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Peter Whittle said his party was "more united than ever" with a "sense of renewed purpose" despite failing to take Stoke-on-Trent Central from Labour in Thursday's by-election. Mr Nuttall said he was "not going anywhere" after the defeat. Mr Whittle told Andrew Marr he was currently "on a trip he had booked" beforehand. Labour held Stoke with 7,853 votes. Gareth Snell beat Mr Nuttall into second place on 5,233 votes. Mr Whittle said Mr Nuttall was taking time out after the "gruelling time" he had been through and the "particularly personal" attacks he experienced. The UKIP leader was criticised over fake claims he lost close friends in the Hillsborough tragedy and investigated by police over whether he spent time in the house he rented during the campaign to be elected as the local MP. Mr Whittle said of his leader: "Without question, he has united the party. Of course it's disappointing that we didn't win in Stoke. But we are more united than ever, everything is more in place than ever and there's a real sense of renewed purpose." Asked about a report in the Sunday Express that multi-millionaire UKIP donor Arron Banks had threatened to take his money elsewhere unless he was made chairman, Mr Whittle said the party already had a "great, young, dynamic chairman" in Paul Oakden. While he was "always very grateful for Arron's contributions", he added: "If Arron were to take his money away, there are always other people... Obviously I wouldn't want that to happen." Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage had said the Stoke seat was "fundamental" to the party's future, in a constituency where 69% of the electorate voted to leave at the EU at the referendum. Mr Whittle said Mr Nuttall had only been leader for 12 weeks at the time of the by-election and people "hadn't got to know him well enough".

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall is ready to carry on as leader "without question" his deputy has told the BBC.

He said China encouraged dependency, utilised corrupt deals and endangered its natural resources. Mr Tillerson also announced a $533m (£380m) humanitarian African aid plan. During his trip, he will be looking to build bridges after President Donald Trump reportedly used foul language to describe African countries in January. Mr Tillerson gave his speech at George Mason University in Virginia, shortly before setting off on his weeklong visit to Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria. He outlined the themes of his trip: counterterrorism, democracy, governance, trade and investment. Then he launched into his criticism of China. He said its investment had the potential to improve Africa's infrastructure, but added that its approach had led to mounting debt while creating few jobs. Over the past two decades trade between Africa and China has soared, driven by China's demand for the continent's minerals. However, Chinese construction firms have made significant improvements to long-neglected infrastructure, including roads, in a number of countries. "Our country's security and economic prosperity are linked with Africa's like never before," said Mr Tillerson He said the aid plan will help people affected by food shortages and conflict in Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Lake Chad Basin. Mr Tillerson said he has made many trips to Africa before, in his former career as an oil executive. His latest, and his first as the US's top diplomat, coincides with that of his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, who is this week visiting Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Aid on one side, cuts on the other By Fergal Keane, BBC Africa editor Rex Tillerson's essential message was that was a true friend to Africa... unlike China. The US would do more to reduce trade and investment barriers for African partners, he said. His announcement of more humanitarian assistance for several countries threatened by famine will be welcomed, but Mr Tillerson works for a president who has repeatedly spoken of reducing America's burdens abroad. His remarks come against the backdrop of potentially sweeping cuts to American contributions to peacekeeping and aid operations - at a time when crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan, among others have placed immense strain on existing UN operations. In an administration that has often struggled for coherence in its foreign policy, and which lives by the maxim of America First, it would be unrealistic to expect Secretary Tillerson to deliver a transformation in the relationship between US and Africa.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has criticised China's economic engagement in Africa, ahead of his first official visit to the continent.

"Dear Gavin, Thank you for your time this evening. We discussed the investigation into the unauthorised disclosure of information from the National Security Council meeting on 23 April. This is an extremely serious matter, and a deeply disappointing one. It is vital for the operation of good government and for the UK's national interest in some of the most sensitive and important areas that the members of the NSC - from our Armed Forces, our Security and Intelligence Agencies, and the most senior level of government - are able to have frank and detailed discussions in full confidence that the advice and analysis provided is not discussed or divulged beyond that trusted environment. That is why I commissioned the cabinet secretary to establish an investigation into the unprecedented leak from the NSC meeting last week, and why I expected everyone connected to it - ministers and officials alike - to comply with it fully. You undertook to do so. I am therefore concerned by the manner in which you have engaged with this investigation. It has been conducted fairly, with the full co-operation of other NSC attendees. They have all answered questions, engaged properly, provided as much information as possible to assist with the investigation, and encouraged their staff to do the same. Your conduct has not been of the same standard as others. In our meeting this evening, I put to you the latest information from the investigation, which provides compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure. No other credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified. It is vital that I have full confidence in the members of my cabinet and of the National Security Council. The gravity of this issue alone, and its ramifications for the operation of the NSC and the UK's national interest, warrants the serious steps we have taken, and an equally serious response. It is therefore with great sadness that I have concluded that I can no longer have full confidence in you as secretary of state for defence and a minister in my cabinet and asked you to leave Her Majesty's government. As you do so, I would like to thank you for the wider contribution you have made to it over the last three years, and for your unquestionable personal commitment to the men and women of our Armed Forces." Gavin Williamson's letter in response to sacking "Dear Prime Minister, It has been a great privilege to serve as Defence Secretary and Chief Whip in your government. Every day I have seen the extraordinary work of the men and women of our armed forces, who go to incredible lengths to defend our country. I am sorry that you feel recent leaks from the National Security Council originated in my department. I emphatically believe this was not the case. I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position. I have always trusted my civil servants, military advisers and staff. I believe the assurances they have given me. I appreciate you offering me the option to resign, but to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case. Restoring public confidence in the NSC is an ambition we both share. With that in mind I hope that your decision achieves this aim rather than being seen as a temporary distraction. As I said there has been no greater privilege than working with our armed forces and I will continue to stand up for our service personnel and the superb work they do."

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been sacked by the prime minister after information from a National Security Council meeting was leaked to a newspaper. Here is Theresa May's full letter dismissing him.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper did not name the flag in a memo announcing the rules, but the policy effectively bans the secessionist banner. The Confederacy was the group of southern states that fought to keep slavery during the US Civil War. Recent protests have renewed calls to ban the Confederate flag across the US. In his memo to senior defence leaders, Mr Esper said: "Flags are powerful symbols, particularly in the military community for whom flags embody common mission, common histories, and the special, timeless bond of warriors." He said that the US 'Stars and Stripes' flag is the principal flag the military is encouraged to display. Other flags "must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols". The memo contains a list of acceptable flags, including those belonging to US states and territories, military services, and US allies, partners and member organisations, like Nato. The policy applies to all public displays of flags by soldiers and civilians in all areas of the Department. The Confederate flag is not listed among these, though no there is no reference of a specific ban. The display of unauthorised flags in museums, historical or educational displays, artwork and similar monuments - "where the nature of the display or depiction cannot reasonably be viewed as endorsement" is still allowed. "With this change in policy, we will further improve the morale, cohesion, and readiness of the force in defence of our great Nation," Mr Esper wrote. Other branches of the military, including the Navy and Marines, recently took steps to ban the flag ahead of the departmental guidance. President Donald Trump has previously defended the use of the Confederate flag as free speech. In an interview with CBS News on Saturday, the president said: "I know people that like the Confederate flag and they're not thinking about slavery...I just think it's freedom of speech. Whether it's Confederate flags or Black Lives Matter, or anything else you want to talk about, it's freedom of speech." The renewed push to ban the Confederate flag follows widespread protests against racism and injustice, prompted by the killing of George Floyd. A number of statues related to the Confederacy have been removed in recent weeks - in some cases torn down by protesters - though some Americans favour keeping the memorials as historical symbols. Others also say the flag is associated with rebellion rather than racism. At the end of last month, the southern state of Mississippi voted to strip Confederate emblems from its state flag. Amid the nationwide discussion on racism, Mr Trump has rejected calls to rename military bases named after Confederate generals, saying they remain part of the country's heritage.

The Confederate flag can no longer be flown on US military properties after the Pentagon issued a new policy to reject displays of "divisive symbols".

Transport for London (TfL) is to consult on plans to demand a new English language test, a map-reading assessment, a fixed landline and the chance to book seven days in advance. Uber said: "If adopted these [rules] would mean an end to the Uber people know and love." Black cab drivers have argued regulations need to be tightened. There has been growing pressure on city legislators, most recently when cab drivers protested outside City Hall. The Uber app connects customers and nearby drivers using GPS technology and gives an estimate of the fare. It generally charges lower fares than traditional firms and drivers rely on technology for navigation. Transactions are cashless using pre-registered bank details. TfL says the consultation seeks to "raise standards across the industry" following an "exponential" growth in the private hire industry and technology. Uber said it was a deliberate target and if the proposals went ahead they would raise prices and increase congestion in London. Gareth Mead, from Uber, said: "If you think that this is supposed to be a public consultation, well I think the public are not at the heart of the proposals that have been made so far. "I think if the recommendations do progress then clearly we would need to change the way we approach the service and ultimately it ends up being more clunky which is not what people want." A leaked copy of the rules for consultation includes: Uber says TfL's consultation includes implementing a minimum wait time between booking and starting a trip which would also penalise the hire firm. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, has accused Uber of benefiting from a "lax regulatory system". Garrett Emmerson, from TfL, said: "No final decisions have been made and we're keen to hear a range of views from the trade and from Londoners too." He added TfL had 3,000 operators of private hire companies in the capital and the proposed regulations would apply to all of them.

Uber has said a consultation on private hire regulation could spell an end to way the taxi-hailing app operates.

Fans gathered to wave her off on her voyage across the Atlantic. The 16-year-old made a speech ahead of departing from Plymouth on the Malizia II, a racing yacht with underwater turbines. Greta said she was dedicated "to do everything I can" to tackle climate change which was a "very big problem". The teenager, who refuses to travel by air because of its environmental impact, said of climate sceptics: "There's always going to be people who don't understand or accept the united science, and I will just ignore them, as I'm only acting and communicating on the science." She added she thought people's mindsets were changing "even if it's not enough, and not fast enough, that's something, it's not for nothing". Greta was asked if she could make US President Donald Trump listen, and she answered with a simple "no", prompting laughter from the crowd. "I'm not that special. I can't convince everyone," she said. "I'm just going to do what I want to do and what will have most impact." The captain of the Malizia II, Boris Herrmann, appeared alongside her. He thanked Greta for her courage and called the issue of climate change a "race against time". Greta said her two-week trip would pose challenges including seasickness, but said many people in the world were suffering a lot more than that. "I was test sailing two days ago and we went out for several hours," she said. "I didn't feel bad or anxious, I felt seasick for about one or two minutes, then it stopped. "I will just have to see, get on the boat and and see what happens, and that is also very exciting." The 18m (60ft) yacht they are using was built to compete in the 2016-17 round-the-world Vendée Globe race. She told the BBC that travelling by sea shows "the climate change crisis is a real thing". The Swedish teenager's "school strikes" have inspired a global climate change protest movement driven by young people. 'My daughter wants to be her' Laura Jackson and daughters Cicely and Tilia, who took part in the school strikes, are planning to strike again on 20 September.Ms Jackson said: "It's very exciting for them to be part of this. "They often feel that they're too small to make an impact and the strikes make them feel really empowered. "My daughter Cicely wants to be a Greta." 'Saving lives' Kerrie Roche-Walker, from Plymouth, said she believed in what Greta was doing. "I feel it's so important at this time for all of us globally to support the causes that she stands for," she said. Her grandson Eric, eight, added: "I'm excited to see Greta. "She's doing her best for climate change. Waters are rising and people keep littering. "The waters could rise too much. She's basically saving lives." 'Greta inspires me' Emily Stevenson, 21, who made her own environmental statement when she appeared at her graduation wearing a dress made out of crisp packets, got to ask Greta a question. She said the experience was "unreal". "I don't have any words to describe how it feels," she said. "Greta inspires me."

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has set sail from the UK, bound for UN climate summits in New York and Chile.

Police believe Mr Mckeague climbed into a waste bin in Bury St Edmunds and was taken away by a bin lorry. The search of a site at Milton, Cambridgeshire, restarted in October after a search there ended earlier in the year. Suffolk Police said "no trace" of the airman had been found. Corrie Mckeague: The mystery of the airman who disappeared The force said it was "content" he was not in the landfill areas that had been searched and the investigation into his disappearance would continue. Mr Mckeague's mother, Nicola Urquhart, said by searching the waste site the police had given her "immeasurable peace of mind". His father Martin said they had a "lifelong debt of gratitude" to all those involved in searching for his son. Mr Mckeague, who was 23 at the time he went missing, was last seen at 03:25 BST on 24 September 2016. He was captured on CCTV entering a bin loading bay known as the Horseshoe and his phone was tracked as taking the same route as a bin lorry. Police started a 20-week search of the landfill site in March before ending it in July. The latest excavation has been focused on an area next to the site of the original search. Det Supt Katie Elliott said there were "a number of theories" about what happened to Mr Mckeague and they were "continuing to test the evidence".

The search of a landfill site for missing RAF airman Corrie Mckeague, who vanished during a night out in September 2016, has ended.

The baby aardvark, which is the length of a banana, and its mother have been moved to special "birthing burrow". This will keep the baby, which has very poor sight, protected from any accidental knocks or bumps from the other aardvarks, a spokesperson said. "The keepers have been taking turns to complete shifts with mother and baby to ensure that the baby is safe." Vets will only be able to determine the sex of the aardvark, born on 7 February, with a DNA test in six months' time. When it is known whether it is male or female staff will choose a name.

A baby aardvark is under 24-hour watch at Colchester Zoo to protect it from injury from other clumsy aardvarks.

"By pleading guilty to the charges today Jon Venables has accepted and acknowledged the wrong he has done and the harm he had caused. "He is extremely remorseful and knows that he has badly let down those who have tried to help him since his release from custody. "It is to his credit that Jon co-operated fully with the police investigation and admitted from the outset that he was responsible for downloading indecent images of children from well-known file-sharing sites. "The investigation into the 2008 charges did not establish evidence of a connection between Jon Venables and the sending of images to another person until well into June 2010, and the decision to charge him was not made until 12th July. "As soon as he was aware of the prosecution's intention to charge him with these offences, he made it known he would plead guilty. 'Crass and unthinking' "Both sets of offences were committed in his home, alone, with his own computer, to which no-one else had access. The 2008 offences took the form of a hoax online conversation exchanging images obtained from file-sharing sites, which were then deleted. "Jon Venables acknowledges that conduct, which came at a time when he was drinking to excess because of the pressures he was under, was crass and unthinking. "It was not repeated: the very careful analysis of the computer he owned during 2009 and 2010 shows that, whilst he continued to obtain and view indecent images of children, he took no steps to show them to anyone else. "He puts forward no excuse for his conduct. "He is genuinely ashamed, but he has and continues to express remorse, and has come to an understanding of how children are harmed by those who have even a passing interest in such material, let alone by those who pass it on. "Jon Venables began independent living in March 2002, at the age of 19, having spent almost half of his life in custody. The decision to release him was based on his acceptance of responsibility for, and understanding of what he had done, and that it would be with him for the rest of his life. "He has said that every day since what took place in 1993 he has thought about how different life might have been for all those affected, who he appreciates have also had their own reasons for reflection. 'Puzzled and perplexed' "His release involved a challenge, and one that has impacted upon him daily ever since. In the words of the pre-sentence report he had 'a legacy life' - a complete change of identity - 'He was trained by the police in counter-surveillance and has had to live and hold a lie for the rest of his life. There was little doubt that if his identity became compromised his life would be at risk'. A casual search of Facebook and the internet shows the very real risk to his life. "It is to his credit that from leaving secure accommodation until his recall in February this year, Jon Venables has been continuously in work - being paid at around the minimum wage, and working unsocial hours throughout - and became part of a firm friendship group. "He kept in contact with his family. But, throughout this time, as the pre-sentence report observes: 'One of the major impacts in his life has been the inability to share his huge secret... he feared he would always be alone'. "He extends his apologies to those friends he has made over the last eight years, who at best will be puzzled and perplexed, and most likely hurt and angry at the realisation that their friend was not who he said he was, he hopes they can understand why he could not tell them the truth. "He also wishes to apologise to his family, who despite their obvious and justified disappointment in him, he knows will support him in carrying on with the rest of his life. "It is no excuse at all, but Jon Venables does say now, on reflection, that not knowing quite what the world he was released into was like, or how it worked, he perhaps didn't fully appreciate the extent to which the passage of time, by itself, would not blunt his frustrations and unhappiness. "He says that he appreciates there was no blueprint available to him - or those offering him support - he felt like a canary down a mine. "The return to prison was something of a relief when it came. He intends to learn lessons to help him face this challenge again. "Jon Venables knows that there are real victims of these crimes. Insofar as he extends his sincere apologies to those children who have been exploited and abused. He accepts that only a prison sentence is justified, and that once his time is served his release is not, and cannot be, a formality or matter of routine. "He is determined now, once and for all, to become the person he wishes to be so that when he is eventually released from prison, he will never go back."

Jon Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger, has been jailed for two years after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children. His solicitor, John Gibson, issued this statement on his behalf.

