While Leyton Orient conceded the fact that their 112-year stay in the top four tiers had come to a sad end, Swindon brought a whole new meaning to avoiding relegation - by completely glossing over their fall to League Two in their club website match report. It was not all doom and gloom in the EFL, though, with plucky underdogs prevailing, the late-goal specialists striking again and a side which conceded relegation a long time ago tasting rare success. Here are five stories you might have missed among all the drama. If you were a Swindon fan reading the report of their 2-1 defeat by Scunthorpe on the club's website, you would be forgiven for not knowing what the result meant. There was no mention that the outcome, combined with Bury's victory, sent them down from League One. "Town suffered a 2-1 defeat to Scunthorpe United at The County Ground earlier this afternoon," reads the first paragraph, rather underplaying the result's significance. The piece goes on to state that a win was needed to "keep alive their survival hopes", but you'd have thought that might have been a bit more prominent. Mind you, they're not the first club to bury bad news this season. Here was Coventry's effort... League Two side Leyton Orient have been through five managers this season, but change in the coaching staff failed to produce change on the pitch, as their relegation to the National League was confirmed. The O's had staved off relegation by beating Hartlepool on Easter Monday, but Crewe showed no such mercy at Gresty Road, easing to a 3-0 win which leaves the financially-imperilled east London club facing an uncertain future in non-league football. There was disappointment of a rather different kind for Bolton fans, who must have thought their side were heading back to the Championship as they battled to a 2-0 victory at Port Vale. But their celebrations were delayed for at least a few more days, as third-placed Fleetwood scored a last-minute winner at Gillingham to take the promotion race into the final week. When you are a striker and your birthday falls on a Saturday during the football season, you must be rubbing your hands. After all, it is a chance to grab a goal or two to cap your special day. Huddersfield striker Elias Kachunga would undoubtedly have had that dream earlier in the week as the Terriers hosted Fulham in a Championship play-off showdown - but the German's 25th birthday did not go to plan. Having scored twice in his past four games Kachunga was ruled out of the game through illness, so like any loyal player he decided he would spend his afternoon following the game on Twitter... He might have thought his birthday would be salvaged when Huddersfield went ahead through Chris Lowe's spot-kick, the first goal of the afternoon in the EFL, but Fulham are the top scorers in the division and grabbed two quickfire responses to lead... At this point Kachunga stopped tweeting, as the Terriers conceded twice more in the first half to

Summary: It was an afternoon when two clubs in the English Football League had to accept the reality of relegation - or did they?


The 27-year-old Nigerian joined the Hornets from Udinese in July 2014 and helped them win promotion to the Premier League in 2014-15. He scored 17 goals in 42 games last season as the Vicarage Road side finished 13th in the top flight and reached the FA Cup semi-final. Walter Mazzarri's men start the new campaign with a trip to Southampton on Saturday.

Summary: Watford striker Odion Ighalo has signed a new five-year deal.


The seven-year-old girl, whose mother drank excessively while pregnant, was born with severe brain damage. The Court of Appeal ruled in December that the girl, now in care, was not legally entitled to compensation. Permission to appeal was refused because an arguable point of law was not raised, the Supreme Court said. An application was made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority on her behalf on the basis that the girl was the victim of crime because her mother had administered a noxious substance to her. The case was originally brought by a council in north-west England, which cannot be named for legal reasons. The Court of Appeal rejected a decision of the First Tier Tribunal awarding her compensation. Foetal alcohol syndrome Heavy drinking during pregnancy can lead to foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) when alcohol passes across the placenta from the mother to the developing foetus. The foetus cannot process alcohol effectively until the liver is fully developed and the high levels of alcohol can affect the development of organs and the brain. Children with FAS are born with a range of disabilities, are often shorter than average and some have learning and behavioural difficulties. People with the syndrome can have differences in their facial features such as a flat nose bridge, a small head and a thin upper lip. It is thought that foetuses are most at risk during the first three months of pregnancy when organs are forming - but damage can occur at any time. The NHS recommends that pregnant women should not drink at all - adding that those who choose to have a drink should have no more than two units of alcohol once or twice a week.

Summary: A child born with foetal alcohol syndrome has been refused permission to take her case for criminal injuries compensation to the UK Supreme Court.


The company reported revenue of almost $2.8bn (Â£2.1) in the three months to 30 June, up from $1.3bn during the same period last year. Losses increased to $336m, compared with $293m last year. But investors were encouraged by the firm's prospects and shares rose by more than 7% in after-hours trading. Tesla, which also has a solar energy division, said almost $2.3bn in revenue during the quarter came from the firm's automotive unit - roughly the same as in the previous quarter, but 93% higher than the same period in 2016. However, the company's costs, including for research and development and sales, also rose contributing to the 15% rise in its losses for the quarter. Tesla is preparing to ramp up car production, as it rolls out its most affordable ($35,000) car yet for the mass market. Tesla told shareholders it expects revenue to grow "significantly" in the second half of the year, while expenses hold steady. The firm delivered more than 47,000 of its earlier high-end Model S and Model X cars in the first half of 2017, growth of more than 50% from the prior year. Since it rolled out its latest car, Model 3, to a small group last week, it is averaging more than 1,800 reservations for the car a day, adding to the more than 400,000 orders that are already placed. So far, demand for the new make isn't cannibalising interest in the older models, chief executive Elon Musk added. "July was one of our best months ever," he said. "Who knows if this will continue, but all indications are that it will, so that's very exciting." The firm hopes to make 5,000 of the Model 3 cars per week by the end of 2017. The firm plans to eventually make more than 500,000 a year at its Fremont factory - or about 10,000 per week. Elon Musk's company is spending big to make sure the target of 50,000 Model 3s by the end of the year isn't missed. Production of the "affordable" ($35,000) car being on schedule is critical to the company's future - perhaps even the future of Mr Musk himself as he seeks to court even more money for outlandish projects. That's why Tesla burned through over $1bn in the last quarter, as analysts had anticipated. There are half a million pre-orders for the Model 3, and Mr Musk said the company is facing "manufacturing hell" to get them all made. According to the latest projections, Tesla thinks it's on course to keep customers happy. Any wavering on that goal would send the stock price south. For now, things are on track.

Summary: Electric car-maker Tesla quarterly revenues have more than doubled helped by higher deliveries of its upmarket vehicles but its losses also grew.


Football's world governing body acted following the "internal wrangles affecting the FGF that have halted all football competitions in Guinea". The committee, whose members will be selected by Fifa and the Confederation of African Football, will be tasked to organise FGF elections by 28 February. Until then the committee will run the daily affairs of the FGF. The problems have affected Guinea's campaign to qualify for next year's Africa Cup of Nations tournament. They are third in their group behind Zimbabwe and Swaziland, with only the winners guaranteed a place at the finals in Gabon. Guinea are also due to host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, a decision that was made by Caf in 2014.

Summary: Fifa has appointed a normalisation committee to take charge of Guinea's Football Federation (FGF).


Protests in southern Nepal against a newly adopted constitution have seen hundreds of supply trucks from India stuck at the border. Many Nepalese, however, have accused India of blocking supplies to show its disapproval of the document. Fuel is now being rationed in Nepal. Deepak Baral, an NOC spokesperson, told BBC Nepali that the state-owned fuel supplier was "exploring the possibility" of flying in fuel from a "neighbouring country". As well as India, Nepal is also bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north. Public anger towards India has been growing in Nepal. KP Oli, a senior lawmaker tipped to be the next prime minister, has accused India of breaking international law by imposing a blockade. He denied protesters were blocking roads. New Delhi has denied the accusations and urged Nepal to defuse tensions over the constitution in its southern plains. Clashes between police and protesters have seen more than 40 people killed in recent weeks. Some minority ethnic groups are unhappy with the new constitution, which creates a federal system they fear will see them under represented in parliament.

Summary: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is considering flying in fuel to the landlocked nation as it continues to face a crippling shortage of petroleum products.


Media playback is not supported on this device Swans fans called for the American to be sacked during Boxing Day's 4-1 home defeat by West Ham. Bradley was only appointed in October but has lost seven of his 11 matches in charge, leaving Swansea second from bottom. "I believe in my work and the message I give to the players," he said. "Having said that, there is no getting around the fact when things go against us and when the margins are small, it makes it difficult. "I have been in difficult situations before. "I continue to look the players in the eye, challenge them and tell them the only way we can do this is if we all stick together and keep going." Prior to the West Ham match, Bradley had admitted his future could depend on the outcome of the Boxing Day fixture and the home encounter with Bournemouth on New Year's Eve. Defeat by the Hammers was Swansea's third in succession, and the heavy manner of the loss means Swansea have conceded 29 goals in Bradley's 11 games at the helm. The Liberty Stadium crowd turned on the 58-year-old after West Ham's second goal, with chants of 'we want Bradley out' and 'you don't know what you're doing'. The Swans are now four points adrift of safety in the Premier League, having conceded 19 goals in their last six games. "At the moment, we are our own worst enemies. No matter what do, we seem to put ourselves in terrible spots," Bradley added. "We all heard the response in the stadium today. It doesn't feel good but sometimes in football, you have to fight when everything is going against you. "There is no magic formula, other than having a bunch of guys who don't give up and find a way to turn things in a better way. "I said when I came here, I understood it was a difficult situation. "I committed myself to the club, to work, fight, to do the job. I continue to be fully committed to that." West Ham manager Slaven Bilic had some sympathy for Bradley, saying: "It would be crazy for them [Swansea] to change the manager again." Former England captain Alan Shearer: "Swansea just aren't working hard enough. There's no excuse for the second goal. Winston Reid gets above the two defenders - there's no way he should win the ball - but he gets above them because he wants it more, it means more to him. "It was a big punt bringing Bob Bradley in, with his lack of experience of Premier League players and lack of experience in the Premier League. It was always going to be a big ask of him to keep Swansea up."

