Paul McWhir, 51, of Castle Douglas, admitted four charges including rape and acting in a lewd and libidinous manner. The abuse mainly took place at a farm in Dumfriesshire in the early to mid-1990s. Sentence was deferred until next month at the High Court in Glasgow. McWhir preyed on the child for more than three years starting when she was just 10, the court was told. However, it was only last year that the victim disclosed her ordeal to police. McWhir was then confronted by his own relatives who demanded he hand himself in. The court was told the abuse had had a "significant impact" on his victim.

Summary: A court has heard how a child abuser was forced to go to police by his own relatives after it emerged he had attacked a young girl.


Some are having to hire cars and taxis to fulfil sports fixtures or take field trips as a result. Principals have been warned by the Education Authority (EA) that some teachers who currently drive minibuses may be doing so illegally. The EA said the change was due to the Driver and Vehicle Agency clarifying the rules on minibuses. However, one principal told the BBC the change would have "huge implications" for schools. Previously, staff who held a licence which qualified them to drive a car would also have been able to drive a school minibus. However, revised guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) states that teachers must now have a D1 licence and a driver's qualification card to do so. The EA letter to principals, issued in June, states that if this is not the case there will be serious consequences. "If this criteria cannot be met, any journey undertaken by staff will not be considered legal and may leave the driver and the employer facing prosecution and penalties," it states. "It is imperative that the school at all times and you satisfy yourself that the relevant criteria have been met before authorising employees to drive a minibus." The principal of Lisneal College in Londonderry, Michael Allen, said the new restrictions were having a serious impact. "No-one at my school currently meets the new criteria," he said. "I am now having to pay for taxis to take pupils on geography field trips before the end of term. "A school team was also due to play a cricket match which we were about to cancel until another school, who had a qualified driver, helped us out. "This change could end up costing my school up to Â£1,000 before the end of term alone." In a statement, the EA said it had written to all schools to make them aware that DVA had clarified the licence requirements in relation to minibuses". "These requirements apply to those employed in schools who drive minibuses." The DVA has not yet responded to a request for further details.

Summary: Schools are facing new restrictions on which teachers can drive school minibuses.


Esther Lowery, 17, from Holywell, suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic condition which means her body tissue is not strong enough to hold her limbs in place. She calls it an "invisible illness" because the symptoms go unseen by others. Esther can walk short distances which has led to her being branded a "fraud". But she experiences "agonising pain" when her elbows, shoulders and knees pop out of their joints up to six times a week. "When I go out to museums or go shopping and I know it's going to be a long day, I'll use my wheelchair", she said. "But say if it's just walking to the house from the street, I can make it without crutches or a wheelchair, so I think that's what confuses a lot of people when they see me get out of my chair and start walking. "I remember walking up a couple of steps once, and when some people saw me getting out of my chair they shouted 'it's a miracle!' "I was really upset because they have no idea how much pain I'm in on a day-to-day basis." Esther has made a three-minute documentary to raise awareness about the condition.

Summary: A teenager from Flintshire has been accused of being a "fake" for using a wheelchair to cope with a rare illness.


After defeats in their past two League One games, Phil Brown's side took an early lead from the penalty spot when Simon Cox fired home. Southend remain one spot and one point outside the play-off places after sixth-placed Millwall overcame Northampton, while defeat leaves Chesterfield nine points from safety with thee games remaining. Anthony Wordsworth and Cox breached the static Spireites defence in the second half to kill the contest, while Marc-Antoine Fortune made it four with his first touch after coming off the bench. Just before the break Dion Donohue was dismissed for a foul on Jason Demetriou to add to Chesterfield's woes. Cox was the man that earned and scored Southend's 15th-minute penalty. On the ball, he stood firm as goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann scampered towards him and when contact was made the referee had an easy decision to make and the spot-kick was duly converted. Poor defending contributed to United's three second-half goals, Wordsworth converting a Demetriou cross while Cox took advantage of some solid Will Atkinson work before Fortune slipped through a shell-shocked defence to complete the scoring. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Chesterfield 0, Southend United 4. Second Half ends, Chesterfield 0, Southend United 4. Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Tom Anderson. Attempt blocked. Theo Robinson (Southend United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Paul McGinn. Attempt missed. Liam Grimshaw (Chesterfield) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is just a bit too high. Foul by Paul McGinn (Chesterfield). Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United) wins a free kick on the right wing. Attempt missed. Michael Timlin (Southend United) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left. Liam Grimshaw (Chesterfield) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Michael Timlin (Southend United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Liam Grimshaw (Chesterfield). (Southend United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Chesterfield). Attempt missed. Anthony Wordsworth (Southend United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Paul McGinn (Chesterfield). Substitution, Chesterfield. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake replaces Kristian Dennis. Substitution, Southend United. Theo Robinson replaces Simon Cox. Goal! Chesterfield 0, Southend United 4. Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Southend United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Anthony Wordsworth. Substitution, Southend United. Marc-Antoine Fortuné replaces Nile Ranger. Substitution, Chesterfield. Liam Grimshaw replaces Joe Rowley. Substitution, Southend United. Zavon Hines replaces Will Atkinson. Goal! Chesterfield 0, Southend United 3. Simon Cox (Southend United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Attempt blocked. Michael Timlin (Southend United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Attempt missed. Anthony Wordsworth (Southend United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt blocked. Jason Demetriou (Southend United) right footed shot

Summary: Southend got their play-off challenge back on track with a comfortable win at 10-man Chesterfield, who are all-but relegated.


His spokesman says Khodorkovsky and his wife travelled by train to Basel from Germany to accompany their two sons who are returning to their Swiss school. Khodorkovsky flew to Germany after his release on 20 December. He served 10 years in jail for fraud and tax evasion, but insists that his conviction was politically motivated. While travelling to Basel on Sunday, Khodorkovsky told Swiss TV he wanted to campaign for the release of prisoners. Q&A: Khodorkovsky and Russia Khodorkovsky: In quotes Profile: Mikhail Khodorkovsky "You can't remain quiet when you know that political prisoners languish in jail," he said. "I think campaigning for the release of those who have been jailed without justification is the job of every ordinary citizen. As far as I'm concerned, it has nothing to do with politics," he added. Khodorkovsky has not yet decided whether he wants to stay permanently in Switzerland, his spokesman said. The businessman made his fortune from the controversial privatisation of Soviet state assets. In 1995, he acquired oil giant Yukos. After President Vladimir Putin came to power Khodorkovsky made no secret of his support for the liberal opposition, In 2005 he received an eight-year jail sentence for tax evasion, fraud and embezzlement. Two years before his release date he was convicted again on further charges of embezzlement and money laundering. He had been due to be released next August, but requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer. The pardon came after Russian MPs backed a wide-ranging amnesty for at least 20,000 prisoners. Two members of punk protest band Pussy Riot - jailed for staging a protest in a cathedral - have also recently been freed. Analysts say Mr Putin may have been trying to dampen international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Summary: Ex-oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was freed from a Russian jail last month, has arrived in Switzerland where he has been granted a three-month visa.


Analysts say the primaries are a good indicator of who may win the presidential elections later this year. With 93% of the votes counted, governing coalition candidate Daniel Scioli had a 14-point lead over his conservative rival, Mauricio Macri. The first round of the presidential election will be held on 25 October. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who has been in power since December 2007, will not be able to stand again as the constitution limits presidents to two terms in office. She was preceded in office by her late husband, Nestor Kirchner. Their combined 12 years in office have been dubbed "the Kirchner era" and opposition candidates have been campaigning on a promise of change. Mr Scioli, who is currently governor of Buenos Aires province, is the only candidate for the governing Front for Victory coalition. His main rival is Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri of the conservative Cambiemos (Let's Change) coalition. With 93% of the votes counted, Mr Macri had won 24.4% compared to Mr Scioli's 38.3%. Third was Sergio Massa, a congressman who broke away from the Front for Victory coalition to form his United for a New Alternative party. Voting in the primaries is compulsory and is not restricted to party members but open to all those eligible to cast their ballot in the presidential polls. Whoever wins is therefore seen as a favourite for the presidential polls on 25 October. The primaries were introduced in 2009 to cut down on the number of candidates running in the presidential elections with contenders having to win a minimum of 1.5% to be eligible to stand in the first round on 25 October. If no candidate wins 45% of the vote or 40% with a 10-point margin over the second-placed person, a second round will be held on 24 November. Whoever wins will need to tackle a high inflation rate, which independent analysts estimate at 30%. Mr Macri is campaigning on a promise to quickly free the markets from restraints introduced by President Fernandez while Mr Scioli advocates gradual change.

Summary: The presidential candidate for Argentina's governing coalition has won a comfortable majority in primary elections held on Sunday.


