The 33-year-old has suffered persistent hamstring trouble in the last year and was ruled out of the recent Test series with India to have more surgery. After his latest injury setback, he admitted his career could be in doubt. National selector Rod Marsh said Clarke would be replaced if he was not fit by Australia's second World Cup match, against Bangladesh on 21 February. Clarke, who made his international debut in 2003, is not expected to feature in the preceding one-day tri-series against England and India which begins on 16 January. The Australians begin their World Cup campaign against England in Melbourne on 14 February, and play Bangladesh a week later. "We have said that if Michael has not recovered by our second match of the tournament against Bangladesh on 21 February, we will replace him in the squad," said Marsh. "He understands that and is working tirelessly with medical staff to get back to fitness. "Our medical staff are pleased with his progress and he continues to undergo thorough rehabilitation work with a view to being ready to play an important role in the World Cup." A stand-by for Clarke has not been announced, although Marsh said that if the captain became unavailable, regular deputy George Bailey would lead the side in his absence. Marsh also said Western Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is on track to be fit for the start of the World Cup. "Mitchell is progressing well with his rehab and we expect him to be available at some stage during the tri-series with the aim to have him well prepared for the World Cup," he said. Elsewhere in the squad, Brad Haddin is preferred to Matthew Wade as wicketkeeper, while Nathan Lyon misses out in favour of Xavier Doherty for the solitary spinner's slot. Lyon has played just eight one-day internationals, but made a late push for selection with 23 wickets in four Tests against India. Australia are seeking a record fifth World Cup after winning the tournament in India in 1987, England in 1999, South Africa in 2003 and the West Indies in 2007. Australia World Cup squad: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey (vice-capt), Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson. Click here for a list of all the World Cup squads

Summary: Michael Clarke has been declared fit to captain co-hosts Australia at the World Cup which begins next month.


The London Taxi Company has secured a deal with Ujra Holding Company for 200 black taxis after it initially ordered 200 in assorted colours. Chinese car maker Geely bought the company, formerly known as LTI, for Â£11.4m in October, when the former owners went into administration. The United Arab Emirates has also ordered 200 black taxis. The company said all vehicles are on target for delivery by the end of the year. On his return from Saudi Arabia, Peter Johansen, vice president of the London Taxi Company, said the cabs are growing in popularity in the Middle East. He said: "We've got a very good business partner in the Middle East and he's developed the London Taxi concept into Riyadh in particular. "People prefer to use our taxis over the local taxis because they're more comfortable and, in particular, in Saudi women are treated slightly differently from the westâ€¦ "Because our taxi provides a segregated compartment, separate from the driver, ladies in Saudi are allowed to use our taxis on their own, whereas they're not allowed to use the local taxis." The company has also confirmed it is in talks with Azerbaijan which currently owns 1,000 damson-coloured black cabs. In March, the London Taxi Company said it would take on about 100 staff, in addition to its 107 workers, to restart production at the Coventry factory on Holyhead Road. About 156 people lost their jobs when former owners Manganese Bronze Holdings went into administration.

Summary: A Coventry-based black taxi manufacturer is to sell 400 cabs to Saudi Arabia.


Germany, France and Spain would receive the most migrants under the Commission's latest plan. The idea of using quotas to resettle those who have made it to Europe has caused controversy in some EU states. The UK government says that it will not take part in such a system. France, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia have also all voiced concerns, and a final decision will be taken by EU governments after a vote by MEPs. Denmark has the right to opt out of the plan while Ireland and the UK can decide whether they wish to opt in. The plan applies to Syrian and Eritrean nationals who arrive in Italy or Greece after 15 April 2015. The Commission said it could also apply to Malta if it also faced a sudden influx of migrants. This is in addition to moves announced earlier this month by the EU for a voluntary scheme to settle 20,000 refugees fleeing conflict who are currently living outside the EU. Of the 40,000 migrants considered "in clear need of international protection", the Commission says: Dimitris Avramopoulos, the home affairs commissioner, said it was not proposing "the fixing of quotas... for migration in general" and but it was "up to each member to decide how many refugees they will grant refugee status [to]". "We only propose - and we insist on that - a fair distribution of a concrete number of migrants in clear need of international protection across the European Union," he said. Countries would receive â‚¬6,000 (Â£4,250) for every person relocated on their territory under the latest proposal, the commission said. More than 1,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean in 2015 - a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014. Some 60,000 people have already tried to make the perilous crossing this year, the UN estimates. Many are trying to escape conflict or poverty in countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia. The Commission said Italy and Greece were facing an exceptional level of migration, with Italy seeing a 277% rise in irregular border crossings from 2013 to 2014 and Greece seeing an increase of 153%. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has also urged Europe to do more to help migrants, calling for search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean to be "further strengthened". "I'm urging European leaders to address this issue in a more comprehensive way and a collective way," he said, adding that the "roots" of the problem in countries of origin must also be addressed. But UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening has rejected the European Commission's idea of mandatory quotas because she said it could act as a "pull for more migrants". French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said this month that asylum should be a right, not subject to quotas. Earlier this month, EU ministers backed plans for a naval force to set up to combat smuggling gangs, if necessary by military force, inside Libyan territorial waters.

Summary: The European Commission has called on EU member states to take in 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea who land in Italy and Greece over the next two years.


England manager Sam Allardyce has backed the idea of a British team at future Olympics, but the Football Association of Wales fears it could damage Wales' position as an independent footballing nation. Team GB entered men's and women's sides at London 2012, but not at Rio 2016. "For us, no. I don't agree with that," said Coleman. "Anything that could put what we've got here, what we've built here, in jeopardy, we would not be for that. "We've always had a stance that we don't agree with it, and that hasn't changed. "Why should we say go on, take [our players] - and we know they're only going to take two or three of ours. "It should be called the England Olympic team really because that's what it will be. But they'll cherry-pick [Gareth] Bale or Rambo [Aaron Ramsey] maybe - why should we give them up, say water them down, take the best out of them and then throw them back to us when you finish with them? "I don't think that's fair at all. I think they have enough football." After taking part at London 2012, the four national football associations could not agree on sending a British women's team to the Rio Games. A place was earned by the England women's side finishing third in the 2015 World Cup. England's Football Association had put forward the idea of sending Great Britain teams to the Olympics, but Fifa said it would need the agreement of the ruling bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who were against it. Those three home nations fear such a move could affect their independent status within the sport's world governing body, Fifa, and at international tournaments such as the World Cup. "One thing we've got surrounding us at the minute - and you can smell it on us - is the players we have got, there's an identity there," said Coleman. "They put the jersey on and they wear it with pride. That's all our nation has ever wanted really. "Of course they want success, they want to see a team on the pitch that when they walk on the pitch they're emptying it for the jersey, for the badge, for the honour. That's what we've got, so no need for us to mess about with that." Coleman added that competing at the Olympics would add to players' already busy schedule. "Our boys have a lot of football, what they don't need is another [tournament]," he said. "It's not just the football... it's being in camp, being away every day, there's more pressure, there's more preparation. "That's the last thing any of our top players need and I'm talking about the England players as well."

Summary: Wales boss Chris Coleman has dismissed the idea of Wales being part of a Team GB football side at the 2020 Olympics.


Bigamist Pierre Legris is accused of killing Rui Li, 44, who was found dead in Bournemouth, Dorset, on 30 May. Her daughter Lu Yao, 19, told police her mother was concerned she might be pushed off a mountain during one of the couple's regular climbing trips. French national Mr Legris, 61, denies murdering his wife. The prosecution alleges Rui Li, a Chinese national who moved to the UK in 2003, was bludgeoned to death by Legris as part of a conspiracy that also involved his other wife Irene Smith and son Jonathan Legris. Winchester Crown Court heard interviews between Lu Yao and police in which she said her mother and Pierre Legris, also known as Alain Baron, often went climbing and hiking, including on trips abroad. Lu Yao, a daughter from a previous marriage, told police her mother had given her a will, which said: "If Pierre kills me you get all the money and you get all the property." She told her it was a worse case scenario, Lu Yao said. The prosecution alleges Mr Legris killed Ms Li because his finances had become "desperate" and he wanted to cash in on his wife's Â£300,000 life insurance policy. The court heard Lu Yao told officers she had tried to phone and text her mother in the days after she had reported her missing. But instead she was sent a text from Rui Li's phone by Legris, who said he had found it at a property she owned in Wolverton Road, Bournemouth. He had explained her disappearance by saying she was working, the jury heard. Rui Li's body was found in the boot of a car in Verwood Crescent, a week after she went missing. Irene Smith and Jonathan Legris deny conspiracy to murder. Jonathan Legris also denies assisting an offender and Ms Smith denies perverting the course of justice. Before the start of the trial, Pierre Legris pleaded guilty to an offence of bigamy by marrying Ms Li in 2007 when he had been married to Ms Smith since 1987. The court has previously heard Ms Li ran a massage service, which "on occasion" provided "sexual services". The defence's case is that a disgruntled customer may have followed Rui Li home and murdered her.

Summary: A nurse who was allegedly murdered for her life insurance policy gave her daughter a will in case she was killed, a court has heard.