Summary: Swansea City manager Bob Bradley believes he can save them from relegation and remains "committed" to the Premier League strugglers.


The national chain, based in Langholm, is accused of committing the offence on two occasions in 2014. A trial began at Dumfries Sheriff Court last month but reporting restrictions prevented publicity. Lawyers for the company argued it could have affected witnesses and voiced concerns about the business impact but the ban has now been overturned. The alleged offences, brought under the Textile Products Regulations 2012, are said to have taken place at the company's store in Church Place, Dumfries, one of 265 high street shops. When the trial began at Dumfries Sheriff Court on 15 September, Susan Duff QC, for the accused, argued against an application on behalf of the BBC and ITV Border to revoke the ban, arguing that publicity could affect the evidence of witnesses who are yet to come to court. She also said: "The accused has a legitimate concern about its business and employees. "Now is the busiest time of year for the purchase of cashmere." She said reporting that scarves were not 100% cashmere could be "prejudicial to the legitimate interests" of the firm. But Ronnie Clancy QC, for the BBC, argued that this being "the busiest time of year for Christmas orders" was simply a reputational issue, not covered by the Contempt of Court Act under which the ban was made. Sheriff George Jamieson agreed to revoke the interim order he had previously made, and allowed the case to be reported. Previously, Alison Irving, 52, a trading standards officer at Dumfries and Galloway Council, told the court she had test purchased a blue tartan scarf in February 2014 and a red one four months later. Both scarves were reduced to Â£30 from Â£60 and were labelled as 100% Lochmere cashmere, the court heard. Ms Irving later cut the scarves into pieces, bagged and sealed them and sent them off to be analysed at two different test labs - SGS UK and Intertek UK. It emerged that she was acting on information from the Cashmere and Camelhair Manufacturers Institute (CCMI). On receiving reports back from the test labs, Ms Irving said she sent a letter in August 2014 cautioning EWM. She said she notified the business that one scarf had been found to contain 84.4% cashmere, while the other was found to have 61.6% cashmere, with the remainder made up of other wool fibres. Under cross-examination from Ms Duff, the witness said it was "odd" that the results received back from each of the labs had been different from each other. "They were different from each other but neither said they were 100%," she said. The witness confirmed that after sending EWM a sample, the company sent back results from another test lab showing that both scarves were found to be 100% cashmere. Ms Duff also challenged the evidence of a textile analyst Liqin Zhang who gave evidence saying she identified wool and yak in the scarf samples. Ms Duff told Ms Zhang that EWM had sent a DNA tested 100% cashmere sample for her to analyse in August 2016. The lawyer said the fabric had been

Summary: Edinburgh Woollen Mill has denied a charge of mislabelling scarves as 100% cashmere in a store in Dumfries.


The news came after US equity firm Blackstone said it was selling a Sydney office building to the group for A$415m ($327m; £218m). Gold Fields House is in the city's prime central business district and overlooks the Sydney Harbour. The firm said it plans to build a luxury hotel as well as residential and retail outlets in the area. "We look forward to creating a new Sydney landmark," said Dalian Wanda in a statement on Monday. Wanda group is backed by Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin and is the country's largest property conglomerate. The recent announcement is the latest in a series of international acquisitions for the Chinese firm. It has already agreed to invest nearly $2bn in London and Madrid hotels and properties in the last two years, according to Reuters. Last week, Wanda said it was buying a 20% stake in Spanish football club Atletico Madrid for €45m ($52m; £34m) - making it the first Chinese company to invest in a top European football club. The group also owns US cinema chain AMC and luxury British yachtmaker Sunseeker. Hong Kong listed shares of Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties were up 3.4% after the deal was announced.

Summary: Chinese property giant Dalian Wanda is set to invest $1bn (£667m) in a development near Sydney Harbour.


Only 13 of the 1948 Gandhi 10-rupee Purple Brown and Lake 'Service' stamps are in circulation. The block of four was sold to a private collector-investor in Australia for the highest ever price for Indian stamps, said dealer Stanley Gibbons. However, the record price for a stamp sold an auction was $9.5m (£7.4m). That British Guiana one-cent magenta stamp was sold to an anonymous bidder in June 2014. The Indian stamps were particularly rare owing to the fact they were in a set of four. Stanley Gibbons previously sold one of these singles for £160,000 to a client in Uruguay last year. A block of four is in the Queen's stamp collection, which is believed to be the world's largest and most valuable in private hands. Keith Heddle, managing director of investments at Stanley Gibbons, said: "The market for high-quality Indian rarities has been strong for several years and is supported by the ongoing desire of the wealthy Indian diaspora and savvy international clients to own these historic assets."

Summary: A set of four stamps featuring the portrait of Gandhi has been sold for £500,000 - but the total remains well short of an international record.


The 21-year-old, who arrived from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer, last featured in the 3-1 victory over St Johnstone on 23 January. Simunovic, who missed Sunday's League Cup semi-final defeat by Ross County, also had a spell on the sidelines in the first half of the season. Kris Commons is close to a return from a muscle injury. The midfield playmaker, 32, has missed the last three matches and manger Ronny Deila said Wednesday's visit to Aberdeen "would probably be too soon" for a return. Celtic captain Scott Brown made his first appearance in two months as a late substitute at the weekend.

Summary: Celtic's Croatian defender Jozo Simunovic will be absent for four to six weeks with knee ligament damage.


Hayne, 28, quit the NFL after just one season to try to play rugby sevens for Fiji in this year's Rio Olympics. The former San Francisco 49er previously played for Paramatta Eels in Australia's National Rugby League. "I thought the boys needed a bit of added competition," said Fiji coach Ben Ryan. "Jarryd has trained well. In attack he is comfortable on the ball, he has good spatial awareness and has good footwork. In defence he is a good tackler." Fiji need eight points to claim this season's World Series title. Hayne, who joined the Fiji camp as an injury replacement, left Australia's NRL in 2014 to pursue a career in the NFL as a running back. He played international rugby league for both Australia, where he was born, and Fiji, who he qualifies for via his father. Have you added the new Top Story alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add alerts for your rugby union team, cricket scores, football and more.

Summary: Former NFL and rugby league player Jarryd Hayne is in Fiji's squad for this weekend's final round of the World Rugby Sevens Series in London.


He also said men joining the course tended to "find out about booze" in first year, leading to dropouts. But he was later reported saying the information he gave "was not factual". His comments inflamed opinions in the country and some people called for him to resign. In an interview, Chris Kelly said the veterinary field, once a majority-male career, was now "dominated by women". He continued: "That's fine, but the problem is one woman graduate is equivalent to two-fifths of a full-time equivalent vet throughout her life because she gets married and has a family, which is normal. "So, although we're graduating a lot of vets, we're getting a high fall-out rate later on." Critics have pointed out that men also have families and care-giving responsibilities. The interview was in the context of changes being made to the university's veterinary science course, to make it more practical. The university's website says it offers the only veterinary degree in New Zealand. Mr Kelly said more men than women dropped out in the first year "because women mature earlier than men, work hard and pass. Whereas men find out about booze and all sorts of crazy things during their first year." Tweets and a Facebook post sent out by the university, purportedly including an apology by Mr Kelly, appear to have been deleted since. The New Zealand Herald reported that he wrote: "I was trying to explain changes Massey University has made over a number of years in the veterinary science programme in response to industry needs, and I also concede that the information was not factual." In response to the comments, a wildlife hospital attached to the university posted a picture of seven female vets and vet technicians, calling them "awesome 100% of the time". As well as taking on ceremonial duties, chancellors in New Zealand have a role in the governance of universities. Vice-chancellors tend to take on a more active role. From 2017, the vice-chancellor of Massey University will be Professor Jan Thomas, a woman who is a veterinarian and biochemist by training.

Summary: The chancellor of a New Zealand university appears to have apologised for saying a woman vet was "equivalent to two-fifths" of a man because she would take time out to have a family.


Media playback is not supported on this device Christine Still, BBC Sport "It is such an exhilarating thing to watch when you see people bouncing so high in the air and then landing in such a small square. It is one of the sports where the margin for error is so slim. You can be in the lead and one little small movement finishes you. This means that there is often a surprise winner. The really strong nations are Russia, China and Canada." The top competitors in the world are still genuine high-flyers though, reaching heights of up to 10 metres during their routines. Although it forms part of the gymnastics programme it shares some similarities with diving in terms of the suppleness and skill needed to compete at the top level. The two sports also share the same terminology - back-flips and half-pikes feature in both. Lee Brearley and Jaime Moore were the first Britons to compete when trampoline made its Olympic debut at the Sydney 2000 Games. Britain had previously produced world men's champions Paul Luxon (1972) and Stewart Matthews (1980) as well as Sue Shotton, who took the 1988 women's world title. Gymnastics requires strength, mobility, endurance, flexibility, body control and coordination. The high level of physical fitness needed to excel helps encourage a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and eating a well-balanced diet. The wide range of movements involved in trampolining works every muscle in the body and burns approximately 410 calories per hour. Jumping on the trampoline - or rebounding - has been discovered by NASA scientists to be up to 68% more effective exercise than jogging. The effort of rebounding develops both upper and body strength without putting undue strain on joints or muscles, thus reducing the risk of injury. Gymnastics is a breathtaking sport featuring a range of disciplines such as artistic, trampoline, acrobatics, aerobics and tumbling. It is enjoyed by an estimated four million people in the United Kingdom. Media playback is not supported on this device There are more than 1,600 gymnastic clubs in the country and you can find the one closest to you by using the British Gymnastics club finder. You only need to buy your own sports kit as the different apparatus and equipment can be found in clubs. An extensive range of training programmes for people of all abilities and ages are available in sport centres, gyms, schools, universities and colleges. British Gymnastics' GymFusion scheme has seen over 2000 performers take part in the non-competitive, show style festivals, with 11 events set to set to take place across the UK in the future. Contact your local British Gymnastics development officer to discover information on how you can get started, with the GymMark scheme ensuring the highest standards are adhered to throughout the UK. Further information can be found on the English Gymnastics,Welsh Gymnastics,Scottish Gymnastics and Gymnastics Northern Ireland websites. More on the British Gymnastics website 'Join In Local Sport' aims to get as many people as possible to turn up and take part in activities at their local

Summary: From the circus tent to the Olympic hall, trampoline has travelled a considerable distance from its 19th Century genesis.