The Florida-based Scot finished The Barclays event on the PGA Tour in New York with a one-under-par 70, leaving him four over for the tournament. That was only good enough for a tie for 60th, 13 shots behind winner Patrick Reed, leaving Knox 10th on the World Points list for Ryder Cup rankings. Meanwhile back in Europe, fellow wildcard contender Thomas Pieters of Belgium, who narrowly missed out on automatic selection after finishing ninth on the European Points list and 11th on the World Points list, stated his case for a captain's pick by winning the Made in Denmark title. That victory came two weeks after the 24-year-old finished fourth at the Rio Olympic Games, and a week after a runner-up finish at the Czech Masters. It is now out of their hands, leaving Knox waiting for a phone call from Clarke before the Northern Irishman confirms his three captain's choices at 12:30 BST on Tuesday. Frustratingly for the 31-year-old, he sits just outside the nine automatic qualifiers, knowing that had he been a European Tour member when he won the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai last November, he would already have had the points necessary to make his Ryder Cup debut. Instead the Invernesian is vying with Ryder Cup veterans such as Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell for a place in Clarke's team for the biennial clash from 30 September-2 October at Hazeltine, Minnesota. Like the in-form Pieters, Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen and Ireland's Shane Lowry, Knox would be a sixth rookie - with Clarke expected to favour experience in his wildcard picks. While US captain Davis Love III has a couple more weeks to mull over his options, what Clarke says is the toughest part of his job is nearly over. "There is a huge amount of interest in our three remaining wildcards and whoever they are, they will be three fantastic additions to the nine guys we already have," said the Northern Irishman. Michael McEwan, of Scottish golf magazine Bunkered, told BBC Scotland that while he hopes Knox will feature, he fears the weekend's results may have swung things away from the Scot. "The way the team is shaping up at the moment, it's very rookie heavy so I think he's going to want to add in some experience and on that basis I would suggest Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are probably two of his three picks. "Thereafter it is between Thomas Pieters and Russell Knox I would imagine. Until yesterday Russell was looking most likely to get it, but Pieters winning as he did in Denmark, allied to being second the week before and a strong Olympic performance, I think unfortunately he's just got the nod on Russell. "I'd be amazed if he got picked at this stage." Given the lack of Ryder Cup experience in some of the candidates, the fact Knox is based in Florida and plays on the PGA Tour could be seen as beneficial, but McEwan believes form will the most important factor in Clarke's three wildcard picks. "I'd love to think

Summary: It was a final chance to catch the eye of European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke before he confirms his three wildcard picks on Tuesday, but things did not quite go as planned for Russell Knox.


Sgt Matt Harness, 36, said he had no choice but to deliver Spencer in the unlikely surroundings of the Waggon & Horses at Branston. The drama began after he and his partner Kaylee had visited a labour ward when her contractions started. The couple were told the birth was still some way off and returned home, only for Kaylee's waters to break. Sgt Harness, who is a firefighter in Leicestershire and Royal Marines Reservist with the Nottingham detachment of RMR Merseyside, said they arranged to meet an ambulance at the pub after realising the baby was coming. "She screamed its coming, its coming, - I had a look and there was a baby's head - so, I rolled my sleeves up, and before I knew it there was a baby in my arms," he said. More on this and other local stories in Lincolnshire Sgt Harness, who has completed tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, described delivering baby Spencer, who weighed 6lb 9oz, as "the most frightening experience of my life". His partner Kaylee Harshaw, 28, said: "His birth certificate says Waggon and Horses car park, so when he is 18 he will quite like to say he was born in a pub." She added: "He might not be quite so keen on his nickname - we called him Pickle because he was born in Branston."

Summary: A Royal Marine has told how he delivered his baby son in a Lincolnshire pub car park.


Richard Ratcliffe's wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, was arrested in April while visiting family with their two-year-old daughter and is accused of seeking to "overthrow the regime". Mr Ratcliffe has asked David Cameron to help, and says the Foreign Office is doing more "as this gets more serious". His daughter is with family in Iran. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, of north London, works for the London-based Thomson Reuters Foundation charity. She travelled to Iran on an Iranian passport with daughter Gabriella and was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport on 3 April and taken to Kerman in the south-east of the country. Her family had expected her to be released last week, but a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now claims she heads a "foreign-linked hostile network". Mr Ratcliffe, who has been trying to get a visa to visit his wife, told BBC Radio 4 she had spent 45 days in solitary confinement and this had made her "very weak". "When she came out she wasn't able to walk without blackouts and she had a problem with her hair falling out and she'd lost quite a lot of weight," he said. Her condition improved during a spell living alongside other inmates and she was then told she would be released, Mr Ratcliffe said. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe left Kerman prison on 5 June but, instead of being released, her parents were told she was being moved to a different prison. Mr Ratcliffe said the family then heard "nothing from her for a number of days", adding: "Last week we celebrated Gabriella's birthday and we had no idea where she was." On Monday Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe called her parents to say she was in a prison in Tehran - and Mr Ratcliffe believes that may help her. "Now she's in Tehran then, if nothing else, the Iranian authorities can look more seriously at what's going on and look at these crazy theories coming out from the provincial office," he said. He said the reasons for the accusations against his wife were "not at all clear", but he believed they came from the Kerman branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard - and in part they might be "justifying that they've held her for 70 days". He said the accusations were not detailed but they suggested his wife was "in charge of this great network of media organisations and espionage agencies and that she and Gabriella are there running the whole thing". He added: "It feels this is wrapped up in Iranian politics and different factions fighting and holding her as some sort of bargaining chip." The Foreign Office said it was urgently seeking information on Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's situation.

Summary: The husband of a British-Iranian woman in jail in Iran says he hopes "senior intervention" from UK and Iranian authorities will lead to her release.


Scarr, 22, who starred in Stourbridge's run to this season's FA Cup third round, has signed on a two-and-a-half year contract, for an undisclosed fee. He becomes the sixth signing made by Blues in the January transfer window. On top of the pre-arranged completion of striker Lukas Jutkiewicz's move from Burnley, new boss Gianfranco Zola has now made five more signings. As well as bringing back Craig Gardner from West Bromwich Albion, he last week signed Middlesbrough full-back Emilio Nsue, Cheick Keita from Italian Serie B club Virtus Entella, and winger Kerim Frei from Turkish side Besiktas. Stourbridge boss Gary Hackett said: "We have agreed terms with Birmingham. We have accepted we won't have Dan with us moving forward and good luck to him. He deserves the opportunity." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here.

Summary: Championship side Birmingham City have signed defender Dan Scarr from non-league neighbours Stourbridge.


The Exiles are bottom of the table following Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Mansfield Town, and are six points adrift of safety. "I know we've got a lot of work to do and I know we've got to win football matches," Westley said. "But honestly I think we're capable of winning football matches." Ryan Bird had given Newport an early lead against Mansfield but Krystian Pearce levelled for the home side. County's Jaanai Gordon was sent off for a second yellow card before Shaquile Coulthirst's penalty secured Steve Evans' side the win. Newport County had been unbeaten in five games before defeat at Cambridge United and although they secured a point at home to Morecambe, lost at Mansfield. The Exiles host the side one place and three points above them in the relegation zone, Leyton Orient, on Saturday "It doesn't matter who we win the points against, we've got to go and win some football matches," Westley added. "We'd been on a good unbeaten run until we lost at Cambridge and reacted well in midweek to earn another hard earned point. "I think the lads have come together really well and it's good that we've got a clear week ahead of us because one or two of the knocks can clear up. "We've got some good footballers here and we've been in a good run of form on the whole."

Summary: Newport County manager Graham Westley is confident his side can secure the points needed to pull away from the League Two relegation zone.


Dozens of soldiers seized the parliament compound in the administrative capital Garowe and blocked nearby streets. However one of the region's most respected clan elders, Islan Issa Islan Mohamed, told them to return to their barracks. He told the BBC that the "drama" was now over. It had been reported that the soldiers were protesting about a delay in the payment of salaries as well as poor working conditions. Last September soldiers took control of the central bank in Garowe in protest at lack of payments, Garowe Online reported. Puntland profile Puntland, an arid region of north-east Somalia, declared itself an autonomous state in August 1998, in part to avoid the clan warfare engulfing southern Somalia. Unlike its neighbour, breakaway Somaliland, Puntland says it does not seek recognition as an independent entity, wishing instead to be part of a federal Somalia.

Summary: Troops in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland have briefly staged a mutiny.


Mytravelpass, which is funded by the Welsh government, will entitle 110,000 passengers aged 16-18 to a third off bus fares anywhere in Wales. Transport Minister Edwina Hart said it would make it easier for young people to access jobs and training opportunities. The pass applies to local journeys and longer distance TrawsCymru routes. The scheme is part of a Labour-Liberal Democrat deal struck in September 2014 to pass the Welsh government's budget.

Summary: A £15m discounted bus travel scheme for young people has been launched.


They will be joined at next year's Olympics by South Africa who defeated Equatorial Guinea in Bata 1-0. It is the first time that any Zimbabwe team has qualified for a global football tournament. Rudo Neshamba's 8th minute goal was enough to send Zimbabwe to Brazil. It's a great achievement for us, I'm so happy I can't even explain how I'm feeling right now The result meant the tie finished level at 2-2 on aggregate, with Zimbabwe qualifying on the away-goals rule. It was disappointment for Cameroon who represented Africa at the Women's World Cup in Canada, reaching the second round. Neshamba (pictured) was again Zimbabwe's match-winner, having scored their crucial away-goal in the first leg in Yaounde. Her captain, Felistas Muzongondi, said it was a famous day in their footballing history. "It's a great achievement for us, I'm so happy I can't even explain how I'm feeling right now," Muzongondi told BBC Sport. "This is our first time in history to beat Cameroon, and we were expecting this because we prepared very well." Zimbabwe's skipper also admitted it was a very tough match. "There was so much intensity so we had to put much pressure on them because they have so much more physical fitness than us." Zimbabwe booked their place in Rio despite severe financial difficulties facing football in their country. They were only able to continue in this qualifying tournament after Ivory Coast withdrew. Also on Sunday, South Africa defeated Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Bata to win the tie by the same score on aggregate after the first leg had ended goal-less. Jermaine Seoposenwe's second half goal proved crucial for Banyana Banyana and was enough to win them their place in Rio. The South African Football Association (Safa) President, Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated Banyana Banyana for their achievement. "Today is a historic day for women football; not only have they qualified for the Rio Olympics but have done so in style - winning away from home in 'hostile' Bata environment," Jordaan said in a statement. "Few teams survive trips to Equatorial Guinea as Nigeria would attest but coach Vera Pauw plotted one of the greatest wins in South African football history," Jordaan added. South Africa's progress to the Olympics makes up for their disappointment of missing out on qualification for the Women's World Cup earlier this year.