The Good Morning Britain host had scoffed at the decision to host a Ferris wheel in Dudley. He told viewers even people in the town thought it had "a horrible view". However, local businessman Dave Carter launched a campaign to get people riding the attraction wearing the masks to mark April Fools' Day. About 40 people wearing the masks that were handed out in the town centre was granted a free ride before 10:00 BST. More on this and other stories from Birmingham and the Black Country Mr Carter said about 4,000 people have ridden the 115ft (35.05m) high attraction, which has been branded "the worst tourist attraction in the UK", adding the wheel had done the town "a really big favour". "Most people have come along to see what all the fuss is about, and they're turning up to Dudley, doing a bit of shopping, going on the Eye and finding out that it's actually quite good," he said. "It was all in good humour - you could see people's tongues in their cheeks through the masks." Mr Morgan has been invited to Dudley to experience the ride, Mr Carter added, but he has not yet accepted the invitation.

Summary: Black Country residents have mocked TV presenter Piers Morgan by wearing masks of his face while riding a visitor attraction he publicly criticised.


There were delays on Monday at airports in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Berlin, and Brussels, where visibility reportedly dropped to just 100m. The situation was worsened at Duesseldorf Airport by the discovery overnight of an unexploded World War Two bomb. A controlled explosion closed the airport to flights for an hour. According to Eurocontrol, the European air safety agency, there were more than 120,000 minutes of flight delays across the continent on Monday morning, with 94% due to adverse weather conditions. Cancelled flights: Why does fog cause chaos at airports? A Eurocontrol spokesman told the Guardian it was "unusual situation to have such widespread low visibility for such a long period". Airports in Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and the UK were among the worst affected, according to the agency's Twitter feed. Easyjet said it was suffering "major network disruption today due to poor weather conditions throughout Europe causing low visibility". "This has resulted in a large number of aircraft and crew out of place for flights today," the airline said in a statement. "In addition we are seeing a lot of Air Traffic Control restrictions which has resulted in some delays, diversions and cancellations." In Paris, the top half of the Eiffel Tower was obscured by a thick blanket of fog. Several airlines warned on Twitter that delays were expected to continue throughout Monday. There were widespread delays at UK airports. Heathrow airport said it expected to cancel around 10% of flights on Monday, while London City was forced to close to all traffic. Other affected airports include Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff.

Summary: Heavy fog is causing disruption across western Europe, with low visibility leading to significant flight delays.


Dan Biggar was heard querying whether to kick for the corner when Wales won a penalty while trailing 16-13 but denied he overruled Jones' decision. Leigh Halfpenny admitted he turned down the chance to kick at goal, however. "Things happen on the field which challenge everybody at the best of times," Thorburn told BBC Radio Wales. He continued: "I don't think it questions his ability as captain at all. "Alun is unquestionably one of the most inspirational players that has been around in the Welsh camp for a long time." Thorburn says he would have no reservations over picking Jones as captain of the British and Irish Lions in light of Wales' poor start in the Six Nations. "He [Jones] leads from the front," he said. "Are you going to base it on the argument about Dylan Hartley, the England captain, whose team didn't know how to cope with some bizarre scenarios against Italy on Sunday?" Wales could have levelled the scores at 16-16 from the penalty if they had kicked for goal instead of the corner, but Thorburn says it is the kicker's responsibility to decide what happens, not just the captain's. "I've been on both sides of the fence - a captain and the goal kicker - what we don't know is what the conditions were like on the field," Thorburn added. "The wind does swirl around Murrayfield and I suspect Leigh probably thought that it was going to be a long kick into what would be a very difficult conditions. "The issue is whether Alun, as captain, should have consulted with him first. We can argue about that until the cows come home but ultimately the kicker is the one who is taking the shot and has to be comfortable."

Summary: Former Wales skipper Paul Thorburn says there is no question over Alun Wyn Jones' captaincy despite claims he was overruled in the loss to Scotland.


Ed Balls, widely tipped for the Treasury brief, will be shadow home secretary, while Yvette Cooper is shadow foreign secretary. On the crucial issue of the deficit, Mr Johnson said the government was cutting spending too far and too fast. But he acknowledged his lack of economic experience, saying he was being "chucked in the deep end". Asked by the BBC what his first move would be in the job, he joked that it would be to "pick up a primer in economics for beginners". He said he would draw on the experience of other colleagues who had served in the Treasury and it was a "glorious thing" about British politics that politicians had to learn quickly on the job. Government plans to cut spending by 25% in many departments risked "creating mayhem", he stressed. "These are cuts of a scale which we have never seen before," he said. "I believe the government is cutting too fast and too deeply." "There is an alternative," he added. "The government is saying there is no alternative. They are saying it is unavoidable. It is avoidable." During the election, former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling called for the deficit to be cut in half over four years but Ed Balls has since said this is too aggressive and needs to be done more slowly. Asked which camp he was in, Mr Johnson told Sky News that Mr Darling's policy remained the "starting point" for his thinking but Labour had lost the election and needed to "reassess" its position on all key issues. "I never agreed that Alistair's proposals were over too short a period," he said. "I think he got it just about right. But nothing is preserved in aspic. There have been developments since the election and we need to take all those into account." BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Ed Miliband's decision to appoint Mr Johnson as shadow chancellor was a "sign of his relative weakness in the party". Mr Johnson is a "loyalist by instinct", who is not likely to come up with an alternative economic policy, but he will be able to unite the party after a divisive leadership contest and "deploy his wry humour and connection with the real world to portray George Osborne as an out-of-touch rich kid," added Robinson. Your views on shadow cabinetFull shadow cabinet listChallenges facing Alan Johnson The ex home secretary is a former postman and trade union leader, who held a string of top jobs when Labour was in government, and was a vocal supporter of David Miliband during Labour's leadership contest. But Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said his economic record and views were "a bit of an unknown" and he seemed like a "caretaker appointment". "It's a very surprising appointment. Ed Miliband said he wanted to move on to a new generation of Labour politicians but Alan Johnson is frankly from the last generation," he told the BBC News Channel. He said Mr Johnson would now have to say whether he would deliver on Ed Milband's promise of a shadow spending review and

Summary: Alan Johnson has been named shadow chancellor in a surprise move by new Labour leader Ed Miliband.


The trial of Edwin McLaren began in September 2015 with the 15 jurors needed for a Scottish criminal trial and ended more than a year and a half later with just 12. There were concerns that if they had lost another juror the case would have collapsed. That is what happened with another mammoth fraud case at the Old Bailey in London in 2005. The London Underground Jubilee Line case heard evidence for about 140 days over a 21-month period before one juror "went on strike". The court had already lost two jurors when one became pregnant and another was arrested for benefit fraud. After missing work for almost two years one juror became aware that he owed thousands in pension contributions, which his employer had not been liable for while he was on the jury. He refused to take part in the jury until his financial situation was sorted out, claiming loss of earnings threatened his ability to pay Oxford university fees for a course he was due to start. The Attorney General in England at the time, Lord Goldsmith, brought forward legislation to allow complex fraud trials to be held without juries. It was defeated in the Lords two years later with peers arguing that trial by jury was a bedrock of the criminal justice system. The UK government had said major trials put too much pressure on jurors. "The use of a jury is a bulwark of not just Scottish justice but British justice and I would say there should be a presumption that the jury system continues," Douglas Mill, former chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland, told the BBC. But Mr Mill added that fraud was now so "specialised" that the police, the Crown office prosecutors and defence lawyers all had experts who dealt only with such cases. He said the only people who were not specialists were the jury. "It is left to 15 very lay people who are being asked to assimilate vast numbers of documents over an endless number of days," he said. "Is that in the interests of justice? Big question." Law lecturer Andrew Tickell also said fraud cases were complex and difficult to follow. In the case of Edwin McLaren, the indictment carried 29 separate charges and it was the Crown's job to prove every one. This required a large number of witnesses and mountains of documents. The Glasgow Caledonian University law lecturer said: "If the Crown is going to bring forward a mega case then it really has to bring forward quite substantial evidence to buttress that claim. "Juries have to decide on the guilt in the cases and so have to sit through many months of evidence. That has real challenges for them and challenges for the justice system as a whole. "Certainly in terms of very serious cases involving complicated financial concepts and instruments that the ordinary person might not be familiar with then you might well ask 'is it right for 15 ordinary members of the public to spend a year of their life trying to get

Summary: A fraud trial has just concluded at the High Court in Glasgow after 20 months, raising questions about whether juries should be used in such complex cases.


Media playback is not supported on this device The League Two hosts dominated their Championship opponents in the first half, taking the lead through Uche Ikpeazu's low turn and shot. But a different Leeds came out after the break, equalising when Stuart Dallas nodded in Alex Mowatt's cross. Mowatt then turned goalscorer when he flicked in from a corner to set up a tie at AFC Wimbledon or Sutton United. The U's nearly equalised late on when Piero Mingoia's shot was spilled by Marco Silvestri but Ben Williamson could not turn the ball home under pressure. In front of a sell-out crowd, two sides going for promotion in their respective leagues provided an entertaining contest, despite the 38 places separating the teams. Ikpeazu had an earlier chance to score in the game but had an effort saved, before Luke Berry's free-kick deflected back to him, he turned two defenders and struck low in off the post. Leeds twice forced Will Norris into fine saves in the first period from Mowatt and Liam Cooper. But Garry Monk's side, in the Championship play-off places and having made eight changes for the match, showed fight in the second half and equalised when Dallas knocked Mowatt's cross back across the face of goal. Mowatt then completed the turnaround when he flicked on Pontus Jansson's header from a corner into the roof of the net. Media playback is not supported on this device Cambridge, managed by former Leeds midfielder Shaun Derry, had chances to force a replay, but substitute Williamson could not turn home and Ikpeazu headed a corner wide. Cambridge United manager Shaun Derry: "We want more of this. We want to be on a different stage. "We are in League Two and it's a tough, tough level and we can make a real claim for the top seven now." Leeds boss Garry Monk: "Cambridge made it very tough for us as we knew they would. They were excellent in that first half, they put pressure on us and were a handful. "We were able to move the game up the pitch in the second half and got the goals at good times. "I trust all my players - there's no point in having a squad if you are not going to use them and it will stand them in good stead. "I love the FA Cup, I've grown up with it and it means a lot to me. All I know is that we use our squad, we respected it and you could see that from how committed we were." Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live co-commentator and former Cambridge United striker: "Lots of things that have gone on at Leeds have left a slightly bitter taste. But what they done is given the manager a chance and backed him financially. You get the feeling Garry Monk, with what he has had to put up with, just lets it wash over him. He comes across as a focused person. "Leeds have the capabilities of being a top six or seven team in the country. They

Summary: Leeds United came from behind to defeat stubborn Cambridge United in a hotly contested FA Cup third-round tie.