Ms Deacon will succeed Ian McKay when he stands down as chairman at the IoD Scotland conference on Friday. She was elected as Labour MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh in 1999 and served as Scotland's first health minister following devolution. Ms Deacon stood down from elected office in 2007. She has since worked across the private, public and third sectors and is currently a professorial fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Ms Deacon is also a non-executive director of Scottish Power Ltd, Lothian Buses Ltd and the Institute of Occupational Medicine. Mr McKay said: "The future of the IoD is in excellent hands with Susan at the helm. "Her varied experience and approach to leadership will be of real benefit to the IoD at a time when boards are increasingly embracing change." Commenting on her appointment, Ms Deacon signalled her intention to build on IoD Scotland's work on promoting strong leadership and governance. She said: "Successful organisations need effective leaders - it's that simple. "If Scotland is to continue to grow and flourish on a world stage we need to support the leaders of today and to grow the leaders of tomorrow. "So too must our boardrooms have within them a diverse range of skills and experience and operate to the highest possible standards. "I am very proud to be taking on the role of chair of IoD Scotland, an organisation which has been at the forefront of promoting high standards of leadership and governance."

Summary: Former Scottish health minister Susan Deacon is set to become the first woman to chair the Institute of Directors in Scotland.


The UK government sent the warship to aid search efforts in the Mediterranean amid a rise in the number of people dying while trying to reach Europe. BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said the ship was sailing south with around 12 other European vessels. Last week, Bulwark rescued 747 people from boats off Libya's coast. The ship is thought to have been involved in the rescue of around 1,700 migrants in the past month. Our correspondent, who is on board the ship, said: "Bulwark, along with about a dozen other European vessels, is patrolling an area of about 70,000 square miles of the central Mediterranean - looking out for those migrants desperately fleeing Africa trying to get to Europe. " It is likely the vessel will locate migrants in the next 48 hours and attempts will be made to rescue them, he added. Estimates suggest more than 1,600 people have drowned so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean. Many are fleeing war in Libya, where Islamic State fighters are terrorising the population, fuelling instability.

Summary: Royal Navy warship HMS Bulwark is heading towards Libya after reports 14 vessels carrying migrants have left the country's coast.


Mae rhoi pwysau ar bobl i siarad Cymraeg pur yn gwneud rhai chwaraewyr yn llai parod i arddel yr iaith meddai. Roedd yn siarad ar drothwy cynhadledd yng Nghaerdydd i hyrwyddo dwyieithrwydd mewn chwaraeon yng Ngholeg Caerdydd a'r Fro ddydd Iau. Dywedodd wrth raglen Newyddion 9: "Fi'n trio siarad yn naturiol, smo'n Gymraeg i mor dda â lot o bobl ond dwi'n gwneud rhaglenni chwaraeon a newyddion chwaraeon yn Gymraeg. "Os fi'n gallu neud a helpu'r iaith fi'n hapus i wneud hynny. "Fi'n credu mae cymaint o bwysau...os yw pobl yn trio siarad Cymraeg mae'r bobl na sy'n meddwl bo nhw'n bwysig yn yr iaith Gymraeg yn tueddu dodi nhw lawr. "A fi'n gwybod bod sawl chwaraewr ddim mo'yn siarad Cymraeg achos bo nhw'n meddwl bod nhw'n cael cymaint o bwysau arnyn nhw achos dyw pobl ddim yn meddwl bod eu Cymraeg nhw ddim yn ddigon pur. "A fi'n credu byddech chi'n surprised pwy yw'r chwaraewyr na sy ddim mo'yn siarad Cymraeg achos y pwysau hynny." Pan ofynnwyd iddo sut oedd mynd ati i newid hyn, dywedodd: "Meddwl am bobl arall...a falle bod eu iaith nhw yn bur ac yn iawn ond sdim pawb fel nhw achos sdim pawb yn defnyddio'r iaith bob dydd. "Os ydyn nhw mo'yn i'r iaith i gadw fynd a chryfhau'r iaith mae angen rhoi tamed bach o slac i bobl, a gweud os ydyn nhw'n fodlon siarad Cymraeg fel maen nhw'n hapus, wel dyna ni."

Summary: Wrth i'r Gymraeg gael mwy o sylw nag erioed ym maes chwaraeon a darlledu mae cyn faswr Cymru, Jonathan Davies yn galw am fwy o anogaeth i'r rheiny sy'n llai hyderus yn eu Cymraeg.


Dale Farm head David Dobbin was speaking as the processing firm unveiled a new £2.5m cheese packing line at its County Tyrone plant. It ends a £7m investment at Cookstown that created 60 jobs. He said the industry wanted a free-trade deal giving access to EU markets. Mr Dobbin added that a couple of future investment projects would depend on the outcome of trade negotiations with the EU. But he said the bulk of them would go ahead regardless. As much as £70m worth of sales is being generated by the Cookstown plant. Much of the cheese is destined for customers in Britain, with the rest serving markets in Europe, the West Indies and the United States. Mr Dobbin said the company was "well-hedged" in relation to future trade arrangements. He said any tariffs would make imports more expensive, allowing UK companies to sell more produce to the domestic market. If a free-trade deal was concluded with the EU, Dale Farm could continue to grow its European business, he added. Economy Minister Simon Hamilton attended the launch of the facility that received more than £500,000 pounds of public money. He said he was keen to work with companies to help them overcome the challenges and seize opportunities the UK's withdrawal from the EU would present. Mr Hamilton added that agri-food is a key element of the Northern Ireland economy and one that had "defied the odds" during the downturn. Earlier this month, the first and deputy first ministers wrote to the prime minister calling for an open trading arrangement with the EU and highlighting the importance of agri-food to the wider Northern Ireland economy.

Summary: Twenty million pounds of investment in one of Northern Ireland's biggest agri-food companies is set to go ahead regardless of the outcome of negotiations over Brexit.


Both panellists wrote articles attacking the other in the aftermath of the BBC show. On his blog, comedian and campaigner Brand called the UKIP leader an "an end of the pier, end of the road, end of days politician". Mr Farage wrote on the Independent website that Brand had been exposed as a "messiah with feet of clay". The two men were joined on Thursday night's show by Conservative Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt, shadow international development secretary Mary Creagh, and Times columnist Camilla Cavendish. In an often heated debate, with members of the audience yelling at each other and the panel, Brand called Mr Farage a "pound shop Enoch Powell" during a section on immigration, with the UKIP leader responding by saying he believed the UK was "overcrowded". The barbs did not stop when filming ended, as Mr Farage said the performance of the "sometime comedian turned banker-basher" had been "limp". He wrote: "Mr Brand will swan around and tout long-discredited, even conspiratorial, theories about the City of London, and 'who owns politicians' - but actually he had very little to give." For his part, Brand said Mr Farage was "worse than stagnant, he is a tribute act, he is a nostalgic spasm for a Britain that never was; an infinite cricket green with no-one from the colonies to raise the game, grammar schools on every corner and shamed women breastfeeding under giant parasols". The breastfeeding reference followed a row over Mr Farage's suggestion that some venues might ask mothers to "perhaps sit in a corner" to feed their babies. Both men praised the audience of Question Time, which was filmed in Canterbury. Brand, who was urged to stand for Parliament by one man in the crowd. added: "The only worthwhile sentiments, be they raging or insightful, come from the audience". Other questions focused on the NHS, grammar schools and trust in politicians. The programme was watched by an average of 3.5 million viewers, with the audience peaking at 4.6 million at the start. This was nearly a million higher than the previous week's episode, but well below the 7.9 million viewers who watched ex-BNP leader Nick Griffin's appearance on the show in 2009. The encounter also triggered plenty of debate on social media, with 106,000 tweets during the show - compared with 22,000 the week before.

Summary: Russell Brand and Nigel Farage have continued to trade insults following their Question Time clash.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 28-year-old Briton was fastest in the first of Saturday's two runs to climb from fourth to third and she held her position in the final run. Gold went to World Cup leader Jacqueline Lolling, with fellow German Tina Hermann finishing second. Yarnold's overall time of two minutes 36.08 seconds was 0.73secs behind Lolling. She returned to competition in December after taking a year out and will attempt to retain her Olympic title in South Korea next year. "This is where I want and need to be - and is a major stepping stone," Yarnold told BBC Sport. "It shows I've made the right decisions over the past couple of years and means more than I could ever explain. "I've had a few head and back issues recently and I physically wouldn't be here without the help of my physio and my family. "I am still dealing with some stuff but I am lucky with the team I have and that helps make me a stronger person and a better athlete." Yarnold's Great Britain team-mate Laura Deas finished 10th, with Donna Creighton 22nd. Nick Hope, BBC Olympic sports reporter: Despite all of Lizzy Yarnold's previous gold medals, World Championships bronze is a huge result both for her at the British skeleton team. She seemed to ease to Olympic, World Championship, European and World Cup titles between 2013 and 2015 - but, in truth, those successes left her exhausted. Although a year sabbatical has seen her return refreshed, younger rivals have emerged and the reappearance of dizzy spells - which first emerged in late 2014 - as well as the appearance of a new serious back problem, has made her comeback challenging than expected. However, despite just one World Cup podium finish this season Yarnold states she's now a "better slider" than before her break - and she has proved that when the big occasion arises she can still deliver. That is a crucial confidence boost for the British team, because with Laura Deas yet to rediscover the form that led to World Cup podiums last season and the GB men some way off he pace, Yarnold remains their only realistic hope of an Olympic skeleton medal in 2018.

