The Dutchman took over at Stamford Bridge in December after the dismissal of Jose Mourinho. And Mikel told BBC's Match of the Day that the mood at Chelsea is now better. "It's the way he communicates with the players and maybe that's what the players felt they didn't get from the previous manager," he said. "Sometimes players - not just because they're not playing - you need to communicate with them. You need to speak to them and don't just ignore them because players like to be communicated to. "This is what [Hiddink] has brought into the football club. In some ways you barely know he is in there, he is that calm and relaxed." Hiddink, who led Chelsea to FA Cup triumph in 2009, took over with the Blues 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone. They are currently 13th, nine points off the final Champions League place. The Nigerian was linked with a move away from the club last summer but Mourinho reportedly refused to sanction his departure. However, he has become a regular under Hiddink.

Summary: Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi says communication has improved within the team since the arrival of interim manager Guus Hiddink.


The 20-year-old re-signed for the Vixens on loan from Chelsea for the Women's Super League One Spring Series, which begins on 22 April. A Bristol City statement on Wednesday said: "A scan last week confirmed she has ruptured her ACL a few weeks ago." The ex-England Under-19 striker scored 11 goals in all competitions in 2016.

Summary: Bristol City Women forward Mille Farrow is set for a spell on the sidelines after rupturing her anterior cruciate knee ligament in a friendly.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 1 June 2015 Last updated at 22:46 BST Notorious crime boss, Reggie Kray, penned the 215 exchanges to Carol Clerk, the ghost writer of his autobiography, while serving a life sentence in prison. Victoria Irvine, a valuer at McTear's Auctioneers, told BBC Scotland the letters were "fascinating pieces of crime memorabilia".

Summary: A collection of letters described as being "historically important", which were written by one of the UK's most notorious gangsters, are to go under the hammer in Glasgow.


Bauer Media, which operates the main regional franchises, cited a 10% growth in the reach of its Clyde 1 station since last summer. The industry figures, known as RAJAR, reported that April to June saw an annual rise for Clyde 1 to 643,000 listeners for part of the average week. That was the highest share of the radio market since 2004. The total number of hours during which people listened to the station, which covers west central Scotland, was up by nearly 7% to almost five million hours in total. Forth 1, covering east central Scotland, had 366,000 listeners in the average week, up 5%, and representing nearly 18% of listeners in the area. It saw a rise of nearly half in the number of hours of listening. Tay FM had 135,000 listeners, and achieved a market share of 21%, its highest since 2011. There was a similar market share for MFR, based in Inverness, and Westsound, covering south-west Scotland. Graham Bryce, managing director of Bauer City Network, said: "These fantastic results demonstrate our ongoing commitment to, and passion for, local radio across Scotland. "Our station talent, along with our rich heritage of over 40 years in this sector, guarantee an unparalleled understanding of the market which is particularly reassuring for listeners in times of uncertainty. "Continuing to grow our listener figures in such a competitive space is a real achievement and allows our advertisers to access highly-engaged and relevant local audiences." The RAJAR figures were up for Capital and Heart FM stations. The commercial sector has to compete for audiences with the BBC, from which Radio 2 has continued to have the biggest reach in Scotland. The industry figures, based on a continuing survey of a sample of radio listeners, found that BBC Radio Scotland continued to reach more than a fifth of adults in Scotland. At 20.5% of the audience, that means 929,000 listeners in the average week listening for an average of six hours and 14 minutes. The head of Radio Scotland, Jeff Zycinski, said the share of the audience had remained stable, but that "time spent with the station, or hours per listener, seems to have taken a bit of a dip". He linked this to the end of the football season, and said there would be a marketing effort to increase the retention of audiences through the listening day.

Summary: Scotland's main commercial radio broadcaster has welcomed significant increases in listener figures.


Scott Diver, 16, from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, was last seen at home on 17 September. His father, who is also called Scott, said he was not in any trouble and he just wanted to know he was OK. The teenager, who is 5ft 7in tall, with a slim build, dark hair and blue eyes, is said to need regular medication. When Scott last seen, he was wearing a navy blue Adidas tracksuit with light blue stripes down the arms and legs, a white T-shirt and navy Adidas training shoes with grey stripes. Speaking at a police news conference, Mr Diver said: "Scotty, if you see this please get in touch. You are not in any trouble we just want you home or at least let us know you're safe. "All the family are missing you especially me and nana and your family in Isle of Man. "Can I ask anyone who might be helping Scott stay away from home to remember he relies on daily medication which he hasn't had for at least 10 days." Mr Diver added: "Scotty, we love and miss you and want you home. "You can contact us on the missing person's text service on 116 000 through phone or text even if you have no credit." Mr Diver's comments came after police made a public appeal at the weekend in a bid to trace Scott. On Saturday, one week after he went missing, officers carried out a "stop and speak" operation in the teenager's home town. They spoke to about 1,000 people at Clydebank's bus station, shopping centre and near Scott's home. The operation has also seen an air support unit deployed in the area along with a search team. Insp John Mullen said that anyone with information could contact police at a dedicated email address: scottdiverinquiry@scotland.pnn.police.uk He added: "Scott is a vulnerable young boy who has just turned 16. "His family are devastated at his disappearance and I would urge anyone who knows where he is to contact police."

Summary: The father of a vulnerable teenage boy, who has been missing from his home for more than a week, has appealed for him to get in touch.


When two countries agree to a free trade agreement, that does not normally mean the complete free movement of goods and services between their economies, with no taxes, quotas or barriers of any kind. If you think about it that is pretty obvious, for instance in agriculture countries have subsidies for farmers, environmental rules, food standards and a dozen other policies. To ensure free trade of agricultural products all those policies would have to be coordinated, if not exactly the same. This is why the issue of chlorinated chicken is suddenly in the headlines; we don't allow it, the Americans do. It is a barrier to free trade and if we cannot agree on a compromise then any free trade deal between the US and UK will not fully cover trade in chickens. The same can be said about genetically-modified (GM) crops, where America thinks the EU approvals process is far too complicated. And what about agricultural subsidies for farmers? You can be pretty sure farmers on both sides of any free trade deal will argue about whether the other side subsidises its farmers unfairly, well, until the cows come home. It is not just agriculture that is affected, removing tariffs on manufactured goods is normally considered the easy part of any trade deal, but what about chemical regulations, car safety and drug testing, to name just three examples? The reason that free trade deals involve years of talks, dozens of expert negotiators, and endless meetings on technical details is because such issues are very complicated and involve a host of issues. In the end they tend to come down to a trade off. The proposed free trade deal between the EU and Japan has, for example, been described as a "cars for cheese" deal. It's an over simplification, but the fact is a major part of the deal is that the EU will allow cars made in Japan to be sold in the EU more easily, and the Japanese will reduce tariffs on European cheeses (and other dairy products). That doesn't sound like much but it is important. Many Japanese carmakers have plants in Europe precisely because it used to be difficult for them to sell Japanese built cars there, as they had to pay a 10% tariff. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has had some of the highest agricultural subsides, tariffs and other barriers, because it has long sought to protect its inefficient farmers. Both sides will win easier access to each others markets, but it is still not totally free trade. For instance some cheeses will be covered by quotas (a limit on how much can be exported to Japan), and car tariffs will take years to totally come down. More from the BBC's series taking an international perspective on trade: Is time up for plain vanilla flavour ice creams? What makes this Kate Spade bag unusual? Where's hot? This summer's most popular holiday spots Read more global trade series here. Also non-tariff barriers are still an important factor in limiting trade. So Japan and the UK, for instance, have

Summary: Ahead of its exit from the European Union, the UK is currently negotiating to secure free trade agreements with several countries, but what does this kind of deal actually mean?


Sales rose 21% in the third quarter giving the company €723m (£522m) in revenue, a 9% rise from last year. Fiat Chrysler, which sold 10% of its stake in Ferrari to New York investors last week also released results. Shares fell 3.5% after it said it made significant losses stemming from what the company called a "recall environment". The world's 7th largest car company reported a net loss of €299m despite growing sales of Jeeps globally. Fiat Chrysler did manage to boost earning 35% to €1.3bn from €968m the previous year. Fiat Chrysler confirmed its revised earnings forecast which it raised at the end of the second quarter. The sale of Ferrari helped secure this increase. Ferrari said it expects deliveries to reach 7,700 vehicles by year end.

Summary: Luxury carmaker Ferrari reported a jump in profit in the third quarter boosted by higher sales.


The Welshman, 31, led Team Sky in the Giro in May, but his hopes were ended when a police motorbike caused a crash on the Blockhaus climb on stage nine. Thomas was forced to withdraw from the race, but he is fit to support Chris Froome's bid for a fourth Tour title. The Tour, which begins in Dusseldorf in Germany, runs from 1-23 July. Spaniard Mikel Landa, who was also involved in the crash at the Giro but recovered to finish 17th, is also in the squad. Britons Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh are notable omissions, along with Wout Poels. Dutchman Poels, who played a major role in Froome's victory 12 months ago, suffered a significant knee injury in February and only returned to race at the Route du Sud earlier this month. Stannard and Kennaugh were both in the Sky team in the traditional Tour warm-up race, the Criterium du Dauphine, but have been overlooked in the final selection. That means there are three Britons in the squad, with Froome and Thomas joined by road captain Luke Rowe. Froome is aiming to win the Tour for a third straight year, and fourth overall, following victories in 2013, 2015 and 2016. "We're ready as a team and I can't wait for the Tour to start now," said the 32-year-old. "Honestly, I just love it. It's a feeling that you don't get from any other race." Team: Chris Froome, Sergio Henao, Vasil Kiryienka, Christian Knees, Michal Kwiatkowski, Mikel Landa, Mikel Nieve, Luke Rowe, Geraint Thomas.