Summary: Zimbabwe's women beat Cameroon 1-0 in the second leg of their final Olympic qualifier in Harare to book a place at Rio 2016.


The Hammers have had one bid rejected for the 25-year-old, but manager Slaven Bilic is hopeful of concluding a transfer. Carvalho was part of Portugal's triumphant Euro 2016 squad and also featured in their third-place finish at the Confederations Cup this summer. He has scored one goal in 37 international appearances. Bilic signed forwards Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez, for £20m and £16m respectively, and goalkeeper Joe Hart on loan this summer. However, a side containing Hart and Hernandez lost 4-0 at Manchester United in their Premier League opener on Sunday. Sofiane Feghouli has joined Galatasaray for a reported £4m, after a season at the Hammers. The Algerian winger scored four goals in 27 appearances, after joining from Valencia in June 2016.

Summary: West Ham are closing in on the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho for an expected £30m.


Media playback is not supported on this device Salford, who have also been charged for improper conduct, won the match 26-24. However, after the game, winger Justin Carney and centre Junior S'au were pictured in heated exchanges with fans as they tried to protect their children in the crowd at John Smith's Stadium. A flare was reportedly thrown in the Salford end moments before the trouble. The Red Devils did apologise for the actions of their fans, while owner Marwan Koukash promised to act against the fans involved. An independent tribunal will hear the case, with a hearing date set for either late June or July.

Summary: Salford Red Devils have been charged by the Rugby Football League for the misconduct of their supporters at Huddersfield Giants on 28 March.


Jon Lewis' side have a core of local players, many produced by the academy at Chester-le-Street, with both veterans, stalwarts and newcomers all ready to play their part this term. So who is going to lead the county's bid to win a fourth County Championship title? Stokes' return to Durham for the start of the County Championship season might give fans a rare glimpse of his talents at the Riverside, after a winter away with England. His last appearance for the national team came in agonising World Twenty20 final defeat by West Indies, in which he was hit for four consecutive sixes by Carlos Brathwaite in the final over, with them needing 19 to win. County captain Paul Collingwood was with England as part of Trevor Bayliss' coaching team, and a familiar face at a tough time for all. "Ben Stokes is the heartbeat of the England side, has plenty of friends in that dressing room but I know Stokesy really well," Collingwood told BBC Newcastle. "When he goes through something as tough as that in such a big occasion he's obviously going to be upset. "But he's the kind of character that bounces back straight away and he'll be desperate to get himself and his team into a situation like that again. "Hopefully he'll have learned so much from those four balls he bowled in that over and make him stronger for the future. "I'm sure he got a lot of people who put their arms around him and gave him a lot of advice and he'll be bouncing back in the future no doubt about that." Collingwood, even at 39 and his 20th year with Durham, was a key player in 2015, only missing one Championship game. Despite the ongoing speculation about his retirement is determined to play his part again in 2016. Media playback is not supported on this device "Every year for the last three I've gone into it saying it my last season, so this year I'm going to try to play as much as I can," he said. "The body still feels pretty good, I'm still enjoying it, I've still got plenty of ambition to go out there and do well, so I want to play as long as I can." Few counties possess such devastating and experienced bowling attacks as Durham, with Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth leading the unit and cameos from England duo Mark Wood and Stokes. Media playback is not supported on this device Onions, 33, finished 2015 with 66 wickets while Rushworth, 29, was the Professional Cricketers Association player of the year with 90. "I don't feel pressure, whether or not people say there is pressure," Rushworth said. "We've got some big players here so I'm not feeling any pressure and will keep doing my job." The combination of the two local lads has been a backbone of the county in recent seasons, although last year might take some catching for both. "That was a really good season, but it's very hard to put into words what Rushy did," Onions added.

Summary: Without an overseas import for the 2016 season after John Hastings was called into the Australia player pool, Durham will again rely on largely home-grown talent.


In its interim report, the commission also said there was not enough evidence to support widespread rape allegations. It did not mention claims that security forces had been killing people. There have been repeated allegations of abuses of Rohingya people since a military counter-insurgency campaign was launched in Rakhine in October. Some have even said the state's actions amount to ethnic cleansing, and Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, has faced international criticism. Who will help Myanmar's Rohingya? Nobel laureates urge action on Rohingya The commission, set up by the Myanmar government and led by a former general, Myint Swe, is due to make its final conclusions before the end of January. But, in its interim findings, it dismissed allegations of genocide on the basis that there are still Rohingya Muslims living in Rakhine and that Islamic religious buildings have not been destroyed. It said it had so far found "insufficient evidence" that anyone had been raped by security forces, despite widespread claims. Accusations of arson, arbitrary arrest and torture are still being investigated. Strangely, the commission made no mention of the most serious claim - that Burmese security forces have been killing civilians as collective punishment for attacks by Rohingya militants, the BBC's Myanmar correspondent Jonah Fisher reports. Three months since this crisis began, little progress appears to have been made to solve it, he notes. The report says hundreds of Rohingya have been arrested but armed militants are still moving around easily and that looted weapons have yet to be recovered. Earlier in the week, several police were detained after a video surfaced appearing to show officers beating Rohingya Muslims during a security operation in November. The admission that security forces may have carried out abuses is an unusual development, as leaders have previously insisted they are following the rule of law. Rakhine state is closed to journalists and investigators, making it difficult to independently verify any allegations. The estimated one million Muslim Rohingya are seen by many in mainly Buddhist Myanmar as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They are denied citizenship by the government despite tracing their ancestry back generations. Communal violence in Rakhine state in 2012 left scores dead and displaced more than 100,000 people, with many Rohingya still remaining in decrepit camps. They face widespread discrimination and mistreatment. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Rohingya are estimated to live in Bangladesh, having fled Myanmar over decades. Bangladesh says around 50,000 Rohingya have crossed its border over the past two months. The situation has drawn global condemnation. Over a dozen Nobel laureates wrote to the UN Security Council demanding action to stop the "human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity" in northern Rakhine.

Summary: A commission set up by Myanmar's government says it has so far found no evidence of genocide against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.


Kieren Church, 30, died after bottles he was hiding broke when he was tackled by a store guard in a shopping centre car park on 9 February. The 20-year-old guard was arrested the following day after the incident at The Shires shopping centre in Trowbridge. Wiltshire Police said a report would be passed to the coroner. A post-mortem examination showed the provisional cause of Mr Church's death was glass injuries to his abdomen.

Summary: A security guard arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after an alleged shoplifter bled to death will face "no further police action".


There are 250 commercial growers in County Armagh, supplying the cider, bakery and fresh markets. And right now, they are in the middle of a six-week window to get them in. They are mostly of the Bramley variety, with some eating apples mixed in. Edmund Allen farms 70 acres of orchard on Grange Lodge farm outside Loughgall. He aims to produce 1,000 tonnes a year, with about half of it going to make fillings for the bakery trade. Most of the rest, he sells to cider makers and to shops and supermarkets. But what is it about apples and Armagh? Edmund provided his own explanation. "Apples have been grown here for, we think, around 3,000 years," he said. "It is the climate, we're near Lough Neagh which acts as a heat sink and keeps the temperature that little bit higher. "So it's that, the fact that the soil type is good and the experience that we've built up over generations growing apples." But it can be a precarious business. A sharp frost in early May, killed the blossom and nearly put paid to a year's work. "I looked out the window and I didn't want to go out near the orchard, I knew what had happened," Edmund added. "All the blooms I picked off had gone brown, they were dead. "But we are really truly amazed at the apples that have set, we couldn't find any live blooms and yet nature has healed itself and we have sufficient apples to meet the market requirements." Some orchards are only returning a 50% harvest due to that frost, but others are up to 90%. Edmund says prices for his apples have been fairly "stable". It costs him £40 a bin to produce the fruit. If he can sell them for between £60-80 he is doing well. But he says he would need £100-110 a bin to reinvest in the business. His annual running costs are around £80,000 and he tries to replant 10% every five years. In the old days, there used to be 100 trees to the acre. Now they are using smaller varieties to get more in and there could be 400 trees in the same space. And in a another attempt to push up productivity, Edmund is looking to the Netherlands for help. Native bumblebees caught here are shipped there for breeding, then brought back. They are being trialled because they are better suited to the climate and are a bit harder working than the hundreds of thousands of honey bees that Edmund relies on to pollinate his trees.

Summary: £20m a year, that is what the harvest is worth to the apple growers of the Orchard County.


The 47-year old taxi driver, from Eccles, Salford, was taking aid to Syria when he was kidnapped and killed by Islamic State (IS) militants in October 2014. At the time, he was the fourth western hostage to be murdered by the group. People in Eccles laid the ribbons in memory of Mr Henning. A similar tribute was held in the days after his death. Meanwhile, Eccles MP Barbara Keeley has renewed calls for Prime Minister David Cameron to officially recognise his charity work with a posthumous award. "I think there should be some way to mark the noble sacrifice that Alan made," said Ms Keeley. "His mission to help children in Syria was a remarkable one and, of course, he lost his life. "I think that should be marked with some sort of formal award." Ms Keeley said she had spoken to Mr Cameron and hoped there could soon be developments. Prayers will also be said over the weekend at Eccles Parish Church.