Summary: Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold won bronze at the Skeleton World Championships in Germany.


Matt Derbyshire struck in the first minute before Leon Best scored from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Cody Cropper brought down Richard Wood. The visitors confirmed their dominance through Kirk Broadfoot's header and Richard Smallwood's neat finish. Rotherham, 21st place in the table, moved nine points clear of MK Dons, who remain third bottom. The atmosphere inside Stadium MK was tense before kick-off, but almost immediately the Rotherham fans were celebrating as Derbyshire opened the scoring. Best then slammed home from the spot, and it was no surprise when Broadfoot and Smallwood put the game beyond MK Dons just after the break. Ex-Miller Alex Revell almost pulled one back for the hosts, but Rotherham easily held on. Despite languishing in the relegation zone in mid-February, Neil Warnock, Rotherham's third manager of the season, has turned his side's fortunes around, winning six of his 11 league games in charge. MK Dons manager Karl Robinson: "It's extremely difficult and very hard and the odds are stacked against us. We only have ourselves to blame. "You get that tag of losing football matches and it's so hard to shift. You have to find it from somewhere to cope with the demands of this level. "We were the better team in between the two boxes by far, (but) we are not as good as other teams in the boxes, it's as simple as that. "I don't think it's fair to boo me individually, I don't agree with that. Collectively we have to take responsibility. " Rotherham manager Neil Warnock: "It was an important game but I thought it was a comprehensive victory. "We started well with the goal and we couldn't have got off to a better start. We missed a few chances in the second half, but we can't get too greedy. "It just goes to show what you can do with a good group who want to listen. "I think they are amazing themselves with the ability they have and what they can do with the ball. It's a great time and we are enjoying ourselves."

Summary: Rotherham took a huge step towards retaining their Championship status by thrashing relegation rivals MK Dons.


Huston, who was 38th in qualifying, had earlier progressed from the last 32 by beating Dutchman Rick Van Der Ven with his final arrow. However, his Olympic Games debut was later ended as Bonchan won 6-0. There was Just two points between the pair in the first two sets, and one point in the third. Huston was the first British athlete in Olympic Games action in Rio last Friday. The archer was competing minus his trademark flat cap after it fell foul of the British Olympic Association's dress code.

Summary: Belfast man Patrick Huston was beaten by Korea's Ku Bonchan at the last-16 stage in the men's individual archery at the Olympic Games on Wednesday.


Brompton Cemetery, where suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst is buried, is to be given £6.2m to restore its landscape and monuments. Along with West Norwood - which will receive £4.8m - it is one of London's "Magnificent Seven" cemeteries. The historic burial grounds were created in London's suburbs from 1832 to reduce overcrowding. Highgate and Kensal Green are also among the "Magnificent Seven". More on this and other London news stories Brompton Cemetery's chapel, which was built in the style of St Peter's Basilica in Rome, will be one of the monuments renovated with the funds. The north lodge will be turned into a cafe and visitor centre. Sara Lom, of The Royal Parks Foundation, described the graveyard as "a beautiful monument to our nation's history". "It's a final place of rest for notable figures and unsung heroes in equal measure," she said. The funding, made up of £4.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a further £1.7m from The Royal Parks and The Royal Parks Foundation, will also be put towards conserving wildlife habitats. Brompton has 39 acres of green space and is home to 221 species of moth, 42 species of beetle and 18 species of butterfly. The cemetery neighbours Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club, and Gus Mears, who formed the club in 1905, is buried there. Chairman of the Friends of Brompton Cemetery Arthur Tait said it would become "a hub for volunteering, training, and a place of relaxation for children and families while still being a haven for those who want peace, quiet and beauty". Royal Parks Board member Wesley Kerr said the "marvellous communal green space" was as much for the living as for the dead. "It is architecturally astonishing, full of magnificent sculptures, monuments and buildings set in a very beautiful designed landscape," he said. Brompton and West Norwood, which both still hold burial services, are among 12 parks and cemeteries to have received funding across the UK. Friends of West Norwood Cemetery said the £4.8m investment would be spent on improving the cemetery's drainage, footpaths and entrance gates. It said the money would also be used for works on an area reserved for the Greek Orthodox community - known as the "necropolis" or "cemetery within a cemetery". Source: The Friends of West Norwood Cemetery

Summary: Two "magnificent" Victorian cemeteries in London are to receive multimillion-pound facelifts.


"Powerful women needed," ads published in national newspapers say alongside the face of a woman obscured in shadow. Mossad already has a staff that is 40% female, with 24% of them in key senior roles, local media report. Women have been praised as better secret agents by a former Mossad chief. Tamir Pardo said in 2012 that female agents "have a distinct advantage in secret warfare because of their ability to multitask" and they "suppress their ego in order to attain goals," according to the Jerusalem Post. "Contrary to stereotypes, you see that women's abilities are superior to men in terms of understanding the territory, reading situations, spatial awareness. When they're good, they're very good," the then-agency chief said. The Mossad website tells would-be female recruits: "It's not what you've done, it's who you are." Have you got what it takes to be a spy? Listen to BBC Radio 4 documentary 'The Mossad' (2010)

Summary: Israel's shadowy international spy agency, Mossad, is seeking to bolster its ranks with more women, launching its first recruitment drive specifically targeting females.


The 19-year-old netted on her debut for Arsenal Ladies in 2013 and scored 22 goals in her first full season with the north London club. Humphrey is the Belles sixth signing following their promotion to Women's Super League One. "I want to get some more experience and help the team do as well as we can," she told the club website.

Summary: Doncaster Rovers Belles have signed Arsenal Ladies' teenage midfielder Carla Humphrey on loan.


It has also doubled the prison term for offenders to 20 years. Activists hope the law will encourage more slaves to take legal action to secure their freedom and will encourage the courts to punish slave owners. Mauritania abolished slavery in 1981, but activists say it is still widely practised and many in the West African country inherit their slave status. According to the AFP news agency, the new law, passed on Wednesday, also criminalises "10 other forms of slavery", including forced marriage and handing a woman over to another man without her consent after the death of her husband. Boubacar Ould Massoud, chairman of campaign group SOS Slavery, told the BBC it also provides for legal help for victims and enables them to seek compensation. He said it was laughable to think that slavery did not exist in Mauritania. "Often judges sympathise more with the slave owners than with the slaves. Slavery cases taken to court have up until now referred to the slaves as 'non-paid workers' or 'exploited and underage workers,'" he told BBC Afrique. Anti-slavery activists in Mauritania also say they have faced harassment from the authorities. AFP reports that three anti-slavery activists will be judged on appeal on 20 August in the central town of Aleg. They include two members of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement in Mauritania, a well-known non-governmental organisation. They had been sentenced to two years in prison for "membership of an unrecognised organisation", the agency reports. According to a 2014 survey by anti-slavery campaign group Walk Free, Mauritania has the highest number of slaves as a proportion of the population, at 4%.

Summary: Campaigners have welcomed Mauritania's new anti-slavery law which makes the offence a "crime against humanity".


Buildings already constructed at the Beechwood site include the new £60m Inverness College UHI. The college should be ready to open its doors to its first students this autumn. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which is leading the project, hopes to attract science, technology and other types of businesses to the site. Mr Swinney said: "This is an outstanding facility which I believe will be a leading resource for enterprise and innovation, not only of benefit to the region, but to the entire country. "The teamwork of everyone involved has helped make Inverness Campus a reality and I am sure this will continue in the years ahead."

Summary: The new £100m Inverness Campus has been officially opened by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.


Smyth, 30, who is visually impaired, had already won 100m gold and remains undefeated in both events in every Paralympics and Worlds since 2008. Great Britain failed to win a medal on day five of the championships - having won gold on every day so far. GB's T42 long jumper Luke Sinnott came fourth in his debut at a major event. And there was a fourth-place finish for team-mate Richard Chiassaro in the T54 200m, with compatriot Nathan Maguire sixth. Elsewhere for Britain, Sabrina Fortune, who won F20 shot put bronze at Rio 2016, could only come sixth, while teenager Polly Maton was fifth in the T46/47 100m. In the morning session, Sammi Kinghorn came second in her heat to progress to Wednesday's T53 400m final, where she will look to add to the 200m title she won on Saturday. GB are third in the medal table with 11 golds and 20 total, with the US leading and China second. Smyth, born in Northern Ireland, holds the world record in the T13 100m and 200m - his times of 10.46 and 21.05 seconds are quicker than the records from any other classification. A legally blind athlete, he has won 10 Paralympic and world titles and has raced in able-bodied events at the European Championships. "This is incredible. Today you actually get to enjoy it. In the 100m on Sunday I knew I was back out again and had to rein it in," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "I'm delighted to be back in London. I wish we could have the Worlds in London every time." Sinnott, 36, lost both of his legs in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion while serving with the Royal Engineers in Afghanistan in 2011. He has gone to compete in sailing and has raced at the Invictus Games, before committing to long jump last year. The Hampshire athlete's best jump of 6.15m came after four fouls from his first five attempts and was 10cm short of third-placed German Leon Schafer, with Atsushi Yamamoto of Japan taking silver and Denmark's Daniel Wagner winning with a jump of 6.50m. "I really had to go into a deep, dark place to get what I needed for that last jump. I knew if I didn't put something on the board in that last jump then I'd be very disappointed," he said. "I can't believe I'm here. Those days you wake up and feel fate dealt you a bad hand, it just goes to show that if you take what's handed to you and you turn it around then you can become part of amazing stuff like this. "There's a sensitive tipping point where you either end up here or you end up feeling sorry for yourself. Strapping a pair of blades was one of the best things I ever did." Maton, 17, was a spectator at London 2012 and has been earmarked as a prospect for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. "I'm quite happy, the time wasn't great but I've had calf problems the last couple of days. You just try

Summary: Ireland's Jason Smyth won T13 200m gold to complete a sprint double at the World Para-athletics Championships in London.