The Forestry Commission notices tell owners to take their pet to a vet should it develop lesions on its legs, paws or face. Vets say the disease - which leads to kidney failure - is similar to "Alabama Rot", which was first seen in the US in the 1980s. The source of the disease is unknown. However, the Environment Agency has ruled out chemical contamination in water supplies. The majority of the dogs that died in the past year were in the New Forest, but there were also others in Surrey, Cornwall, Worcestershire and County Durham. The notices say owners should take their dog to a vet even if the lesions appear a week after a walk. Alabama Rot had been associated with greyhounds, but the deaths in Britain in the past year have affected a variety of breeds. 'Trigger' unknown David Walker, from Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Hursley, near Winchester, said: "What I would say is that if you see a skin wound on your dog then don't just leave it. "Ordinarily you might say I'll leave that for 24, 48 hours - I would say don't do that, get down to your local vet." He added: "The dogs that have pulled through seem to be the ones that have presented earlier on in the disease course. However, that doesn't hold true for all of the patients, and dogs seems to be affected to varying degrees." Mr Walker said his practice first saw cases in December 2012 and since then vets had developed a "much better handle on what the disease is" - but the "trigger" is still unknown. He said it was "very similar" to Alabama Rot, which was thought to be related to a toxin produced by E. coli bacteria. Lesions on legs But Mr Walker said his team had "looked very hard" for the bacteria and the toxin in infected dogs and not found either. Alabama Rot - the common name for idiopathic renal glomerular vasculopathy - only affected greyhounds when it was identified in the US in the 1980s. The recent cases in England are different because various breeds have been affected - but Mr Walker said the "pathology [of the disease] is exactly the same". Like Alabama Rot, the first external symptom of the disease affecting dogs in England is lesions, usually on their legs. More lesions can appear elsewhere on the body, and in some cases dogs can suffer kidney failure and die.

Signs are to be put up in the New Forest warning dog owners about a mysterious disease that has killed 13 dogs across Britain in recent months.

Like-for-like sales - which ignore new store openings - rose by 6.3% in the 6 weeks to 5 January. House of Fraser - which operates 60 stores in the UK and Ireland - said sales had risen in all categories, and online sales had jumped by nearly 50%. Fashion retailer New Look also reported an increase in sales across the festive period. Group sales were up 4.5% in the 14 weeks to 29 December, while in the UK like-for-like sales climbed 3.7%. 'Challenging' market House of Fraser said it had seen record sales in the two weeks leading up to Christmas. While sales were up across the board, it had recorded a "particularly strong performance" from fashion and beauty sales. House of Fraser chairman Don McCarthy said that 2012 had been "challenging" for retailers, and it remained "difficult to predict" when the economy and consumer confidence would improve. However, he added that the firm expected to report full-year earnings in line with previous expectations. Online sales at House of Fraser jumped 48% from a year earlier and this big rise in online trade was echoed at fashion retailer New Look, which said sales over the internet rose by more than 50%. New Look also said it had enjoyed a "significant" rise in profit margins, thanks to fewer price cuts and "tight management" of stock. "[New Look] has delivered an excellent result in a challenging trading environment," said chairman Alistair McGeorge. Last week, department store group John Lewis reported a 13% rise in total sales for the five weeks to the end of December, with internet sales up 44%. Also last week, Next reported a 3.9% rise in sales from 1 November to Christmas Eve. The retailer also forecast that its full-year profits would be at the top end of expectations.

Department store group House of Fraser has said it enjoyed its "best ever" Christmas sales period.

By Vincent DowdArts reporter, BBC News Director Matthew Dunster says it didn't take long to work out that Harington and Johnny Flynn would be perfect casting for the big roles in True West. But the thing he loved first was the title. "As a writer, Sam Shepard had a gift for the poetry of a great title - there's Buried Child and Fool for Love and True West and Far North. Each of them is so evocative." Shepard died last year aged 73 - Dunster regrets that he never met him. "It's the first London production of a Shepard play since then so it's our tribute to the talent that made him a major American playwright for 40 years." True West is the intense story of two brothers. Austin - played by Harington - is an aspiring Hollywood writer who hopes to sell a screenplay to a producer. His brother Lee initially appears hopelessly shambolic but the balance of power between them shifts. Harington says the two men can be seen as two halves of the same person. "By the time Sam Shepard wrote it he'd had a lot of experience in Hollywood and definitely one of the things he's writing about is creative integrity. Shepard is a very American playwright but also he's telling a story about fraternal rivalry which is universal." The actor's last appearance on stage in London was in 2016 in Doctor Faustus. "I got a lot from playing that role but often I felt very alone doing it and at times I knew I'd leapt into something where I was a little out of my depth. But in True West I share the stage with Johnny and I knew at once it would be fun to do." Flynn says he and Harington are building a sense of trust and companionship off stage. "It's a four-character play but inevitably it's the Austin-Lee dynamic which dictates the action. I know that on stage there's already an energy passing between us and that will only get more profound as the run progresses." That energy manifests itself in a prolonged fight between the brothers. Dunster has brought in fight arrangers Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown to choreograph. "Actually the difficult part has been persuading Kit he can't always be the winner," he says. "At one point in rehearsal Johnny put a cable around Kit's neck for maybe five seconds and Kit freaked - he wasn't happy at all." Harington insists the biggest problem has been carpet-burn. On screen Harington has had his fair share of action scenes playing Jon Snow in Game of Thrones since 2011. Shooting for the eighth and final season ended in June. Harington has been in the series throughout (despite having been bloodily killed off in season five). He's used to fending off journalists' questions about episodes to come. Asked to describe the final story, which he filmed this summer, he volunteers that "there's a really big dance number" - which doesn't feel hugely reliable. "It was emotional to leave the job definitely," he says. "But I wouldn't say I was sad: if like me you go all the way back to the pilot of Game of Thrones that's almost 10 years of your life - that's really unusual in an actor's career. It was a huge emotional upheaval leaving that family. But would I want to go back and do more? Not on your life." HBO is currently at work on a prequel, reportedly set centuries before Game of Thrones. What if he were asked to film a single scene, maybe as an ancestor of Jon Snow? His answer remains an unequivocal no - he's enjoying stage-work too much. Flynn has a second career as a musician. He's composed several pieces for the play, at Dunster's request. "But Matthew was insistent we avoid what could have been the musical clichés a British person might expect - probably slide guitar and cod blues. "Partly the play is about the appropriation of narrative so I got thinking about the original people who might have lived in this landscape before Austin and Lee. I listened to a lot of music of the Hopi people and also Navajo and Mojave music - basically using a lot of drums and flute music. It has a medicine ceremony aspect to it which might involve ancestral spirits. It's been a great thing to explore." Shepard's 'epic' writing There's only a tiny list of plays from the last 50 years which have had multiple revivals both in London and in New York. True West is on that list - and a different revival is to open on Broadway at the end of December, starring Paul Dano and Ethan Hawke. Dunster says he's happy to be opening first. He thinks the play's continued popularity has two explanations. "Partly it's commercial and practical: True West only needs four actors, which is great for producers watching the money. It's not a particularly long play and it doesn't call for a massive set. "Yet somehow Sam's writing makes it feel epic - it's the way he handles the tensions on stage. Oddly, you could even compare it to the huge canvas of Game of Thrones: a lot of what kept us addicted there was division within families and between brothers. "Family tensions are one of the most universal themes in all story-telling. We've all known those tensions but it takes a Sam Shepard to turn them into great drama." True West is playing at the Vaudeville theatre in London. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].

Kit Harington spent much of his 20s in the sprawling fantasy world of the international TV hit Game of Thrones. But now it's just him and his (pretend) brother slugging it out for dominance in a kitchen in California in the modern stage classic True West.

Helen Mary Jones has called for more scrutiny to prevent a repeat of the Cwm Taf maternity scandal. A damning report earlier this year said the department was "dysfunctional" and mothers had "distressing experiences". But Health Minister Vaughan Gething told a debate such a new body could be complex. Ms Jones said scandals at Cwm Taf, Tawel Fan mental health ward in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and elsewhere "exposed consistent and systematic management failures across our Welsh NHS". Professional regulatory bodies already exist for doctors and nurses, but Ms Jones want a similar professional body for managers. The Plaid health spokeswoman said senior staff should be registered, so they cannot fail in one local health board and get a job at another. But unless it is taken on by ministers, Plaid's proposals are not expected to reach the statute book. The Welsh Government has its own new law planned to place a "duty of candour" on NHS organisations, requiring them to be open and honest when things go wrong. Plaid Cymru wants ministers to go further, putting a "legal duty of candour" on health professionals to "empower" whistle-blowers. Jon Restell, chief executive of trade union Mangers in Partnership, said: "This kind of rhetoric damages morale and effectiveness of management and has a chilling effect on recruitment to these posts, especially clinicians." He said he would "welcome any investment in professional standards and development for NHS managers", but any regulatory process "would need to be fully independent of the political process". Ms Jones called for new legislation in a debate on Wednesday - with support from the Conservatives and Brexit Party. Mr Gething did not support the idea of a new regulatory body for NHS managers, saying it "would introduce a level of cost and complexity, but of course that's always the case when introducing new measures". One consideration, he said, would be defining "who or what a manager is to be called within the ambit of a new regulatory body". Cwm Taf's maternity services were put into special measures after failings were uncovered at the Royal Glamorgan and Prince Charles hospitals, prompted by concerns about the deaths of a number of babies. The Welsh Government said it wanted to "create a culture of continual learning and improvement in our NHS", adding: "We have already introduced our Quality and Engagement Bill which will increase openness and transparency across the NHS and give a stronger voice to staff and patients." The government's bill also proposes to replace Community Health Councils with a new body - there have been concerns about a lack of detail on what will replace them.

A professional body able to hold Welsh NHS managers to account and strike them off for poor performance should be set up, a Plaid Cymru AM has said.

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies said public services were "verging on crisis". First Minister Carwyn Jones said the NHS was "on the ballot paper" at the election, but has defended his handling of the service despite criticism over waiting times. Labour currently holds 30 seats in the 60-member assembly. The Conservatives have 14, Plaid Cymru 11 and the Liberal Democrats five. Mr Davies is beginning a tour of Wales on Tuesday, and said: "Wales is in desperate need of a change and communities are crying out for a new approach. "The economy needs to be reinvigorated, and our public services are verging on crisis - a crisis of Carwyn Jones' making." Speaking in Wrexham on Monday, Mr Jones repeated his suggestion that the NHS was "on the ballot paper" on Thursday. He said: "We know the health service has faced some challenges, in north Wales in particular. "The last five years of Tory austerity have been difficult ones and the demand for healthcare is rising all the time. "But, we have an NHS in Wales - and an NHS workforce - of which we can be proud." There had been "real improvements" since 2011, he said, including a larger medical workforce and improved cancer survival rates. 'Social contract' Plaid Cymru are focusing on a pledge to scrap care charges for the elderly and dementia sufferers. The party wants to scrap both fees over a 10-year period, at a cost of £226m. Plaid's Elin Jones said: "Our plans will save people up to £30,000 every year. It is a significant commitment, but it is a commitment that we believe is important to make. "Plaid Cymru will restore the values of the NHS, making care free at the point of need for everyone who needs it. "This is about keeping the social contract with people who have worked all through their lives, have paid their taxes and who now need care." Kirsty Williams, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "People don't expect miracles from our NHS, but they do expect staff to have the time to treat patients with the dignity they deserve. "17 years of Labour has meant nurses in Wales have more patients each to care for than in any other part of the UK. That must change - a vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats is a vote for dignified care." The party is pledging to ensure a minimum number of nurses on mental health and maternity wards. A private members' bill introduced by Ms Williams in the last assembly has already seen the policy adopted on general wards. UKIP, who are aiming to win their first seats in the Senedd, are due to be joined on the campaign by party leader Nigel Farage in Newport.

Opposition parties have attacked Labour's record on health ahead of Thursday's assembly elections.

The spoof page references a Bitcoin-themed documentary broadcast by Panorama last year, but links on the page direct visitors to a site promising to make them a millionaire. Reports indicate that the fake page is being spread via emails sent from hacked accounts. A spokesman for the BBC said it is looking into how best to respond. The Financial Conduct Authority has previously issued a warning about an earlier scheme run under the same Bitcoin Trader branding that features in the latest effort. This is not the first time an attempt has been made to link the brand to the BBC. Last year, adverts appeared on social media and elsewhere falsely claiming that a trading platform operating under the same name had been backed by several of Dragons' Den's stars. Two of the show's entrepreneurs - Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones - subsequently issued denials. Ads also claimed that Lord Alan Sugar had quit The Apprentice to help promote its software, leading the businessman to tweet that he had contacted the police. In addition, the former BBC journalist Martin Lewis - who now runs the MoneySavingExpert site - launched legal action against Facebook after it failed to remove fake ads suggesting he was also involved. And Sir Richard Branson has also warned that fake CNN news pages had been created to make it seem that he had endorsed a Bitcoin Trader-branded scheme. It is not, however, clear whether the people behind the effort are the same as before. Countdown timer The fake BBC News page contains a lengthy article describing an "underground banking system" that allows investors to turn small deposits into "a fortune". It presents a case study of one individual who supposedly saw an investment of less than £300 grow into nearly £900,000. At the bottom of the page, a countdown clock indicates that there is little time remaining to enrol in the venture. City of London Police's cyber-crime team has previously warned users against this tactic. "Always be wary if you're pressured to invest quickly or promised returns that sound too good to be true," it said when it discussed the con last April. One of the indications the latest bogus webpage is fake is its address, which does not correspond to the bbc.co.uk or bbc.com domains used by the broadcaster. One cyber-security expert said members of the public who receive emails urging them to click any link with an unusual address should in general be cautious of doing so. "If you are suspicious of any email, search for the page or website in Google rather than clicking the link," suggested Lisa Forte, from Red Goat Cyber Security. "And if you receive the email at work, let your IT team know so they can deal with it appropriately."

An investment scheme is using a fake BBC News webpage to convince members of the public to hand over funds.

It was an intervention that illustrated just how much the coronavirus pandemic has emboldened the UK's devolved administrations to make decisions which significantly diverge from those in Downing Street. On Friday, Wales went into a national "firebreak" lockdown which has seen pubs, bars, restaurants, gyms and all non-essential shops close until 9 November. Meanwhile, Scotland has announced that it will move to a new five-tier system of coronavirus restrictions from Monday, and Northern Ireland is in the middle of four weeks of tighter restrictions. Every area of England is now in one of three categories, medium (tier one), high (tier two) or very high (tier three), depending on the local infection rate. Amid all these different approaches, there have been calls for unity between the UK's central and devolved governments on issues ranging from business support to Christmas restrictions. But what's behind the differences? Are they confusing people? And what do they tell us about devolution? Following the science? The Welsh Government says its decision to impose a 17-day national lockdown was based on scientific advice provided to all governments in the UK. However, this move was opposed by some opposition parties in the Senedd. The Welsh Government's Technical Advisory Cell (TAC) is consistent with the recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), available to all four UK administrations. Back in September, Sage advisers called for the immediate introduction of a short national lockdown, including: The UK government, in deciding against a national lockdown in England, said it had taken "balanced judgements" that weighed up the effect on the economy and "all the other unintended consequences" of measures, such as the impact on mental health and delayed surgeries. In essence, governments can legitimately hold different views on how to deal with a problem. But where does that leave prospects of co-operation? 'Very immature system' "This is a public health crisis - a pandemic - which does not have any respect for borders," said Prof Laura McAllister, of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre. "But you have to contextualise that. If it were feasible, we would have a global or European response to Covid rather than a UK response, never mind individual responses by the UK devolved nations." Part of the problem, Prof McAllister said, was simply the difficulty of achieving unified action between two distinct political entities. But she said "a very immature system of inter-governmental relations" in the UK had made co-ordination all the more difficult. "The reality is that if there were effective inter-governmental liaisons, it would have been quite possible for agreement to be reached on employment support, lockdown measures, but I don't think you can blame the devolved governments for that." Has a lack of co-ordination led to confusion? There have been claims, including by UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, that differences in restrictions within the UK causes confusion. But even if that assessment is true, it begs the question: Who should fall in line with whose restrictions? Prof McAllister said the idea there was widespread confusion about the rules had been "overplayed", especially by the media. "There has probably been a bit of confusion, but we are in the middle of a pandemic so it would be a bit odd if there wasn't. "The confusion is that people in England didn't even realise Wales had the powers it did - some people in Wales were probably equally surprised. People are being told they are confused - but they know the policies in Wales." 'Divisions brought into the open' The pandemic has become a "proxy" for wider debates about devolution and the future of the UK, according to a historian at Swansea University. Prof Martin Johnes has written extensively on Welsh national identity and presented a BBC documentary looking at Wales' relationship with England. He said: "It's difficult not to conclude that those who support greater uniformity in Covid policy are motivated not just by the needs of fighting the pandemic, but also their discomfort over the principle of the different UK nations being able to do things differently. "Similarly, those who support Wales and Scotland going their own way often appear to be thinking as much about upholding the principle of devolution as they are about health needs. "Because it's not clear what should be done, it's very easy to be also influenced by wider thinking and feelings around devolution and national identity. These divisions were always there but Covid has brought them out into the open."

Earlier this month, Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that people from Covid hot-spots in the UK were banned from crossing the border into Wales.

Two major embankment collapses left the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway facing repair costs of more than £670k and major disruptions to its service. Music producer Pete Waterman, who is chairman of the heritage railway, launched the £1m appeal two years ago. It is hoped that trains will be running again between Toddington and Winchcombe within two months. 'Strength to strength' An anonymous donation of £7,000 completed the fund raising efforts to reach the £1m target. Malcolm Temple, the railway's chairman, said he had been "astounded" by the huge support received. "Everyone can be immensely proud of the contribution they have made and I am honoured to be chairman of such an enterprising group that just won't take 'no' for an answer," he added. "This spirit of enterprise can only ensure that this railway will go from strength to strength." A new portion of track has now been laid at 'chicken curve' which will soon be connected and have its signalling re-installed. About 70,000 passengers use the heritage line every year. At the launch of the emergency appeal in September 2010, Mr Waterman said getting the railway's full length reinstated was vital for its workforce and for the local tourist economy. Related Internet Links Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

A heritage railway line badly damaged by two landslips has reached its £1m emergency fundraising target.

