now only works within the firm's Search app on Apple's iOS platform - potentially limiting its appeal. One analyst suggested the launch indicated that the firm's priority was securing the widest audience possible. "Google is going to put its technologies onto other platforms whenever it can draw people into its services," said Brain Blau, consumer technology research director at the consultants Gartner. "They do want to entice people to buy Android devices, but they know not everybody's going to, and they still want to deliver their services - especially for people who are already using their products on iOS." iOS powered 29% of smartphones sold in Great Britain between December and February, according to fresh data from market research firm Kantar Worldpanel. It said Android accounted for a further 58% of the market. Google Now works by offering "cards" filled with information designed to be useful to a smart device user without them needing to type in a search request. It works by accessing the machine's location data, and analysing the contents of the person's Gmail and Google Calendar records as well as their past Google searches. Examples of the results given include: Those worried about privacy issues can restrict which information is stored and used. The cards are accessed by swiping up the bottom section of the Google Search app's screen, and the user can then scroll through a selection of the various categories generated. The facility could potentially draw users away from using Apple's own personalised search tool, Siri, which relies on users instigating a request. However, the fact that it involves more screen presses to access Google's information could discourage some from using it. "The big difference is that Google Now isn't limited to the search product when used on Android - it's connected to the OS [operating system]," said Mr Blau, referring to the fact that the Android version can be activated by a single button press and be set to bring up high-priority card alerts when the app is not open. "So there's a big user interface difference and they may have different usage patterns and interaction paradigms because of that." A comparison chart posted online by Google also shows that the iOS version of Google Now only offers 21 of the 29 types of cards available on Android. Missing categories include Nearby Events which brings up concerts and other shows; Research Topic which offers web page suggestions based on earlier searches; and Fandango which reminds a user when they need to leave home to arrive at a cinema in time for a pre-booked show and then brings up their electronic ticket when they arrive. Several tech sites, including Cnet and The Next Web, have reported that the search firm might next bring the Google Now service to its Chrome browser and possibly its search webpage based on analysis of changes to the firm's code. More will be revealed

Summary: The Google Now service is being extended to Apple's iPhones and iPads.


Russia's Investigative Committee, modelled on the FBI, will question the activists. Six Britons are among them. Their ship, the Arctic Sunrise, is being towed to the port of Murmansk. Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said "all those who assaulted the platform, regardless of nationality, will be prosecuted". The campaigners were detained on Thursday along with their ship after two Greenpeace activists tried to climb onto a Gazprom offshore platform, in a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic. The ship was raided by armed Russian men in balaclavas who abseiled down from helicopters. The ship was seized in the Pechora Sea, near the rig. Greenpeace said the Russian authorities "are holding 30 of our activists". In a statement on Tuesday, Greenpeace said its ship had arrived in a fjord near Murmansk accompanied by a tug boat and the Russian Coast Guard vessel Ladoga. "Greenpeace International lawyers are demanding immediate access to the 30 activists who have been held for over four days without legal or consular assistance. It is still not known whether Russia intends to lay formal charges and Greenpeace has not received any formal contact from the authorities," it said. The environmental organisation said its protest against "dangerous Arctic oil drilling" was peaceful and in line with its "strong principles". "Our activists did nothing to warrant the reaction we've seen from the Russian authorities," it said. The campaigners on the ship are from 18 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Russia, the UK and the US, Greenpeace said. Mr Markin described the protest as "an attempt to seize a drilling platform by storm" and said it raised "legitimate doubts about their intentions". The ship "was loaded with electronics whose purpose was not clear", he said. "It's hard to believe that the so-called activists did not know that the platform is an installation with a high hazard level, and any unauthorised actions on it can lead to an accident, which would not only endanger the people aboard it but also the ecology, which is being protected zealously," he said. Article 227 of Russia's penal code defines piracy as "an attack on a ship at sea or on a river, with the aim of seizing someone else's property, using violence or the threat of violence". It can be punished with a jail term of up to 15 years, depending on the gravity of the offence, and a fine of up to 500,000 roubles (Â£10,000; $15,000). Commenting on the Arctic campaigners, a Greenpeace spokesman said that "as far as we are aware they are in fairly good spirits and no-one has been ill-treated". A British campaigner, Alex Harris, has texted her parents from the ship, saying she is "safe". "Will call when I can. Individuals have not been charged. Just the ship," she added in the message. Earlier Sue Turner, mother of British campaigner Iain Rogers from Exeter in Devon, said: "I've been told they are being treated well by the Russians - I am very relieved". Anthony Perrett, another British Greenpeace activist on the ship, spoke to his partner Zaharah