Ben, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island on 24 July 1991. Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Kerry Needham said she had been warned to "prepare for the worst". Police searches have entered a third week after it emerged he may have been accidentally killed by a digger driver. Mrs Needham said: "I think it really now is a case of finding him not alive. "We can't live another 25 years like this, my parents can't and I can't. "It's not the best solution but it will eventually lay it to rest for us, we're all extremely tired and distressed." She added: "Twenty-five years living and not knowing where your child is is torment. "I don't like to say it, but then at least we would know and it would be closure and he can be laid to rest and we can remember him as he was." Mrs Needham said it was an "agonising wait every day" for news from the police. She said: "Unfortunately it looks like it's going to be a bad outcome but we'll just try to get on with everything." About 60 items found in the search are being sent back to the UK for analysis, with police extending their stay to search a second site 750m away from where he was last seen.

Summary: The mother of missing toddler Ben Needham has said she now believes her son is likely to be found dead after disappearing on Kos 25 years ago.


The move is the latest in a string of takeovers in Italy by cash-rich Chinese buyers. The takeover gives ChemChina access to technology to make premium tyres and gives Pirelli greater access to the Chinese market. Pirelli shares were 2.56% higher at €15.62 on Monday on the news. ChemChina's tyre making unit, China National Tire & Rubber, is to buy the 26.2% stake in Pirelli owned by Italian investment firm Camfin. It will then launch an offer for the remaining shares. Camfin said the bid would be launched by a consortium controlled by ChemChina but also part-owned by Camfin investors, who include Pirelli boss Marco Tronchetti Provera, Italian banks UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo, and Russia's Rosneft. The offer will be launched at €15 per share, valuing the group at €7.1bn excluding net debt of almost €1bn. Following reports of the deal on Friday, shares in Milan-listed Pirelli hit a 25-year high, closing at €15.23. Current Pirelli chief executive Tronchetti Provera, who started working for tyre maker in 1986 after marrying a member of the Italian family that founded the firm, will remain in his post. Previous Chinese acquisitions in Italy include stakes in power grid firms Terna and Snam, turbine maker Ansaldo and luxury yacht maker Ferretti.

Summary: Chinese state-owned China National Chemical (ChemChina) is to buy Italian tyre maker Pirelli in a deal which values the firm at €7.1bn (£5.1bn).


David Cameron also nominated Tory and Labour members, including former attorney general Dominic Grieve. Mr Robertson was among a number of MPs who had called on the committee to investigate an RAF drone strike in which two British citizens were killed. He is expected to use his position on the committee to re-affirm those calls for an investigation. It was confirmed on Monday by the UK government that Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, and Ruhul Amin, from Aberdeen, died in Syria, alongside another fighter, in the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen. The men had gone to the conflict zone to fight for the so-called Islamic State group. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the drone strike was a "perfectly legal act of self defence". He added that the UK would not hesitate to launch more secret drone strikes in Syria to thwart terror plots. The new appointments to the intelligence and security committee, which can summon intelligence chiefs to give evidence, include;

Summary: The prime minister has appointed SNP MP Angus Robertson to Westminster's intelligence and security committee.


The 31-year-old failed a drugs test following their 36-8 defeat by Wakefield Trinity on 14 July. The Super League club said they had received notification from UK Anti-Doping and the Rugby Football League. A Widnes statement said: "The club fully respects this suspension and are currently reviewing this matter." Chase won the Man of Steel award in 2011 - a year in which he would later go on to represent England and earn eight caps. He joined Widnes from the Tigers in May, initially on loan, before the deal was made permanent in July. BBC Sport's rugby league correspondent Dave Woods Rangi Chase has been the ultimate enigma since he arrived at Castleford eight years ago. Unbelievably skilful, he has produced some of Super League's most breathtaking moments. But equally breathtaking has been his often off-field stupidity. His has been a career full of official warnings, last chances and shown doors by a collection of clubs that have lost patience with his extra-curricular activities. He's come and gone at Cas, Salford, Leigh, Cas again and now, presumably, Widnes. If this latest drug test failure is upheld, there will finally be no way back in rugby league for his mercurial, magical but misguided talents. Precedent has been set. Gareth Hock, then at Wigan, was banned for two years when he was found guilty of cocaine misuse ahead of a game. If the same holds for Chase, that would take him to 33. Age alone would probably be against him. But reputation will hold even greater sway. A premature end to his career, if that's what this is, will surprise no-one but it will sadden many that such skills, such sublime ability that he possesses couldn't have been harnessed for the even greater pleasure of all those who have marvelled at the very best of Rangi down the years.

Summary: Widnes Vikings half-back Rangi Chase has been suspended from all training and playing activity after testing positive for cocaine.


More than half of the dead were women and children, according to aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Taiz has been the scene of intense clashes between Houthi rebels and pro-government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia and its allies. The coalition began targeting the Houthis in March. It wants to defeat the rebel group, which controls much of Yemen, and restore the government of exiled President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi. The conflict has killed about 4,000 people so far, nearly half of them civilians, according to the United Nations. Seventeen of those who lost their lives in air strikes late on Thursday were members of the same family, MSF said. A number of civilians also died in rebel shelling in Taiz. "We call on the warring parties to stop attacking civilian targets, especially hospitals, ambulances and densely populated neighbourhoods," MSF said in a statement. The Houthis - backed by forces loyal to the former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh - say they are fighting against corruption and marginalisation of their northern powerbase by Mr Hadi's government. Sunni power Saudi Arabia alleges its Shia rival Iran is providing the rebels with weapons. Tehran and the Houthis deny this. Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom? Meeting the Houthis and their enemies Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe

Summary: At least 65 civilians have reportedly been killed in air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition on the Yemeni city of Taiz.


Two of them did not march to police lines at the junction of Woodvale Road and Woodvale Parade on 12 July, the point at which the Parades Commission said the parade must stop. In the previous three years, the Orange Order arrived in force, with hundreds of members, supporters and bandsmen. But, on Tuesday, fewer than 20 members of Ballysillan lodge, and a small number of supporters, arrived at a police barrier erected across the road. They clearly expected the other lodges to join them, and waited for an hour and a quarter for them to do so. The assembled media were told repeatedly by Orange, loyalist and police sources that Ligoniel True Blues and the Earl of Erne lodges were on their way. But they never came. At 20:30 BST, looking visibly frustrated, members of Ballysillan LOL 1891 walked away from police lines and dispersed. The lodge and the Orange Order have since rejected any suggestion it was deliberately left out on a limb for opposing a deal with a nationalist residents' group in Ardoyne to end the parade dispute. The proposed deal collapsed earlier this month after Ballysillan made it clear it would not back it, while the others said they would. Gerald Solinas, a spokesman for Ballysillan, said it was simply because the other lodges would not have made it to the police barrier before the 20:30 BST cut-off point imposed by the parades commission. The Orange Order has backed this claim and insisted what happened was not the result of a deliberate decision to isolate Ballysillan. But the BBC has established that a deliberate decision was taken to keep the three lodges apart. There are more than 100 lodges within Belfast County Grand Lodge Each of them is a member of one of nine districts. Traditionally all lodges within each district walk together. However, that has not happened in north Belfast since this disputed parade was prevented from completing its return leg past the Ardoyne shop fronts in July 2013. Since then, the three lodges involved in the dispute have marched together in solidarity, despite being members of different districts. Ballysillan LOL 1891 is member of District Number Three, Ligoniel True Blues LOL 1932 part of Number One, and the Earl of Erne LOL 647 is a member of District Number Four. In the three previous years the lodges were given special allowances by their governing body, Belfast County Grand Lodge, to walk together close to the head of the Twelfth parade. That changed this year. Instead, the lodges decided they would parade as part of their own districts, and not together. Each year one of the districts leads the parade. This year it was the turn of District Number Three, so Ballysillan helped lead the way. The other districts then followed in numerical order, with the Earl of Erne, District Number Four, directly behind them. Districts five, six, seven, eight and nine then followed, before going back to District Number One, which meant Ligoneil was towards the back of the parade. The Orange Order claim that the

Summary: Tuesday marked the first time since a stand-off over a disputed Orange Order parade in Belfast started in July 2013, that the three lodges involved have not spoken with one voice.


The move comes after the BBC revealed that a number of women felt physically and mentally scarred after having the implants. Mesh or tape implants are used to treat organ prolapse or urinary incontinence. These conditions can be common after childbirth. The board's letter, leaked to the BBC, advised GPs to refer the women back to the health trust that performed the surgery with a letter stating that the referral is "because of problems associated with mesh surgery". The letter goes on to state that each trust should have arrangements in place for these women to be seen by a consultant. A spokesperson for the local action group, which now has over 250 members, welcomed the move but told the BBC that it was sad that some women had to go public with their personal stories in order for some health professionals to take them seriously. In July, a group of women from across the UK affected by vaginal mesh implants, including many from Northern Ireland, met with MPs at Westminster as part of a campaign to ban the procedure.

Summary: The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) has written to GPs advising what action they should take if any of their patients experience problems after vaginal mesh surgery.