Summary: Geraint Thomas has recovered from the injuries he sustained at the Giro d'Italia to be named in Team Sky's squad for next month's Tour de France.


An internal inquiry found 30 teams worked for more than two years to try to ensure a conservative candidate won. Park Geun-hye did beat liberal Moon Jae-in, but she is now facing trial for corruption and abuse of power and Mr Moon has replaced her. Former spy chief Won Sei-hoon is currently on trial for a second time for trying to manipulate the election. He was sentenced to three years in jail in 2015. The conviction was overturned on appeal and the new trial was ordered. The in-house investigators at the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said the agency had hired internet experts to try to sway public opinion through social media postings. The operation was intended to ensure that outgoing President Lee Myung-bak was succeeded by another conservative. Ms Park won by a narrow margin. "The teams were charged with spreading pro-government opinions and suppressing anti-government views, branding them as attempts by pro-North Korean forces' to disturb state affairs," the investigating team said. It also found that the NIS had tried to influence parliamentary elections in 2011 and 2012, as well as placing some opposition politicians under surveillance. The new president has vowed to reform the NIS, and the new spy agency chief has pledged to end any involvement in domestic politics. However, a spokesman for Ms Park's party said the inquiry itself showed the NIS continued to interfere. The spokesman, Kang Hyo-sang, said: "The NIS says it will dissociate itself from politics but it is meddling in politics again by starting this probe." Ms Park was charged in April with bribery, coercion, abuse of power and leaking state secrets. She is accused of allowing close friend Choi Soon-sil to extort money from companies in return for political favours. She denies the charges.

Summary: South Korea's spy agency has admitted it tried to manipulate the result of the 2012 presidential election.


Emergency services told the AFP news agency that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device. It occurred at the Malkohi camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) on the outskirts of Yola in Adamawa state. Yola has been seen as a relative safe place for those fleeing the violence. The BBC's Chris Ewokor in Abuja says this is the first attack on a camp for IDPs in the north-east. The explosion happened in a warehouse, emergency services say. There are reportedly more than 1,000 children in the camp. Two million people have been forced from their homes since the militants launched their insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria in 2009. According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Although the militants have been forced out most of the territory they had seized, they are still active and there has been an upsurge in suicide attacks since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May. Teaching Boko Haram militants to play football Who are Boko Haram?

Summary: At least three people have died when a bomb exploded at a camp in north-eastern Nigeria for people who have fled their homes because of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency.


Labour asked for the data to be released to Parliament. The government blamed "unacceptably lax" contracts that allow staff to re-join the NHS a month after redundancy. It says it's working on tough new plans to cap payouts, and has reduced administrative posts overall. Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said it would be galling for nurses who were battling over pay to see, as he put it, cheques handed out like confetti. Auditors have previously reported that the average payout was £43,000. The number of national health service staff estimated to have been made redundant and later re-employed almost doubled in the last year - from 2,200 managers - Ministerial responses to Parliamentary Questions have revealed. The total now stands at 3,950. Overall, more than 10,000 full-time workers were made redundant from the NHS in England since the restructuring of the service. Changes introduced in April 2013 have seen 150 primary care trusts, run by managers, replaced with 211 clinical commissioning groups, led by family doctors. Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said: "By reducing managers and administrators by over 21,100, we are freeing up extra resources for patient care - £5.5 billion in this Parliament and £1.5 billion every year thereafter."

Summary: New figures indicate that almost 4,000 staff made redundant from the NHS in England, before last year's major restructuring, have since been re-employed.


Wednesday's win for the Asian champions from South Korea means they claim fifth place in Japan ahead of Sundowns. Kim Bo-kyung, Lee Jong-ho and an own-goal from Ricardo Nascimento gave Jeonbuk a 3-0 lead before half-time. Percy Tau scored for Sundowns early in the second half before Kim Shin-wook's header sealed the win. Sundowns lost to Japanese champions Kashima Antlers 2-0 in their other game on their debut at the tournament on Sunday.

Summary: African Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa lost again at the Club World Cup going down 4-1 to Jeonbuk Motors in Osaka.


The huge red crane crashed into a part of the Grand Mosque as it was filled with worshippers, less than two weeks before the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Officials say strong winds and heavy rains caused the crane to fall. Correspondents say there have previously been concerns about safety on Saudi construction sites. The Grand Mosque, known as the Masjid al-Haram, is the largest mosque in the world and surrounds Islam's holiest place, the Kaaba. At least 230 people were injured in the incident. It is unclear how many people were hurt by the collapse or the stampede that followed it. Those killed are reported to include Indonesian, Indian, Iranian and Egyptian citizens. The incident happened at 17:23 local time (14:23 GMT) on Friday. Videos posted online showed the moment the structure collapsed, with a loud crash followed by panic and shouting. Bodies and blood could be seen on the floor of the mosque. The head of Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency, Lt Sulayman Bin-Abdullah al-Amr, said an investigation was being carried out to assess the damage, and the "extent of the safety of these sites". Essam al-Ghalib, a Jeddah-based journalist, said the crane fell through the outer ring of the Grand Mosque and punctured through the roof sending down tonnes of cement and debris onto people either praying or walking through. Up to two million people are expected to arrive in Mecca for the Hajj from all over the world later this month. Saudi officials say the crane disaster will not prevent the Hajj going ahead. Irfan Al-Alawi, from the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, told the BBC that the Grand Mosque is currently surrounded by 15 large cranes amid major redevelopment work. "The entire area is like a salvage yard," Mr Al-Alawi said. "Saudi Arabia has to re-think its health and safety strategy," he said, "as there were 800,000 people in the mosque area at the time of the accident." The original parts of the Grand Mosque date back 1,400 years. Consisting of a large square surrounded by covered prayer areas, the building has since been extensively modernised, notably from the mid-20th Century. Saudi authorities began a major expansion of the site last year to increase the area of the mosque by 400,000 square metres (4.3 million square feet), to allow it to accommodate up to 2.2 million people at once.

Summary: Saudi Arabia has begun an investigation into why a crane collapsed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, killing at least 107 people.


Sadie Hartley, 60, was stunned with a cattle prod and stabbed at her home in Helmshore, Lancashire, in January. Preston Crown Court heard Sarah Williams, 35, exchanged naked photographs with Ms Hartley's partner Ian Johnston in the weeks prior to the death. Ms Williams denies murder. The court has heard Ms Williams was obsessed by Mr Johnston, 57, and "eliminated" Ms Hartley with the help of Katrina Walsh, 56, who also denies murder, when he refused to leave her. Mr Johnston, who had been in an "intermittent", "intimate" relationship with communications director Ms Hartley, began a sexual relationship with Ms Williams after they met in December 2012. The former firefighter told Ms Williams the relationship was over months later, he said, but she kept contacting him in person or by text and even sent an anonymous letter to Ms Hartley, boasting the sender had had "fantastic" sex with Mr Johnston. John McDermott, prosecuting, said Mr Johnston and Ms Williams exchanged naked photographs on 3, 4 and 5 December last year. Mr Johnston said he didn't block the messages and responded "in kind" to Ms Williams' messages. But he told the prosecutor he did not seek to rekindle the relationship and was "distraught" when he read the texts the next day. There were further similar exchanges between the pair on Christmas Day, and again 10 days before the murder, Mr McDermott told the court. Mr Johnston had been in Switzerland when the messages in January were sent, the court heard. Mr McDermott asked: "What were your intentions with Sarah Williams once you would return to this country?" Mr Johnston said: "Nothing at all. I can't recall half the text messages." Ms Williams and riding instructor Katrina Walsh, 56, of Hare Lane, Chester, both deny murder. Walsh is said to have played a key role in helping her friend to "eliminate" her love rival. The trial continues.

Summary: The partner of a woman killed with "demonic savagery" exchanged explicit texts and photos with the woman accused of her murder, a court has heard.


The star, who had a string of pop hits in the 1960s before presenting TV shows like Blind Date and Surprise Surprise in the '80s, died on Saturday, aged 72. A book of condolence has been opened in her home city at Liverpool Town Hall. Childhood friend Terry McCann said Black told him she knew she was going to die and her beloved late husband Bobby Willis was "waiting for me". A post-mortem examination has been carried out. The results may not be officially published for several days or possibly weeks, but Spanish police have said the indications point towards natural causes. BBC News correspondent Robert Hall - who is in the resort of Estepona where Black lived - said she was found on her balcony by her son who was staying nearby. He said paramedics arrived at around 18:00 local time (17:00 BST) but were unable to save her. Mr McCann said he had seen the star in Spain during the last year. "I wasn't surprised when I found out she had died," he told BBC News. "The last thing she said to me was she was going blind, she showed me her hands, she had arthritis," he said. "She willed herself to die. She said, 'Bobby's waiting for me.' "Her mother went the same way. I don't know what her mother died of but it seemed she associated it with her mother's death and she just knew it was going to happen. "She just said, 'Look at me, I'm a wreck.' I was trying to cheer her up. She knew something we didn't. "She knew she was going to die and she said she wasn't going to linger like her mother. "Her mother was ill for two years and she had the same complaint and she said she was never going to linger like that." Liverpool City Council say that between 400 and 500 people have so far left messages in a book of condolence at the town hall, where the flag is also flying at half mast. The book will be open to the public until Friday. Fans signing the book on Monday included: Sylvia Lewis (above): "Occasionally I used to work on the cloakroom at the Cavern with her. One Saturday, when I wasn't [working], Cilla was the cloakroom girl. When it came to the end of the evening my coat had gone. Cilla had given it away to somebody else! I met Cilla at the Pride of Britain Awards every year and she always used to come up to me and say 'Girl, do you remember your coat? And we never found it, did we?'" Ann Stalker: "I absolutely love her. She was an icon from my era. I just wanted to pay my respects. I wrote: 'Ta-ra Cilla. You were a credit to us all. Rest in peace.'" Cheryl McFarlane: "She's somebody I remember so much and love very much. She's got a beautiful family and she was so wonderful to Liverpool. I just wanted to come and visit and say rest in peace." Since Black's

Summary: Cilla Black was ailing and "willed herself to die", according to a long-time friend.