According to reports, he was a member of the firm's UK team. He was understood to have been attending the Cannes Lions event, an annual gathering of people in the advertising and marketing industry. In a statement, Google said: "We lost a loved and respected member of our team. We are deeply saddened and our thoughts are with his family and friends." No further details about the employee have been made public out of respect for his family.

Summary: A Google executive has been killed in an accident in Cannes, France, the search company has confirmed.


State department spokesman John Kirby called the plans the "latest step... in a systematic process of land seizures". UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply disappointed" by the Israeli government's decision. The international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators also recently criticised settlement construction. About 570,000 Israelis live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Citing an Israeli official, the Associated Press reported that the Israeli plans included 560 new homes in Maale Adumim, just outside Jerusalem, as well as almost 200 in the city itself. The plan also called for more than 600 new homes in an Arab neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, AP said. Mr Kirby said: "If true, this report would be the latest step in what seems to be a systematic process of land seizures, settlement expansions and legalizations of outposts that is fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution." The plans were also sharply criticised by Ban Ki-moon. "This raises legitimate questions about Israel's long-term intentions, which are compounded by continuing statements of some Israeli ministers calling for the annexation of the West Bank," the UN chief's spokesman said in a statement. On Friday, the Quartet released a report saying Israeli settlement-building - along with continuing violence, terrorism and incitement, and lack of control of the Gaza Strip by the West-Bank based Palestinian Authority - was undermining peace hopes. Israel welcomed parts of the Quartet report, but said it "perpetuates the myth that Israeli construction in the West Bank is an obstacle to peace". The last round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians came to an end amid acrimony in April 2014. The Palestinians accused Israel of reneging on a deal to free prisoners, while Israel said it would not continue negotiations after the Palestinians decided to bring the militant Islamist Hamas movement into a unity government.

Summary: The US has criticised Israeli plans to build hundreds of new homes in existing Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.


The cabinet was named shortly after parliament voted for Mr Abe as PM, following his party's emphatic poll victory earlier this month. The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner have a two-thirds majority in the lower house. Mr Abe vowed "bold" economic policies to tackle deflation and said he would strengthen ties with the United States. Mr Abe, who was also PM in 2006-07, chose another former premier, Taro Aso, for the key role of finance minister. Analysts say the cabinet includes a number of Mr Abe's close allies as he eyes the task of pulling Japan out of a prolonged economic slump. Mr Abe told a news conference in Tokyo: "With the strength of my entire cabinet, I will implement bold monetary policy, flexible fiscal policy and a growth strategy that encourages private investment, and with these three policy pillars, achieve results." He also said he would step up Japan's alliance with the United States. The former trade and industry minister, Akira Amari, has been named as minister for economic revival and veteran Toshimitsu Motegi was chosen for the post of trade minister. Some reports say he will be put in charge of energy policy in the aftermath of last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster. Mr Abe is seen as a hawkish, right-of-centre leader. His previous term in office ended ignominiously amid falling popularity. He resigned on grounds of ill health. But he returns to power at a critical moment and is Japan's seventh premier in six years. The grandson of a former prime minister and son of an ex-foreign minister, Mr Abe, 58, has pledged to take a tough line in a territorial row with China. China has urged the new government to take "practical steps" to deal with the dispute over islands in the East China Sea. Mr Abe has also called for Japan's pacifist constitution to be revised and patriotic sentiment nurtured. The LDP crushed the governing Democratic Party (DPJ) in the 16 December poll. DPJ leader Yoshihiko Noda stepped down shortly afterwards. The DPJ was elected in 2009 on its promise to increase welfare spending and break ties between the bureaucracy and big business. But its failure to deliver on the economy and response to the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami lost it support. This time round Mr Abe campaigned on a platform promising an end to years of economic stagnation, with more public spending and a looser monetary policy. But some economists say there is little new in Mr Abe's policies, or "Abenomics" as they have been called. He has also said he would allow nuclear energy a role in Japan's future despite last year's disaster.

Summary: Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has unveiled his cabinet as he begins the task of economic revitalisation.


That enemy is the fear that many undocumented Hispanics have about presenting their personal information to the immigration authorities for a programme that could be reversed by a new administration in a matter of years. "This deferred action is a temporary permit," says Claudia, who fled from violence in her native Mexico and has been living in the US since 2000. "What is going to happen when Mr Obama is no longer president? They are going to know where I am, where my family is. Is it possible that we will all be deported?" she tells the BBC in El Paso, Texas. In November, President Obama announced a series of unilateral reforms that will allow about four million unauthorised immigrants to apply for provisional work permits, and for deportation proceedings to be deferred. Claudia explains that she is eligible because she has been in the United States for nearly 15 years and has three sons who are married to American citizens, making them legal residents. She says she plans to apply for relief, even though she is still very sceptical of the programme because it will not resolve her legal situation in the long term. "With this announcement, there is no hope, you don't know where your future lies," she stresses. "Before, you knew you were undocumented and you had to be on the lookout for the immigration authorities. But now you don't know, because you're going to say where you are and who you are, so it is even more uncertain." Claudia's case is in marked contrast to the images of cheering and optimistic Hispanics shown in the media after the November announcement. And her situation is far from unique. The White House has acknowledged that there is a challenge in trying to get people "out of the shadows", as president Obama likes to say. At a town hall meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, the president stressed the need to give people confidence so they can apply. "The real question is, how do we make sure enough people register so it's not just a few people in a few pockets around the country," Mr Obama said. "And that's going to require a lot of work by local agencies, by municipalities, by churches, by community organisations." The president is interested in getting people registered because that is how the programme's success will ultimately be measured, but also because his previous decisions on immigration have faced similar challenges. In 2012, Mr Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, which allowed young adults who were brought to the US illegally as children to temporarily stay and work. DACA was expanded as part of the November announcement, and it is seen as a blueprint for the more recent unilateral actions. Both measures are limited in scope and in time, do not offer a pathway to citizenship, and were unveiled by President Obama without support by Congress. Around 1.1 million unauthorised immigrants were thought to be immediately eligible for DACA, and slightly over 700,000 have had their applications accepted for review, according to data

Summary: President Barack Obama is already facing strong and very vocal opposition in Congress to his recent immigration overhaul, but he will also have to confront a more silent enemy.


The average fee for a fixed-rate mortgage is now more than £1,000 - the most expensive for four years, according to Moneyfacts. The financial information service said that borrowers and lenders tended to focus on mortgage interest rates. Rates are now among the lowest ever seen in the UK mortgage market. However, Moneyfacts said that some borrowers would be better off by choosing a slightly higher rate with a lower fee, or no fee, when they remortgaged. "Those savvy borrowers heeding the advice to remortgage could find that moving deals can be a costly affair, especially if their preference is for shorter-term fixed rates. Therefore, with fees on the rise, it is more important than ever for borrowers to consider the true cost of a mortgage before obtaining a deal," said Charlotte Nelson, of Moneyfacts. "Deals with larger fees often allow you to add the fee to the mortgage advance, however, this increases the amount borrowed, pushing up monthly repayments. "The extra saved by opting for a deal with no fee could be better used to overpay the mortgage, which could help borrowers become mortgage-free quicker." Figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show that, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, property transactions have generally been close to the 100,000 mark each month for the past three years. This climate, in part, has resulted in lenders launching new products to try to attract new borrowers, often with very low rates. Moneyfacts said that, for those with a £150,000 mortgage and repaying over 25 years, some deals with the lowest rates on the market have fees of around £2,000, with one as high as £4,000. The average fee for these customers was now £1,018, compared with £986 a year ago, and £886 in July 2014.

Summary: Homeowners are making a "costly mistake" by turning a blind eye to additional fees when they remortgage, it has been claimed.