Greg Allen, 43, of Seacoast Road, Bellarena, County Londonderry, was convicted along with another man for breaching waste and marine laws. He plans to appeal the sentence, but not the conviction. Mr Allen said he has lost at least six acres to the sea over three decades. He estimates that the land washed away could be worth up to £50,000 and said he was trying to prevent further erosion. The bales of tyres were put in place to protect a motocross track developed on his ground at the edge of Lough Foyle. Mr Allen said at least 15 neighbouring farmers are suffering the same problem as him with coastal erosion. And he questioned why farm land further along the coast was being protected with proper sea defences built and maintained out of the public purse. "The more ground you lose, the more our income drops," he said. "If a farmer loses ground for a roadway, he's compensated. We're not, and we're not being allowed to do anything about it either." Mr Allen said he has been told that to put in a properly licensed sea defence along 100 metres of shoreline would cost up to £90,000 - if it were to be approved. He must now remove the tyres, which he said will cost him more than £15,000. Baled tyres have been trialled as potential sea defence material by the authorities in England. It has not become a mainstream practice.

Summary: A farmer given a suspended four-month prison sentence last week for having 20,000 tyres along the shore fronting his farm, has said he was trying to protect his land from coastal erosion.


Coetzer leads the Scots for the first time at the Grange on Friday. "We want to try to take down one of the top sides and we are very capable of doing that," said Coetzer. "The guys have been preparing well for the last number of years now and things are starting to come together. They have moulded into the squad very well." Pakistan begin their preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy by facing the Scots on Friday and Sunday. Spinner Saeed Ajmal will feature for the tourists but all-rounder Shahid Afridi misses out. "There is a bit in it for both sides here," said Coetzer. "They are preparing for their tournament and it is nice for the Scottish public to see a team of this calibre coming to the Grange." And the 29-year-old Northants batsmen expects the first meeting to be "a whirlwind" after Coetzer made his international bow against Pakistan 10 years ago. He explained: "I always hoped that somewhere along the line I might be able to do the job [of captain]. "I'm looking forward to the challenges. It's a very proud day. "I am going to do what is best for the team at all times. Hopefully that can lead to some good results. Effectively, it is a new era and it is exciting times." Pakistan are in the same section as India, South Africa and West Indies in next month's Champions Trophy, with Dav Whatmore's side playing their group matches at the Oval and Edgbaston. And captain Misbah-ul-Haq has warned his team-mates not to underestimate Scotland. "We have an important period coming up with the Champions Trophy," he said. "There are different conditions over here in the UK, different weather, and we need to get used to that. "We haven't played against Scotland for a long time but in their home conditions, any side can be really tough. So we can't take them lightly." Follow Phil Goodlad on Twitter.

Summary: New captain Kyle Coetzer believes this week's two one-day internationals against Pakistan are the beginning of a "new era" for Scotland.


After all, the young, social-media savvy Burhan Wani had become the mascot of a new generation of home-grown rebels fighting Indian rule in the region - there are close to 100 local militants in Kashmir today, four times as many as in 2011, Indian intelligence estimates. Wani's ability to "recruit [people] into militancy from the grave will far outstrip anything he could have done on social media," tweeted Kashmir's former chief minister and opposition leader Omar Abdullah after the killing. Yet, when Kashmir predictably erupted in fury over the killing, a familiar, bloody script played out once again. Five days of clashes between protesters and security forces following Wani's killing have left at least 36 people dead and some 1,500 people, mostly aged 16-26, wounded. The curfew entered its fifth day on Wednesday, making this the worst siege the valley has faced since two popular uprisings in 2008 and 2010 in which 200 people, mostly civilian protesters, died in clashes with the security forces. Many believe last weekend again saw security forces using excessive force as they tried to control the protests. Security personnel say they are forced to open fire in the face of dire mob provocation. But allegations that the forces are trigger happy in Kashmir have never gone away. "The fact is that they used disproportionate force at the weekend, when the majority of deaths happened," says Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper. Security experts say India's forces - army, paramilitary soldiers, border guards - are not equipped to handle civilian uprisings. Most are trained to fight a foreign enemy. Killing their own people in Kashmir, one of the world's most militarised regions, makes them look like an occupying force. The police does not inspire much confidence either in Kashmir, or anywhere else in India: the force is run on the basis of 155-year-old colonial law and has seen almost no reform. Nearly two decades after the uprising began in the region, the security forces still appear to be totally out of their depth in the use of modern, non-lethal weapons of crowd control. There has been a lot of talk about using water cannons, the malodorous "skunk" spray, noise machines, for example. The forces have picked on using "pellet guns" - a kind of shot gun - that have actually ended up causing serious eye injuries. Doctors say more than 100 people have received pellets in their eyes after the weekend clashes and it's feared that many may lose their eyesight. For the remainder, the forces have been resorting to firepower and tear gas. More than 100 people injured in the latest violence are suffering from bullet wounds. "Shoot to kill does not exactly help win the battle of hearts and minds in Kashmir," says one expert. The Kashmir government - an uneasy marriage of convenience between the regional People's Democratic Party and the BJP - has promised that policemen and security forces will be "made answerable" for incidents where excessive force has been used at the weekend. No-one in Kashmir believes that this will happen. There

Summary: When security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir killed a prominent militant leader in a gunfight last week, they would have surely anticipated a civilian blowback in the Muslim-dominated valley.


Their analysis of stool samples in a study of more than 3,600 twins found evidence that some of this bacteria is inherited. What is contained in faeces bacteria could therefore partly explain why obesity passes down through families. The study is published in Genome Biology. The research team extracted information from study participants about the human faecal microbiome - the bacteria present in faeces samples - and compared these to six different measures of obesity, including body mass index (BMI) and different types of body fat. iWonder - What does your poo say about you? The researchers found the strongest links with visceral fat, where participants with a high diversity of bacteria in their faeces had lower levels of visceral fat. This type of body fat is bad news because it is stored in the stomach area around important organs such as the liver, pancreas and intestines and is linked with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Dr Michelle Beaumont, lead study author from the department of twin research and genetic epidemiology at King's College London, said although the study showed a clear link, it was not yet possible to explain why it existed. One theory is that a lack of variety in faecal bacteria could lead to the domination of high levels of gut microbes which are good at turning carbohydrates into fat. Dr Beaumont said: "As this was an observational study we cannot say precisely how communities of bacteria in the gut might influence the storage of fat in the body, or whether a different mechanism is involved in weight gain." And she indicated more research was needed to investigate how microbes in our guts and in our faeces can influence our health. But there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that gut bacteria may play a role in obesity. It is known that at least 50% of human faeces is made up of bacteria shed from the gut. Dr Beaumont said that eating a broad diet including a variety of different types of food - much like that of the early hunter-gatherers - could increase the diversity of microbes in our faeces. If the theory that microbes are passed on down the generations is correct, she said they may play an important role in how fat develops around the body and the health risk it presents.

Summary: The make-up of the bacteria found in human faeces may influence levels of dangerous fat in our bodies, say researchers from King's College London.


Utopia Coaches, based at Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire, provided services to rural communities between Selby, Drax, Tadcaster and York. The company announced it was going into liquidation in a tweet on Wednesday evening, about an hour after drivers said they received the text messages. Utopia has not responded to the BBC's request for comment. Read more about this and other stories from across Yorkshire Driver Carl Longfield said he left work on Wednesday with no idea the company was going to cease operating. "I left the depot thinking everything was OK saying, 'see you tomorrow' and I got home and got a text at about 19:55 saying 'thank you very much but we are ceasing trading at 00:01'. "We had no idea the company was in such a bad state," he said. "The more concern for me is the passengers we have left behind in the remote communities. They relied on our services to get into work, to school, to colleges and they've been left remote." Richard Green, another driver, said he felt completely "deflated" by the news and said he was also concerned for passengers. "They relied on us but evidently the company couldn't be bothered about them." The drivers met the company's liquidator earlier. They said they were told employees would receive two weeks' pay if they had been with the company for two years or more. North Yorkshire County Council said it was working to offer alternatives for subsidised services, including school bus services. It added it was in discussions with other operators about whether it might be possible to restore some of the company's commercial routes.

Summary: Bus drivers say they were told by text message their company was closing and they would lose their jobs.


For any new wave of grammar schools to be palatable to a broad section of MPs and peers, Mrs May has to tackle head-on claims that they have become the preserve of pushy, middle-class families. They need to become the engines of social mobility that they were once seen as. Following the ban on new grammar schools in 1998, the fight for places, especially in areas where there are just one or two schools, has become more intense. And this has led to wealthier families with the ability to pay for tutoring and preparation for the 11-plus exam - a set of tests very different from the usual ones taken by primary pupils in England. Research suggests grammar schools have just 3% of pupils from very poor backgrounds - those on the pupil premium who are basically from families in receipt of certain benefits or earning less than Â£16,000 a year. Nationally, 14% of pupils are in this category. Even the chairman of the National Grammar Schools Association, Robert McCartney, says: "They will have to introduce some conditions that will prevent these schools being swamped by families with money." Hence the new requirement for any new selective school/grammar to take a proportion of disadvantaged pupils, establish a "high quality, non-selective free school", set up or sponsor a primary feeder school in a deprived area or sponsor an underperforming academy. Grammar school heads have been talking to the Department for Education for some years about the ways in which they might do this. Of the 163 grammar schools in England, more than 70 are planning to give some form of priority to disadvantaged pupils from next year, says Jim Skinner of the Grammar School Heads Association. This year, it is about 30 schools. This is most likely to be through a quota system based on recent new rules allowing schools to give priority in admissions to children on the pupil premium. The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, a chain of five schools, has led the way, having just admitted its second cohort of pupils with a quota for children on the pupil premium. In this case, they have lowered the test requirements for disadvantaged pupils. This may be the way it goes in some areas with a patchwork system of selective and non-selective schools. But as the law stands this method will serve only the very poorest of families. For it to go further and include a broader range of low-income families, another change in the admissions code will be required. However, in areas where the local authority administers the 11-plus test, the council could decide to prioritise low-income children, potentially by broadening the ability range that might secure a grammar place. Areas such as these are sending between 20% and 25% of their most able children to grammar schools. Currently, there is also a system of head teacher review in some selective counties. This is where primary school head teachers put forward a number of disadvantaged children who may not have done well enough in the test, but who they

Summary: As the prime minister sets out plans for a new wave of grammars and selective schools, we ask how they might look.