Media playback is not supported on this device Darren Lyon lashed in a surprise opener for Accies with a superb 25-yarder. But the visitors left the impressive Mark O'Hara unmarked to side-foot home Danny Williams' corner minutes later. Darian MacKinnon missed a sitter on the resumption for Accies, but Rory Loy, Yordi Tejsse and Danny Williams all missed chances to win it for Dundee. The visitors might have snatched victory in the final moments but Michael Devlin's header was cleared off the line. Dundee, having played a game more, are level at the top with Rangers - who host Motherwell on Saturday - and St Johnstone, who face Celtic in Saturday's early kick-off. The hosts dominated in the first half but couldn't find a second goal and it was the same story after the break as they were unable to make their chances tell. Hamilton got off to a great start when right-back Lyon sent a stunning drive past Dundee keeper Scott Bain into the top corner. Media playback is not supported on this device It was his first for the club and the 21-year-old will do well to top that strike, however long he plays the game. But Accies were unable to build on it. Manager Martin Canning said prior to kick-off he hopes to complete the signing of former Partick Thistle defender Dan Seaborne over the weekend and you could see why he was so anxious. Four minutes later, atrocious defending at a corner left O'Hara in acres of space to level with his second goal in six days. The former Kilmarnock youngster, switched from defence to a more advanced midfield role by Dundee boss Paul Hartley, also scored against Rangers last weekend and impressed again here. Faissal El Bakhtaoui, on his first league start for Dundee, showed enough flashes with his touch and link-up play to suggest the former Dunfermline striker can make the step up from League One. Hamilton were nearly undone at another set piece after 38 minutes when Darren O'Dea steered his header from a Williams free-kick just wide of the target. But whatever Canning said to his players during the interval certainly seemed to have a positive impact. The visitors were much more impressive going forward in the second half with Louis Longridge causing problems down the left flank. Unfortunately for Accies the end product wasn't clinical enough when they got within range of the Dundee goal, never more so than in the 49th minute after a great bit of link-up play through the middle. Alex D'Acol fed in Darian MacKinnon behind the home backline but with only the goalkeeper to beat, the midfielder slid the ball agonisingly wide of the target from just eight yards. Dundee were a shadow of the team that had dominated before the break but they still had a couple of decent chances of their own to win the game. Loy forced Reni Matthews into a brilliant reaction save before substitute Teisse headed well wide from another Williams corner. But it was Hamilton who came closest to winning it as

Summary: Dundee moved joint top of the Scottish Premiership table but missed a chance to go two points clear as they were held at home by Hamilton.


Benzema is being investigated for his part in an alleged plot to blackmail France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena. The Real Madrid player - who denies wrongdoing - was not allowed to contact Valbuena, meaning they could not be in the same squad, but an appeals court has partially lifted some restrictions. However Benzema, who is injured, was suspended from France duty in December. That ban was due to stand until the end of court proceedings. An investigating judge last month lifted the order keeping Benzema and Lyon playmaker Valbuena apart, but the prosecutor appealed. That was dismissed on Friday. Benzema's lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, described the decision as "a first step". The 28-year-old forward faces preliminary charges of conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion scam over a sex tape involving Valbuena. If found guilty, he could face a minimum of five years in prison. According to French media, Benzema mentioned a sex tape to Valbuena, 31, during a national team training session at Clairefontaine on 5 October. Benzema told police he was advising a friend about what to do in a difficult situation. But he could face charges for complicity in attempted blackmail and participation in a criminal conspiracy.

Summary: Striker Karim Benzema will be eligible to play for France at Euro 2016 after some legal restrictions were lifted.


Jarvis, 29, has won 17 caps for Wales and last played in the Six Nations win over Italy in March 2016. James, who will miss the first match of the three-Test series against the world champions in Auckland, has not recovered as quickly as hoped, but remains with the squad. Wales have lost 26 matches against the All Blacks since beating them in 1953. James is also likely to miss the game against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Tuesday, 14 June. Jarvis, who is joining French Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne from Ospreys, will arrive on Wednesday morning in New Zealand. The Exeter-born player graduated to professional rugby via the Bath academy, and played for England Under-16s and U19s. But he successfully pursued Wales honours via Ospreys, having been eligible because of his Merthyr Tydfil-born grandmother. He has started six Wales games, coming off the bench for the remainder of his caps.

Summary: Tight-head prop Aaron Jarvis is flying to New Zealand to join Wales as cover for Paul James, who has a calf injury.


Fathi Zeidan, nicknamed "Zorro", was the Fatah movement's security chief in the Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which occurred in nearby Ein el-Hilweh camp. However, Fatah gunmen have recently been involved in clashes with rival factions in Ein el-Hillweh. One man was killed earlier this month when one dispute escalated. Lebanese security officials say the bomb that killed Mr Zeidan was placed inside his car and he would have died instantly. About 450,000 Palestinians are registered with the UN as refugees in Lebanon, and most live in 12 official camps that mainly fall outside the jurisdiction of the Lebanese security services.

Summary: A local Palestinian official has been killed in a car bomb explosion near the south Lebanese port city of Sidon, Lebanese security officials say.


The first minister's spokesman said "differences remain". The two leaders agreed to hold further talks. The meeting came after Labour AMs voted against a Plaid Cymru assembly motion to support "full membership" of the EU's single market. Labour had sided with UKIP and the Tories in the vote on Wednesday night. Plaid said the move by Labour amounted to support for a so-called "hard Brexit". But Mr Jones said he had consistently called for the UK to retain "access" to the market since the referendum result. The two parties are already involved in discussions over the budget, powers for the assembly and legislation - part of a deal allowing Labour to regain power after May's election. But there have been angry exchanges between their parties since Wales voted to Leave, with Plaid accusing the first minister of changing his position on what should happen next. The single market is Europe's tariff-free trading area. Mr Jones and Ms Wood campaigned side-by-side for a Remain vote in June's referendum. The first minister's spokesman said: "Differences remain between the two leaders and their respective parties, but both have agreed to discuss further the challenges Wales faces."

Summary: Carwyn Jones met Leanne Wood to discuss Brexit on Thursday, after their parties clashed over the Welsh Government's response to the EU referendum.


With those words, marking the killing of PC Keith Palmer, deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle reminded us that Parliament isn't just about the politicians. For many MPs, caught in the Commons chamber as Wednesday's attack began, their first thoughts were for their staff in other parts of the parliamentary estate. The police put the Palace of Westminster in lockdown as firearms officers began a sweep of the area. Plaid Cymru MP's assistant Rhian Medi Roberts told was separated from her two-year-old son Owain for "a good couple of hours" during the lockdown. Owain was kept with other children in the parliamentary nursery - in a corridor away from windows - while Ms Roberts was told to stay in the Plaid Cymru office in the Norman Shaw buildings. "I rushed over to the nursery as soon as we were 'freed'," said Rhian. "But I knew him to be safe, and would be happy with his friends and carers, who were fantastic. "Also, I knew from the constant email updates from the nursery that they fed the children a lovely dinner, which they would enjoy." Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns had been in a meeting with the prime minister only moments before the attack. He was told to stay in his ministerial office and not to move. Labour MP Mark Tami was locked in the Commons chamber. He said the scariest moment had been when a police marksman jumped through the door to the Members' Lobby as part of the sweep of the estate. Liberal Democrat Lord Roberts of Llandudno said he was "old enough [81] to have had a good cry" about the attack. He was among peers allowed to visit the Commons canteen before the lockdown was over. Others were evacuated to Westminster Abbey, where they were briefed by police. Wales Office Minister Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth tweeted: "Senseless atrocity. Unspeakable and condemned by all faiths." On Thursday, the mood in Parliament is sombre but defiant. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mark Williams said: "It's an incredibly sombre, quieter and reflective place. I've just come back from the chamber where we had our daily prayers, and prayers that perhaps normally aren't exactly packed, the place was packed. "And the mood of the house, is heartfelt sadness and extending our condolences to PC Palmer who was defending this place and defending democracy - and paid a tragic price."

Summary: "We're in a village and our village policeman has been murdered."


