"Another school purge of an LGBT teacher," Timur Bulatov wrote on Russia's version of Facebook, called vKontakte. He professes to be fighting decadence because he is a pious Muslim. He sent a dossier on music teacher Maria Shestopalova to her school bosses in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. She says they then forced her to quit. Ms Shestopalova, 21, told the BBC she had been summoned by the heads of Krasnoyarsk Further Education Centre No 4 immediately after Mr Bulatov's denunciation of her. "Without understanding the situation properly the director rang me on Monday evening and said, very unpleasantly, that she was expecting me in her office at 9:00am on Tuesday, and advised me to tender my resignation," she said via vKontakte. She said they spent six hours questioning her and applying pressure by citing the reputation of the school, the other teachers and her parents. She resigned after that, she said. "Evidently they had no desire to establish who was right and who was wrong. Having decided that this solution would be easier for them they pressurised me, to make me quit." She said the school had sent a letter to Mr Bulatov immediately after the meeting, telling him that she had been fired. She told the BBC that they had treated her "like a child - it was simply inhumane". School director Olga Etsel, interviewed by Russian news website Meduza, denied Ms Shestopalova's allegation about psychological pressure. And she said the meeting had lasted 90 minutes, not six hours. A Russian law passed in 2013 controversially banned the spreading of "gay propaganda" among minors. Reports say the Russian interior ministry is investigating Ms Shestopalova's behaviour. Mr Bulatov condemned her for wearing lip and ear piercings and for "supporting LGBT sexual deviants and promoting homosexuality". He wages his "morality" campaign from St Petersburg. On vKontakte he claims to head a movement called "First Moral Russian Front". He calls himself "Timur Bulatov (Isaev), social activist". Ms Shestopalova accuses Mr Bulatov of hounding her from her job. She says he heaped abuse on her in a telephone conversation, and she is now taking legal action against him. Russia's ban on "gay propaganda" angered human rights activists and the international gay community. The law suggests that homosexuality - described as "non-traditional sexual relations" - is alien to life in Russia. Many homophobic attacks have been documented in Russia. Mr Bulatov told Russian news website Tayga.info that he had "rescued" Russian children from 65 "immoral" teachers. On his site he posted the 31-page dossier on Ms Shestopalova, with a long message denouncing her. "This teacher clearly does not meet the standards of her profession and can harm her pupils. We demand that Maria Shestopalova be sacked for amoral behaviour," he wrote. Ms Shestopalova said she had worked at the Krasnoyarsk school for five years, for a salary of about 8,000 roubles (Â£107; $131) a month.

Summary: A self-styled Russian campaigner for morality in schools has boasted about the dismissal of a teacher he describes as a "lesbian" and "satanist".


And the Ibrox boss is amazed the word "crisis" is being used in the media. "We've played 14, drawn one, lost one - if that's a crisis then there's a crisis in football," said Warburton. "At the start teams saw how we play, it's quite natural then to put eight, nine, 10 men behind the ball - teams will do what they have to do to win." He added: "That's not a criticism, but we have to deal with it and it's tough to break down compact, solid defences of that number of men." Despite winning their first 10 Scottish Championship matches, their run was broken by Hibernian at the start of this month when they lost 2-1 at Easter Road. But Warburton played down accusations that their goal-scoring has dried up, and pointed to their goal difference of 31 after 14 games, which he said speaks volumes about the potency of his squad. "Other teams have gone on a very, very good run of form and teams who dropped points at the start of the season have put a run together," he said. "All credit to them as it's hard to put a run together at any time in football. So I don't think it's Rangers' form dipping, it's other teams improving. "If we are 10, 11 or 12 points clear and we lose three games of football, while the other teams win their games, then I would agree (there is a crisis). Rangers currently sit level with Hibernian on points at the Championship summit, topping the table on goal difference, but have a game in hand over the Edinburgh outfit. The two meet next at Ibrox on 28 December and, while it is on his radar, Warburton said they will not take their eye off the ball in preparation for that clash. "I think it's dangerous to do that, and that's the natural outlook I understand that perfectly and everyone will be saying all eyes are on the 28th, but I think we've got to look at the fact that that's a banana skin - you've got to watch games in between. "There's no point focussing on the game four or five weeks ahead if you drop points in the meantime." Striker Martyn Waghorn, meanwhile, who has scored 17 goals in Rangers' 14 league fixtures, is not worried about finding the net. "We've not been as clinical in front of goal or not scored as many goals as we could have, but that's down to other teams sitting in more defensively, holding their shape and making it difficult for us," he said. "But we've only lost one game and everyone is saying we're going through a slump - that's crazy, but something we've got to deal with. "It gives us a challenge on a Saturday, how to break teams down and find different ways to score." Waghorn believes the current pressure is simply part and parcel of playing for Rangers; he too welcomes the competition at the top of the Championship. "Hibs are level with us now and it's going

Summary: Rangers manager Mark Warburton denies his side are enduring a slump in form, and said their recent goal-scoring record is down to tougher defences.


The 5000-1 outsiders won the first top-flight title in their 132-year history on Monday when challengers Tottenham could only manage to draw with Chelsea. O'Neill, who led the club to two League Cup wins, said the remarkable rise "will live long in the memory". "Personally, I don't think we'll see it in our lifetime again," he added. The Republic of Ireland boss said Leicester's achievement rekindled memories of his involvement in Nottingham Forest's glorious run under Brian Clough in the late-1970s. "It's the greatest achievement, obviously, of the century, although that's just 16 years old," the former Northern Ireland international said. "And I think since Nottingham Forest away back in 1977-78, when I was a member of the team that came up from the old second division and won the [top division] at the first time of asking, this is the greatest achievement since then." O'Neill, who managed Leicester from 1995 until 2000, was full of praise for the Foxes' boss Claudio Ranieri for guiding the club to glory after they were tipped for relegation at the start of the season. "Ranieri deserves all the credit in the world, the players have been simply sensational, the owners have been terrific as well," he said. "It's been a great story. "Everything about it - from away back last year when they just avoided relegation, to this magnificent rise - it has been incredible and so romantic." Gerry Taggart, the former Northern Ireland centre-half who played almost 150 games for Leicester, said he hoped the club's triumph would change English football "for good, for the better". "I've been saying for the last six or seven weeks that I believed Leicester would go on and win the title," he said. "I've watched a lot of this team this season and it's just mind-blowing the way they've got to where they are. "The way they play football is good for the game." Taggart returned to Leicester in a coaching role after his playing career and had a brief spell as caretaker manager, and he said the way in which the club is run has helped drive it to success. "The backroom staff at Leicester City are first class, they've spent a lot of years trying to perfect what goes on behind the scenes," he said. "This is as much about them as it is about the players or the manager, to be honest." Taggart gave credit to Ranieri for his man-management skills that helped to draw odds-defying performances from his players, most of whom had never before come close to reaching these heights. "He simplified the game for them, let them go out, express themselves when they've got the ball," Taggart added. "But it's been especially good to see when they haven't got the ball everybody is contributing to the side. "That's what has got them over the line - pure and simple teamwork."

Summary: Leicester City's crowning as Premier League champions is an "incredible and romantic" story, the club's former manager Martin O'Neill has said.


The 25-year-old is one of the hottest properties on the transfer market. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has made his signing a top priority. The Reds refused to comment on renewed speculation but it is expected they will intensify efforts to reach a deal with both Southampton and the player. Chelsea and Manchester City have both been heavily linked with the defender, who joined Southampton from Celtic for £13m in September 2015. But BBC Sport understands Van Dijk wants to move to Anfield in what would be a major coup for Klopp and Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, who are willing to spend big after qualification for next season's Champions League. Liverpool still have to reach an agreement with Southampton - and a demand for a fee well in excess of £50m could mean negotiations will be complicated before any deal nears a conclusion. Former club Celtic are also understood to have a 10% sell-on agreement. Van Dijk missed the final five months of the season after sustaining an ankle injury following a challenge by Leicester City's Jamie Vardy in Southampton's 3-0 win at St Mary's on 22 January. It forced him to miss Southampton's EFL Cup final loss to Manchester United at Wembley.

Summary: Liverpool are poised to win the race to sign Southampton's £50m-rated Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk after it emerged he wants to move to Anfield if he leaves St Mary's.


As the victims struggle with the misery of damage, mud and ruin, officials say we have entered an era of "unknown extremes" of weather and they want a "complete rethink" of how flooding is handled. Some aspects of the response are infinitely improved from earlier disasters. The emergency teams from organisations as diverse as the fire brigades, the RNLI and the police are far better co-ordinated than they used to be. In Carlisle earlier this month, I saw one mountain rescue team, well-equipped with an inflatable boat, ropes, torches and radios, inch through deep water in total darkness to carefully and tenderly deliver a frightened woman to safety. But however professional the response, questions are inevitably raised about why this effort is needed in the first place, with people demanding to know why their communities were not better defended. And that leads to a sense of anger that as victims of flooding feel ignored or let down by the authorities for failing to keep them safe. I first witnessed this during the summer of 2007 in Hull, where thousands of families were displaced by floods with some still in temporary housing a year later. One family I interviewed were incensed at the prospect of facing a second Christmas in a chilly caravan. Earlier this month, residents in Carlisle, who had watched the construction of a £38m flood-defence scheme just five years before, reacted with fury as it was overtopped by rising waters. We have heard anger too from Leeds City Council which, like many northern authorities, believes that Whitehall favours the South when it comes to allocating funds for flood defence - though the government insists that the North does better on a per capita basis. And anger has been voiced in York in the past few days as the Environment Agency made a fateful decision to lift the Foss Barrier, a key part of the city's flood defence system. With the barrier's electrical motors at risk of flooding - something which itself will face investigation - staff feared that the barrier, if left lowered, could become stuck there, trapping the waters of the Foss and causing more flooding. But, in turn, the raising of the barrier inevitably meant some homes would be flooded anyway - fewer than would have been hit with the barrier left in place, says the EA, but this is a source of deep irritation for many. Along with the despair and the anger comes another dimension: scrutiny. This starts as soon as floods start to cause damage and in some cases the arguments are unchanging year after year. At its simplest are decisions about the scale of government funding - whether the £2.3bn allocated by the government over a six-year period is enough and, crucially, where to spend the money. The longstanding Treasury rule is that for every £1 devoted to flood defence, there must be an economic benefit of at least £8 - a principle which is designed to make saving homes the priority. So cities, with their dense populations, will attract more than rural areas

Summary: Every bout of flooding triggers a predictable cycle of despair, anger and scrutiny, but this one has provoked an unprecedented level of criticism and questioning.