Frankie Hobro, who owns and runs Anglesey Sea Zoo, said she had dealt with seals attacked by dogs, and others mistakenly thought to be abandoned. Along with staff and volunteers, she has spent December caring for two seal pups - Ranger and Noel. Ranger has just been released, while Noel is now at a special RSPCA centre. "Interaction between seals - pups especially - and humans seems to becoming more and more common, locally here on beaches," said Ms Hobro. "I don't think people realise just how common it is to see one, especially grey seals in north Wales." The period between October and the end of December is the prime time for seal pups to make their presence known, following a late summer breeding season. But as more people have rediscovered the outdoors following lockdowns in Wales, it is now leading to problems. "This year we have had a particularly large demand for rescuing grey seal pups found on beaches all over north Wales," said the zoo owner. "All the RSPCA rescue centres have been at full capacity for several weeks now." Ranger and Noel Two different tales for two very different seals. Ranger is a mature seal pup who was brought in to Anglesey Sea Zoo on the shores of the Menai Strait at Brynsiencyn after being badly bitten by a dog. He had several puncture wounds on his body, and had a mild chest infection too. But after a week-long stay at what has become known as the "Sea Zoo Seal Spa", some antibiotics and a good feed, he was ready to return to the sea. "He was definitely ready to go back into the wild, as he clearly hated being contained and fed by us once he was fully recovered," said Ms Hobro. "It was a wonderful moment to watch Ranger swim out to join the other seals out at sea near the Little Orme. "Although he did take a little coaxing initially to take to the waves, once he swam off he didn't look back." It will be a little while longer before younger pup Noel is back in the water. "He was a pup who had been left by mum, but had never gone off on his own to get food, so he was very, very underweight," said Ms Hobro. "He clearly didn't get the whole independence thing and probably hadn't eaten for a week or more." He stayed at the zoo for nearly three weeks, being fed and taught how to feed himself. This week, a space finally became available at the RSPCA's specialist wildlife centre at Stapley Grange in Nantwich, Cheshire. Noel will be in a pool with other rescued seals and he will continue to be rehabilitated before being released back into the wild in the new year. "The most important thing for him is to be with other pups of a similar age because he hasn't gone through that process of becoming independent." Ms Hobro said there were two main issues that needed tackling. "We are particularly concerned that dog owners who walk their dogs off the lead on beaches need to be aware," she said. "The smell of a seal intrigues dogs, and pups on beaches will often lie very still until approached so closely that they have to bite to defend themselves. "An altercation between a seal pup and a dog could easily result in as much damage to the dog as to the seal pup, as seal bites are particularly prone to result in nasty infections." Sadly, one seal pup brought to the sea zoo recently had been so badly injured by a dog, it could not be saved. "We are asking the public if they are walking their dogs on an area of beach where seals are normally present, to please keep them on a lead or keep a close eye on them when they are off the lead, and pay attention to wildlife signs and any unusual behaviour," added Ms Hasbro. Another issue is becoming a common mistake - concerned members of the public trying to help seal pups they think have been abandoned. In fact, pups are often left alone on beaches while their mothers search for food. If someone then approaches the pup, it will not only become stressed, its mother will not come back onto the beach while other people are around. "We are requesting that members of the public avoid approaching any seal that they find on the beach, observe it from a distance and report it quickly if they are concerned about its welfare," said Ms Hobro. "While meaning well, many people get too close and this leads to further distress for the animal, and may result in a pup having to be rescued when it may otherwise have been OK." The zoo owner's best advice is to call for help, and contact experts such as the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity.

There has been a surge in seal pup rescues this year, as more people visit Welsh beaches during the pandemic, according to a marine conservationist.

Sir Charles joined the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as an oboist during World War II, before becoming its principal oboe in 1946. He was chosen to conduct the orchestra on the opening night of the Sydney Opera House in 1973. Sir Charles was due to perform at the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival this summer. Prom tribute Born in New York State to Australian parents, Sir Charles was raised in Sydney but spent large parts of his adult life in the UK. He conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra, was music director at the English National Opera, and was conductor laureate of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with whom he had a 50-year association. Roger Wright, director BBC Proms and Controller of BBC Radio, paid tribute to the conductor and said a Prom would be dedicated to his memory. He was due to perform on 25 and 29 July. "Sir Charles was a great conductor and his loss will be deeply felt by musicians and audiences alike," he said. "The range and quality of his work was extraordinary. He was due to conduct two Proms this summer and it is very sad to think of a Proms season without his remarkable musicianship, good humour and charm." 'Living treasure' Sir Charles also had strong connections with the Edinburgh International Festival, where he first performed in 1952. He returned many times as a conductor and was president of the Edinburgh International Festival Society. Four years ago, he marked his 55th year at the festival by conducting Beethoven's nine symphonies, and was due to conduct the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in a few weeks' time. Sydney Symphony managing director Rory Jeffes said: "Australia has lost a living treasure with the death overnight of conductor Sir Charles Mackerras. "The connection between Sir Charles and the Sydney Symphony has run deep for over 60 years. He was a man of great musical scholarship, talent and energy. "We are all deeply saddened to have lost such an eminent conductor and a special part of the Sydney Symphony family. Our thoughts are with Sir Charles' loved ones at this time." His agent Robert Rattray said he was "a giant" of classical music who retained his ability to inspire fellow conductors and musicians into his later life. "His knowledge and his enthusiasm was something he not only could convey to these orchestral players but to some of the most eminent figures in the classical music world."

World renowned Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras has died in London at the age of 84.

Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology correspondent@BBCRoryCJon Twitter Japan's Softbank is backing Improbable in a funding round that values the business at more than $1bn. The deal is further evidence that the UK's technology sector can now compete with the best. There may also be relief that despite the cash injection from Japan, Improbable will stay independent. Improbable was founded just five years ago by Herman Narula and Rob Whitehead, who had studied computer science together at Cambridge University. Their aim was to build large-scale virtual worlds and simulations - mainly for games developers but also for other clients who could use them in applications such as modelling transport systems. The company believes it has developed revolutionary technology with its Spatial OS operating system, which it has opened up to other developers. It has partnered with Google to put its system on the search giant's cloud, allowing small developers to create massive simulations without much infrastructure of their own. Mr Narula's ambitions for Improbable are of a kind we are more used to hearing from Silicon Valley than in the UK. "Our vision," he says, "is to create completely new realities, massive virtual worlds that can change the way we live and work and can impact the way we understand some of the hardest problems." Softbank has obviously bought into that vision because it is paying a very high price for a relatively small business that is still loss-making. Improbable did get an investment of $20m two years from the ritzy Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. It has used that cash to fund expansion and now employs nearly 200 people but still has relatively scant revenues. Independence But for Softbank's chief executive, Masayoshi Son, this is just another step in his mission to become a major force in global technology. He is finalising his $100bn Vision Fund with backing from the Saudi government as well as Apple. The Improbable deal is not part of that fund, but could be offered to its investors at a later date. Last year Softbank swooped to buy the chip designer ARM, the jewel in the crown of British technology, paying a 43% premium to take control. What is different this time is that $500m - roughly what Google paid to buy another young UK technology star, DeepMind - does not give it a majority stake in Improbable. And Mr Narula was very clear that he and his colleagues had been determined to stay in control. "Retaining our independence was something we talked about in a bar five years ago," he told me. "I'd like to see a British company - maybe us - get to the level where we could be a world-leading platform." Time and again, we hear the same lament: that Britain has great universities turning out lots of clever start-up technology firms, but we lack the ambition to stay the course rather than sell up. Perhaps Improbable can build a world where a British technology firm can match anything coming out of Silicon Valley or China.

A London-based virtual reality firm has raised $500m (£388m) in one of the biggest investments in an early stage European technology business.

Red Peak, designed by Wellington resident Aaron Dustin, was on the long list but did not make the final four. The finalists were revealed to widespread disdain last week, with many saying said they were too boring, too corporate or unrepresentative. But PM John Key has already said no to adding Red Peak into the contest. Mr Dustin has made the case that his flag design is simple and meaningful. He says on his blog it uses the shape of traditional weaving patterns, and "suggests a landscape of alpine ranges, red earth, and black sky", while referencing the Maori creation myth of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, also known as Rangi and Papa. It also highlights New Zealand's position near the international dateline, which makes it one of the "first to hold the light of new day", he said. 'Appropriately symbolic' By Monday evening, more than 28,000 people had signed a petition started four days ago by a C Wilson. "The other options look like a random assemblage of clipart. This looks like a flag," said Auckland resident, Camryn Brown. "This is drawable, strongly and appropriately symbolic flag that looks like a FLAG. It will be something I could proudly display," said another signatory, Liza Bolton. Oscar Hemingway in Auckland said Red Peak was "has the simplicity needed to be a memorable symbol and its colors and shapes represent the nation well. It deserves at least to be on the short lost and given its fair chance". But Mr Key has shot down the petition, saying there was "a well set out process" and the cabinet had already accepted the four nominations. "To accept any other flag... we would have to change the law, and we're not going back to parliament to change the law," he told a morning talkshow. New Zealanders will have the chance to choose their favourite design in a referendum later this year. Then in 2016, another referendum will be held to decide whether to scrap the existing flag and replace it with the winner. Mr Key has argued New Zealand needs a new flag as its current one, adopted in 1902, is too similar to Australia's, and the country needs one which better reflects its values. But critics say the exercise is costly and unnecessary. It is expected to cost the New Zealand government more than 27m New Zealand dollars (£11m; $17m), according to news portal Stuff.

Nearly 30,000 people have signed a petition demanding the New Zealand government allow a fifth entry in the contest for a new national flag.

Several people were taken to hospital after the weekend incident in Adjarra town, near the capital Porto Novo. The Very Holy Church of Jesus Christ of Baname sect opposes the voodoo religion - one of the major faiths in Benin. Members of the controversial sect have clashed with followers of other faiths. The group's young leader, Vicentia Chanvoukini, known by her followers as "Lady Perfect", has proclaimed herself a god. About 40% of the population of the West African nation are believed to be following voodoo. Voodoo Day is a public holiday and there is a national Voodoo museum.

Five members of a Benin religious sect have died of asphyxiation after they were reportedly told to burn incense and charcoal in locked prayer rooms as they waited for the world to end.

Adnan Ashraf Jarral, 35, and his son, Usman Adnan Jarral, died along with Miroslave Duna, 50, and Vlasta Dunova, 41, in Sheffield on Friday night. All four were killed when their people carrier crashed with a VW Golf. At Sheffield Magistrates' Court, the VW driver Elliott Bower, 18, and Declan Bower, 23, were remanded in custody. No pleas were entered, with both men due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on 10 December. Three other people who were travelling in the people carrier were also injured. Elliott Bower, of Harborough Avenue, Sheffield, has been charged with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He is also charged with handling stolen goods and possession of cannabis. Declan Bower, also of Harborough Avenue, has been charged with aggravated vehicle taking causing a death. In court, a bandage was visible on his left hand, he had cuts to his face and was limping. He is also accused of handing stolen goods, two counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of driving without insurance, possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis. Prosecutor Mark Hughes told the hearing: "The majority of these charges relate to a tragic incident on Friday evening when a vehicle allegedly driven by Elliott Bower and with Declan Bower in the rear of the vehicle collided with a people carrier and resulted in the deaths of four people, including a 16-month-old child. "There was also serious injuries caused to three other persons in the vehicle." The crash happened in the Darnall area shortly after 20:50 GMT. The Golf collided with Mr Jarral's VW Touran as it turned right on to Bannham Road. A 17-year-old boy arrested on Friday in connection with the crash remains in police custody. Husband and wife Mr Duna and Mrs Dunova are understood to have been friends of Mr Jarral's wife, Erica Korscenova, 32, who is in a stable condition in hospital. Their 22-year-old daughter, Nikola Dunova, was also injured and remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. Her three-year-old daughter, Livia Matova, who was also in the car and remains in a critical condition. The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, has started an investigation.

Two brothers have appeared in court after four people, including a one-year-old boy, died in a crash with a car involved in a police pursuit.

Sean McNulty was caught on CCTV kicking and punching residents at Newbus Grange Hospital in Darlington earlier this year. The 36-year-old previously admitted two counts of ill-treatment of patients at Teesside Crown Court. He was jailed for two years and eight months. While sentencing McNulty, of Finchale Crescent, Darlington, Judge Peter Armstrong described him as a "sadistic bully". Cygnet, which manages the facility for men living with autism, Down's syndrome and learning difficulties, raised concerns with police in March about McNulty's conduct, the hearing was told. The court was shown CCTV footage of McNulty assaulting residents filmed between February and March this year. One was punched, kicked or slapped a total of 15 times. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), has suspended Newbus Grange's rating, which was previously listed as "outstanding". Cygnet also managed Whorlton Hall hospital in County Durham when a BBC Panorama programme exposed abuse and mistreatment earlier this year. That has since been closed down. Related Internet Links HM Courts

A "sadistic" care worker has been jailed for abusing two residents at a home for men with autism and learning difficulties.

By Claire MarshallBBC Environment Correspondent The teams were supplied by the state after pressure from shepherds and farmers. In defiance of EU law, the French government has also relaxed the hunting rules to help farmers defend stocks. However conservationists argue that wolves are vital to ensuring a proper balance in nature. In addition, the owner of an estate in the Scottish Highlands has said he is pressing ahead with his plan to create a fenced-in South African-style game reserve as a means of reintroducing the extinct species to the UK. Livestock losses There were four days of protests in the region after a summer of increasing numbers of wolf attacks on sheep. The disgruntled farmers also briefly kidnapped the head of a national park in the Alps. In response, the government has relaxed the hunting rules and has supplied wolf hunting teams with infra-red night vision equipment and specialist rifles. In 2014, an estimated 8,500 animals were killed by wolves. It's thought that this number will rise significantly this year. The problems are mainly in the Hautes Alpes and Provence area. Therri Fadda, a shepherd in Haute Provence region recently lost six sheep in three days. A team of five wolf hunters has been working in his local area. They identified a pack of three adult wolves and three cubs. However, after a week they failed to shoot a single one. Mr Fadda has had to install electric fencing and keep five Pyrenean mountain dogs as guards. He showed the BBC a sheep that had been bitten in four places by a wolf and that would have to be killed. He said: " I am not going to leave my territory to the wolf. It's him or me - this is a fight to the death. I am going to stay on my land. You are going to attack? Well I will protect my sheep." Mr Fadda estimates that he has lost around 10% of his flock so far this year. He doesn't believe that shepherds should be armed, but that there should be a greater awareness of the difficulties shepherds in the region are having. "We have to find a balance. A wolf free in the natural world is amazing - but it's not compatible with shepherding. We can't eradicate a [a wild animal], and I wouldn't want that. But at the same time we can try to control it." The government has now raised the limit on the number of wolves that can be culled in 2015 from 25 to 36. Since reappearing in France in the early 1990s, there are an estimated 300 wolves in the country. According to the French Sheep Organisation (FNO), the number of animals they kill has risen by two thirds since 2011. Earlier this year, a wolf was spotted close to the capital Paris. The wolf is a protected species under the Berne Convention and European law. Hunting is banned, but limited, targeted culls are allowed. Farmers are compensated for each sheep that is killed. The bill for this is thought to have topped around 15 million euros in 2012. Expert tracker Troy Bennett said: "Because they are a protected animal there is no stopping them. I predicted ten years ago that they would be as far north as Paris, and this has become true. "They normally run in a pack of around seven to 14. In spring, when they have cubs, they split off to start their own packs. They disperse all the time, and if there is food then they will just spread and spread." "The wolf is very well adapted to its ecological niche. It can smell better than us, hear better than us, it knows the forest better than we do because it lives there constantly. "Its brain works really well - when it learns something it remembers it and teaches that to its offspring. It is constantly changing and adapting to its environment." However, conservationists argue that wolves play a vital role in protecting ecosystems. Innes MacNeill manages the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands. He was born nearby and has spent more than 20 years caring for the land. Passionate about returning the Highlands to a more natural state, he is helping to work on a plan to reintroduce wolves to a fenced-in area on the Alladale estate. His retriever Lincoln at his ankles, he gestures around the imposing slopes of one of the glens, pointing out how quiet it is. "What we would like to do is create one big area, like an African-style game reserve and allow the wolves and bears to help manage the habitat for us," he explained. "At the moment we have to cull deer by shooting them. If you had wolves and bear here, they wouldn't concentrate in one area and be grazing the place bare. "We would hope to create more woodland. And obviously the flora and fauna would change, and with the woodland there would be more bird life." The estate has already planted close to one million saplings. "We have definitely had a big part to play in making the hills look like this," says Mr MacNeill. "Although people love coming up here and it's a stunning part of the world, it's not actually meant to look like this. There was a lot more forest in these glens. I don't think we can ever turn the clock back but we can certainly make significant improvements." He believes that the wolf would play a key part in this. However there are significant legal hurdles, including the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which gives everyone a right of responsible access over most of the land and inland water in Scotland. Follow Claire on Twitter.

A team of wolf hunters is operating in a region of the French Alps to kill wolves that are seen as a threat to livestock.

Briony Blackwell, 30, said she was stranded in Cusco, Peru, after her flight out of the city was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak. Ms Blackwell has contacted the Foreign Office and her local MP over her situation. Victoria Prentis, MP for Banbury, said she was "doing everything" to help and was in contact with the Foreign Office. "I sincerely hope we can get her home as soon as possible," Ms Prentis said. Ms Blackwell, from Banbury, and her husband Nick left home in August to embark on an "adult gap year" they hoped would be the "adventure of a lifetime". From Bolivia they took a long bus journey to Cusco, which is in the Andes and was the capital of the Inca Empire, arriving on 15 March. She said they booked with a tourist company and there was no mention of the virus being an issue in Peru when they boarded the bus. The following day Peru issued a national lockdown and Ms Blackwell, due to fly to Colombia three days later, was faced with cancelled flights and suspended public transport services. Ms Blackwell told the BBC she had been left with one lung after battling lung cancer, and found it difficult to breathe staying in Cusco, which is 3,400m (11,200ft) above sea level and can see visitors experience severe altitude sickness. "Getting out of bed to shower is leaving me breathless. Climbing the stairs from reception, by the top I'm fighting for breath," she said. "If breathing were to get any harder for me right now I'd need a machine to help me. I dread to think how I'd cope if I caught it (Covid-19) here." The foreign secretary, Dominc Raab, has been trying to arrange for flights from Cusco back to the UK, but Ms Blackwell has criticised the lack of response from officials and politicians. The BBC has contacted the Foreign Office over Ms Blackwell's situation. Ms Prentis said she and her team were "doing everything we can to help Briony, as well as any other constituents who are stranded abroad, return home".