The 26-year-old beat Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and fellow American Michael Thompson by one shot at a foggy Olympic Club in San Francisco. Simpson shot 68 to set the target at one over and watched as 2010 champion McDowell missed a 25ft putt to force a play-off on the 18th. Lee Westwood took 73 for five over, while Tiger Woods (73) was seven over. Clubhouse scores in full Simpson, who climbs to fifth in the world, becomes the 15th different major winner in a row, the ninth straight first-time winner and the third consecutive American to win one of golf's grand slam events. "I've never felt nerves like I felt today," said Simpson, who was pipped to the US money list title by England's Luke Donald last year. "I had to hit my legs because I couldn't feel them. "I probably prayed more the last three holes than I ever did in my life." Starting the final day four shots behind co-leaders McDowell and Jim Furyk, Simpson made his move with a spell of four birdies in five holes from the sixth. Parring his way home, he bettered the clubhouse mark of first-round leader Thompson, who shot 67, and took the outright lead when Furyk, who had been in front all day and led by two at one stage, bogeyed 16. Both 2003 champion Furyk and McDowell had a chance to force an 18-hole play-off on Monday, but the 42-year-old American finished with another bogey via the left bunker on 18 for a 74 to end two back and McDowell could only make par for a 73. "It was grind and a slog, but I'll be back," said the 32-year-old McDowell, who had hoped to make it three Northern Irish wins in a row following Rory McIlroy's success last June. "There's a mixture of emotions inside me right now, disappointment, deflation, pride but mostly just frustration." Furyk, whose hooked drive on the par-five 16th sparked his downfall, said: "I don't know how to put that one into words, but I had my opportunities and my chances and it was right there. "On that back nine, it was my tournament to win. I've only got myself to blame." Ireland's Padraig Harrington put up a serious challenge for a fourth major title and first since 2008 with a run of five birdies in 11 holes. But needing a birdie at the last to join Thompson, he ran up a bogey five after finding sand with his approach and ended with a 68 to finish three over. Americans David Toms (68), John Peterson (70) and Jason Dufner (70) also finished three over with 1994 and 1997 US Open winner Ernie Els on four over. The South African, who was third to McDowell at Pebble Beach, was one stroke off the lead after 15 but bogeyed the 16th and 18th for a 72. We shouldn't be too surprised at Simpson's victory. Twice a winner of big tournaments on the PGA Tour last year he is part of the wave of younger American players which shows that

Summary: American Webb Simpson clinched his maiden major title with victory on an absorbing final day of the US Open.


Negotiators have been accused by charities and NGOs of not moving fast enough at interim talks in Germany. Countries are working towards options to limit greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 ahead of a crunch December summit. But the UN said progress had been made in streamlining the text of a new agreement. The climate talks in Bonn are designed to pave the way towards the signing of a new deal in Paris at the end of the year that will shape the world's actions over climate change for decades to come. On Wednesday, Christian Aid said there was a danger of ''sleepwalking into Paris''. ''There has been too much time spent fiddling around with the unimportant details of the text,'' said the charity's senior climate change adviser, Mohamed Adow. ''Negotiators have acted like schoolchildren colouring in their homework timetable and not getting round to any actual homework.'' He said negotiations must deliver ''a robust text soon otherwise they will cause further unacceptable delays and result in countries sleepwalking into Paris''. Momentum is building towards the UN climate summit in Paris. Key sticking points include finance to help developing countries adapt to climate change and agreeing on immediate and binding targets for carbon emissions. But negotiating time is running out with only around 10 days' worth of negotiations remaining after the Bonn talks close. On Wednesday, countries discussed new draft text for the agreement designed to boost climate action in the short term. A network of NGOs known as the Climate Action Network said there were ''solid suggestions for delivering near-term action that will be up for decision in Paris''. ''Parties have moved forwards to consolidate the draft Paris text here in Bonn, this will help give ministers more clarity and enable them to provide political steer on crunch issues over the coming months,'' said Jake Schmidt of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Delegates will return to Bonn in August and October for another two rounds of climate talks, before the summit in Paris at the end of the year. Scientists say ambitious action is needed to avert the most severe impacts of climate change. So far, more than 30 countries have pledged to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, with around 150 smaller countries yet to set goals. Analysis suggests these do not go far enough to keep global warming below 2C.

Summary: International talks towards a new global climate deal are due to end on Thursday, amid concern that progress has been slow.


Bahman Daroshafaei, who has dual British and Iranian citizenship, was arrested at his home in Tehran on 3 February on unspecified charges. One friend told the Reuters news agency that his release on Tuesday "was a surprise to him". Mr Daroshafaei has been working as a translator since leaving BBC Persian around two years ago. His family said that his passport had been seized after he returned to Iran. Since then, he had been questioned dozens of times by the intelligence ministry about his activities as a journalist, the news website Iranwire reported. A Twitter campaign run by his friends and colleagues, @FreeBahman, posted a photograph of Mr Daroshafaei standing outside Tehran's Evin prison on Tuesday. "Good news: Bahman has been released on bail," said the caption. In November, two prominent journalists were arrested as part of what appeared to be a crackdown on writers, artists and other cultural figures in Iran. Isa Saharkhiz and Ehsun Mazandarani have been accused of acting against national security. The previous month, poets Fatemeh Ekhtesari and Mehdi Mousavi and filmmaker Keywan Karimi were handed lengthy prison terms by a court after being convicted of charges including "insulting sanctities and propaganda against the state".

Summary: A former BBC Persian journalist detained in Iran has been released from prison on bail, his friends say.


The official is said to have acted as a CIA contact at the US embassy, reports say, in a scandal that has infuriated German politicians. A German intelligence official was arrested last week on suspicion of spying. An inquiry has also begun into a German defence ministry worker, reports said. "The representative of the US intelligence services at the embassy of the United States of America has been told to leave Germany," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. Analysis by Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, Washington Earlier this week the White House described the partnership between the US and Germany as one built on respect. But no-one likes to be spied on, especially when it's your friend doing the spying. This latest episode is yet another reminder of how American surveillance programmes are causing friction with allies. It's angered many in Germany, where the issue of snooping is historically a very sensitive one, and many are asking: "What? Again?" It wasn't too long ago, after all, that we heard the National Security Agency was spying on Chancellor Merkel's mobile phone. After a review into the surveillance programmes, President Obama promised the US wouldn't spy on its friends overseas. But despite requests to be included, Germany isn't part of a non-spying pact the US has with Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. The White House will want to do all it can to repair any trust issues over this latest incident, so they can work together in other areas - for example, it needs German support for tougher sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. Analysis by Stephen Evans, BBC News, Berlin The request by the German government follows increasing frustration that it has failed to get US assurances that spying would cease on German citizens from Chancellor Merkel down. She was shocked to learn that her mobile phone conversations were secretly being monitored while President Obama was greeting her as a friend on his visit to Berlin. Chancellor Merkel has tried to maintain a balance between condemning America's actions but also maintaining cordial relations. Each revelation has made that balance harder to achieve. This matters because America needs German help on a range of issues from trying to get the world economy out of its difficulties, to finding united Western action on Russia, to dealing with the revelations emanating from Edward Snowden who is currently in Moscow but whom some German lawmakers want to invite to Berlin. The chairman of the Bundestag (parliament) committee overseeing the secret service said the action had been taken because of America's spying on German politicians and its failure to co-operate and provide adequate responses. The US has not denied allegations that a German intelligence agency employee arrested last week was passing secret documents to the US National Security Agency (NSA). However, the latest reports that an employee within the defence ministry was also spying for the US were considered more serious. Although no arrest was made, searches were carried out on Wednesday at the ministry and elsewhere. The US and Germany have been close allies for decades but relations were

Summary: The German government has ordered the expulsion of a CIA official in Berlin in response to two cases of alleged spying by the US.


Mountaineering Scotland and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association have jointly written to Scotland's environment secretary. The Scottish government wants woodland cover to go from 17% to 25% by 2050. It said there would be "appropriate consideration of Scotland's distinctive upland landscapes." Scottish Natural Heritage said Scotland had a low percentage of woodland cover compared with other European countries. A commitment to plant 10,000 extra hectares of trees between now and 2022 was made in the government's draft Climate Plan. But, in an unusual alliance, Mountaineering Scotland and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), said they were concerned about the impact of the Scottish government's forestry targets on wild moorland. The letter states: "Our concern is whether adequate weight is being given to the significant changes this will have on the landscape of Scotland and in particular the dramatic open views and vistas which have come to signify to the outside world that which is unique about our country. "Until a vision and strategy for Scotland's uplands is in place, there is an obvious failure to join up what is required from the land to meet forestry targets and what we might want to keep in terms of internationally rare and valuable landscapes and ecosystems." The two organisations are calling for an urgent policy statement which protects moorlands. Neil Reid, from Mountaineering Scotland, told BBC Scotland: "It is a serious issue for both of us and that's why we have come together in this way. "There are many things we do disagree about, and will continue to disagree about, but the key thing is that we both need a coherent policy and an overall vision for the landscape of Scotland." The group, which represents hill walkers and mountaineers, wants moorland areas to be left untouched as a wild landscape for tourists. Those tourists, they argue, are an important contributor to the local economy. Mr Reid added: "They talk about this landscape, they don't talk about going for miles long wanders through woods. "You can see the hills around you, you see the shape of the landscape and it's also relatively benign for walking across." The two groups have invited the Scottish government to share its thinking on the relative value placed on woodland and moorland. Gamekeeper Bob Connelly said: "Heather heathland is one of the rarer types of habitat in the world. "We, in Britain, have a very large percentage of it and to cover it in trees is just ecological vandalism." Both groups emphasise that they are not opposed to tree planting but that sites have to be well chosen. Ecologist Dr James Fenton, who has written a document called "A Future for Moorland in Scotland" for the SGA, has echoed the calls for moorland protection. He said: "It's disparaged rather than being recognised as important so they'd be quite happy to get rid of our finest landscape. "[We would] lose them by attrition, one bit is lost to trees here or a dam there or a wind farm there and we are just losing our wild, wide open spaces which characterise Scotland, and

Summary: Scotland's "dramatic open views and vistas" could be threatened by plans to increase woodland cover, according to mountaineers and gamekeepers.


