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Evaluation on the Hub 34

A Porthcawl RNLI crew with a medic and the coastguard search and rescue helicopter were sent to Sker Beach, near Kenfig Nature Reserve, at 12:50 GMT on Sunday. Crewman Chris Page said the rider had head injuries and was very cold from lying unconscious on wet sand. She was treated before being flown to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales.

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after falling from a horse on a Bridgend county beach.

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Verheydt, who had been with Maastricht since 2015, has signed a three-year contract with Harry Kewell's side. The 25-year-old scored 13 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions last season. Meanwhile, Watford winger Dennon Lewis, 20, has joined the Reds on a loan deal until 31 December. Lewis, who made 29 National League appearances on loan at Woking last season, played under Kewell when the Australian was coach of Watford's under-23 team. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

League Two side Crawley Town have signed striker Thomas Verheydt from Dutch second-tier side MVV Maastricht for an undisclosed fee.

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Oliver Schmidt, a former head of VW's engineering and environmental office in the US, admitted to participating in an attempted cover-up after regulators raised questions the "defeat devices". He faces up to seven years in prison, and up to $400,000 (£306,000) in fines. The scandal has cost Volkswagen as much as $25bn. US prosecutors say Volkswagen installed special software in certain diesel vehicles that allowed them to perform better during emissions tests than they did under normal driving conditions. The emissions were sometimes 30 times higher than permitted under US rules. Volkwagen sold almost 600,000 vehicles with the devices in the US between 2006 and 2015, and about 11 million globally. The allegations have also prompted probes in other countries. Volkswagen: The scandal explained VW papers shed light on emissions scandal Diesel cars: What's all the fuss about? Mr Schmidt was informed that the devices had been installed in 2015, after a nonprofit in the US exposed discrepancies and regulators confronted the company, according to court filings. Mr Schmidt, who was arrested while travelling in Miami, was one of six people charged related to the scheme in January. The others live in Germany. The US also charged a former manager at Audi - which is part of Volkswagen - in July. A Volkswagen engineer last year pleaded guilty on related charges. His sentencing is expected later this month. Mr Schmidt, who admitted to conspiring to defraud the US and violating the Clear Air Act, is scheduled to be sentenced in December. In exchange for Ms Schmidt's guilty plea, US prosecutors dropped a charge of wire fraud. Mr Schmidt also agreed to deportation after his release. Volkswagen has agreed to pay more than $4bn in fines in the US and to spend up to $25bn to satisfy claims from owners and others. The emissions scandal in the US contributed to a wider backlash against diesel-powered cars, which were once believed to be more environmentally friendly. Four major cities have moved to ban such vehicles by 2025. Volkswagen was also recently accused of teaming up with other carmakers in a breach of EU cartel rules.

A former Volkswagen executive has pleaded guilty for his role in the German automaker's scheme to cheat US emissions requirements for diesel cars.

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The 32-year-old had been playing in the Isthmian Premier Division with Leatherhead following his release by Newport at the end of last season. Pidgeley has made 260 appearances in spells with nine clubs, including Chelsea, Watford and Millwall. Forest Green are currently second in the National League table, one point behind leaders Cheltenham Town. Pidgeley could make his Rovers debut when they host Aldershot on Friday.

National League side Forest Green Rovers have signed goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley until the end of the season.

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The suspected green mamba was found on a ship that had docked in Aberdeen from west Africa last month. The snake died after it was placed in a freezer by the animal charity after attempts to rehome it with specialist reptile keepers failed. The snake was later identified as a harmless green tree snake. Police Scotland said a complaint was under consideration. Scottish SPCA Ch Supt Mike Flynn said: "We were called out after a green snake arrived in Aberdeen on a boat from Africa. "The snake was thought to be a green mamba, one of the deadliest snakes in the world. The snake was taken by police escort to our Aberdeenshire animal rescue and rehoming centre. "Sadly the snake, which staff genuinely believed to be a green mamba, had to be put to sleep after our attempts to rehome it to specialist reptile keepers were unsuccessful." He added: "We could not keep the snake in our centre due to severe health and safety concerns, as the closest anti-venom is held in Bedford. Green mambas also require a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence which the society does not have. "The safety of our staff and the public is paramount and as such the snake was placed in a freezer where it passed away. "The Scottish SPCA is proud of its policy not put healthy animals to sleep. Animals are only put to sleep on veterinary advice if they are too ill or too aggressive to be rehomed, or where we are legally required to do so. "The decision to euthanise the snake was not taken lightly. Unfortunately, the snake has since been identified as a harmless green tree snake. This has been an honest mistake on the society's part as we genuinely believed this was an extremely deadly snake." The western green mamba feeds on small animals and rodents and is mainly found in the coastal tropical rainforests of western Africa. Experts say its bite can be fatal in as little as 30 minutes.

A complaint about the Scottish SPCA putting what was thought to be one of the world's most deadly snakes to sleep is being investigated by police.

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The all-rounder has been included in the T20 squad to face Sri Lanka on 5 July at the Ageas Bowl, having been part of the World T20 squad in March. "It's nice to be involved again," the 26-year-old slow left-armer and right-handed batsman told BBC Radio Solent. "I wasn't expecting to be as I thought Moeen Ali would, but him being rested hands me another opportunity." Dawson failed to make an appearance during England's run to the World T20 final in India this year, but his limited-overs performances for Hampshire this season have kept him in contention. "I'm not sure what team they'll go with," he said. "I've had some good performances for Hampshire in one-day and T20 cricket and if I keep going with that, hopefully I might get a chance."

Hampshire's Liam Dawson says it would be "amazing" to make his England Twenty20 debut on his home ground.

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The Egypt-backed plan had envisaged a regional forum which analysts say might have forced Israel to reveal whether or not it has nuclear weapons. The proposal was blocked by the US, the UK and Canada. The next review is set for 2020. Israel neither confirms nor denies it has a stockpile of nuclear weapons. Speaking after four weeks of negotiations, US Under-Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller accused Egypt and other Arab countries of "not willing to let go of these unrealistic and unworkable conditions" for future talks. She also said some participants tried to "cynically manipulate" the whole process. But Egypt warned that the failure to reach a deal "will have consequences in front of the Arab world and public opinion", the Associated Press news agency reports. Last month, Egypt had proposed to stage a regional conference - with or without Israel's participation and without an agreed agenda. Some analysts suggested that this move might have forced Israel - which is not a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) - to publicly clarify its position on nuclear weapons. Decisions at NPT review conferences - held every five years - are made by consensus. The failure of the current talks means the next gathering could only be held in 2020 at the earliest.

A UN conference aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons has ended in failure after a row over a nuclear-free Middle East proposal.

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Knight Frank found transaction volumes in the Granite City fell from over £600m in 2014 to only £55m last year. Investment in offices alone slumped from £500m in 2014 to £30m in 2016. Knight Frank said the low oil price "continued to take its toll" in the north east, with few deals going through in 2016. But it added that market conditions could improve in the year ahead, with crude prices making a recovery. The report found investors spent nearly £1.8bn last year across all sectors in Scotland, including offices, hotels, shops, student accommodation and industrial units. The figure was 12% down on the previous year but above the 10-year average of £1.72bn. Edinburgh registered a particularly strong year for investment, with almost £1.2bn transacted across all sectors - 92.5% up on 2015. But Glasgow saw a "more muted" 12 months, with transaction volumes down by 59% at £280m. Alasdair Steele, from Knight Frank, said: "Overall, the Scottish commercial property market remained resilient, despite an unstable 12 months. "Across the country, political uncertainty has influenced investment levels over the last year. "However, there's a general feeling beginning to emerge that Scotland offers good value and strong fundamentals - an attractive proposition for investors seeking solid returns at an especially turbulent time. "We'd hope to see that reflected in transaction volumes picking up in 2017, provided the political climate remains stable." Meanwhile, a separate report has suggested that investor interest in Scotland's commercial property market has failed to pick up despite an increase in occupier demand. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said both domestic and foreign investment inquiries stayed in negative territory in the last quarter. At the same time, the supply of property for investment purposes fell across all sectors. Some surveyors described market conditions as "challenging". The latest Rics UK commercial market survey suggested increased demand from occupiers in the office and industrial sectors. But it was a different story for retail in the fourth quarter, with a net balance of 14% more chartered surveyors reporting a fall in demand for retail space. Gavin Anderson, from Montagu Evans in Glasgow, said: "The current economic outlook isn't looking great and consumer spending on the high street is feeling the effect of growing fears about the economy. "Hopefully, the anticipated reduction in the rateable value of retail premises from April 2017 will act as a catalyst to help retailers' profit margins across their shop portfolios and increase their confidence to expand and take more stores next year." Rics chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said: "The results for the survey suggest that the commercial property market in Scotland has failed to attract investor interest despite an increase in occupier demand for commercial property in the last quarter. "This may be due, in part, to the prospects for the economy and the political situation more generally."

Investment in commercial property has plummeted in Aberdeen in the last two years, according to a report by a consultancy.

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Mothers-to-be are more likely to get malaria as their immunity is lowered, says the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Malaria carries serious risks for mother and baby including miscarriage, stillbirth and premature labour. The tropical disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes a fever, flu-like symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea. There have been no malaria-related deaths in pregnant or recently pregnant women in the UK in the past decade but the RCOG says it has been receiving inquires from worried women. In the UK, about 1,500 cases of malaria are reported each year and about 10 people will die, said the RCOG. It says all non-essential trips to areas with a high risk of malaria should be avoided. Risk areas include large areas of Africa, Asia including China and India, Central and South America, parts of the Middle East and some Pacific Islands. If the trip is unavoidable, the college advises women to seek advice from a centre with expertise in malaria which will provide information on ways to reduce the risk of infection. Women should make sure they are aware of the risk, take out measures such as mosquito nets for bite prevention and take anti-malarial medication. Philippa Marsden, who chairs the RCOG's patient information committee, said although the risks were still relatively small it was important that women were well-informed. Cath Broderick of the RCOG women's network said: "If women are worried about symptoms after returning from a high-risk country and think they may have malaria, they should see a doctor immediately and inform them of their recent travels." Symptoms can take a week or more to develop after being bitten.

Pregnant women should visit countries with a risk of malaria only if their trip is essential, experts are warning.

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Researchers at the University of Sheffield said the tumours were effectively "fertilising" the bone to help themselves grow. The study, in the journal Nature, said it may be possible to protect bone from a tumour's nefarious influence and consequently stop the cancer's spread. Cancer charities said this opened up "a whole new avenue for research". Around 85% of breast cancers that spread around the body end up in bone, at which point the cancer is difficult to treat and more deadly. The scientists, in Sheffield and the University of Copenhagen, discovered patients with secondary cancers had higher levels of an enzyme called LOX being produced by their tumours and released into the blood. Bone is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. But in a series of experiments on mice, the research team showed LOX was disrupting the process and leaving lesions and holes in the bone. Using drugs to block LOX prevented the cancer from spreading. Dr Alison Gartland, a reader in bone and cancer biology at the university, told the BBC News website: "We think it's a significant breakthrough in trying to prevent metastases (secondary tumours) in breast cancer. "The cancer cells in the primary tumour are actually fertilising the soil for the future growth of itself, LOX is changing the environment in bone to make it better to grow." The animal tests also showed that a set of osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates could prevent the spread of cancer. Bisphosphonates also interfere with the way bone is recycled in order to strengthen it. They are already given to some cancer patients, but the Sheffield team believe they could have a much larger role. The effect was discovered only in oestrogen-negative breast cancers. They account for around a third of cases, but are far more deadly. Katherine Woods, from Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "By unveiling the role that the protein LOX is playing, these results open up a whole new avenue for research and treatments that could stop breast cancer spreading to the bone. "The research also adds weight to the growing body of evidence supporting the role of bisphosphonates in stopping secondary breast cancer in its tracks. "The reality of living with secondary breast cancer in the bone is a stark one, which leaves many women with bone pain and fractures that need extensive surgery just when they need to be making the most of the time they have left with friends and family." The findings may also apply in colon cancer.

Breast cancers can manipulate the structure of bone to make it easier to spread there, a study has found.

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Guernsey won gold in 2011, the last time table tennis was included in the sports programme for the Island Games. Alice Loveridge won her women's singles match and teamed up with Dawn Morgan and Garry Dodd for doubles wins. Dodd beat Bjorn Axelsson 3-1 in the singles, but lost to Nisse Lundberg, who also beat Alex Robinson 3-0 in the opening men's singles match. Gotland and Guernsey have shared the table tennis gold medals between them for the past decade. Gotland took gold in 2009, when Guernsey were third, and beat the Sarnians in the 2007 final. That victory was revenge for the 2005 final, when Guernsey beat the Swedish island.Island hotshots increase medal tally Jonathan De La Haye won Jersey's seventh shooting gold medal at the 2015 Island Games. De La Haye took top spot in the men's individual sport trap, beating Dan Bishop of the Isle of Wight by a single point with Guernsey's Andrew Ashplant getting the bronze. Sarah Campion and Susan De Gruchy won silver in the women's 100 yards prone rifle team event, finishing 15 points behind eventual winners Isle of Man. Fellow Jersey shooter Caroline De La Haye won bronze in the women's individual sport trap. Guernsey's Jacek Hanca has won silver in the 50m free pistol, finishing 13 points off Matthew Reed from the Isle of Wight. Sark celebrated a second shooting medal as Nick Dewe returned to the podium. Dewe, who won team automatic ball trap bronze on Monday, took silver in the individual event.

Guernsey have retained their Island Games team table tennis title after beating Gotland 4-2 in Jersey.

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Sharon Forbes and her daughter Savannah filmed the man, Alex Davies, at a National Action rally in Bath. The video has been viewed thousands of times since they shared it. Mr Davies subsequently told the BBC that he did not condone intimidation but had a right to say his views in public. National Action is a far-right group that describes itself as fighting for a free white Britain. Ms Forbes said she felt she had to confront Mr Davies, who was speaking at the rally: "I was so incensed and so angry at the views that he was spouting that I thought I just have to get them on video." Since the video was posted on social media they have received abuse but Ms Forbes said the views of the people who had posted "are not going to intimidate us - not at all". Savannah, who is mixed race, said: "We feel too strongly to be scared of people with such a small-minded view." She added: "I didn't know that people like that still existed... and that people still had that mind set." Mr Davies said he accepted his group had racist views and the rally was "low-key" until Ms Forbes began filming.

A mother and daughter claimed they have received online abuse after posting a video showing them confront a man about his racist comments.

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The red kite was discovered by a member of the public at Daintry Wood near Toddington. An X-ray image showed it had 10 pieces of lead shot lodged in its body. The RSPB said: "This was clearly no accident and it is especially sad considering the lengths that have been taken to reintroduce these splendid birds to England." RSPB inspector Jenny Shelton said: "The bird will most likely have been shot at close range to incur this level of damage. "Red kites feed mainly on carrion, so there is no logical reason for these birds to be targeted". Bedfordshire Police has appealed for information about the shooting. Insp Mark Farrant said: "This is a particularly worrying incident against a bird that is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. "I would ask anyone with information relating to this or similar incidents to call Bedfordshire Police." According to the RSPB, the shooting of birds of prey is a widespread problem in the UK. The organisation's latest Bird Crime report said there were 196 reports of shooting, trapping and destruction of birds of prey in 2015, including red kites. The species is protected under schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the punishment for killing one is up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to £5,000. Red kites became extinct in England in 1871, with only a handful of pairs left in remote parts of central Wales. The RSPB helped reintroduce them in 1989 and there are now about 1,000 red kites in England.

A protected bird of prey has been found dead in Bedfordshire and had likely been shot "at close range".

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The £230m development consists of 11 wind turbines. Mr Trump claims they would spoil the sea views for golfers on his course at Menie. He responded: "We will put our future plans in Aberdeen on hold, as will many others, until this ridiculous proposal is defeated." Mr Trump said: "We will be bringing a lawsuit within the allocated period of time to stop what will definitely be the destruction of Aberdeen and Scotland itself. "This was a purely political decision. "We will spend whatever monies are necessary to see to it that these huge and unsightly industrial wind turbines are never constructed." He had previously threatened not to build a hotel at the resort if it went ahead. Ministers said they were committed to a "successful and sustainable" offshore wind sector. The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) project is a joint venture by utility company Vattenfall, engineering firm Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (Areg). The project is aimed at providing enough energy for more than 49,000 homes. The Scottish government said the centre would allow offshore wind developers and supply chain companies to test "cutting edge" wind technology before its commercial deployment. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Offshore renewables represent a huge opportunity for Scotland; an opportunity to build up new industries and to deliver on our ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction targets. "The proposed European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre will give the industry the ability to test and demonstrate new technologies in order to accelerate its growth. "It secures Aberdeen's place as the energy capital of Europe." He added: "The EOWDC is the first offshore wind farm to pass through the new approvals process for offshore wind development and as such is a test case for the industry. The diligence and expertise of officials in Marine Scotland, among the statutory consultees and other interests should give confidence to the offshore wind industry and its supply chain that planning matters should not be a barrier to investment in Scotland." EOWDC project spokesman Iain Todd said: "The Scottish government's most welcome approval for the EOWDC is extremely positive news for both Scotland and the UK's offshore wind industry as it helps position Scotland, the UK and Europe at the global vanguard of the sector. "The project partners will assess the consent and associated conditions as part of the planning and programming for the next phase of the scheme." Alex Salmond, the MSP for Aberdeenshire East, said: "I welcome this decision. "The north east of Scotland is a world energy capital and in order to continue to prosper we have to be at the forefront of all forms of energy research - marine renewables, as well as oil and gas." Dr Sam Gardner, senior climate change policy officer at WWF Scotland, said: "Giving the go-ahead to this offshore wind test centre is the right decision, demonstrating that no amount of bluster from US billionaires such as Donald Trump will hold Scotland back from becoming a cleaner, greener, job-creating nation." Robert Collier, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: "The north east is already established as a global hub for the oil and gas industry. "The development of the EOWDC will enable the region to extend its reach with regard to offshore wind, further enhancing our renewable energy expertise and drawing upon our strong engineering and technology skills base. "This is an important development for the region."

Consent for a wind farm off Aberdeen which is opposed by Donald Trump has been granted by the Scottish government, angering the US tycoon.

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Rangers say the defender slipped over during the squad get-together the day after Saturday's 2-0 win over Burnley. The Sun claimed Caulker was injured after a fight broke out at a pub that Crystal Palace players were also at. But QPR's head of communications Ian Taylor insisted: "Steven Caulker was not involved in an altercation." Taylor added: "He suffered a cut to his head, which he received treatment for at hospital before being discharged the same evening." Taylor also explained that players had been given permission to have Sunday lunch together given QPR's next game against Everton was not until Monday, 15 December. QPR owner Tony Fernandes took to Twitter to comment on the claims. "Steven Caulker slipped over and hurt his head and is fine," wrote Fernandes. "Nothing else to report." Former Tottenham and Cardiff centre-back Caulker, who has one England cap, has made 15 appearances this season, scoring once.

QPR have denied Steven Caulker was involved in an altercation and say he was taken to hospital after cutting his head during a lunch with team-mates.

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Curtis has served the Swans as a community officer, youth coach, first team coach (twice), assistant manager, caretaker manager (twice), match day host and head of youth development. Oh.... and he has been a player - appearing in more than 400 games in three separate spells - and is now the interim manager. "I've been sold twice, sacked twice and given a free transfer as well," he joked. The 61-year-old known affectionately as 'Mr Swansea City' faces arguably the toughest challenge in his 44-year association with the Swans - to keep his beloved club in the Premier League. Media playback is not supported on this device His first game at the old Vetch was back in 1972. Famed for his ability to swerve his body and produce a goal from nothing, Curtis was a fearsome striker, capped 35 times by his country while playing for Leeds United and Southampton. Such is the admiration Swansea fans have for Curtis, even a spell at arch rivals Cardiff City has not affected his legendary status at The Liberty. Having spent a lifetime in the game, it is easy to make the case that for Curtis football was always in the blood. His uncle was Roy Paul, who captained Manchester City to FA Cup success in 1956 against Birmingham City in a contest synonymous with City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, who played on despite suffering a broken neck. Paul, too, was a Wales international, earning 33 caps. Born and raised in the Rhondda Valley, Curtis admits his entire adult life has been connected to the club he loves. "Football has always been the passion, but Swansea has been my life since 17 or 18," he said. Other than a 12-month hiatus at Leeds, Curtis was an integral member of the great Swans team shaped by John Toshack in the late 1970s and early 80s - the side the future Wales and Real Madrid boss took from the fourth division to the top six of the top tier inside five years. On the two occasion Swansea have risen from English football's fourth tier to the top, Curtis has played a pivotal role. Curtis was part of the coaching staff when Swansea were a game away from dropping out of the Football League in 2003. He was not being paid at one stage as the club entered administration - but never complained. Curtis remained in the backroom staff as they powered their way through the divisions again to the Premier League in 2011, before winning the 2013 League Cup and qualifying for the Europa League. Even the staff profile on Swansea's official website describes Curtis as a "legend" but he believes that has more to do with hyperbole than his 40-year association with the club. "I think people become legends these days. All you need to do is be at a club for a season and you automatically become one," he told BBC Wales Sport. "People like Robbie James, Jeremy Charles, Ivor Allchurch and Herbie Williams - those are the people you consider to be the real [Swansea] legends." He is Curt by name, courteous by nature. The man everyone in football adores. The Swans are currently two points above the relegation zone - and should Curtis keep them in the Premier League, the club's admiration of the man will know no bounds.

Alan Curtis has had so many roles at Swansea City, he struggles to recall them all.