The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were among those at the event at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Representatives of the UK's armed forces and all countries involved in the battle were in attendance, as well as descendants of men who fought in it. The battle at Waterloo cost thousands of British and allied lives in the defeat of Napoleon's forces. Nearly 180,000 men fought for more than 10 hours, with more than 35,000 horses and some 500 cannon on the two sides. Waterloo: The day that decided Europe's fate Discover how close Britain came to defeat at Waterloo Wellington: Forging the 'Iron Duke' Napoleon Bonaparte: The 'Little Corporal' who built an empire The service, which was also attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, is part of a series of events marking the anniversary. The Earl of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the 9th Duke of Wellington were also among the congregation. Some 200 children and 200 teachers were invited, along with members of the public who entered a ballot for tickets. British soldiers in full military regalia stood to attention outside the cathedral as guests went in. Squadron Sgt Maj Tony Gray, 76, of the Light Cavalry, said: "This anniversary means a great deal. "The battle changed history. Had we not won, we probably would be speaking French now." Extracts from accounts of the battle were read at the service by British, French and German readers. A commemoration service, attended by the Duke of Kent, was also held in Belgium with European dignitaries. On Wednesday, Prince Charles unveiled a memorial in Belgium to the British soldiers who fought and died at Waterloo. The prince and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the battlefield before unveiling the memorial at Hougoumont Farm, a key site in the fighting. The site played a crucial role in the victory of the Duke of Wellington's allied army over Napoleon's French forces in 1815, and saw some of the fiercest fighting of the battle. The memorial depicts two life-size soldiers struggling to close the farm's north gate to save it from being overrun by the French. Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards managed to shut the gate and Wellington later said the outcome of Waterloo "turned on the closing of the gates at Hougoumont". Prince Charles and the duchess also took a tour of the battlefield, starting at La Belle Alliance Farm - which served as Napoleon's headquarters. The duchess has a direct connection with the new monument as her great-great-great-grandfather, John Whitehill Parson, fought at Waterloo while serving with the 10th Regiment of Light Dragoons. More than 5,000 enthusiasts are due to perform battle re-enactment displays at Waterloo over the weekend as the bicentenary commemorations continue. And tens of thousands of people are expected to attend a sound-and-light show on the battlefield later. The battle was fought after French emperor Napoleon conquered large swathes of Europe, before being defeated by allied forces in 1814. He was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba, but escaped the following year, and on 18 June

Summary: Royal Family members have taken part in a service to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.


A man was arrested after the fires at Wasserstein and police suspect arson. No-one in the hostels was badly hurt. More than a million refugees and migrants have arrived in Germany this year, and for most their first stop has been in Bavaria. President Joachim Gauck devoted his Christmas message to the recent influx. "We have shown what we are capable of, in terms of good will and professionalism, but also in the art of improvisation," he said, praising fellow Germans for their response to the crisis. But he also called for the full force of the law to be used against anyone using violence against the new arrivals. "Arson and attacks on defenceless people deserve our contempt and deserve punishment," the president said. Refugee hostels in Germany have come under more than 200 attacks this year alone, according to research by Die Zeit newspaper, but the authorities have secured convictions against only a handful of attackers. Migrant crisis explained in maps and graphics Germany's 'historic test' - Merkel Reports of Merkel's demise are greatly exaggerated Year of the migrant - a crisis unlike all others Chancellor Angela Merkel promised last week that Germany would "noticeably reduce the number of refugees" in response to criticism from within her centre-right CDU party. Up to 40% of arrivals in Germany have come from Balkan countries such as Albania and Kosovo which are considered safe. Most of the other arrivals are refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. European countries have struggled to cope with the large number of people reaching the shores of the EU. This week, international migration officials said more than a million "irregular" migrants and refugees had come by land and sea, the vast majority via Greece. Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka singled out Mrs Merkel for blame for sending out a signal across the Middle East and Africa which "stimulated illegal migration to Europe". UN refugee officials say 3,716 people died or went missing this year as they tried to cross into Europe. But there was good news for one Afghan family who feared their 10-year-son had drowned off the Turkish coast. The Rabani family, who have since arrived in the German state of Lower Saxony, became separated from their son as they boarded a boat in Turkey. His boat capsized and many of those on board drowned. A German Red Cross official eventually succeeded in tracking down the child, who was found staying at a refugee hostel in Switzerland. The family hope to be reunited in a few weeks' time. In a separate development, a young Palestinian refugee who made headlines in July when she cried in front of Mrs Merkel has reportedly been told by German immigration officials that she and her family will be able to stay in the country until 2017. Reem Sahwil, 14, had told the chancellor on live TV that she wanted to go to university but she burst into tears when the chancellor explained that not all migrants could stay in Germany and that politics "can be tough". Mrs Merkel tried to comfort the

Summary: Twelve people were hurt, including seven teenagers, when fires broke out at two neighbouring refugee hostels in the south German region of Bavaria.


The car mounted a pavement within the grounds of Maidstone Hospital, in Barming, at about 14:40 BST on Tuesday, police said. The woman, in her 90s, was taken to a hospital in London, where she was later pronounced dead. Police have appealed for witnesses to the crash, which happened near the hospital's birthing centre.

Summary: A woman in her 90s who was in a wheelchair when she was hit by a car outside a hospital has died.


The party called for an armed forces commissioner and better assessment to deliver the services veterans need. Social justice spokesman Mark Isherwood said it was "time for us to reflect as a society" on treatment of veterans. Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant said the Welsh Government was "fully committed" to providing support. The debate on Wednesday comes amid continued concern that many military veterans suffer from mental health issues, loneliness, welfare or addiction problems, or have trouble finding work or housing. "It's not enough just to rely on organisations like the Royal British Legion to raise money and campaign for the 385,000 members of the current and former service community currently living in Wales," Mr Isherwood said. "As politicians we have to raise our game, and make sure that each and every level of government is playing its part. "We are 100 years on from the Battle of the Somme," he added. "The commemorations this year have been a poignant reminder of the need to protect these heroes, and to ensure that those who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect." Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "All Welsh public bodies have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, but it's clear that we have a long way to go to redress the disadvantages faced by this section of the community. "In Scotland, a Veterans Commissioner champions the needs of the armed forces community. "We want to go one step further here in Wales, and create an armed forces commissioner for Wales, dedicated both to veterans and the wider armed forces community." Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant outlined the Welsh Government's support for the armed forces to the Senedd on Tuesday. It included support on health needs, housing and employment. "This time of the year particularly reminds us of all those who have fought in conflicts to preserve the way of life we have today," he said. "This year we have commemorated some of the biggest battles of the First World War. We remember those who lost their lives at Jutland and during the Battle of the Somme, especially in Mametz Wood; thousands of Welsh Servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice. "Through our Programme for Government we remain fully committed to providing ongoing support and services for our present Armed Forces community."

Summary: War veterans and members of the armed forces need to be treated better by society, the Welsh Conservatives have said ahead of a debate in the Senedd.


The 15-year-old Scot became the youngest ever Commonwealth medallist when she finished third in the SB9 100m breaststroke aged 13 in 2014. However, she was told in April her impairment was now not serious enough for her to compete in Para-swimming. A second panel, at the Berlin Open event, upheld the result on Wednesday. Davies, from the Delting Dolphins club in Shetland, has Perthes disease, a condition that affects her hip bones and joints. Before losing her classification, she was only eligible to compete in breaststroke events.

Summary: Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Erraid Davies has been deemed ineligible for disability swimming after medical tests.


It was practically the first time he'd stopped talking about his presidential rival in the week since their once chummy relationship soured amid a flurry of exchanged insults and questioned political credentials. Despite a storm of tweets over the weekend blasting Mr Cruz and a round of insult-laden television interviews on Sunday, it's perhaps not surprising that Mr Trump held his tongue at the university founded by the late evangelical leader Jerry Falwell in 1971. Both Mr Cruz and Mr Trump are battling for the sizeable religious conservative vote in Iowa - which holds its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses in two weeks - and it's a crowd that Mr Cruz usually seems more comfortable with. Last March, Texas Senator Ted Cruz launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination at Liberty University, speaking intimately about his faith and his father, a firebrand evangelical pastor. Mr Trump, on the other hand, doesn't quite have the same religious bona fides, despite his best attempts. Last September, he proudly held up his childhood Bible at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC. And at one point during his hour-long speech at Liberty, he tried to cite a biblical passage about faith and liberty. Unfortunately for Mr Trump, he referenced "Two Corinthians" instead of "Second Corinthians". The crowd laughed. "I always think it's entertaining when people try to throw the Bible into their speeches," Josh Schumacher, a student in his third year at Liberty, said after the speech. "I think it's sometimes just a ploy to get us to buy into what they're saying." Mr Trump did benefit from a glowing introduction from Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr, however, who praised the businessman as one of the "greatest visionaries of our time" and likened him to his famous father. "Trump can't be bought," he said. "He's not a puppet on a string like so many other candidates." That could be read as a tacit boost of Mr Trump over Mr Cruz, as Mr Trump has recently attacked the Texas senator for being in the thrall of his big-ticket campaign donors. Once upon a time, Mr Cruz and Mr Trump had nothing but kind words for each other. Mr Cruz invited Mr Trump to join him in speaking at a rally in front of the US Capitol, protesting the US-Iran nuclear arms agreement. And while other candidates criticised the businessman for his call to temporarily close the US border to all Muslims, Mr Cruz was more restrained. Mr Cruz said he wouldn't engage in a "cage match" with Mr Trump, tweeting that the New Yorker was "terrific". But as the Iowa caucuses approach, and Mr Cruz and Mr Trump are locked in a battle for first place according to polls, the sparks have flown. For the past week, Mr Trump has questioned Mr Cruz's eligibility for the presidency, given that he was born of an American mother on Canadian soil. Mr Cruz has returned fire, saying Mr Trump embraces the liberal values of his New York City home town. Their acrimony was one of the headlines of

Summary: Speaking before a crowd of more than 11,000 students and locals at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, Donald Trump made no mention of Texas Senator Ted Cruz.


The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) board was set up in April. It has recommended that Scots should increase their fibre intake to 30g per day and have no more than 5% of their total energy from sugar. Previous dietary goals, including a target to have no more than 11% energy intake from sugar, have not been met. The current intake of food energy from sugar is 14.4%, the FSS said. It said 50% of the sugar consumed by Scots comes from discretionary foods, such as biscuits, cakes, confectionery, savoury snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks. The FSS has published a situation report which collates and presents current evidence to provide information for policymakers. The report says: FSS chair Ross Finnie said: "The Scottish diet is not improving and the problem of diet-related ill-health is now spanning the generations. "There is a disconnect between the scale of the problem and how healthy people believe their diet to be. "We all need to recognise there is a problem and everyone including consumers, the food and drink industry, retailers, media and government has a part to play in finding a solution." Public health minister Maureen Watt said:"We recognise that there are issues with the Scottish diet and that many of these are long-standing, however there are some indications of progress in recent years, for instance a reduction in the purchase of sugary drinks. "We are working to ensure that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity, ability and confidence to access a healthy diet for themselves and their family."