United's 2-0 win over Ajax in Stockholm came two days after 22 people were killed by a suicide bomber following a concert at Manchester Arena. The club tweeted a photo of a banner reading: "Manchester - A City United." United manager Jose Mourinho said: "If we could, we would change obviously the people's lives for this cup." Media playback is not supported on this device Manchester-born striker Marcus Rashford said the win was "for you Manchester," while the world's most expensive player Paul Pogba said: "We played for the people who died." Captain Wayne Rooney encouraged people to donate to help the families of the victims; Juan Mata said the players had "focused on the game and to win and to lift the spirit of the town at least for some hours - and we feel proud of that" and midfielder Ander Herrera said: "I want to dedicate this trophy to the victims." He added: "What happened two days ago was horrible. Yesterday morning we were devastated. It was difficult to train but the manager told us the only thing we could do is win this for them, and that is what we have done. "We are just football players but we have an audience so we want to work together for a normal world. This happened in Manchester but everywhere we want to see a united world and fight for peace." Media playback is not supported on this device On an emotional night in Sweden, Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the goals that won the Europa League for the first time in United's history - and with it a place in the group stages of next season's Champions League. Officials considered postponing Wednesday's game following the bombing 48 hours earlier, but it was decided it should go ahead. However, United did cancel their pre-game news conference. United boss Jose Mourinho said: "It is really hard and that is why we didn't want to have a press conference because we had to prepare ourselves to do our job and try to forget events that are obviously much bigger than our job. "But the world goes on. It doesn't stop and we have to do our work. The players put a wall up and stayed isolated from everything and did really well. "I agreed with the decision to play the game, but if we could exchange these lives we would do it immediately. We wouldn't think twice." Media playback is not supported on this device United's victory in Stockholm means they have now won all three of Europe's major competitions, having previously won the Champions League three times - in 1968, 1999 and 2008 - and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1991. The Europa League is their second major trophy of Mourinho's debut season in charge, having also won the League Cup in February. However, the Old Trafford club finished sixth in the Premier League and their Portuguese manager has often appeared frustrated. The former Chelsea boss recently said he has had to work "harder than ever" this campaign and his delight was

Summary: Manchester United dedicated Wednesday's Europa League victory to the victims of Monday's attack in the city, as the club made tributes in their memory.


For years it has been their ritual - women who lost children and husbands in 30 years of armed conflict between the Kurds and the Turkish state. I meet them in Diyarbakir - the final stop of our election trip across Turkey. Age and exhaustion are etched on their faces. One wears a necklace with a picture of her missing children. Another has a bracelet bearing the Kurdish flag. "Turkey doesn't think we Kurds are humans", says Sakine Arat, 80, who lost four sons and one daughter in the fighting. "We've tried all the political parties but none sided with us. Now we've found one - the HDP - that treats us as equals. So we will vote for it." The People's Democratic Party (HDP) is the one to watch in Turkey's election on Sunday. Its roots and support base are Kurdish but it has broadened out, becoming a powerful voice of the Turkish left. Its candidates used to run as independents, winning a handful of seats. But this time, the HDP is a single, united party - and polls show it could cross the 10% threshold to get into parliament, potentially gaining dozens of MPs and depriving Turkey's governing AKP of a majority. That would stop President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from changing the constitution to give himself more powers with an executive presidency - and is one reason why staunch Erdogan opponents are drawn to the HDP. "Turkish soldiers burnt my home four times," says Dilsah Ozgen, 76, who lost her husband and two sons. "I believe in our HDP. We will pass the 10% and drown Erdogan in a flood of votes," she says. There are around 15 million Kurds in Turkey - 20% of the population. For decades they were repressed, their identity denied: "There is no such thing as Kurds; they are simply mountain Turks," was the official refrain. In the 1980s, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was formed, waging a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state, some fighting for greater autonomy, others for independence. Forty-thousand people died. The group is still labelled a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and EU. Peace is fresh. Although conditions for Kurds have improved, the fragile ceasefire has been shaken by clashes as the peace process has stalled and the government has hardened its nationalist rhetoric. Many Kurds who supported the AKP have now shifted allegiance to the HDP. I join a local HDP candidate, Ziya Pir, at a Diyarbakir cultural centre. Around him, supporters play traditional instruments and perform songs in both Kurdish and Turkish, appropriately enough for a candidate who is not actually Kurdish. It epitomises the message of unity, of cultural crossover, that the HDP is trying to spread. "I'm Turkish - from the Black Sea - and initially people asked me: 'Why are you joining a Kurdish party?'" says Mr Pir. "But I told them it is not a Kurdish party; it is Turkish. We want a Turkey in which all people can find themselves". His uncle, Kemal, was a founder of the PKK. But he insists

Summary: Once a week they gather, beneath the same tree in the same park - to remember.


Mole Valley District Council is consulting on plans to move boundaries to allow the building of up to 2,200 homes over the next 13 years. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has now started a campaign called Save Surrey's Countryside. The council said there was insufficient land available in built-up areas for new homes and other development. Andy Smith, from the Surrey branch of the CPRE, said the group was concerned about development around places like Guildford, Reigate and Leatherhead. "These areas have been built and built over the years," he said. "All these towns have expanded to such an extent we have to say enough is enough." Mole Valley District Council said it was is looking at green belt land around the area's towns and larger villages to see if there was potential for development. John Northcott, the councillor responsible for planning, said: "This consultation document does not identify sites for development or suggest land that could be taken out of the green belt. "Instead it sets out a process for reviewing the green belt boundary and we will use the findings of the consultation to help shape our future work."

Summary: A campaign has begun to fight a proposal to remove land from the green belt in Surrey to build housing.


Gary Bennett, 46, of Needwood Road, Bedford, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court to two years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to nine charges of making indecent images of children. Judge Richard Foster told Bennett the children had "suffered the most horrible abuse for your perverted sexual gratification". The court heard how Bennett had begun searching for pictures and videos of children being abused in 2004. Over a ten year period, he amassed a collection of more than 15,000 images, including 302 at the most serious level. His barrister, Natalie Goff, had urged the court to suspend the sentence saying Bennett had begun seeing a counsellor. But Judge Foster told Bennett: "What people like you fail to understand is that this offending has real victims, they are not just pictures on a computer screen." He said the defendant had used a sophisticated method to obtain the images, having gained information from another sex offender. Beverley Cripps, prosecuting, said police had gone to Bennett's home on 12 April 2014 and seized computer equipment, CDs, discs and lists of search terms. She said: "Analysis of the images showed them to be of female children some as young as two. Some of the children involved were visibly upset and crying while being abused." She said in his police interview, Bennett admitted having a sexual interest in children since he was 13. Bennett was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years.

Summary: A paedophile convicted of taking an indecent picture of a child 13 years ago has been jailed for possessing more than 15,000 child abuse images.


The 36-year-old winger announced last month that he would be retiring at the end of the season. Third on Scotland's all-time list with 105 caps, Lamont has made 111 Warriors appearances over two stints, scoring 31 tries. "It would be great to see Sean run in one or two more tries before he finally hangs up his boots," said Townsend. "Sean has shown a real consistency and resilience to get over a couple of major injuries and to continue to play at a really high level. "He'll be one of a very small number of players to have played in every position in the back five. Obviously he played most of his rugby on the wing, but he also performed very well at inside centre when I was an assistant coach with the national team back in 2011. "It was really good to see Sean score that try against Connacht a few weeks ago [in Glasgow's 35-24 win]. You could tell from the players' reaction how much Sean means to them and our supporters loved it. "It was the bonus-point try and a really good finish." With Glasgow 11 points off fourth place with just three games remaining, hopes of reaching the play-offs were virtually extinguished by last weekend's 10-7 loss away to Munster. Lamont, who returned to Glasgow in 2012, has also featured for Rotherham, Northampton Saints and Scarlets over a 17-year period. He made his Scotland debut in 2004 and scored 70 points for his country. "I took a real interest in Sean's game when he was playing at Northampton and started to become a regular in the Scotland team," explained Townsend on the Warriors' website. "Probably as a supporter seeing Sean score two tries against France [in 2006] was a real breakthrough moment, it was a brilliant win for Scotland that day and Sean - with his gloves and blonde hair - was a key part in the victory."

Summary: Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend hopes to see Sean Lamont end his career with a flourish.


Murray, 30, is in the same half of the draw as 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, who he beat in last year's semi-final. Second seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic faces Spain's Marcel Granollers, and is in the same half as nine-time champion Rafael Nadal. The tournament starts at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday. Seventh seed Konta, who is chasing a first win in the Grand Slam event, having lost in round one in the previous two years, is up against the world number 109 from Taiwan. Defending women's champion Garbine Muguruza opens against 2010 winner Francesca Schiavone and could face a semi-final against world number one Angelique Kerber, who starts against Ekaterina Makarova. Romania's world number four Simona Halep, who is battling to be fit after tearing ankle ligaments, starts against Slovakia's Jana Cepelova and is in the same half of the draw as Elina Svitolina, who beat Halep in the Italian Open final last weekend. Petra Kvitova is set to announce later on Friday whether she will play in the French Open, six months after she suffered serious hand injuries when she was stabbed by an intruder in her home, with the Czech drawn against American Julia Boserup. Konta is the only British player in the women's singles after Heather Watson lost 6-0 6-3 to the Netherlands' Richel Hogenkamp in the third round of qualifying on Friday. The 26-year-old has played Hsieh twice before, with the Briton winning their last match in Vancouver in 2013 and Hsieh winning on grass at Eastbourne in the same year. Last year's runner-up Murray has won his two previous meetings with world number 85 Kuznetsov - in the third round of the 2014 US Open and again on hard court in Beijing last year. The other British men in the draw all avoided seeded players. Kyle Edmund, ranked second in Britain and 50 in the world, takes on Portugal's Gastao Elias, who is 75 places below him. Dan Evans plays Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo, while Aljaz Bedene starts against American Ryan Harrison. Former British number one Greg Rusedski Murray has played a bit too much tennis. He got shingles, and all of a sudden he was back on antibiotics leading up to French Open. Physically he is not in the right place. When you are not winning matches, your mental side starts to affect you, so it's a combination of the two areas. I don't expect that much from him. I think his focus will probably be on defending his Wimbledon title. It's going to be a hard one. Halep was the one everyone was looking at as favourite but she has had an ankle injury. If Konta can get her movement on the clay right she has got a shot, the women's event is wide open. BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller Nadal, Djokovic and Dominic Thiem have all been drawn in the other half, but that does not feel especially relevant to Murray just now. He has lost half of his clay matches so far this year and is seeded to face Juan

Summary: World number one Andy Murray will play Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov in the French Open first round while fellow Briton Johanna Konta faces Hsieh Su-wei.