Of the 78 seats contested, the Conservatives have taken 51, which represents 45.9% of the vote. It is five more than the 46 seats they won in 2013, when 77 seats were contested. The Liberal Democrats have taken 18 seats, two more than the 16 they won in 2013 and Labour have nine, six fewer than the last vote. The turnout was 34.1%. Election 2017: Full results from across England The leader of the council's Labour group, Leon Reefe, who had held the Borehamwood North division since 2013, lost his seat to Tory Susan Brown. In Stevenage, Labour lost three seats out of the five they held. Labour's Sharon Taylor, who held her county council seat and is standing in the general election, blamed the former UKIP vote going to the Tories. She said: "UKIP didn't put candidates up in many of our county seats." Sitting Conservative MP Stephen McPartland, who will defend his seat in June, said: "It's a fantastic result. There's been a very, very warm reception from voters on the doorstep and we've been rewarded tonight." In Conservative-controlled Hertfordshire, as expected, we've not seen a seismic change. The Tories have more county council seats than in 2013 - adding five extra seats - even if you take into account that this time there are 78 councillors up for election - one more than in 2013 thanks to boundary changes. The Lib Dems have made progress, gaining an extra two seats in the county, including taking St Albans North from Labour. They still have five seats in St Albans - although they lost St Stephen's ward to the Conservatives - with the party claiming it reflects their pro-European stance in the city which voted against Brexit. Labour have lost six seats, including their leader on the county council, Leon Reefe, plus three seats in Stevenage. Sandy Walkington, re-elected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for St Albans South, said the party's positive attitude towards Europe had been well-received in the city. "Ann Main [the sitting Conservative MP] should be trembling in St Albans for her parliamentary seat on the back of these results, given it's so close to the general election," he said. "If you read the social media in St Albans, it really is showing that people have been touched and interested by the fact that we are the party that is saying 'hang on, we don't have to go down the road to hard Brexit'."

Summary: The Conservatives have extended their control at Hertfordshire County Council.


Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights has been developed after four years of research by the Scottish Human Rights Commission. The plan aims to improve human rights protection in Scotland. The commission's evidence suggests basic rights are not consistently promoted, respected or protected in people's every day lives. The Scottish government, the NHS, Amnesty International and various other organisations including trade unions and local authorities were involved in creating the action plan. Areas of concern when drawing up the document included: care, disability rights, health, criminal justice and business. Commitments have been made by the bodies behind the plan to integrate human rights more closely into their work. Commission chair Professor Alan Miller said: "Today, International Human Rights Day, Scotland is taking a big step towards building a country where everyone can live a life of human dignity. "The Scottish Parliament has human rights at its heart, it created the Scottish Human Rights Commission and today Scotland's first National Action Plan for Human Rights is launched as the next step on Scotland's journey to progressively realise internationally agreed human rights for the benefit of everyone." Although this is the first human rights action plan in the UK, they do exist in other countries, such as Sweden, Spain, New Zealand and Australia. Nils Muiznieks, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights said: "Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights is a bold venture which aims to bring human rights home in people's everyday life. "It signals a strong commitment to internationally agreed human rights standards which is particularly significant in the current context of economic crisis and austerity." Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The plan is an important milestone in our journey to create a Scotland which acts as a beacon of progress internationally. "We will continue to work with the Scottish Human Rights Commission to make rights a reality for all in Scotland, in keeping with the importance this Government has long attached to human dignity, equality and fairness and the pursuit of social justice."

Summary: A human rights action plan has been launched in Scotland, in a move described as a "UK first".


The Vikings are top of the table with five wins from their opening six games and next face Wigan on Thursday. "You've got to be on your game and the lads and coaches are working hard to prepare and are reviewing how we can get better," Betts said. "It's how we train and carry ourselves, those things don't just turn up." Since regaining their Super League license in 2012, Widnes have failed to finish in the top half of the table. Last season they went through the Qualifiers to retain their top-flight status, but Betts says they are better equipped to succeed this season. "Working hard and making it happen week in week out, that's a skill and it's something that we've not been able to do throughout the last three years," Betts told BBC Radio Merseyside. "We've got some distinctive, confident players so we've scored some points and passed the ball really well and asked some questions." Media playback is not supported on this device After Widnes thrashed Hull FC 46-6 last week, Betts admits he is finding it difficult to rotate his squad with his side performing so well. "The tough thing at the moment is we've got three or four lads who you want to try and give some game time to, like Paddy Flynn, Pat Ah Van and Tom Gilmore," he added. "It's hard to get Tom into the game and I know I'm going to have to use him. I need him fit and need him to get some game time, but it's hard when the half-back pair is playing as well as it is."

Summary: Widnes Vikings boss Denis Betts says their strong start to the Super League season is a reflection of their meticulous work in training.


Lt Gen HR McMaster told ABC News there was consensus with China that this was a situation that "could not continue". The comments come after a failed missile test launch by North Korea and a massive military parade. President Trump had earlier said China was "working with us" on the issue. Beijing, Pyongyang's biggest ally, has come under pressure from Washington to exert more pressure on its neighbour. Sunday's comments appear to be the first confirmation that both countries are working together on how to deal with the North Korean issue. Gen McMaster, who was in the Afghan capital, Kabul, said the latest launch "fits a pattern of provocative and destabilising and threatening behaviour". "The president has made clear that he will not accept the United States and its allies and partners in the region being under threat from this hostile regime with nuclear weapons," he said. "I think there's an international consensus now, including the Chinese and the Chinese leadership, that this is a situation that just can't continue." President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed North Korea during a meeting last week. Mr Xi offered co-operation on "communication and co-ordination", the BBC's Robin Brant in Shanghai reports. Earlier on Sunday, South Korean and US military officials said a North Korean missile had detonated soon after launch. The US Pacific Command said it believed it to be a ballistic missile. Investigations were continuing, but one unnamed US official said it was unlikely to have been an intercontinental (ICBM) missile. Ballistic missiles follow high trajectories and are initially powered and guided, but fall to their target under gravity. ICBMs follow a sub-orbital trajectory, others stay within the atmosphere. North Korea's aim is to be able to put a nuclear warhead on an ICBM that can reach targets around the world. Pyongyang has claimed to have miniaturised nuclear warheads for use on missiles, though experts have cast doubt on that given the lack of evidence. The state has already conducted five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches in contravention of UN resolutions. It has suffered test failures in the past but they have not deterred its development programme. Meanwhile, US Vice-President Mike Pence is on a 10-day tour of Asia intended to reassure allies of US commitment to their security. In the South Korean capital, Seoul, Mr Pence called the failed launch a "provocation". He is set to discuss North Korea with acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson meanwhile issued another warning to North Korea after its failed missile launch. "They must stop these belligerent acts and comply with UN resolutions," he said. On Friday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that the situation in the region was escalating, and that "conflict could break out at any moment". Adding to the tension in the Korean peninsula, a US aircraft carrier group is steaming towards the region.

Summary: The US and China are working on a "range of options" on North Korea, the US top security adviser has said, as tensions mount over the country's nuclear and missile programmes.


Emergency services were called earlier after reports two men were in the water at the mouth of the Wear, near to the Old Pier, Sunderland Yacht Club. It is believed they went into the water to swim and got in to difficulty, police said. For updates on this and other North East stories. One of the men has been rescued, along with two 17-year-old women.

Summary: A sea search is under way for a 17-year-old after three teenagers were rescued after jumping off a dinghy off the North East coast.


The oil firm boss is a Conservative party donor and also made donations to the EU Remain campaign. He also gave Â£500,000 to the Better Together campaign ahead of the Scottish independence referendum. He featured on a list leaked to the Sunday Times newspaper. But he has written to both Mr Cameron and his successor Theresa May asking for his name to be withdrawn from the list "if indeed I was being considered". In a statement, Mr Taylor, the chief executive of Vitol, said: "In recent days, speculation in the media has suggested that I may be recognised in the forthcoming resignation honours list. "This has been accompanied by seriously inaccurate comments about the company I lead. "In these circumstances, I think it is right I request that my name does not go forward, if indeed I was being considered for an honour. "I will, of course, be continuing to participate actively in all the causes that I and my family passionately believe in, notably broadening access to the arts for everyone." The Sunday Times newspaper said the ex-PM had chosen to reward cabinet colleagues, donors and staff. Mr Taylor, whose wealth was estimated at about Â£175m in 2015 in the Sunday Times Rich List, backed the Better Together campaign for Scotland to remain part of the UK in the 2014 referendum with Â£500,000. The then first minister, Alex Salmond, called for the money to be paid back due to controversy about Vitol. The firm was heavily fined by a New York court in 2007 after admitting making payments to the national oil company in Saddam Hussein's Iraq which were outside the remit of the UN's oil for food programme. It was also reported to have paid $1m to a Serbian paramilitary group as part of an oil deal in the 1990s, although the company said it had not acted illegally.