Summary: Scotland's new food standards body has recommended tougher targets for healthy eating after finding "little or no progress" over the past 15 years.


Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez slotted in the winning spot-kick after Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain fired over and Ever Banega was denied by Claudio Bravo. Higuain had earlier missed from close range after 90 minutes of few chances. Sanchez came closest in extra time for Chile, who scored all four of their penalties in the shootout. Where Chile held their nerve, Argentina wilted in the shootout at the end of a performance that fell well short of the heights they reached in their 6-1 semi-final win over Paraguay. Le Albiceleste are without a major trophy in the last 22 years since winning the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador. Chile's victory brought an end to almost a century of competing in the Copa America without claiming a title. They were one of four teams who played in the very first tournament in 1916 in Argentina but the best they had done until this year was runner-up, which they have achieved on four occasions (1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987). The Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos was a cauldron of noise on Saturday, full of flag-waving red-clad home supporters, some of whom had reportedly paid up to $25,000 for tickets. They were not treated to a dazzling attacking display from their side but rather one of drive, discipline and, ultimately, composure, epitomised by the industrious and energetic Sanchez and Charles Aranguiz. Both sides scored their opening penalty, with Matias Fernandez emphatically finding the top corner for Chile before Lionel Messi sent his kick low into the bottom corner. However, after Arturo Vidal had powerfully dispatched Chile's second, Higuain blazed his effort way over the bar. Charles Aranguiz made it 3-1 to the hosts and it remained that way as Ever Banega's tame effort was palmed away by the diving Claudio Bravo. Sanchez showed supreme composure to chip his effort down the middle and in to win the game and the competition for his side. Following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Germany last summer, four-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi once again missed out on his first major international medal. He put in a supreme showing in the Copa America semi-final demolition of Paraguay, playing a part in all six of his nation's goals, but on Saturday he was largely on the periphery throughout, with his most significant contribution being a trademark run towards the Chile box to set up a wasted chance for Higuain in the final minute. The 28-year-old is not entirely to blame for his failure in Santiago. His team-mates did little to create the space the forward needs to be effective, not did they find him with the regularity he is used to when playing for his club. Credit must also go to Chile, who were quick to close him down whenever he did receive the ball in a threatening position. Napoli forward Higuain was criticised for missing a superb chance in the World Cup final defeat to Germany in Brazil last summer and he was once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons on Saturday. He was guilty of spurning an opportunity to

Summary: Chile secured the first major trophy in their history on home soil courtesy of a penalty shootout win over Argentina in the Copa America final.


All group two matches will be played in Romania between 22 August and 28 August. The Welsh Premier League champions are one of 40 teams in 10 qualifying groups. This will be Swansea's third time in the competition.

Summary: Swansea City Ladies have will face Scottish side Hibernian, Olimpia Cluj-Napoca of Romania and Ukraine's WFC-2 Kharkiv in the Champions League qualifying group stage.


The disease, historically associated with sea explorers, has been found in seven diabetes patients at Westmead Hospital in western Sydney. Scurvy is now a rare condition caused by having too little vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in your diet. Professor Jenny Gunton discovered the latest cases after treating a patient whose leg wound would not heal. She said scurvy could be more widespread than previously thought. "There's no particular link to diabetes ... except that if you have a poor quality diet you're more likely to get diabetes," said Prof Gunton, who heads the Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology research at The Westmead Institutes. "But of course, a lot of people with diabetes eat perfectly reasonable diets." Health authorities in Australia do not generally test for scurvy or keep statistics on patients suffering from it. However, Prof Gunton said the disease was easy to prevent. "Eat some fruit, eat some vegetables - and don't overcook the vegetables," she told the BBC. "If you really can't manage that, take one vitamin C a day. But healthy diet is the better fix." Is scurvy making a comeback?

Summary: Doctors in Australia have reported a resurgence in patients suffering from scurvy.


The device was discovered last week, southeast of Tucson, Arizona, when agents spotted a group of men scattering as they approached. A closer look turned up two bundles of cannabis weighing a combined 47lb (21kg), which had yet to be launched. The catapult was dismantled on the Mexican side. No arrests were made. About 650 miles of the 1,100-mile (1,770km) border is covered by some sort of wall or fence. Donald Trump has committed himself to building more walls, but drug traffickers have in recent years turned to increasingly creative means of getting their product over, including drones, car ramps, and air cannons. Traffickers have also made extensive use of tunnels under the border. In March, authorities uncovered a 380m tunnel that ran from a restaurant in Mexico to a house in California.

Summary: US border patrol agents have found a medieval-style catapult mounted on the border wall with Mexico, designed to launch bundles of drugs into the US.


The world champion, who won all three titles from the Russian by a controversial points decision in their first bout, is unbeaten in 32 fights. The American wobbled Kovalev with a right hand in the eighth and finished him off with a series of body shots. Kovalev said he was hit by a low blow, adding that he wanted another rematch. "He's a great fighter, not a lot of people are going to beat him," said 33-year-old Ward, who has 16 knockouts from his 32 bouts. "But when you are facing a great fighter you have to raise your game to the next level. "I hurt him with a head shot and I just had to get the right shot in to finish him." Kovalev started strongly before Ward came back into the fight at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Referee Tony Weeks then stopped the fight with 31 seconds in the eighth with Kovalev, 34, kneeling down. "It was a low blow, again another one," said Kovalev. "We are boxers. I could still continue. Why stop the fight?"

Summary: Andre Ward stopped Sergey Kovalev in the eighth round to win their light-heavyweight rematch in Las Vegas and retain his WBO, WBA and IBF belts.


It is unprecedented for all 11 Justices to sit for a single case and that is saying a lot for an institution that in one guise or another has existed for more than 600 years. But, judging so far from the furore greeting the judiciary's involvement in Brexit, it may be a case of safety in numbers. Howls of protest and anger from Brexit-supporting politicians and newspapers greeted the decision by the High Court on 3 November that Parliament must vote on Article 50 before it can be triggered. But the Supreme Court has made it clear that it is highly unlikely to be swayed by such considerations when it starts its deliberations on 5 December. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, one of the judges, Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore, confessed to feeling unabashed by the predicted public and press interest in the case. "I think that it's not a question of my looking forward to it but I can perfectly well understand why the public is extremely interested in it," he told me. "And that's a good thing. Our communications staff and our reception staff are well prepared to cater for that public interest and to ensure that as much facility for those who are interested in it is provided, so that the public can hear the arguments as they are presented. "I think that's an entirely healthy thing. So I'm not particularly looking forward to the public interest but I'm certainly not disheartened by it." The government appealed to the Supreme Court after a "lower court", in this case the High Court, ruled that Parliament must vote before the triggering of Article 50. The High Court had upheld the challenge by businesswoman Gina Miller that Prime Minister Theresa May had no authority by use of the Royal Prerogative to start the process of the UK leaving the EU. Several Brexit-supporting newspapers attacked the decision, with the Daily Mail describing the judges as "enemies of the people". Lord Kerr declined to comment about the newspaper headlines but said: "I think the important message that I would like to convey is that we as judges apply the law. "We are not involved in reaching decisions based on anything other than the legal principles as they are presented to us and the legal analysis which we conduct as to these extremely difficult and complicated questions. "That's not to say that we don't have personal views but we are all extremely conscious of the need to set aside our personal views and to apply the law as we conceive it to be." The Supreme Court is based in Parliament Square next to both Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. The court formally began in October 2009 housed in a building previously used as a crown court. Before 1965 it was home to Middlesex County Council, which was officially abolished in a reorganisation of London's local government. The Supreme Court took over the functions of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords and its justices also sit as the Judicial Committee of

Summary: All 11 senior judges of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom will decide the most significant British constitutional question for years - whether the government has the power to trigger Article 50 of the EU Lisbon Treaty to begin Brexit.


Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce said the 33ft (10m) stainless steel sculpture next to Hull's Beverley Gate relic was like a "granny's vase". The gate was where King Charles I was refused entry to Hull in 1642, sparking the English Civil War. Hull City Council said it has submitted plans for "an engaging piece of art". The chamber is to request the council reconsider the plan. Live updates on this story and others from Hull and East Yorkshire The statue, called Shadow Gate, is to be positioned between Whitefriargate and King Edward Street. Architects Tonkin Liu said it "invokes the imagery of the trading ships masts and sails," and that "careful consideration has been made to position the sculpture to minimise any harmful impact to surrounding historical buildings." Beverley Gate was designated a scheduled ancient monument earlier this year. The chamber has suggested, as an alternative, a statue of Sir John Hotham - the governor of Hull who refused King Charles I entry into the city and its arsenal. During the civil war he was found guilty of treachery and executed in London.

Summary: Plans for a sculpture near the remains of Hull's ancient defence walls have been criticised by the chamber of commerce.