A British woman with one lung who is stuck at high altitude has said she has been "fighting for breath".

By Jenny MinardBBC 2012 Opening ceremonies artistic director Boyle came up with the theme "Isles of Wonder" after gaining inspiration from Caliban's speech in The Tempest which opens with the line: "Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises." Boyle told the BBC that the speech will be inscribed on a 27-tonne bell which will be rung in the Olympic Stadium to reflect the start of the Games. "The speech is about the wondrous beauty of the island and his deep, deep affection and devotion to it. And that's what we felt in preparing the show," he said. Kim Gavin, artistic director for the Paralympic closing ceremony was also inspired by the quote. The play So what is so significant about the play and more importantly the speech? The play is set on a remote island where an exiled Duke, Prospero, plots to restore his daughter the Princess Miranda to her rightful place in Milan. The Tempest - a storm - brings to the island Prospero's usurping brother Antonio and the complicit Alonso. There is a series of revelations and the play tells the tale of Prospero's quest to re-establish justice. But it is a speech by Prospero's slave Caliban which really forms the central theme of the London 2012 ceremonies. "It's Shakespeare's final play, it's one of his greatest plays, one of his most loved plays and has the most beautiful language of all his plays," said the Royal Shakespeare Company's David Farr. "It's one of the most well-known speeches but quite clearly and very creatively they are punning on the word isles. I think it's as simple as that. "I think it's a lovely idea - it doesn't need to be more complicated than that." 'Island beauty' Mr Farr will direct a production of The Tempest as part of the Cultural Olympiad's World Shakespeare Festival. He explained why it is such a significant speech for him. "It's a stunning speech about the beauty of an island's voice. "The brilliance is that it's delivered by the outsider Caliban who seems to have a better understanding of the island's beauty than the man who rules it. "What matters is that the speech shows the greatest sensitivity to the island, its music and voices." Boyle made the announcements with six months to go until the opening ceremony, the same day the bell - which will have Caliban's speech inscribed - was being cast. Boyle said he hoped the bell made by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry would remain at the Olympic Park for future generations. The Tempest will be performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre , Stratford-Upon-Avon from March until May, and again from July to October. There will also be a stint at The Roundhouse , London in June and July. It will also be put on in Bangla in early May as part of the Globe to Globe section of the World Shakespeare Festival at the Globe Theatre in London.

Danny Boyle has revealed that Shakespeare will go to the Olympic Games - with ceremonies heavily inspired by the playwright's work The Tempest.

The tower in Colchester, Essex, is called Jumbo and has had several owners since it was decommissioned in the 1980s and sold off by Anglian Water. A plan to convert the tower at Balkerne Gate into a penthouse was granted on appeal in 2001 but never carried out. Surveys revealed it was unsuitable for development and the Balkerne Tower Trust wants to begin public tours. The trust was set up to save the Grade l listed tower as a building of historical significance, Two further planning applications, including a change of use request, were rejected by Colchester Borough Council in September 2011. Repairs needed The failed proposals were for two penthouses, two flats, a restaurant and office space spread over 10 floors. The applications were opposed by the Victorian Society, the Council for British Archaeology, The Ancient Monuments Society, SAVE Britain's Heritage, The Conservation Officer, the Highways Agency, many residents of Balkerne Gardens as well as the Balkerne Tower Trust. An information board about Jumbo has been set up near the tower. Permission for public tours was granted at the successful penthouse development appeal in 2001. The Balkerne Tower Trust said it was set up to preserve for the benefit of the people of Colchester the historical, architectural and constructional heritage associated with the town's water supply. Central to this was opening Jumbo up to the public but first repairs have to be carried out to deterioration caused by nearly three decades of neglect, the trust said.

One of the last and largest Victorian water towers not converted to flats or a house could be opened to the public.

Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said he was making "carefully considered reductions" to roads and firearms units from September. This, along with moving 400 "centrally controlled response officers", would boost local policing numbers by 500. The Essex Police Federation likened it to "moving deckchairs on the Titanic" amid other cuts. The chief constable said the reduction in specialised posts would save about £3m a year. 'Feel demoted' In 2012, the Essex force was set a target of making £42m savings to its annual budget of £262m by 2014-15, which meant about 1,000 officers and civilian staff would lose their jobs. Under the latest reorganisation proposal, the roads unit would be cut from 161 officers to 103 while the firearms unit would see 109 officers cut to 85. Mr Kavanagh said the public wanted policing delivered locally, but specialist areas would still have "the right level of resourcing". "I also have to ensure that, operating within a reduced budget, we continue to deliver effective policing to all our communities," he said. Mark Smith, chairman of the Essex Police Federation, said: "It is like moving deckchairs on the Titanic - it's a movement of officers to cover the fall in numbers. "It is sad officers would lose their specialist roles, which they may have worked hard to get, but they are not losing their jobs, it's redeployment. "We will have to look after them and make them feel valued as they may feel demoted."

About 80 specialist police posts are to be cut in order to save £3m a year, Essex Police has said.

Voters will decide on the future of the UK's EU membership later this month. Peter Sutherland said Northern Ireland would suffer more than any other part of the UK in the case of a Leave vote. But Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers disagreed, saying it would create "fantastic opportunities". Mr Sutherland, a European commissioner during the 1980s, helped to lay the groundwork for the European Single Market free trade area in goods and services. He was also a director-general of the WTO, which deals with global trading rules, in the 1990s. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics Northern Ireland programme, he said a UK exit from the EU would cause a "grave, serious and prolonged period of great uncertainty". The agriculture industry and cross-border trade with the Republic of Ireland would suffer the consequences of a Leave vote, and foreign investors would overlook Northern Ireland and take their business to countries inside the EU, he claimed. "Those who invest in Ireland, north or south, are doing so because it provides them with the manufacturing base to sell to the European Union," Mr Sutherland added. "The uncertainty, the borders created by Britain leaving and the inevitable period of prolonged negotiation will lead to a drying up of investment. "It is, to me, incredible that any political force in Northern Ireland could conceivably consider [the UK leaving the EU] could be a good thing for Northern Ireland." Mr Sutherland also said UK exit from the EU - a so-called Brexit - would "create a border control requirement that we had thought banished to history". He added: "If in some perverted way there is an ideological desire to recreate that border, it's an act that would be incredibly foolish and very damaging." But Ms Villiers dismissed Mr Sutherland's views and those of "other so-called experts". She said a withdrawal from the EU would be "great for Northern Ireland". "It enables us to take back control of our own trade policies so that we can make deals not just with the European Union, but also with countries around the world where they have huge markets," Ms Villiers said. "Those could create jobs and opportunities for young people. "There's no reason why we can't press ahead pretty rapidly with trade deals with the rest of the world. "It is the EU that's failing economically, not us." Ms Villiers added that the UK is "effectively no longer an independent country" as a member of the EU. "I think it's time we took back control over making our laws so we become an independent, self-governing country again." And she said it is "in the interests of both the UK and Ireland" that the Irish border remained open in the event of a Leave vote. "It's perfectly possible to manage an open border with the Republic of Ireland - we had one before we joined the EU, there's no reason why we can't continue with one after we leave."

A vote for the UK to leave the European Union would be "an act of wanton destruction" of Northern Ireland's economic viability, a former head of the World Trade Organisation has said.

Around 15,000 people are believed to have attended Friday's Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate rally, churning up College Green and angering many. A fundraiser was set up for repairs, which then resulted in calls for rally organisers to cover the costs. The organiser said people had done their best in the muddy conditions. Climate campaigner Greta gave a speech on College Green before leading a march around the city. The combination of thousands of people and heavy rain turned much of the grass into mud, angering some. Gavin Mountjoy commented on Facebook: "Oh the irony, hundreds of people turning up to talk about our planet dying end up destroying a green area." Barrie Moore, also on Facebook, said: "The organisers of this march should be made to pay for the damage." Jon Usher, head of partnerships of Bristol-based charity Sustrans, set up a GoFundMe page after the march ended, aiming to raise £20,000. By Sunday morning more than £9,000 had been donated. Mr Usher, who attended the rally, said: "I did it knowing how important the green is to our staff as a place to go in the spring and summertime. "I thought it would be nice to give something back to the city." Bristol City Council, which is responsible for College Green, said it will examine the area on Monday. Kai Damani, one of the event's organisers, said people had done their best in the conditions. "When you look at College Green now, most of it is completely brown but where the flowers are is completely intact which does show that people do care about wildlife," he said. Avon and Somerset Police had raised safety concerns before the event, but Supt Andy Bennett praised the organisers afterwards. He said: "I think it's been a great success for the city and a great success for the organisers."

Hundreds have called for the organisers of a Greta Thunberg climate change rally to pay for damage caused to green space.

The conductor had helped a partially-sighted passenger off the train at Otford in Kent but was left stranded when it departed without him. The driver told passengers the train could not continue without a conductor for safety reasons. They were forced to disembark at Kemsing and wait for the next train. The incident affected the 16:37 BST London Victoria to Ashford service. A spokesman for Southeastern trains said: "We are sorry for what happened and are looking into the incident and apologise for any inconvenience."

Southeastern Trains has apologised after hundreds of commuters were told to get off a train because it had left without its conductor.

By Laura HarmesBBC Radio 5 Live In one case a person arrested three-and-a-half years ago remains on bail. The Law Society told BBC Radio 5 live it wanted a review of police bail practices and said there should be a statutory time limit on police bail. The data was collated from 34 of the 44 police forces that responded to a Freedom of Information request. Bail in Scotland is granted by courts and not by the police. The data, obtained by a BBC Radio 5 Live Freedom of Information request shows that at least 57,428 people are currently on bail. Of those, 3,172 have been waiting for more than six months for a decision on charges. There is currently no limit on how long a person can be kept on police bail before a decision on whether to charge them is made. There have been a number of high-profile cases of people who have been held waiting on police bail for a lengthy period. They include former News of the World executive Neil Wallis, who was arrested on suspicion of phone hacking in 2011 and on bail for 19 months before being told he would not face any charges. The figures include one case of a man who has not been told whether or not he will be charged, despite having been arrested and bailed by the Metropolitan Police three years and eight months ago. The force said the man was a 45-year-old who was arrested in October 2009 on suspicion of fraud. He is next due to answer bail in August. A spokesman for the Met said: "We are aware of the length of bail time in this case, which has been a very lengthy and complex fraud investigation." 'Review needed' Conditions can be placed on police bail, which can include curfews and restrictions on movement and financial transactions while an investigation continues. The Law Society of England and Wales says people are often left "in the wilderness" while police decide whether or not they should be charged with a crime. Richard Atkinson, chairman of the society's criminal law committee, believes the limit should be set at 28 days. He said: "I would call for a 28-day statutory maximum period for police bail. But it could be extended by applying to a magistrate. "There, police would have to explain what stage they were at in their investigation and why a further 28-day extension of bail was necessary." Steven, a former teaching assistant from Newcastle, told the BBC: "After I was arrested, I was on bail for five months before I was told that no further action would be taken against me." He was arrested in connection with an allegation of sexual assault, which turned out to be false. Steven said being on police bail and waiting for a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could have a big impact on the lives of those arrested. He said: "I was suspended from my job and I was scared to leave the house because I was paranoid that people knew I was a police suspect. "I became severely depressed and contemplated suicide. The uncertainty of not knowing when my ordeal would be over was awful." 'Ruined' Andrew, a mortgage broker from Shropshire, was arrested with his wife in September 2010 on suspicion of conspiracy to launder money. His bail ended this month, two years and eight months later. The police claimed the couple had laundered money through various properties. But Andrew said the police did not communicate with them while the investigation continued and their business suffered. Andrew said: "We couldn't afford to operate from our office so we had to move out of that and instead to work from home. "A condition of our bail was a restraining order on our banks and properties. We had to disclose to police all our incomings and outgoings. The court allows us to pay certain bills such as mortgages and utility bills. They allowed us £250 a week to live on outside that." Andrew added: "We had to go to bed and wake up in our house. In that whole time we never slept anywhere else. They took our passports away from us and told us not to travel abroad. They seized the children's laptops and mobile phones and a PC from the house. The PC came back broken and two of three laptops came back broken. "My wife and I are relieved that no charges have been brought, but our business was ruined during our time on bail. We've been left penniless and with a huge solicitors' bill that we can't pay." A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "After detailed and lengthy inquiries into this case, a decision was recently made that the suspects should be released without charge. It is recognised that the suspects in this case were on bail for a lengthy period of time. "This was due to the complex nature of the case, which involved the gathering of a significant volume of financial and other evidence which had to be reviewed and assessed prior to the recent decision having been made. "Every time a person answers their bail and returns to a police station, the investigating officer must satisfy the custody officer that it is necessary for that person to remain on bail and that inquiries are being carried out expeditiously," he added. 'More with less' Steve White, the vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said more resources were needed to speed up cases. He told 5 live: "Resources are always going to have an impact in terms of how quickly we can get stuff done. We are still in the process of dealing with the cuts we are having to face." Mr White said cuts to the CPS were having a knock-on effect. "The Police Service is being asked to do more with less and there comes a point where you can't do any more or do it any quicker. The turnaround time in terms of inquiries is sometimes too long. We have to accept that," he added. "But what do you do as a manager of a team and you have an officer with a caseload where you have several cases where you have people on bail? Do you say to that officer, 'Your priority is to get that work done' and they are not able to go out on patrol the Friday or Saturday night so you're down a person?" Chris Eyre, Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire and national lead for forensic procurement at the Association of Chief Police Officers, said police bail was an "essential tool in securing justice". He said: "It allows investigators to ensure every possible avenue is explored, while those arrested need not remain in custody. The huge complexity of some investigations in the 'information age' can mean this takes time. "Hi-tech crime investigations, computer forensics, CCTV, telephony, using interpreters or gathering evidence across borders and jurisdictions can all take time and painstaking analysis." A Home Office spokesman said: "We continue to keep police bail provisions under review to ensure they strike the right balance between protecting an individual's right to civil liberty and allowing police to carry out thorough criminal investigations." The names of some individuals quoted in this article have been changed.

More than 57,000 people are on police bail in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to figures obtained by the BBC.

By Julian SturdyBBC Look East Neil Ruch, who worked at Basildon Ambulance Station in Essex, died on Monday after being admitted to hospital in April. Mr Ruch, who has worked as a paramedic with EEAS since 2013, originally came from Vevey in Switzerland and lived in Canvey Island. EEAS has offered its condolences in an internal memo to staff. Mr Ruch, who had previously worked at London Ambulance Service from 2006 to 2013, is the second EEAS staff member to die with Covid-19. He had been on a ventilator in intensive care in Basildon Hospital. Barry England, EEAS leading operations manager in Hemel Hempstead, died with the virus after being admitted to hospital on Easter Sunday. He had worked for EEAS for 33 years. "We offer our sincere condolences to Barry's family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time," a spokesman for EEAS said. A statement issued on behalf of Mr England's family in April said he was "extremely proud" to have worked for the service. "The family would like to thank all the NHS staff who cared for Barry in hospital and for the support being received from his former colleagues," it said. Unison Eastern regional organiser Sam Older said ambulance staff, along with NHS workers and those in social care, had literally put their lives on the line during the pandemic. "It is really concerning. This just happens I think to be one of those unlucky ones. We raised a number of concerns a number of weeks or months ago regarding personal protective equipment," he said. "They have now been met based on Public Health England guidelines and it will obviously be up to the NHS to investigate that. It is only two days after this very sad event." Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]

The first East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) paramedic has died with coronavirus.

Almost two-thirds (62%) told the BBC Learning poll they felt under pressure from others to act in this way. Activities included sharing unsuitable videos or pictures of themselves or saying nasty things about others and looking at unsuitable websites. Some 20% said they had put pressure on someone else to act negatively online. The research was commissioned as part of a new online safety campaign - Be Smart - timed to coincide with Internet Safety Day on 10 February. Online bullying Nearly half, some 47%, said they had looked at something online that they thought their parents would not like them to see. While 14% admitted to sending pictures of themselves, or others, that their parents would not like them to share. And nearly one in 10 had signed up to websites or services not meant for their age group. Among 14- to 16-year-olds, almost three-quarters (72%) said they had experienced or witnessed online bullying. Andrew Tomlinson, the BBC's executive producer responsible for digital and media literacy, said: "Internet safety is becoming increasingly important as more families get online and children start to use tablets, computers and smartphones earlier in their lives. "For the third year in succession, BBC Learning is supporting the aims of Safer Internet Day with a campaign of its own. "Be Smart is giving young people the chance to speak for themselves about the pressures they face on social networking sites." Meanwhile, a mobile app is to be launched later this year in the UK which will give parents remote access to everything their children get up to on their phones. It will allow parents to track their child's movements, monitor text messages and vet the websites visited.

More than half of children in the UK (57%) have done something "risky" or anti-social online, a poll of 2,000 11- to 16-year-olds suggests.