Summary: Businessman Ian Taylor, who was reportedly in line for a knighthood in David Cameron's resignation honours list, has said he does not want his name to go forward.


In a televised address, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said "evil" forces were conspiring against the country but would not succeed. A range of groups have called for demonstrations, including against the handing of two islands to Saudi Arabia. Security has been stepped up across the country and at key sites. The protests have been called in defiance of an anti-protest law that gives the authorities the power to ban gatherings of more than 10 people. Monday is also a national holiday that marks the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982. President Sisi's decision earlier this month to cede control over the two Red Sea islands sparked a rare public backlash against him. He was forced to defend the move, saying the islands - Sanafir and Tiran - had always belonged to Saudi Arabia. Egyptian troops have been stationed on the islands since 1950 at the request of Saudi Arabia. Critics, though, have objected to the way Mr Sisi has handed them back to Saudi Arabia, saying it is anti-constitutional. In his speech on Sunday, Mr Sisi said there were "people calling once again for damage to [Egypt's] security and stability. "Our responsibility is to protect security and stability, and I promise Egyptians that no-one will terrorise them again." Troops have been deployed to key areas of Egypt's main cities, and agents have reportedly rounded up dozens of activists, journalists and lawyers from their homes and cafes in Cairo. On Monday, three journalists were arrested in central Cairo, the Associated Press news agency quoted a Press Syndicate member as saying, though the grounds for their arrest are not known. The BBC's Orla Guerin, who is in the Egyptian capital, said in a tweet that pro-Sisi supporters had attacked a colleague while a policeman stood by. The colleague was "ok", she said. Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar said security forces would "confront with extreme rigour any attempt to disturb public order", AFP news agency reports. Observers say public dissatisfaction with Mr Sisi has grown recently because of the poor state of the economy and recent alleged cases of abuse by security forces. As commander-in-chief of the armed forces in 2013, Mr Sisi led the military's overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi following mass protests against his rule. Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and 40,000 are believed to have been jailed in a sweeping crackdown on dissent, most of them supporters of Morsi's now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Local and international human rights activists say the situation in the country is dire, with Amnesty International saying Egypt has reverted "back to a police state".

Summary: Egypt's president has warned against what he called attempts to destabilise the state, ahead of planned anti-government protests.


On Monday the number of cars on the road in Paris will be cut in half - only motorists with odd-numbered plates will be allowed to drive. Public transportation will be free as well car-sharing and bike-sharing programmes. Similar measures were put in place last year when pollution soared in Paris. The city saw a severe spike in smog on Wednesday last week and briefly had the world's dirtiest air, AP news agency reported quoting Plume Labs, a monitoring company. The mayor's office announced at the weekend that alternating number plate measures would be implemented on Monday, with exceptions for electric or hybrid vehicles as well as emergency vehicles. Public transport is free on Monday in Paris and surrounding towns to try to entice drivers to leave their cars at home. About 750 police officers were being mobilised in the city and its suburbs to enforce the traffic restrictions which went into effect at 05:30 local time (04:30 GMT), Le Monde newspaper reported. Other cities are also imposing various restrictions.

Summary: The French authorities have introduced measures to combat a sharp increase in pollution affecting Paris and other cities in northern France.


Tariq Hameed Karra described government policy as "brutal" and condemned his People's Democratic Party for its state-level alliance with the BJP. He quit his party and resigned from parliament. More than 80 people have been killed since wide-scale riots erupted in early July. The mass closure of mosques in Kashmir hampered the festival of Eid al-Adha this week. "For the first time in history, the people of Kashmir were not allowed to offer Eid prayers. Certain shrines and even the Grand Mosque were locked,'' Mr Karra told reporters on Thursday. "Kashmiri blood is being spilled on the walls, lanes and drains of the valley," he added. The demonstrations were sparked by the killing of a popular militant leader, Burhan Wani, 22, in a gunfight with the army. Disputed Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan and has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years, causing two wars between the neighbours. Within the disputed Muslim-majority territory, some militant groups have taken up arms to fight for independence from Indian rule or a merger with Pakistan.

Summary: An MP from the ruling party in Indian-administered Kashmir has resigned to protest against the way authorities' have handled weeks of political unrest.


The 27-year-old was getting off the Southeastern train at West Wickham, Bromley, when the doors shut on her. The driver did not see the woman on CCTV and moved off, dragging her along. She then fell under the train. Southeastern said it had offered support to the woman after the "terrible incident" in April 2015. The report was carried out by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). A Southeastern spokesman said the company had offered to help the woman "as much as possible since the accident". Read more on this story and others from London The woman had tried to free the stuck bag strap but she was pulled along when the train moved and fell underneath it, resulting in "life-changing injuries", the report said. Investigators found she was able to open the doors two seconds after the driver had begun the door closure procedure, but was given no indication that they were about to shut. The RAIB recommended all operators who have trains which use power operated doors should make modifications to ensure passengers always had a safe amount of time to use them. They also said drivers should watch train doors while they are closing, as well as checking all doors are shut correctly. Neither the driver, who was a trainee, or their supervisor saw the woman on platform monitors and only found out about the accident later. Southeastern said it had "worked very closely" with the RAIB and has "complied with all the recommendations and learning points they have made". A spokesman said this included altering the doors on Southeastern trains to ensure they always remain open for a safe period of time.

Summary: A woman was seriously injured when her bag got caught in a train door, dragging her along the platform and on to the track, a report has revealed.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 26-year-old Scot became the first Briton in 77 years to win the Wimbledon men's singles title with victory over Novak Djokovic in the summer. British and Irish Lions player Leigh Halfpenny was runner-up at the ceremony in Leeds, with jockey AP McCoy third. BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 is broadcast live from Belfast on Sunday, 20 December from 19:00 GMT on BBC One. Further coverage on BBC Sport's online platforms and Radio 5 live.

Summary: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is named the 2013 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.


The remarkable victory means the Devils have a five-point advantage over the second-placed Giants. New signing Jerome Leduc scored twice and Mike Forney got the other as the Giants took control of the contest. Mark Richardson gave Cardiff hope and Sean Bentivoglio got it back to 3-2 before Joey Haddard equalised and Patrick Asselin netted the winner. It was a devastating final period for the Giants who had hoped to cut the Devils lead to a single point. Now Derrick Walser's men must pick themselves up immediately as they host Cardiff again in Belfast on Saturday night. As befitting a clash between the top two teams, the game started at a frenetic pace which lasted the entire first period. Both keepers were kept busy but it was the Devils' Ben Bowns who was beaten first as debutant Giant Leduc, signed only this week, finished with aplomb in front of goal to give the home side the lead in the 14th minute. With 48 seconds of the period remaining, a Forney shot sneaked past the unsighted Bowns to raise the roof at the SSE Arena as the Giants snatched a two-goal advantage. Leduc's fine start in a Giants shirt continued in the second period when he slammed in his second goal of the night to make it 3-0 on a Belfast power play. The visitors were not daunted by that deficit and came back hard at the Giants with a number of impressive saves from Stephen Murphy keeping the three-goal margin intact. But there was an almighty twist in the tale. The Devils struck early in the final period as Richardson arrowed the puck into the top corner of the net past Murphy. Now it was the small but vocal contingent of fans from Wales who were making all the noise in the arena as the scoreline became 3-2 as a Bentivoglio shot was deflected into the net off Giants' player-coach Walser, setting up a tense finale. Haddard then made it 3-3 with less than six minutes remaining. Then, incredibly, Patrick Asselin's close-range finish completed a remarkable turnaround by the Devils in what could well have been a huge step towards the Elite League title.

Summary: Leaders Cardiff Devils came from 3-0 down to beat their main rivals for the Elite League title in Belfast.


It comes as Mr Cahuzac admitted to having had a foreign bank account. The ex-minister had until now denied a report by investigative website Mediapart that he kept an undeclared Swiss bank account until 2010. Mr Cahuzac - who gained a reputation as a vocal crusader against the use of overseas tax havens - quit in March. Mr Cahuzac said he made the admission about the bank account during a meeting with investigating magistrates on Tuesday. In a statement, he said he had about 600,000 euros (£509,000; $770,000) in the account. He also asked for forgiveness from French President Francois Hollande and his former government colleagues. "I was caught in a spiral of lies and lost my way. I am devastated by guilt," the statement said, quoted by the AFP news agency. "It was an unspeakable mistake to think that I could avoid confronting a past that I wanted to consider behind me. I will now face this reality with all transparency," the statement said. Mr Cahuzac had earlier insisted that he had done nothing wrong. He was a plastic surgeon before entering politics. Correspondents say the scandal is embarrassing for the French Socialist government which has made fighting tax evasion a priority, as it tries to cut public debt.

Summary: Former French Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac has been placed under formal investigation over alleged tax fraud, his lawyer has said.