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Celebrations are taking place in the West Bank town where it is believed that Jesus was born. However this year they are overshadowed by the latest Israeli-Palestinian violence that shows no signs of abating. Mary Anastas runs a shop selling her husband's stone sculptures and feels a special affinity with her namesake, the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. She is a mother of three children herself and worries about their safety in these tense times. The two eldest are studying at Birzeit University, north of Ramallah, but come home at weekends. Young Palestinians regularly join protests that result in confrontations with Israeli soldiers. There are flashpoints across the West Bank including on the edge of Ramallah and in Bethlehem. Like many Palestinian Christians, Mary thinks the holiday spirit is dampened this year and that festivities will be relatively low-key. Shepherds watching their flocks by night are believed by Christians to have been the first to hear about Jesus' birth. Tradition has it that they were told the news by an angel in the Shepherds' Field in Beit Sahur, next to Bethlehem. Nowadays, Kamal Nabaheen keeps sheep and goats in this area. He is Muslim, but prizes his connection to the Biblical shepherds. Recently shepherding has become much more difficult because of a lack of open land. Jewish settlements are expanding nearby. They are seen as illegal under international law, but Israel disagrees. Israel has also built part of its separation barrier here. It says this is needed for security, but Palestinians see it as a land grab. According to the Bible, there was no room at the inn in Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph. With no bed available, baby Jesus was laid in a manger. In modern times, hotels are usually full on Christmas Eve. Arab-Israelis as well as foreign visitors come to join the festivities as processions of church leaders arrive from Jerusalem. Fadi Kattan runs a new boutique guesthouse, Hosh al-Syrian, in the Old City of Bethlehem. He says that since the recent troubles, people have cancelled their hotel bookings for next year. There are also other underlying challenges for local tourism. It tends to be seasonal with Christian pilgrims coming at Easter and Christmas, but more and more visitors are staying elsewhere and coming to Bethlehem as a day trip on a Holy Land tour. The main attraction is the Church of the Nativity, built on the spot where it is believed Jesus was born. The Nativity story tells how wise men, or magi, came to pay their homage to Jesus bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each Christmas Eve, Latin Catholic priest, Father Jamal Khadr, accompanies the patriarch in a traditional procession from Jerusalem. On the way to the Church of the Nativity, they are met by Palestinian Christians for a special mass at midnight. In 2003, an 8m(26ft)-high concrete wall was erected in Bethlehem - part of Israel's barrier built in and around the West Bank. A series of gates were constructed in the wall so that church leaders could continue to pass. Nowadays clashes regularly take place by one of these gates. Typically, young Palestinians throw stones, marbles and petrol bombs at Israeli soldiers who respond with tear gas, rubber bullets, skunk water and live rounds. Israel blames the violence on incitement by Palestinian leaders and social media. Father Jamal says that on the Palestinian side there are feelings of hopelessness and despair. Like Joseph, the husband of Mary, Jack Giacaman works with wood. He carves large pieces himself and runs a workshop producing mainly religious items. His main business involves traditional Nativity sets made out of olive wood grown in the holy land. For centuries, such religious items have been sold to visiting pilgrims. About 40% of the Bethlehem economy relies directly on tourism. However since the town was separated from Jerusalem by Israel's barrier, most tourists now enter through an Israeli checkpoint. Local souvenir sellers say that restricted access to the city has greatly affected their trade. They also complain about a system that sees large Palestinian stores pay a hefty commission to guides who bring in the tourists, which means many of the smaller shops lose out. Interviews, videos and pictures: Yolande Knell, Jimmy Michael and Yousef Shomali Video and web production: Alison Trowsdale and Sarah Fowler

As Bethlehem prepares for Christmas, five people chosen to represent characters in the original Nativity story have been speaking about their hopes and fears for the festive period.

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Quinn, 30, is available for Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final against Celtic. He was on the bench in the Dons' third-round defeat by Hibernian but did not feature. Following spells at Motherwell, Cardiff City and Doncaster Rovers, Quinn spent a season with County before joining Aberdeen last summer. He has made more than 360 senior appearances and was capped by Scotland's Under-21 side earlier in his career. For all the latest transfers check out our transfer deals page.

Defender Paul Quinn has rejoined Ross County on an 18-month contract after agreeing his release from Aberdeen.

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You can spend several hours being jostled by French camera crews, squashed by Italian snappers, or shoved unceremoniously out of the way by any one of 27 other countries' journalists as the leaders of the European Union arrive one by one, and we frantically try to grab a word with them as they rush past. There'll be sharp elbows in the press pen, craning of necks and stretching of microphones, as David Cameron arrives at this summit, which could define not just his leadership, but the future of his party and his country's place in the world. But how on earth did the man who once accused the Conservatives of being out of touch for "banging on about Europe", get himself into a position where he has already been "banging on about Europe" for months and months, and will spend the next four months still doing precisely that? Since he made that claim in his first season as party leader in 2006, appearing in front of a huge video screen tastefully projected with a giant tree, there have been three big changes, linked, that have got him to this juncture, which of course ultimately is a product of his own political calculation. Most simply, as the years have passed, his party has changed. Since the Maastricht rebels failed to get a public vote in 1993 on the treaty that created the modern version of the European Union, there has been a rump of Conservatives deeply passionate about the cause, significantly concerned that the EU's laws, not Britain's own, are more important - the question of sovereignty that's a big part of the current talks. But their concerns, while shared by many Conservative Party members, were not considered mainstream in the parliamentary party - balanced, if not squeezed out, by heavyweight Europhile voices. But as the EU expanded, and generations of MPs came and went, a soft scepticism towards the European project, neither full-throated support, nor hardcore opposition, became more common, and sympathy for the idea of a referendum spread from the margins. The eurozone financial crisis, and the EU's stumbling approach to sorting it out, gave a fresh energy to eurosceptic MPs who wanted to campaign to leave. In part that apathy, if not downright dislike, towards the EU spread because of the enormous rise in the numbers of people from around the Union who came to live and work in the UK. Numbers that took the political establishment completely by surprise began to arrive from the moment new countries like Poland joined the EU in 2004. There is a complicated, and emotional debate about the impact of the numbers, but few can dispute that the effect has been very significant in some parts of the country, with figures this week showing the numbers still rising, standing at more than two million now. For many people, that very visible impact of our membership of the EU has given them pause for thought. And it was that steep rise in EU immigration that gave David Cameron his most pressing political reason for - in the end - promising a referendum. UKIP's appeal grew alongside the rise in immigration. By 2012, they were greedily nibbling at the Conservative vote with a record performance in the local elections and a leader who in some moments seemed to appeal to swathes of the public for his plain speaking, in a style that also alienated many others. A drive to address the threat from UKIP and satisfy growing internal demands for the promise of a referendum led eventually to Mr Cameron's commitment in the 2013 speech to give the public a vote on whether to stay or go. It's worth remembering that, perhaps strangely, the 2013 speech in which he made his promise to hold a vote made no mention of immigration. But add a general election and increasing public concern to the mix and three years later, his hopes of limiting benefits for migrants are the centrepiece of his renegotiation. The prime minister is not a politician who is known for getting hung up on the past, his seemingly bomb-proof - if maybe sometimes misplaced - confidence in his own abilities tends to lead him to look forward. He is not a prisoner of his record. But as he arrives in Brussels on Thursday, and gets out of the shiny black limousine to sweep past the journalists clamouring to ask a question, will he consider even, for a moment, the irony that he may be risking it all for something he once more or less dismissed as a fringe concern?

It gets cold, very very cold, waiting at the entrance of the European Council building in Brussels.

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Video footage showed the singer striking a photographer with his car after he left a service at The City Church in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Beverly Hills Police Department said the vehicle had been travelling at an "extremely slow speed" when the collision took place. The BBC has contacted the 23-year-old's team for comment. "At 21:24 local time [05:24 BST] we received a radio call about a vehicle-pedestrian collision on Hamilton Drive," Sergeant Matthew Stout of the Beverly Hills Police Department told the BBC. "We arrived on scene and found a 57-year-old pedestrian on the ground. He was transferred to local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. "Justin Bieber remained on scene, co-operated with officers and was released." Bieber was seen standing over and speaking to the injured man, who was reportedly a photographer, after the incident. Sergeant Stout confirmed Bieber "got out of the car and attempted to render aid" after the collision. The pop star was heard asking paparazzi to give the pedestrian some space and offering to help him immediately after the incident. Bieber was seen kneeling down on the ground and asking the man: "Is there anything we can do to help you?" The singer has been hitting the headlines in the last week after being banned from China due to "bad behaviour". He has also cancelled his remaining world tour dates, citing "unforeseen circumstances". The move affects 14 dates in Asia and North America which were coming up over the next three months. His Purpose world tour included a date at London's Hyde Park and attracted attention when his rather demanding tour rider leaked online. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].

Justin Bieber has been involved in a car collision in Beverley Hills, police have confirmed to the BBC.

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Neil Trotter admitted taking pictures of women at Edinburgh's Waverley Station and Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries between June and September 2014. A sheriff told the 54-year-old, from Falkirk, that "women should be able to walk without fear" in public places. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. A previous hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Trotter travelled into Edinburgh daily by train to go to work. On Monday 29 September, a fellow passenger noted him walking in "a curious, a sinister manner" at Waverley Station, "clearly making an effort to get very close to a female ahead of him" on the escalator. Fiscal depute Aidan Higgins, prosecuting, told the court that "it was clear he was using his phone to get under the lady's skirt, taking photographs". The commuter reported his concerns to British Transport Police and Trotter was identified from CCTV footage. He was detained as he left the station the following day. Examination of Trotter's phone and his home computer established that he had been using his mobile on various days between 11 June and 29 September, with 22 videos showing the camera had been directed under women's skirts. Defence solicitor Neil Hay told the court Trotter was "most ashamed of his actions", and "well aware his behaviour is unacceptable". He said his client had "lost his career, brought his family to the brink of financial ruin and brought shame and humiliation to himself and those very close to him". Sentencing him to 18 months in prison, Sheriff Peter Braid told Trotter: "You have pled guilty to taking images of women in a clandestine manner, prompted by voyeuristic impulses for your own sexual gratification. "This involved significant planning committed over a period of more than three months in public places where women should be able to walk without fear. "The repugnance society must feel towards these offences is such that, in my view, there is no alternative to a custodial sentence, in retribution and to deter others."

A former senior information officer for the Scottish government has been jailed for 18 months for using his mobile phone to take photos up women's skirts.

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The 59-year-old was the first American to manage a Premier League club, but lasted just 85 days before being sacked by the Swans in December 2016. They won just two of the former USA and Egypt manager's 11 games in charge. Los Angeles, who are led by an ownership group of 27 people including Hollywood actor Will Ferrell, will join the MLS for the 2017-18 season. The team, also co-owned by basketball legend Magic Johnson and former Cardiff City chairman Vincent Tan, will play at the purpose built 22,000-seater Banc of California Stadium. This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser

Former Swansea City boss Bob Bradley has been named as the first manager of MLS team Los Angeles FC.

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Media playback is unsupported on your device 21 October 2014 Last updated at 21:36 BST Steven Ward made 24 galleons from chocolate, with Maltesers doubling up as replica cannon balls. The creations will mark the 209th anniversary of the battle during the Napoleonic Wars. The ships will be paraded through the dining hall of HMS Nelson in Portsmouth at the Trafalgar Day dinner.

A Royal Navy chef has spent hours melting chocolate buttons to create a small fleet of ships in commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar.

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Oldham went in front in the fifth minute when Marc Klok delivered a free-kick from the right to the far post, where unchallenged defender Peter Clarke scored with a downward header. Bradford dominated the rest of the opening period as the visitors' defence survived a series of narrow escapes. Keeper Connor Ripley made a brilliant one-handed save to deny winger Mark Marshall, Timothee Dieng and Josh Cullen both had shots deflected for corners, and Billy Clarke missed a good chance when he turned James Meredith's cross wide. Oldham somehow held their lead until half-time, but Bradford deservedly equalised after 57 minutes when Ousmane Fane dragged Cullen to the ground and Clarke scored from the spot. Bradford continued to dominate, but could not turn possession into goals as Oldham's defence held firm. Report supplied by the Press Association. REACTION: Bradford City manager Stuart McCall speaks to BBC Radio Leeds Match ends, Bradford City 1, Oldham Athletic 1. Second Half ends, Bradford City 1, Oldham Athletic 1. Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Cameron Burgess. Romain Vincelot (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Darius Osei (Oldham Athletic). Delay in match Marc Klok (Oldham Athletic) because of an injury. Attempt missed. Mark Marshall (Bradford City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Attempt missed. Vincent Rabiega (Bradford City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Substitution, Oldham Athletic. Darius Osei replaces Billy McKay. Attempt missed. Timothee Dieng (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation. Mark Marshall (Bradford City) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Ryan Flynn (Oldham Athletic). Hand ball by Ryan Flynn (Oldham Athletic). Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Josh Law. Foul by Josh Cullen (Bradford City). Ryan Flynn (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Billy Clarke (Bradford City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Ryan McLaughlin. Substitution, Bradford City. Vincent Rabiega replaces Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila. Hand ball by Ryan Flynn (Oldham Athletic). Attempt missed. Josh Cullen (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Connor Ripley (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card. Delay in match Marc Klok (Oldham Athletic) because of an injury. Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Peter Clarke. Substitution, Oldham Athletic. Ryan McLaughlin replaces Lee Erwin. Attempt saved. Nathaniel Knight-Percival (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Billy McKay (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card. Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Connor Ripley. Attempt saved. James Meredith (Bradford City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Attempt missed. Nicky Law (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Peter Clarke. Foul by Billy Clarke (Bradford City). Charles Dunne (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Peter Clarke. Substitution, Oldham Athletic. Oliver Banks replaces Ousmane Fane. Goal! Bradford City 1, Oldham Athletic 1. Billy Clarke (Bradford City) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner. Penalty Bradford City. Josh Cullen draws a foul in the penalty area. Ryan Flynn (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card. Penalty conceded by Peter Clarke (Oldham Athletic) after a foul in the penalty area. Nathaniel Knight-Percival (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Bradford City's three-match winning run came to an end as they were held to a draw by Oldham Athletic at Valley Parade despite dominating the game.

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Akinde broke the deadlock on 57 minutes with the Bees' first shot on target after the visitors broke quickly from a loose Mitch Rose pass. Luke Gambin sent Akinde down the left and he ghosted past Krystian Pearce before lifting a cool finish over Scott Shearer. Mansfield had the best of a first half short on real chances in which home goalkeeper Shearer did not have a save to make. At the other end Josh Vickers got his body in the way of a Matt Green effort and he safely grabbed a tame header from the same player on 36 minutes. Two minutes later Vickers got down to his right to turn away a low Mal Benning shot from 18 yards. From the corner Green sent a downward header goalwards that looked to be creeping inside the post until Elliot Johnson headed off the line. The Stags laboured after Akinde's goal, though Vickers did make a fine save late on to keep out a Darius Henderson header from Kevan Hurst's cross. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Mansfield Town 0, Barnet 1. Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 0, Barnet 1. Alie Sesay (Barnet) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Darius Henderson (Mansfield Town). Foul by Alex Iacovitti (Mansfield Town). John Akinde (Barnet) wins a free kick on the right wing. Corner, Barnet. Conceded by Alex Iacovitti. Attempt saved. Darius Henderson (Mansfield Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Attempt missed. Malvind Benning (Mansfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Lee Collins (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet). Lee Collins (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet). Alex Iacovitti (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet). Corner, Barnet. Conceded by Alex Iacovitti. Substitution, Barnet. Alie Sesay replaces Alex Nicholls. Attempt saved. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Barnet) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Darius Henderson replaces Mitch Rose. Corner, Barnet. Conceded by Alex Iacovitti. Attempt blocked. Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Attempt blocked. Kevan Hurst (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Substitution, Barnet. Jamal Campbell-Ryce replaces Luke Gambin because of an injury. Kevan Hurst (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Luke Gambin (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Kevan Hurst (Mansfield Town). Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Luke Gambin. Luke Gambin (Barnet) is shown the yellow card. Attempt missed. Kevan Hurst (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick. CJ Hamilton (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Mauro Vilhete (Barnet). Substitution, Mansfield Town. Kevan Hurst replaces Ashley Hemmings. Attempt missed. Matt Green (Mansfield Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Substitution, Barnet. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro replaces Shaun Batt. Goal! Mansfield Town 0, Barnet 1. John Akinde (Barnet) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Luke Gambin following a fast break. Attempt missed. Matt Green (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is close, but misses to the right. Attempt missed. Luke Gambin (Barnet) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Ashley Hemmings (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Luke Gambin (Barnet).

John Akinde's second-half goal secured Barnet victory at Mansfield.

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Jackie Fox from Birmingham, Alabama died of ovarian cancer last year, aged 62, having used the talc for decades. Her family argued that the firm knew of talc risks and failed to warn users. J&J denied the claim and is said to be considering an appeal. Researchers say links with ovarian cancer are unproven. A company spokeswoman said: "We have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers, and we are disappointed with the outcome of the trial. "We sympathise with the plaintiff's family but firmly believe the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence." The verdict at the end of the three-week trial was the first time damages have been awarded by a US jury over talc claims. More than 1,000 similar cases are pending nationwide and lawyers said thousands more could now be filed. Analysis: James Gallagher, health editor, BBC news website Is talc safe? There have been concerns for years that using talcum powder, particularly on the genitals, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. But the evidence is not conclusive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies talc used on the genitals as "possibly carcinogenic" because of the mixed evidence. Why is there any debate? The mineral talc in its natural form does contain asbestos and does cause cancer, however, asbestos-free talc has been used in baby powder and other cosmetics since the 1970s. But the studies on asbestos-free talc give contradictory results. It has been linked to a cancer risk in some studies, but there are concerns that the research may be biased as they often rely on people remembering how much talc they used years ago. Other studies have argued there is no link at all and there is no link between talc in contraceptives such as diaphragms and condoms (which would be close to the ovaries) and cancer. Also there does not seem to be a "dose-response" for talc, unlike with known carcinogens like tobacco where the more you smoke, the greater the risk of lung cancer. The charity Ovacome says there is no definitive evidence and that the worst-case scenario is that using talc increases the risk of cancer by a third. But it adds: "Ovarian cancer is a rare disease, and increasing a small risk by a third still gives a small risk. So even if talc does increase the risk slightly, very few women who use talc will ever get ovarian cancer." The jury in Ms Fox's case deliberated for five hours before finding Johnson & Johnson liable for fraud, negligence and conspiracy. The award constituted $10m in damages and $62m in punitive damages. "This case clearly was a bellwether and clearly the jury has seen the evidence and found it compelling," said Stanford University law professor Nora Freeman Engstrom. "The jury was distressed by the company's conduct." However, she said the size of the award was unlikely to survive. "Big jury verdicts do tend to be reined in during the course of the appellate process and I expect that to be the case here," she said. Cancer Research UK says evidence for a link between talc use and ovarian cancer is "still uncertain". "Even if there is a risk it is likely to be fairly small," the charity says. Ovarian cancer charity Ovacome says causes of the disease are still unknown but are likely to be "a combination of many different inherited and environmental factors, rather than one cause such as talc". It says that in 2003, results of 16 studies involving 12,000 women showed that using talc increased the risk of ovarian cancer by around a third, and that a 2013 review of US studies involving 18,000 women had similar results for genital, but not general, talcum powder use. However, it warns that studies of this type "can suffer from bias" and there were "uncertainties" around the results. "A large well-designed American study in 2000 involving nearly 80,000 women found no link between using talc and the risk of ovarian cancer," it says. The charity says that even if using talc does raise the ovarian cancer risk by a third, "to put it into context, smoking and drinking increases the risk of oesophageal cancer by 30 times".

A jury in the US state of Missouri has ordered Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to pay $72m (£51m) to the family of a woman who claimed her death was linked to use of the company's Baby Powder talc.

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16 February 2017 Last updated at 10:01 GMT Here, Graeme Wood, national correspondent for The Atlantic argues the rise of so-called Islamic State is a kind of Reformation within Islam. We also hear from Tariq Ramadan who says this argument is "misplaced" and we should not try to "understand Islam through a Christian lens". For more Viewsnight, head over to BBC Newsnight on Facebook and on YouTube

Viewsnight is BBC Newsnight's new place for ideas and opinion.

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Footage showed the workers rescued through a hole cut in one of the glass windows of One World Trade Center. The Fire Department of New York earlier told the BBC the two people were uninjured and tethered. The call came in at 12:42 EST (17:42 GMT) and firefighters were on the scene in less than four minutes, it said. The window cleaners were pulled inside at around 14:15 EST. The rescued men were identified as Juan Lopez, who has been a window cleaner for five years, and Juan Lizama, who has been on the job for 14 years, Gerard McEneaney, a labour union official, told Reuters. The 1,776ft (541m) tower opened for business last week as the first of 3,000 employees of publishing giant Conde Nast moved into their new offices there. A police official said the partially collapsed cradle was hanging at "a 75-degree angle". The cable on the cradle apparently broke as it retracted towards the roof of the building. People on the ground were moved back in case glass fell from One World Trade Center, the country's tallest skyscraper. Gary Hansen, an architect who worked on the building, happened to be across the street during the incident. Mr Hansen told Reuters the building was designed with three cranes on top, two to suspend platforms and one for emergencies. "These are the kind of emergencies architects plan for," he said.

New York firefighters have rescued two window cleaners who were trapped on a collapsed cradle 69 storeys above the ground at the World Trade Center site.