Revenue Scotland is responsible for the administration and collection of Land and Building Transaction Tax (LBTT) and Scottish Landfill Tax (SLfT). It collected £425m through LBTT and £147m from SLfT in the year from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016. The Scottish government had originally forecast revenues of £498m in 2015-16, which was later increased to £508m. Almost all (98%) of the 115,000 tax returns were submitted through the new online Scottish Electronic Tax System, exceeding an initial target of 90%. Revenue Scotland's operating costs for administering the collection of taxes was £4.67m - lower than the Scottish government's original £4.81m budget allocation for the organisation. Revenue Scotland's chairman, Dr Keith Nicholson, said the agency's first year had been "hugely successful", with the online tax system having "exceeded expectations and received widespread praise". He added: "These achievements are a clear signal to the Scottish taxpayer that Revenue Scotland is operating efficiently and effectively as Scotland's devolved tax authority." Welcoming the figures, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: "The scale of the challenge of introducing the first Scottish taxes in more than 300 years should not be underestimated, and it's encouraging to see this has been done so effectively." LBTT and SLfT came into effect on 1 April 2015, replacing their UK equivalents (Stamp Duty Land Tax and UK Landfill Tax respectively) in Scotland. The revenue collected is transferred to the Scottish Consolidated Fund to support the delivery of public services in Scotland. Revenue Scotland will also collect a Scottish replacement for Air Passenger Duty when it is introduced, but will not administer the Scottish Rate of Income Tax, which will continue to be the responsibility of HMRC.

Summary: Scotland's new tax agency has collected £572m in its first year - well above the amount that had been expected.


The car, going at 88mph, hit a pole causing a power cut and stopping the town clock, the spoof statement said. The satire was among the first of what could end up being many tributes paid on Back to the Future Day. Movie fans are celebrating 21 October 2015, the date Marty and Doc visited in the 1989 sci-fi time travel adventure sequel Back to the Future II. The crash described in the police press release mirrors the key moment in the Back to the Future II plot, when Marty McFly, 17, and Doc go forward in time. It said officers asked the 17-year-old driver what speed he had been doing, to which he replied, 88mph (142km/h) - the speed the pair's modified silver DeLorean had to hit to trigger the flux capacitor to send them back in time. "A 17-year-old man was charged and was in possession of a licence which expired over 30 years ago," police said. "Investigations into the vehicle and what a flux capacitor is, are ongoing." It also posted an edited image of officers rushing to the scene on their hoverboards. Mount Isa Cinema owner Jodi Saunders was quoted as saying the driver had asked when Jaws 19 - the film being screened at the Holomax cinema in the film - was showing. Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady, meanwhile, was quoted as saying repairs were under way to save the clock tower, which in the famous scene is hit by lightning. Queensland Police Media is famed for its light-hearted social media posts. It has previously posted warnings on Facebook about wet roads from the tears of Top Gear fans after the show was cancelled, and has cautioned drivers not to "go ape" after a lorry carrying bananas crashed.

Summary: Police in Queensland say they have deployed their "hoverboard unit" after a silver car crashed near a cinema.


The men, aged 25, 31, 33 and 46, are all expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court this week. Police have now made a total of 85 arrests after violent scenes followed a pitch invasion at Hampden on Saturday 21 May. The disorder marred the end of the Hibs v Rangers cup final, which ended in a 3-2 victory for the Edinburgh side.

Summary: Four more men have been arrested in connection with disorder at the end of May's Scottish Cup Final.


The 31-year-old, who was in his first managerial role, appears to have paid the price for a shock League Cup exit. A Hearts statement read: "The board wishes it to be known that this was a very difficult decision, reluctantly made, as every member of the board recognises Ian is an extremely talented young coach with a very bright future. "We thank Ian for all of his efforts and wish him well in the future." Former Newcastle United, Valencia and Rio Ave coach Cathro was appointed head coach at Tynecastle in December, working under the club's director of football Craig Levein. The Scot oversaw a 2-0 defeat away to Rangers in his first game, and in the 22 Premiership matches he was in charge last term his side lost 13, drew four and won five. As a result, the Jambos finished fifth and missed out on a spot in Europe. His side were also knocked out of the Scottish Cup in a replay against city rivals Hibernian. Cathro was backed in the summer as the club brought in a number of new faces, including Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty and Scotland defender Christophe Berra. The Gorgie men open their Premiership campaign at Celtic Park on Saturday, but results in the League Cup appear to have cost Cathro. Hearts started the group stage with wins over Elgin City and East Fife but lost at League One outfit Peterhead and then drew 2-2 with Dunfermline, losing the resulting penalty shootout and crashing out of the tournament. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Hearts have sacked head coach Ian Cathro after seven months in charge.


Shane Hampson, 23, of Lime Grove, Skelmersdale, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court last month of causing death by dangerous driving. John Gregory, 49, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, died when the car crashed into the back of his vehicle in Skelmersdale, in February last year. Hampson was also handed a four-year driving ban. Police said Mr Gregory was driving his Chrysler Voyager home from work along Grimshaw Road when Hampson crashed into it from behind. Mr Gregory's car overturned and he died at the scene. Another car was also struck but the driver escaped unhurt. Sgt Patrick Worden, from the Road Policing Unit, said: "I am very pleased with the sentence Hampson has been given and I hope this will serve as a warning to those who choose to behave in this manner - you will be punished. "John Gregory was simply driving home from work when his car was struck from behind by a Volvo driven by Shane Hampson. "As a result of the collision, the Chrysler overturned during which Mr Gregory was ejected from the car causing him significant injuries." He added: "It was evident Hampson has been travelling at extremely high speed at the time of the collision and a lengthy investigation followed which identified that Hampson had driven dangerously not only at the time of the collision but within a few miles of the collision site. "Despite claiming his innocence throughout, Hampson was convicted by a unanimous jury and I hope that this case sends out a strong message about the consequences of speeding."

Summary: A driver who caused a man's death when he crashed into the back of a car has been jailed for four years.


The CPS is considering files sent by police following investigations in up to 27 constituencies. It relates to claims some campaigning costs in the 2015 general election were wrongly recorded. The Conservative Party has insisted administrative errors were to blame rather than any intention to deceive. And it has said some of the spending was correctly declared. It is alleged the Conservatives spent tens of thousands of pounds on local campaigns - including on "battle bus" visits by activists - which were either not declared or were wrongly registered as national spending. The allegations came to light following an investigation by Channel 4 News. Under complex election spending rules, parties must disclose national spending separately from money used to promote each candidate, and separate national and local limits apply. Up to 16 police forces across England have submitted files to be considered by prosecutors. The CPS will consider whether there is sufficient evidence of a breach in the law, and whether a prosecution is "in the public interest". If general election candidates are prosecuted the Conservative Party will have to decide whether to suspend them and replace them as nominees. The last date for candidates to register for the election is 11 May. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

Summary: Prosecutors are expected to announce on Wednesday whether Conservative politicians or officials will face charges for breaches of expenses rules.


The agency said Movette had used "deceptive methods" to bill clients for the use of Google My Business - a free service provided by the US search firm. Movette had been in business for two-and-a-half years before being wound up in the High Court. It had received more than £500,000 in fees before the intervention. Google My Business is a service that encourages companies to share information and images about themselves to help the tech firm display relevant listings in its Search and Maps tools. Movette had charged its victims between £199 to £249 a year to manage their entries. The Insolvency Service said the firm had: The agency said its probe had followed "a significant volume" of customer complaints. Several clients had also posted their concerns online. "This company contacted me telling me my Google page was about to expire and following a conversation claimed I had bought their services," wrote one on the Who Called Me site. "Now they hound me every day demanding money and threatening to send in bailiffs. They always ring on withheld number but the number to call back on is a premium number. Clearly it's a scam." Another posted on business reviews website Trustpilot: "Complete liars, rude arrogant... they claim the verbal contracts are legally binding and cannot be cancelled. Do not believe them." The Insolvency Service noted that Movette had operated a "very similar business" to another company - Online Platform Management Consultants Ltd - which had shut in April 2015 after operating from the same Manchester address.

Summary: A Manchester-based company that pretended it was linked to Google has been closed following an investigation by the UK's Insolvency Service.


And former Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels has told BBC Scotland he would be "very interested" in the role. Ian Baraclough parted company with the club on Wednesday, a day after the Steelmen had been knocked out of the Scottish League Cup by Greenock Morton. Former Well captain and current Under-20s coach Stephen Craigan has been put in caretaker charge of the first team. His first assignment will be at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday. Shiels, most recently of Thai side BEC Tero Sasana, was considered by Motherwell last year but ultimately missed out as Baraclough was appointed in December. And, when asked on Radio Scotland's Sportsound about the current vacancy, Shiels said: "I'm very interested because I see it as a good fit for me. "It's a provincial club and I've had a period now where I've worked in a [Scottish FA] youth academy in Scotland and I can see so much good going on down there with [academy director] Scott Leitch at Motherwell's academy, "There is a good conveyor belt coming through and I see massive potential at that club, I really do." The Northern Irishman, who won the Scottish League Cup with Killie in 2012, also indicated he would be willing to work with Motherwell's current coaching staff. After leaving Killie in 2013, Shiels had a short spell in charge of Morton before his role with the SFA and subsequent move to Thailand. He has also managed several clubs in his homeland. "One of my greatest skills is the management of the staff and certainly that would be one that I would welcome," he added. "Stephen's a good lad."

Summary: Motherwell have received more than 30 applications for the vacant manager's position at Fir Park.