The Scots are preparing for friendly matches against Italy in Malta on Sunday and France in Metz on 4 June. "We can definitely get to the World Cup," said the Cardiff keeper. "We've got a good group of young lads coming through, so we don't see it [the Euro 2016 failure] as a last chance." Gordon Strachan's men begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against Malta in September. Their qualifying group also contains England, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania. Marshall concedes it will be tougher to qualify for the World Cup than the Euros, but believes good showings in the upcoming friendlies can set them up for a successful campaign. "It's only the top two in the group that proceed so it's going to be harder," said the 31-year-old, who should add to his 22 caps against Italy and France. "We're going to come up against England in the qualifiers, so the higher level you play against benefits everybody. "For the young lads coming in and getting that experience, it's going to be big games, big atmospheres, especially the France game over there. "The better the team you play against, the harder the game, but it definitely benefits us in the long run. "Obviously the disappointment was there from the Euros, but I think we can take a lot of belief and confidence from a lot of the games." With Marshall's chief rivals for the Scotland goalkeeping jersey - Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon - absent from the squad, the former Celtic stopper feels it is a good opportunity for him to cement his place for the national side. "I'm just looking to keep playing," he said. "I've got an opportunity now to probably play most of the two games because Craig and Allan have pulled out. "Hopefully I can get the two games, do well again and keep my place."

Summary: David Marshall says Scotland's failure to make Euro 2016 was not their "last chance" to qualify for a major finals, insisting they can make it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.


TUV Rheinland, which awarded EU safety certificates to the French implant manufacturer, "neglected its duties of vigilance", the court said. PIP (Poly Implant Prothese) was shut down in March 2010 amidst a worldwide health scare. The company used sub-standard silicone gel, causing many implants to rupture. Q&A: Breast implants health scare Six implant distributors and 1,700 women had sued TUV Rheinland for 50m euros (Â£42m), arguing anything but a cursory inspection would have found problems. The plaintiffs in the civil case will be given an initial payment of 3,000 euros per victim for surgery to have the implants removed. Jan Spivey, a British woman who received PIP implants as part of reconstructive surgery following breast cancer in 2002, said she was "delighted" with the ruling. "Of course TUV has some responsibility and should be held to account. They're the organisation that gives the CE certification for safety, and that was what my surgeon relied on when he gave the implants to me. "Anybody that gives safety certification for a product that is going to make women very sick does have responsibility," she told the BBC's Newshour programme. It could open the door to many more compensation claims, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris. TUV Rheinland had won two previous cases in Germany. This was the first such case in France. The German firm has said it will appeal against the verdict. TUV Rheinland awarded PIP - formerly one of the world's leading suppliers of implants - its European safety certificate for 17 years. The founder of PIP, Jean Claude Mas, is still on trial for aggravated fraud in Marseilles, along with four of his executives. He revealed during police interviews that he had ordered employees to hide the unauthorised silicone when inspectors visited his factory. It has since emerged the substandard gel was used in 75% of the implants. The court heard an employee in charge of quality control had only a cooking diploma - another in charge of the lab had previously trained as a pastry chef, our correspondent says. A ruling is expected in Jean Claude Mas' case on 10 December.

Summary: A French court has ordered a German company to pay compensation to hundreds of women who were fitted with defective breast implants.


Rafael Benitez's side have won just twice in the last eight to slip seven points adrift of leaders Brighton. Huddersfield can also move to within five points of Newcastle with victory at Derby in the 17:00 BST kick-off. Freddie Sears put Ipswich up and David McGoldrick and Emyr Huws goals sealed the win after Daryl Murphy levelled. Sears opened the scoring in a dramatic climax to the first half at Portman Road, with Matt Ritchie sending a diving header wide just moments before for the visitors. With Murphy on target against his former side, Newcastle looked to have their aspirations of an immediate return to the Premier League back on track. However, Sears set up McGoldrick up for the Tractor Boys' second with 20 minutes remaining before Huws made it 3-1 in the 93rd minute. The visit of promotion-chasing Newcastle was celebrated as 'Sir Bobby Robson Day' at Portman Road, with the late former England boss revered as a managerial legend at both clubs. Newcastle, who Robson guided to third in the Premier League in 2002-03, now need eight more points to guarantee promotion, irrespective of other results, while Brighton need just two more points to seal the Championship title. Robson, who has a stand at Portman Road named after him and a statue outside, led Ipswich to FA Cup success in 1978 and Uefa Cup victory in 1981. Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy: "I think our performance was a great tribute to Sir Bobby Robson and I think the game was a fitting tribute to him. "The Sir Bobby Robson Day was a lovely thing to do and it was nice to be part of it. "It was our best performance of the season. I told my players we were going to be playing in front of 25,000 people and I wanted them talking about us at the end in a positive manner." Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez: "I am concerned about the change in my team's performance from Leeds on Friday to the performance today. We know we have to win our games and now we have to change and improve. "We knew it was going to be this kind of game but we were not ready - it seems we were not mentally ready. "We made mistakes and we got paid for it. We have to all take responsibility, we win together and we lose together." Match ends, Ipswich Town 3, Newcastle United 1. Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 3, Newcastle United 1. Attempt missed. Grant Ward (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Goal! Ipswich Town 3, Newcastle United 1. Emyr Huws (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Brett Pitman with a cross. Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United). Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Jordan Spence. Jesús Gámez (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Brett Pitman (Ipswich Town). Attempt saved. Grant Hanley (Newcastle United)

Summary: Newcastle's bid for automatic promotion continued to stutter as Ipswich Town made it two defeats in three matches for the second-placed Magpies.


14 September 2015 Last updated at 11:49 BST Brothers George Skrzynecky and Lucian Poznanski were born in Germany after their Polish mother was sent to a forced labour camp. When she became ill and could not look after them, the twins were taken to Poland and adopted separately. For many years they did not know each other existed. In the 1960s George, who now lives in America, tried to find his brother but he could not be traced. But after a successful search last year the twins have finally been reunited. Watch the clip to see the moment the twins meet each other for the first time.

Summary: A pair of twins, separated at birth at the end of World War Two, have been reunited after almost 70 years apart.


England's last one-day international tournament meeting with the Black Caps ended in an eight-wicket defeat at the World Cup in February 2015. Morgan says that heavy loss was like "men against boys", with New Zealand going on to reach the final. "It's completely different now, two years down the line," said Morgan. England recovered later that year to beat Brendon McCullum's tourists 3-2. Another victory in Tuesday's match, which starts at 10:30 BST, would put them into the Champions Trophy last four, after New Zealand's game with Australia on Friday was abandoned because of rain. "We've got a completely new team, pretty much," added Morgan. "A lot of it has to do with confidence. We come into this tournament full of confidence. "The dominant factor in New Zealand was that they had that confidence, whereas we didn't." Morgan's side face Australia at Edgbaston on Saturday in their final Group A game. Steve Finn has replaced injured all-rounder Chris Woakes in the squad and Morgan says the Middlesex seamer was an automatic choice. "It was backing up consistency in selection and trying to get guys together as a group that we've showed trust in over the last couple of years," he said. "We've tried to go like-for-like as often as we can. But when we can't, we go for a guy we can throw the ball to at any stage in order to try to make an impact in the game. "Finny is one of those guys, and I'd have no hesitation in playing him if we felt it was the right thing to do."

Summary: England captain Eoin Morgan says his side have the confidence to beat New Zealand in Cardiff on Tuesday and reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals.


Police said a number of charities and businesses in counties Down and Armagh were targeted by men passing counterfeit Â£20 notes on Thursday. It involved premises in Banbridge, Dromore, Ballynahinch, Moira and Newtownhamilton. Four men, aged 20, 22, 31 and 45, were arrested on suspicion of fraud in Newtownards town centre. They were detained when officers on patrol in High Street stopped a black vehicle after they noticed "suspicious" activity. The men are currently assisting police with their inquiries.

Summary: Four men have been arrested in Newtownards, County Down, in connection with a fake banknotes investigation.


Timothy Smith, 57, was pushed during the robbery in The Drive, Hullbridge, at about 23:00 GMT on 19 March. He fell heavily on to a low level wall and suffered a serious brain injury. He died two days later. A 50-year-old man from Southend has been detained on suspicion of murder, robbery and possessing a firearm. Detectives are appealing for anyone who saw a Ford transit van in or near Ferry Road, or two men at or near a bus stop on Ferry Road in Hullbridge on 19 March between 19:00 and 23:00 GMT, to contact them.

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of committing a murder during an armed robbery in Essex.


A government directive said they would be transferred to Thengar Char before being repatriated to Myanmar. Rights groups have raised strong objections to the plan, saying it amounts to a forced relocation. Thengar Char is engulfed by several feet of water at high tide, and has no roads or flood defences. It was formed about a decade ago by sediment from the River Meghna, and does not appear on most maps. The low-lying land is around 30km (18 miles) east of Hatiya island, which has a population of 600,000 - and nine hours' journey from the camps where the Rohingya have taken shelter. An official in the region told the AFP news agency Thengar Char was "only accessible during winter and is a haven for pirates". The official said trees had been planted in a bid to protect the land from flooding, but these efforts were at least a decade off completion. "It completely inundates during the monsoon," the official told AFP. "It's a terrible idea to send someone to live there." In Myanmar, the Rohingya are denied citizenship and treated as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. But in Bangladesh too they are unwanted - leaving them persecuted, impoverished and effectively stateless. Officials say an estimated 65,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since October, fleeing violence in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine. Some 232,000 - both registered and unregistered - were already living in Bangladesh before that influx, many in refugee camps with poor facilities. Now the Bangladesh government has set up a committee of state officials to help identify and relocate undocumented Myanmar nationals. A push to attract tourists is being blamed in part for the proposal, which has the backing of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Cox's Bazar, which houses 32,000 Rohingya in a squalid refugee colony, is home to the world's longest unbroken beach and Bangladesh's largest resort. Officials fear the presence of the Rohingya may put off would-be holidaymakers.

Summary: The Bangladesh government is moving to relocate tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees to a vulnerable island in the Bay of Bengal.