By Roz TappendenBBC South Online The deaths of Flt Lt Jon Egging and Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, in two separate incidents, sent shockwaves through the display team and led to one of its newest members moving to a ground-based role. Before 2011 the Red Arrows had lost six team members - four of which had been in a single incident. But in their 48-year history, the team has safely performed more than 4,200 displays around the world and completed many thousands of hours of training. An inquest into the death of Flt Lt Jon Egging recorded a verdict of accidental death. An inquiry is ongoing into how Flt Lt Sean Cunningham was ejected from his Hawk while on the ground at RAF Scampton. 'Minimise risk' Former RAF pilot and air safety expert David Learmount said: "Considering how high risk it is, one event every several years is not bad. That doesn't mean to say it cannot be better. "Random events can come along like buses and there's not necessarily a reason why you get a pair of events close together like that." RAF spokesman Wing Commander Martin Tinworth said Red Arrows pilots performed manoeuvres at speeds of about 300 to 400 knots (345 to 460mph), sometimes just a couple of metres apart. Mr Learmount said the perceived danger of the displays was partly what made them so popular but rigorous measures were in place to minimise the risk. The Red Arrows website says displays are never held directly over crowds and pilots wear 'anti-g' suits to stop their blood pulling away from their brain as they experience up to seven times the force of gravity. Mr Learmount said: "Every piece of choreography has to be risk assessed. Even when the display has ended and they are re-forming to go back to base - even that is choreographed. "There's not much technology involved - it's all hand and eye. The Hawk is quite a low-tech aeroplane." Worst tragedy He added that pilots were highly experienced in dealing with all kinds of emergencies, such as malfunctions. He said: "I have taught pilots formation flying and for a pilot this is bread and butter stuff - especially someone who is specialised enough to be chosen for the Red Arrows. "The Red Arrows, including their admin and back-up teams, are tremendously motivated. It's like a Formula 1 pit team - all of them are specialists in their field." Although fatalities are rare, the display team has lost eight of its pilots. In 1969 Flt Lt Jerry Bowler was killed when his Gnat hit trees at RAF Kemble in Gloucestershire. The Red Arrows endured its worst tragedy in 1971 when Flt Lt Euan Perreaux, Flt Lt John Lewis, Flt Lt John Haddock and Flt Lt Colin Armstrong were killed when two Gnats collided mid-air at RAF Kemble. Flt Lt Neil MacLachlan was killed during practice at the team's base at RAF Scampton in 1988. Flt Lt Jon Egging was killed in August 2011. At the end of each summer display season, three of the nine Red Arrows pilots are replaced and the new recruits spend the winter training with the team for the following year. After the death Flt Lt Sean Cunningham at the start of winter training, the Reds' first female pilot, Flt Lt Kirsty Stewart, who was one of three new recruits for the 2012 season, moved to a ground based role after being affected by the tragedy. Squadron Leader Jim Turner announced the Reds would perform the remainder of 2012 displays with seven instead of their trademark nine jets. With the Hawk aircraft due to go out of service at the end of the decade, questions remain about the future of the Red Arrows as a replacement for the training aircraft has yet to be announced. There are also government plans to relocate the aerobatic team from its current base at RAF Scampton to RAF Waddington, also in Lincolnshire, although the Reds would continue to use the airspace over RAF Scampton to train. Related Internet Links RAF Red Arrows

For the Red Arrows and their thousands of fans, 2011 was a dark year.

The proposed legislation has passed its initial stages in the Commons - where Boris Johnson has a majority of 80. But peers have now approved five amendments while scrutinising the bill. They include keeping the current rules for unaccompanied child refugees after the end of the transition period, which sees them reunited with close relatives in the UK. It is the second time the so-called Dubs amendment - presented by Labour's Lord Dubs - has been approved by peers, but turned down by MPs. Afterwards, Lord Dubs tweeted: "The Commons now needs to do the right thing by these uniquely vulnerable children and support the amendment." But Home Office Minister Baroness Williams said the UK had made a "credible and serious" offer to the EU agree new arrangements; and that it wouldn't be right to undermine those negotiations through domestic legislation. And a Home Office spokesperson added: "We have a long and proud history of providing protection to vulnerable children, and have presented a genuine offer to the EU on future reciprocal arrangement for the family reunion of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children." The government also faced three further defeats on other amendments proposed to the bill: The legislation will now go back to the Commons for approval - but with a large government majority, the amendments are unlikely to remain.

The government has faced a string of defeats in the House of Lords over its post-Brexit immigration bill.

By Sarah DickinsBBC Wales economics correspondent Customers want fresh food, faster. Time is money in retail and ports play a vital role. With cut-throat competition on the high street, if the sandwiches aren't on the shelves in Ireland by the time the stores open, the haulier risks losing future business and that pressure passes back onto the ferry companies. But it is not only your day-to-day groceries. I watched racehorses, sheep trailers, glass balconies and French cheese loaded on to a ferry bound for Dublin. There have been no border customs at Holyhead since the European Union's single market came into being 25 years ago. Then 54,000 lorries a year crossed from Anglesey to Ireland. As the single market developed so Holyhead's port became busier and ever more efficient. Now 423,000 lorries cross every year - nearly eight times the number back in 1992. But what happens after Brexit is what everyone involved in this business is asking, and what it might mean for Holyhead. The port has been a link between Wales and Ireland for nearly 200 years, and now carries two thirds of Irish Sea ferry traffic. A £42m investment in the mid-1990s, alongside the EU single market, has helped make Holyhead the second-busiest roll-on roll-off UK ferry terminal after Dover. Allied to that, a complex network of other suppliers has developed in north Wales, not just moving goods, but assembling some too. In recent years, the speed of the ships - the fastest journey is three and a quarter hours - has also made it an important link for the supermarket giants. The big chains have been able to supply their Irish stores from depots in north west England and the Midlands, all timed to the flow of fast ferries to Dublin. What the ferry and port operators want is for no extra burden after Brexit, whether in border or custom controls. Ian Davies, route manager at Stena Line, said they were looking for "certainty" and solutions with Brexit, ideally borderless ones. "Since we last had borders 25 years ago, we're dealing with a 700% increase in the number of lorries. To deal with those huge volumes [with controls], it's hard to imagine how we'd cope; we'd adapt but that's the scale of it. "We're hoping there will be an e-solution for these borders because the flow of traffic through this port is 24/7. For example, last night 400 lorries came off two ferries in 25 minutes and were on to the A55 and onto the UK network." Irish Ferries operates four ships and has a new £128m ferry on order, with room for up to 165 lorries and 1,885 passengers. It believes there is a bright future but has called for a "level playing field". It warned a cross-party assembly committee of a potential "significant displacement of traffic" from Holyhead to ports in northern England and Scotland if Brexit brings stringent customs checks at Welsh ports, while there are more relaxed arrangements on the land border between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Like the port, local haulage firm Gwynedd Shipping has grown rapidly because of trade across the single market. In the last six years, it has expanded from 25 to 100 trucks, half of which cross to Ireland. Howard Owen, transport manager, said it was vital a technological solution was found to ensure vehicles and ferries were not delayed after Brexit. "A lot of our work is loading in Ireland yesterday and delivering today; that's time critical," he said. "We want to get Brexit done as soon as we can, get the processes in place and make it as easy as possible to cross the border." Lorries travelling, for instance, to Switzerland have to supply considerable paperwork about their cargo at customs because Switzerland is not in the EU. Hauliers here argue if that happened between Wales and Ireland it would damage trade. Mr Owen said there was also a shortage of lorry drivers. The void had been filled by EU drivers over the last five years but he wanted that to continue. Cardiff Business School has pointed to the "time-sensitive deliveries" through Holyhead, which could lose its advantage to Liverpool if lorries are held up. But it also says those in the supply chain should be capable of working out security and dispatch issues before they arrive at ports to ease border delays. Meanwhile, in Pembrokeshire, a council cabinet report on Monday warns a "hard" Brexit could have an economic impact on trade worse than 1996's Sea Empress oil spill. It includes discussion of the potential impact on ports at Pembroke Dock and Fishguard. The assembly committee looking at Brexit has already expressed its disappointment that the Welsh Government has not been working closely with Irish counterparts on cross-border trade issues. The Welsh Government insisted engagement at ministerial and official level was continuing and it would continue to work closely with partners, such as the Irish Government to assess the implications of Brexit and "explore mutual challenges and opportunities". In its response it said it was its priority is to ensure Welsh ports and the Welsh economy "were not disadvantaged as a result of any decisions taken by the UK government".

Sandwiches made in England travel through Wales to Holyhead, board the night-time ferry and are on shelves in Galway by 8am.

By Tom SymondsHome Affairs correspondent Ex-archbishop George Carey said Peter Ball was in "torment" as a result of a police investigation, letters released by the Crown Prosecution Service show. Ball, 83, was jailed in October for a string of offences against young men. The Church of England apologised "unreservedly" to Ball's victims. He was sentenced to 32 months for misconduct in a public office and 15 months for indecent assaults, to run concurrently. 'Church cover-up' In one of Lord Carey's letters he told police it was "improbable" he was guilty. He also wrote in a letter to Barbara Mills - then the director of public prosecutions - that Ball's health was fragile and the decision to prosecute should be made "as speedily as possible". The letters have been released by the CPS in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC and others, after it emerged that personal letters had been written which were supportive of Ball. Ball was eventually told he would not be prosecuted but received a caution instead. He resigned as Bishop of Gloucester in 1993, a position that followed a previous period as Bishop of Lewes. However in October 2015, following repeated claims of a church cover-up, Mr Ball pleaded guilty to abusing 18 young men in the 70s, 80s and 90s. He was jailed for two years and ten months. One of his victims was Neil Todd, whose attempts to take his own life triggered the police investigation in 1993 which prompted hundreds of letters of support for the Bishop. 'Suffered terribly' In his two letters Lord Carey said he had no wish to influence the legal process. He makes no reference to the allegations of sexual abuse or Mr Todd, who finally took his own life at the end of 2012. The letters also include one to the police from a senior judge at the time, Lord Justice Lloyd, who said that Ball was "the most gentle, upright and saintly man" he had ever met. "He has obviously suffered far more already than any of us can imagine... He tells me if it goes on much longer, he feels he may well go off his head," he said. While making it clear he did not want to influence the criminal process Lord Justice Lloyd wrote: "I find it difficult to accept that such an awful fate could have befallen so good a man." The Old Bailey heard in October that while he was a bishop, Ball had used his position to groom and exploit his vulnerable victims. Another of the 12 letters released by the CPS was from the former Conservative minister and Sussex MP, Tim Renton, who wrote to the director of public prosecutions in 1993 that "Peter has suffered terribly over the past six weeks," and urged that he should not be prosecuted. 'Significant people' The Conservative MP for Lewes, Tim Rathbone, wrote: "I find it literally inconceivable that he would ever become involved with anyone in the way the newspapers have described or insinuated." James Woodhouse, the former headmaster of Lancing College in Sussex wrote that Ball was "acutely distressed" by some aspects of 20th-century culture, including "sexual permissiveness". In his letter the warden of Radley College, Richard Morgan, said he had dismissed the allegations against Ball as "impossible" since the bishop had lived a life of "discipline". However, the CPS said it not seen or received any correspondence from the royal family, despite Ball's claims to have been a friend of Prince Charles. The CPS said it had taken the decision to release letters from "significant people" of influence at the time but not other "non-senior" individuals. A spokesman for the Church of England said: "It is a matter of deep shame and regret that a bishop in the Church of England was sentenced earlier this year for a series of offences over 15 years against 18 young men known to him. "There are no excuses whatsoever for what took place, nor for the systematic abuse of trust perpetrated by Peter Ball."

A former Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to police in 1993 with letters of support for the then Bishop of Gloucester who was being investigated for sex offences, it can be revealed.

By Soutik BiswasBBC News, Delhi So far 2,300 patients have been admitted to a hospital in the affected Gorakhpur area of Uttar Pradesh state. A doctor told the BBC that it was a "tragedy beyond imagination", with children dying every day. Nearly 6,000 children have died of encephalitis in the hospital since the first case was detected in 1978. Most of the deaths this year have happened since July, doctors say. The disease occurs regularly during the monsoon in the Gorakhpur region bordering Nepal in the foothills of the Himalayas. The low-lying areas are prone to floods, providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes which commonly transmit the virus. 'Tragedy' Doctors say affected patients come from 10-12 districts in the region, and are mostly poor. Until 2005, the majority of deaths were caused by Japanese encephalitis, caused by a mosquito-borne virus, doctors say. But in the past six years, children have been dying of other forms of viral encephalitis, the exact cause of which is unclear. One possibility is a water-borne virus present in contaminated water, doctors say. The diseases cause head aches and vomiting and can lead to comas, brain dysfunctions, seizures and inflammations of the heart and kidney. Doctors say children between the age of six months to 15 years are worst affected and most of the victims are poor people from rural areas. "It is unbelievable tragedy. There are five to 10 children dying every day," Dr KP Kushwaha, head of paediatrics at the BRD Medical College, the only hospital treating patients, told the BBC. Most of the 370 beds in the paediatrics and medicine departments at the hospital are overflowing with more than one patient to a bed, he said. A fifth of the children who survive have to live with neurological weaknesses, doctors say. "Children are most affected because they have lower immunity and they end up consuming a lot of contaminated water at home," Dr Kushwaha said. 'Shambles' Though the incubation period of viral encephalitis is between three and 30 days, patients are brought to the hospital from far-flung areas because of the lack of adequate healthcare in their villages. "The public health care system is in a shambles. And the tragedy repeats every year," said Kumar Harsh, a local journalist. The government says it has tried to check the regular outbreak of the encephalitis in the region. Two massive vaccination drives against Japanese encephalitis were carried out in Gorakhpur in 2006 and 2010, leading to a drastic decline of the disease in the area. Also, people took precautions by using mosquito nets and repellents. But tackling other forms of viral encephalitis has proved to be tougher challenge, and controlling it will also require a vast improvement in sanitation and drinking water supply in rural areas, health officials say. The state government disbursed millions of rupees from a federal health programme for treatment of patients at the state-run BRD Medical College in 2009. Part of this money was spent in hiring 135 researchers, doctors and paramedical staff to beef up treatment. Most of the money ran out by August, leaving only 36 of them receiving regular salaries, say authorities. The encephalitis outbreak in Gorakhpur has attracted national and international attention - scientists from US-based Centers for Disease Control visited the area in 2009, and took away medical samples to examine the virus. In 2005, a virulent outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Gorakhpur killed 1,000 people, mostly children. This was the worst outbreak since 1978.

More than 400 people, mainly children, have died in an outbreak of viral encephalitis in northern India, health officials say.

By Jonathan AmosScience correspondent, BBC News The six men, sealed since June inside steel containers representing a spacecraft, have "gone into orbit" at their destination. Three of the group will now "descend" to the planet, don real spacesuits and walk on the "surface" of Mars. In reality, this surface will just be the sandy floor of another module at the Moscow-based experiment. The Mars500 project is run by Russia's Institute of Biomedical Problems with the participation of the European Space Agency (Esa). It aims to investigate some of the psychological and physiological effects that humans might encounter on a long-duration spaceflight. "So far, I must say we've had no major problems," said Martin Zell, who heads up the Esa scientific programme on the International Space Station (ISS). "There is permanent monitoring, so we understand their health very well. We have a lot of data now on their mental state and on how their bodies are reacting. That's important because there is a link between the two," he told BBC News. The crew comprise three Russians, two EU citizens and a Chinese national. Alexander Smoleevskiy, Sukhrob Kamolov, Alexey Sitev, Diego Urbina, Romain Charles and Wang Yue all had to pass through a rigorous selection procedure to get on the programme, and their "departure" on the grounded spaceship last year drew wide international attention and curiosity. For eight months, the group has worked together inside the closed facility which has no windows and a total interior volume of about 550 cubic metres (19,423 cubic feet). The coming days will see Smoleevskiy, Urbina, and Wang enter a "descent module", from where they will have access to a further container that has been set up to look like the dusty terrain of Mars. The trio will put on the type of spacesuit worn by real cosmonauts and simulate the sort of geological investigations future astronauts might pursue on the Red Planet one day. Three sorties are planned, with the first outing due to take place on 14 February. A robot rover will assist the Mars walkers, and their activity will be overseen by Mission Control Moscow which normally deals with events on the ISS. "They will go on to the surface two at a time, with one man staying behind in the landing module," explained Dr Zell. "Working in their suits, they will have a drill to get below the surface; and they will do a virtual analysis of the samples the drill delivers to them. They will also take samples back to the module for further analysis." Although the Mars500 experiment has not been able to simulate the constant weightlessness of a genuine eight-month journey through space, it has been able to introduce one important realism - that of a time delay in the communications between the crew and their ground controllers outside the modules. Messages take 20 minutes to pass between the two ends of the link, similar to the lag radio messages travelling the great distance between Mars and Earth would come up against. This proved particularly testing last month when controllers deliberately - and without warning to the crew - cut the power to the modules. They even blew a small amount of smoke into the containers to give the men inside the sensation that they were dealing with a serious electrical failure. "They spent almost a day without energy," Dr Zell said. "They had to work through their emergency procedures and analyse the situation. They didn't panic and they remembered their training." Mars500 is so called because it simulates the duration of a possible human Mars mission in the future using conventional propulsion: 250 days for the trip to the Red Planet, 30 days on the Martian surface and 240 days for the return journey, totalling 520 days. (In reality, it would probably take a lot longer than this.) The six men are due "back on Earth" in November. [email protected]

The crew of the Mars500 simulated mission to the Red Planet have reached a key milestone.