Summary: Russian prosecutors have accused 30 Greenpeace activists of piracy and say they will prosecute all of them for trying to board an Arctic oil platform.


The DNC's computer network was infiltrated in a "serious" incident, said chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. A cyber security firm has been hired to help, she said, to "kick out the intruders and secure our network". Russia has denied any involvement in the hacking. "I completely rule out a possibility that the [Russian] government or the government bodies have been involved in this," Dmitry Peskov, a Krelim spokesman, told Reuters in Moscow. The hack was first reported by the Washington Post. DNC officials said the hack did not expose personal or financial information but email and chat traffic had been stolen. The group says the hackers, two separated "sophisticated adversaries", have now been expelled from the system, and the breach was first discovered in April. "Both adversaries engage in extensive political and economic espionage for the benefit of the government of the Russian Federation and are believed to be closely linked to the Russian government's powerful and highly capable intelligence services," cyber security firm CrowdStrike said. Other organisations targeted by the Russian groups include presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's networks and some Republicans political action committees, according to the Washington Post. Russian president Vladimir Putin has spoken highly about Mr Trump, who has suggested the US pull out of Nato and described Mr Putin as a man he admires. "The security of our system is critical to our operation and to the confidence of the campaigns and state parties we work with," Mrs Wasserman Schultz said. "When we discovered the intrusion, we treated this like the serious incident it is and reached out to [cyber security group] CrowdStrike immediately." Hackers from Russia were also accused of hacking into President Obama's unclassified emails in 2015.

Summary: Russian government hackers breached Democratic National Committee computers to obtain opposition research on Republican Donald Trump, say officials.


Donaldson is back in training following a lengthy lay-off with a heel injury which has kept him out for the whole of Gianfranco Zola's 16 games in charge. Wigan have lost Sam Morsy, who starts a two-game ban after being booked for the 10th time this season at Blackburn. They are also waiting form a verdict on the severity of fellow midfielder Shaun MacDonald's knee injury. MacDonald went off early at Ewood Park, but the Latics are hopeful he has not suffered ligament damage. Boss Warren Joyce could be back in the Wigan dug-out having watched from the stand on Saturday after undergoing minor surgery.

Summary: Birmingham City remain without Clayton Donaldson and Michael Morrison for the visit of Wigan Athletic to St Andrew's.


West Midlands PC Zaid Malik was off duty when he got into an argument with another driver in Birmingham. He convinced friend Roger Baker, 50, to provide a false alibi. Both denied a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Malik, 51, of Sparkhill and Baker, 50, of Acocks Green, were jailed for 21 months and 12 months respectively. See more stories from across Birmingham and the Black Country here West Midlands Police said the incident took place in Stechford on 26 February 2015. The force said witnesses accused the former Coventry-based PC of being the aggressor, but police decided not to press charges when a seemingly independent account from Baker backed Malik's claim he was the innocent party. Police said investigators became suspicious after revealing inconsistencies in the men's statements. They discovered the two were friends and Baker, of Westfield Road, had not been at the scene of the dispute. Both men were found guilty following a trial and sentenced on Tuesday at Birmingham Crown Court. Malik, of Durham Road, continued to work for West Midlands Police in a role outside the evidential chain up to his court appearance. The force said a special case hearing would be held with Chief Constable Dave Thompson to determine his future. Ch Insp Brian Carmichael, from the Professional Standards Department, said: "We demand the highest standards from all our officers. The public should expect to be treated fairly and respectfully."

Summary: A police officer has been jailed for lying about his part in a road rage row.