The loggerhead turtle, known as Terri, was found on a beach in Jersey 12 days ago, and has since been treated by the New Era Veterinary Hospital. Terri is currently housed in a special water tank at a fish suppliers, but vets say she needs a warmer climate. Vet Peter Haworth, who launched the campaign, said: "She wants to go free". So far more than £2,500 has been raised by the funding campaign website, but Mr Haworth said they need to hit the total within the next week. He said: "We're not stupid...it's a huge huge amount of money but we were given a very ill animal to try and save." The campaign group Get Terri the Turtle Back Home said there were no direct flights to the Canary Islands until late February, by which point the turtle might have died. The group said chartering a private jet at a cost of £22,000 was "the most reliable way to ensure her a future", and no-one was profiting from the campaign. The turtle's medication expenses have been covered by the New Era Veterinary hospital, while her water temperature has been regulated by The Fresh Fish Company. Mr Haworth said Terri was now "very strong" but "the water depth we can have her in here isn't deep enough to encourage her to eat". Mr Haworth said if the target was not reached they would try to send the turtle to an aquarium in the UK.

Summary: An endangered turtle will fly by private jet to the Canary Islands at a cost of £22,000, if an online fundraising campaign succeeds.


Elgan Varney, aged 32, is accused of raping Hannah Stubbs, who was a student at Keele University. The 22-year-old committed suicide at her home in Stafford in August 2015. She was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, an inquest ruled last month. After her death, her family said Hannah "could well be here today if things had been dealt with differently." Ch Supt Jon Drake of Staffordshire Police said: "After we received the allegation of rape, specially-trained officers conducted an investigation into the incident. "They did their best to support Hannah while the investigation progressed, but tragically, Hannah took her own life. "Following a review by the Crown Prosecution Service, Elgan Varney of Wye Road, Newcastle, was charged with rape." A statement from Hannah's family said: "Hannah's death has left a sense of loss that is impossible to put into words. "We will remember her as a beautiful daughter who loved life, enjoyed spending time with her friends and family and was passionate about helping others. "She is very much missed. We can and do thank all those who tried to reach out to Hannah, her family and friends and those medical professionals and individual staff at Keele University who tried to make a difference."

Summary: A man has been charged with the rape of a student who killed herself while detectives investigated the alleged crime, police say.


Ian "Jacko" Roberts, 54, of Acrefair, near Wrexham, was in Toulouse for the historic 3-0 win against Russia. But on Monday, he will return to hospital for treatment on a tumour in his nasal passage. He said of the game: "The atmosphere was amazing...exceptional." The win means Wales qualified for the second round, with their next game to be played in Paris on Saturday. And Mr Roberts, a father-of-one, said he got to meet former Wales international players turned pundits Robbie Savage and John Hartson, who has had cancer, at his hotel in Toulouse. "I was having a bit of a talk to John Hartson and he was giving me the arm around the shoulder. It was really good," he added. Two weeks ago Mr Roberts finished 12 sessions of chemotherapy and is about to begin radiation treatment. The carpenter and joiner, who sings for Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir, was captured singing the national anthem by Hartson who tweeted the footage before the Russia game. He said it had been brilliant watching the team in France, adding: "Especially after all the years where we have had the heartbreaks, all them times when we failed to qualify. "It was actually the morning of the Andorra game [a Euro 2016 qualifier which Wales won 2-0 in October] I was told I had the tumour in the nasal passage. "For all the winter I didn't know I was coming [to France] until the Wednesday before. "And my friends have all got me tickets. They've all chipped in money for me to come because obviously I've been out of work for a while." Mr Roberts said it has been hard travelling but he has had a great time with his friends, including Gareth Roberts, 55, originally of Bangor but now living in Chester. Mr Roberts said he has met lots of footballers and stars through his singing but it is nice for his son, Thomas, 14, to see him mingling with such big names.

Summary: A football fan who has taken a break from his cancer treatment to follow Wales in France in Euro 2016 said it has been "amazing".


Mourners wore Chelsea and Cambridge United colours to celebrate the life of Tommi Miller, who was eight. Terry met Chelsea fan Tommi last year, and when he was told of the boy's death he volunteered to pay for the service. Tommi was laid to rest near his Cambridge home in a Chelsea-blue casket bearing the club logo. Tommi, who was diagnosed with leukaemia aged three, died last month after a bone marrow transplant proved unsuccessful. More on this and other stories from Cambridgeshire Family friend Tawney Bianca Toogood contacted Terry on Instagram to tell him the boy he had been photographed with had died. When she explained the family could not afford the funeral they wanted for their son, the former England captain got in touch with the funeral parlour and covered the full Â£1,600 costs. Tommi's mother Ruth said she was "overwhelmed" by the gesture and "very proud" the footballer - one of her son's favourite players - remembered him. Most of the arrangements for Tommi's funeral were made by Mrs Toogood's mother Mally Beaver, and sister Chelsea. The families became friends after meeting on the cancer ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. "My father battled leukaemia for just 12 weeks, but Tommi fought it for five years," Mrs Beaver said. "His family found times tough and we did everything we could to help them out." When Tommi died the Beaver family, from the travelling community, reached out to other travellers for help. "Roo and Kevin [Tommi's father] aren't from the community, but everyone took them to their hearts," Mrs Beaver said. Travellers from as far afield as Canada, Australia, Scotland, Lancaster and Harlow raised more than Â£4,000 to help towards "a celebration of Tommi's life". As well as the specially-made casket, Mrs Beaver arranged for 100 blue balloons to be released at the service, and had 100 blue roses brought over from Holland "to make it special for him". The extra money raised will be put towards a headstone for Tommi's grave.

Summary: The football-themed funeral of a boy who died from cancer has taken place after Chelsea captain John Terry paid for it.


There will also be daily reports after each session and contributions from the 5 live F1 team from the second test - as well as a special 5 live season preview show coming from Barcelona on March 3. The 2016 season gets under way on 20 March, with the first race in Melbourne, Australia. Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona - 22-25 February Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona - 1-4 March Ferrari - launched Haas - launched Force India - launched Renault - launched McLaren - launched Mercedes - launched Red Bull - launched Sauber - 1 March Toro Rosso - launched Williams - launched Manor - launched

Summary: You can follow Formula 1 testing on BBC Sport live, with track updates, expert analysis, social media reaction, debate, voting, the latest pictures and more from Barcelona.


Matthew Cryer, 17, from Killamarsh, north Derbyshire, suffered head injuries outside a bar in the beach resort of Laganas in 2008. At the time, Greek police said he died from excessive drinking, but a UK inquest heard evidence he had been attacked and sustained 20 injuries. Lawyers for Matthew's family have now said charges could be imminent. His family has campaigned for justice since his death, and in 2011 police on the Greek island reopened the case. This week, his mother Jo Froud said she had been told that prosecutors are close to charging suspects with exposure to harm. Mrs Froud said if a prosecution went ahead, it would then be for a judge to decide whether the case should go to a trial. "There's still a small possibility that it might not go ahead so we can't get our hopes up just yet," she said. "We have waited for so long now. Over the years we have had to develop patience and the art of compromise. "Matthew will always be missing from our lives and there's nothing we can do about that, but if we can get this court case and what we think is a reasonable kind of justice for him, then we can move forward." An inquest in Chesterfield in 2009 found Matthew was unlawfully killed. A coroner said he had been dragged from inside the nightclub, attacked and allowed to fall down steep steps outside. The coroner at the time criticised Greek authorities saying no attempts were made to find out how Matthew sustained his fatal injuries.

Summary: The family of a teenager who died while on holiday in Zante five years ago are hopeful of a breakthrough in the case.