Farc leader Ivan Marquez said the group would start by making an inventory of its weapons before handing them over to United Nations monitors. He said it was a sign of the Farc's "unconditional commitment to peace" after more than 50 years of conflict. The government has yet to reach a peace deal with the ELN rebel group. The Farc said its fighters would register their weapons with UN monitors and reveal the location of any stashed explosives. Almost 7,000 rebels are now gathered in 26 transition zones where they are being registered and offered help to reintegrate into civilian life. But it took months rather than weeks to get them there because of what the government said were logistical difficulties. And when they arrived many Farc members complained the camps were unfinished and they had to build their own accommodation. The Colombian government and the Farc insist that by 30 May - the date set in the peace accord for the disarmament process to be completed - all the guerrillas will be leaving the transition zones and entering civilian life. But there have been serious delays, and the government and the rebels are trying to reassure Colombians that the peace process is still on track. According to the original plan, the Farc were supposed to hand over 30% of their arms on 1 March. But now only 320 rebels are set to disarm by the end of Wednesday, far short of the original target. However, both the government and the Farc insist the disarmament will be completed in time and that they will meet the May deadline.

Summary: Colombia's Farc rebels say they will begin laying down their arms later on Wednesday as agreed in a peace deal signed in November.


Ray Jennings, a former South Africa international wicketkeeper, only saw his son had made a ton against India when his power returned an hour later. "When he reached 96 the electricity went off, so I missed his hundred," he told BBC Radio Newcastle. "When it went back on an hour later, I watched one ball and then he got out." Durham left-hander Keaton, whose mother was born in Sunderland, became eligible to play for England in 2016 after serving a four-year qualification period. The 24-year-old opener top-scored with 112 as England ended day one on 288-5 in the fourth Test against India. Media playback is not supported on this device Asked what he said when the power went off, Jennings Snr said: "I'm sure a lot of your listeners would know it wouldn't have been a long sentence - it would've been short and abrupt, but I wouldn't be able to repeat it on air. "It was a little bit of a bitter ending, but I'm very happy to know he actually ended up getting a hundred. "Keaton keeps on telling me that one of the things I've done well is marry a British lady, so she's [his mum] over the moon and Keaton's over the moon. "I've suddenly moved away from supporting a South African side to supporting an English side, and I'm very proud to actually say that. "It's probably the most enjoyable sporting day I've ever had - for someone in your own family to achieve something like that has really been a blessing for me."

Summary: Keaton Jennings' dad Ray says he missed his son's England debut century because of a power cut while he was watching the Test on television in Mauritius.


A grant of £1.78m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will be used to create Scotland's first centre for children's literature and storytelling. It is part of £4.8m the HLF is donating to five projects across Scotland. Others include Campbeltown Picture House, which will receive £1.1m to fund restoration and improvements. The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust hope to promote "creativity, imagination and play" with its plans for the house and garden where Barrie played as a child. In November it received £687,500 from Creative Scotland. The HLF grant moves the trust closer to its goal of raising £5m for the project. Actress Joanna Lumley, who is a patron of the trust, said: "This grant will make a sensational difference to Moat Brae and the plans for the future of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust. "It means that we can now move swiftly towards our goals of restoring the house and gardens in readiness for its role in the literary life of children in Scotland. "Our aims are to nurture the memories of past writers and to encourage the emergence of new talent, to respect our extraordinary literary inheritance and to enable children's imaginations to fly, like Peter Pan." Work is expected to get under way next year at the building, which was home to JM Barrie's childhood friends while he was a pupil at nearby Dumfries Academy. An exhibition space will be created within the existing building and two extensions will house visitor facilities including a shop and cafe, and a learning and education suite. Trust chairman, Dame Barbara Kelly, said: "I believe Moat Brae will create a major attraction and focus for local, national and international visitors. "It has massive potential to contribute to the local economic, social and cultural regeneration of Dumfries and has the ability to attract much-needed inward investment and could create up to 35 new jobs." Colin McLean, head of the HLF in Scotland said it was delighted to support the "ambitious" and "inspirational" project. "A new breath of life has the potential to transform them into a visitor attraction that could boost the town's tourist economy and inspire children today and tomorrow, as they once inspired JM Barrie," he said. Other HLF grants have been distributed to Heritage Inverclyde, Merkinch Welfare Hall and Wildcat Action.

Summary: Plans to preserve a Dumfries house which inspired JM Barrie to write Peter Pan have been given a major financial boost.


A 16-year-old was shot in both legs on 18 December and was taken to hospital. It happened in Aitnamona Crescent at 20:50 GMT. Police have said the man is in police custody and continue to appeal for information from anyone who knows anything about the attack.

Summary: A 42-year-old has been arrested over a paramilitary-style attack in west Belfast.


Chuck Schumer said Judge Neil Gorsuch favoured the "powerful over the weak" and failed to answer "question after question" in his confirmation hearing. Senate Democrats are in a 48-52 minority but can insist that Mr Gorsuch wins 60 votes, a so-called filibuster. Republicans could then revert to a simple majority in a "nuclear option". That would require them voting in a change of rules. Mr Schumer's announcement is sure to set up a bruising battle. He said he did not think Judge Gorsuch would be a mainstream judge. "After careful deliberation, I have concluded that I cannot support Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court," Mr Schumer said. "He will have to earn 60 votes for confirmation. My vote will be 'no', and I urge my colleagues to do the same," he added. If Mr Gorsuch did not get 60 votes, "the answer isn't to change the rules, it's to change the nominee," Mr Schumer said. Judge Gorsuch is on the fourth and final day of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judicial Committee, where outside parties comment for or against his nomination. Thursday's first witness, the American Bar Association, gave Judge Gorsuch its highest rating of "well qualified". The committee will vote, probably next week, on the nomination. It simply records a favourable, unfavourable or "without recommendation" comment and passes the final decision to the full Senate. Senate Republicans say they will seek a full vote on the chamber floor before Congress leaves for recess on 7 April. It is unclear how many, if any, Senate Democrats would support Mr Gorsuch's nomination. He would need eight to beat the filibuster. The so-called nuclear option would require Republicans to change Senate rules to allow Mr Gorsuch's nomination to be approved with a simple majority. President Trump has called on them to do so if necessary. During the confirmation hearing, Democrats on the committee regularly expressed their anger that President Barack Obama's nomination for a post that was vacated 13 months ago was refused a hearing by Republicans. Republicans blocked Merrick Garland's nomination, arguing it should not go ahead in an election year. Mr Gorsuch, 49, would restore a 5-4 conservative majority on the Supreme Court that lapsed with the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. As a lifetime appointee, Judge Gorsuch would join the other justices in having the final legal word on many of the most sensitive US issues. Judge Gorsuch's qualifications have not been called into question at his hearing, but Democrats have been frustrated at his refusal to signal any stance on such emotive areas as gun control, abortion and employee rights. He has simply said it is his duty to apply the law as it stands.

Summary: The leading Democrat in the US Senate says he will lead an attempt to block President Donald Trump's nomination for the Supreme Court.


The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added 19 Singaporean terms and 13 Hong Kong terms in its latest update. "Wah" is an expression of delight or surprise, "shiok" means cool, and "yum cha" is a type of Chinese brunch. Additions also include "blur", which means confused or ignorant, and "sabo", which means to harm or play a prank on. The dictionary included formations of English that are mostly used in Singapore or Hong Kong. For example, "compensated dating", a Hong Kong term, refers to the practice of teenage students providing companionship or sex in exchange for money or gifts. And "Chinese helicopter" is a derogatory term referring to a Singaporean whose schooling was conducted in Mandarin Chinese and has limited knowledge of English. The OED records the meaning and development of the English language. It says that, for a word to qualify, there must be "several independent examples of the word being used, and also evidence the word has been in use for a reasonable amount of time". Hong Kong English words: Char siu: roast pork marinated in a sweet and savoury sauce Dai pai dong: an open-air food stall Kai fong: a neighbourhood association Wet market: a market for the sale of fresh meat, fish, and produce Singapore English words: Ang moh: A light-skinned person, especially of Western origin or descent; a Caucasian Hawker centre: A food market at which individual vendors sell cooked food from small stalls, with a shared seating area for customers Chilli crab: A dish consisting of crab cooked in a sweet and spicy gravy containing red chillies and tomato Killer litter: Objects thrown or falling from high-rise buildings, endangering people Read more: The rise of Singlish

Summary: Several Singaporean and Hong Kong English terms, including "wah", "shiok" and "yum cha", are now officially recognised as acceptable English.


The deal will keep the Ivory Coast international at the Etihad Stadium until 2017. "This is where I want to be," the 29-year-old told the club website. "I will never forget how I have been treated here by the fans, the club and the owners and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player." Toure joined City from Barcelona for a reported £24m in 2010, having helped the Spanish giants win the Champions League title a year earlier. The box-to-box midfielder has since been an integral member of Roberto Mancini's side, scoring the winning goal in the 2011 FA Cup final and a crucial double against Newcastle United last May to keep the eventual Premier League champions in the title hunt. We must try to finish on a high note and then start preparing to win more next season Toure has scored eight goals this season as City have progressed to a Wembley FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Sunday 14 April, but his side made an early Champions League exit and are 15 points behind Manchester United in the league with only seven games remaining. "Of course now it looks likely that we will not successfully defend the Premier League title and that is sad for all of us," Toure added. "But we can still finish second and win the FA Cup for a second time in three years and that is still an achievement for a club that won nothing for a long time. "We must try to finish on a high note and then start preparing to win more next season. Football is always a challenge and always a puzzle to solve and that is why we all love the game. "You have to use your skill, intelligence and strength to constantly improve and that is what we at City intend to do."

Summary: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has signed a new four-year contract with the Premier League club.