Howard, who can play on the wing or in the centre, joined Saints from Western Province in April 2015. The 24-year-old played for the Stormers in Super Rugby and also had a spell with Munster last season. "I am really looking forward to returning to play in the Pro12," said Howard, who won the Junior World Championship with South Africa in 2012. "I am sure that there are good times ahead with a young and exciting squad being assembled and I am looking forward to making the move to Wales." Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones said the region had been monitoring Howard's progress for 18 months. "He is a dangerous attacking player with both strength and pace, and his physical nature of playing will add to our youthful backline," Jones said.

Summary: Northampton's South African utility back Pat Howard will join Newport Gwent Dragons for the 2016-17 season.


The borehole, near Belcoo, will be to collect rock samples and will not involve fracking. Tamboran Resources said drilling will last about 30 days. If the samples show commercially viable levels of gas, Tamboran will begin a process that could lead to fracking. The company said the borehole will be about 15cm across and 750m deep. Residents from the Belcoo area are planning a protest on Monday evening after they said drilling equipment has been installed at a local quarry. Donal O'Cofaigh, a resident and one of the organisers of the protest, said: "There has been absolutely no consultation whatsoever with us despite major concern by local residents and farmers at the potential risk associated with drilling and fracking. "The first we knew that drilling equipment was being installed at the Acheson & Glover quarry was at 5am this morning, when local farmers witnessed the cavalcade of security escorting the trucks." Tamboran are intending to drill using "permitted development rights", which means the firm does not need to apply for planning permission. However, the Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has warned those rights may not apply if the work is likely to have "a significant environmental impact". He said he has instructed officials to "consider carefully" whether or not this is the case. Mr Durkan added that he will make a statement about the Environment Department's decision "in due course". In fracking, a mixture of water, sand and some chemicals are pumped into a well under high pressure to force the gas from the rock. In 2011, Tamboran was granted a petroleum licence for an initial five-year period from the Department of Enterprise to explore for natural gas in Fermanagh. The collection of rock samples is a requirement of the work programme set out by government within the licence. Tony Bazley, director of Tamboran Resources, said this work amounts to "fact-finding, not fracking". "Tamboran's intention at this stage is only to verify that the elements necessary for natural gas and its recovery are contained within the shale in County Fermanagh." He said that the test drilling should quickly show if there is enough gas to make extraction commercially viable. "If we find a significant gas resource, it is likely we will continue to the end of the licence term in 2016. "Before the end of the licence term, a single site would be tested for natural gas if given planning permission." He added that this is "still a long way off and ultimately any decision to use hydraulic fracturing will be made by the government of Northern Ireland". The prospect of fracking has provoked controversy in Fermanagh, with some local people concerned that it could cause environmental damage. The former environment minister, Alex Attwood, has said Northern Ireland should adopt an "enhanced precautionary approach" to fracking. He said that was because it had not yet been proven to be a safe and responsible source of energy.

Summary: The company that plans to use the controversial fracking technique to extract natural gas in County Fermanagh intends to drill an exploratory borehole in August.