Summary: A Greater Manchester town has been adorned with yellow ribbons to mark the first anniversary of aid worker Alan Henning's murder.


The New Zealand spinner fell two runs short of a century when he was stumped off Jack Leach, who also finished with career-best figures of 7-106. After bowling Warwickshire out for 324, Somerset then slumped to 9-3 as Keith Barker picked up three early wickets. Patel's devastating spell saw the hosts bowled out for 110 at Taunton before Warwickshire closed on 20-0. The 35-year-old's fine innings, which included eight fours and four sixes, took the visitors past an unlikely 300 after they were 120-7 at one stage on day two. After resuming on 180-7, the Bears' recovery was aided by Laurie Evans who made 73, sharing an eighth-wicket stand of 166 with Patel. On a third day pitch which had begun to turn, Patel had Jim Allenby caught at short leg, before Peter Trego and Luke Ronchi were both dismissed lbw. Lewis Gregory then could only pick out deep mid-wicket when he looked to launch the spinner over the boundary rope. Having edged his way to 26 Tom Cooper was bowled to give Patel his third first-class five-wicket haul of the season. Jamie Overton and Leach were both caught in the slips as Somerset were bowled out in just 34 overs, leaving Alfonso Thomas, in his final innings for the county, stranded on 13. Varun Chopra and Ian Westwood saw off the final hour before stumps without trouble to leave the Bears requiring another 205 for victory. Bears all-rounder Jeetan Patel told BBC WM: "It didn't bother me falling two short of a century because I don't really worry about stats like that. The partnership with Laurie Evans was more important because it got us back in the game. "The main thing is that it was a good day for the team. After seeing Jack Leach do so well for Somerset it was good for me to get some turn and take wickets. The ball is coming out well for me at the moment. "We still have a lot of work to do to win the game because 200 more will take some getting on that pitch. Hopefully we can be proactive from the start tomorrow and finish the season with a win." Somerset fast bowler Alfonso Thomas: "It was emotional for me walking out to bat in both innings on my last appearance for the club because I have had eight great years here. "There have been a lot of highlights. Taking four wickets in four balls in a Championship match was great for me personally, but there have been so many memorable times for the team while I have been here and a lot of great one-day occasions at Taunton. "I still think we can win this game. The pitch is aiding spin, rather than seam, but hopefully I can chip in and we can support Jack Leach. If that happens, it won't be easy for Warwickshire to get 200 more runs."

Summary: Jeetan Patel took a career-best 7-38 after hitting 98 as Warwickshire fought back against Somerset.


The OBR had previously forecast that the economy would grow 2.4% this year, but is now predicting a rate of 2.0%. Chancellor George Osborne said the cuts had been due to a reduction in the OBR's forecasts of productivity. The amount the government is expected to have to borrow this year has fallen, but it has gone up for the next three. However, the chancellor confirmed that he was still on-track to meet his target of having a budget surplus by 2019-20. Under the OBR's new forecast, the estimate for economic growth in 2017 has been cut to 2.2% from 2.5%, and to 2.1% from 2.4% in 2018. Growth in both 2019 and 2020 is now estimated at 2.1% compared with the previous forecast of 2.3%. The OBR also said the cut to growth forecasts was due to less growth being expected elsewhere in the world. "In the short time since our November forecast, economic developments have disappointed and the outlook for the economy and the public finances looks materially weaker," it said. At a news conference, OBR head Robert Chote said that productivity growth in the last three months of 2015 had been considerably worse than expected, wiping out gains made earlier in the year and making the OBR question whether UK productivity was likely to recover to pre-crisis levels. "With the period of weak productivity growth post-crisis continuing to lengthen, we have placed more weight on that as a guide to future prospects - although this judgement remains highly uncertain," the OBR said. The OBR unexpectedly reduced the amount it expects the government to borrow in the current financial year from £73.5bn to £72.2bn. In the first 10 months of the financial year, the government has already borrowed £66.5bn, so many commentators predicted that the forecast would have to be raised. The OBR said it had cut the forecast because it was expecting smaller contributions to the EU in the next two months because more of the 2016 contributions would be paid in the next financial year. In addition, it predicted lower borrowing by housing associations, lower spending on tax credits and a smaller-than-expected take-up of married couples' tax allowance. However, the OBR warned that the fall it expected "may not be reflected fully in the initial outturn data due in April". It explained that this was because spending by local authorities tends to take longer to come into the Office for National Statistics, which is also not yet used to calculating figures for housing associations who have only recently been included in public sector debt figures. The borrowing forecasts for the following three years have been increased considerably, although the OBR still expects the government to achieve a surplus in 2019-20 and 2020-21, in line with its supplementary target on the deficit. Mr Chote said that if no measures had been taken in this Budget then the government would have had to borrow £3bn in 2019-20, but he added that Mr Osborne had met "the letter of the mandate" by "shuffling" receipts into that year and spending out. On

Summary: The UK economy will grow more slowly in the next five years than had been expected in November, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has said.


Breaking her silence for the first time in two-and-a-half-years, Beate Zschaepe said she was not a member of the National Socialist Underground (NSU). The group carried out series of racially motivated murders, bomb attacks and robberies over a decade. In her statement, Ms Zschaepe apologised to the victims' families for failing to stop what had happened. "I feel morally guilty that I could not prevent 10 murders and two bomb attacks... carried out by Uwe Mundlos und Uwe Boehnhardt," she said. The two men apparently killed each other in a suicide pact in 2011 shortly before Ms Zschaepe handed herself in. The 40-year-old said she first fell in love with Mundlos but met Uwe Boehnhardt on her 19th birthday and came into contact with his more nationalist friends. "Zschaepe's confession - nothing but excuses!" So runs a headline in the tabloid newspaper Bild. Her statement was much anticipated - by the families of the NSU's victims, who hoped she might tell them why the cell killed their loved ones; by the German media who wondered whether she would show remorse; and by the German public. The NSU's campaign of violence terrorised this country for more than a decade. Ms Zschaepe is the only surviving suspected member. And this is the first time she's given evidence since her arrest four years ago. Most were disappointed. Few took her apology seriously. In the words of Gamze Kubasik, whose father was killed by the NSU: "Frau Zschaepe is trying to avoid responsibility. She won't save herself from a conviction." Neo-Nazi trial shrouded in intrigue The cell murdered 10 people, eight of them of Turkish origin, between 2000 and 2007 but went undetected for more than a decade. Critics say police and the security services made serious errors. Reading her 53-page statement aloud, Ms Zschaepe's lawyer Mathias Grasel began by telling the court about his client's childhood in East Germany, formerly the German Democratic Republic, and her difficult relationship with her mother. He went on to deny his client's involvement in the preparation or execution in any of the group's attacks, but apologised to the victims' families for failing to stop them. She said she was unaware of the group's first murder until three months after it occurred. Enver Simsek, a florist, was shot in Nuremberg on 9 September 2000. Ms Zschaepe said she told Mundlos and Boehnhardt that she wanted to go to police to hand herself in but they had threatened to commit suicide. In her statement, she said she still did not know the motive for the killing. However, she told the court the men murdered policewoman Michele Kiesewetter in 2007 in order to steal her gun. She said she was so "disappointed" that her lovers had killed repeatedly that she drank three or four bottles of sparkling wine a day and neglected her cats. "I realised I was living with two men to whom human life was worth nothing," Ms Zschaepe said. The NSU cell remained undetected until Ms Zschaepe gave herself up in November 2011, after police discovered the bodies of

Summary: A German woman accused of being part of neo-Nazi cell that murdered 10 people has denied involvement in the killings.


Tommy Thompson was arrested on a criminal contempt warrant for evading a civil case brought by his investors. They accuse him of cheating them out of promised proceeds from one of the biggest shipwreck hauls in US history. In 1988 Thompson recovered millions of dollars' worth of gold from a ship that sank off the US coast in 1857. Thompson went missing in 2012 amid demands he appear in court. He and an associate, Alison Antekeier, were arrested in January in Boca Raton, Florida. They had been at the hotel for two years, paying cash for their room under a false name and using taxis and public transport to avoid detection. The Columbus Dispatch reports that Thompson's plea deal with prosecutors requires him to turn over $425,380 (Â£286,000) to the court, money that was seized when he was arrested. Under the deal, Thompson will be sent to prison for no more than two years, but in exchange the government will not charge him with other offences arising from the case. A total of 161 investors had given Mr Thompson $12.7m (Â£8m) to find the ship on the understanding they would see returns on their investment. Thompson, then an oceanic engineer at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, and his crew brought up thousands of bars and coins in 1988, much of them later sold to a gold marketing group in 2000 for about $50 million. But the criminal complaint unveiled in January said the gold bars and coins he recovered from the seafloor were worth up to $400m (Â£260m). One of the investors has asked an Ohio state judge to freeze all of Thompson's assets.

Summary: A US treasure hunter - who spent years evading authorities - will go to prison rather than testify about gold he discovered in a historic shipwreck.