Wentworth, which was bought by the Beijing-based Reignwood Group in September 2014, has told existing members they must stump up £100,000. Annual fees on top of that are to rise from £8,000 to £16,000. James Wyatt said he and other members faced having to pay "an enormous amount". The Surrey golf club said membership pricing "is a private club matter". Mr Wyatt, who learned of the new fees at a meeting on Tuesday evening, told the BBC: "You'll have to pay a debenture of £100,000 and if you want to join as a new member it'll be £125,000. "A debenture is essentially a loan note with no interest on it, but there was some doubt as to whether we're looking at what we all think a debenture to be, or if it is really just a payment to the owners to fund their purchase and improvements in the club. "On top of that you'll have to pay annual subs of £16,000. "People were completely shocked." He said the debenture scheme and increase in annual subscriptions would come in to force in April 2017. Currently, full members pay a joining fee of £15,000. Despite opposition, one of the club's members - who preferred not to be named - said he welcomed the increase, calling it "fantastic news". He said: "Members for years have been asking for improvements to our courses, facilities and services. "The new investment plans, focused on quality and family, will propel the club forward to become one of the finest golf and country clubs in the world." The golf club is on the Wentworth estate, in the heart of the Surrey stockbroker belt. Its large houses are home to Middle Eastern royalty, international business tycoons, professional golfers and celebrities. The six-figure cost of membership would make Wentworth the UK's most expensive golf club, although some other exclusive venues worldwide reportedly cost more. The BBC asked three other top UK golf clubs - Royal Liverpool, Sandwich Royal St George's and The Belfry - for details of their membership fees. The first two said as private members' clubs they would not disclose the information, while the Belfry revealed the joining fee for the Brabazon course was £2,000, with an annual membership of £3,250. It's unheard of [the cost of the debenture plan], in this country anyway, and unheard of in the whole of Europe I would think, although years ago in the Far East and some clubs in the United States have had this sort of thing. Whether it will work in Wentworth I really don't know. I'd like to see the reaction from the members, because this is a very bold step. The idea, I'm told, is the club wants to have a very good relationship with those who have houses on the estate, but a lot of them are from overseas, from Asia and Russia and other places. It's a jigsaw puzzle at the moment and I wonder how many pieces will fall into place. A spokesman for the Virginia Water-based club said: "We will be discussing our new membership

Summary: One of the UK's most exclusive golf clubs is to start charging £125,000 to new joiners.


Media playback is not supported on this device Jeremy Guscott, Jonathan Davies, Keith Wood and Andy Nicol have 191 Test caps - including 13 for the British and Irish Lions - between them. They will be on your televisions and radios analysing all the action from the 2017 tournament - but we've nabbed them first to find out who they expect to win, and plenty more besides. Media playback is not supported on this device Former England centre Jeremy Guscott: England are the reigning Grand Slam champions and have won 13 out of 13 under Eddie Jones, but being realistic they haven't taken teams apart with amazing attack. It's been very much brutal defence that's been giving them the edge and improved fitness. They may need to produce more than that this year. Ex-Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies: Wales will have to perform better defensively - and more importantly offensively - if they are to be contenders this year. They also need to have more variety in their game. Keith Wood, former Ireland hooker: Ireland are looking very good at the moment. The coaching seems to be a little more flexible than it has been and the team seem more comfortable, with the current gameplan suiting the expanded squad. Former Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol: Scotland are in pretty good shape - they are definitely improving, with a well-balanced team and good coaching. There is confidence throughout the squad after a positive autumn, as well as Glasgow qualifying for the knockout stage in Europe. My target for them is three wins. JG: It's between England and Ireland. England have three home games (and I expect them to win all three), which gives them a slight advantage, but that is countered with having to play Ireland away. Ireland are playing at a tempo and intensity that the rest of the Six Nations haven't reached yet, and I expect them to win the championship. JD: It's got to be Ireland. However, I don't expect them to win the Grand Slam (winning all five of their matches), so bonus points - introduced this year - will be important. KW: I expect Ireland to win. It is the right cycle of games for them, their confidence is high and the provinces are doing well in Europe. They also have a small injury list - notwithstanding Johnny Sexton's absence from the opening weekend - and more strength in depth than before. AN: England and Ireland start as favourites, with not much between them. They meet in the last game in Dublin with home advantage being crucial and probably the difference between the two. The style that England play and their ability to score more tries and points make them my favourites to win the Six Nations on points difference - or bonus points - but with no Grand Slam. Media playback is not supported on this device There are two main changes this year - stricter rules on high tackles and the introduction of bonus points. The former means anyone making contact with the head of an opposition player,

Summary: We have asked four wise old heads what they expect to happen over the next seven weeks in the Six Nations.


The NSA was allowed to collect this information without a warrant thanks to a US law passed in 2008. In a statement it said that an internal review had revealed several problems with the spying programme and its effect on US citizens' privacy. Surveillance experts said the NSA's decision was "very significant". The NSA is not allowed to conduct surveillance within the US but it managed to skirt this restriction thanks to one section of the 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa). This let it grab the phone calls and messages of US citizens which mentioned or otherwise involved people outside the US it was keeping an eye on. The NSA had been widely criticised because using Fisa had meant it had scooped up lots of messages, texts and other material sent by Americans without having to apply for a warrant. In its statement, the NSA said technical limits, privacy problems and the difficulty of carrying out this type of surveillance had driven its decision. It also said it would delete the "vast majority" of data collected via this spying programme. The powers to spy outlined in Fisa were due to be scrutinised this year by the US Congress and are set to be renewed by the end of 2017. Many members of Congress have been critical of the spying effort and politicians were expected to significantly limit its scope during the renewal and review process. The Fisa spying programme has also been criticised by the US Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court, which oversees NSA requests for surveillance warrants. The NSA had defended the Fisa-allowed spying, saying that it had helped it gather "critical" intelligence. Julian Sanchez, a privacy and surveillance expert with the Cato Institute, said the broad reach of Fisa-sanctioned spying had made it a key target of civil liberties campaigners. "Usually you identify a specific individual to scrutinise their content; this was scrutinizing everyone's content to find mentions of an individual," Mr Sanchez told Reuters.

Summary: The US National Security Agency (NSA) is to end surveillance on messages sent by US citizens that mention foreign intelligence targets.


Gul, 32, has not played for his country at one-day level since April 2015. Pakistan face two ODIs against Ireland in Dublin, on 18 and 20 August, before a five-match series against England, starting in Southampton on 24 August. Opening batsman Sami Aslam, 20, who scored two half centuries in the third Test against England last week, received his first call-up. Paceman Hasan Ali, 22, is the other new face in the squad. Gul, who has taken 173 wickets in 126 ODIs, played in Pakistan's World T20 warm-up games in early 2016, but failed to make the final squad. Pakistan ODI squad: Azhar Ali (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmad, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Umar Gul, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz.

Summary: Pakistan have recalled fast bowler Umar Gul for their one-day international series against England and Ireland.


A single parrot bone was discovered in the Baikal region and dates to between 16 and 18 million years ago. It suggests that the birds, which today mainly inhabit tropical and sub-tropical regions, may once have been widespread in Eurasia. It is also the first time a fossil parrot has been found in Asia. The research is published in the journal Biology Letters. The study's author Dr Nikita Zelenkov, from the Borissiak Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, said he was surprised by the discovery. "No-one before has ever found evidence of their presence in Siberia," he said. The researchers discovered the ancient parrot's remains at Tagay Bay in the east of Siberia. "We were excavating all kinds of animals there, and mostly they were rodents, rhinos, cats, hippos and others," said Dr Zelenkov. "But this locality is also interesting because it preserves a rich community of fossil birds. But no exotic birds have been found there before." Dr Zelenkov discovered part of a bone called a tarsometatarsus, which is found in the lower leg of birds. After comparing it with other species, he discovered that it belonged to a small parrot. "Unfortunately, this find is not good enough to reconstruct the appearance or lifestyle of this parrot, but we can see that it was rather similar to modern ones. So it was likely a very modern-looking small bird, around the size of a budgerigar." It shares features with another earlier fossil parrot bone in Germany, reported in a study published in 2010, belonging to a species called Mogontiacopsitta miocaena. Migration routes Commenting on the research, Dr David Waterhouse, senior curator of natural history at Norfolk Museums Service, said: "What's interesting about this is how far north the bird is and how far east it is." However, he said it was not completely unexpected to find a parrot in Siberia. "Even though today we associate parrots with tropical and sub-tropical environments, you can get parrots in the Himalayas," he said. "So they can deal with those climates - and during the Miocene period it was even warmer than it is now. So when you put it together it is not surprising." He added that the discovery could change our understanding of how early parrots spread around the world and moved into the Americas. Previous theories suggested they may have flown from Africa into the Americas, but this find suggests another route. "This paper suggests - and it is only a suggestion but it is an interesting one - that we have parrots in Asia and the easiest possible route from Asia to North America is across what's now the Bering Strait, across from Russia into Canada and Alaska," said Dr Waterhouse. He added: "They've found something that even if it doesn't give us all the answers, it does raise more questions and starts us thinking about new hypotheses - and that's the kind of science that I like." Follow Rebecca on Twitter: @BBCMorelle

Summary: A parrot fossil has been unearthed in Siberia - the furthest north one of these birds has ever been found, a study reports.


The bank earned â‚¬69.3m (Â£49m) last year, compared to just â‚¬2.9m in 2013, when it was hit by bad investments and clean-up costs. Last year the management was replaced as part of an overhaul ordered by the Pope to stamp out corruption. The bank has promised to improve its returns to customers. "The main focus is on fundamentally improving our overall client service standards and further professionalising our asset management services," IOR chairman Jean-Baptiste de Franssu said in a statement. As part of the overhaul, the bank pledged to screen all its accounts, bringing in anti-money laundering experts to carry out the task. As a result it has closed more than 4,000 accounts since May 2013, most of which were dormant, but 554 of which were closed because they did not meet the bank's new standards for clients. The IOR moves money around the world to finance Catholic missions and provides banking services for the Pope, clergy and religious orders.

Summary: The Vatican bank, officially known as the Institute for Religious Works (IOR), has seen a sharp jump in its profits for 2014.