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Thomas Jackson, 30, of Congleton, Cheshire, was injured as he tried to help Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, in the attack at a hostel last week. Frenchman Smail Ayad, 29, has been charged with murdering Ms Ayliffe-Chung and attempting to murder Mr Jackson. Police said this charge would be changed to murder. Latest updates on backpacker's death Mr Jackson's father Les said: "We are bereft. Our darling Tom has left us and the world is a poorer place. "There is dark and evil in this world perpetrated by a few, but so much more love and light emanates from so many more. That thought will sustain us over the coming days." The backpacker suffered head injuries as he went to the aid of Ms Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Police described his actions as "selfless". A spokesman for Queensland Police said Mr Jackson died in the Townsville Hospital. Investigations are continuing, but detectives will upgrade the charge to murder when Mr Ayad next appears at Townsville Magistrates' Court on October 28, he added. Mr Ayad is alleged to have stabbed Ms Ayliffe-Chung and to have caused the injuries which led to Mr Jackson's death at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in Home Hill on 23 August, at about 23:15 local time. Twelve police officers were also injured. Police previously said they were investigating whether Mr Ayad had an "obsession" with Ms Ayliffe-Chung. Mr Jackson's family said they were "immensely proud" of him for his actions. "There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom," his father said. "His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride." Mr Jackson's sister, Liv, wrote on Facebook: "There is nothing in this world that can prepare you for the pain and heartbreak of losing a sibling and a friend, but there is great comfort in knowing that he was mine. "All that I ask is that you don't remember Tom as a victim. "Indescribably proud of everything you accomplished and the lives you touched. I will love you always and forever TJ, your little sister, Lou." Rachel Edwards, 30, from Crewe, Cheshire, who has been close friends with Mr Jackson since they studied at South Cheshire College together, said there would "never be another one like him". She said: "He would literally try his utmost to try and light people's lives up with his kind words and inspiration, always pointing out the best in you." A fundraising page set up by Mr Jackson's friend Shoshana Palatnik has reached half of its £10,000 target to help his family. Ms Palatnik initially set up the Youcaring fundraising page for medical costs while Mr Jackson was on life support.

A "selfless" backpacker who was injured trying to save another traveller as she was stabbed to death in Australia has died, police in Queensland have said.

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He said Tory conference announcements on immigration had been "disturbing, sinister and beneath contempt". Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said new curbs on foreign workers and students may be needed to "change the tide" of public opinion on immigration. Mr Jones urged Welsh Labour to "fight for the soul of post-Brexit Britain". In an email to party members, the first minister condemned the Conservatives, saying: "This isn't just dog-whistle politics, it is politics of the gutter." He said Welsh Labour members should aim to be a "roadblock" to Tory plans to restrict immigration, and show there was "a better way". "When senior Tories said yesterday that foreign doctors and their families were only welcome here whilst they were needed, I said they are welcome, full stop," he wrote. "We must reject the Tories' terrible insult to people who work day in, day out to save and improve lives across Wales." Mr Jones described Brexit as "a seismic and unsettling event in our country's history, and how we react to it will be the measure of this generation of politicians and political parties". "I have made absolutely clear my belief that Wales must accept the referendum result, we cannot refight that battle, but we can fight for our vision of the future," he said. "A bright future for our children and grandchildren, based on our values of fairness, internationalism and prosperity for all." Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies described Mr Jones's comments as "ludicrous". "Ultimately, if there is a poisonous atmosphere surrounding the politics of immigration it's because successive Labour governments over 13 years ruthlessly stifled moderate discussion and left millions of people feeling frustrated and ignored," he said. Meanwhile SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood have joined forces with Green Party leaders across the UK to condemn "the most toxic rhetoric on immigration seen from any government in living memory".

Foreign doctors in Wales will not be told to "go home", Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones has said, accusing the Conservatives of "gutter" politics.

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A tentative deal is believed to have been reached in talks with senior US Justice Department officials. The fine relates to the sale of securities based on home loans, which led to the near-collapse of the banking system in 2007. If confirmed, it would be the biggest settlement ever paid by an US company. Last month, JP Morgan was fined almost $1bn in the "London Whale" scandal, which arose from huge disastrous bets on the financial markets placed by former bank employee Bruno Iksil. The tentative deal to pay the $13bn fine to the Justice Department was reached during the talks on Friday, between JP Morgan lawyers with US Attorney General Eric Holder and his deputy Tony West, the Wall Street Journal said, citing officials familiar with the decision. The New York Times also reported that the investment bank was nearing the agreement. Neither the Justice Department nor the bank was available for comment. But the reports said that while the fine would settle all civil claims, the US bank would still face possible federal criminal charges being pursued in California or individual criminal claims. The $13bn sum is said to include $9bn in fines and a further $4bn in relief for struggling homeowners. In the run-up to the financial crisis, sophisticated financial products known as mortgage-backed securities were created by many investment banks. These special bonds contained a mix of investments but at their heart were supposed to be risk-free home loans, the BBC's business correspondent Joe Lynam reports. When the housing bubble burst, the value of these assets fell sharply and the credit markets seized up. The balance sheets of many US and European banks, including those in the UK, became toxic and they had to be bailed out by their governments. What JP Morgan is alleged to have done was sell the mortgage-backed assets knowing full well that many of the home loans were in fact very risky. Some of the problems relate to mortgage bank Washington Mutual and investment bank Bear Stearns, two failing firms that JPMorgan took over in 2008. The mortgage-backed assets played a central role in the near collapse of the banking system when banks realised in 2007 that many of their assets were worth a fraction of their official book value. JP Morgan had initially aimed to persuade Justice Department officials to drop the criminal investigation but the attorney general ruled that out, reports said. The bank is not alone in facing inquiries into past practice. In August, US government officials filed two lawsuits against Bank of America relating to mortgage-backed securities. Bank of America denied civil fraud in failing to disclose risks and misleading investors. JP Morgan has found itself overwhelmed by mounting legal troubles lately. Once the darling of Washington and Wall Street, it reported a rare quarterly earnings loss last week, mostly due to legal costs totalling $9.2bn. The bank lost $380m during the quarter, compared with a profit of $5.7bn in the same period last year. JP Morgan says it has set aside a fund of $23bn to deal with mounting legal costs.

US banking giant JP Morgan is set for a record $13bn (£8bn) fine to settle investigations into its mortgage-backed securities, US media reports have said.

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Amanda Thompson, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, collapsed after eating the strawberry dessert, the court heard. Recording a verdict of accidental death, North Manchester coroner Simon Nelson concluded that something in the sorbet had triggered a fatal reaction. Holiday company Thomson offered its "deepest sympathies" to her family. Rochdale Coroner's Court heard Mrs Thompson, a 50-year-old mother of two, knew eating eggs, milk or apples would make her seriously ill. When she went on holiday to Rhodes in 2012 with her family, she told the hotel's management about her concerns. Her husband Ian told the hearing that shortly after eating the dessert his wife complained of a tingling sensation in her mouth and feared she was having a severe allergic reaction. He said she went to the hotel room and collapsed. She never regained consciousness. The inquest heard a Greek pathologist later concluded she died of natural causes, probably due to heart failure. Mr Thompson said he always believed his wife died as a result of anaphylactic shock. A British pathologist later confirmed that was indeed the cause of her death, the hearing was told. Mr Nelson said he found it "astonishing" that neither the hotel management nor holiday company had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mrs Thompson's death. Thomson said in a statement: "We note the verdict of the inquest today and we'd like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family at this extremely difficult time."

A woman who died after eating a sorbet on holiday in Greece had warned her travel agent and hotel about her food allergies, an inquest has heard.

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A row has broken out after Mr Gill attacked Neil Hamilton for offering support on the £1.1bn M4 relief road. Mr Gill denies it was the group's view, but Mr Hamilton said his colleague was late for the meeting where it was agreed. The MEP said he is fully involved in all of his jobs. Meanwhile UKIP has handed out spokespeople roles to all of its AMs - with the exception of Mr Gill. Mr Hamilton became leader of the UKIP group in May despite Mr Gill being and remaining Wales party leader. "UKIP members expect all UKIP AMs to be fully committed to their role in the Senedd and to be team players," said Mr Hamilton. "If Nathan cannot accept this, he should fulfil his commitment to the UKIP NEC (national executive committee) and Nigel Farage last January that he would not 'double-job'." The AM for Mid and West Wales added: "Nathan Gill is a part-time AM at the moment because he has not resigned from his job as an MEP in Brussels and Strasbourg. "He arrived late at our group meeting yesterday, when it was nearly over, so he missed our discussion about the M4. "He has at no time expressed any misgivings to me." Mr Hamilton told the assembly on Wednesday that UKIP was prepared to back the preferred relief road option of First Minister Carwyn Jones, a £1.1bn new motorway known as the black route. He said: "We think the black route is better than no route, and so if this is necessary to unblock the logjam we are prepared to play our part in it." Mr Hamilton said his statement in the assembly had been endorsed by everyone present at the group meeting, where the issue was "fully discussed" and had the backing of UKIP South Wales East AM David Rowlands, who will speak for the party on transport. UKIP's election manifesto said it did not agree with the black route plan "due to its excessive £1bn plus cost" - backing instead the "blue route" scheme to upgrade Newport roads. On Thursday, Mr Gill told BBC Wales: "Giving Carwyn false hope that he's going to get the black route through is not the right thing to do." He added: "We back the blue route. That is our manifesto position." Asked if Mr Hamilton's comments represented a group position, Mr Gill said: "No." He has previously said he would stand down from the European role but is yet to do so, with suggestions he would wait until after the EU poll on 23 June. Mr Gill, who is the only AM who is an MEP, later said in response to Mr Hamilton: "What evidence does he have that I am a part time AM? "I am fully involved in all of my jobs and I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing." He said that the other two AMs in the UKIP European election list, who could take the job after he stands down, are now AMs themselves. "We always said all along that we wouldn't do anything until after the referendum," he said. A spokesman for Mr Gill said: "Nathan has attended every major function that has gone on in the assembly since he was elected. "His comments on the M4 route were simply fulfilling his manifesto promise and his commitment to the A55 in North Wales." Mark Reckless, AM for South Wales East, said the matter had been discussed at a UKIP group meeting. "We continue to support the blue route - we prefer that to the black route," Mr Reckless said. But he added: "As Neil said yesterday, it's crucial that we get the M4 relief road and we would be happy for negotiations with government in respect of the black route. "If they were willing to abolish the Severn Bridge tolls, I feel that is a deal that might be attractive." Meanwhile UKIP has announced the following AMs as its spokespeople: Asked why Mr Gill was left off the list of UKIP assembly spokespeople, Mr Hamilton said: "When he has finally made his decision about which job he prefers and if he remains an AM, I will happily look at appointing him as a spokesman. "Providing of course, he is prepared to abide by collective responsibility."

The leader of the UKIP Welsh Assembly group says Nathan Gill should not "double job" as both MEP and AM if he cannot fully commit to Cardiff Bay.

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Bruce, without a club since leaving Hull in July, is favourite to replace Roberto di Matteo, who was sacked by the Championship club on Monday. Savage said Bruce has experience in the division and still lives in the area. "He took Birmingham up, he took Hull up," said the Welshman. "He won't have to travel, he won't have to uproot." Blues were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2005-06 season. But Bruce, who had been in charge of Blues since 2001, led them back to the top flight the following season - and also went on to win promotion to the Premier League with Hull twice too. Savage played under Bruce at St Andrew's and thinks Villa fans will not worry too much that Bruce used to manage their city rivals. He also says Bruce's ability to get the best out of the Birmingham players whenever they played Villa will count for a lot. "When we were in the Premier League, we absolutely battered them time after time," said Savage. "I think Villa fans will remember that. "They had better players than us but we had this team spirit, this togetherness and we battered them more times than not in massive pressure games." Villa have appointed a former Birmingham boss as manager in the past - and the outcome was not good. Alex McLeish lasted just 11 months before he was sacked in May 2012. During his reign, the Scot was often targeted by Villa supporters angry that the club had who appointed a former Blues manager as their boss. Former England defender Danny Mills told the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 live that Villa had to get the "best man for the job" and thinks Bruce could be a good option despite his association with Birmingham. "I don't understand this fixation that he was Birmingham manager, so he can't do a good job for Aston Villa," Mills said. "It makes no sense. Surely if he goes there and does a good job, fans have got to come around to that way of thinking. It's not like he was born and bred at Birmingham, played there his whole life. He's managed other clubs."

Former Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce is the "right man" to manage Aston Villa, according to former Blues midfielder Robbie Savage.

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Cerberus bought the loan portfolio for £1.3bn in 2014. It paid a £15m "success fee" to the Brown Rudnick law firm for work it had done on the portfolio. Brown Rudnick also claimed it could help Cerberus "position itself effectively with key stakeholders". Cerberus chief operating officer Mark Neporent said Brown Rudnick claimed that they could get access to the executive via the Belfast law firm Tughans. "They told us they could get us access to other stakeholders... the Northern Ireland Executive, people in the Republic," he said. Mr Neporent is giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee in Dublin. Cerberus agreed to hire Brown Rudnick on 24 March 2014 and on 25 March the Cerberus chairman Dan Quayle met First Minister Peter Robinson at Stormont. Mr Neporent agreed with committee member Mary Lou McDonald that Brown Rudnick "were as good as their word" in getting access. Nama, an Irish state agency, was established in 2009 to take control of billions of euro of bad property loans which were damaging the Irish banks. Controversy has surrounded the sales process. Brown Rudnick and Tughans had previously been working with another fund, Pimco, which was bidding for the portfolio. Pimco withdrew from the bidding process when it emerged that its fee arrangement with the firms was to involve a payment to Frank Cushnahan, a former Nama advisor. Cerberus then engaged Brown Rudnick on what it terms "a success fee only basis", meaning a fee would only be paid if the deal was done. Brown Rudnick agreed to share the success fee with Tughans. Cerberus said it received "express confirmation" from both firms that no fee or commission was payable to any current or former Nama advisors.

The investment fund which bought Nama's Northern Ireland portfolio was told by a law firm that it could get them "access" to the NI Executive, an Irish parliamentary committee has heard.

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Sergeant Peter Rayner, 34, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed on Friday. The soldier was carrying out a patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand Province. The number of British military personnel killed in operations in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 340. Sgt Rayner's wife Wendy led tributes to the "fantastic" and "loving" husband and father to son, Derek. "He loved his job and doing something which he believed in. "He will be sincerely missed by all who knew him," she said. Sgt Rayner was born into a military family, and his parents Peter and Bernadette said their son was "always full of energy and was someone who enjoyed life to the full". "As a soldier he loved his job and was totally committed to the Army, as well as his family and friends. "As a son and brother, he was a fun-loving and caring person of whom we are all very proud. "We loved him so dearly and will miss him with all our hearts." The MoD said Sgt Rayner, who had also served in Bosnia and Iraq, would be "sorely missed" and remembered for his "pre-eminence as a Javelin Commander, for his forthright manner and for his huge personality". Sgt Rayner's bravery and courage had attracted much praise in Afghanistan, it said. Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Boyd, Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, said: "He was honest, loyal and always vocal. "A true Lion of England and a man of high morals, guts and integrity. "A man who cared not just for the morale of his soldiers, but in how that morale was created. "A man with great spirit and forthrightness, who was as true as his aim was with a Javelin Missile." Major Paul Tingey, Officer Commanding Arnhem Company, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, said Sgt Rayner left a "lasting impression" on people. "He spoke his mind and always had the best interests of his men at heart. "He was someone that you could rely on to tell you exactly what he thought. I always welcomed his words of advice. "I will remember Skippy as a devoted family man, a fanatical mountain biker and one of the best commanders that I have had the privilege to work with," he said.

A British soldier killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

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Hillingdon Council's leader said it would provide funding to challenge it for "however long it takes to win this battle". Wandsworth, Richmond and Hillingdon councils spent £300,000 from their general funds on legal action. Windsor and Maidenhead Council spent £50,000 from its development fund. The details were obtained using Freedom of Information laws. Council general funds are where money for most council services is drawn, with funds raised from council tax and central government grants. The four councils failed in an attempt to challenge the decision to build the runway at the High Court in January. London Councils, the body that represents London local authorities, says that by 2020 there will be a budget gap of around £2bn in London local government, which council budgets will have to accommodate. Hillingdon Council has set aside a contingency budget of £200,000 for possible future legal action against the third runway, while Wandsworth has budgeted £25,000. The case against the runway brought by the councils was struck out by Mr Justice Cranston in January on the basis that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the claim, but further legal action against the runway may take place. John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, questioned whether the councils were making the right spending decisions. "Those are huge sums of taxpayers' money spent on legal fees which could have otherwise gone towards road maintenance or adult social care," he said. "Given that Hillingdon residents have seen their council tax rise by over 45% in real terms over the last 20 years, the decision to allocate so much money for further action raises serious questions over the council's priorities. "Many residents may well oppose the third runway, but they are free to form groups to launch legal action themselves." Stan Woods, a resident of Longford, which will be demolished to make room for the third runway, feels there is little the councils can do to affect the outcome. "I worked at Heathrow for 38 years, so can see the reason for expansion, but equally wish I could keep my home," he said. "I guess the councils feel they are acting on behalf of their communities, but to be honest this decision will be taken higher up the political ladder." Councillor Raymond Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council, said it was time the government stopped "wasting time and money" and turned its attention to finding a "workable alternative" to Heathrow. "The government spent more than £3.8 million of taxpayers' money on the expansion of Heathrow Airport in the 18 months between July 2015 and December 2016, and this figure has risen dramatically over the last few months and will continue to do so," he said. "We will continue provide both the funding and the integrity necessary to both defend and represent our residents for however long it takes to win this battle."

Four councils under Heathrow Airport's flight path spent £350,000 on legal fees challenging the planned third runway, the BBC has learnt.

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Rather than having links to radical Islamism, he was a market trader hoping to make money if the price of shares in the team fell, prosecutors say. The suspect has been charged with attempted murder, triggering explosions and causing serious physical injury. He has been identified only as Sergej W, and was staying in the team's hotel overlooking the scene of the attack. Two people needed medical help after three bombs exploded near the bus. Spanish footballer Marc Bartra underwent wrist surgery and a police officer was treated for shock. Following the attack on 11 April, Borussia Dortmund's home Champions League match against Monaco was rescheduled a day later, which led Dortmund fans to open their doors to stranded away supporters. Police initially treated the blast as a terrorist attack. However, the following week, investigators cast "significant doubt" on jihadist motivations being behind it. They now say the attack was in fact motivated by financial greed. Sergej W, 28, would have made about €3.9m euros ($4.2m; £3.2m) from his actions, Germany's Bild newspaper reported. In a statement on Friday (in German), the German federal prosecutor's office said he has German and Russian nationality. He was arrested on Friday near Tubingen in Rottenburg, south-west Germany. The suspect had allegedly bought 15,000 put options on Borussia Dortmund shares - reportedly priced at €78,000 (£65,000; $83,600) - betting that they would drop sharply after the attack. He would have made large profits if the team's share price collapsed. Experts have likened the alleged plot to a sophisticated form of insider trading - because he tried to use information not widely available to the public to make money quickly. He was staying at the team's L'Arrivée hotel in Dortmund on the day of the attack and had moved to a room on the top floor, overlooking the street where it took place, prosecutors say. The suspect placed the bet on 11 April using an IP address traced to the hotel, after taking out a loan for the money. Investigators believe three explosive devices packed with metal pins were hidden in a hedge and set off as the bus passed. The bus was damaged about six miles from the Westfalenstadion - officially called Signal Iduna Park - in Dortmund about 90 minutes before kick-off. Pictures from the scene showed its windows broken and its tyres burst.

Police in Germany have charged a man suspected of being behind an attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus.

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Transport staff are recording details of all travellers leaving by commercial air, sea and rail transport. The exit checks were set to particularly affect cross-channel ferry and Channel Tunnel travellers. The government said they were needed to combat illegal immigration and would cause the "least possible disruption". Initial reports suggested the new system had started without any major problems, with no delays at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone or P&O Ferries' terminal in Dover. For the first month all passports will be scanned but only 25% of the passport holders will have their details verified to ensure they are genuine, in a bid to minimise disruption. After a month, there will be a move to 50% verification and by the middle of June 100% verification will be introduced. Data is being collected on all passengers as they leave the UK on scheduled commercial international air, sea and rail routes. The government says exit checks are "predominately an immigration and data tool", giving a "comprehensive picture" of whether people leave the UK when they are supposed to. It says the data - gathered by airline, rail or ferry operator staff - will "improve our ability to identify and further tighten the immigration routes and visas that are most vulnerable to abuse". It will also help security services "track the movements of known or suspected criminals and terrorists". School coach parties of European Economic Area children under the age of 16 will be exempt from checks. Eurotunnel, which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel, said that it was moving to full 100% checks straight away. John Keefe, director of public affairs for Eurotunnel UK, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme passengers "shouldn't expect longer queues". He said some £2.5m had been spent on measures including refurbishing its terminal and that 50 new staff had been recruited. However, he did call for the introduction of new technology to make the process easier and faster in coming years, saying Eurotunnel expected substantial growth in passenger and truck numbers. P&O Ferries said a "quiet day" had been chosen for the introduction of the exit checks, with their spokesman adding: "The actual scanning of passports is quick, it's the verification that takes longer." John Vine, former independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, told BBC Breakfast: "It will enable the government, for the first time in a long time, to have an idea of who's left in Britain, because up until recently it's not been possible for the government to know who's overstayed their visa and who's remained in the country, and they've not known who's here and who's left." Immigration minister James Brokenshire said: "Port and travel operators are experts in their business and know their customers best, which is why we've supported them to design and trial the systems for collecting data in a way that will minimise the impact on customers." The new rules were brought in under the Immigration Act 2014. The Advance Passenger Information system, introduced in 2004, gives the government information on passengers flying in and out of the UK. The exit checks mean information will now be gathered on people leaving by any commercial transport. People arriving in the UK remain subject to passport checks. Are you travelling today? Has your journey been affected by the changes? Email [email protected] with your stories. If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. Email your pictures to [email protected], upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 Read our terms and conditions.

Data on all passengers leaving the UK is being collected and handed to the Home Office under a scheme being phased in at ports and border crossings.