The Supreme Court's judgement follows an appeal against the High Court's rejection of ministers' arguments. Theresa May says the government already has powers to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - starting Brexit talks - by the end of March. But campaigners say Parliament must be consulted before she does so. Labour has already said it will not vote against the government over invoking Article 50.

Summary: The government will learn next Tuesday whether it has won its legal battle to get Brexit under way without the need for a vote by MPs.


A number of other people were also held as police raided nine offices and homes in north-eastern Catalonia. The arrests are part of an investigation into rights sales relating to Brazil, police sources say. Rosell was Barca president from 2010 to 2014, when he resigned following a Spanish court's decision to investigate the 2013 signing of Brazilian Neymar. In June 2016, Barcelona paid a fine of 5.5m euros (£4.7m) over the 25-year-old's move from Santos. The club was accused of tax fraud, which it denied. Rosell's wife was among those also arrested on Tuesday. Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reports the arrests are part of a joint operation between the Spanish police and the FBI, related to the United States-led investigation into corruption at Fifa. The investigations into alleged corruption at football's governing body began two years ago, and Swiss authorities raided a Zurich hotel where Fifa delegates were staying for their annual conference. Seven people were arrested in the raid, which was carried out on behalf of the United States Department of Justice. More arrests and indictments on corruption charges followed in subsequent days and scores of Fifa officials and associates have since been arrested in connection with the investigation. In March, Fifa passed on evidence from its internal inquiry to Swiss and US authorities.

Summary: Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has been arrested as part of a money-laundering investigation.


23 June 2014 Last updated at 14:32 BST Two men from the city have been identified taking part in what appears to be a Jihadist recruiting video, which was posted online last week. It is thought Reyaad Khan travelled to Syria with friend Nasser Muthana who also appears in the footage. An expert on radicalisation, Dr Suraj Lakhani of Cardiff University, said: "As far as I'm aware, there has been an issue in Cardiff for a while now." Nicky Smith spoke to one of the families and the local community, while Jordan Davies speaks to Sheikh Zane Abdo, Imam at the South Wales Islamic Centre.

Summary: Cardiff has an ongoing problem with the radicalisation of young Muslims, said an academic who has studied the issue.


His inclusion in the England Lions squad for the January tour of South Africa is great news, coming on the back of what have perhaps been England's most difficult few weeks of the entire period. Trott has fought very hard to get into this position. When he first left Australia with what were later clarified as anxiety issues, many thought that his England career was over. When his first attempt at a comeback was aborted in April, I was told by someone close to the Warwickshire batsman that the next step would be a quiet return playing some club cricket in South Africa. The right-hander will play in the country of his birth, but on merit after receiving recognition from the selectors as a result of a very strong second part of the summer that saw him accumulate 628 first-class runs and average 54.22 as Warwickshire reached the final of the One-Day Cup. Because of his South African roots and the decision for Trott to only be on tour for one three-day warm-up match and two first-class four-day games against South Africa A, this trip should not hold many difficulties for him. He will also have the help of Andy Flower, who was in charge of England in Australia and will be working with the Lions in South Africa. The experience in Australia will have taught Flower how to spot any problems that Trott may encounter, while I am sure the Zimbabwean will make it absolutely clear that the player must report any concerns he has. Having taken the incredibly difficult decision to go public with his problems on leaving Australia, Trott no longer has to operate in secret, or fear embarrassment. Similarly, Flower knows he can keep a close eye on Trott without the worry of over-imposing himself. Through all of this, representing England again will be on Trott's mind. Since he last played international cricket, Alastair Cook's side have moved on, with younger players like Gary Ballance and Joe Root doing very well, but there is still room for the 33-year-old's experience, especially with 17 Test matches scheduled over the next year or so. In cricketing terms, the selectors may want to see Trott deal with some hostile fast bowling before they consider bringing him back, especially as it was an onslaught from Mitchell Johnson that exposed his anxiety issues to those watching from a distance. There is also the question of where Trott would fit in to the current Test side, but that simply adds an extra layer of intrigue to this Lions tour. Trott's old spot of number three has been filled very successfully by Ballance, while Ian Bell and Root both played well at numbers four and five. However, Trott has long been talked of as a potential opener and there is a place at the top order available alongside Alastair Cook. In seven Test matches over the summer, Sam Robson failed to make that place his own and the Middlesex man is battling with Yorkshire pair Adam Lyth and Alex Lees, as all three join Trott

Summary: It is almost a year since Jonathan Trott left England's tour of Australia, 12 months that have been incredibly turbulent on and off the pitch for the national side.


Elliot Investors' call to remove Antony Burgmans follows the Dutch firm's refusal to enter talks with US rival PPG Industries over a $24bn takeover. Akzo has rejected two offers from PPG, but some shareholders - including Elliott - support the bid. Mr Burgmans and chief executive Ton Buechner say the bid undervalues Akzo. Elliott said it was one of a group of investors that meets the Dutch legal threshold of 10% support needed to call an extraordinary meeting to vote on a proposal to remove Mr Burgmans. That process takes about two months. An Akzo Nobel spokesman said the company strongly supported the chairman and would respond to the request within 14 days as required by Dutch law. "The removal of Mr Burgmans would be irresponsible, disproportionate, damaging and not in the best interest of the company, its shareholders and other stakeholders," he said. Meanwhile, the company has reported Elliot and PPG to Dutch regulators for possibly sharing potentially "sensitive" information with PPG regarding support for an extraordinary meeting. It was not clear what rules, if any, the shareholder and PPG might have violated. Elliott, which has a 3.25% stake in Akzo, said it would respond to the company's allegations soon. PPG could not be reached for comment. Elliott, which became an Akzo shareholder in December, is known for its aggressive moves. Founded in 1977 by American activist investor Paul Singer, it made a name investing in national debt in countries such as Peru. The firm is most famous for its long legal battle over Argentine debt, which climaxed when the firm seized an Argentine naval ship docked in Ghana. The hedge fund is also pushing mining giant BHP Billiton to reorganise and spin off its US oil unit. The PPG offer that Akzo rejected on 22 March was worth more than 24bn euros. Akzo shares were flat at 79.12 euros in Amsterdam on Wednesday. Mr Buchner has proposed selling Akzo's chemicals division and has embarked on a series of share repurchases. The firm, which is scheduled to meet with investors later this month, has also drawn opposition from Dutch politicians concerned about potential job losses.

Summary: An activist investor in Akzo Nobel has increased the pressure on the Dulux paint owner by calling for its chairman to be removed.


The neighbours announced on Thursday that they had agreed to re-schedule peace talks which were postponed after the attack on an Indian air base. Islamabad has arrested some members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group, which India blames for the attack. Pakistani papers say the arrests saved the talks from breaking down. The four-day assault on the Pathankot air force base in Punjab, close to the Pakistan border, started on 2 January, when a group of gunmen - wearing Indian army uniforms - entered residential quarters on the air base. Some Pakistani papers urged Islamabad to take "tough decisions", adding that the arrests of some JeM members was "just the start". The Express Tribune commended Pakistan's "constructive" response after the attack. Echoing similar views, The Nation said the "efficiency" of the Pakistani government's investigation into the Pathankot attack was "unprecedented". It added that India was still not ready to "trust" Pakistan despite the arrests of some JeM members, but this situation must "change" to establish lasting peace. Pakistan Today wondered if Pakistan's "zero tolerance for terrorism will continue with the zeal being presently displayed". Some papers argued that both India and Pakistan needed to work together to defeat terrorism. The Daily Times remarked that militants were acting as "spoilers" in the India-Pakistan peace process. It added that despite Islamabad's crackdown on JeM, it "had failed to dismantle the organisation which continues to operate openly in various districts". Some Pakistan papers urged India to act "positively" after Pakistan's decision to investigate the Pathankot attack. The News said the arrests of JeM members was an "important" step to improve Pakistan's ties with India. However, it added that it would be good to see some "cooperation" from India in "detecting outfits [groups] on its soil that operate within Pakistan". Urdu daily Nawa-i-Waqt said India should react in a positive manner to the overtures made by Pakistan. It added that the onus was now on India to work towards the complete restoration of peace talks between the neighbours. Another Urdu daily, Jang, argued that Pakistan had swiftly acted against the suspects of the Indian air base attack. It added the move showed the "political and military establishment's pledge that the Pakistani soil won't be used for terrorism against India", and the neighbour must do the same.

Summary: Pakistani papers have praised Islamabad for overcoming diplomatic tensions with India to continue peace talks efforts.


But there have been many such agreements in the past and the omens for peace in the region are not good. Russian-backed fighters and the Ukrainian army have clashed almost daily for the last 30 months. At the beginning of January there was a serious escalation in the violence. Ukraine said two of its soldiers had been killed and 16 injured in fighting over the weekend. In theory the two sides will this week pull back heavy weaponry from areas near the front line. But a source at the Munich talks over the weekend told the BBC that no progress had been made in reaching a political solution.

Summary: A ceasefire is due to come into effect in eastern Ukraine following a deal in Munich over the weekend to halt fighting and withdraw heavy weapons from the front line.