A judicial review into the project's funding has been dismissed, allowing the Championship side to press ahead. "It's like an early Christmas present," Groves told BBC Radio Cornwall. "The good news means that we can now crack on at the beginning of next year with getting the refinancing [of the club] organised." Pirates have been attempting to make progress with their proposed 6,000-capacity ground for several years, but it has been complicated by Cornish football side Truro City also wanting to build a new stadium. Asked when work on the prospective stadium will start, Groves added: "That's the question - my guess is sometime in the middle of next year. "The first stage is refinancing and recapitalising the Pirates, the second is around the stadium design and building a sustainable business, and the third phase is around a rugby partnership." The rugby partnership is with Super Rugby franchise Waikato Chiefs, whose chairman Dallas Fisher is visiting England in January. Groves says there could be potential for player swaps with the New Zealand side in future. "That is an idea going forwards, probably a couple of years down the track," he said. "I would describe it more like IP [intellectual property] swap - coaches, and maybe one or two players. "The first thing we've been focusing on at the moment is steadying the ship. I don't think people realised how bad the financial situation was at the end of September - the Pirates were pretty close to going into bankruptcy or administration."

Summary: Cornish Pirates director Colin Groves has estimated that work on the Stadium for Cornwall will start "in the middle of 2017".


The story started trending on Twitter, so we asked big-boned felines on the social network to not only show off their claw-some body shapes but also to give their views on the pay disparity. This is, of course, just a tongue-in-cheek look at the serious issue of pay discrepancy - but if you feel you have any pictures that would help us encapsulate stories making the news, then do get in touch and tweet @BBC_HaveYourSay.

Summary: It is "Fat Cat Tuesday", the day of the year by which, according to campaign group the High Pay Centre, the average FTSE 100 chief executive will have earned more than the average annual salary.


A spokesman for the US authorities said the operation had targeted high-level members of the cartel. The spokesman said the operation had dealt a strong blow to the criminal organisation. It comes weeks after the leader of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquin Guzman was arrested after six months on the run. Inside the feared Sinaloa cartel 'El Chapo' Guzman and the Sinaloa cartel The spokesman, for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency said they had helped Mexican police target a Sinaloa cartel cell operating around the Mexican city of Sonoyta, along the border with the US state of Arizona. He said it was responsible for importing millions of dollars of illegal drugs, including cannabis, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine into the US from Mexico during its existence. The operation was conducted in total secrecy with police working in both Lukeville and Sonoyta, bordering cities that are on the route to the Puerto Penasco, the popular beach destination many Americans know as Rocky Point. Mexican police officers had been allowed into the US to keep them safe during the operations the US immigration authorities had said. The arrests are the latest blow to the Sinaloa cartel, following the recapture of Guzman, also known as "El Chapo" (Shorty). He was arrested a few weeks ago after six months on the run, following his second escape from a high-security Mexican prison. According to Forbes Magazine, Guzman is the world's most powerful drug trafficker. The cartel is responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that enter the U.S. via Mexico. Drug enforcement experts estimate, conservatively, that the cartel's annual revenues may exceed $3 billion. This February the city of Chicago branded him the first "Public Enemy No. 1" since Al Capone.

Summary: Mexican police working with US agencies have arrested 24 members of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel in a joint border operation.


The Baby Blacks - who won the tournament from 2008 to 2011 - ended England's two year hold on the trophy. England went in front through Max Clark, who burst through, before New Zealand hit back through Vince Tavae-Aso to lead at half-time. Akira Ioane went over from close range to extend their advantage, as Otere Black added four penalties. England beat South Africa in the semi-finals, while New Zealand went through to the showpiece after thrashing France in the last-four. The New Zealand juniors performed the haka before kick-off, but England started confidently, going ahead through Bath centre Clark. After a slow start, New Zealand got back into the game as Tavae-Aso powered over for a narrow 11-10 half-time lead. Ioane bundled himself over early in the second half, before being sent to the sin bin, and although Rory Jennings kicked four penalties for England, they relinquished their hold on the trophy.

Summary: New Zealand won the World Rugby U20 Championship for the fifth time after beating England 21-16 in Italy.


In 2015, a coroner ruled Cpl James Dunsby, L/Cpl Corporal Edward Maher and L/Cpl Craig Roberts died as a result of neglect on the 16-mile march. The report, commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, said failures at multiple levels led to the deaths. The MoD said recommendations in the report were being addressed. The report has been published by the independent watchdog, the Defence Safety Agency, which monitors the MoD on its behalf. It concluded: "These reserves currently remain vulnerable to a further incident in the future." The soldiers had been taking part in a recruitment exercise on what was the hottest day of 2013. The report said the officers in charge did not plan for the weather, and health and safety guidance was inadequate. A combination of "cultural drift" and uncertainty about the role of the reserves in general meant that no-one questioned whether the gruelling training was appropriate for part-time soldiers, it said. The report echoed concerns raised in investigations by a coroner and the Health and Safety Executive which, in March 2016, said the MoD would be censured - the highest action the HSE can take. An MoD spokesperson said: "Our deepest sympathies remain with the families of all three soldiers and, with all the recommendations from this report having been or being addressed, we are committed to doing all we can to ensure such a tragic event cannot happen again." Cpl Dunsby, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, L/Cpl Roberts, from Penrhyn Bay, Conwy, and L/Cpl Maher, of Winchester, Hampshire, had been on course to complete the exercise within the allocated time but were found in three separate locations at different times. An inquest found they died after suffering the effects of hyperthermia - or overheating.

Summary: A new report into the deaths of three soldiers during an SAS exercise in the Brecon Beacons in 2013 has concluded it could happen again.


It took Kenya 140 tournaments to break their duck and they are only the second African nation after South Africa to win a World Series leg. Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta said on Twitter: "Join me in congratulating the Kenya Sevens Rugby Team on their remarkable win." Rugby Sevens will feature for the first time in this summer's Olympics in Rio. Kenya, who have qualified for the Olympics in the men's and women's event, opened up a 20-0 half-time lead over the favourites with two of their four tries from Collins Injera. Fiji, coached by former England Sevens coach Ben Ryan, briefly rallied after the break, but Kenya held firm and scored two further tries to seal a convincing win. Kenya have shot up to seventh in the standings after their 22-point haul in Singapore, with Fiji extending their lead at the top to eight points over South Africa with two rounds remaining in France and England. South Africa, beaten narrowly by Fiji in the semis, finished third after thrashing Argentina 28-0. Samoa landed the second tier Plate title after causing another upset in beating New Zealand, Scotland edged United States to land the Bowl and Russia crushed Wales to win the Shield. Have you added the new Top Story alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add alerts for your rugby union team, cricket scores, football and more.

Summary: Kenya shocked Fiji 30-7 in the final of the Singapore Rugby Sevens to claim their first World Series title.


Grant is one of a number of voices to criticise the playing surfaces in Gabon and he declared "five injuries so far have been down to the pitch". The Israeli added: "The main actors are the players and we need to give them the stage to perform well. "The organising committee should change the rules to let teams replace players who got injured due to the pitch." Grant highlighted the problem facing Group D rivals Egypt, who have only veteran stopper Essam El Hadary available after injuries to Ahmed El Shenawy and Sherif Ekramy but under tournament regulations cannot call up another goalkeeper to their squad. "Two of Egypt's goalkeepers got injured due to the pitch. It is not their fault and not fair to them," Grant said. "We cannot change the pitch now so let Egypt bring in another goalkeeper. They cannot stay with one 'keeper, even if we have to play against them, it's not sporting." Tunisia defender Syam Ben Youssef believes the playing surface in Libreville - one of four pitches being used in Gabon - is so bad that his side will have to change their style when they face Zimbabwe there for their final Group B match. So far the Carthage Eagles have played both their matches in Franceville, which is seen as the best of the four pitches. "Of course (it will affect us) I think we have technical players we like to play," Ben Youssef said. "But it's usual for us to play in Africa on bad pitches so we have to win and not care about the pitch." Burkina Faso midfielder Adama Guira is also unhappy with the state of the pitches - but resigned to it at the same time. After the Stallions' 1-1 draw with hosts Gabon in Libreville on Wednesday, he warned that players need to be careful in the conditions. "To be honest it is very hard to play on that kind of a field because you can't control your running and stopping so it's difficult," he said. "But we are in Africa and we are Africans so we'll do our best for our country." Pitches are just about thinking and having the money - Caf must think about it It is not just the pitch at the Stade de l'Amitie in Libreville that has been criticised. Mali's Bakary Sako was less than impressed with the surface in Port-Gentil after his side's goalless draw with Egypt. "The pitch is horrendous it's really tough to control the ball, to drive with the ball, everything is tough," said the midfielder who plays his club football for Crystal Palace. "You have to be focussed 100% but it is the same for both teams so we have to get on with it." It is a problem that is not confined to the Nations Cup according to Grant, who revealed he was taken aback by the pitches when he first arrived in Africa as Ghana coach in November 2014. "Africa has great champions but you can't play on these pitches," he told BBC Sport. "I

Summary: Ghana coach Avrant Grant believes the poor pitches at the Africa Cup of Nations are damaging the players.


The number four seed from Tipton averaged 94.10 against Harms to reach the last four at Lakeside, where he will play 2013 champion Scott Waites. "I played very well but I'll probably have to play better," Hughes, 29, told BBC Sport. "It's going to be tough but I'm going to enjoy it." He continued: "I'm on so much of a high at the moment, I'm not thinking about what's coming up. I just want to enjoy this moment." Hughes was frustrated with below-par displays in the opening two rounds but showed real quality against Dutch fifth seed Harms to get to a Lakeside semi-final for the first time in his career. "That's what I've been waiting for all week," added Hughes. "I've been saying that if I clicked, someone was going to get a right hammering. That's given me a massive confidence boost." By reaching the last four, Hughes has automatically qualified for next year's World Championships. "When I came here, the semi-finals were the aim," he said. "I should be a more relaxed person over the next year because I haven't got to do as much of the circuit around Europe."