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Speaking in Seattle at the start of his state visit to the US, Mr Xi said foreign firms were welcome in China, and that Beijing would not manipulate its currency to boost exports. He also denied Beijing engages in hacking but said China would co-operate with Washington on the issue. Both issues have led to strained ties. Hacking and economic reforms are expected to come up when Mr Xi meets his US counterpart Barack Obama at the White House on Friday. James Cook, West Coast Correspondent, BBC News Xi Jinping's speech at a banquet in Seattle was wide-ranging, friendly and colourful, sprinkled with Chinese proverbs and references to American culture. From Sleepless in Seattle to Walt Whitman, Mr Xi lavished praise on the culture of his hosts. He was particularly taken, he said, with Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea which follows a fisherman's epic struggle to land a huge marlin. The president talked about China's struggles too, giving a personal account of his tough teenage years working with peasants in a poor village, with no meat to eat for months on end. Now the village had an internet connection, as well as plentiful meat, he said. It was a subtle rebuke to rich Westerners who criticise China's rise, reminding them where his country is rising from. Pointedly for an American audience, he referred to the Chinese Dream which was linked, he said, to his people's yearning for a better life. When pop met political: Sleepless in Seattle and other things about Xi's speech Ahead of Mr Xi's visit, business leaders had re-iterated the difficulties US firms have operating in China and the deteriorating outlook for the economy. China's economy, which has grown rapidly in recent years, is beginning to slow, causing global concern about a fall in demand for global goods. Recent dramatic losses on the Chinese stock markets, despite government interventions, have led to questions over how well the government is managing the slowdown. But Mr Xi told a dinner meeting of business leaders on Tuesday night that ensuring robust international trade was a top priority for China. "China will never close its open door to the outside world," Mr Xi said in Chinese. He called for "more understanding and trust" between the US and China, and "less estrangement and suspicion". "Should they enter into conflict and confrontation, it would lead to disaster for both countries and the world at large," he said. The US has recently alleged that the Chinese state was behind a massive data security breach of government databases as well as attacks on private firms. But Mr Xi said China was "a strong defender of cyber security" as well as a "victim of hacking". "The Chinese government will not, in whatever form, engage in commercial thefts or encourage or support such attempts by anyone," he said. "Both commercial cyber theft and hacking against a government's networks are crimes that must be punished in accordance with law and relevant international treaties." Mr Xi is meeting a number of prominent business and technology leaders during his time in the US, and will be visiting the major Boeing aeroplane construction site in Everett, Washington state. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that Boeing has signed deals to supply 300 jets to Chinese airlines and leasing firms during the visit. It also signed an agreement with a Chinese state-owned company to set up a completion centre for Boeing 737 planes, said Xinhua. Mr Xi will be hosted at the White House for a state dinner on 25 September, and is due to give a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York on 28 September.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sought to reassure US business leaders, in a wide-ranging speech covering China's economic reforms and cyber crime.

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Media playback is not supported on this device Asked if Saturday's opponents have scrummaged illegally during the tournament, England head coach Eddie Jones said: "100%. Terribly illegally." Jones says his side have a stronger scrum, adding if the laws are enforced England "will get an advantage". Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde highlighted England's Joe Marler is a frequent infringer at the scrum. "He definitely needs to scrummage legally otherwise we will be pointing our finger," said McBryde. Wales, who are one point behind Six Nations leaders England with two games remaining, felt harshly done by at the scrum in their 28-25 win over England in the pool stage of last year's World Cup. And McBryde said loose-head Marler had been "found out" when England lost to Australia in their next World Cup game. "There was a big focus on the loose-heads' angles, particularly with [Wales prop] Gethin Jenkins being highlighted," said McBryde. "So we were very disappointed in that England game to fall on the wrong side of decisions and we felt the problem lay elsewhere." However, Jones says he is "quite upset" by Wales' approach to the set-piece. "They play the laws very well," the Australian told BBC Radio 5 live. "They pre-engage all the time, which is against the laws of the game. "And then they get penalised one or two times at the start of the game, but the referee gets sick of penalising it. "Because if the referee keeps penalising it, you know what happens? The referee gets criticised. "We really want to have a scrum contest on Saturday - it's an important part of the game - so we are really hopeful the referee enforces the law in that area." Jones added: "If you are the referee and you keep penalising Wales for pre-engaging, then all the smart guys in the commentators' box say 'this referee is ruining the game'. "But they are not ruining the game, it's the team that is scrummaging illegally which is ruining the game. "So we want the referee to be really hard, and if he has to ruin the game, he has to ruin the game."

England and Wales have accused each other of illegal scrummaging before the Six Nations showdown at Twickenham.

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Media playback is unsupported on your device 10 August 2015 Last updated at 01:41 BST New Zealand was one of the original nations involved in the TPP, which if a deal is concluded will create a "mega regional" bloc with a combined GDP of $28 trillion. Mr Key explains why he was optimistic that an agreement will be reached. Go to the Asia Business Report website for more programme clips.

Talks between 12 nations to agree the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal may have failed last week, but New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key has told the BBC that he is confident the pact will be signed by the end of the year.

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They say Argenis Hernandez was shot in the stomach on Friday in the city of Valencia and later died in hospital. Also on Friday, bus driver Wilfredo Rey died after being shot by a group of hooded gunmen in San Cristobal. At least 33 people have now been killed during weeks of protests over the high inflation and basic good shortages. Meanwhile, supporters and opponents of the president staged rival rallies in the capital Caracas on Saturday. This comes a day after riot police in the city clashed with anti-government demonstrators who were protesting against the arrest of two opposition mayors. The mayors were detained over their alleged role in the unrest. The opposition says the government is violently repressing the protests and trying to silence the administration's critics. President Maduro has blamed the violence on "fascist groups", accusing them of planning a coup against his government. He says he has repeatedly invited them to the presidential palace for talks, but that they have refused to attend. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said he accepted the invitation but is yet to meet Mr Maduro.

Two people have died from gunshot wounds during protests against President Nicolas Maduro's government, eyewitnesses and local media say.

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French-based Sanofi closed its drug manufacturing site in Fawdon in 2015 with the loss of 450 jobs. Now, Accord Healthcare is to use the plant for its pharmaceutical production, with the hope many of the jobs will be filled by ex-Sanofi staff. A spokesman said the firm was confident the investment would have an "extremely positive" impact on the area. The leader of Newcastle City Council, Councillor Nick Forbes, said: "This announcement is fantastic news for Newcastle and the North East and helps strengthen our reputation as a home for the science and healthcare sector. "Accord is a global player in the pharmaceutical industry and the highly skilled jobs and long-term investment bring a welcome boost the local economy." Accord Healthcare develops, manufactures and distributes more than 130 pharmaceutical products to about 60 countries worldwide.

A company is to take over a disused pharmaceutical plant in Newcastle, creating up to 100 jobs.

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During his emotional testimony he said Ms Steenkamp died before the ambulance arrived while he was holding her. He said he tried to help her breathe and stem the bleeding from her hip. The athlete denies deliberately shooting dead Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, arguing he mistook her for an intruder. Prosecutors contend he intentionally killed her in the toilet of his bathroom after a row. The 27-year-old Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, who is a double amputee, faces life imprisonment if convicted of murder. On Tuesday, he broke down in tears whilst describing the events leading up to the shooting and the actual event. If acquitted, South African law stipulates that the court must consider the separate, lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for which he could receive between six and 15 years in prison. Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies. There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors. On his third day on the stand, Mr Pistorius described the moments after paramedics had arrived at the scene. "They asked for some space to work so I stood up. Reeva had already died whilst I was holding her before the ambulance arrived. So, I knew there was nothing they could do for her," he told the court. He also described his distress as police and other officials arrived at the house. "I asked a policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of the blood was making me throw up," he said. His lawyer Barry Roux also asked him to demonstrate how he would swing a cricket bat. Mr Pistorius said he was on his prosthetic legs when he used the cricket bat to break down the toilet door. He said the three sounds heard by witnesses at 03:17 local time was the cricket bat hitting the door - about five minutes after he shot at the toilet door. He said he was on his stumps, when he shot at the door. "I can barely stand on my stumps," he said. During his questioning, Mr Roux also mentioned statements from close neighbours who were listed by the state but not called by the prosecution. He said the statement from Kenny Motshoane's house described hearing "crying" and not "a woman screaming", as mentioned by other witnesses. Another woman living nearby also says she heard "loud crying" and not a woman screaming, Mr Roux said. Before Mr Roux ended his questioning he asked Mr Pistorius if he had intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp. "I did not intend to kill Reeva or anybody else for that matter," he replied. On Tuesday, the athlete described how the couple had spent a quiet evening together on 13 February, Ms Steenkamp doing some yoga as he spoke to his cousin on the phone. He had then watched TV in bed with his head resting on her stomach and she would occasionally show him photos of cars she was looking at on her phone, he said. He said that they had bought Valentine's Day gifts for each other. Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate, was hit by at least three bullets while in the toilet cubicle of Mr Pistorius's home in Pretoria. 1 2 5 4 6 3 Mr Pistorius said in his statement at the start of the trial that he woke in the early hours and walked on his stumps to the balcony, pulled in two fans, closed the sliding door and drew curtains. He said that shortly before he had spoken to Reeva, who was in bed beside him. He said he rejected prosecution claims that a witness heard arguing coming from the house before the shooting. Mr Pistorius said he heard the bathroom window sliding open and believed that an intruder, or intruders, had entered the bathroom through a window which was not fitted with burglar bars. "Unbeknown to me, Reeva must have gone to the toilet in the bathroom at the time I brought in the fans," he said. Mr Pistorius said he approached the bathroom armed with his firearm, to defend himself and his girlfriend, believing Ms Steenkamp was still in bed. Both sides agree four bullets were fired. Ms Steenkamp was hit three times. Mr Pistorius said he fired his weapon after hearing a noise in the toilet which he thought was the intruder coming out of the toilet to attack him and Ms Steenkamp. He said he was in a fearful state, knowing he was on his stumps and unable to run away or properly defend himself. Mr Pistorius said he rejected claims that he was on his prostheses when he shot at the door. A witness told the trial she woke to hear a woman screaming and a man shouting for help. She said that after the screams she heard four shots. Mr Pistorius said he went back to the bedroom after shooting at the toilet door, still shouting for Reeva. Lifting himself up onto the bed, he felt over to the right hand side of it and noticed Ms Steenkamp was not there. Mr Pistorius said this was when he realised she could have been in the toilet. Mr Pistorius said he went back to the bathroom but the toilet was locked, so he returned to the bedroom, pulled on his prosthetic legs, turned on the lights before bashing in the toilet door with a cricket bat. Forensics expert Johannes Vermeulen told the court that the height of the marks on the door caused by the cricket bat suggest Mr Pistorius was on his stumps at the time. Mr Pistorius's defence team say he then called security at the gated housing complex and a private paramedic service before carrying Ms Steenkamp downstairs. A security guard claimed it was the other way round, and he had called Mr Pistorius first after reports of gunfire. However, phone records shown to the court revealed Mr Pistorius called the estate manager at 3:19am, a minute later he called the ambulance service and at 3:21am he called estate security. A minute later he received an incoming call - estate security calling him back. According to police phone expert Francois Moller, Mr Pistorius called his friend Justin Divaris a short time later and just after 4:00am he called his brother Carl.

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is back in court in Pretoria describing events after shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home.

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The drugs – 0.04g of cocaine with a street value of about £3 – were found in a bag in a glove compartment. Ahmad Zeidan, 20, claimed he was tortured into signing a confession after being arrested in December. He denied the drugs belonged to him and said the confession document was in Arabic, which he did not understand. Zeidan was studying at the Emirates Aviation College in Dubai at the time of his arrest. He claimed he was in a car with men he did not know well when the drugs were found. Following his arrest, he alleged he was held incommunicado for several days, was hooded, beaten and threatened with rape. The justice charity Reprieve said it had uncovered evidence of a systematic pattern of torture in UAE prisons and had sent a dossier to the UN special rapporteur on torture on behalf of 19 prisoners. Kate Higham, a legal investigator at Reprieve, said: "The UAE must urgently reconsider Ahmad's case, while the British government must do all it can to push for his release." A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware that a British national has received a custodial sentence in the United Arab Emirates. We are providing consular assistance."

A student from Reading has been jailed for nine years in the United Arab Emirates for possessing cocaine worth less than £5.

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The cinema chain has "provided the British public with unforgettable, cinema experiences", Bafta said. The awards will be held at London's Royal Albert Hall on 12 February. The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award is presented annually in honour of Michael Balcon, the British film producer known for his work with Ealing Studios. Previous recipients include Mike Leigh, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Working Title Films, Sir John Hurt and BBC Films. Curzon's history stretches back to 1934 with the opening of its first cinema Curzon Mayfair. Dame Pippa Harris, chair of Bafta's Film Committee, said: "I am thrilled that Bafta is honouring Curzon with the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award. "For over 80 years, Curzon has provided the British public with unforgettable cinema experiences, while championing independent, art house and foreign language film-making. "I would like to thank everyone at Curzon for their extraordinary contribution to our industry, and for their unwavering commitment to bringing the very best in film to audiences across the UK. Philip Knatchbull, Curzon's chief executive, said he was "delighted" at the award. "Curzon has a long and proud history in the British film industry and many talented and passionate people have contributed to its success story over the years," he said. "We think of ourselves as champions of bold and visionary film-making from around the world supported by our growing network of cinemas and home cinema digital platforms." Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].

Curzon will receive an outstanding British contribution to cinema prize at this year's Bafta film awards.

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In 2012, we've swung from droughts to floods, hot to cold. The impact has been felt far and wide, not least by the UK's burgeoning wine industry. With over 400 acres of vineyards in Hampshire and Sussex, Nyetimber grows the same variety of grapes that are found in the Champagne region in France. The company has been working to put English sparkling wine on the map, but this year it hasn't had much to celebrate. "Nyetimber's [vines] have been planted since 1988, and 2012 is the first year we said there is no way we can make wine," says Cherie Spriggs, a wine-maker at the company. Torrential rain and cool temperatures meant their grapes were not up to standard. "It came to early October, and we were evaluating the fruit and tasting it, and we just said this isn't going to happen. "The quality of the fruit was just not at the level that we needed in order to make sparkling wine at the quality we are striving for." Cancelling the harvest, she says, felt like a kick in the stomach. 'Erratic excursions' The culprit for much of the extreme weather that the UK has seen this year is the jet stream. Usually, this river of air in our upper atmosphere flows in a fairly straight line from the east coast of America, east across the Atlantic. It fluctuates a little all the time, but this year, it underwent large variations and then got locked in these unusual patterns. Tim Palmer, professor of climate physics at the University of Oxford, explains: "When the jet stream moves up to the north, and then travels back down to the UK, it brings with it cold air, blizzards, very severe and unpleasant weather from that perspective. "On the other hand, when the jet stream moves south, then we get these periods of intense flooding, which we have seen through the second part of this year." But Professor Palmer says that with climate change, the jet stream could become far more variable. He says: "The question of how it will change is still a very active research problem, and we don't have clear-cut answers yet. "But I think there is quite a big possibility that what we will see is the jet stream undergoing quite dramatic and erratic excursions." And the UK's geographical position under the jet stream means that we could see the worst of this. Prof Palmer explains: "I think it is a bit unwise, and possibly even a bit dangerous, to think that the climate of the UK will just gradually warm and we'll transition to a more balmy southern European climate. "If the ideas about a more fluctuating jet stream are correct, then in fact what we will be seeing is a climate with many more extremes: both extremes of wetness and flooding on the one hand, and extremes and dryness and possibly even coldness on the other." Getting prepared The exact course that the UK's climate will take is still uncertain, and scientists say we need more powerful computers and better climate models to improve how we predict our future weather. Despite this, the Environment Agency is starting to prepare for a change in our weather patterns. Flooding is a particular concern, and the agency has been working to put more early flood warnings and flood defences in place. Lord Chris Smith, the chairman of the Environment Agency, says: "If you think back to the major flooding in the summer of 2007, not only were there a large number of properties affected by the flooding, there were also some key bits of infrastructure - electricity substations and water treatment plants, which were serious threatened. "We've been trying to make sure over the period since then that our infrastructure is better protected." Other industries, such as agriculture, also need to start planning ahead, says Professor Monique Simmonds from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. In their glasshouses, scientists at Kew are looking at a variety of crops from around the world that could potentially survive a more changeable climate in the UK. "If you look at other parts of the world where you have droughts, for example, there are a lot of your mints, thymes, rosemarys that actually do quite well under warmer and drier conditions," she says. Natural solution But, says Prof Simmonds, it's also worth taking a look closer to home. "With the UK, I think one of the things we really need to do is to go back and look at some of our old varieties of crops. To go back, look for some traits associated with possible drought tolerance, or other extremes of conditions, and that can be your barleys, your oats, your peas," she explains. "We might have the solutions within those collections." But finding a plant that can cope with every kind of weather won't be easy. "It would be difficult to come up with an ideal plant that is able to tolerate drought and then tolerate very, very heavy rain and flooding," she says. "Out there in nature there is likely to be some kind of solution - the trick is to be able to identify it." Back at Nyetimber, and Cherie Spriggs hopes the cancelled harvest won't set them back too much. However, as they get ready for 2013, they are preparing for more turbulent times ahead. She says: "We often talk about an average year, but in fact I've never seen an average year. It is always different on every single occasion. "If we try to change everything according to what we have seen this year, Murphy's Law, I will be completely wrong for next year."

We're always accused of being obsessed with the weather in the UK - but this year we've had a good excuse.

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Felix Alexander, from Worcester, was 17 when he was hit by a train on 27 April last year. His mother Lucy Alexander has set up The Felix Project, launched at Pershore High School on Monday. The programme aims to help teachers spot the signs of a child being victimised and to train pupils to give peer support. See more stories from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire here It is being run by the children's charity Place2Be. Ms Alexander said: "I carry huge guilt that I did not say more when he was still alive and I feel compelled to give him a voice now." Advice she gave out to the Pershore pupils included some words on banter, saying it is only funny if people are secure in their friendships. Pershore High head teacher Clive Corbett backed the scheme, which Ms Alexander hopes will become embedded in the school curriculum. "We will train pupils to be what we call a peer mentor, and also staff from this school and other schools to make sure we are providing training for them," he said. "However well we feel we might do, we clearly can do things better." Speaking after the event, a couple of the pupils said Ms Alexander was "inspirational". She previously said her son was subjected to "cruel and overwhelming" taunts on social media, which eventually became unbearable. An inquest heard he made friends at Pershore High School, where the staff described him as bright and kind, after facing difficulties at his previous school.

The mother of a teenager who took his own life because of online bullying has set up a programme to tackle the issue.

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The woman had been out with friends in the Cowgate and Niddry Street area and was returning home at about 07:00 when she was attacked near Jawbone Walk. Police said she had been making her way through Middle Meadow Walk between 06:50 and 07:10 when she was approached by a man from behind. He knocked her to the ground before carrying out the "horrific" attack. The man, who was white, aged 20-30, 5ft 4in to 5ft 9in tall, of medium build. He was wearing a black zip-up top, dark trousers and a black beanie hat. He made off before a member of the public came to the woman's aid. Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Det Ch Insp Alwyn Bell said: "This has been a horrific attack on a young woman and she is understandably extremely distressed at this time. "Specially trained officers are currently working alongside our relevant partner agencies to offer the victim all the necessary support and assistance she requires. "This incident took place in an area that is often busy with joggers, dog walkers and other members of the public, regardless of the time, and I would urge anyone who was in the Meadows on Saturday morning and remembers seeing anything suspicious to contact police immediately." He added: "We will have high-visibility police patrols deployed within the Meadows for the time being to offer reassurance to the public and to engage with anyone who may have information relevant to this inquiry."

Police are investigating a serious sexual assault on a 19-year-old woman in The Meadows area of Edinburgh.

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That's how David Miliband, who heads the International Rescue Committee, recently phrased two pressing goals for Syria. On Monday, as a second round of peace talks gets under way in Geneva, both the worsening war and a grave humanitarian crisis will be on the agenda again. For much of the first round, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi expressed anguish over the failure of warring sides to agree, at the very least, a humanitarian ceasefire in the embattled city of Homs. Then, a few days after talks broke up, the UN announced a "humanitarian pause" had finally been reached between government and opposition forces. Suffering of Syrian Palestinians In pictures: Escaping besieged Homs Over the past three days, a temporary truce allowed more than 600 women, children and the elderly to escape the ruins of a shattered Old City which has been in rebel hands, under siege by government forces, for nearly two years. Young men who left the area were taken in for questioning by Syrian forces. Their fate is still not clear. But the joint aid convoy of the UN and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society (SARC) still came under mortar and gunfire when it entered the area with food and medicine to ease the suffering of starving people. More than 15 aid workers were pinned down, unable to exit, for hours. "All the devils in this crisis will always try to hinder our work," regretted SARC's head of operations Khaled Erksoussi, on a telephone line from Damascus with a voice tinged with exhaustion and anger. "We have to be stubborn and not lose hope about getting aid to the people in need," he emphasised. Badly needed food distribution has also started in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus which has been cut off for many months. But Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the UN's Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said the operation has had to be suspended because of clashes close to the distribution area. Such is the sad reality of the existential battle in Syria. Everything - even daily bread and innocent children - are weapons in this war. If there are, to use Mr Erksoussi's phrase, "devils in this crisis", there are also few angels. All sides are putting civilian populations in harm's way to press for advantage on the battlefield. Videos and eyewitness accounts point to attacks by pro-government forces in the latest violence in Homs but Syrian officials put the blame on "terrorists" and infighting among rebel forces. There is still no recognition on the ground of that mantra repeated endlessly outside Syria that "there is no military solution to this crisis". That is what makes the prospects for success in the Geneva talks still so slim. Like these aid operations, negotiations will be a tortuous process of small steps forward, and big lurches backward. "Its very good that it is taking place but I am sad to report there is no progress," admitted a grim-faced Mr Brahimi at the Munich Security Conference only hours after the first round ended in Geneva. "It's not often that you hear diplomats being so honest about failure," remarked one observer in the audience. He then added, only partly in jest: " You have to admit there is a certain quality to it." When the stakes are so high, and the damage in Syria so deep, there is no purpose in pretending the reality is any different. And yet, the talks were not for naught. Two warring sides, who speak only with contempt of each other, occasionally sat in the same room that week. Much of the "talks" was talking past each other, or through Mr Brahimi. But the hope is that, over time, individuals will start listening to a starkly different narrative of the war coming from their enemy. No-one expects progress to be made any time soon on the main overarching goal in this process - the establishment of a "transitional governing body" set out in the "Geneva I" document that underpins the negotiations. Syrian government officials declare that President Bashar al-Assad is there to stay unless elections or a referendum decide otherwise. The opposition insists there can be no future for Syria that includes him. In the meantime, pressure mounts for progress on the other goal that is not formally part of this process . To use David Miliband's phrase, it is how to bring "humanity to the conduct of the war". A new global coalition of aid agencies and human rights groups is taking shape to give louder voice to demands for local ceasefires, aid corridors, and a United Nations Security Council resolution on humanitarian issues alone. In recent months, under pressure from allies and aid officials, the Syrian government has been giving more visas to aid workers and has agreed to limited access in some besieged areas. But there are still many more places and people who urgently need aid. The UN estimates about a quarter of a million Syrians are in desperate need in besieged or hard to reach areas. Syria's humanitarian crisis needs, most of all, a political solution. The two goals are inextricably linked. Peace is the ultimate prize. But, when so many are starving, even the arrival of bread counts as progress in peace talks.