The weakness in the oil and gas market has resulted in £2.56bn turnover between January and June, down from £3.07bn at the start of 2015. Profits fell even faster. Pre-tax profits on continuing operations were down by 39% to £96m. However, that does not include exceptional items. Post-tax reported profit was down 68% to £44m. The company has had one-off costs of cutting back sharply on its overhead costs, shedding a 10th of its workforce in the first half of this year. Wood Group is currently in a pay dispute with maintenance workers on Shell platforms in the UK North Sea. Chief executive Robin Watson said: "We have continued to focus on what we can control and what we can manage during a period where lower oil prices have endured and activity has fallen. "Our focus remains on managing costs, improving efficiency and maintaining capability. We are working with our customers to work smarter, streamlining work processes while increasing quality and efficiency." The engineering firm has told investors it expects full year profits to be 20% lower than in 2015. The outlook was helped, it said, by early signs of oil production projects being given approval, and signs that the sharp drop in North American onshore drilling may have bottomed out. Wood Group has also announced a $700m multi-year contract for oilfield automation services in Kazakhstan. This continues work it has been doing there for Tengizchevroil since 2013. In other energy news, Cairn Energy, based in Edinburgh, announced a significant increase in the estimated size of its oil discovery in Senegal. An independent company has assessed it as containing 473 million barrels of potentially recoverable oil or its gas equivalent, and up to 2.7 billion in total in the field. The company said the new North Sea fields in which it has a significant interest, Kraken and Catcher, remain on schedule to be in production by the end of next year. The downturn in the oil market means the capital expenditure behind them has fallen between 10% and 20%. The Wood Group share price rose 2% in morning trading after its half-year results were announced. Cairn Energy was up nearly 3%.

Summary: Wood Group, the oilfield services firm based in Aberdeen, has reported half year revenue falling 17%.


The testimonies include one from an RAF officer who took part in the 1944 Great Escape and the daughter of resistance heroine, Violette Szabo. About 4,000 people applied to the UK Foreign Office in 1964-65 for help from a £1m fund, paid for by West Germany. A quarter of claims were successful. Many were rejected because, though the claimants had suffered under the Nazis as prisoners of war or civilian internees, their imprisonment had not been illegal. Others were rejected because they were not British citizens. The archives contain often brutal accounts of suffering and persecution, as well as the responses of Foreign Office bureaucrats charged with administering the fund. The money was aimed principally at concentration camp survivors who had not won compensation under a separate German scheme set up in 1953. Among those whose claims were rejected was Jimmy James, who took part in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft 3 in 1944 - made famous in the film of the same name. Fifty of the escapers were shot. Jimmy James, along with others, was sent to a punishment camp known as Sonderlager A at Sachsenhausen concentration camp, north of Berlin. By 1964, his file shows he was working for the Foreign Office as a visa officer at the British Embassy in Prague. The file includes his handwritten account of his years in Nazi captivity, including his imprisonment with 18 others - six of them British - at Sachsenhausen - and a period spent in solitary inside the main camp when he once again tunnelled his way out, only to be recaptured. He acknowledged the conditions he was kept under were not as harsh as those in Sachsenhausen proper, and that he could claim no permanent disability, before adding laconically, "although, naturally, this is an experience which I should have preferred to have avoided". His claim was rejected on the grounds that as a prisoner of war he was not a victim of "Nazi persecution". But there was a sequel. Some of his fellow "Great Escapees" went to the newspapers to complain and the foreign secretary set up an inquiry which resolved on pay-outs to the Sachsenhausen victims after all. All were officers and two bore the name Churchill. In 1968 James got a cheque for £1,192 and 15 shillings. That emboldened others to underline their own claims. Another file contains correspondence with an anonymous former soldier in the Cameron Highlanders regiment. The names of people in many of the files have been blacked out, or redacted, on data protection grounds. In 1964 he had applied for compensation, describing himself as "an incorrigible escaper and troublemaker" who had "suffered persecution in four punishment camps". His claim was rejected. In 1968 he wrote a long and outraged letter in the wake of the Sachsenhausen decision. It reiterated his prison camp record, the ill-treatment he had suffered and the effects on his health, adding that he had also spent time in Buchenwald. "Do I need to appeal to the House of Lords like the elite who were awarded this money?" he asked.

Summary: Harrowing accounts of Nazi persecution against UK victims have been revealed in 1960s files from the National Archives, which show them claiming compensation for their suffering.


The 25-year-old former Sale Sharks tight-head prop, who has won seven caps for England, joined Bath in 2014 and has played six times so far this term. "It is the place for me. It is my home. I've loved the past few years here," Thomas told BBC Radio Bristol. Thomas is currently out long term after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November. "It wasn't a hard decision to make," Thomas added. "I've signed on for three years and I'm really excited." Asked if he might play again this season, he replied: "It is a big doubt really. "As a player you always like to push as much as you can but the physios always have your best interests at heart." Bath are fourth in the Premiership after 13 league games this season and are at home to Brive in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup after finishing top of their pool.

Summary: Injured front row Henry Thomas has signed a new three-year contract with Premiership club Bath.


The Social Market Foundation, a left of centre think tank, studied policies in Australia and the US that are similar to the UK's pension reforms. It found a significant proportion of people withdraw funds at an unsustainable rate. In the UK, thousands have cashed in their pension pots since April. The new rules, which came into force in April, allow pension savers to cash in their pension pots from the age of 55. This is one of a number of options for savers. In doing so, they pay no tax on the first 25% of these funds, but pay the normal rate of tax on the rest. Figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found that 146,000 people cashed-in pension pots in the six months since April, withdrawing a total of Â£2.7bn. Separate data, recorded slightly differently, from the Association of British Insurers suggested that Â£2.5bn was withdrawn over the same period in 166,700 cash lump sum payments, with an average withdrawal of just under Â£15,000. Research by financial firms indicates that the funds are being used to pay off debt, upgrade the car or go on holiday. The Social Market Foundation warned that evidence from overseas revealed a danger of pensioners spending money too quickly. It said four out of 10 Australians with pension savings spent them all by the age of 75, while Americans typically withdrew at an unsustainable rate of 8% a year. The think tank is urging the government to give older people a mid-retirement financial health check, to assess how fast they are using up their money. Early withdrawal of funds provides a tax income boost for the Treasury - it is expected to take double the amount it predicted during the first year of reforms. However, if pensioners use up savings, the eventual effect is an increased reliance on benefits and the state - a long-term cost to the Treasury. Providers suggest that people are taking relatively safe approach to retirement savings. "It is clear that people are taking a sensible approach and considering how they will pay for their retirement," said Yvonne Braun, of the ABI. "However, the figures also show that ensuring people save enough for retirement remains our key challenge. With life expectancy increasing and final-salary pension provision declining, we must now turn our attention to helping customers grow bigger pots." Tom McPhail, head of retirement policy at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "For most retiring investors, a mix and match strategy will work best, using a combination of state pension, annuity purchase and drawdown."

Summary: Individuals could be at risk of running short of retirement funds after cashing in their pension pots, analysis of overseas schemes suggests.


Anne Morgan was the last member of his family to see the County Down teacher alive before he was murdered and secretly buried by republicans in 1985. Investigators from the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) have been searching an area near Rouen since Monday. Ms Morgan was shown the site by the chief investigator on Friday. She appealed for anyone with information about her brother to come forward. "If you know anything about Seamus' disappearance, if you know anything about this site in France, please come forward, even at this late stage," she said. "It would be beneficial for me, for my family, for all the ones who are at home in Newry, please come forward. "If anyone else has information concerning any of the other families we need that information and the commission needs that information to follow through with other searches." This latest search began in a forest at Pont-de-l'Arche after new information on the whereabouts of Mr Ruddy was passed to the ICLVR from the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP). The group has close links to the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), which killed Mr Ruddy. Sources in the IRSP claim Mr Ruddy went willingly with INLA members from Paris to the wooded area, where there was an arms dump. What happened among the group is not clear but Mr Ruddy was shot dead. He was buried in a shallow grave. Sources claim that INLA members returned to the spot the following day, removed the arms cache and buried Mr Ruddy where it had been been. It is understood that former INLA and IRSP members travelled to northern France last year to try to pinpoint the spot where the Newry man was buried. Ms Morgan has said she knows the names of the people who killed her brother. There have been previous searches for his remains, but the latest information is thought to give Mr Ruddy's family their best hope yet of finding him. The Disappeared are those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during Northern Ireland's Troubles. Mr Ruddy is one of four people out of 16 Disappeared whose bodies have never been found. The others are Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Army Capt Robert Nairac.

Summary: The sister of one of the Disappeared, Seamus Ruddy, has arrived at the site of a dig for his remains in France.


But none of the groups fighting on the ground have been invited. So absent from the talks will be both the Assad government and the Syrian political opposition, as well as the myriad other rebel militias fighting the Assad regime. Syria's Kurds won't be present, and of course jihadist militants of the so-called Islamic State (IS) won't be either. But the hope is that if outside powers can bridge their differences, it could be a first step towards influencing at least some of the warring sides. And some things have changed since the last abortive diplomatic push to end Syria's war: Iran's nuclear deal has made it a more acceptable partner to the United States and its allies. Russia has more incentive to push for peace: to keep its military involvement in Syria limited. The mounting refugee crisis has increased pressure on Syria's neighbours and on European countries too. And there is growing alarm at the way IS militants keep extending their reach. The focus (not for the first time) will be on how to agree a political process, including changes to Syria's constitution and new elections, to open the door to a broader transition. The main sticking point remains President Bashar al-Assad's role, and whether he should be allowed to stay or at some point be forced to stand down. So where do the most important countries attending the Vienna talks now stand? The United States and other Western powers (who held a pre-meeting in Paris to present a united front in Vienna) have shifted slightly recently. They no longer say Mr Assad must go as soon as possible, but rather that a transition must guarantee that he departs under a precise timetable. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which had been insistent Mr Assad must go, may also be softening their position somewhat. The Saudi foreign minister on Wednesday still insisted he must step down, but within a specific time frame. But Russia and Iran, both backing President Assad militarily, claim he is a necessary partner in the fight against IS jihadists, and whether he stays or goes is not a matter for outside powers, but for the Syrian people to decide in elections. What is less clear is whether behind the scenes they are prepared to be more flexible, or less. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denounced elected leaders being ousted under pressure. He recently invited Mr Assad to Moscow to show him his support. But senior Russian officials have usually been careful to offer support to Syria's legitimate government, rather than Mr Assad himself. So would Russia support a compromise? Iran meanwhile has said there is no reason for Mr Assad to go, since he won re-election last year and his term should last until 2021. Will Tehran make him staying in power a red line? If there were no agreement in Vienna it would not be surprising, but it could also be dangerous. The Saudi government said it was coming to see if Russia and Iran were serious about a peace process, and if not, it would know

Summary: These Vienna talks for the first time include all the external countries involved in the Syria conflict Âincluding, crucially, Iran.