The non-binding proposal was approved at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) in South Africa. Conservationists hailed it as a significant step towards ending the current elephant poaching crisis. However Japan, which has a large domestic ivory trade, said the proposal did not apply there. While the international market in ivory has been closed since 1989, legal domestic markets have continued in many countries around the world. There has been growing concern that domestic trading has encouraged the poaching of elephants. A surge in killing over the past seven years has seen populations across Africa shrink by a third, according to the recently published Great Elephant Census. What is driving the slaughter is the value of ivory, which can sell for around $1,100 (£850) per kilo in China. Countries including the US and China have announced plans to close their markets. The UK recently did the same, banning all trade in ivory dated from 1947 until the present day. Trade in materials from before 1947 will continue. While the nations attending this conference are divided on the best approach to protecting elephants, a compromise on the issue of closing domestic markets was arrived at after some heated discussions in a working group. However the measure then passed by consensus. The agreed text calls is not legally binding and Cites can't compel countries to follow, but conservationists believe that it is a strong move as it is the first time that the 183 countries that have signed the Convention have taken a unified position on this question. "It's an important step on the road to closing worldwide ivory markets. It's the first time that Cites has agreed to intervene so directly in domestic ivory," said Robert Hepworth, a former chair of the Cites standing committee. Because it is a compromise, the new resolution does come with a significant caveat. It encourages countries to close their markets where those markets are "contributing to poaching or illegal trade". Some countries, including Japan are likely to argue that their markets don't contribute to poaching so they don't need to close them. Speaking to the Japanese press, the country's environment minister expressed the view that the resolution wouldn't apply to Japan as there was no poached ivory in their market. Campaigners disagree vehemently. "There is evidence that has shown that Japan's market has illegal ivory, fraudulent documents are used and there is ivory from illegal or unknown origins circulating in the market," said Iris Ho, from Humane Society International. "It's very disappointing for the Japanese government to deny the existence of illegal ivory in their markets - Any legal market serves as a very convenient cover for illegal ivory to be laundered." What surprised many of the participants who drew up the resolution was the position taken by China, one of the biggest markets for illegal ivory. According to those involved, the Chinese were looking for an even stronger text on market closure. "China wanted a very clear message that all domestic, legal markets should be closed," said Patrick Omondi who

Summary: Delegates at a UN wildlife conference have endorsed calls for the closure of all domestic ivory markets.


Vale are seven points outside the top six with three games left, but Alnwick says adding to his 13 shut-outs this season is a good target to aim for. "We want to win every game and see where we finish," Alnwick, 22, told BBC Radio Stoke. "Hopefully we can win all of them with clean sheets." Twelfth-placed Vale have won their last two games - including the team they are chasing in sixth place, Gillingham - without conceding. However, they need to win all of their remaining matches and hope for an unlikely set of results to go their way if they are to sneak into the promotion picture. "We're disappointed we're not right in the mix coming into the last few games," Alnwick said. "Our defensive record has been good all year - personally I'm happy with the way things have gone, people were putting us as favourites to go down but we've had a good season." Vale boss Rob Page may choose to stick with the 3-5-2 formation that proved so effective in their 2-0 win at Gillingham, in Saturday's home game against another side chasing a top-six finish, Rochdale. "The manager threw it at us as he wanted to match Gillingham up," he said. "I think it was tactically very well done, the lads liked it."

Summary: Goalkeeper Jak Alnwick is determined to finish the season with three more clean sheets as Port Vale chase an unlikely play-off place in League One.


Chief Muktar Otieno was seized early on Thursday morning on the road to Mandera town, close to the border between Kenya and Somalia. Assistant chief Abdinoor Dakane told the BBC that Mr Otieno was tied to a tree and shot dead by the militants, after locals failed to pay a ransom. Al-Shabab has staged a series of attacks in Kenya in recent years. Kenyan troops are part of the African Union mission battling the Islamist militants in Somalia. Al-Shabab has not yet commented on Mr Otieno's killing. How Garissa has changed Kenya Kenya failings drive al-Shabab recruitment Who are Somalia's al-Shabab? Meanwhile, Kenya has extended an amnesty for al-Shabab militants to hand themselves in by a further 14 days. When making the announcement, Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said some people had already taken advantage of the amnesty but declined to say how many. Mr Otieno was abducted happened 10 km (five miles) from the place where al-Shabab gunmen killed 28 people travelling on a bus in Mandera county last November. According to the assistant chief, who witnessed Mr Otieno's abduction, a group of local elders managed to track down the assailants to a town on the Kenyan-Somali border. The group pleaded with the militants to release the chief, but when they failed to pay a ransom of 4m Kenyan shillings ($42,000; Â£28,000), Mr Otieno was shot dead in front of the clan elders, he told the BBC Somali service. Mr Dakane told the BBC that he was now resigning from his position as assistant chief of Arabia ward because he feared for his life. There has been no official comment yet from the Kenyan authorities. The killing comes at a time of heightened tension over security in Kenya, after Islamist al-Shabab fighters killed 148 people, mainly students, during an attack on a university in Garissa earlier this month.

Summary: Suspected al-Shabab militants have abducted and killed a traditional chief in northern Kenya, a local elder says.