Summary: Jamie Hughes believes he must improve on his 5-1 quarter-final win over Wesley Harms to reach the BDO World Championship final.


The rise of the far-left Podemos party and centrist Citizens means the next general election, at the end of this year, is set to be a four-horse race. For over three decades the Socialists (PSOE) and centre-right Popular Party (PP) have alternated in power, accounting for over 70% of the vote in past general elections. But the impact of austerity policies and a focus on corruption has created unprecedented uncertainty. And the "indignant" protest movement, which camped out in Madrid's central square in the summer of 2011, changed the nation's viewpoint on corruption. The shift has been highlighted by an opinion poll that puts the one-year-old Podemos in the lead on 22.5%, the Socialists second with 20.2%, the PP third on 18.6% and Citizens, or Cs as the party has branded itself, with 18.4%. A former PP treasurer revealed wholesale illegal financing of his party while the Socialist regional government in Andalusia oversaw a fraud totalling hundreds of millions of euros diverted from funds meant to help the unemployed. Both are now stuck with the label of "la casta" (the caste), a term coined to great effect by Podemos. Podemos is the brainchild of a group of leftist political science university lecturers, headed by gifted orator Pablo Iglesias. Only four months after they were founded, they attracted 8% share of the vote in last May's European elections. Podemos argues Spain's crisis was a swindle on the part of the country's financial and political elite and vows to renegotiate its debt to its creditors in the same way as Greece's radical Syriza government is doing. Under Podemos, evictions of homeowners would be halted and welfare guaranteed for families hit by Spain's 24% unemployment rate. "We didn't set up Podemos to become like the PSOE or PP - historical parties for our children and grandchildren to join as heirs of the founders," says the party's chief political analyst, Carolina Bescansa, a university lecturer. "Our idea was to create a tool to allow people to join a participative process." Podemos plans to open up government and submit major governmental decisions to referendums. Citizens has existed in the Catalan parliament since 2006 under the leadership of Albert Rivera, a lawyer who came to prominence through his stand against Catalan nationalism. Last year he was engaged in talks with UPyD, a Spanish centrist party, which shares Citizens' desire to limit the autonomous powers of Spain's regions. When negotiations broke down on electoral co-operation with UPyD, Cs decided to go it alone on the national scene and is now selecting candidates for a spate of regional and local elections taking place before the end-of-year parliamentary poll. Podemos and Cs both insist on primaries to select electoral candidates and share the diagnosis of a Spain mired in corruption and economic ruin. But they offer different cures. Podemos seeks to boost internal demand by raising income levels in poorer homes. Cs wants to reduce wasteful government layers, encourage investment and boost education. "We need change and we need transparency, but it has to be sensible change," says Citizens' economic coordinator

Summary: The emergence of two new parties has blown Spanish politics wide open.


Peter O'Brien, a 51-year-old married father of six, from Llanishen, Cardiff, and Mark Sim, 41, from Caldicot, Monmouthshire, were killed in the blast in the basement of the rod and bar mill at Celsa Steel in Splott. Five men were also injured. The company is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and police to determine the cause of the blast. Search dogs were seen being taken to the site on Thursday while specialist search teams have also been involved. The alarm was raised at about 10:30 GMT on Wednesday and dozens of emergency services vehicles were sent to the scene. Firefighters tackled an "extremely difficult" fire in the basement of the building, where five people were injured. One was treated at the scene and four were taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Three of them have since been discharged.

Summary: Searches are continuing for the bodies of two men who died in an explosion at a Cardiff steelworks on Wednesday.


The top flight has been without a backer since May 2013. Speaking at a Scottish Football Association convention, Hearn said: "If you worked for me you'd be sacked. You have so much good in Scottish football, so many positive things, but you don't sell yourself. "You don't do enough for yourselves. I'm seeing too much self pity." The SPFL, which covers all four senior divisions, was established just before the 2013-14 season but has yet to attract a title sponsor. "You've been in the shadow of the English Premier League and you've almost given up to be honest," said Hearn, the chairman of World Snooker and the Professional Darts Corporation and former owner of English League One club Leyton Orient. "That's a bit brutal and it is a generalisation, but if you don't believe in yourself, how on earth can anyone else believe in you?" Hearn also insists the ban on alcohol in football grounds should be lifted for the good of the Scottish game. "It's archaic in today's world for a customer not to be able to buy an alcoholic beverage at a function or a sporting event," he continued. Lifting the alcohol ban, introduced after trouble at the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers, was one of a number of suggestions from Hearn to help improve the customer experience in Scottish football. "What you have to do is make sure fans behave themselves," he said. "That's a security issue for you. If you can't keep your establishment secure, there should be no booze, but you shouldn't have a blanket ban on alcohol throughout Scottish football." Football finance expert Joe McLean also spoke at the convention and said the idea of Scottish football switching to a summer programme should be discussed again. "There are obvious challenges and obvious difficulties," said said McLean, of Grant Thornton LLP. "But other countries, Scandinavian countries, for example, and Russia, have a different programme. "It doesn't stop these countries fielding teams who feature in European tournaments like the Europa League and the Champions League."

Summary: Sports promoter Barry Hearn says it is "disgraceful" the Scottish Professional Football League cannot find a sponsor.


The Plane Stupid demonstration on 13 July led to delays and the cancellation of 22 flights. The activists, who were protesting against plans to expand the airport, allegedly cut a hole in a fence and chained themselves to railings. Supporters chanted "No ifs, no buts, no third runway!" outside the court. Sheila Menon, one of the accused, read a statement outside Uxbridge Magistrates' Court. She said the pollution and noise caused by air traffic at Heathrow was already blighting the area. She said the proposed expansion - recommended by the Airports Commission in its final report last month - was driven by "wealthy frequent flyers" rather than ordinary holidaymakers. Plane Stupid's actions were "reasonable, justifiable and necessary", said Ms Menon. The activists were charged with aggravated trespass and entering a restricted area of the airport without permission. They were bailed on condition that they do not enter Heathrow or its perimeter, with a trial expected to begin on 18 January.

Summary: Thirteen climate change activists have pleaded not guilty to charges of trespassing on Heathrow's north runway.


Atherton, 28, became the first rider in history to complete a perfect downhill World Cup season and then won a fourth World Championship title a week later. However, the downhill discipline is not an Olympic sport. Atherton said: "I'm proud and content with what I have achieved. I don't need the validation of an Olympic medal." Other British riders have changed disciplines in the pursuit of winning Olympic medals. Mark Cavendish, the only member of the 2008 Beijing Olympic track team to miss out on a medal, returned to the velodrome for the 2016 Rio Games and was rewarded with silver in the omnium. He quit this year's Tour de France early, after winning his 30th career stage in the three-week road race, to focus his attentions on Rio. And four-time BMX world champion Shanaze Reade is also heading back to the more controlled environment of track cycling for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Reade, who won world team sprint titles in 2007 and 2008 with Victoria Pendleton, missed out on Olympic BMX medals in 2008 and 2012 despite starting as favourite because of the "lottery" nature of the sport. Atherton said: "I definitely used to want to switch to track at some point but in mountain biking you spend a lot of time outside in the mountains - I think I would miss that lifestyle. "Mountain biking has a huge following and a life on its own without [downhill being included in] the Olympics." The Trek factory rider has won 13 downhill World Cup races in a row, including all seven this year to win her fifth title. Atherton could now target the two-day enduro races, which include both uphill and downhill sections. "That would be a huge challenge, having the fitness to do that, but it is something that I would be pretty excited to give a go," she said. And, after a year "beyond anything" she imagined, Atherton has returned home to a small village north of Aberystwyth for the off-season. "It is surreal getting back into home life. It is pretty cool to bring the trophy home to this tiny village in the middle of Wales," she said. "When you are at the top of your sport it is a stressful thing, it is hard to enjoy because you are so focused. "I'm actually looking forward to a year enjoying racing a bit more and not having to prove myself is going to be nice."

Summary: British world champion Rachel Atherton does not feel the need to go chasing Olympic medals despite dominating downhill mountain biking.


The 24-year-old beat GB team-mate Alfie Hewett 6-2 6-1 in 54 minutes to collect his second medal in Rio. On Thursday, Reid and Hewett had to settle for silver in the doubles event, losing out to French pair Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer. Reid won the inaugural singles title at Wimbledon this year as well as the Australian Open title. "I felt I hadn't played that well on the big stage until Australia this year and ever since then I've enjoyed every match on the big stage," said Reid after his latest triumph. "I was nice and relaxed and managed to play one of the best matches of my life. "Me and Alfie know each other inside out. We train together, we play doubles together. It just felt like anything I tried tonight came off. "It's an incredible feeling. I'm really clear headed at the moment but I might just lose the plot as soon as I get back to the locker room."

Summary: Scotland's Gordon Reid won Paralympics gold in the wheelchair tennis singles final.