"If peace cannot be brought, how can humanity be brought to the conduct of the war?"

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The four-storey building in Los Cristianos, on the south of the island, collapsed at 09:30 local time (08:30 GMT), emergency officials said. The body of a woman aged about 70 was found in the rubble, local media said. Residents living near the building said they had heard a large explosion shortly before it collapsed. Three people were also injured in the incident, one seriously. Nearby apartments were later evacuated over fears of a gas leak. Arona municipality said searches for nine of the 28 people who lived in the building were continuing. It is not clear if those who are unaccounted for were in the building when it fell. Mayor Jose Julian Mena told Spain's Efe news agency it was unclear whether anyone was trapped. Emergency officials on the Canary Islands said (in Spanish) that a 57-year-old woman had suffered serious injuries to her upper body. Two others, a 28-year-old Italian man and a 55-year-old woman, were also treated, the latter after a panic attack. One nearby resident told Spain's Efe news agency there had been a strong smell of gas in the area soon after the explosion. The owner of the Hide Away Pub, a bar next to the affected building, said his terrace had been "obliterated" by the collapse. Javier Velazquez told British newspaper The Sun that if the blast had happened in the evening, the number of casualties would have been "far worse". English-language newspapers on the island say the area is popular with British tourists.

One person has died and nine others remain missing after an apartment block collapsed on the Spanish island of Tenerife.

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Mr Trump has been to the property seven times this year, including when he hosted foreign leaders. But it is unclear who else he had as guests. The move is part of a legal challenge brought by a non-profit watchdog group. Meanwhile, the outgoing head of the government ethics agency says the US has been made a virtual laughing stock. Walter Shaub told the New York Times that the Trump administration has ignored long-established guidelines, and that the flouting of ethics rules at home makes it hard for the US to tackle corruption overseas. The White House has dismissed the criticism, saying that Mr Shaub was promoting himself and had failed to do his job properly. Among the visitors that Mr Trump has hosted at his resort - which he calls the "Winter White House" - are Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The legal case for details of the visitors was launched by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew), the National Security Archive (NSA) and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. The records must be released by 8 September, a US District Court for the Southern District of New York judge decided. It is not clear what information will be revealed. The groups had also filed lawsuits for visitor records at the White House and Trump Tower in New York, a statement said. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, said it had no records of visitors at Trump Tower, while the lawsuit was still ongoing for the White House. "The public deserves to know who is coming to meet with the president and his staff," Crew Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said. "We are glad that as a result of this case, this information will become public for meetings at his personal residences - but it needs to be public for meetings at the White House as well." The Trump administration has not revealed the names of White House visitors. The Obama government started disclosing its visitor records in 2009, after a lawsuit brought by Crew.

A US court has ordered that President Donald Trump release records of visitors to his Mar-a-Lago resort in southern Florida.

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Media playback is not supported on this device "If I push it, I could go backwards or end up back on medication," he said. "There is also a chance of rejection." The former Manchester United, Newcastle and Blackburn forward suffered kidney failure in 2015 after contracting an airborne virus. He has just returned to his role as a United ambassador following surgery. The 45-year-old is not even allowed to fly to Barcelona for a Manchester United legends game on 30 June. Cole said: "It is a long road ahead. It is a tough road and different to the battles I have had before. "It is not like getting a football injury, when you go to the gym and work a bit harder." His 28-year-old nephew Alexander provided the donor kidney - "a noble job" as Cole described it. Cole has improved physically and has lost most of the weight he gained through his illness. And while there is still more work to do, Cole, who will be United's assistant manager for the return legends game against Barcelona at Old Trafford on 2 September, is looking forward to playing if a similar match is staged in 2018. He said: "I still get very tired but I can do a lot more than I was able to two years ago. If this game is played next year I want to be out there." Earlier this week, another former Newcastle and England striker, Alan Shearer, told the BBC he felt English clubs were a long way off being able to challenge for the Champions League. Cole agrees, saying: "From what I have seen in Europe, I am not sure any of the English teams will win it. They are miles apart. "If you look at Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, a lot of the players people are talking about Premier League clubs paying £50m or £60m for can't get in their teams. "That tells you where they are at."

Former England striker Andy Cole says he faces a "long road ahead" as he recovers from his recent kidney transplant.

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Revenues of £1.43bn for the six months to 25 October and underlying earnings of £218.5m were below analysts' forecasts, making the stock the worst performer in the FTSE 100. The index closed down by 38.63 points at 6,088.05. Shares in financial services group Old Mutual, which has interests in South Africa, sank more than 10%. South African's President, Jacob Zuma, sacked Finance Minister Nhalnhla Nene late on Wednesday, and South Africa's currency fell close to a record low against the dollar in reaction. Shares in mining giant Glencore jumped 7% after it announced plans to speed up the rate at which it cuts its debts. The company now aims to cut its debts to $18bn-$19bn (£11.8bn-£12.5bn) by the end of 2016, down from a previous target of "low $20s billion". British Gas owner Centrica rose 2.6% after the energy firm said it was on track to meet expectations for full-year earnings. Investors welcomed full-year results from holiday group Tui, sending their shares up 4.6%. The company - which owns the Thomson and First Choice - reported a 23% jump in full-year underlying earnings to €1.07bn (£775m) and gave an upbeat outlook for the coming year. On the currency markets, the pound slipped 0.06% against the dollar to $1.5172, but was up by nearly one cent, or 0.68%, against the euro at €1.3861.

(Close): Sports Direct shares dived 11% after the retailer's half-year results fell short of expectations.

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Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, had provisionally suspended the position last year when the allegations first emerged. It is now returning what remains of the original $20m (£13m) donation. Mr Cosby denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime. The Cosby family donated the money to the women's college in 1988 and the endowed professorship was established in the name of Mr Cosby and his wife, Camille. Mr Cosby, 78, is facing a series of historic sexual assault allegations dating back several decades. Recently released court documents from a 2005 civil case show he had admitted obtaining sedatives to give to women before sex. But Mr Cosby's lawyers said he was only one of many people who introduced the sedatives - Quaaludes - into their "consensual sex life in the 1970s". They said that at no point had Mr Cosby admitted to having any non-consensual sex or giving any women drugs without their knowledge. "Quaaludes were a highly popular recreational drug in the 1970s, labelled in slang as 'disco biscuits', and known for their capacity to increase sexual arousal," a statement said. Mr Cosby's legal team is attempting to stop a judge unsealing the full set of documents from the case, including the confidential settlement agreement. More than 12 women have accused Mr Cosby of sexual assault, but he has denied all of the claims. 2002: Lachele Covington, a 20-year-old actress, reportedly files a police report saying she had been inappropriately touched. No further action was taken. 2005: Andrea Constand sues Mr Cosby for sexual assault. The case is eventually settled out of court in 2006. 2014: Over the year, dozens of women make public accusations that Mr Cosby sexually assaulted them. Live shows are cancelled across the country amid protests November 2014: TV network NBC scraps plans for a new show with the comedian following allegations by TV presenter Janice Dickinson that he had assaulted her in 1982. Repeats of the Cosby Show are also pulled from cable TV December 2014: Judy Huth sues Mr Cosby for molesting her in 1974 when she was 15 years old. Mr Cosby counter-sues, claiming she is trying to extort money from him May 2015: Mr Cosby speaks publicly about the allegations for the first time. "I can't speak; I just don't want to argue; I don't talk about it," he told ABC News. July 2015: Court papers made public from Constand's 2005 civil case reveal Mr Cosby admitted obtaining sedatives with the intent of giving them to women he wanted to have sex with.

A prestigious African-American college has discontinued a professorship funded by the comedian Bill Cosby, following allegations that he assaulted several women.

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Construction will begin in spring 2015 and it is hoped the line, which will be extended from Kennington to Battersea, will open by 2020. Two new stations will open - Nine Elms to the east and one at the heart of the Battersea Power Station development. The full cost is expected to be up to £1bn, which will be funded by developments in the area. Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council, said: "This is fantastic news for the people of Battersea and the benefits will be felt right across Wandsworth. "This part of the borough is already coming to life with thousands of new homes and jobs and its two new Tube stations will turbo charge the process. "The Northern line extension will take the pressure off the rest of our local transport network and gives Nine Elms official Zone One status." The project was approved by the Secretary of State for Transport. The decision follows a public inquiry conducted by an independent inspector last year to consider the impact of the extension. Some residents had opposed the plans, saying it would lead to a loss of parkland and increase noise and pollution in the residential area.

The London Underground's Northern Line extension to Battersea has been given the go-ahead.

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The girl was with her parents and a younger brother when she attended St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, at about 17:40 BST on Sunday. But the family left two hours later before the girl, who police believe is diabetic, could receive treatment. Police said the girl could fall into a coma if not treated immediately. A Scotland Yard statement said: "The girl was initially seen by medical staff and her parents informed them that their child's name was Mashael Aldosari. "Detectives are unsure if this is the child's real name as the family provided a false address to staff." The family told medical staff they travelled to the UK in order for their son to receive hospital treatment. Police said they have "established that this is may not be the case". Mashael is described as being less than 5ft tall with long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a grey top, leggings and light-coloured shoes. Detectives believe the family could be from Kuwait.

Police are appealing for help locating a sick nine-year-old girl who went missing after being taken to hospital in need of urgent medical care.

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Police said Alexander Protopopov, acting deputy chief of Russia's prison service, oversaw the dismantling of the road in the far-northern Komi region. He then sold off its 7,000 reinforced concrete slabs for personal profit, they added. Officials believe the scheme cost the government more than 6m roubles ($79,000; £54,000). The road was "dismantled and driven away" over the period of more than a year, between 2014 and 2015, the Investigative Committee said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency. The concrete slabs were then used by a commercial company which also sold them on for a profit, it added. Mr Protopopov was the head of Komi region's prison service from 2010 to 2015, and won awards such as a medal for creating "spiritual unity", AFP reports. He was arrested on Wednesday and faces charges of misappropriating of state property while using his official position, which could lead to 10 years in jail, the agency adds. Another prison service official, the head of a penal colony and a businessman are also under investigation. Komi Republic is a huge region in Russia's far north, much of it forested. It has significant natural resources, including oil, gas and timber. Road construction is one of the most corrupt sectors in Russia, with costs much higher than on comparable projects in other countries, AFP reports. The construction of a mountain highway for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games cost about $8bn (£5.6bn), with Russian media claiming it would cost the same to slather the 48km road with black caviar.

A senior prison official has been detained in Russia accused of stealing a 50km (31-mile) length of highway.

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The police admitted a claim of wrongdoing in public office in 2015 after being sued by John Flynn over two attempts on his life in the 1990s. However, it appealed against an attempt to access police documents. Judges dismissed the appeal and said it was hard to contemplate a more grave subject matter. Mr Flynn has said the PSNI did not fully examine claims of security force collusion with loyalists. A notorious UVF unit, based in Mount Vernon, north Belfast, is believed to be responsible for two attempts to murder Mr Flynn. A gunman tried to ambush him as he picked up a taxi fare, and a bomb was placed under his car. It is alleged the attacker was a police informer. The PSNI argued that it had already admitted liability in the case and that producing the documents would be irrelevant, costly and divert resources from other cases. However, judges at the appeal court said the full extent of police misconduct needed to be established before compensation for Mr Flynn can be decided. The judges said discovery of documents in the case has a long and tortuous history, and that the PSNI should provide the papers as quickly as possible. Mr Flynn's claim is linked to an investigation in 2007 by former police ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan. That report found that members of the RUC Special Branch had allowed UVF informers to act with impunity, and that the Mount Vernon gang may have been involved in up to 15 murders. Mr Flynn claimed Mrs O'Loan's successor, Al Hutchinson, did not adequately implement recommendations from the 2007 report to examine whether agents' handlers committed any crimes.

The PSNI has failed in an appeal against an order to disclose police documents related to two murder attempts on a Catholic taxi driver.

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Chelmsford Prison told residents there had recently been "numerous incidents" of packages being hurled over the wall. One former inmate said the jail was "notorious" for being "flooded" with mobile phones and synthetic cannabis. The Ministry of Justice said staff worked "extremely hard" to stop contraband from getting into prisons. "However more must be done, which is why the Justice Secretary has asked us to look at how we can ensure prisons have the tools in place to tackle this kind of problem," the spokeswoman added. Follow updates on this story and other news from Essex A woman who lives near the prison, who did not want to be named, said she had witnessed packages being thrown over the wall "four times in two weeks." "It's getting quite bad at the minute. The prison wants us to come to an evening to talk about what to do if anything does get thrown over," she said. "I don't feel frightened, but obviously it's not nice - I always lock the doors and everything." The former inmate claimed drones were used to fly contraband goods "straight up to prison windows", but the Ministry of Justice said there was no evidence of drones coming into the Chelmsford site. The spokeswoman said laws had been introduced which mean people who smuggle packages over prison walls could be jailed for up to two years.

A prison has written to people who live nearby asking them to help stop packets of "illicit articles" being thrown over the jail walls.

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The singer - who is the first woman to win the award twice - also won best pop vocal album and best music video for her track Bad Blood. Rapper Kendrick Lamar won the most prizes on the night with five awards. British singer Ed Sheeran also won his first two Grammys for song of the year and best pop solo performance for his number one hit Thinking Out Loud. See the list of key winners A surprised Sheeran beat Lamar, Swift, country group Little Big Town and Wiz Khalifa to the song of the year accolade. "We wrote [the song] on a couch in my house. Thanks to my parents who've flown to the Grammys every year for the last four years and every time I lose I say 'maybe next year'," he said as he collected the award. "If you'd told my 11-year-old self I would receive an award from Stevie Wonder I'd be chuffed." Swift was equally surprised at winning the top honour. Her album, which was released in 2014, came out too late to be eligible for last year's awards so was finally recognised at this year's ceremony. She gave a powerful acceptance speech saying: "As the first woman to win album of the year at the Grammys twice, I want to say to young women: There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. "But if you focus on your work and don't let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you're going, you'll look around and you'll know it was you and the people that love you that put you there. And that will be the greatest feeling in the world." Lamar's wins included best rap album for To Pimp A Butterfly; best rap song and rap performance for Alright; best rap/sung collaboration and best music video, which he shared with Swift for Bad Blood. Alabama Shakes were triple winners. They collected best alternative music album while their song Don't Wanna Fight won best rock song and rock performance. The Weeknd also picked up two Grammys for best urban contemporary album and best R&B performance. Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars won two awards for their hit Uptown Funk, including record of the year, while Meghan Trainor was named best new artist. British rock band Muse also won best rock album for Drones, and Tony Bennett collected his 18th Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album. Justin Bieber also won his first Grammy for his collaboration with Skrillex and Diplo, winning best dance recording for Where Are U Now. Outside the main categories, Amy - Asif Kapadia's documentary on the life of Amy Winehouse - won the Grammy for best music film. Swift opened the ceremony with a rendition of her song Out of the Woods and was one of many who performed during the show, along with Lamar, Adele, Ellie Goulding, James Bay and The Weeknd. Adele's performance was slightly hampered, however, by audio problems which appeared to throw the singer. She later tweeted: "The piano mics fell on to the piano strings, that's what the guitar sound was. It made it sound out of tune." Rihanna had also been due to perform, but pulled out at the last minute on doctor's orders due to bronchitis. There were also a number of acts who gave tribute performances - Lady Gaga sang a medley of David Bowie songs, Jackson Browne and The Eagles performed in honour of Glenn Frey and Stevie Wonder remembered Earth Wind and Fire's Maurice White. Hollywood Vampires - a supergroup made up of stars including Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry - also performed in tribute of Motorhead's Lemmy.

Taylor Swift's 1989 has won the coveted album of the year award at this year's Grammys in Los Angeles.

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The Taiwanese firm, also known as Foxconn Technology, posted a net profit of NT$37bn ($1.2bn; £814m) in the October to December quarter. It also reported a 16% jump in full year profit for 2012 to NT$94.8bn. Foxconn is the world's biggest contract electronics maker and Apple is one of its biggest clients. According to some estimates, orders from Apple account for almost half of Foxconn's total revenue. In the October to December quarter, Apple had sold 47.8 million iPhones, up from 37 million a year earlier. Meanwhile, the launch of iPad mini, also boosted sales of its tablet PCs - it sold 22.9 million iPads, compared with 15.4 million in the same period in 2011. However, the heavy reliance on Apple has also raised concerns that Foxconn's growth may slow in the coming months. Some analysts said the rapid rate of growth that smartphones and tablet PCs had seen in recent years could not be sustained. "In most of the developed economies, smartphones are at a mature penetration stage and tablets are pretty close to being at that stage," said Andrew Milroy of consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan. Mr Milroy added that Apple had so far not been able to replicate the success it enjoyed in the developed economies in emerging markets. He explained that in the emerging economies, Apple products were still very expensive and out of reach for many consumers. At the same time, Apple is facing increased competition from other smartphone makers in those markets. "They are being hammered by low-cost smartphones in countries such as China," he said. The fear is that if Apple's growth rate slows, it will have a knock on effect on suppliers such as Foxconn.

Hon Hai Precision Industry, a major assembler of Apple products, has posted record quarterly profits helped by growing demand for iPhones and iPads.

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Members of the city council's transport and environment committee agreed on Tuesday a traffic regulation order enabling the charges. It is now planned to introduce the 20mph network over six phases. Phase one of the £2.2m project covers much of the city centre, from Queen Street to the Meadows. Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh city council's transport convener, said: "The aim was to create safer, more attractive streets for all road users." The limit, which will eventually cover 80% of the capital's roads. The roll out will be complete by 2018. The scheme is designed to improve safety and encourage more people to walk or cycle. Despite the change, speed limits on key arterial routes into the city will remain at 30 or 40mph. About 50% of the city's roads are already 20mph. Phase two of the project, in the north of the city, is due to begin in October. Phase three is to start in February 2017, then phase four in June 2017, phase five in October 2017 and phase six in February 2018.

Edinburgh is closer to becoming the country's first 20mph city after councillors approved plans to begin rolling out the speed limit.

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Wa-ays Dhaye, 18, died from multiple knife wounds after being attacked in Thurston Street, Slough, in August. He was walking home after spending the day at Notting Hill Carnival. Khianni Gordon was jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years for murder while Kaneel Huggins and Antwon Clarke were given 10 and nine-year sentences respectively for manslaughter. Gordon, 18, was also convicted of perverting the course of justice. Clarke and Huggins' sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Huggins, 19, had his sentence increased to 16 years, and Clarke, 18, had his sentence increased to 15 years. Gordon's sentence was not considered by the court. Speaking after the hearing, Attorney General Jeremy Wright said: "These offenders knowingly participated in the plan to assault and injure Wa'ays Dhaye knowing full well that really serious harm or death could be caused. "Knife crime is a real scourge of our society and it's important that prison terms for this type of crime reflect the seriousness of the offending." Mr Dhaye, who was born in Holland but lived in Slough for 10 years, was stabbed while walking home after spending August bank holiday at the Notting Hill Carnival. He died later in hospital. Det Ch Insp Kevin Brown of Thames Valley Police, said the three had "hunted down" Mr Dhaye following a minor altercation between two groups at the carnival. He said: "The three of them left Wa-ays dying in the street and it was members of the public who found him and came to his aid." Update 21 November 2016: This story has been amended following updated information supplied by the Attorney General about the sentencing

Two men from High Wycombe jailed for a fatal stabbing have had their sentences increased by the Court of Appeal.

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Cheesman, a three times Oxford Blue, joined the Championship side in 2012 and has made over 100 appearances. Club captain Morgan has amassed over 200 games since joining from Newbury in 2008, and has earned representative honours for the Barbarians. Forwards coach Alan Paver said: "Alex is one of the best back-rowers in the Championship, and Morgs is a legend." The Pirates have already agreed new deals with prop Marlen Walker and back row Dan Lee whilst another prop, Tyler Gendall, has gone on loan to Harlequins until the end of the season. Gendall, 22, made his Quins debut in the win at Worcester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The Cornish Pirates are seventh in the Championship and two points off the play-off places ahead of Sunday's home game against London Scottish.

Forwards Chris Morgan and Alex Cheesman have signed new two-year contracts at the Cornish Pirates.

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Police were called to Jackson Road in Clacton at about 21:10 BST on Tuesday. The female officer was seriously hurt and remains in hospital and a colleague who also tried to intervene received a minor leg injury, Essex Police said. A 23-year-old woman from Clacton and a man aged 21 were arrested and have been released under investigation. Police are appealing for witnesses. More news from Essex The "disturbance between a group of adults and youngsters" began in Jackson Road and moved to the corner of West Avenue and Agate Road, the force said.