However, a sturdy pair of scissors was all it took to cut through the strap of an identical tag that was fitted to me the other day. And there was easily enough room between my ankle and the strap to position the scissor blades before making the cut. The tag was fitted to me in exactly the same way that all tags are attached to suspects under Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPims). It is made of a type of plastic, which although tough is deliberately breakable enough to be removed in case of an emergency. Phil Kemp presents The Report on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 5 December at 20:00 GMT Listen via the website Download the programme The Best of The Report "It can be cut and it can be broken off because it has to break at a certain prescribed limit for safety reasons," says Paul, an equipment specialist for the security company G4S, who fitted it to me. The company runs the GPS monitoring contract for government. He requested that his surname should not be used. "You have got enough flexibility so you can get your sock on and off, you can move it around on your leg for comfort, but you can't get it over the heel and over the ankle to remove it," he says. "But the main fact is that it cannot be cut off, broken off, or removed in any way without detection and without some evidence of what has caused that to be removed." Buried inside the length of the strap is a fibre-optic cable that, if interfered with, transmits an alert to G4S's monitoring system. The strap doesn't have to break or be cut for it to raise the alarm. Simply exerting enough force on the strap to damage the cable sends a signal to the authorities that the device could be being tampered with. Paul says that on the day Mr Mohamed's tag was removed, the device did what it was designed to do. "It detected the interference immediately, it transmitted that alert to us and we notified the relevant authorities well within our contracted turnaround time for raising that alarm," he says. However, by the time the police arrived at the mosque where the tag was removed, he had disappeared. On the same day he went missing, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a case it had brought against Mr Mohamed and two other TPim subjects for allegedly tampering with their tags. Had they been found guilty, they could have been given prison sentences lasting up to five years. However, the CPS said they would not be able to prove to a criminal standard that the tags had been deliberately tampered with. In cases where the defendants dispute trying to remove or break a tag, expert witnesses are called to see if they can work out what exactly triggered a tamper alert. Prof Ross Anderson is an expert in security engineering at the University of Cambridge and he worked on the defence case for the accused TPim subjects. "It turned out

Summary: We do not know how the electronic GPS monitoring tag was removed from the ankle of Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, the terror suspect who went missing after changing into a burka at a London mosque last month.


Allen left the Swans for Liverpool in 2012 but his time at Anfield has been hampered by injuries. The 24-year-old played in his side's 1-0 win at Swansea and Taylor said: "I've always known he was a great player, we know in Wales what a good player he is. "He just needed to be fit. He's a key player and he's in great form." Taylor added: "He's had problems with injuries which he couldn't have helped, like when he got smashed in Andorra. Allen has just over two years left on his current Liverpool deal but revealed he has opened talks with the club. He has been in impressive form for Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side of late and Taylor says Allen goes about his role in a quiet and effective manner. "Unless you are a real football person and know the game and see the game like we do, because we're in it, then you may not see the nuts and bolts that Joe does so well," left-back Taylor added. "It's massive. Look at Leon [Britton] down here over the years, he doesn't spray the passes like [Steven] Gerrard but the nuts and bolts to make your team tick, that's what Joe does. "That's why Brendan took him there for a lot of money." Allen and Taylor are set to be included in Wales' squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel in Haifa on 28 March. Wales manager Chris Coleman will announce the squad on Wednesday with his unbeaten Wales side facing the Group B leaders. "We all want to be in the team and we all want to qualify," Taylor added. "These next few games are massive towards that. They're all big but now we feel we've really got a chance and we don't want to let that go."

Summary: Midfielder Joe Allen is showing the form that earned him a move to Liverpool, says former Swansea City team-mate Neil Taylor.


The Disney Pixar film took $73.2m (£54.6m), while The Independence Day sequel took a disappointing $41.6m (£31m). Blake Lively's shark thriller The Shallows did better than expected, taking $16.7m (£12.4m). Filmed in Australia, it came in fourth and only cost $17m (£12.7m) to make. On its opening weekend, Finding Nemo sequel Finding Dory had the most successful launch for an animated film in US box office history, taking $136.2m (£93.3m). It is already the sixth-best selling film of 2016 after ten days with total takings of $285.6m (£214m). That figure is less than $100m (£74.9m) short of the final total that Finding Nemo made. Will Smith did not return to battle the aliens second time round in the Independence Day sequel but Roland Emmerich was back in the director's chair. Bill Pullman, Vivica Fox and Jeff Goldblum reprised their characters, joined by new cast members Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher. It cost $165m (£123.6m) to make and will need strong international ticket sales if it is to become profitable. It has taken $102m (£76.4m) from 57 different markets since its release. In third place was the Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson action comedy Central Intelligence. It took $18.4m (£13.7m) in its second week and has now topped $69m (£51.7m) in 10 days. Sony distribution chief Rory Bruer said social media buzz helped the film, which is about Lively's character battling for survival in a shark's feeding ground. "We were able to convey that this is a movie that has you on the edge of your seat and is both fun and scary," he said. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey's historical drama Free State of Jones took fifth spot. The film, in which McConaughey plays the leader of a rebellion against the Confederacy, took $7.8m (£5.8m), which was below expectations. It cost $50m (£37.4m) to make.

Summary: Finding Dory has remained at the top of the US box office for a second week, as Independence Day: Resurgence came in second place.


It will be called Angel Franco, after the senior golfer from Paraguay. He is playing at a tournament at North Berwick and will take part in the naming ceremony. The International Fire and Rescue Association (IFRA), which is organising the delivery of the fire appliance, said firefighters in Paraguay are often poorly equipped. IFRA chairman David Kay said: "It's fantastic that this appliance will be named after such a well-known figure in Paraguay and even better that it will be stationed near his home. "I know that it has come to the end of its working life in Scotland but its still very able to save lives 6,000 miles away for many more years." Angel Franco is taking part in the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Seniors Open at Archerfield Golf Club in North Berwick. The Angel Franco fire engine will be sent to the city Luque. It is the 81st appliance delivered by IFRA since it was founded in 2002. A total of 19 countries have benefitted. Mr Kay said that volunteer firefighters in many of these countries have "little training, few appliances and no equipment". He added: "Once we have finished with it here, IFRA with the support of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other agencies collect and send all the equipment we can to help kit out and equip the volunteers in these countries. "Then we drive or fly out as we have on 58 previous training missions to ensure they are trained to the highest standards to allow them to safely save more lives. "It's great to think that all this redundant and superseded kit continues to save people in other countries long after we stop using it and the people of Scotland should be justifiably proud of this."

Summary: A fire appliance being sent to Paraguay by Scotland's biggest fire service charity will be officially named later.


Their 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is twice the length of a normal stay. Their extended tour is part of an effort to study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the body. But scientists will gain further insights by comparing Scott Kelly with his Earthbound identical twin, Mark. A Soyuz capsule carrying Kelly, Kornienko and Russian crew member Sergey Volkov parachuted down on to a steppe in Kazakhstan at 10:26 local time (04:26 GMT). The mission is a record for the ISS and will give Cmdr Kelly a tally of 520 cumulative days in space, over four flights. In pictures: Scott Kelly's year in space Tim Peake's space plant experiment Cmdr Kelly has also returned rocket (salad) seeds that were taken up to the orbiting outpost by UK astronaut Tim Peake in December. They will be distributed to schools to allow pupils to compare their growth with rocket plants that have stayed on Earth. The idea behind the twin study is to help minimise extraneous factors as scientists research how genetically identical individuals respond to different conditions over a year. The harsh space environment takes its toll in the form of muscle atrophy, sleep problems, bone loss, vision impairment and radiation exposure. But some of the most pronounced effects are on the mind. Before landing, Cmdr Kelly told reporters during a live link-up: "Physically I feel pretty good... but the hardest part is being isolated in the physical sense from people on the ground who are important to you. There's a loss of connection." From Kazakhstan, Cmdr Kelly will be flown to Houston in the US, where researchers at the US space agency (Nasa) will begin a series of scientific checks. Mark Kelly, who was an astronaut, now retired, has been undergoing tests of his own on Earth during his brother's sojourn on the ISS. Comparisons between the twins should allow scientists to deepen their understanding of the subtle physical and psychological shifts that occur during long stays on orbit. Nasa says the research should inform its stated aim of one day sending humans to Mars. After returning from an extended stay in the weightless environment of space, many astronauts have difficulty walking unaided. Shortly after landing, Kelly, Kornienko and Volkov will enter a medical tent to participate in a series of "field tests" that will assess their balance, co-ordination and ability to walk. Returning ISS crews have immediate access to medical assistance, but future crews to Mars will have little time to recover once they land on the Red Planet's surface. Scientists want to devise ways to prevent injury and improve their recovery time. "We go through about an hour of field tests of various kinds - one is even like an obstacle course, where you run around, stand up from a sitting position and jump," Cmdr Kelly said. Despite the length of their flight, Kelly and Kornienko are still some way shy of the record for the longest single spaceflight, which is held by the Russian Valery Polyakov, who spent 437 consecutive days aboard the Mir space

Summary: US astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko have touched down on Earth after almost a year in space.


Parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates have launched a final legal challenge at the European Court of Human Rights after a Supreme Court challenge failed. European judges said doctors were required to keep the 10-month-old alive until they had passed judgement. Specialists at Great Ormond Street believe he has no chance of survival. Charlie has been in intensive care in hospital since October last year. His doctors said he cannot hear, move, cry or swallow and that his lungs only go up and down because he is on a machine that does it for him. Judges in Strasbourg, France, had previously ruled an interim measure to keep him alive should remain in place until midnight on 19 June. The new extension lasts until a final ruling is made. A spokesperson said the court "will treat the application with the utmost urgency" but have not indicated when the final judgement will be made. Charlie's parents, from Bedfont, west London, have raised Â£1.3m on a crowdfunding site to pay for an experimental treatment in the US. In April a High Court judge ruled against the trip to America and said Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity. Three Court of Appeal judges upheld the ruling in May and three Supreme Court justices have dismissed a further challenge by the parents. Charlie is thought to be one of 16 children in the world to have mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.

Summary: Terminally-ill baby Charlie Gard must continue to receive life support until judges make a ruling on whether he should undergo a trial treatment.


The 24-year-old, who has spent eight years at Deepdale, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with a option for a further 12 months. Head coach Lee Johnson said: "Bailey has a warrior spirit and represents a good signing for us. "He has great Championship experience, he's tough, an Australian international - an old-fashioned stopper." In December, Preston manager Simon Grayson said he was keen for Wright to sign a new deal at Deepdale and that the defender "owes the club a lot". Wright was part of the Preston team which won promotion via the League One play-offs in 2014-15. Since scoring on his Australia debut against Saudi Arabia, he has been capped 12 times and was in the squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Wright is Bristol City's third signing of the January transfer window, with Bosnian striker Milan Djuric and German midfielder Jens Hegeler already added to the squad. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Bristol City have signed Australian centre-back Bailey Wright from Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.


Jaymie Stuart Hall suffered a number of serious injuries during a disturbance in Dumbryden Gardens, Wester Hailes, at about 21:25 on Saturday. The 35-year-old was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh but died a short time later. The arrested man is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Summary: A 41-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of a man in an Edinburgh street.


22 December 2015 Last updated at 11:22 GMT The two male suspects are believed to have scaled a fence in the back garden and broken into the house in Ashbourne Road, Mitcham, sometime between Saturday morning and Monday afternoon when the theft was discovered. The thieves damaged cuddly toys, puzzles and games belonging to the victim's' baby and stole gifts including jewellery, photographic equipment, a tablet and a laptop computer.

Summary: CCTV footage has been released of thieves stealing gifts from under a Christmas tree at a home in south London.


Media playback is not supported on this device The Lowland League side take on East of Scotland League outfit Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale for the right to host Celtic in the competition's last 16. "I was sitting with my wee girl about to change her nappy. I just jumped up and went mad," said Russell. Asked where the nappy ended up, he replied, "I don't know!" The centre-back said he told his girlfriend, who was also watching the draw being made at Hampden, he was certain that when his own team and Vale's names were pulled out that Celtic's would follow. However, the 26-year-old plumbing and heating engineer confessed he might struggle to focus on his job in the coming days. "I think my boss will understand if I try to put my head down a toilet or something," he joked. "I tried to go the gym. I was sitting on the bike just shaking my head." Russell and his team-mates are determined to focus on their rearranged home game at K Park against Vale on 20 January, but the prospect of the Scottish champions playing at their tiny Lanarkshire ground inevitably seeps into the conversation. So, can he imagine Celtic manager Ronny Deila watching him play from the stand? "I'll put it out my head and make sure we get the win," he replied matter-of-factly. "But after the game if he wants to talk contracts I'll be free!" Sean Winter was also at home watching Monday's draw. The former Stranraer midfielder told BBC Scotland: "It was me, my wee boy and my girlfriend and I just had a feeling. I've had a feeling for a few weeks it was going to be Celtic. "I've played Rangers but I've never had a chance to play Celtic. As soon as I saw East Kilbride, I knew the next one was going to be Celtic. I was absolutely delighted. "Whether it's us or Lothian Thistle, we have earned the right to be there. It's a fantastic thing for the town." Fellow midfielder Craig Hastings, who works at the town's tax office, said: "I'm excited. I was sitting there with my wee maw, watching the telly, and she said, 'Who do you think it will be?' "When Celtic came out she started screaming and then the phone was red hot, with my dad and my gran and everybody phoning me. "Everyone is talking about it but we're not there yet. It's a great draw if we get there. We've got to prepare well." Matt McGinley, a PE teacher at Calderglen High in the town, added: "It's the draw we wanted, the big-money tie, we are all absolutely buzzing." "Bring them on. You want to test yourself against them the best, so why not?"

Summary: East Kilbride captain Barry Russell admits that seeing Celtic being drawn on TV as potential Scottish Cup opponents led to a domestic mishap.


He said: "With significant Tory and UKIP power blocks in the next parliament, we will be the left-of-centre backbone of a Labour administration. "Along with the SNP and Plaid Cymru, (we) will ensure that the next Labour government remains true to its values." Dr McDonnell said that, while his party had always worked closely with Labour, the SDLP was not tied to any other party. He said its MPs would be elected on their own manifesto. "During the last Labour government, we were unwavering in opposition to the Iraq War," he said. "Our MPs voted against the cut in the 10p tax rate. We refused to accept 42 day detention. "These were all issues that Labour supported." The SDLP leader added that his party would "categorically refuse" to support David Cameron and the Conservative Party.

Summary: SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell has said if Labour leader Ed Miliband becomes the next prime minister "it will be with our support, on our terms, that he takes power".


That includes broadband operators, schools, universities and libraries. Ofcom said that the savings could be passed on to consumers. It follows a review that found the former state monopoly had "significant" market power. BT said that more regulation could damage investment in infrastructure. "These are proposals for discussion, so we'll be making our views known to Ofcom. We don't expect a final decision for some time," the company said in a statement. "We believe there should be less regulation in this market, not more, as businesses already have diverse and growing choice amongst a large number of providers." The consultation - which runs until July - will consider a form of charge control that aims to bring prices down over a three-year period. The charge controls relate to two groups of services - older leased lines that offer speeds up to 8Mbps (megabits per second) and newer Ethernet lines that offer speeds up to 1Gbps (gigabit per second). "The slow speed traditional service on up to 8Mbps leased lines is not likely to help mobile and other broadband operators, since slow lines like this are not sufficient for modern backhaul," said Andrew Ferguson, editor of broadband news site ThinkBroadband. "The real market is the Ethernet sector where the price reduction will be very welcome by those buying these lines." But he added: "There is also the real risk that BT - if revenue is reduced in one area - will seek to maintain profits by increasing prices elsewhere." Ofcom is also proposing that companies providing leased lines should be granted access to BT's networks through a process known as dark fibre. This would involve BT giving competitors physical access to its fibre-optic cables, allowing them to take direct control of the connection. It is called dark fibre because the cable would not be lit using BT's electronic equipment. Instead the competitor would install its own equipment at either end of the cable. Ofcom expects to publish its decision in the first quarter of next year, with any price cuts coming into effect in April 2016.

Summary: UK regulator Ofcom is proposing cutting what BT charges for its leased telecoms lines, which could see significant price cuts for those who buy them.


Nicholas Sloots, 34, was due to stand trial at Swansea Crown Court but changed his plea to guilty. Marcus Sheppard, 37, also from Neath, died after being found seriously injured on Dalton Road, in Sandfields, Port Talbot on 27 February. Det Ch Insp Rob Cronick said Mr Sheppard had "found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time". He said: "The tragic death of Marcus brought shock and sadness to the community. "We welcome today's sentencing which brings an end to the criminal investigation and I again pass on my condolences to Marcus's family who have acted with great dignity and humility throughout this horrific ordeal. "Knife crime is unacceptable. This case shows the devastating effect the criminal use of a knife can have on an individual and their family."

Summary: A Neath man has been jailed for nine years after admitting the manslaughter of a man he attacked with a knife.


Louis Ross was with friends when he lost control on a slope in the Meribel resort on Wednesday, police said. The 17-year-old was a lower-sixth form pupil at the independent Canford School in Wimborne, Dorset. In a statement, the school said: "We are devastated by this shocking news and doing all we can to support the family during this time." "The thoughts and prayers of the entire Canford community are with them." The resort is the same one where former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher suffered a brain injury in 2013. French police said Louis lost his balance and crashed into the slope during the morning and, despite wearing a helmet, suffered injuries to his face. Mountain rescuers were on the scene within 10 minutes but nothing could be done to save him. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said: "We are in contact with the local authorities and providing support to the family at this difficult time."

Summary: A British teenager has died in a skiing crash while on a family holiday in the French Alps.