In Swansea, the party added one seat to hold 48 out of 72 seats, while Plaid Cymru made inroads picking up seven new seats in neighbouring NPT. Pembrokeshire remains in the hands of independents, while Carmarthenshire has no party in overall control. Swansea council leader Rob Stewart said Labour's success in the city was because it had offered hope. "We came into this election on a very positive manifesto, offering people hope, aspiration, a better city, a better life," he said. "We'd just delivered the City Deal for Swansea, the city centre is being rejuvenated, we're after the Tidal Lagoon - we're hoping to land that very shortly, and we're bidding to be the city of culture in 2021. "We've demonstrated we can deliver for the people of Swansea and we're standing on an even more ambitious programme for the next five years." In Swansea, independents took nine seats, Conservatives eight and Liberal Democrats seven. Meanwhile in Neath Port Talbot, Plaid Cymru made inroads picking up seven new seats. In Pembrokeshire, former deputy council leader Rob Lewis lost his seat in Martletwy to Di Clements of the Conservatives. Independent candidates won 34 seats in the county, Conservative had 12, Labour seven, Plaid Cymru six and the Lib Democrats gained just one. In Carmarthenshire, Plaid Cymru won the most seats with 36, while Labour gained 22 and the independents 16.

Summary: Labour has increased its majority in Swansea and held on to control of Neath Port Talbot council.


Captain Jerry Kyd hailed a "truly seminal moment for Scotland" as he took command of the future flagship at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife. The 65,000 tonne ship will be based at Portsmouth Naval Base HMS Queen Elizabeth is one of the largest surface warships ever constructed for the UK. A second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is still under construction in Rosyth. Captain Kyd said the Queen Elizabeth will be tasked with "protecting British maritime power around the world wherever the government needs it". He said maritime warfare has "changed very little" since the Battle of Jutland, 100 years ago next week, when Royal Navy battle cruisers set out to enforce a British blockade during the First World War. But the Queen Elizabeth will be equipped to deal with future threats, including unmanned aircraft, robotics and cyber attacks. He added: "As a naval officer I always want more ships and more aircraft carriers, but I can't see in the foreseeable future two more ships of this scale being built in the United Kingdom".

Summary: The new commanding officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth has taken control of what he expects to be one of the last major aircraft carriers built in the UK.


Top-flight Boro took the lead in the ninth minute as David Nugent headed in debutant Fabio's back post cross. Cauley Woodrow was denied by Brad Guzan for the hosts shortly after before Julien de Sart inadvertently deflected Scott Malone's strike into his own net. With penalties looming, Lasse Vigen Christensen turned in Malone's low cross for a place in round three. The Whites will take on Bristol City in round three. Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic: "I never had any plan to leave Fulham. "If I complain about something it is because I want the best for my team, my team-mates, the supporters too and I was very clear what is my opinion about this situation and that is it. "I am still in the same position and believe we need more people to be stronger in the future." Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka: "I'm disappointed because I said before the game this trophy is very important for the club. "I have to apologise to our crowd because they came here midweek and it's an important trophy for this club, we respect this trophy a lot. So this has been difficult." Match ends, Fulham 2, Middlesbrough 1. Second Half Extra Time ends, Fulham 2, Middlesbrough 1. Foul by Matt Smith (Fulham). Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt saved. Alex Baptiste (Middlesbrough) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Jesse Joronen (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by David Nugent (Middlesbrough). Attempt blocked. Julien de Sart (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Goal! Fulham 2, Middlesbrough 1. Lasse Vigen Christensen (Fulham) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott Malone. Attempt missed. Julien de Sart (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Attempt blocked. Julien de Sart (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Delay in match Tayo Edun (Fulham) because of an injury. Second Half Extra Time begins Fulham 1, Middlesbrough 1. First Half Extra Time ends, Fulham 1, Middlesbrough 1. Attempt blocked. Sean Kavanagh (Fulham) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Attempt saved. David Nugent (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Substitution, Fulham. Luca De La Torre replaces Jozabed. Attempt missed. Matt Smith (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Attempt saved. Jozabed (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt blocked. Adam Forshaw (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Foul by Matt Smith (Fulham). Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Fulham. Matt Smith replaces Cauley Woodrow. Delay in match Cauley Woodrow (Fulham) because of an injury. Attempt missed. David Nugent (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. First Half

Summary: Championship side Fulham came from behind to knock out Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup second-round.


Tom Cairney earlier saw another spot-kick saved by QPR keeper Alex Smithies, before Conor Washington's deflected shot put the visitors ahead. Tim Ream deservedly drilled level straight after half-time for Fulham, who saw Aluko miss several chances. Idrissa Sylla's header restored QPR's lead late on before Aluko's miss after a foul on Jozabed Sanchez Ruiz. The Spanish midfielder also hit the bar with a free-kick for the hosts in stoppage time, as Fulham undeservedly saw their winless run extended to seven matches in all competitions. Chris Martin had stumbled in front of an open QPR goal before the break and Neeskens Kebano also missed a clear headed chance in the second half. Victory for QPR, whose boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is the subject of an internal club investigation after being named in a Daily Telegraph investigation into corruption in football, but denies any wrongdoing, was their first in six Championship games. Their opening goal came against the run of play, after Smithies had kept them level with a superb save from Fulham's first penalty, awarded after Steven Caulker held Ragnar Sigurdsson in the box. But their winner came after their best spell of pressure, Sylla heading in from Tjaronn Chery's fine cross. QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told BBC Sport: "It's been a very difficult few days, my lawyers and staff are waiting for the transcripts so we can help with the investigation for the club, we want to resolve it as soon as possible but coming here, preparing the boys, delivering that display, all credit it to them. "With all the setbacks, it feels like we are fighting everybody. You know what has happened in the last few days, we are fighting the referees with the strange decisions and we are fighting the public. "That penalty in the last couple of minutes is just ridiculous. The player (Nedum Onuoha) did not even touch (Jozabed), not even close. So at the moment, it feels like I'm fighting everybody. Now we have got the international break I can now concentrate on my family and give my family my love." Asked how confident he is that he will clear his name: "I don't want to say too much. I've said what I needed to say I can't say too much but if you have seen my interview then you know how confident I am." Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic: "It's very frustrating, we couldn't be clinical in the opposite box, we weren't solid in our box. "It was a strange game. At the end of the game only the result is important. I accept my responsibility as we didn't win any points. "Our solution is stick together, be organised, disciplined, still more solid in defence because we didn't concentrate that solidly." Match ends, Fulham 1, Queens Park Rangers 2. Second Half ends, Fulham 1, Queens Park Rangers 2. Penalty missed! Still Fulham 1, Queens Park Rangers 2. Sone Aluko (Fulham) hits the right post with a left footed shot. Idrissa Sylla (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card. Penalty Fulham. Jozabed draws a foul

Summary: Fulham's Sone Aluko hit the post with a last-gasp penalty as QPR held on to win an enthralling west London derby.


Stenson won his first major on Sunday with a record-low total at Royal Troon. Compatriot Ibrahimovic, 34, is one of sport's most iconic figures and has won trophies in Spain, Italy and France. "I think I said I needed to win 10 majors to get up to his recognition," said Stenson, 40. "Maybe five will do it. We'll see! One at a time." Ibrahimovic recently signed for Manchester United after scoring 50 goals in 51 matches for French champions Paris St-Germain last season. He also won 12 trophies in four seasons with the French club. Stenson has little time to savour his Open win given the fourth major of the year, the USPGA Championship, starts at Baltusrol on 28 July. "This is huge back home and it has been quite chaotic with all the media, but it's all good and I'm just going to try to recharge," he said. The world's top four players - Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson - have all withdrawn from next month's Rio Olympics. They have cited concerns over the Zika virus, which has been linked to defects in newborn babies and also found to cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that leads to temporary paralysis in adults. Stenson, now fifth in the world rankings, said he is looking forward to competing in Rio in what is golf's first appearance at the Olympics for 112 years. "I'm a huge sporting fan in general and to see an Olympic Games from the inside and participate is going to be huge," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "If I can do myself and my country proud by bringing home a medal, that would be awesome. I've got a Claret Jug now and any Olympic medal would be quite nice to put next to it in the trophy cabinet." Media playback is not supported on this device Stenson birdied four of his final five holes at Royal Troon and had 10 in total in a round of 63 to finish three shots clear of American Phil Mickelson. "I was so zoned in the last five holes I didn't know how many birdies I had made in that round," said Stenson. "I was so focused on getting the job done, it was not until I had that birdie putt at the last that I could let go and realise I've done the achievement of my career. "It was just an added bonus for that putt to drop and set a new Open record, but it was all about bringing that Claret Jug home to Sweden and be the first Swedish male to win a major championship. "It's huge and it's going to get better and better with time I'm sure."

Summary: Open champion Henrik Stenson says he may need nine more majors before he can be compared to another Swedish sporting legend - footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.