A police officer has been slashed in the face with gardening shears during a large-scale disturbance in Essex.

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Media playback is unsupported on your device 14 January 2015 Last updated at 18:28 GMT The carriage has spent four months at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum in Shildon. It took the World War Two prime minister's coffin from London to Oxfordshire in 1965. The restoration cost about £30,000. Look North's Ian Reeve reports.

A railway carriage that carried Sir Winston Churchill's coffin to his final resting place has been restored in County Durham.

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Dr Helen Nicoll, 53, was found dead at home in Frog End, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire, on Friday. Her husband and partner in their dental practice, Stephen Nicoll, 53, was arrested on suspicion of murder before being released on Tuesday. A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Nicoll died from asphyxiation. Mr Nicoll was released by police with no further action and his bail cancelled. The couple had three children and worked together in their clinic in Hurst Park, Cambridge while Mr Nicoll also practises in London's Harley Street. Mr Nicoll said in a statement: "These last few days have been the worst of my life. "Nobody can understand the true loss that my children and I have experienced following the discovery that my wife Helen has taken her own life. "I would ask everybody, particularly the media, to respect our privacy and allow us to come to terms with our devastating loss and to begin the grieving process as a family following this tragedy." He added his family had "fully co-operated" with police and his wife's death had been referred to the coroner. Mr Nicoll's solicitor Paul Oliver said: "The arrest of Mr Nicoll in the immediate aftermath of the death of his beloved wife and the consequential media interest in this tragic case compounded the distress caused to him and his family. "The police have confirmed Mr Nicoll is not a suspect and he and his family now ask that their right to grieve in private be respected."

The husband of a dentist who was arrested over her death has said she "took her own life" as he told of his family's "devastating loss".

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Edwards, 27, who can play in defence or midfield, played before for Barwell and Nottingham Trent University. "He's been a standout performer over the last couple of seasons and will be an asset to the squad," Solihull manager Liam McDonald said. Edwards becomes Solihull's fifth signing this week following the arrivals of Luke Benbow, Chris Lait, Kalern Thomas and Shomari Barnwell. Meanwhile, midfielder Shep Murombedzi has agreed a new one-year deal with the National League side. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Solihull Moors have signed Jack Edwards from Leamington on a one-year contract.

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The 34-year-old was in intensive care in a Swiss hospital and an MRI scan detected bleeding on the brain. His mount Boomerang Bob was brought down and fatally injured in the race. The Injured Jockeys Fund said: "In due course George will leave the intensive care area to the rehabilitation wing of the Wellington Hospital."

Jockey George Baker has returned to England for treatment in London after his heavy fall on a frozen lake track in St Moritz, Switzerland last month.

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The Scottish FA says the paperwork for the player who joined Celtic from Ashdod in 2012 was completed in time before the 23:00 GMT deadline. But their English counterparts have different rules regarding work permits. And the 28-year-old, who has played 51 times for his country, does not automatically meet the FA's criteria. Because Nigeria are ranked 50th in the world, he would require to have played at least 75% of their country's matches over the previous two years. Ambrose played twice last year and three times in the previous 12 months. The defender has fallen out of favour at Celtic this season since Brendan Rodgers took over as manager. He has only made two appearances, the last being a Champions League qualifier against Astana in July. Should he join Blackburn, he could partner former Celtic team-mate Charlie Mulgrew, who made the switch last summer, in the Championship side's central defence. However, he has also played at right-back and for Nigeria in central midfield. His move came on a day when Chelsea failed in a bid to sign Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon, while nothing came of reports of interest from the English Premier League leaders in his team-mate, striker Moussa Dembele. The only other movement out of Celtic on deadline day was goalkeeper Leo Fasan and defender Jamie McCart joining Port Vale and Inverness Caledonian Thistle respectively on loan and winger Michael Duffy leaving on a permanent transfer to Irish club Dundalk.

Efe Ambrose's proposed loan move from Celtic to Blackburn Rovers is awaiting an English FA ruling over a work permit for the Nigeria defender.

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The event, Remembering, Forgetting and Moving On, was organised by Cardiff University's School of Journalism. It was held as the community prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of a coal waste tip sliding on to the village school and 18 homes on 21 October 1966. It killed 116 children and 28 adults. People in the audience felt moved to stand up and tell their own stories after hearing from the speakers. Yvonne Price from Merthyr Tydfil, who was one of the first four police officers at the scene, stood up and revealed she was being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder. She said on the day of the disaster she had to climb through a window into the school as she was the only person there small enough to do so. She said she had to clear the way for the others and spent that first day helping pass victims through the windows. The following morning she was back at the scene, she said, and was appointed as the mortician's assistant after being asked to identify the colour of a child's eyes at the mortuary. She recalled being given brandy all day long. She said she had kept it to herself for 45 years but finally "had to get it out of my system" five years ago. Survivor Jeff Edwards, who went on to become Merthyr Tydfil council leader, was one of the speakers and said he had told his story many times over the last 50 years and that he was now able to talk about it more easily without getting upset. "Many have been unable to talk about their experience at all, they're still bottling up their anger and frustration within themselves. "My advice to anyone is to speak about it." Steve Gerlach, one of three siblings to survive the disaster, was in the audience and said it was the first time he had spoken in public about what happened. Mr Gerlach, whose family moved to Weston-Super-Mare the year after the disaster, said: "I'm the eldest. My brother, a year younger, was physically injured when he was hit by the slurry. My sister and I walked out fine. "I hadn't come here with any prepared speech, but it was after hearing what the others said (I wanted to speak)." He said his family had not discussed it for the first 40 years and he grew up not knowing very much about what happened. "I teach religious studies and I'm very involved with holocaust studies, I've met survivors, taken children to Auschwitz and I've heard people talking about the need to remember, but it's how we remember that's important as well. "In some cases remembrance of the holocaust has become an industry and that's difficult for survivors to see their story being packaged and used." Former BBC news editor Elwyn Evans, told the conference he was sent to the scene in his first job on a newspaper. He said he had spent the last 50 years trying to forget the experience, but chose to speak about it publicly for the first time at the conference. He was 17 at the time and 21 October 1966 was his last day at the Merthyr Express having undertaken six weeks' holiday relief work with the newspaper. "People like to say they were the first journalist at the scene. I wasn't a journalist but I was there at one of the worst peacetime disasters of the 20th century," he said. He added that on a personal note the disaster had made him sensitive to the suffering of others when he went on to pursue a career in journalism. Veteran broadcaster Vincent Kane, who reported on the disaster and its aftermath, said he felt the community were betrayed by the media. "Somehow or other after the disaster, as controversy followed controversy, a general climate of opinion developed that the surviving community appeared to be a problem, awkward, greedy and grasping troublemakers," he said. He said the media failed to expose the lies and say what the real problems were. "The Aberfan community were the victims not the problem. "The press, the media, has an abiding responsibility to probe and penetrate, in Aberfan, perhaps Wales' darkest hour in the 20th century, we should have been passionate in pursuit of the truth. Instead, we were pedestrian." Gaynor Madgwick, who survived the disaster but lost two siblings, has written a book in a bid to get closure. But she said there were some in the community still not ready to speak about what happened. She said: "There are people at the moment, one woman is seeing a psychiatrist because she cannot face the 50th anniversary. She knows it will open so many wounds. She doesn't know how she's going to cope. "Others who are in their 70s, 80s, 90s want to tell their stories because an end is coming."

Survivors, rescuers and journalists involved in the Aberfan disaster have spoken of their experiences publicly, many for the first time in 50 years, at a conference in Cardiff.

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In 2015, there were 412 district nurses in Wales, down 42% from 712 in 2009, figures have shown. The Royal College of Nursing said it was placing pressure on GP surgeries and emergency departments. The Welsh Government said overall, the total number of nurses providing community services had increased. District nurses are senior, experienced nurses sometimes compared to being the GPs of nursing and clinically supervise less experienced staff or those with fewer qualifications, such as health care workers. The Welsh Government figures showed that in six of the seven health boards in Wales, the number of district nurses has fallen between 2009 and 2015. Only staffing at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board remained at the same level it was six years ago. The RCN said it wanted more information gathered about outcomes for people being nursed at home instead of in hospital. It said it was concerned the move to look after more people at home could have affected the care people receive. In hospitals, outcomes are measured - such as with waiting lists - but there are less ways to judge nursing care received at home, it added. Tina Donnelly, director of the RCN in Wales, said it has "undoubtedly" contributed to to GP waiting times and possibly re-admissions to hospitals, as more care is given in the community. She also claimed district nurses have seen a big increase in their caseloads over the past few years, from around 30 patients to 150. "That beggars belief in terms of the absolute contact time that nurse will be able to spend with that patient," she said. A Welsh Government spokesman said while the number of district nurses had fallen, the overall number of nurses providing community services had increased by 17% over the past six years, from 3,338 full time equivalent community nursing staff in 2009 to 3,915 in 2015. "This is largely because health boards are keen to develop a more effective skills mix at local level, using highly experienced district nurses to direct, lead and advise community nursing teams," he said. "With regards to outcomes for patients, the recently launched NHS Outcomes and Delivery Framework 2016-17 - which was developed through engagement with patients, clinicians and stakeholders - identifies key outcomes and priority areas the NHS must be measured against. "The framework has been balanced to ensure that all aspects of care are represented, including care provided in the community."

The number of district nurses in Wales has fallen to its lowest level in six years, prompting concern patients who are cared for at home could be at risk.

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MPs on the Public Accounts Committee accused them of making corporate taxable income "vanish into thin air". But the tax chiefs, including from PwC and KPMG, said many common assumptions about avoidance schemes were wrong. Jane McCormick, KPMG's tax head, said there was "no appetite among clients" to do anything outside the law. The committee was taking evidence from the Big Four accountancy firms, which also includes Deloitte and Ernst & Young, at a time when issues of tax avoidance have moved centre stage. Revelations about the tax arrangements of companies including Google, Amazon and Starbucks - which use the Big Four - have sparked a debate about tax avoidance. Last week, Prime Minister David Cameron said countries had to work together to clamp down on aggressive avoidance schemes. The tax heads defended the use of tax havens, arguing that it was wrong to say that companies just routed money through "doors with a brass nameplate". If a company is registered in a tax haven, it has to have staff and facilities there, said Kevin Nicholson, PwC's head of tax. "If there was no substance there, the advice would not work," he said. The panel of experts also rejected suggestions that by advising companies to avoid tax, they were breaching the spirit of the Companies Act, which requires directors to act in good faith and maintain high standards. Asked by PAC chairwoman Margaret Hodge about the legality of some avoidance advice, the tax heads accepted that 10 or more years ago, the advice may have sailed closed to the wind. However, John Dixon, tax head at Ernst & Young, said: "The advice we give is based on substance and fact. I think that the world you refer to is gone." The four experts were also questioned on their relationship with government. All the Big Four provide technical advice to Whitehall on the drafting of tax legislation. The MPs accused the firms of then advising corporate clients on how to avoid this legislation. Ms Hodge said the firms should be barred from getting government contracts in order to avoid a conflict of interest. But PwC's Mr Nicolson said: "The role we play makes the tax system work." As the committee hearing came to a close, the tax experts also took exception to Ms Hodge's parting shot. She praised their abilities, intelligence and expertise, adding: "You could give so much more to the public good, but you choose to work in areas that reduce resources" for schools, hospitals and society. All the experts replied that they were very proud of what they did.

Tax chiefs at the big accountancy firms have defended themselves against claims they are behind avoidance schemes that damage the UK's interests.

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With more than half the votes counted, President Juan Manuel Santos is leading his conservative rival Oscar Ivan Zaluaga with slightly more than 50%. The campaign has been dominated by discussions on the ongoing peace talks with the leftist Farc rebel group. Mr Santos, who launched negotiations in November 2012, lost the first round last month by a narrow margin. Mr Zuluaga says he will impose tougher conditions in order to carry on with the talks. More than 32 million Colombians were eligible to vote, but the turnout was low in the first round at just over 40%. Mr Zuluaga, 55, is a former finance minister. He received 29% of the vote in the first round, compared to 26% for Mr Santos. Their main disagreement between the two candidates seems to be on how to end a five-decade long conflict with the country's main rebel group, the Farc. Mr Zuluaga initially said he would pull out of the talks and boost military attacks on the weakened rebel group. That is the line adopted by his mentor, former president Alvaro Uribe, who was elected senator this year and is still one of the most influential figures in Colombian politics. Later in the campaign he said he would continue to negotiate with the Farc provided the rebels renounced military action during the talks. Mr Santos, 62, is aiming to conclude negotiations by the end of the year. Government negotiators and rebel leaders have held several rounds of talks in the Cuban capital, Havana. They have agreed on three points of the agenda drawn up in 2012: land reform, future political participation and drug trafficking, which is allegedly the main source of income for the rebels. Three other points remain to be agreed on: the rights of the victims, disarmament of the rebels and the implementation of the agreement. On the eve of the vote, Colombia stopped to watch the national team in its opening match in the football World Cup. Both candidates were quick to congratulate the team on its 3-0 victory over Greece in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte. "This win for Colombia has moved us; and tomorrow [Sunday], we need to wrap things up by winning the presidency," said Mr Zuluaga. "Let's go, Colombia. We started things off at the World Cup on the right foot. And tomorrow [Sunday] peace is going to be the winner," said Mr Santos. Polls opened at 08:00 local time (13:00 GMT) and closed at 16:00. Results are expected shortly after polls close, as ballots are electronic.

Colombians have voted in a runoff election between the incumbent president and a conservative rival.

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Within minutes, water cannon showered the demonstrators and there were loud thuds as tear gas canisters were fired. People ran into the side streets of this poor neighbourhood, on the edge of the capital, with their eyes streaming. "Let the world see what is happening in this country," yelled one elderly man. "We will never stop until this... government goes." Ordinary Egyptians appear to be losing their fear of direct confrontation with the security forces. There have been bloody and drawn out clashes all over Cairo and in some of Egypt's main cities. They have a long list of grievances and the demands are an explicit challenge to their rulers. "We want a real democratic system. This regime of Hosni Mubarak has been in power for 30 years," declared Ahmed, a man in his 20s. "I was unemployed for five years. I had to move to the United Arab Emirates. This is what I was dragged into. My son will not suffer what I have suffered. This ends here." When you talk to people, they tell you economic reforms have not eased the poverty of Egypt's masses, education and social services are inadequate, and they complain of high levels of corruption and political stagnation. "We are so furious. We must have change, better chances to work, to buy a flat and have just the life's basics," said a bank clerk clutching an Egyptian flag. "What happened in Tunisia has changed things a bit. It knocked some sense into people." Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei - who joined worshippers in Giza - was swiftly moved inside the gates of the mosque as clashes began. "One, two, ElBaradei where are you?" was the cry that then went up outside. Some expressed disappointment that the Nobel Laureate - who set up the National Association for Change opposition coalition when he returned home to Egypt a year ago - had not taken a more prominent role in protests. He has put up supportive messages on his Twitter account but was absent, in Vienna, for the first "Day of Rage" on Tuesday. He returned to Cairo on Thursday night. "I support ElBaradei, my father wants (Arab League Secretary General) Amr Musa," one man said. "We could have ElBaradei or anyone else," added Amgad, who had brought his young children along to witness the protest. "We need change, not any specific person." The main opposition movement, the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, subtly changed its message ahead of the latest protests. Despite the reported arrest of some senior figures, deputy leader Mahmoud Izzat spoke encouragingly of the protests. "People are demanding freedom, the dissolution of this invalid parliament. From the beginning this is what the young people have been shouting and we are with them," Mr Izzat told the al-Jazeera news channel. And he went on to criticise "the excessive force" of the security services. With multiple flashpoints across Egypt, many thousands of uniformed police, plain-clothed officers and paid thugs have been deployed. They line the bridges and main routes into central Cairo. While they remain strong and well-resourced, there have been unprecedented sights. In one case, a group of protesters tried to push an armoured vehicle into the River Nile. Attempts to close down mobile phone communications and access to Facebook, Twitter and Blackberrry messenger appear to have been ineffective in preventing the co-ordination of opposition activities. Demonstrators in the capital have simply regrouped in traditional gathering places downtown - such as Ramses Square and Tahrir Square. With Egyptians tuned into Arab satellite stations to watch dramatic scenes unfold, a curfew in Egypt's main cities was announced. However, as sirens blared on the darkening streets it was unclear how effective this will be.

"Go, go, Mubarak go" and "the people need to end this regime" shouted the angry crowds around al-Istiqamma mosque in Cairo's Giza Square, as they shook their fists at the lines of helmeted riot police after Friday prayers.

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The away side were 43-4 when the impressive Tom Taylor (6-61) trapped Alviro Petersen lbw, but Ashwell Prince (97) and Steven Croft (70) put on 160. Lancashire were 264 ahead when their ninth wicket fell, but Davies (89) and Jarvis (17 not out) added valuable runs to leave a far tougher target of 365. Derbyshire then lost both openers cheaply to end the day on 27-2. Wicketkeeper Davies struck nine fours and five sixes to reach his highest first-class score as he dominated the partnership with Jarvis. Peter Siddle and Tom Bailey then took the wickets of openers Ben Slater and Billy Godleman with Derbyshire needing to make the highest score of the match to win. Lancashire's Alex Davies: "A lead of 250, 260 is quite slender going into a full day tomorrow so we knew we had to hang around and help the team get into a good position. "Those extra runs will give us a bit more scoreboard pressure. The pitch is still doing a bit laterally and will start to go up and down as well which will help us. "I think the weather is set fair and if we bowl anything like (we can), we should be able to knock them over." Derbyshire's Tom Taylor: "I think it's definitely possible (for Derbyshire to win), it's just how many big partnerships we can get and we've got to chip in. "The ball has swung and it will swing again in the morning so it would be a great win but we fancy ourselves to try and get them tomorrow."

Lancashire's Alex Davies and Kyle Jarvis put on 100 for the 10th wicket to frustrate Derbyshire on day three.

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Steve, who presents Deadly 60 on CBBC, says "it's pretty crazy that the word 'bullying' was bandied around." "It's not a word that should be used lightly and certainly not one that I ever used," he said. The pair dismissed claims earlier this month and Ola's husband James Jordan attacked Strictly producers over it. Ola has now said that she knows people will believe how it was reported by the Daily Mail even if it wasn't true. "Yes they do think it's true," reflects Ola, "and it is hard being on a show for nine years and suddenly being called names, it's very hard". Steve and Ola were in the bottom two on Strictly at the weekend and then lost the dance off so have now left this year's competition. "It's been weird for me," says Steve, "that the job I do has very little press and tabloid attention and all of a sudden having all these stories coming out and not really knowing what to do with it and how to handle it has been probably the biggest learning experience of Strictly for me". In a joint interview, Steve went on to say that "the best thing" to do when the bullying claims surfaced "was to show that we were unified, that we were together as a team and to make sure that we just carried on smiling and carried on dancing and carried on doing our thing." "And in some ways not to dignify it with a response," he added. "In other ways when it's decisively brought up to answer it as truthfully as we can and I think that we've done that and it will blow over." If you've been affected by bullying and want to find out about the help that's available, go to The Surgery's homepage on the BBC Radio 1 website. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Steve Backshall has spoken about his disappointment that it was reported he was bullied on Strictly Come Dancing by his dance partner Ola Jordan.

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Batsman Root is the favourite to take over from Alastair Cook, who stepped down on Monday after a record 59 Tests. The Yorkshire player had been Test vice-captain to Cook since May 2015. "Root is fairly quiet but he has got that fire in his belly. He's a really impressive young man," Anderson told The Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show. Should he be named captain aged 26, Root would be a year younger than Cook was when he took on the Test role on a full-time basis in August 2012. No batsman has scored more Test runs than Root's 4,594 since he made his debut on 13 December 2012, and only India captain Virat Kohli (8,536) has scored more runs than Root's 8,469 in all three forms of international cricket. Anderson, England's leading Test wicket-taker, has played under five full-time Test captains since making his debut in May 2003. The 34-year-old has served Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss and Cook, as well as Andrew Flintoff who deputised for several Tests in 2006 and 2007. "Root gets into situations, one-on-ones, with people. He speaks a lot of sense when he does speak and he's a really impressive young man," explained Anderson. "He's the obvious candidate. The decision is a big one because he's our best player, so you obviously don't want that to be affected." Media playback is not supported on this device While they do not play another Test until July, England then play seven home Test matches - against South Africa and West Indies - in three months, before travelling to Australia in November for the Ashes. Root scored 1,477 Test runs in 2016, making centuries against South Africa, Pakistan and India, as well as scoring 796 runs in one-day internationals and 297 in Twenty20 internationals. "He loves cricket. It's very rare you see a player that's had the success he's had and he's not like that," Anderson said. "In the brief period Alastair Cook's been off the field - for bathroom breaks - Root's been in there making changes. He's been good. "It can be a difficult situation for a vice-captain when the captain goes off, you're in charge and myself and Stuart [Broad] might not make it that easy to go up and talk tactics. However he's done that and he's been good." Root has led Yorkshire four times in the County Championship, taking charge when the county secured the 2014 County Championship title after then-captain Andrew Gale was suspended. He was also the on-field captain when Middlesex, led by Australian batsman Chris Rogers, made a record 472-3 to beat Yorkshire by seven wickets in the same year. All-rounder Ben Stokes, who was vice-captain on the recent limited-overs tour of Bangladesh which regular ODI skipper Eoin Morgan missed, was described as a "natural leader" by his Durham skipper Paul Collingwood. "Ben has got a natural draw to him and he would be an excellent vice-captain for Root," former England limited-overs captain Collingwood said on the Tuffers and Vaughan show. "The captain will have leaders underneath him that he knows he can go to - I think Ben Stokes would be the perfect man for that." Fast bowler Stuart Broad has also been mooted - he captained the Twenty20 side between 2011 and 2014 - and Anderson said: "I wouldn't be against a fast bowler but one issue could be fitness. "Bowlers get injured a lot more so are they going to play every game? The international schedule is hectic so it can be difficult." Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who led the one-day side in Bangladesh in Morgan's absence and remains the official limited-overs vice-captain, has also been suggested as a possible candidate. However, the Lancashire player's Test place is not guaranteed given current keeper Jonny Bairstow's good form - although Buttler played as a specialist batsman in the last three Tests of the recent India series. Ex-England spinner Graeme Swann told BBC Radio 5 live he felt the pressure of potential Test captaincy was already affecting Root's batting. "I think we should leave Joe Root to be the best batsman this country has ever produced, which he would be without the burden of being the captain," he said. However, Kohli, along with Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealand's Kane Williamson, have each raised their games since becoming captains of their respective countries. Smith and Kohli are the two top-ranked Test batsmen, while Williamson is one of 13 men to have scored a Test century against all of the other nine Test-playing nations. "It's very English to assume the captaincy will affect him. The other three have got captaincy of their country and gone to a different level with it," said ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan, who came through the same Sheffield Collegiate club side and Yorkshire academy ranks which produced Root, and has been a long-term mentor to the young right-hander. "I don't think there's an issue with him captaining, he's too good a player. I think he'd be a good one. "To captain any team you have to be loving the game, love the difficult moments and prove people wrong. He is that kind of character." England and Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance, who was named captain of the county in December 2016, said that his team-mate Root's inexperience was not an issue in him assuming the captaincy. The pair lived together in 2011 during their early years in the Yorkshire first team and Ballance took Root's place when he was dropped for the final Test of England's Ashes whitewash in Australia in 2013-14. "I think both of us have probably matured a bit more as cricketers and people. He's ready as a leader now in that England changing room," Ballance told BBC World Service's Stumped programme. "I think Rooty's a natural born leader. He's done it from a young age. People follow him. "He speaks well, he's got a great cricket brain. I don't think inexperience is too much of a problem. He'll be ready if he gets the opportunity."