Figures from industry body the SMMT show only 4,321 cars were registered, the lowest monthly level since 1946. April's figure marked a 97% plunge in sales from the same month last year. The closure of car dealerships as part of measures to try to combat the disease has hit consumer registrations. The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that of the registrations made last month, 70% were by companies buying for their fleets. The cars would most likely have been on order before the lockdown, said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. "If you are told to close all your car showrooms for the entirety of April it's no surprise sales are almost non-existent," he told the BBC. Many of the 4,000 cars sold last month were needed to support key workers and for those who had a pressing need for them, an SMMT spokesman said. Those cars would not have been bought from dealerships, but instead, for example, from wholesalers, or directly from manufacturers. The 4,000 figure for April compares to 161,064 new cars that were registered in same month last year. The industry body said it now expects 1.68 million new car registrations in 2020 compared with 2.3 million in 2019. Staff at some UK car manufacturers began returning to work this week, although the start of full production is a long way off, Mr Hawes said. The supply chain is also starting to re-open. "Manufacturers are trying to figure out how to start operations in a safe environment," he said. "But it will be slow and production will be ramped up very slowly." The coronavirus crisis has come at what was already a difficult time for the motor industry, which had been struggling with falling sales and a collapse in demand for diesel vehicles, while struggling to meet tough new emissions targets. The figures are certainly dramatic, expected to be the lowest sales since February 1946. But since virtually the entire motor industry ground to a halt when the lockdown was introduced, they are not entirely unexpected. What matters now is what happens when the restrictions are eased and customers are allowed back into the showrooms. You would expect there to be some pent-up demand - after all, dealerships began to close in mid-March, traditionally one of the strongest months of the year for new car sales. However, since then harsh economic realities have come into play. Huge swathes of the workforce have been furloughed, and the signs are the country is heading into a deep recession. Under those circumstances, with so much uncertainty and so many jobs at risk, how many people will really be willing to buy a new car? We can expect a wave of incentive programmes - and quite possibly a wave of new scrappage schemes - as car companies start fighting tooth and nail for every single sale. The coronavirus outbreak also halted car production. All of the UK's major car factories suspended work in March, and it is not yet clear when they will reopen. Ian Plummer, commercial director at online marketplace Auto Trader, said: "With retailers forced to close the doors to their physical forecourts, it'll come as no surprise to anyone to see just how dramatic an impact it's had on the new car market. "Some brands have been able to sell remotely, but uncertainty in the government's guidelines or a lack of the required infrastructure to operate home delivery in a safe way, has limited it to all but a handful of retailers." However, he said Auto Trader data indicated that the market had been paused, rather than stopped. He added that there would be a chance "for the industry to accelerate the adoption of low emission vehicles" when restrictions lift. "However, it'll be essential for manufacturers to push more electric vehicles into their UK networks along with greater financial incentives," such as scrappage schemes, he said.

New car registrations almost ground to a halt in April after coronavirus lockdown measures were introduced, the motor industry has said.

Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has appointed an inspector after several arrests and an ongoing police probe. The investigation will be carried out by Max Caller CBE, who has investigated troubled authorities Northamptonshire County Council and Tower Hamlets. Mr Caller will look at key departments and authority auditing and governance. Mr Jenrick stopped short of sending a commissioner to run the council, but said: "It is clear that the council has taken significant steps to improve governance and assurances processes within the council, with respect to the authority's planning, highways, regeneration and property management functions." He has met city council chief executive Tony Reeves to request the authority reveals its planned commercial property deals. "Given the seriousness of the issues identified through the police investigation", Mr Jenrick said he wanted "direct, independent assurance" that the council was compliant with all performance measures set by the government. Mr Jenrick also said: "At this challenging time with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is critical that Liverpool City Council continues to deliver public services and carry out its other statutory duties as effectively as possible, and I thank those working in the council for all they have done to date." Mr Caller was one of two commissioners sent to run parts of Labour-led Tower Hamlets Council in London from 2014-17. 'No case to answer' He was also sent to investigate Tory-controlled Northamptonshire County Council, which was twice forced to stop all non-essential spending in 2018. Mr Anderson was arrested on suspicion of bribery and witness intimidation earlier this month. Following his detention, he said "time would make it clear that I have no case to answer". Four others, including Derek Hatton, the ex-deputy leader of the council, have been held as part of an investigation into the awarding of building contracts in the city. Mr Hatton has yet to comment.

Liverpool City Council faces a government investigation in the wake of the arrest of its mayor Joe Anderson.

The county council is planning to replace its eight Health and Wellbeing Centres and 14 learning disability daytime support services. Two options for a new service have been put forward, with either eight or four dedicated centres. The council said this would save either £2.4m or £3.5m from a budget of £9.3m, depending on the option chosen. The two options The council is also looking to replace its current £992,000 annual funding for 47 community-based daytime support services with £250,000 of grants that services could bid for. If approved the changes to services would begin in August 2017. The consultation will be launched on 1 November. 'Fewer council-run buildings' Councillor Judith Heathcoat said despite the need to save money she hoped the council could expand the range of services on offer. She said: "Savings come from changing the way we deliver services. "There'd be fewer council-run buildings and we'd save money on transport while providing a more flexible transport system delivered by support workers." The services support adults with physical disabilities, older frail adults, and people with dementia, mental health problems and learning disabilities. Three-quarters of all community-based services do not receive funding from the county council and will not be affected.

Proposals to close centres providing services for older and disabled people in Oxfordshire have been announced.

The Douglas sorting office was evacuated after the item was found shortly before 09:00 GMT on 22 January. Manx Police said the man was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of attempting to cause an explosion and later bailed. The contents of the package have not been confirmed but a police spokesman said it had not posed a risk. The man, who was from the north of the island, was also held on suspicion of making or keeping explosives with intent to endanger life or property and endangering public safety. After the package was found, the headquarters were closed for a day until Ministry of Defence explosives experts arrived from the UK to securely remove it. Most of the island's postal deliveries and collections were cancelled as a result. Related Internet Links Isle of Man Post Office Isle of Man Police

A man has been arrested over the discovery of a suspicious package at the Isle of Man Post Office's headquarters.

Television pictures showed flames leaping through barred windows of a single-storey wooden building. The fire in a ward for bedridden patients was initially caused by an electrical fault in the building, a government statement said. Thirty-one people were rescued during the incident, the General Prosecutor's office said. Four people were taken to hospital, according to Azerbaijan's news agency APA. The blaze, which broke out just before dawn, was fanned by strong winds. It took around three hours for fire fighters to extinguish it. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev visited the site of the fire, the Republican Narcological Centre, after it was extinguished, local media said. The former Soviet nation has a chronic shortage of rehabilitation places for its 30,000 registered drug addicts. Nearly 3,000 people applied for places at the centre in 2015 alone, and a new clinic with 250 places has recently been built.

A fire has killed 24 people at a drug rehabilitation centre in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, officials say.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that in England councils had faced reductions of about 27%. But local government body Cosla said the cuts were "totally unacceptable". Mr Swinney's budget, delivered on Wednesday, pledged no change to income tax and a continued council tax freeze. Opposition parties have claimed cuts to council spending could derail the Scottish government's flagship plans to close the country's education attainment gap. But Mr Swinney said the Scottish government had been fair to Scotland's 32 councils over many years. Local government in Scotland What's the 2016/17 budget deal? £9,545m Revenue funding for the country's 32 councils £250m - new money for health and social care £70m - to continue the council tax freeze £88m - to maintain teacher numbers at 2015 levels He said: "If you compare the situation of Scottish local government with English local government - English local government over the last few years has gone down by 27% in its funding and Scottish local government has essentially had flat cash from the Scottish government for a number of years. "So it starts from a much higher baseline figure for the provision of local authority service." Mr Swinney argued that the revenue reduction had to be seen in the context of funding increases elsewhere. He explained: "Now the reduction of 3.5% is in resource terms, but that is not the only thing you have to look at. "You have to look at the fact I announced one of the largest reforms in the delivery of health and social care there has been since the foundation of the National Health Service in 1948 with an injection from the health resources of £250m into the delivery of health and social care services at local level." 'We got a huge cash cut' However, Councillor Michael Cook, who is vice president of Cosla which represents most Scottish councils, said the cut to council funding was the result of policy choices by the Scottish government rather than a "pass-on" from Westminster. He told BBC Scotland: "Not only have we got a huge cash cut, but we have massive additional pressures and all of this boils down to a picture of job losses and services slashed. "An assessment has been done in relation to the potential job impact and that looks like 15,000 jobs - that is equivalent to 50 Tata steelworks and that is the nature of the pressure that we are talking about." Mr Cook said the "firm view" of local authorities was that the council tax freeze was not fully funded by the Scottish government, and that a 3.5% cut in their budget was "unprecedented". Other measures in Mr Swinney's budget included; The budget dominated First Minister's Questions at Holyrood on the day that the Scottish Parliament breaks up for the Christmas holiday. Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said Mr Swinney had an opportunity to take a different path to the "failed agenda of the Tories". But she said the SNP had instead decided to "just manage austerity" rather than doing anything to alleviate it. She added: "John Swinney's budget pulled the rug out from under the councils that build our schools and are vital to the education of our children. "The reality is that Nicola Sturgeon can't guarantee the SNP government's budget won't result in job losses for our specialist teachers, classroom assistants, janitors and office staff. "With the new powers heading our way and a long-term budget we can do things differently. Under Scottish Labour's plan head teachers would get £1,000 for every pupil from a deprived background." Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie claimed that SNP minister had been butchering school budgets, and that the Scottish government was proposing lower tax and lower spend than UK Chancellor George Osborne. He added: "A few months ago (Ms Sturgeon) said that even though she'd been in power for eight years, she was just getting started on education. It was, she said, the driving and defining priority of her government. "How on earth does cutting the budgets of Scotland's education authorities count as a good start?" Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson Conservative focused on the Scottish government's decision to pass on an extra £440m, available as a result of Westminster increases, to the NHS. She called on the first minister to admit that pre-referendum claims made by SNP ministers that only a Yes vote would protect Scotland's NHS were wrong. Ms Davidson said that if SNP health spending had kept up with UK government levels, Scotland's NHS would have received an additional £700m. Ms Sturgeon accepted that the budget deal Mr Swinney had outlined was "a tough one for local government". She said that to put that in context, local government would see day-to-day revenue spending fall by £320m, which "amounts to a reduction in the total expenditure of local authorities of 2%". She also argued the "challenging settlement" did not take account of £250m of additional cash that will be used to help councils improve social care.

Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney has defended his budget decision to cut local government revenues by 3.5% for 2016/17.

The conservative Liberal Democratic Party won almost 300 seats and, with its coalition partner, looks set for a two-thirds majority in the lower house. The governing Democratic Party suffered major losses in Sunday's polls, with leader Yoshihiko Noda stepping down. China has urged the new government to take "practical steps" to deal with the East China Sea territorial dispute. The two countries are currently embroiled in a row over islands in the area that both claim. "We think the most pressing issue is that Japan must show sincerity and take practical steps to appropriately deal with the present situation and work hard to resolve the issue and improve relations between the two countries," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. On course to be Japan's seventh PM in as many years, Mr Abe faces tough decisions on the economy as well as China. He said his party understood its "heavy responsibility". "Our victory this time does not mean trust in the Liberal Democratic Party has been completely restored," he told a news conference on Monday. "Rather, it was a decision by the public that they should put an end to the political stagnation and confusion over the past three years, caused by the Democratic Party's misguided political leadership." Official results are expected later in the day, but tallies by Japanese media organisations suggest that the LDP secured 294 seats. Together with the New Komeito Party's 31 seats, a coalition would have a two-thirds majority in the 480-seat chamber, putting it in a position to override the upper house on stalled legislation. The DPJ, meanwhile, saw its seats reduced from 230 to 57 in the lower house, Kyodo news agency reported, a result outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda called "severe". The Japan Restoration Party - a tie-up between the right-wing former Tokyo governor and Osaka mayor - secured 54 seats, projections showed. 'Shift to the right' Shares rose early on Monday after the win by Mr Abe, who has promised more public spending and says he will implement measures directed at weakening the yen and fighting deflation. The US congratulated Mr Abe, with President Barack Obama saying he looked forward to " working closely" with the new government. Chinese media have warned that Japan's "rapid shift to the right" had neighbours worried. "History has proven many times that a peaceful Japan is a boon to the region and the whole world, while a restless Japan will bring new disturbances to the world," a Xinhua news agency commentary said. Mr Abe, seen as a foreign policy hawk who has called for Japan's pacifist constitution to be revised and patriotic sentiment nurtured, has advocated a strong stance in the dispute. He told journalists on Monday that the islands were Japan's "inherent territory" and that there was "no room for negotiation on this point". But he said "persistent dialogue" with China was needed. "We need to have wisdom not to turn political issues into economic issues," he said. Parliament is expected to formally endorse Mr Abe as prime minister on 26 December. The LDP enjoyed almost 50 years of unbroken rule until it was ousted by the DPJ in 2009. Mr Abe served as Japanese prime minister between 2006 and 2007 but stepped down, citing ill health, as support for his administration plummeted. The DPJ was elected on its promise to increase welfare spending and break ties between the bureaucracy and big business. But its failure to deliver on the economy and response to the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami lost it support.

Shinzo Abe says his party must "move forward and achieve results" following its landslide election victory.

The news was relayed on the Radio 2 breakfast show by host Chris Evans. Vine, whose brother is stand-up comic Tim Vine, told him: "How could I say no to the biggest show in TV? Yes, yes, yes and yes again to the sequins and the Samba!" The 13th series of Strictly will start in September. Vine, 50, hosts a daily news and music programme on Radio 2 and presents BBC One's Points Of View on Sundays, as well as Eggheads on BBC Two. He told The Chris Evans Breakfast Show: "They asked me and I just thought I just turned 50 this year I've got to start dancing properly. I can't go into the dad dancing." He added: "I just need to find some dancing shoes and identify my left foot. I am doing it for my two young daughters who jumped behind the sofa when I told them! "It seems Dad on Strictly is more scary than Doctor Who!" The other celebrities taking part will be announced over the course of the next few weeks. The series will be presented by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. Last year's competition was won by new Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack, who beat celebrities including Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge and EastEnders actor Jake Wood to win the glitterball trophy.

BBC Radio 2 presenter and journalist Jeremy Vine is the first celebrity to be announced for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The Vietnamese nationals, aged between 15 and 44, suffocated as they were transported from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet on 23 October last year. Jurors heard how the victims had been sealed in the pitch black unit in "unbearable" 38.5C heat for 12 hours. Four men are on trial at the Old Bailey in connection with their deaths. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told the court about two earlier people-smuggling trips in October last year. On 11 October, he said, witnesses reported seeing 15 to 20 people emerge from a lorry trailer close to the Essex port, and run towards a fleet of dark cars which then drove off at speed. That trailer, he said, was dropped off by driver Eamonn Harrison at Zeebrugge - and collected by Christopher Kennedy at Purfleet, before it was met by Gheorghe Nica and others at a nearby pick-up point. On 14 October, Mr Kennedy was stopped at Coquelles in France en route to Folkestone via the Eurotunnel, the court heard. His lorry was searched and 20 Vietnamese people were discovered in the back and taken away by authorities, Mr Emlyn Jones said. "At least two of the Vietnamese nationals turfed out of the lorry that night ended up in Harrison's lorry on 22 October, and were amongst the victims who died that night," he said. 'Plan B' The prosecutor added: "These particular victims had secured the services of the organised criminal network to get them to the UK, providing £10,000 a head for that service. "Obviously, they need a plan B, they try again. "So the organisers have to arrange a replacement journey - which again involves the same teams of drivers, lorries, and so on." Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, and Mr Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, deny 39 counts of manslaughter. Nica has admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019. Mr Harrison, Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham, and Mr Kennedy, 24, of Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, deny the conspiracy charge. The trial continues. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]

Some of the 39 people found dead in a lorry container in Essex were involved in an earlier crossing bid organised by the same men, a court has heard.

The crew, from Tamworth and Lichfield, said the one-week-old animals were found during rounds on Monday. They had been dumped in a bin on a street near a school in Wilnecote and were discovered as it was being emptied. Crew driver Tony Green said: "They were quite near the bottom in a Cheerios box so must have been there for a while." The bin had last been been emptied about two weeks ago, Mr Green said. "We had tipped the bin up and luckily heard the kittens above the engine noise. We found them right in amongst the rubbish," he added. The kittens - named Squeak, Socks, Snowy and Felix - have been adopted by new mum Chloe at the Little Paws Cat Haven rescue centre in Wolverhampton. "Luckily all seemed to be in good health," Claire Allerton, of the council street scene team, said. Chloe had recently had a litter herself, but only one of her own kittens had survived. Diane Hadlington, of Little Paws Cat Haven, said: "We're building them up and thankfully they're putting on weight as Chloe is doing a brilliant job of looking after them. "They were obviously determined to survive because the bin men could hear them squealing, so we're determined to look after them." Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]

Refuse workers in Staffordshire have saved four kittens after finding them in a cereal box dumped in a bin.

The University of Exeter team says it has found evidence that MND is linked to an imbalance of cholesterol and other fats in cells. It says the research could lead to more accurate diagnosis and new treatments. MND affects around 5,000 people in the UK and causes more than 2,000 deaths a year. What is MND? Motor neurone disease is a group of diseases that affect the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that tell your muscles what to do. Also known as ALS, it causes muscle weakness and stiffness. Eventually people with the disease are unable to move, talk, swallow and finally, breathe. There is no cure and the exact causes are unclear - it's been variously linked to genes, exposure to heavy metals and agricultural pollution. What did the researchers find? Scientists at the University of Exeter say they had a "eureka moment" when they realised that 13 genes - which, if altered, can cause the condition - were directly involved in processing cholesterol. They say their theory could help predict the course and severity of the disease in patients and monitor the effect of potential new drugs. The theory is outlined in a paper, published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology. Lead author Prof Andrew Crosby said: "For years, we have known that a large number of genes are involved in motor neurone disease, but so far it hasn't been clear if there's a common underlying pathway that connects them." The finding particularly relates to what is known as the "spastic paraplegias", where the malfunction is in the upper part of the spinal cord. Dr Emma Baple, also from the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "Currently, there are no treatments available that can reverse or prevent progression of this group of disorders. Patients who are at high risk of motor neurone disease really want to know how their disease may progress and the age at which symptoms may develop, but that's very difficult to predict." Dr Brian Dickie, director of research at the MND Association, said the work raises some interesting ideas. "At the moment, it is unclear whether the imbalance observed is a cause of MND or a consequence of the disease. We look forward to seeing the outcome of further research in this area."

Scientists say they have discovered a possible underlying cause of the neurological disorder, motor neurone disease (MND).