Government air strikes in recent days have pounded rebel-held areas of Aleppo, where more than 250,000 civilians are trapped. Britain's permanent representative to the UN said the attacks had "unleashed a new hell on Aleppo", which he described as war crimes. In the middle of the conflict there are at least 100,000 children, aid agencies estimate. On Sunday, Save the Children warned that approximately half the casualties being treated in eastern Aleppo were children. It said injured children were dying on the floors of hospitals due to shortages of equipment and medicines. "Across the board things have never been worse for Syrian children," the group's humanitarian emergencies spokesperson, Caroline Anning, told the BBC. Rawan has reportedly lost her entire family, including four siblings, Sky News reports. But why are children so badly affected in the battle for Aleppo? Syria's population, like that of many other countries in the region, is relatively young, with an estimated median age of 24.1. About half of the nearly five million refugees who have fled Syria are children. But eight million children remain in the war-torn country, according to Unicef. In eastern Aleppo, Save the Children estimates about 40% of the besieged population are children. While this means the recent casualty numbers it reported appear to be roughly proportionate with the population, it is out of step with what should be happening in a war zone. In war, you should expect to see a much higher population of adult males being killed in frontline action, Ms Anning says. "But what we have seen in Aleppo in the last couple of days is totally indiscriminate bombing from the air," she says. "So children are impacted just as much or more than adults in those situations." These tactics, combined with a continued siege preventing anyone from leaving the area, has created one of the worst situations for Syrian children in more than five years of war. When bombs rain down on densely populated urban areas like eastern Aleppo, there is nowhere to escape. And children are inherently vulnerable. "They will often be playing outside, their movements will sometimes be less predictable, they may not instinctively run from danger," Hannah Stoddard, advocacy director for the War Child charity says. This is compounded by the fact that school and hospitals, places where children are more likely to be present, are being targeted by the Syrian government. In terms of injuries, children are also at greater risk. Blood loss is more devastating for them and fractures occur more easily. The images of Alan Kurdi, Omran Daqneesh and now Rawan Alowsh might have captured fleeting global attention, but they are by no means exceptional cases that happened to be captured on film. Rescue teams are finding children every day under piles of rubble. "What pictures don't show is the mental scars that [these] children carry with them," says Ms Stoddard of War Child, which works with Syrian refugee children in Jordan. "In the majority of cases, these children have lost one or more family members. They may be the sole survivor." An immediate

Summary: The haunting cries of five-year-old Rawan Alowsh, pulled alive from rubble in Aleppo by her ponytail, have reminded the world once again that behind the politics of Syria's civil war are millions of vulnerable children.


Speaking in South Carolina, Mr Huntsman endorsed the candidacy of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Mr Huntsman received just 17% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary despite campaigning extensively there. He has struggled to build momentum in South Carolina, where the conservative vote is traditionally strong. The Palmetto State goes to the polls on Saturday to pick a candidate for the Republican nomination. The Huntsman campaign had difficulty gaining traction nationally, attracting about 1% to 2% in most opinion polls. As he announced his withdrawal from the race, Mr Huntsman, who pitched himself at his campaign launch as a "civil" candidate who would not play dirty, bemoaned the state of the Republican contest. By Mark MardellBBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full Profile: Jon Huntsman "This race has degenerated into an onslaught of negative and personal attacks," he said, calling on the Republican party to unite behind a single candidate. "Divisiveness is corrosive," he added, saying that the "the current toxic form of our political discourse does not help our cause". Mr Huntsman, 51, is a fluent Mandarin speaker and served as US President Barack Obama's first ambassador to China. In the early 1990s he became the youngest head of a US diplomatic mission for a century when he was appointed ambassador in Singapore. Mr Huntsman's withdrawal from the race came the morning after he received an endorsement from The State, the largest newspaper in South Carolina. They called Mr Huntsman and Mr Romney the "two sensible, experienced grown-ups in the race'', but said the former ambassador was "more principled" and offered "a significantly more important message''. Mr Huntsman threw his support behind Mr Romney, calling him the candidate most likely to defeat President Obama in November's presidential elections. Acknowledging differences between him and Mr Romney - whom Mr Huntsman sharply criticised in recent weeks - he said he would nevertheless support the former Massachusetts governor. Grover Norquist, a prominent advocate for tax reform, writes in Politico's The Arena that "there was a possible Huntsman strategy. He just needed to get started earlier... He could have been Wisconsin's Scott Walker before Walker. He could have been Chris Christie." But The Washington Post's The Fix wonders whether there was ever a way for the Huntsman campaign to have influenced the race: "He needed a vulnerable Romney. And Iowa was the entire field's best chance to show that Romney's front-runner status was shaky at best. Huntsman couldn't have beaten Romney in Iowa, but he could have kept the former Massachusetts governor from winning." Meanwhile, The Caucus blog at the New York Times questions how much of an impact Huntsman's backing will make to the Romney campaign: "The endorsement may not significantly change the shape of the race, but it could inject a new dynamic into a debate Monday night on the Fox News Channel." Paul West writes in the LA Times that the Huntsman campaign probably failed to meet its own targets: "It's unlikely that Huntsman met his own goals as a presidential candidate, and an argument can be made

Summary: Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman has ended his presidential campaign, saying that "negative and personal attacks" have marred the Republican race.


Sources suggest the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and its task force may sail through the English Channel overnight, after leaving the North Sea. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the ships would be "man-marked every step of the way" while near UK waters. However, Nato said Russia had the right to operate in international waters. The Russian task force's journey comes amid heightened tension between Russia and Nato. "We will be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe," Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said. The Ministry of Defence said at about 13:00 BST the task force was "in the middle of the North Sea heading southwards". At that stage it was understood to be about 100 miles (160km) off Edinburgh, but the MoD has not provided any further updates. Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, escorted by the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, sailed from Portsmouth on Tuesday to track the Kuznetsov group as it headed south from the Norwegian Sea, By Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent If, as anticipated, the Admiral Kuznetsov and its task force are heading for the eastern Mediterranean, this will be the first ever combat deployment for Russia's only aircraft carrier. A Ministry of Defence spokesman says that the Russian flotilla could pass through the Strait of Dover on Thursday, though it could be significantly delayed if the carrier conducts flight operations or has to stop to refuel. Two of the Russian vessels carry land attack cruise missiles and the carrier has an unknown number of aircraft on board. These will enhance Russia's firepower off Syria but this is, above all, a demonstration of force projection; a signal from Moscow that it can deploy its military might when and where it chooses. Russia's naval battle group: Power play or theatre? Russia already has about 10 ships off Syria, which have fired cruise missiles during Russia's bombardment of what it says are anti-government rebels in Syria. The deployment comes as a "humanitarian pause" in attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo in Syria begins. The temporary truce is part of a plan to allow civilians and fighters to leave, and Russian and Syrian air strikes have been halted since Tuesday. Russian actions have created alarm in the West and, arriving at her first Brussels summit as UK prime minister, Theresa May said it was important to have a "united European stance" against "Russian aggression", which included "sickening atrocities" in Syria. Downing Street sources said Mrs May had told EU counterparts that Russia's actions had "undermined the West's efforts" to provide a political settlement in Syria. The Admiral Kuznetsov is the only carrier in the Russian navy. It can carry more than 50 aircraft and its weapons systems include granit anti-ship cruise missiles. Former Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told BBC Radio 4's World at One that Russian President Vladimir Putin was engaged in "risky posturing", and the West needed to respond with tougher sanctions against Russia. "I'm not an admirer of Vladimir Putin, but he plays a weak hand rather well, because he knows that

Summary: Two British warships are shadowing an aircraft carrier and other Russian naval ships as they pass the UK on their way to Syria.


Bite The Ballot and Hope not Hate aim to sign up 500,000 young people to vote by the 7 June registration deadline. They say interest in the 23 June poll is high although the campaign is perceived as being dominated by "old men shouting at each other". Young people are twice as likely not to be signed up as the public at large. In five weeks' time, the UK will decide whether it should remain a member of the European Union or not, with British citizens aged 18 and over and specified others entitled to vote. It will be the first public vote on the country's future in Europe for more than 50 years. Amid concerns about levels of youth turnout, efforts are being stepped up to encourage young people to sign up to vote in time to take part. Those who registered ahead of the local and national elections on 5 May do not need to re-register. The #TurnUp campaign, which launches on 31 May, is focused on getting young voters to encourage their friends and colleagues to sign up at events in universities, youth clubs, workplaces and cafes. A survey of 1,300 18-30 year olds carried out by YouGov suggests 51% are closely following the referendum, 39% are not while 10% are avoiding coverage of it altogether. While the majority - 52% - of those polled said the economy was the most important issue in determining how to vote, the research found low levels of trust in those representing either side in the referendum debate. Only 10% of those canvassed trusted politicians to make the case for either a Remain or Leave vote, while the figures for the media (13%) and business leaders (16%) were only slightly higher. In contrast, teachers and academics scored much higher levels of trust (72%) as did other young people (50%). Bite the Ballot's director Mike Sani said it was vital the campaign was not merely the preserve of politicians and business people. "We need to act now to ensure those unregistered are empowered and inspired to take a role in the decision-making process," he said. "Young people will be living longest with the outcome and the risk of not engaging them in the issue is too big to ignore." And Hope not Hate said there would be serious consequences if young people were shut out of the debate. "It is vital they get registered but also vital for both Remain and Leave campaigners to address the concerns of the young far more directly," said its chief executive Nick Lowles. "We know that if they don't, and the voices of the young are not heard, disaffection can breed alienation. That in turn can act as a potent lure for extremists and others who would divide society." The groups say 30% of all 18-24 year olds are not registered to vote at the moment and, of those who signed up to vote in last year's general election, only 54% ended up voting - much lower than other age groups.

Summary: Young people must be "inspired not ignored" in the EU referendum debate, campaigners said as they began a drive to boost turnout among 18-24 year olds.