Two brothers and another man are also said to have sold the animal's feet and eaten some of the meat themselves. Police discovered the panda's skin and 10kg of meat in a raid last December. Panda poaching is extremely rare in China where the endangered animals are seen as a national treasure. The case has caused revulsion on Chinese social media. The brothers, Wang Wenlin and Wang Wencai, are accused by police of shooting the panda dead in Zhaotong in southern Yunnan province. They are said to have sold the meat and the feet for about $750 (Â£492) to another man, Li Kequan, who then resold it to six more people. DNA tests on the meat and skin seized by the police confirmed it was from an adult female panda. The China Daily newspaper published a photo of the animal's pelt and said parts of its skull and gall bladder were also found. A Yunnan court says the investigation into the three men has concluded and they have been remanded for prosecution. There are fewer than 2,000 pandas in the wild in China. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists giant pandas as endangered, but their numbers have almost doubled since the late 1970s. Hunting pandas can lead to a 10-year sentence - or, in what the Chinese government calls "grave circumstances", life imprisonment or even a death sentence can be applied.

Summary: Three men in south-western China accused of selling 35kg (77lb) of meat from a panda they killed are to be prosecuted, a court has announced.


Hayley Court was employed by South Yorkshire Police (SYP) just after the hearings began in 2014. Documents seen by BBC News show she was told a "performance issue" was her "failure" to "redress the imbalance" in the media's reporting of the inquests. SYP said her claims of "unethical practice" were "not substantiated". Ms Court, 30, was taken on as the force's Hillsborough communications specialist with a salary of more than Â£50,000 but has since left. She said when she took the job she had hoped to illustrate the SYP force of 2014, when the inquests began, was not the same as it had been in 1989 - the year of the disaster. But she said "very quickly" she felt like she "had been fed a line". "I felt like I had been told my job would be one thing, but actually it was something very different." She said she felt "very foolish" and "naive". "I felt like I was then part of the problem, which couldn't have been further from what I was trying to achieve by accepting the role in the first place. And I felt that I was letting people down by continuing to be part of it." Ms Court spent around four months doing the job and went daily to the coroner's court in Warrington, Cheshire. But after raising concerns within the force about her role she became ill with anxiety and depression and was signed off work. Her job involved writing daily reports about the hearings, which were sent to former and serving South Yorkshire Police officers, as well as liaising with reporters covering the inquests. Jurors ruled 96 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final had been unlawfully killed. They also criticised SYP's planning for the match and highlighted a catalogue of failures by senior officers on the day. The stadium was also said to have contained "defects" that contributed to the disaster, and Sheffield Wednesday FC and South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service were criticised. The supporters were exonerated of any blame. Ms Court sat in on meetings between South Yorkshire Police's legal team during the inquests. Describing her impression of their approach to the case, she said: "If [SYP] was going to be found partly responsible for what happened, then all the other interested parties should be found partly responsible as well. "And if that meant perpetuating the comments about fans being drunk, if that meant perpetuating comments about fans forcing gates, then that is how they were going to do it. "No-one could have failed to see that SYP was going to be found largely responsible for what happened at Hillsborough, and I think it was more about if there is less responsibility that we can take, then we should seek to make sure that is the outcome." She said she was "surprised" that the force was "still perpetuating this defensiveness", despite issuing an apology for police failures in 2012, more than a year before the inquests began. Ms Court claimed she was repeatedly told to tell the media what "line" they

Summary: A former South Yorkshire Police press officer claimed she was asked to "spin" news during the Hillsborough inquests, the BBC can reveal.


Their new contracts coincide with the duration of Mercedes' own current commitment to F1. In common with the rest of the teams, Mercedes will begin negotiations for beyond 2020 with new owner Liberty Media during this year. Wolff retains his 30% shareholding in the team and Lauda his 10% stake. Team boss Wolff joined Mercedes from Williams in February 2013, and Lauda took up his position in late 2012. The deals conclude a busy winter of off-track activity for Mercedes, who have dominated the sport since the advent of turbo hybrid engines in 2014 with three consecutive world title doubles. Mercedes have signed Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate this season, with the Finn replacing world champion Nico Rosberg, who announced his retirement five days after winning the title last November. Executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe is on gardening leave before his departure from Mercedes and is to join Williams in the coming weeks. Lowe's position as technical boss has been taken by James Allison, who has been given the title technical director, a new role within the team as part of a slight re-alignment of responsibility at the head of the company. Wolff has run the team with Lowe as his right-hand man since the departure of former team principal Ross Brawn at the end of 2013. Dieter Zetsche, the chairman and chief executive officer of Mercedes' parent company Daimler, said: "In 2013, we restructured the management of the team with the clear goal of improving our performance. "Since then, however, the results have exceeded our expectations. A key factor in this success has been the combination of Toto's entrepreneurial skills and Niki's experience. "Their renewed commitment gives our programme important continuity for the next four years." F1 has introduced major regulation changes for this season in an attempt to make the cars faster and more dramatic - and to give the sport greater appeal. The cars are wider with bigger tyres and are expected to be between three and five seconds a lap faster than in 2016. Mercedes' new F1 car will be revealed to the public on Thursday, before the start of pre-season testing three days later. The first 2017 car to be unveiled will be that of Swiss team Sauber on Monday, followed by the Renault on Tuesday, Force India on Wednesday and Ferrari, McLaren and Williams on Friday.

Summary: Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda have signed new deals to stay with the team until the end of 2020.


The incident occurred at around 13:00 (11:00 GMT) on the 4,010m (13,155ft) Lagginhorn mountain. "The five climbers fell several hundred metres. They all died at the scene," a local police statement said. The hikers were descending the Lagginhorn when they fell. Police said it was not yet clear what caused the accident. The BBC's correspondent in Geneva, Imogen Foulkes, says it appears the five were roped together. A sixth climber who had not made the final attempt at the summit, because he felt unwell, raised the alarm immediately. Police said he had been airlifted to safety by helicopter. Police confirmed the hikers were all foreign, but said they would not disclose their nationalities until their families had been informed. Lagginhorn is the lowest of the 4,000-metre chain of mountains in the Alps, about 10km from the Italian border. It is regarded as one of the easier peaks to climb. Weather conditions in the area were said to be relatively good.

Summary: Five foreign climbers have fallen to their deaths in the Valais canton in the Swiss Alps.


On Tuesday, Brazil's Attorney General Rodrigo Janot asked the Supreme Court to authorise an investigation against Ms Rousseff for obstruction of justice. Mr Janot also accused the former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, of involvement in the scandal. Lula has denied any wrongdoing. The allegations were based on evidence given by Senator Delcidio do Amaral, who as part of a plea bargain agreed to testify against other suspects after being arrested last year. President Rousseff described Mr Amaral as a compulsive liar. "The accusations made by Senator Delcidio do Amaral are absolutely irresponsible and above all false," Ms Rousseff told journalists in Brasilia. "He has lied repeatedly since his arrest. He first accused Supreme Court judges. Than he reneged on those comments and he is now accusing me. I believe the Senator's credibility is rather precarious," she said. The allegations come as Ms Rousseff is already under immense political pressure. Senators are expected to vote next week on whether to start an impeachment trial against her over separate allegations. She is accused of illegally manipulating the federal budget ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies. If the Senate votes in favour of the trial going ahead, Mr Rousseff will be suspended for 180 days. Mr Janot also asked the Supreme Court to authorise an investigation into Lula for alleged corruption, accusing the former president of playing a key role in the Petrobras scheme. He said the corruption could not have taken place without the participation of the former leader, who served as Brazilian president between 2003 and 2011. He requested authorisation to investigate Lula and 29 other senior politicians, officials and businessmen. Prosecutors say the corruption scheme is estimated to have cost the company more than $2bn (Â£1.45bn). Part of the money, they say, was used to finance the electoral campaign of top Brazilian politicians. Several politicians, Petrobras executives and businessmen have been arrested and sentenced as part of the two-year investigation. Ms Rousseff served as the head of Petrobras for much of the period when the corruption took place, but she has not been implicated in the scandals.

Summary: Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff says accusations that she tried to block a major corruption investigation into state-owned oil company Petrobras are "false and irresponsible".


What is a customs union and why does it matter? A customs union is a form of trade agreement between two or more countries. It means they decide not to impose tariffs (taxes on imports) on each other's goods and agree to impose common external tariffs on goods from countries outside their customs union. Setting common external tariffs is what distinguishes a customs union from a free trade area. A free trade area allows member states to trade feely with each other while still being able to set their own tariffs on goods from the rest of the world. The purpose of a customs union, like that of other trade agreements, is to make it easier for member states to trade. Customs unions reduce administrative and financial trade barriers (such as customs checks and charges) and enhance economic cooperation. However, they also limit the freedom of their individual members to strike their own trade deals. The European Union is the biggest customs union in the world if you work it out by adding up the economic output of all its members. Article 28 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that all trade in goods between EU countries must be free of customs duties and that member states must apply a common customs tariff for goods imported from outside the EU. That means that all goods that have been imported into an EU country can then be moved freely within the EU without further customs checks. The EU customs union includes the 28 EU member states as well as Monaco. The EU also has customs union agreements - which vary in scope, such as type of goods covered - with Turkey, Andorra and San Marino. So, you do not have to be a member of the EU's single market to be in a customs union with the EU. Norway, on the other hand, is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which gives it access to the single market, but is not in the EU's customs union. In practice, this means that while most goods that originate in Norway can still be traded tariff-free to the rest of the European single market, products coming through Norway into the single market are subject to further checks. There are some customs checks on the border between Norway and Sweden even though they are both part of the single market, to check for products originating outside Norway. A good example of this was the attempts to smuggle garlic into Sweden. The customs union can be seen as one tool to help achieve one of the four freedoms of the EU, namely free trade in goods between member states. The remaining three freedoms - free movement of services, capital and people - help tackle non-tariff barriers, which is vital in boosting trade, particularly in services. Trade in services is arguably more important to the UK than trade in goods, as services make up almost 80% of the UK economy. A customs union would have limited impact on trade in services. The government

Summary: The Financial Times is reporting that Trade Secretary Liam Fox is putting pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to pull out of the EU customs union as part of an eventual deal to leave the European Union.