Some stars have had pay increases, while others have dropped down the list - although in many cases, such as with Claudia Winkleman, this is a result of some programmes being produced by BBC Studios, which is now considered a commercial entity and so no longer counted. Here's the full list of those earning more than £150,000 in 2017-18: Gary Lineker - £1,750,000-£1,759,999 Match of the Day, Sports Personality of the Year 2016-17: £1,750,000-£1,799,999 Chris Evans - £1,660,000-£1,669,999 Radio 2 breakfast show. His drop this year is down to no longer presenting Top Gear. 2016-17 pay: £2,200,000-£2,249,999 Graham Norton - £600,000-£609,999 BBC Radio 2 Saturday show and BBC TV fee for a range of programmes 2016-17: £850,000-£899,999. Steve Wright - £550,000-£559,999 Radio 2 afternoon show 2016-17: £500,000-£549,999 Huw Edwards - £520,000-£529,999 BBC News and elections and news specials. The BBC has previously reported he's taken a pay cut. 2016-17: £550,000-£599,999 Jeremy Vine - £440,000-£449,999 Radio 2 & Eggheads. Points of View is made by BBC Studios. The BBC has previously said he's also taken a pay cut. 2016-17: £700,000-£749,999 Nicky Campbell - £410,000-£419,999 5 live Breakfast and Your Call. The BBC has previously said he's taken a pay cut. 2016-17: £400,000-£449,999 Alan Shearer - £410,000-£419,999 Match of the Day 2016-17: £400,000-£449,999 Nick Grimshaw - £400,000-£409,999 Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Big Weekend and Teen Awards 2016-17: £350,000-£399,999 John Humphrys - £400,000-£409,999 Radio 4 Today programme. Mastermind is made by BBC Studios, accounting for some of Humphrys' drop. The BBC has previously said he's also taken a pay cut. 2016-17: £600,000-£649,999 Andrew Marr - £400,000-£409,999 The Andrew Marr Show, Start the Week, documentaries 2016-17: £400,000-£449,999 Stephen Nolan - £400,000-£409,999 5 live, Radio Ulster and Nolan Live show 2016-17: £400,000-£449,999 Claudia Winkleman - £370,000-£379,999 BBC Radio 2 and BBC TV fee for a range of programmes. Strictly Come Dancing is made by BBC Studios. 2016-17: £450,000-£499,999. Simon Mayo - £340,000-£349,999 Radio 2 & 5 live 2016-17: £350,000-£399,999 Vanessa Feltz - £330,000-£339,999 Radio 2 & Radio London 2016-17: £350,000-£399,999 Eddie Mair - £330,000-£339,999 Radio 4 PM programme 2016-17: £300,000-£349,999 Ken Bruce - £300,000-£309,999 Radio 2 morning show 2016-17: £250,000-£299,999 George Alagiah - £290,000-£299,999 BBC News 2016-17: £250,000-£299,999 Scott Mills - £280,000-£289,999 Radio 1 afternoon show 2016-17: £250,000-£299,999 Jason Mohammad - £260,000-£269,999 Final Score, 5 live, Radio 2's Good Morning Sunday, Radio Wales, snooker 2016-17: £250,000-£299,999 Nick Robinson - £250,000-£259,999 Today programme & Political Thinking. The BBC has previously reported he's taken a pay cut. 2016-17: £250,000-£299,999 Evan Davis - £250,000-£259,000 Newsnight & Radio 4's The Bottom Line. Dragons' Den is made by BBC Studios. 2016-17: £250,000-£299,999 The rest of the list £230,000-£239,999 £220,000-£229,999 £210,000-£219,999 £200,000-£209,999 £190,000-£199,999 £180,000-£189,999 £170,000-£179,999 £160,000-£169,999 £150,000-£159,999 Some of the stars no longer the list: Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].

The BBC has published the latest list of its highest-paid stars later as part of its annual report.

By Douglas FraserBusiness and economy editor, Scotland Mowi's annual report reveals the amount of gutted salmon it produced from Scottish waters fell by 36%. In 2017, the total weight of gutted salmon from Scotland was 60,186 tonnes but last year it was 38,444. According to Mowi, the total supply of salmon from all the country's farms was 138,200 tonnes, down 13.4%. Profitability was helped, however, by increased scarcity feeding through to higher prices. Norway-based Mowi, which recently rebranded from Marine Harvest, said the lower tonnage was due to lower stocking of smolts, or young salmon. This in turn was due to "biological issues", which can mean sea lice infestations or disease. Salmon farming companies have been investing in research and development of methods to reduce the problem of sea lice. One of these is to leave salmon cages empty for longer periods between stocking. Mowi's annual report said the incidents which raised fish mortality during last year included anaemia, fish damaged in a storm, "gill issues" and deaths at a newly-opened hatchery. It added: "By the end of 2018, Scotland reported an improving trend in fish survival and good control of sea lice prevalence." The Scottish figures contrasted with two countries that produce a much larger share of the 2.2m tonnes of Atlantic salmon produced by salmon farms last year, up by 5.4%. Total Chilean output was up 102,000 tonnes of gutted fish, to more than 600,000, after being affected by an algal bloom in 2016. That helped supply fast-growing markets in the US and Brazil. Norway remains by far the biggest producer, up last year by nearly 4% to 1.128m tonnes. After being banned from the Chinese market, Norwegian salmon has now been allowed back in, and salmon imports were up 18% last year. The Mowi report highlighted concerns the company has about its use of small cleaner fish, such as wrasse. These are used to eat sea lice off the skin of salmon in the farm cages. Within the risks foreseen by the Norwegian firm is the possibility that its catching of cleaner fish will harm wild stocks, and could lead to regulatory action to limit its activities. Last year Marine Harvest announced major spending cuts in response to the rising costs of treating sea lice and disease. Don Stanford, a campaigner against the activities of the salmon farming industry, alleged that the fall in Mowi's Scottish output was not about lower stocking levels, as claimed, but due to its farming practices. He said: "Disease-ridden Scottish salmon farming is dead in the water. "Salmon farms are plagued with problems leading to a drastic fall in production in 2018."

The main salmon farmer in Scottish waters has reported a sharp fall in the tonnage produced last year, much of that due to the problems with sea lice.

The region is braced for more rainfall as the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain across much of the north of England. Some roads remain shut and rail passengers faced disruption after a landslip between Carlisle and Skipton. The fire station in Leyburn flooded as crews were out answering emergencies. The fire service had to pump out some new homes in the town after the water hit, some of the residents moved in just two months ago. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received about 165 calls to flooding in Leyburn and Reeth on Tuesday evening. A flood warning for Arkle Beck at Reeth and Low Fremington remains in place, according to the Environment Agency. Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team posted a picture of a collapsed bridge in Grinton on Facebook, urging motorists to "only travel if essential as many routes impassable" due to flooding. The damaged bridge, near Reeth, was on the route of the cycling World Championships held in Yorkshire on 29 September. It also featured on the Tour de France route when the race visited the county in 2014. Organisers of the world championships are due to visit the site to assess the damage . Yorkshire 2019 Chief Executive Andy Hindley added: "We will address any damage to race routes with North Yorkshire County Council in due course." Steve Clough, of the mountain rescue team, said: "The conditions were so bad that in the end only about 10 or 12 team members could make it there. "The roads were a raging torrent and there were sheds and household oil tanks floating down them." Mr Clough said his team spent more than eight hours searching properties in the area, rescuing about 10 people. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service helped many more and estimated "100 or more" homes had been affected, Mr Clough added. "Some homes had a metre of water in them - it was horrific," he said. Richard Attenburrow, whose neighbour's garage had fallen into his garden in Bellerby, said: "The whole wall came in and the roof and all its contents. "That beck is normally three to four inches deep but last night it was eight or nine foot. It was ridiculous." A holiday cottage business in Reeth has had to cancel future bookings after being flooded. Guests in three of the cottages, owned by Rose Atkinson and David Atkinson, had to escape upstairs as the flow of the water downstairs was so strong. Mr Atkinson asked on Facebook for help to pull furniture out of the cottages on Tuesday night. His wife said: "We've had an army of volunteers who have come to help. The response from people in the village has been amazing. We are so thankful." Some routes in the Yorkshire Dales remain shut but the fire service said there had been "no serious injuries". Northern Rail said trains had been suspended between Ribblehead and Kirkby Stephen because of the landslip. Anthony Ward filmed the flooded rail line from a train, shortly before the landslip happened. The county was pounded by hailstones the size of "pickled onions" as a summer storm swept through and Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales had 3.2in (82.2mm) of rain in 24 hours, the majority in the space of four hours. The monthly average in the area for this time of year is 3.5in (89mm). The fire service said: "If the road in front of you is flooded and you don't know the depth of the water don't risk driving through it." The weather caused a mountain bike festival to be cancelled, as the organisers of the 2019 Ard Rock, near Reeth in Swaledale, said flash flooding had "submerged" the site, which was due to host the event from Friday. Farmer Raymond Caldert told BBC Breakfast the flooding in Grinton was the worst he had ever seen and, if the festival had been running, lives could have been lost. "I haven't seen anything like this," he said. Mr Caldert added he had not lost any livestock but the flood washed away most of his 160 bales of silage. Josie Beszant, who owns an art gallery in the town of Masham, said: "It was a very sudden and extremely heavy thunderstorm. "Silver Street was flash flooded and fire engines came to pump it out. The gardens are pretty devastated. It just looks absolutely drenched." 'Disruption and long detours' By Danny Savage, North of England correspondent Travel conditions across the northern part of the Yorkshire Dales have been described by police as "shocking". The main road along Swaledale linking Richmond and villages including Reeth and Keld has been washed away near Grinton. Another road from Grinton over to Leyburn now has a gaping hole where for years there's been a bridge over a stream. A violent hail and rain storm further west caused a landslide to block the main Settle to Carlisle railway line between Kirkby Stephen and Garsdale. With it being peak tourist season in the Yorkshire Dales, the damage will cause disruption and potentially long detours for both visitors and residents living over a wide area. Local farmer Andrew Loftus, said he had seen hailstones almost an inch (2.5cm) in diameter. Gareth Walls, from Ripon, tweeted that they were "like pickled onions". The Brymor Ice Cream parlour, near Masham, was caught in a freak hail storm that left some customers with minor injuries. "Our parlour suffered damage to the roof, power failures and some visitors suffered minor injuries", it said on Facebook. Leonie Garrard, who runs a clothing and interiors shop in Leyburn, said torrential rain caused water to come through the ceiling and left the town "cut off". "I have never seen [anything like] this in my whole life. It has been horrendous." An appeal has started to help those who have been hit by flooding. People have been urged to donate cash, food, clothing, bedding and other supplies to the Upper Dales Flood Relief Fund. Councillor Stuart Parsons said the relief fund aimed to support victims who "have lost everything and while they are waiting for insurance to come through". "Sadly, some of the people affected by the flooding might not have been insured," he added. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

A bridge collapsed as flash flooding hit part of North Yorkshire when a month's rain fell in four hours.

The tower leans 0.26 degrees to the north-west, putting it out of alignment by about 0.5m at its highest point. The lean was discovered when Transport for London commissioned a report, because the extension of the Jubilee Line passes under Parliament. Experts are unsure what is causing the tower to lean. But one theory is that the London clay on which the tower was built is drying out. Mike McCann, keeper of the great clock, told BBC London: "We have been monitoring it since 1999, so we've got some pretty good data. "Our resident expert believes it will be between 4,000 and 10,000 years before it becomes a problem. "So it's not significant today, but we do need to keep an eye on it." The 0.26 degree angle is one 16th of the Leaning Tower of Pisa's tilt. Mr McCann continued: "There's no real proof what has caused it. "But it is built on London clay and that can dry out and that can cause movement." There is no evidence the lean was caused by work on the Underground. Big Ben is the name of the bell contained within the Clock Tower, according to a spokeswoman at the Houses of Parliament. But in the recent years the tower, which was called St Stephen's Tower by Victorian journalists, has been known colloquially as Big Ben.

Big Ben is leaning to one side and may eventually become unstable - but only in thousands of years, according to a newly revealed report.

The luxury brand said it would use the funds to help it expand in Asia and other new markets. The firm, which recorded sales of £282m last year, said it was confident shareholders would benefit from strong growth. "Our future as a public company can only extend our reputation," said Jimmy Choo chief executive Pierre Denis. It said it would continue to open 10 to 15 shops a year, and planned to float at least a quarter of the shares in the company. Jimmy Choo started as a bespoke shoe maker in London's East End in the 1990s. He joined forces with Tamara Mellon in 1986 to form the company, but left the business in 2001. Jimmy Choo's niece, Sandra Choi, remains creative director at the firm. The firm is now owned by investment firm JAB Luxury, and has 120 shops globally. It said it was now ready "to embark on its next phase of growth". Jimmy Choo plans to rapidly ramp up its expansion in China, where it said it was currently under-represented compared to peers. It said it would expand its current 10 stores to 30 over the medium term, as well as target growth in the Middle East, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. And the firm also plans to look at franchise opportunities in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Designer shoe maker Jimmy Choo has announced plans to list its shares on the London Stock Exchange.

By Gordon CoreraSecurity correspondent, BBC News The National Cyber Security Centre - part of intelligence agency GCHQ - started work in October as part of a £1.9bn five-year strategy. Staff in Victoria, central London, will be joined by experts from the private sector to help identify threats. NCSC chief Ciaran Martin said: "We want to make the UK the hardest target". The secondments to the centre by 100 private sector employees will be funded by their own companies. Announcing the initiative, Chancellor Philip Hammond said the "best and the brightest in industry" will help "test and to challenge the government's thinking" in cyber security. He added: "Government cannot protect business and the general public from the risks of cyber-attack on its own. It has to be a team effort. It is only in this way that we can stay one step ahead of the scale and pace of the threat that we face." Russia concern There were 188 cyber attacks classed by the NCSC as Category Two or Three during the last three months. And even though the UK has not experienced a Category One attack - the highest level, an example of which would have been the theft of confidential details of millions of Americans from the Office of Personnel Management - there is no air of complacency at the NCSC's new headquarters. Ciaran Martin, the centre's chief executive, told the BBC: "We have had significant losses of personal data, significant intrusions by hostile state actors, significant reconnaissance against critical national infrastructure - and our job is to make sure we deal with it in the most effective way possible." As well as protecting against and responding to high-end attacks on government and business, the NCSC also aims to protect the economy and wider society. The UK is one of the most digitally dependent economies, with the digital sector estimated to be worth over £118bn per year - which means the country has much to lose. It is not just a crippling cyber-attack on infrastructure that could turn out the lights which worries officials, but also a loss of confidence in the digital economy from consumers and businesses, as a result of criminals exploiting online vulnerabilities. A sustained effort was required by government and private sector working together to make the UK the hardest possible target, officials say. Russia has been the focus of recent concern, following claims it used cyber-attacks to interfere with the recent US presidential election. "I think there has been a significant change in the Russian approach to cyber-attacks and the willingness to carry it out, and clearly that's something we need to be prepared to deal with," Mr Martin said. French and German officials have warned of the possibility of interference in their upcoming elections, but the NCSC's head said there was no evidence that a significant attack or compromise had yet taken place against the UK democratic process. "There has been an identifiable trend in Russian attacks in the West, in terms of focusing on critical national industries and political and democratic processes," Mr Martin added. "And so it follows from that that we will look to be sure we are protecting those sectors in the UK as well as we possibly can." The centre will be working on a voluntary basis with political parties and giving advice to high-profile individuals - including MPs - on how to protect their sensitive data. The UK is already targeting computers in other countries being used for cyber-attack, particularly if there is no possibility of prosecution or for co-operation with authorities where the hackers are based. "In the most serious cases, we have lawful powers where we can go after the infrastructure of adversaries - the infrastructure that people use to attack us - and we would do that in some of the most serious cases several dozen times a year," Mr Martin said. In the past, UK cyber protection was largely situated within GCHQ in Cheltenham, which was criticised by businesses and others as overly secretive. The NCSC aims to be more public facing and accessible. It will also protect a far wider range of sectors, rather than just government and national security-related industries, like defence. GCHQ will still be the parent body for the NCSC, meaning it can draw on the intelligence agency's skills and capabilities. Sometimes, the intelligence arm of GCHQ spots compromised networks as it watches adversaries move across the internet. It was through this type of work that GCHQ spotted the compromise of the US Democratic Party's information by Russian hackers, which it then informed US authorities about. The NCSC is working on trial services to pro-actively discover vulnerabilities in public sector websites, help government departments better manage spoofing of their email, and take down tens of thousands of phishing sites affecting the UK. "We're actively working to reduce the harm caused by cyber-attacks against the UK and will use the government as a guinea pig for all the measures we want to see done by industry at national scale," says the NCSC technical director, Dr Ian Levy. He says results would be published openly to enhance collaboration. The centre will be publishing some of its code as open source, so that others can use the techniques.

The Queen was shown how hackers could target the UK's electricity supply as she opened a centre to protect the nation from cyber attacks.