Joe Root is the "obvious candidate" to be named as England Test captain - but the role must not affect his batting, says pace bowler James Anderson.

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Poole Borough Council plans to put charges up by 10% in 2017 and by 5% every year until 2020. Poole Beach Hut Association said beach huts were being treated as "cash cows". The authority said the rent rise "reflected high demand". Almost 1,400 names are on the waiting list for hiring its 1,100 seaside huts annually. Council figures show prospective beach hut tenants could face a minimum wait of up to 18 years at some of its seven locations. Bob Lister, from the association, said demand was lower due to the fact applicants could pay to apply for huts in more than one site. "We know that most of those members who got huts last year had waited less than two years," he said. "We've found there are people waiting for a specific hut and that is distorting the figures." Mr Lister said rent on his own hut would be more than £2,500 by 2020- an increase of £1,100. "For a lot of beach hut owners who live in flats, the hut is their life, their garden, their community - at these prices they'll be for the holiday home people and the 'Sandbanks set' who can afford them, rather than the people who actually need it," he added. Kevin McErlane, from the council, said: "Demand for our beach huts continues to rise and for those people who do not wish to hire a hut on an annual basis there are a number of alternative options available."

Beach huts at a Dorset resort could become unaffordable following rent hikes, tenants have claimed.

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Alexander Reid repeatedly told Department of Work and Pensions staff in application forms and at interviews that he was single. But in reality he was living with his wife Kathleen Reid, despite having claimed to be separated. Reid was found guilty following a trial at Dundee Sheriff Court. The 59-year-old, from Dundee, had denied a charge under the Social Security Administration Act that he fraudulently claimed employment support allowance and income support totalling £39,808. Defence solicitor John Boyle asked that Reid be spared jail and given a community payback order as an alternative to a prison sentence. Sheriff Tom Hughes told Reid: "Because of the sum of money involved a custodial sentence is the only option."

A man who fraudulently claimed nearly £40,000 in benefits over the course of almost 11 years has been jailed for 18 months.

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Media playback is not supported on this device How did their players rate in the biggest match in the history of Welsh football? Coped well with Portugal's early flurry of crosses but was powerless to deny Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's opening goal. The Crystal Palace player was unfortunate to be wrong-footed by Nani's deflection for the second goal. Watchful against the threat of Ronaldo cutting inside from Portugal's left, the Reading defender was kept busy by the likes of Renato Sanches and Nani and struggled to influence the game in attack. Switched to the left side of Wales' three centre-backs in Ben Davies' absence, the West Brom man timed his advances well to make interceptions. Beaten by Ronaldo for Portugal's opening goal but won a team-high eight aerial duels. Made some strong early challenges, particularly on Cristiano Ronaldo, to assert his authority on the game. The Swansea City skipper led by example, winning 100% of his 50-50 contests with Portugal players. Making his first international start since March 2015, he competed well in the air as Portugal sought to make the most of Ronaldo's aerial prowess. Wales might have missed Ben Davies' distribution but his replacement was solid defensively. Like Gunter, kept on the back foot by Portugal's attacking players. Pushed forward but, when he got into promising positions, struggled to provide quality crosses. An early booking for a foul on Nani made his job of protecting Wales' defence difficult, but still the Liverpool midfielder buzzed around with intent. Typically sound in possession but not as influential as he has been earlier in the tournament. Showed imagination with a low corner which led to a chance for Gareth Bale but had only limited influence in open play before being replaced by Sam Vokes shortly after Portugal's second goal. Made some characteristic runs into the Portugal penalty area but could not make the crucial connections. Forced deeper as Portugal's midfield gained control in the second half, the Leicester Premier League winner had to curb his attacking instincts. Trademark runs from deep and at a startling pace had Portugal's defenders backtracking in the first half but his influence waned in the second period. The Real Madrid forward's audacious long-range shot was Wales' last effort. Brimming with confidence following his stunning goal in the quarter-final win over Belgium, the free agent stretched Portugal's defence with his powerful running. He was starved of the ball in the second half, however, as the match wore on. Brought on shortly after Wales fell 2-0 behind, the Burnley striker failed to connect meaningfully with any of the crosses which came his way. Did not see much of the ball and, when he did, was not in a position to cause Portugal any problems. Tried making his usual probing runs between the opponents' midfield and defence but found himself crowded out.

Wales' heroic Euro 2016 run came to an end one game before the final as they lost 2-0 to Portugal in the last four.

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The 34-year-old Sweden striker's contract with the French champions expires in the summer, and he has been linked with Manchester United, Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan. "I am very proud," he said. "I came like a king, I leave like a legend but I will be back." PSG said Ibrahimovic leaves as "the greatest striker and one of the very best players in the club's history". Ibrahimovic is the club's record goalscorer despite only joining the club in 2012, his 152 goals coming in 178 appearances. PSG have won Ligue 1 in every season Ibrahimovic has been at the club, wrapping up the title this season with two months to spare. "I loved every day I spent here," said Ibrahimovic, who has won league titles with six different clubs. "Paris St-Germain has become a star club in the world and I played a key role moving it forward. It is now the right time for me to take a different path." PSG host Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday before meeting Marseille in the French Cup final on 21 May. An agreement is in place for Ibrahimovic to return to the club at the end of his playing career, with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi saying he is "looking forward to the prospect of working with him again". Ibrahimovic finished as top scorer in France in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and leads Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette by 15 goals this season. He has also been included in the Ligue 1 team of the year in all of his four seasons in France.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will leave Paris St-Germain at the end of the season.

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The images were taken by photographer Nick Hedges in the 1960s and 1970s for housing charity Shelter in some of the country's biggest cities. He said the conditions some families lived in "shocked me to the core". An exhibition will be held later this year in Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester to mark Shelter's 50th year. The images were taken in Birmingham, Manchester, Salford, Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, London and Liverpool. Mr Hedges said: "It would be wonderful to meet the children I photographed all those years ago and for them to be able to tell their stories. "I often wonder what happened to them, if they went on to lead happy and healthy lives." "When I was commissioned by Shelter to take these photographs, I never imagined that decades later they would still have such impact," said Mr Hedges. "The poverty and terrible conditions I witnessed shocked me to the core. "I hope that all these years later, by reconnecting with some of those I photographed, I am able to hear good news of what happened to the families." Campbell Robb, Shelter's chief executive, said: "We would love to hear the stories of the people behind these iconic pictures to help us mark 50 years of fighting bad housing and homelessness. "I'd encourage anyone who recognises themselves, or family members and friends, to get in touch and let us know what happened after they were taken." "These photographs are a sobering piece of history not only for Shelter, but the nation as a whole, and it's important to preserve the stories behind them. "They show us how far we have come, but also that we must do more for the tens of thousands of families and individuals still desperate for a safe, secure and affordable home." The charity is asking anyone who recognises themselves or anyone else in the images to email: [email protected] or call: 020 7505 2032. For a full gallery of images go to click here.

An appeal has been launched to trace the families featured in a series of pictures taken in some of England's poorest and most deprived areas.

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The charity said this was disproportionate to the sector's size, which is 13% of housing in Scotland. Homeless applications have decreased by a third in the past five years but the Shelter said the statistics did not tell the full story. It said it was important that vulnerable households were supported before they were pushed into crisis. According to the latest Scottish government figures, the proportion of homeless applications that come from the private rental tenants rose from 13% 2008-09 to 18% in 2013-14. However overall homelessness in Scotland fell by 34% during the same period, official statistics showed. Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "Whilst the headline figures show that homelessness applications are down by one third in the last five years, which is welcome, our analysis shows it is not all good news for homeless people in Scotland. "The 36,457 households making homeless applications, a youth homelessness rate at 13.7 per 1,000 and a rising proportion of homeless applications from the private rented sector signal that, although there are movements in the right direction, there is still a long way to go." "With the significant weakening of the welfare state in recent years, it is more important than ever to ensure that vulnerable households are offered support before they are pushed into crisis." The report, 'Homelessness in Scotland 2014: Getting Behind the Statistics', has been released ahead of Shelter Scotland's annual conference later this month. Housing minister Margaret Burgess said: "Homelessness in Scotland is falling and the number of homeless applications from the private rented sector has actually fallen by 21% since 2008/09. "The Scottish government is working closely with local authorities and their partners, and with Shelter, to prevent homelessness, increase the number of affordable homes and address the issue of empty homes. Where people do become homeless, our focus is on finding the best outcomes."

Almost a fifth of homeless applications now come from the private rented sector, according to Shelter Scotland.

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He was rattling across the arid wastes of the Baluch desert in Pakistan on Saturday morning in that most Afghan of cars - a battered white Toyota Corrola - when the missile, fired from a US drone, struck his vehicle. All that was left was a charred and twisted wreck beside the desert highway. US President Barack Obama described his death as an "important milestone", but disentangling what it actually marks is not straightforward. The most obvious question is what it will mean for the Taliban. The Pentagon said it had targeted Mansour because he had become "an obstacle to peace and reconciliation". But it isn't clear that the new leader will be any more open towards the peace process. Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhunzada was Mullah Mansour's former deputy, and the official line from the Taliban is that his approach is going to be very similar. What's more, his appointment doesn't rule out the possibility of a battle for succession. Mansour struggled to contain the splintering of the movement into a series of factions that followed the death of Mullah Omar, the founder of the Taliban. That would increase instability in Afghanistan, fuelling local conflicts and entrenching the insurgency. Taliban leader Mullah Mansour killed, Afghans confirm Afghan Taliban announce successor to Mullah Mansour Mullah Mansour's battle to be leader Who are the Taliban? Profile: Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour Then, there is the question of what it means for US relations with Pakistan, which are regarded as crucial to the effort to fight global terrorism. The drone attack suggests the US has lost patience with the Pakistani authorities, which have failed to bring the Taliban to the table, while allegedly harbouring the movement's leaders. So the killing of Mullah Mansour may actually set back the efforts to negotiate a peace settlement. On Monday, the US ambassador was summoned to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry to be harangued about what it described as a "violation of Pakistan's sovereignty". The official Pakistani line is that the attack will be an obstacle to future talks. The third question is the one most likely to affect those outside the region: the impact on the drugs trade. It would be tempting to conclude that removing Mansour will make the battle to eradicate opium more straightforward. Mansour helped oversee the transformation of the Taliban from a movement of pious fanatics, largely funded by true believers from abroad, into something very different. After the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, remittances from the Gulf fell away. The Taliban needed new sources of finance. Mullah Mansour is thought to have developed a huge new source of income for the Taliban - along the way enriching himself and his fellow tribesmen. The movement he officially took over last year had been refashioned into what is, in effect, a multi-billion dollar drugs cartel. Afghanistan has now completely eclipsed the former hub of world opium production, the so-called Golden Triangle between Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. But whether the death of Mansour will reduce Afghanistan's opium production is a moot point. Helmand is a Taliban stronghold and traditionally accounts for around half of Afghan opium output. A senior official admitted to the BBC that the intense conflict in the province meant there had been virtually no eradication effort at all this season. Nevertheless, there is evidence that some farmers are moving away from poppy and back to less profitable food crops. One reason may be the effects of a mysterious blight that badly affected last year's poppy harvest. Take a look at the changing patterns of cultivation in these desert areas of Helmand. These images are taken from a forthcoming AREU Watching Brief: Moving with the times: How opium poppy cultivation had adapted to the changing environment in Afghanistan. At the same time, there is considerable evidence that poppy production has increased in areas that are - nominally at least - controlled by the government. Last week, I visited an agricultural community just half an hour away from Mazar-e-Sharif in the north of Afghanistan. The city is, by Afghan standards, a model of good governance and has never been a stronghold of the Taliban, yet I found poppy being grown openly. Conversations with locals suggest that poppy production is not just tolerated, but is actively supported and protected by local police and government officials in return for kickbacks. "Of course the authorities know we are growing poppies," a farmer called Taza Meer told me. "They can see we are growing it, but they've got to keep quiet about it. The economy here is weak, people have no money. "The authorities know poppy is the only way people here can make decent money, and they know that people would be very angry if they stopped them." He said if the government came in and destroyed his crop or that of other farmers, they would "take to the mountains". "The people will take up arms," he told me. "They'll have no choice but to rebel and there will be chaos here." Experts on opium cultivation say this is a pattern repeated across the country. They say opium cultivation is a sign of the weakness of the government. It occurs when local authorities have no choice but to come to an accommodation with farmers. On that basis, there has been a steady deterioration of central authority, as this chart illustrates. It is striking that more opium was produced in 2014, the last year of the Nato combat mission, than in any other year since the UN started keeping records in 2002. Mansour may be dead - but, in the absence of other successful businesses, the opium trade has become an increasingly important enterprise in areas the government controls as well as Taliban-controlled areas. What that suggests is that, whoever is leader of the Taliban, Afghanistan is likely to continue to be the world centre of opium production. Indeed, this year, Afghanistan is expected to produce more opium - and therefore heroin - than the world consumes. It isn't hard to work out what that means: more and cheaper heroin coming to a street near you.

Mullah Mansour, Afghan Taliban leader and the commander of a militia of thousands of men, died a lonely death.

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Mr Farron said political leaders should not "pontificate on theological matters". But he said it had become "an issue" and that he wanted the focus to be on the general election. He has recently been asked repeatedly in media interviews to clarify his views, but had not answered directly. In an interview with BBC political correspondent Eleanor Garnier, he said he did not "want to get into a series of questions unpicking the theology of the Bible". But he acknowledged it had "become an issue", and did not want people getting the "wrong impression" about his views. "I don't believe that gay sex is a sin," he said. "I take the view though that as a political leader, my job is not to pontificate on theological matters." Mr Farron said that with a general election campaign under way, it was important to be talking about "big issues" like health and social care and Brexit. "I am quite careful about how I talk about my faith. I do not bang on about it, I do not make a secret out of it," he said. "On reflection, it makes sense to actually answer this direct question since it's become an issue." He also said the Lib Dems had "undoubtedly the best record" on gay rights out of all political parties. As well as questions from the media about his views on gay sex, Mr Farron was also asked last week by Conservative MP Nigel Evans in Parliament whether he believed being gay was a sin. "I do not," he replied. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron says he does not believe gay sex is a sin, following questions about his views on the subject.

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Media playback is not supported on this device After 13 days and with 36 of the 51 games played, the traditional heavyweights are all safely through the group stage, along with all of the home nations, the Republic of Ireland - and a few so-called minnows too. Has it been enjoyable to watch though? BBC Sport's pundits Rio Ferdinand, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Mark Lawrenson and Neil Lennon give their verdict on the spectacle so far in France, which teams and players have impressed them, and how things might change in the last 16. There are more teams here, with more to play for, but there have been fewer goals. This is the first European Championship to feature 24 teams, and 23 of them were in contention for a place in the last 16 going into the last round of group games - the exception being Ukraine. But there has been an average of 1.92 goals per game so far, only the second time it has been lower than two per match in a group stage since the first finals in 1980. Alan Shearer: In the final set of group games especially, we saw lots of teams defend very deep just to get a point so they could get through, like Slovakia against England for example. Media playback is not supported on this device That's what happens when you have third-placed sides getting out of groups. I don't think the quality so far has been as high as previously but, with an extra eight teams here, that has not surprised me. Rio Ferdinand: It has made the groups interesting until the end. On Wednesday in Group F, for example, all four teams were going for it in their final games because they needed to win. Media playback is not supported on this device Having a third-placed team go through has given some of the countries who haven't been here before an opportunity to progress but I think we will see a better standard of football now the knockout stage is here. Danny Murphy: Overall, it is a huge positive to have more teams here. Yes, some of the quality might not have been so good but it has given a few teams and tens of thousands of their supporters the chance to experience a tournament that otherwise they never would have done. That is beneficial for those nations and football generally. But I am excited now because we are at the point where the games really start to matter. People are going home if they lose and that should create some better games, a bit more end to end and people having a go. Media playback is not supported on this device Mark Lawrenson: This tournament has reminded me a lot of the Champions League. There have been a few surprise results but all the heavyweights got out of their groups. Once you get to the knockout stages, the real competition starts. 45 of the 69 goals (65%) in the group stages were scored in the second half, 27.5% of the goals came from the 80th minute onwards (19) and 22% (15) of them have come in the last five minutes or stoppage time - the highest percentage in finals history. Danny Murphy: It is related to the defensive approach that some of the lesser teams here have adopted. If you look at quite a few of the group games, it has been the stronger teams pressing and the lesser teams hanging on for dear life. They just wear them down in the end, but it has still been quite freakish how many late goals there have been. It has added drama and excitement, and long may it continue, but it is less likely as the tournament goes on because there will be more even games. Media playback is not supported on this device Kevin Kilbane: It is almost as if the better nations always have the theory that they will eventually break the other teams down. That is the way it has been in a lot of games - all the teams are competitive but eventually that goal has come. I am not expecting the lesser sides to change their tactics in the knockout stages but, even if it takes until extra time, the stronger sides will back themselves to score. Media playback is not supported on this device Alan Shearer: The moment I have enjoyed the most has to be England's last-minute winner against Wales. We were sitting in the studio with big John Hartson and Dean Saunders and you could see the disappointment in their faces when that went in. Media playback is not supported on this device Alan Shearer: The thing that has angered me most is the scenes with England and Russia fans in Marseille and also when flares were chucked on to the pitch during the Croatia versus Czech Republic game. For the vast majority, the fans have been absolutely outstanding and just enjoying the tournament. Here in Paris we've got a great atmosphere and we're seeing fans outside our hotel enjoying themselves, which is the way it should be. Media playback is not supported on this device Kevin Kilbane: I have been to a lot of games and have not experienced the kind of trouble that happened in Marseille. The fans I have seen have all mixed brilliantly together - every supporter of a smaller nation wants to go to a major finals like this which is why they are all enjoying themselves so much. Neil Lennon: The colours inside the ground have been fantastic, and the stadiums have almost always been packed. For all the countries that are here for the first time, you can see how much it means to their supporters. The passion at the games has been amazing and apart from those early incidents, the camaraderie of all sets of fans has been terrific. Media playback is not supported on this device Danny Murphy: I am glad the trouble has cleared up but I have to say some of the organisation at games I have gone to has been awful. I went to Northern Ireland against Germany at Parc des Princes as a punter with my wife, rather than as a pundit, and it was a nightmare outside. The security checks meant three or four thousand of us were trying to get through three small access points. At one point it was so tight, there was kid of about 10 near me crying because he was trapped a little bit so I obviously helped him out. There was no drama and no-one got hurt but they could have done - the barriers were rocking with people trying to get through and I would not want to take my children to games here. Someone told me it was a similar story before England played Slovakia in Saint-Etienne. I know the terror threat means security is high but they have to have more access points to the stadium otherwise if a lot of fans turn up late it will be dangerous. Media playback is not supported on this device Alan Shearer: Spain have had one good performance, and so have Belgium. Italy, when they were at full strength, have been like I thought they would, and it is the same with Germany. But it is a very open tournament, which has to be a positive for England. Rio Ferdinand: Spain did impress me, but then they lost to Croatia, who looked strong too. There's no team that stands out at the moment and maybe that's one of the exciting things. You can't say anyone is nailed on to be a finalist or semi-finalist because every team has a chink in their armour. Media playback is not supported on this device Kevin Kilbane: Watching live, I have really liked the look of Croatia, who are so good going forward and especially in their half of the draw, have to be dark horses to make it all the way to the final. From the other half, Spain and Germany both look strong while France haven't put a performance in yet, but they are still unbeaten and there is more to come from them too. Neil Lennon: Some of the better teams are starting to warm up as the tournament goes on and I would include England in that. They have been dominating games without putting teams away and if games open up will they be able to exploit the gaps that are left, but the flip side to that is they have not even been tested defensively yet. Mark Lawrenson: I would actually go for Wales as the team who have impressed me the most, for finishing top of Group B after being seeded fourth. They are not a one-man team like many people say but that one man - Gareth Bale - has shown he is a world-class player. Media playback is not supported on this device Rio Ferdinand: Dimitri Payet has been the go-to guy for France so far - everyone expected it to be Antoine Griezmann or Paul Pogba. But Payet has come out of the traps flying. He scored an unbelievable goal in the first game with his left foot and a stunning goal with his right foot when he went into the box in the second game. We've seen it from him all season in the Premier League. But to come out in the Euros in a France shirt and do it - for me he's been the player of the tournament so far. Alan Shearer: I have loved watching Payet. Not only his goals but his general play has been superb. I agree with Rio, I think he has been the outstanding player up to now. Media playback is not supported on this device Thierry Henry: Payet has not surprised me. What I like about him is that he plays like it is his last ever game. Obviously he is getting all the press and he deserves it but for me the most consistent French player so far is N'Golo Kante. I think he is the guy who has surprised everyone in France. He is just outstanding. He is the first guy who stops everything and he is the guy also who starts the counter-attack. Danny Murphy: Croatia have been impressive partly because of the obvious people, Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric, but Ivan Perisic has been one of the stars of the tournament for me. His power and running ability is phenomenal. Kevin Kilbane: Perisic is just so direct, he really hurts teams. There is talk of him leaving Inter Milan at the moment but it would take an awful lot of money to get him. Italy winger Antonio Candreva is another one I really like and I also saw a bit of Albania - in terms of people who surprised me, there was their wide-man Ermir Lenjani and also Armando Sadiku, who had great movement up front. Media playback is not supported on this device Neil Lennon: Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik has really impressed me - he always looks a threat and fits into the way they play so well. And the Portugal left-back, Raphael Guerreiro, who I watched live against Austria, has been quality too. He has just signed for Borussia Dortmund and he stood out in that game. Mark Lawrenson: I have not seen a better two players in midfield in Kante and Spain's Andres Iniesta. In my team of the group stage, I've got Payet starting on the right even though most would expect him on the left. The thing is, he scored his wonder goal against in the first game against Romania cutting in from the right. Bale has to be the lone forward, though, I don't think there can be any argument about that. The group stage is over at Euro 2016 - but who were the best players? Pick your group stage XI using our team selector.