James Brokenshire also said he will fast-track laws through parliament by early May if a deal can be reached. Theresa May announced a plan to call an election for 8 June. Leaders of the DUP and Sinn Féin welcomed the decision. The announcement came during a pause in talks to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland. Stormont's parties have yet to reach agreement on forming an executive six weeks after the assembly election. Mr Brokenshire had warned that there will either be direct rule from Westminster or another election if there is no agreement reached by early May. Speaking after the plan for a general election was announced, he said: "Discussions between the parties and the UK and Irish governments will continue in accordance with the three-stranded approach. "The prospect of a forthcoming UK general election does not change this approach. "In addition, I believe it is also right to introduce provisions that would enable an executive to be formed in early May should agreement be reached. "To have this legislation in force in time, I will be requesting that its progress through parliament be fast-tracked." He said he also intended to introduce legislation addressing immediate issues such as setting a regional taxation rate to allow rates bills to be introduced by councils. Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said he told Mr Brokenshire he was "concerned" about the effect the election would have on the talks process. We're looking at yet another election during the worst political crisis Northern Ireland has faced in the last 10 years. In the last Assembly election in March, there was a significant shift in the landscape. Sinn Féin came within a whisker of becoming the largest party at Stormont. That result, and the ongoing debate around Brexit, has led to more talk about the possibility of a united Ireland. That means this general election will be about, more than ever before, unionism versus nationalism - orange versus green. The prospect of another divisive election is unlikely to encourage the parties to compromise during the political talks. Mr Flanagan said that while legislation could facilitate an executive being formed, he was "conscious of the political reality that all of the parties involved in the talks will now be competing in a general election". "Nevertheless, it is the firm hope of the Irish government that the talks process can continue and conclude successfully in the coming days." DUP leader Arlene Foster said the election was an "opportunity to vote for the union" while the party's deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the announcement was a "surprise". He said the election would have a big impact on the talks: "The next six or seven weeks are going to be dominated entirely by the issues in the general election. "I think that's inevitable - once a prime minister fires the starting gun then everything else becomes subservient to it." Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams tweeted that it was another chance to vote against Brexit and the party's northern leader Michelle O'Neill said the election would be "an opportunity for voters to

Summary: The Northern Ireland secretary has said there will be no change in Stormont's talks process despite the announcement of a snap general election.


"We're not going to default, they'll have to invent a new term to define what's happening," said President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner last week, deep in denial, as the deadline loomed for the country to meet its obligation to the so-called "vulture funds". Thanks to a US court decision, Argentina is required to pay $1.3bn (£766m) to investors who bought its bonds at a big discount after its economic meltdown and previous default in 2001-02. It failed to do so by 30 June and a 30-day grace period has now expired. But the government resisted that course of action, because it feared that it could lead to the unravelling of other debt deals that it struck with most of its creditors. As a result, a second default has now occurred, and the outcome could be painful for an economy that is already in recession. Last time around, Argentina was left unable to repay or service more than $100bn of debt. The resulting default meant that it has not been able to borrow further money on the international markets since then. Two successive restructuring deals, in 2005 and 2010, covered the overwhelming majority of bondholders, who agreed to accept about one-third of what they were originally owed. However, hedge funds NML and Aurelius Capital Management snapped up a large chunk of the remaining distressed debt at low prices and are now pressing to be paid the full face value of their holding. Their case against the Argentine government has been trundling through the US judicial system for some time. But Buenos Aires didn't expect the crunch to come so soon. President Fernandez's government fully expected the dispute to go all the way to the US Supreme Court, which would have bought the country more time. But in June, the Supreme Court declined to hear Argentina's appeal against the decision of a lower court that made it liable for the money. Under that court's ruling, Argentina cannot use the US financial system to keep paying the restructured bondholders unless it also pays the "vulture funds". And there are other hold-outs from the previous restructuring deals who could now follow the hedge funds' example and press for the full face value of their bonds. From Argentina's point of view, there is a legal obstacle to its acceptance of the hedge funds' terms: a clause in the deals with the restructured bondholders, known as Rufo (rights on future offers). This clause, which expires at the end of the year, states that Buenos Aires cannot favour the hold-outs over those who accepted the restructuring deals. Given the choice, Argentina would have liked to spin out the negotiations with the "vulture funds" until 2015, when the clause will no longer apply. But the US courts refused to comply, seeing the restriction as one of Argentina's own making that could be circumnavigated if the government wanted to. And after all, why should the Argentine government put itself out? As Capital Economics emerging markets economist David Rees points out, the default will have a "negligible" direct impact on it. "The

Summary: Right from the start, the Argentine government's attitude to its debt dispute with US hedge funds made it all but inevitable that the country would fail to reach a compromise.


Fox-Pitt, 46, was placed in an induced coma after falling at the World Young Horse Championships in Lion D'Angers on 17 October. He was treated in France before returning to England last week. "It is fantastic to be home," said the former world number one. Fox-Pitt is GB's most successful rider with 20 major championship medals. His horse Reinstated was unharmed in the incident in western France. Fox-Pitt added: "It feels like a long time away from my family. I would like to thank all the doctors in France, and the rehab team in Poole General Hospital have been incredibly thorough. "The team at home have been doing an amazing job keeping everything going, but luckily everything is quiet as the horses are all on their end-of-season break. I am looking forward to making a full recovery over the winter." A statement from British Eventing added: "William has made good progress with his recovery and has now been discharged from hospital to continue his rehab at home. The family continue to ask for privacy as William recovers."

Summary: British eventer William Fox-Pitt has been discharged from hospital as he continues his recovery following a serious fall in competition last month.


The river level rose to 6.1m (20ft) above its normal height overnight. Floods also forced parts of the metro system and major landmarks to close, while the Louvre and Orsay museums were shut while staff moved art to safety. Despite the water level falling on Saturday morning, Paris remains under the second-highest alert, which warns of a "significant impact". Forecasters had warned the river could reach as high as 6.5m above it normal level. France's environment ministry said the floods now appeared to have peaked and would remain stable over the weekend before retreating further. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said four people had died and 42 were injured across the country. At least 18 people have died across central Europe as heavy rainfall caused flooding from France to Ukraine. A woman in her 60s drowned in France's central Loiret region, while a man in his 70s fell from a horse and drowned in a river south-east of Paris. Eleven were killed in southern Germany as several towns were devastated. On Friday night, 51 people were injured by lightning strikes at the Rock am Ring music festival in western Germany. Two more fatalities were reported in Romania and one in Belgium. Austria, the Netherlands and Poland have also been affected. Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes. While the waters in Paris appear to be dropping, the floods are still affecting transport in the capital, with four of the city's rail lines not running on Saturday morning. Elsewhere, French media say the focus is shifting to communities further downstream on the Seine, including the northern city of Rouen. Some further rain is expected in central France. Some 17,000 homes in and around Paris remain without electricity. The flooding could cost French insurance companies more than â‚¬600m (Â£470m), according to the industry association AFA. Bridges in Paris were closed and non-emergency boats were banned from the Seine as its rise forced the closure of museums, parks and cemeteries. The Grand Palais exhibition hall also shut, as did two sites belonging to the National Library. At the Louvre, curators scrambled to move 250,000 artworks to higher ground from basement storage areas at risk of inundation from what President Francoise Hollande called "exceptional flooding". The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay will remain closed until Tuesday. Many locals have been checking the rise against the statue of a soldier, known as the Zouave, standing below the Alma bridge; his frame is currently submerged up to the waist. While France's rainfall levels in May were the highest since 1873, the current crisis is eclipsed by the 1910 floods that saw Paris submerged for two months, when the Zouave was up to his neck in the Seine. The river reached 8.62m above its normal level that year, and has since reached 7.1m in 1955 and 6.18m in 1982. Are you in France or Germany and been affected by the floods? Or run a business or project which has closed due to flood damage? How are your family and neighbours coping? If you have an experience

Summary: The levels of the River Seine in Paris have started dropping slightly after reaching a 34-year high on Friday.


Taiwan's Tingyi - which operates the instant noodle and beverage Master Kong brand in China - struck the deal with PepsiCo earlier this month. A worker taking part in the action told the BBC staff were "taking leave together" to defend their legal rights. A spokeswoman from PepsiCo said that their contracts would be honoured. In a brief statement, a Pepsi spokeswoman in Beijing said: "PepsiCo is a responsible employer. We have high commitments on our staffers' rights." "We are holding positive communications with our employees." Tingyi struck a deal with Pepsi on 4 November to buy out PepsiCo China's bottling division. Media reports in China suggest that the deal has aroused widespread discontent, and workers from five factories in Chongqing, Chengdu, Fuzhou, Lanzhou and Nanchang have decided to walk out. There are a total of 24 bottling factories in China run by PepsiCo, which employ some 20,000 workers. PepsiCo China did not say how many workers were taking industrial action, but a Sina Weibo page said to be put up by workers from the southern city of Fuzhou said 1,100 people there had taken leave to join the protest. An operator for another page on Sina Weibo - China's equivalent of Twitter - which claims to be representing workers in the central Chengdu factory told the BBC that some 500 staff members were "on leave", equivalent to half of the factory's workforce. Chinese newspaper the Economic Observer reported that under the tie-up PepsiCo workers' contracts will be terminated and they will have to negotiate new terms with the joint venture. Many of the protesters believe this will be disadvantageous to them, according to the report. But the PepsiCo China statement said: "Our deal with Master Kong is yet to receive government approval. Once it is approved, labour contracts that belong to the bottling cluster will still be honoured." The Chengdu PepsiCo factory worker told the BBC via Sina Weibo that the protesters were defending their legal rights. "To us, Pepsi is not just a job that we keep in order to feed our family, it is a career that we all work hard to pursue."

Summary: Workers from at least five PepsiCo bottling factories in China are taking part in protests against a takeover deal.