Undercover researchers filmed Ashley Commerce College in Ilford sitting or forging exams for untrained students to become security guards or bodyguards. Some 20 courses have now been cancelled while authorities investigate. About 90 would-be students have been refunded. College director Haji Yunis told the BBC he was co-operating with inquiries. Secretly filmed footage had showed Mr Yunis laughing about the scam he presided over. He told the researcher that for Â£1,200 he would "bring you in the back door" and "fast track" him to a bodyguard qualification without any training. Mr Yunis told the researcher not to worry about the police. Fraudulent use of SIA cards in fact carries a maximum six-month prison sentence. Both the exam board whose certification was fraudulently obtained, Industry Qualifications (IQ), and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) are investigating the college. An audit is currently taking place, with the aim of ascertaining how many qualifications awarded at the college to enable security guards to become licensed by the SIA were bogus. Jobseekers must sit mandatory exams to get an SIA card. A statement placed on Ashley Commerce College's website by IQ read: "Following the BBC broadcast, IQ has been working with the regulators Ofqual and the SIA to formulate a plan for identifying learners affected by the fraud. "We do expect to find evidence that some learners have received their qualifications without having done their course or tests properly. These qualifications will be reviewed. "We know that this will leave many learners who attended ACC worried about the authenticity of their qualifications and IQ is working hard to find out how many learners may be affected." The statement said every student who obtained an SIA licence through the college may be affected. The college has been operating since 2010. The statement added: "Where we cannot guarantee that a qualification has not been affected by fraud, we are required to remove the qualification immediately and notify the Security Industry Authority." Mr Yunis would not say how many students' qualifications were now being reviewed. Keith Vaz MP, the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, called the fraud a "major scandal". A Home Office spokesman has said any criminal behaviour would be addressed.

Summary: All courses on offer at a college exposed selling fraudulent security qualifications for cash have now been cancelled, the BBC has learned.


Carr left his post as Newcastle United's chief scout in June after seven years with the club. The 72-year-old previously worked for Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in scouting roles. He played for Northampton in the 1960s and as manager led them to the Fourth Division title in 1987 during a five-year spell in charge of the team. "When he retired from Newcastle it seemed an obvious move to get him on board with us," said Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas. "His knowledge and experience will be beneficial in general and I'm sure he will also be helping (head of recruitment) Andy Melville along the way too, watching some games here and there."

Summary: Former Northampton Town manager Graham Carr has returned to the club as an associate director.


The tie will be played on Saturday 2 July at 15:00 BST in Portlaoise. Laois brought on seven replacements at O'Moore Park, one more than permitted. The Central Competitions Control Committee released a statement on Tuesday night, adding that Laois had accepted the proposal. Shane Murphy came on as the seventh substitute in added time as Laois took a 1-10 to 0-10 win in Portlaoise. Conor Meredith scored the decisive goal and Laois were subsequently drawn to face Clare in the second round of the qualifiers. However, Murphy's introduction as a black card sub for Brendan Quigley could prove costly for the Leinster side if Armagh were to triumph in the re-playing of the game. Saturday 2 July Round 1A All-Ireland SFC qualifier refixture Laois v Armagh, 15:00 BST, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise Round 2A Sligo v Leitrim, 18:00 BST, Markievicz Park, Sligo Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July Round 2A Clare v Laois/Armagh, Cusack Park, Ennis, Time tbc. Derry v Dublin/Meath, Details tbc. Cavan or Tyrone v Carlow, Details tbc.

Summary: Armagh are set to replay their All-Ireland qualifier Round 1A game after Laois were found to have used too many substitutes in their victory over the Orchard County on Saturday.


Citgo Petroleum, a US-based subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, is named in papers filed with the Federal Election Commission. The revelation comes as the Venezuelan economy appears to be crippled by food shortages, violent crime and inflation. Three people were killed in protests on Wednesday as tens of thousands took to the streets to demand new elections Other major corporations named in the documents include Pepsi and Walmart, which gave $250,000 and $150,000 respectively, while owners of NFL teams or their companies gave more than $5m. Casino owner and billionaire Sheldon Adelson also gave $5m. Venezuela is in the middle of a major economic crisis, which has the oil-rich country flirting with hyperinflation. This Wednesday, street protests demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro resulted in at least two persons shot dead. In this chaotic context, it is perhaps less surprising that Venezuelan media did not seem to dedicate much time to cover the news that their government gave, through a state-owned oil company, a US$500,000 contribution to Donald Trump's inauguration. Still, some analysts in Venezuela are expressing anger at the news. "We have been experiencing four consecutive years of recession, we have the highest inflation in the world and are facing scarcity in many basic goods. It is scandalous that Venezuela, facing such a crisis, would make those donations to the inauguration of a US president, who at least in theory, is ideologically confronted with the revolution," Jose Manuel Puente, a professor of public policy at IESA university in Caracas, tells the BBC. The payment was reportedly made through Citgo, a US subsidiary of Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA. It is not the first time Citgo has been involved in politically controversial activities in the US. President Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez, used the company a few years ago to provide subsidised fuel to low-income citizens in several major US cities. His critics said then it was a propaganda ploy designed to annoy his ideological rivals at the White House. But now the Maduro administration would seem to be in a less confrontational mode towards Washington. The Venezuelan president has recently been quoted saying that Trump has been the target of a "brutal hate campaign" and added that he "won't be worse than Obama". "The (Bolivarian) revolution is pragmatic," Puente tells the BBC. "Eighteen years after the beginning of the revolution, the US is still their main trading partner. It is business as usual".

Summary: Venezuela has donated $500,000 to US President Donald Trump's inauguration, newly released records show.


The 21-year-old, who scored 10 goals in 50 appearances for the U's last season, has signed a three-year contract with the Championship side. O'Dowda made his Republic of Ireland debut against Belarus in May, and scored in Oxford's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final defeat by Barnsley. "He's a real emerging talent," said Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson. "Callum isn't exactly under the radar because there was a lot of interest in him, so we're delighted he's joined us - we believe he can continue the progression he has already shown." O'Dowda, who had two years left on his contract with hometown club Oxford, had missed the start of their pre-season tour to Spain because of "illness". The fee could rise to £1.6m, with Oxford owed a percentage of any future sale. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Bristol City have signed Oxford United winger Callum O'Dowda for a fee of at least £1m.


Alicia Moran, 14, was last seen at her home in the Linthwaite area of Huddersfield at 16:30 BST on Sunday. She was found earlier in Bristol after previous sightings of her in Manchester, West Yorkshire Police said. A police spokesperson said a 24-year-old man from the Bristol area had been arrested in connection with her disappearance.

Summary: A missing girl has been found safe and well while a man who was with her has been arrested, police have said.


Neville, a former Manchester United and Everton player, was criticised for his lack of emotion and "monotone" style. In response, Neville told BBC Radio 5 live the TV role was "a lot harder than I thought it was going to be". Despite the complaints, the BBC said the footballer would continue to play "a key role throughout the tournament". A spokesperson added Neville - who is currently a coach for Manchester United and has received broadcast training - was "an important, well-respected member of our team". Neville told sports presenter Mark Chapman he welcomed the feedback on his performance: "In terms of the content I got out, I thought [it] was quite good. "But the feedback is that I need to show a bit more excitement, so I think you'll see that more on Thursday night in the highlights show. "I will get better - it was my first live gig and I'm just glad I helped everyone get to sleep back home!" The England v Italy match attracted an average 11.5 million viewers, peaking at 15.6 million just before half-time making it one of the most watched programmes of the year so far. Viewers also took to Twitter to criticise Neville, with several joking England physio Gary Lewin - who was stretchered off after injuring his ankle - had "fallen into a coma" listening to him. Neville responded saying: "1st live co-comm last night - sometimes u have to take the criticism - it will only make me better- thanks for the feedback (ahhahaha)!" BBC Radio 5 live broadcaster Danny Baker was among his critics but said the BBC should share the blame. "Phil Neville has acknowledged he wasn't great during England commentary - but what were the BBC doing giving him that game to 'learn his craft'?" he said. Neville's next World Cup appearance is as a BBC TV studio guest for Monday night's game between Iran and Nigeria. The complaints come four months after more than 300 people complained over the corporation's quality of commentary during a snowboarding final at the Winter Olympics. Viewers complained after Aimee Fuller, Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood cheered when a competitor fell, putting the UK athlete in a bronze medal position.

Summary: The BBC has received 445 complaints from viewers about Phil Neville's BBC One commentary on England's World Cup match against Italy.


Mother-of-two Rukshana Miah, 35, was found critically injured in Longford Road West, Stockport, Greater Manchester, on August 18. She died in hospital on Saturday. Post-mortem tests showed she had suffered fatal compression to the neck. Mrs Miah's husband, Abdul Kashem Miah, was initially charged with her attempted murder. The 36-year-old, of Florist Street, Shaw Heath, appeared at Stockport Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, but Greater Manchester Police said the charge against him would now be reviewed. In a statement, Mrs Miah's family said: "Rukshana was a wonderful daughter, mother, sister, aunty, cousin and friend that will be greatly missed by us all." Des Howlett, head teacher at Broadoak Primary School in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, described Mrs Miah as "a wonderful and talented teacher." He said: "Rukshana was the heart of the school, an outstanding teacher who was devoted to the success of the children that she taught. "She always wanted to be the best and for her children to be the best and her belief that anything was possible if you work hard enough had an impact on everyone she met. "Her loss is absolutely devastating. Ruk was the best of us and will always be remembered. Our thoughts are with Ruk's children and family at this terrible time." A statement on the school's website also paid tribute to the Year 6 teacher, and invited parents to sign a book of condolences.

Summary: A murder investigation has been launched after a teacher died five days after she was attacked at her home.