There have been a few great goals, and plenty of late ones, but how is the expanded European Championship shaping up as a tournament to remember?

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Anthony Storrie died on 30 June 2013 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley after taking "N-bombs". The 26-year-old had been arrested the night before for an alleged police assault while under the influence of the drug, which is now illegal. A fatal accident inquiry heard he had suffered damage to his liver while "crashing about" in his flat. Sheriff Principal Duncan Murray ruled there was no evidence Storrie, of Paisley, had been assaulted by police officers or his friends. He said: "The N-bomb caused Mr Storrie to be in the agitated state. "The effects of the N-bomb then prevented him from being able to give any explanation of the injury which he had sustained. "Nonetheless, Mr Storrie's death would in all probability not have occurred had he not taken N-bomb. "Mr Storrie's death is a stark reminder of the risks posed by drug-taking. "It is clear from the evidence presented to this inquiry that N-bomb is a potent compound producing significant hallucinogenic effects. "It is also apparent from the evidence given by experienced consultants in emergency medicine of the significant risks posed to those taking cocktails of drugs in uncertain dosages and of uncertain chemical composition or purity." Drugs expert Dr Richard Stevenson had told the inquiry that the effects of the drug would have made it impossible for Storrie to properly describe his injuries. He said Storrie was in a state of "excited delirium" when he was admitted to hospital and was suffering from a range of physical phenomena which contributed to his death. The inquiry heard the cause of death was recorded as "blunt force trauma" stemming from a cut to the liver which was caused by an abdominal haemorrhage. The trauma and injuries including broken ribs were caused by a blow "the equivalent to being kicked by a horse or driving at speed in a car without a seatbelt, crashing and hitting the steering wheel". Dr Stevenson, an A&E doctor at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary, said Storrie's symptoms meant he was "about to die" when he was taken to hospital for treatment. He said that by taking the hallucinogenic drug, which is similar to LSD, he had "life-threateningly low" blood pressure, a racing heart, and an increased body temperature.

A man who died in police custody would still be alive if he hadn't taken a so-called legal high, a sheriff has ruled.

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The Roughyeds, fourth from bottom of the second tier, led 24-6 at the break with tries from Will Hope, Richard Lepori, Steve Roper and Adam Clay. Shaun Lunt, Dane Tilse, Maurice Blair and Joe Wardill crossed after the break to give the Super League side hope. But missed conversions proved costly as Gary Middlehurst and Lepori's second try secured victory for Oldham. Hull KR coach James Webster described his side's performance as an "utter embarrassment". Media playback is not supported on this device Rovers, who lost 50-0 to Leeds in last year's final at Wembley, have only won twice in Super League this season and lost 40-0 to Catalans Dragons in their last match. They were still expected to beat part-timers Oldham, who are in their first season in the Championship after winning promotion from League 1. Yet Oldham outscored them six tries to five, while Lewis Palfrey's six goals to Ben Cockayne's one gave the second-tier side an ultimately comfortable margin of victory against the hosts, who finished with 12 men after Cockayne was sent to the sin-bin moments before Lepori's try with the game's last move. Meanwhile, last season's Championship winners and Challenge Cup giant killers Leigh, who knocked out Super League sides Wakefield and Salford, are out after losing 10-8 at League 1 side Toulouse. Batley Bulldogs are also through to the sixth round after a 28-10 victory over fellow Championship side Featherstone Rovers. Oldham Roughyeds coach Scott Naylor: "This is probably the biggest win since the club reformed [in 1997]. We spoke about getting to 20 minutes, then 30 minutes and see what happens. "We didn't expect the half-time score to be 24-6 and we knew they would come out in the second half and have a go after getting a bit of a roasting. For the club, this is something we'll cherish. "It's a massive day for Oldham and it could be a massive night for the players. I'll go home and have a few beers with my family." Hull KR coach James Webster: "It was the biggest embarrassment of my career since before I left school. What we dished up was utter embarrassment. "I've protected these boys since I've been here, but I have to apologise to everyone associated with this club. That is not of a level that's needed to pick up the wage they pick up. "Supporters give up cars, holidays to follow this club because I deal with these people every day. I understand what people think and it's all true. "Well done to Oldham because I thought they played very well." Hull KR: Cockayne, Wardill, Sio, Thornley, Dixon, Blair, Marsh, Tilse, Lunt, Green, Greenwood, Clarkson, Walker. Replacements: Mulhern, Donaldson, Boudebza, Lawler. Oldham: Lepori, Clay, Gee, Grimshaw, Chisholm, Palfrey, Roper, Joy, Owen, Spencer, Middlehurst, Langtree, Hope. Replacements: Ward, Hughes, Files, Thompson Ref: S Ansell

Championship side Oldham Roughyeds stunned last season's Challenge Cup finalists Hull KR to reach the last 16.

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It will be available to 1.7bn people on the platform worldwide via Rooney's and the Manchester United Facebook pages. Proceeds will be distributed to Rooney's four chosen charities. The game at Old Trafford, between Rooney's only two professional clubs, marks his 12 years' service at United. Rooney said: "I am delighted my testimonial game will be streamed globally, which will hopefully raise awareness and increase donations." It is expected to mark the first home appearances for Jose Mourinho's three summer signings; Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly. Manchester United's Facebook page has more than 70 million 'likes', while Rooney's has more than 25 million.

Wayne Rooney's testimonial match between Manchester United and Everton on Wednesday will make history as the first ever game between Premier League teams to be streamed live on Facebook.

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The pants, embroidered with the royal VR monogram, are being sold on behalf of Yesterday's World museum in Sussex. Auctioneer Richard Edmonds said: "We've been able to date the pants by measuring the waistband and they are from the last 10 years of her life." The sale also includes nightdresses and stockings worn by Britain's longest-serving monarch and Princess Alice. The royal intimate apparel - described as in "excellent condition" - is expected to fetch several thousand pounds when it goes under the hammer next week. Mr Edmonds, from Chippenham Auction Rooms, said he used the "tried-and-tested method" of measuring the waistline to date the underwear to about 1891. "Earlier in her life she was slimmer but her pants got bigger as she got older," he said. "As there's such a good photographic record of Queen Victoria, it's possible to calculate her waist measurement over time, so we know roughly when she would have worn items of this size." According to Mr Edmonds, the 125-year-old underwear was bought by Yesterday's World museum from a descendant of one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting. "Items of Queen Victoria's clothing were often given to members of the royal household, particularly after her death in 1901," he said. "And they're stamped with the royal crest which proves they're from the royal wardrobe." Also included in the sale on 11 July are stockings and shoes worn by Queen Victoria's third child Princess Alice and replicas of the Crown Jewels. In 2014, a pair of Queen Victoria's silk bloomers sold at auction in Kent for £6,200.

A pair of Queen Victoria's cotton pants with a 45in (114cm) waistband are to be sold at auction in Wiltshire.

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That would be Britain's best medal haul at a Winter Games since winning a gold, silver and bronze in Germany in 1936. And the funding body predicts there could be as many as seven medals - beating GB's best ever tally of four from Chamonix in 1924. At least two Paralympic medals are also expected. Team GB boss Mike Hay said: "We view the target as a vote of confidence." Britain won only one medal at each of the past two Winter Olympics, with Amy Williams's skeleton gold in Vancouver four years ago the country's first solo gold at a Winter Games for 30 years. The best chances of podium finishes in Sochi lie with World Cup leader Lizzy Yarnold and world champion Shelley Rudman in skeleton, freestyle skier James Woods in the new Olympic event of slopestyle and the women's curling team. Speed skater Elise Christie is also a medal contender, while Eve Muirhead's curling rink are the current world champions and picked up silver medals at the European Championships in November. Visually-impaired skiers Kelly Gallagher and Jade Etherington will be hoping to come away with Britain's first-ever gold medals at the Paralympic Games while the wheelchair curlers will bid to better the silver they won in Turin in 2006. Liz Nicholl, the chief executive of UK Sport, said: "If achieved, this would demonstrate the fantastic momentum created by London 2012, where additional investment and focus on developing our high-performance system has benefited summer and winter sports alike." Over the past four years, UK Sport has granted more than £14m of support and believes its backing can enable athletes to record Britain's best combined Olympic and Paralympic performance in 20 years. "UK Sport's record investment of funds and expertise has enabled more sports to develop and deliver world-class programmes," said Simon Timson, director of performance at UK Sport. "During my 24 years involved in winter sport, I cannot remember a time when Great Britain has had so many talented athletes so well prepared." "In many ways, the target is indicative of just how far winter sport has progressed in the UK. "It is reflection of the growth we are seeing in competitive strength and depth across many of our winter sports."

Team GB should expect to win at least three medals at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, according to UK Sport.

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The money for Bridgwater Community Hospital is part of the coalition's £330m investment for new NHS facilities across England. Once built, the new hospital will have 30 inpatient beds, a midwifery-led maternity unit, a minor injury unit and X-ray and space for mobile scanners. The current hospital was built in 1813, but it has become cramped and outdated. The total cost of the project is £33m and the remaining balance will be paid for by NHS Somerset and Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Matron Sue Taylor said: "It's very old and in the summer it's very, very hot. In the winter it's quite cold, there's lots of maintenance, lots of running repairs - it's a poor old tired building now. "Sometimes your environment can have such an impact when you're trying to recover from an illness - we make the best of what we've got but when you walk into a new build it just lifts you and gives you that feeling of well-being. "There is a real lovely feel about this hospital and for many years it's served us well, but we need something more modern." In the past five years, three out of Somerset's 13 community hospitals have been replaced. Work has also got under way on the new Jubilee Building at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. Dr Donal Hynes, a Bridgwater GP and medical director at Somerset Primary Care Trust, said: "It will make a huge difference for me and my relationship with my patients. "This is a great vote of confidence of the developments that have been achieved in Somerset where GPs, nurses, and therapists have got together to deliver a whole package of care that can be delivered in a one-stop shop setting." Somerset PCT hopes to build the new hospital on land at Bowers Lane, which will depend on planning permission. The aim is to get the hospital finished by autumn 2014.

A community hospital in Somerset is to be replaced and rebuilt with a £16m grant from the government.

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Manuela Carmena in Madrid and new Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau are the most striking examples of the change, having led completely new political organisations to success. In Madrid's Cibeles city hall, where many gathered to cheer the counting of votes for a new mayor, Ms Carmena said she wanted to begin "governing by listening". The former judge's main occupation before the campaign was running her shop selling children's clothes stitched by female prisoners. She now plans to arrange for council sessions to focus on single policy objectives, such as child poverty, calling in experts and all available data to help formulate solutions. To the city's poorest, Carmena said: "We are going to improve the situation." Apart from their policy priorities to tackle poverty caused by Spain's economic crisis, all three mayors insist that the style of their rule will be very different. Spain's leading anti-austerity party Podemos is part of the two groups taking hold of city hall in Madrid and Barcelona - Ahora Madrid and Barcelona en Comu. In Valencia, Mayor Joan Ribo's Coalicio Compromis was formed by leftists, Valencian nationalists and greens in 2010. However, more than a simple jerk to the left on the political spectrum, the new mayors say they want to redefine politicians' roles, becoming unalloyed conduits for popular will and participation. Thousands gathered to listen to Ada Colau's acceptance speech in Barcelona on Saturday, watching on screens in Sant Jaume square outside the city hall. "Voting every four years is not enough," she said. "Never trust the idea that we will represent you well. Kick us out if we don't do what we have promised." Until last year when she got involved in BComu, Ms Colau was regularly photographed being removed by police from a cordon of people blocking a repossession. Now she will be in charge of Barcelona's metropolitan police force. In Valencia, as in Madrid, 24 years of uninterrupted Popular Party rule were brought to an end by a veteran left-winger espousing a new way of doing politics. "Authoritarianism is over," said 67-year-old Joan Ribo. "I don't want the rod or the rule. I prefer talking with citizens [and] working side-by-side with neighbourhood movements." However, the three new mayors do not enjoy majorities in their respective council chambers. In Madrid and Valencia, potentially stable deals with other left-of-centre parties have been struck, but the situation in Barcelona is more complicated due to the fragmentation of politics along the axes of left and right as well as Catalan sovereignty. Despite her publicised sympathy for Catalonia's "right to decide", Ada Colau has so far resisted signing up to the nationalist parties' "road map" for independence. Elsewhere, the Podemos-linked Zaragoza en Comun group took control of Spain's fifth most populous city, while Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna and Cadiz are among other towns and cities which now have left-wing coalition chiefs as mayors. With a general election looming at the end of the year, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy described deals between left-wing groups and the chief opposition Socialist Party as "eccentric and sectarian". His Popular Party was the most-voted for option across Spain and in cities such as Madrid and Valencia, but has only found support from centrist anti-corruption party Citizens in some towns and regions.

A 71-year-old anti-Franco judge, an anti-evictions campaigner and a teacher have been elected mayors of Spain's three biggest cities - as left-wing coalitions swept to power promising an end to corruption.

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Hywel Dda director of operations Joe Teape said all hospitals were full following a busy bank holiday weekend. He said there were a high number of patients who needed to be admitted which put pressure on impatient beds. Mr Teape thanked staff for "working tirelessly" and asked people to "bear with them at this busy time." In a statement the health board said additional medical staff were working to ensure "all patients had a senior medical review" both in A&E and on the wards. Community teams are also at the hospitals to support patients on discharge. The health board said it had to cancel some "non-urgent planned operations" on Tuesday and will review Wednesday's operations during the day. "Every winter we deal with a number of seasonal pressures," Mr Teape said. "To mitigate the demand on services, we have a winter plan to ensure that services continue to run as smoothly as possible while ensuring that patients' needs continue to be met 24 hours a day." He added that local communities could help by making using of NHS services such as pharmacies rather than visiting A&E departments, where appropriate.

A health board has brought in extra staff and cancelled some operations in an attempt to manage "significant pressures".

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The memory of the "Boy from Bassendean" - a suburb in the Western Australian state capital - is being erased by the local council. He has gone from favourite son to outcast by a simple show of hands at a council meeting. Harris's artworks will be taken down from its chambers and his status as a freeman has been rescinded, while a plaque outside his childhood home was stolen before the local authority could remove it. "We simply cannot tolerate the horrendous crimes for which he's been convicted," Bassendean Mayor John Gangell told ABC radio. And the backlash is spreading. In Melbourne a public mural, the "Entertainers of the Century" that features 100 prominent performers, will be changed to paint over Rolf Harris's cheery image. There is speculation, too, that Harris could be stripped of his Order of Australia award, one of the nation's most coveted honours. His conviction comes at a sensitive time for Australia, where the depravity of paedophiles is being scrutinised like never before. A royal commission into institutional responses to child sex abuse continues to uncover a terrible flood of atrocities, and could take years to complete its task. Justice Peter McClellan, who chairs it, believes that victims who have suffered alone for so long are finally coming forward because of high-profile court cases, including the conviction of Harris. "It is becoming apparent as we do our work that as the issue of abuse is raised and talked about, survivors increasingly feel able to bring their own story to the authorities," said Justice McClellan. "That which may have been kept secret for years may now be told. The burden of guilt and shame which many have felt is lifted by knowing that others who have suffered have overcome their reticence," he added. The law firm Slater & Gordon says since Harris's trial began it has been contacted by around a dozen women in Australia and New Zealand alleging they were molested by the TV presenter. "My understanding is that we're talking about assaults that occurred in those countries going back to the 70s and 80s," said lawyer Alan Collins. "Given what we heard in [Southwark Crown] court, a number of victims have suffered a very profound damage, I would have thought it highly likely that claims would be brought." Hetty Johnston, founder of one of Australia's most prominent child safety groups, Bravehearts Inc, raised the prospect of further charges against Harris. "Rolf Harris - icon to inmate. Victims vindicated. Hopefully when he comes out there will be more victims waiting to send him right back," Ms Johnston tweeted. Convicted by a court half a world away, 84-year old Harris has felt the full force of media outrage back home. The Australian has detailed "his most spectacular fall from cuddly establishment showman to jailbird," while the Sydney Morning Herald said he was "always an embarrassing curiosity rather than a national treasure". Harris was, the paper told its readers, a "mild colonial boy who simply went bad".

Australia is racing to distance itself from Rolf Harris as the shamed Perth-born entertainer starts a jail term for abusing young girls.

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The harmless reptile was found inside the vehicle after it was dropped off at a yard on March 8 and rescued by animal collection officer Ellie West. While the snake is believed to have been in the van for some time, it is now "fine and well" in an animal shelter. Ms West said it was "a relief" it had been saved. Most corn snakes sold in the UK are bred in captivity, but have very complex and special needs. RSPCA Wales is appealing for information about where the snake may have come from or who the owner is.

A corn snake has been discovered in a Neath van destined for the scrapheap.

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Eleven care workers are to be sentenced later for the maltreatment and neglect of five patients at Winterbourne View. But a BBC Inside Out West investigation has found evidence of alleged abuse involving different staff members. Police have agreed the assault on Ben Pullar was "not acceptable" but said they would not re-open the case. Mr Pullar is autistic and bi-polar, with severe learning difficulties, and when he was 18, he spent almost a year at Winterbourne View from July 2009. He lost two teeth when he was punched in the face. His twin, Tom, said his behaviour changed drastically after going to the hospital. "He's burst out crying on me and demanded to talk about Winterbourne View - and this is two years after Winterbourne View - so it still affects him today," said the 21-year-old. The BBC has seen daily care notes from his time at the hospital which state Mr Pullar "had an accident with his teeth" just weeks after he arrived. His family said they were given mixed messages about what happened and were told at one point he had "bitten the floor". He was taken to Bristol Dental Hospital by Winterbourne View staff as an emergency patient, and two doctors there raised the alarm with the authorities because of the severity of his injuries. Senior dental consultant Dr Jane Luker said: "I think they thought the injury he sustained wasn't consistent with what they were being told. "He had allegedly bitten a carer and the injuries were sustained from him biting that carer. "[But] because the teeth were pushed back palatally, towards the back of the mouth, it would be consistent with a punch or a blow to the front of the face." The authorities met several days after Mr Pullar was assaulted, but his family was not invited. Tom Pullar said: "I think that care staff are supposed to care for patients, not punch them." Notes obtained by Inside Out said the nurse was bitten and retaliated in order to remove his fingers - and later, that he had pushed and pulled to get them out. The nurse involved, Maxwell Nyamukapa, was suspended and later reinstated. Despite repeated attempts to contact Mr Nyamukapa, he has refused to comment. The police logged it as an assault, and said the nurse had acted instinctively and in self-defence. Forty concerns were raised about patients in just over three years with the local safeguarding board run by South Gloucestershire Council. The police were also contacted 29 times, nine of those times related to carers suspected of using restraint of involved in violent incidents with patients - including Mr Pullar. Det Ch Supt Louisa Rolfe, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We have carried out an extensive investigation into incidents at Winterbourne View and no stone has been left unturned. "We consulted with the CPS and our partners in terms of action we could take. "Looking back on that incident now and understanding the whole pattern of what was happening at that residential hospital, it is clearly not acceptable. "However, at the time, the officer was dealing with information, reliable information, that came from patients and carers, and that came from other experts in that field. And perhaps they relied upon that information too much." She added: "We accept that there is learning for us as an organisation and we will do things differently in future." Det Ch Supt Rolfe said the force had carried out an extensive investigation into incidents at the hospital and had improved how it dealt with people with learning disabilities. The council has declined to comment on Mr Pullar's case. Castlebeck, the hospital's owner at the time, said its new board and management had already, and would continue to, rigorously review what happened at Winterbourne View. The firm said if any other matters come to light, immediate action would be taken and the appropriate authorities informed. It has also referred Mr Nyamukapa twice to the Nursing & Midwifery Council, who declined to comment. Inside Out West is on BBC One West at 7.30pm on Monday or for seven days after on the iPlayer.

The family of a man who was punched in the face as a patient at a private hospital in Bristol is calling for the incident to be re-investigated.

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