The ex-England hooker, 57, won the competition with Devon in 2004 as a player and as coach in 2007, and played in Cornwall's triumphant 1991 campaign. Dawe has been Cornwall head coach since 2013, leading them to victories in the 2015 and 2016 Twickenham finals. "It's a nice local game for me, but I'm travelling as a Cornishman," he said. "I'm 100% behind Cornwall, there's no emotion at all." The game will be played at Ivybridge on Saturday, with Cornwall favourites as they continue their pursuit of a hat-trick of County Championship titles against a Devon side who were only promoted to Division One because of a restructuring of the competition. Devon head coach Dan Parkes played under Dawe at Plymouth Albion, and acknowledges his side are underdogs. "It's going to be hard, the boys are going to be up against it," he told BBC Sport. "For Graham the pressure is on, but I'm sure they'll get to their third final. "The better we can do, the more likely we can attract players next year. Players play for Cornwall because they know they have a great chance of reaching Twickenham."

Summary: Graham Dawe says he has "no emotion" ahead of his Cornwall side's County Championship game at Devon, who he previously played for and coached.


A year ago, he was a member of the government of one the most unpopular French presidents in history. Now, at 39, he has won France's presidential election, defeating first the mainstream centre left and centre right and now the far right as well. No doubt about it, Mr Macron was carried to victory in part by the winds of fortune. A public scandal knocked out the initial frontrunner, centre-right candidate François Fillon; and Socialist candidate Benoît Hamon, already on the left fringe of the party, suffered a very public drubbing as traditional voters looked elsewhere. "He was very lucky, because he was facing a situation that was completely unexpected," says Marc-Olivier Padis, of Paris-based think tank Terra Nova. Luck doesn't tell the whole story. Mr Macron could have gone for the Socialist ticket, but he realised after years in power and dismal public approval ratings the party's voice would always struggle to be heard. "He was able to foresee there was an opportunity when nobody could," says Mr Padis. Instead, he looked at political movements that have sprung up elsewhere in Europe - Podemos in Spain, Italy's Five-Star Movement - and saw that there was no equivalent game-changing political force in France. In April 2016, he established his "people-powered" En Marche! (On the move) movement and four months later he stood down from President François Hollande's government. Having established En Marche, he took his cue from Barack Obama's grassroots 2008 US election campaign, says Paris-based freelance journalist Emily Schultheis. His first major undertaking was the Grande Marche (Big March), when he mobilised his growing ranks of energised but inexperienced En Marche activists. "The campaign used algorithms from a political firm they worked with - who by the way had volunteered for the Obama campaign in 2008 - to identify districts and neighbourhoods that were most representative of France as a whole," Ms Schultheis says. "They sent out people to knock on 300,000 doors." The volunteers didn't just hand out flyers - they carried out 25,000 in-depth interviews of about 15 minutes with voters across the country. That information was entered into a large database which helped inform campaign priorities and policies. "It was a massive focus group for Macron in gauging the temperature of the country but also made sure that people had contact with his movement early on, making sure that volunteers knew how to go door to door. It was a training exercise that really laid the groundwork for what he did this year," Ms Schultheis explains. And he capitalised on it. Mr Macron's political persona appears beset with contradictions. The "newcomer" who was President Hollande's protege and then economy minister; the ex-investment banker running a grassroots movement; the centrist with a radical programme to slash the public sector. It was perfect ammunition for run-off rival Marine Le Pen, who said he was the candidate of the elite, not the novice he said he was. But he dodged attempts to label him as another François Hollande, creating a profile that resonated among people desperate for something new. "There is

Summary: Emmanuel Macron has triggered a political earthquake in French politics.


On a green surface and in damp, overcast conditions, Australia fell to 8-4 and 17-5 after losing the toss. Vernon Philander took 5-21, Kyle Abbott 3-41 and though Steve Smith ended 48 not out, Australia slumped to their lowest home total against the Proteas. South Africa reached 171-5 by the close for a lead of 86 - Hashim Amla hitting 47, while Mitchell Starc has 3-49. The tourists, without injured skipper AB de Villiers and pace spearhead Dale Steyn, already lead the three-Test series 1-0. This Test is the first time since both made their debuts against England in December 2004 that South Africa have played without either of them. In the absence of Steyn, Philander tore through the Australia top order, starting with David Warner edging a drive to a delivery so wide he could barely reach it. Joe Burns was lbw to Abbott and, after Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges edged behind the wicket, debutant Callum Ferguson was run out by a direct hit from substitute fielder Dane Vilas for three. From five wickets down, Australia needed captain Smith to get past their lowest home total of 58, but they were still shot out for the worst score in a Hobart Test. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Summary: Australia were bowled out for only 85 on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at Hobart.


The fee for the 19-year-old will be decided by a tribunal, with Liverpool expected to pay around £3m. Solanke, who is currently part of England's squad at the under-20 World Cup in South Korea, spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, scoring seven goals in 25 games. He made one senior Chelsea appearance. As Solanke is older than 17 and will sign a professional contract, Liverpool's transfer embargo, which is enforced on signing academy players from other England clubs for two years, will not apply. Celtic were also understood to be interested in Solanke, whose only Chelsea game came as a substitute in a Champions League victory against NK Maribor in October 2014. Solanke will officially become a Liverpool player on 1 July. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Liverpool are to sign Chelsea's teenage forward Dominic Solanke after he failed to agree a contract with the Premier League champions.


The match will go ahead despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India threatening to cancel the match over a financial dispute with the courts. Lancashire batsman Hameed, 19, will become only the second teenager to play Test cricket for England since 1949. Ben Duckett, who opened in the recent Test series against Bangladesh, will replace Gary Ballance at four. "We have all been hugely impressed with the way Haseeb has gone about his business on this tour. Nothing seems to faze him," said captain Alastair Cook. Hameed, who scored 1,129 runs at an average of 52 in County Championship Division One this summer, was called up for the Test tour of Bangladesh in October but did not play in the 1-1 series draw. All-rounder Ben Hollioake, who was 19 when he played against Australia in 1997, is the only other teenager to appear in a Test for England since 18-year-old Brian Close made his debut in 1949. Left-hander Ballance, 26, has been dropped after scoring only 24 runs in four innings in Bangladesh. "I feel sorry for Gary," said Cook. "They were tough conditions in Bangladesh and ultimately it's about how many runs you score. "I still think he's a fine player and one who I think will play again for England and do well." The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) threatened to cancel the opening Test - the first to be held in Rajkot - unless judges ended a freeze on its bank accounts. Last month, the supreme court ruled that the board must obtain prior approval from a special panel investigating its governance in order to release funds to state associations which host Tests. However, the supreme court has released £70,000 so the match can go ahead. Media playback is not supported on this device Cook, 31, will break Michael Atherton's record of 54 Tests as England captain during the opening game of the five-match series. He hinted in a recent interview with the Cricketer magazine that this series could be his last as captain, but said on Tuesday he was not thinking of anything beyond the India tour. "I have always said to (England director of cricket) Andrew Strauss we will take every series as it comes," said Cook. "It could be two months, it could be a year, it could be six months, it could be anything. For me, it's about concentrating on this series." Media playback is not supported on this device Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Cook could step down after the series in India, or after the Ashes tour of Australia in 2017-18. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show, he said: "These next six or seven weeks are not crucial for Cook. "He is breaking records and he has four or five years left as a batsman, if his mind wants to play that long. "I do get the sense that he will get to the stage, whether it's the end of India or the Ashes in a year's time, where he will say,

Summary: Teenage opener Haseeb Hameed will make his England debut against India in the opening Test in Rajkot on Wednesday.


Police and security services will be able to see names of sites visited in the past year without a warrant, under the draft Investigatory Powers Bill. The science and technology Committee says its requirements are confusing, and firms fear a rise in hacking. The Home Office said it would study the report's findings. When she announced the draft bill last year, Theresa May stressed that the authorities would not be able to see individual web pages visited, just basic data, such as domain names like bbc.co.uk or facebook.com. But tech firms have told MPs it may not be possible to separate out data in that way and the plans were not clear about was meant by "internet connection records". Committee chairman Nicola Blackwood said: "There remain questions about the feasibility of collecting and storing internet connection records (ICRs), including concerns about ensuring security for the records from hackers. "The bill was intended to provide clarity to the industry, but the current draft contains very broad and ambiguous definitions of ICRs, which are confusing communications providers. "This must be put right for the bill to achieve its stated security goals." Mrs May insisted in January that the Home Office had been clear about what it meant by ICRs and was working closely with the industry on the legislation. The science and technology committee also raised concerns about powers to allow spies to hack into suspects' smartphones or computers, known as "equipment interference". Ms Blackwood said the technique may "occasionally be necessary", but added: "The tech industry has legitimate concerns about the reaction of their customers to the possibility that electronic devices could be hacked by the security services." There are also concerns, expressed by Apple and other tech giants, that the bill will force them to adopt weaker encryption standards. Some products, such as the iPhone, allow people to communicate privately in a form that cannot be decoded, even by the company which makes the device, known as "end-to-end encryption". The bill would strengthen the power to force firms to give up decryption keys so that coded messages might be read. But Nicola Blackwood said the government had to do more to "allay unfounded concerns that encryption will no longer be possible". Service providers, such as BT and Sky, are concerned about the cost of storing internet records for 12 months, something they do not routinely do at the moment. The Home Office says the overall cost to the industry will be Â£174m over 10 years and "reasonable costs" will be reimbursed, but the industry has cast doubt on that estimate. The committee said the government should make an "explicit commitment" to pay the full costs incurred by compliance," to protect smaller firms hit with demands to store records. The Home Office said it was important companies did not suffer a commercial disadvantage and stressed there were no plans to change a long-standing position of reimbursing 100% of costs associated with data retention. Security Minister John Hayes said: "We are mindful of the need for legislation to provide law enforcement and the security

Summary: The home secretary's plan to force internet service providers to store everyone's internet activity is vague and confusing, says a committee of MPs.