Scattered among the artists, cooks and professional eaters are a growing band of young women wearing revealing clothing while they game. Some go further and entertain fans by dancing or by doing a series of suggestive exercises, like squats, to tempt people to subscribe to their channel or to hand over Twitch's micro-currency - bits. Dubbed "booby streamers" these young women have been a feature of Twitch for years but their numbers have grown significantly over the last few months, prompting a wave of complaints. On social media many parents have posted messages about what their younger children are seeing when they visit the site, expressing alarm at how much of a screen supposedly showing in-game action is focused on a woman's body. In recent weeks, high-profile streamers have complained about Twitch's tolerance of these women and for doing a "poor job" of policing the growing amount of sexual content on the site. The complaints have prompted a crackdown on women streamers who sell sexual services via their Twitch bio. Some have been suspended or banned for a few days and been made to purge links to places such as Patreon where explicit pictures and shows could be bought. Some say this is not enough. The "overtly sexual" behaviour on display breaks rules governing what Twitch has said is acceptable. "Given the way that the rules are worded, these streamers should not be on the site," Steven Bonnell aka Destiny told the BBC. Grey area Mr Bonnell is one of a small number of streamers with large, dedicated audiences that have quizzed Twitch about why it is not enforcing the letters of its laws - specifically its community guidelines. These guidelines govern what is permissible on Twitch and they explicitly prohibit "nudity and conduct involving overtly sexual behaviour and/or attire" and the selling of "sexual services". "It's pretty clear that there are some streamers that step over the line," said Mr Bonnell, "they wear provocative clothing and act provocatively." Originally, said Mr Bonnell, the IRL section was for streamers who were recording events, such as attending a convention, that did not involve them playing a video game. "IRL is taking on a culture of its own," he said. "It's become much more sexualised." What is Twitch? Twitch is a live, video-streaming service focussed on broadcasting people playing computer games. Recent estimates suggest it has 15 million daily active users and more than 2.2 million people use it to stream their gaming sessions. It has now broadened the content it shows and many artists, board gamers, role-players and others use it to show what they are up to. Twitch grew out of Justin.tv which was set up as a way for people to broadcast video streams of their lives. Twitch was bought by Amazon in 2014 for $970m (£723m). Streamer Amouranth said the slew of complaints and comment on social media had led Twitch to step up its enforcement efforts. It has handed out short-term suspensions to streamers reported to be breaking the guidelines. "With the recent controversy in IRL a lot of things have come under increased scrutiny, hence some streamers finding themselves suddenly afoul of ToS," she told the BBC. "Twitch certainly has the right to enforce their rules," said Amouranth, adding that it was a "notable grey-area" before the complaints and calls for action from streamers. Now, she said, many would welcome more clarity on what is and is not permitted on Twitch. Without that, she said, the reason someone had been suspended can be hard to understand. Content crash Her comments were echoed by streamer Anne Munition who said Twitch needed to be more explicit about what counted as acceptable behaviour in many different categories, not just those involving "sexual streamers". "The community has a hard time agreeing on what exactly that means," she said, adding: "I don't think it's unreasonable to want clarity on what Twitch considers acceptable content." The lack of clarity was having an effect on all streamers, said Ms Munition, and could lead to harassment and abuse from fans. A spokesman for Twitch said it did not comment on individual bans nor on whether it had been more active in enforcing its rules of conduct. He said: "We give our community freedom to express themselves as long as they adhere to our community guidelines." He added: "If inappropriate behaviour is observed, we encourage viewers to report it since our moderation team reviews all cases." Mr Bonnell said commercial considerations may eventually determine whether Twitch clarifies what the site is for. Advertisers who see their content running against the controversial streams may soon start to object, he said. "I do not think we are anywhere near that point yet," he said, "It's going to come down to whether the big advertisers are influenced. If that happens, then Twitch will act."

Scroll through the In Real Life (IRL) section of streaming site Twitch and you could be forgiven for thinking, now and then, that you have landed on a camgirl site.

Carrying flags and posters of the three dead women, they followed the coffins across frozen ground to a community centre where they were put on display. The victims, a senior official in the separatist PKK group and two political activists, will be buried in Turkey. Jets reportedly bombed PKK targets in Iraq despite peace talks. Turkish intelligence officials have been talking to Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), on how to end their armed campaign. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said his government would never surrender to Kurdish militants but he was cautiously hopeful that the talks could succeed. Last year saw some of the heaviest fighting with the PKK in decades. The group, regarded by the US and EU as a terrorist organisation, launched an armed campaign for an ethnic Kurdish homeland in south-east Turkey in 1984. 'Completely devastated' Mystery still shrouds the deaths of Sakine Cansiz - who founded the PKK along with Ocalan - and Fidan Dogan and Leyla Saylemez. The three women were found shot execution-style at a Kurdish centre in the French capital on Thursday. No group has said it killed the three women while Mr Erdogan has suggested their deaths may have been intended to sabotage peace efforts. According to news agencies, thousands of Kurds travelled to the Parisian suburb of Villiers Le Bel to honour the dead. The coffins stood draped in Kurdish flags inside the community centre amid flowers and burning candles. "All the Kurdish people are completely devastated by this drama, these three women who have been murdered," a mourner told Reuters news agency. "Today we are waiting for French authorities, the interior minister and the minister of foreign affairs to truly clarify what happened, why these women were targeted." Reports say Turkish jets bombed suspected PKK targets on Mount Qandil in northern Iraq on Monday. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Speaking in the Turkish parliament, Prime Minister Erdogan said: "Violence and terror have brought nothing to this country but pain, blood and tears. "Believe me, we have one goal: that is to halt the mothers' tears." Since the conflict began, more than 40,000 people have been killed.

Thousands of Kurds have attended a memorial near Paris for three activists shot dead in the city, amid reports of Turkish air strikes on the PKK.

By Julian O'NeillBBC News NI Business Correspondent Official figures show that 300 people came off the register in March, putting the jobless total at 31,500. The Northern Ireland unemployment rate also fell to 5.2% - the lowest it has been since last 2008 - but still above the UK average (4.7%). Northern Ireland also trails the rest of the UK in terms of the proportion of its workforce in employment - 69% versus 75%. However, one economist has said the data includes evidence of "a lost decade." 'No improvement in 10 years' Dr Esmond Birnie, of the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, said the Northern Ireland employment figure is "very similar" to 10 years ago. "In other words over the last decade there has been no improvement," he said. The figures also show a change in the composition of the labour market in recent times, with more self-employed and part-time workers.

Unemployment in Northern Ireland has fallen for a twelfth month in a row.

Carl Robert Coulson claimed the money from Durham County Council in the name of a motor exchange business based in Langley Moor in April. But the 35-year-old from Bishop Auckland almost immediately gave it to another man who has not been traced, Durham Police said. He was jailed at Durham Crown Court after admitting theft and fraud. The court heard Coulson, of St Andrew's Road, made another application in the name of a different business, but that was declined as the company had already received a legitimate payment. Det Sgt Alan Meehan, of Durham Police's economic crime team, said: "Fraud of this nature has wide-ranging consequences and we will always seek to bring those who abuse the system to justice." Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]. Related Internet Links HM Courts and Tribunals Service

A man who fraudulently got a £10,000 Covid business support grant has been jailed for 10 months.

By Lauren TurnerBBC News A whopping 23.6 million tuned in to watch England beat Colombia in a historic penalty shoot-out on Tuesday, with all eyes now on the quarter-final against Sweden in Samara. But with the match happening on a sunny Saturday afternoon, some people who didn't expect England to do quite so well, or who perhaps hadn't been interested in the tournament until now, are facing a clash. So, what are people doing to make sure they see the game? 'We cancelled our flights' What do you do if you're due to take off at the same time as the 15:00 kick-off? For England fans Michael Simpson and Tom Dillon, there was only one solution - cancel your flight back to England. They've been on holiday in Portugal for a week but when they realised they would miss the game if they got their flight from Lisbon to London, they decided to rearrange their travel plans. "We're now flying back from Faro, about three hours from Lisbon," said Michael, who's been staying in a villa with friends just outside the Portuguese city. "So we will watch the game in Lisbon and then stay in Faro, before flying back to London on Sunday. We've had to pay about another 130 euros each but it's worth it. "It's a childhood dream to see England win the World Cup. So whether that meant staying in Portugal or coming back early, we just couldn't miss it. "In the end, we couldn't get an earlier flight, so football's coming home - but we're not." Kane to headline at Wireless... kind of Thousands of music fans will be heading to Finsbury Park, London, for Wireless Festival this weekend, which left organisers with a dilemma about what to do at 15:00 on Saturday. Their solution? To stop the music on the main stage and screen the big game there instead. The last act before the match starts is 6Lack, who's due to finish his set at 14:55. Cue plenty of moshing if England win. They're not doing the same for British Summer Time Hyde Park though, with Editors' set - which clashes with the crucial England game - carrying on as planned. Frontman Tom Smith has accepted that some people will stay away, saying: "I'm sure many won't come to the gig until the game finishes... but many will, plus I'm sure loads will have it on on their phones whilst we play - and I for one can't wait to soundtrack Spurs' dire attempts to score a goal in open play for those World Cup crazy technologically savvy sunburnt goths stood in Hyde Park this Saturday afternoon." The festival's director, Jim King, said it would be wrong to stop the music when "people paid a lot of money to come and see all of those bands". Another music festival, Sunniside Live in Sunderland, is going to be showing the game on the side of a double-decker bus. And luckily, the headliners on Saturday are The Lightning Seeds, who co-wrote football anthem Three Lions - so expect a mass singalong later in the evening. Mamma Mia! What's the score again? The musical Mamma Mia!, written, of course, by Swedish musicians Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from Abba, is having a matinee showing on Saturday afternoon. And yes, you've guessed it - it starts exactly the same time as the Sweden v England game. At the interval, which coincides with the second half of the match starting, the score will be announced to the audience. A spokeswoman said: "If it is a good result for England, we are planning to announce the final score at the end of the show." Audience members will be reminded to switch their phones off at the beginning of the performance - perhaps a wise move, given the fury actors felt when two women followed England's penalty shoot-out victory on their phones at a theatre earlier this week. 'I do... but only after the final whistle' Paul Leadbeater and Marita Phenix thought they had planned their wedding day at Sunderland's Stadium of Light perfectly to avoid it clashing with any games. But then, England ended up doing slightly better than they expected. They'll still be getting hitched on the pitch in Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson's home town, but only after the final whistle has blown. That's assuming it doesn't go to penalties again, that is. "Guests have been asking what's happening so we had to put it back to 17:15," he said. "Hopefully it won't go beyond that, or I'm not sure what will happen. But the stadium has been very accommodating and the game will be screened in one of the bars. "My fiancée, who's got a season ticket to Sunderland, will be watching too, just not with me." And what happens if the result isn't as the happy couple hope? "I'm not thinking about England not winning," said Paul. "So hopefully everyone will be on a high when the wedding begins. The only downside is everyone will have had a few more drinks." Meanwhile one woman, according to a Mumsnet post, has banned guests from checking their phones at her wedding on Saturday and is declaring the venue a "football-free zone". And spare a thought too, for Nick Boles, Conservative MP for Grantham and Stamford, who says he's grappling with a moral dilemma as his niece is getting married at 16:00. 'Overexcited adults' It's the time of year when many schools are finishing ahead of the summer holidays, with school fetes planned for Saturday. But with fears that eyes may be on phone screens following the game, rather than concentrating on the coconut shy, some schools have changed their plans. One primary school in Richmond, south-west London, has brought the time of their fair forward, with one employee saying it had been a "nightmare", adding: "Parents didn't want to be here, and then we had the issue of whether or not we'd screen it. We also thought the adults might be a bit overexcited." And another in Surrey that has also done the same, with events now finishing an hour before kick-off, said parents - and teachers - wouldn't even have been able to follow events on their phones as they aren't allowed on the school site. Pride sends good vibes About a million people went to Pride in London last year - and organisers have admitted some may end up "multitasking" this year. They're not showing the game at the annual parade, but have wished lots of luck to the England team. Alison Camps, co-chairwoman of Pride in London, said: "We obviously wish the England team all the best, we are hoping that all the rainbows, unicorns and glitter will work their magic and send good vibes over to Russia. "I imagine there will be a lot of multitasking - I'm hoping there will be even more people celebrating on the streets after England have a famous victory." (Other) sporting events Just because sports fans from all over the nation will have their eyes on goings-on in Samara, doesn't mean that the game will stop play. Wimbledon has already been declared a World Cup-free zone. Henley Royal Regatta is not showing the game either - but football fans can see it elsewhere in the town, including at the enclosure of nightclub Chinawhite. There's also qualifying at Silverstone, ahead of the British Grand Prix on Sunday. It starts at 14:00, but Silverstone has said five different areas of the racetrack will be screening the game.

England's progress in the World Cup may have delighted the nation - but it's also taken some by surprise.

By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent They include an estimated 1.45 million who have tried and failed to get an NHS appointment in two years with the rest on waiting lists or put off by cost. Another 2 million assume they cannot get care where they live, suggesting nearly one in 10 miss out overall. Dental leaders said the findings - based on official NHS data - showed access was a problem in every region. British Dental Association leader Dave Cottam said there was a "perfect storm" of underfunding, failed contracts and recruitment problems. "These access problems are no longer affecting a few 'hotspots', but are now the reality for millions across every English region. "The public are entitled to access care, but the system is stacked against them. "Those losing out are the patients who need us most. The next government owes it to them to ensure this service has a future." NHS England said steps were already being taken to tackle the problems - and urged people to use the NHS website to find local dentists that were accepting patients. Similar data is not available in other parts of the UK. But the BDA said there were serious problems with access in Wales, while similar issues existed in Northern Ireland and Scotland albeit on a smaller scale. 'I relied on a charity for my treatment' It was only thanks to a mobile service provided by a charity that Basir Afzal was able to get dental treatment. Mr Afzal had been struggling with severe dental pain for months but, despite repeated requests, had been unable to find an NHS dentist to see him. In November he had emergency treatment to have some teeth extracted. The work was done by Dentaid, a charity which normally works in developing countries, but is increasingly being asked to help people in England. "I was in so much pain. I could not take it any more. I was only sleeping two hours a night." He was one of 50 patients given care during a two-day clinic run from the town hall in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. The charity has recently bought a second mobile dental van to meet demand in England. How bad is the problem? This is the first time the scale of this problem has been identified in this way. The NHS monitors the number of people using High Street dentists - figures show about half of adults have accessed NHS care in the past two years. But that does not take into account the vulnerable groups getting support from specialist services, those who do not need care or people opting to use private dentistry. Using the GP Patient Survey, which also asks questions about dentistry, the BBC has been able to provide estimates for the number of people who cannot get care, are put off getting care because of the cost or believe where they live NHS care is not available. The analysis shows the level of unmet need has remained pretty consistent for the past five years. The scale of the problems do vary from area to area. Places such as Bradford, Brighton, Cornwall and parts of Kent, Surrey, Norfolk and London have the worst levels of access with around one in six adults not getting care. Why has this happened? Despite dental care being available on the NHS, some people still have to pay for it. Only those on low incomes, children and pregnant women get treatment for free. Others have to pay. Treatment is split into three payment bands from £22.70 for checks-ups, scale-and-polishes and X-rays through to £269.30 for complex care such as dentures and crowns. As a result, cost puts some people off coming forward for treatment, the analysis suggests. But greater numbers have found themselves turned away or believe there are no NHS appointments available locally. The BDA said there were a variety of reasons behind this. It pointed to figures showing three-quarters of practices have experienced difficulties filling posts and a 29% fall in funding per head in seven years once inflation was taken into account. The union has also been critical of the way the contract works - dentists are given block contracts meaning once they have seen their quota they do not get paid any extra. What can be done? NHS England said it was "actively working" with local areas to better understand what was causing problems. Work has been done to make the contract more flexible. Patients who are trying to find out what services are available can use the NHS website to find which local dentists are accepting NHS patients, a spokeswoman said. Plans have also been put forward during the election campaign to improve access. Labour has proposed introducing free dental check-ups by scrapping band one charges - and eventually provide free NHS dental care. Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats said they were proposing investing more money in the NHS to improve services. The Lib Dems in particular said it was aiming to recruit more dentists with the extra funds. Nearly half of treatments provided on the NHS are provided free of charge because patients are exempt.

More than 2 million adults in England are unable to see an NHS dentist, BBC analysis suggests.

Scientists investigated the species honey bees liked most during spring as part of efforts to protect the bees' environment and better understand their habits. Peonies, wallflowers, roses, and hyacinth are among the top 10 favourite garden plants. Favoured wild plants include gorse, willow, hawthorn, oak and dandelion. Research head Dr Natasha de Vere said bees face a lack of habitat brought about by the loss of hedgerows, woodland and meadows rich in plant species. Without a healthy and diverse diet, they are unable to withstand pressures from pests, disease and insecticides. "The main conclusion is that, during the spring, honey bees need native hedgerow and woodland plants, which means we must conserve these habitats," Dr de Vere added. "The research also tells us that honey bees are supplementing this main diet with smaller amounts from parks and gardens - proving what we do in our own backyard is crucial." The project - part of the Carmarthenshire garden's Saving Pollinators scheme - identified plant DNA in honey collected from its eight hives and quarter of a million bees. Of the 437 different types of plants in flower in April and May in the botanic garden, only 11% were used by bees. Honey bees need access to a wide variety of food throughout spring as they replenish honey stores and feed their young. The research, carried out by Aberystwyth and Bangor university scientists, found their diet is supplemented by spring-flowering bulbs. Other favourites include apple and cherry trees, hellebores, oak, holly, and wallflowers. Researchers now plan to analyse honey from across Wales to understand what bees eat in other parts of the country.

National Botanic Garden of Wales research has revealed which plants bees choose for their pollen.

In 2010 it was estimated an alternative rail package would cost about £5.3bn, but it has increased to about £8.9bn. The DfT said prices for alternative schemes include the same allowance for cost overruns as the high-speed scheme. No plans have been announced to take alternatives forward. 'Off-peak times' Some residents on the high-speed (HS2) route have already voice concerns during a public consultation, which ends in July, about the first stage of the scheme. The government was likely to make a decision over the first stage towards the end of the year, the DfT said. The alternative, the so-called Rail Package 2, incorporates the cost of upgrading the existing line to allow more trains with extra carriages, and was designed last year to test the case for HS2, the DfT said. Rail Package 2 "would not be a viable alternative to a new high-speed rail network", it added. The DfT said: "The West Coast Main Line is now twice [as] busy as when it was last upgraded - which caused 10 years of disruption. "It provides far less new capacity than HS2 with the largest increases in capacity at off-peak times when they're less needed." It said the intention was to have a public consultation in about 2014 over a proposed 'Y' shaped network with separate legs from the West Midlands to Manchester and Leeds. Joe Rukin, one of the co-founders of Stop HS2, said: "It's unreasonable to compare the Rail Package 2 with the first stage of HS2. "You've got to compare it with the full Y network, which is £32.2 billion, because Rail Package 2 delivers benefits across the country and not just this extremely narrow corridor that HS2 does."

The cost of upgrading the West Coast Mainline, as an alternative to a high-speed London and Birmingham link, has risen by about 68%, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said.