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EdinburghNLP - Natural Language Processing Group at the University of Edinburgh 10

Speaking during a live link-up with a primary school in London, he also said he was "immensely proud" to be wearing the Union Flag. Major Peake added that he was now into the final phase of training, in which he was focusing on the essentials. He said astronaut training had been rigorous and involved retaining immense quantities of information. Tim Peake is the first Briton to be selected as an astronaut for the European Space Agency, through a route backed by the UK government. He was in Houston, Texas, when he spoke live to schoolchildren at Queen's Park Primary School in West London. The event was organised as part of a UK Space Agency programme called Esero, which is designed to use space to help enhance science education. "I'm immensely proud to be British and to be serving in the European Space Agency," he told BBC News. "It's always very apparent to me, wherever I'm travelling, whether it be Houston, here, or Russia, that you're wearing the flag and you're representing your country." Major Peake, who was a British Army helicopter pilot before his selection for the astronaut corps, is set to fly to the International Space Station in December on a Russian Soyuz rocket. He will be accompanied on the launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome by the American astronaut Timothy Kopra and the Russian Yuri Malenchenko. The Briton said the training was now "ramping up" as the 15 December launch date approached. "The training is a long process and we've covered such a huge variety of subjects. One of the main challenges is actually being able to retain all of that information over a two-and-a-half-year period," he said. "I'm in the final six months before launch and we're just focusing on the essentials of the Soyuz spacecraft, emergency training... and scientific payloads that are going to be on the space station." Pupils who listened to Major Peake talk, and got the opportunity to ask him questions, seemed to be impressed by the experience. Abdullah Hashim, who is 10, said he was "an extraordinary man" and an "inspiration". Salma Sarumi, 8, said it was "amazing" to have the live link-up at her school. Fellow students Cherise Panzu, Mario Albu and Susu El-Abbas also seemed to have been inspired by the event. Cherise called it a "once in a lifetime opportunity". Major Peake believes the flight will bring significant benefits to the country and British industry. "This is a step forward in that it's the UK government supporting human spaceflight," he explained. "What that means is that UK industry, UK education and the UK scientific community can now embrace human spaceflight. That means taking part in scientific research that's being conducted not only on the International Space Station, but within the other European Space Agency human spaceflight programmes."

The UK's first official astronaut, Tim Peake, says he is "well prepared" as his December launch date approaches.

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It means BP will have to make the payments that stem from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. BP argued that the deal meant it could fall prey to inflated or bogus compensation claims. BP agreed to the compensation deal in 2012, but argues it has been misinterpreted. Shares in BP fell 1.7% in London on Monday. BP asked the Supreme Court to consider whether people and businesses seeking payments under the settlement included individuals who had not actually suffered any injury as a result of the oil spill. The Supreme Court's rejection of this appeal by BP is the latest in a series of setbacks for the oil firm. BP is trying to limit payments over the environmental disaster, which claimed the lives of 11 people and became the largest US offshore oil spill in history. The settlement agreement has no cap, but BP initially estimated that it would pay roughly $7.8bn (£6.1bn) to compensate victims. It now says it can no longer give a reliable estimate for how much the deal will cost. BP has already paid out $2.3bn in so-called business economic loss claims out of a total of $4.25bn in compensation claims to individuals and businesses, according to Patrick Juneau, the administrator appointed by the courts to handle claims. The settlement process is also separate from other court proceedings relating to the spill, including environmental and criminal penalties. BP has set aside $43bn to resolve all claims. In September, a US judge ruled BP was "grossly negligent" in the lead-up to the 2010 oil spill. The New Orleans judge Carl Barbier also found BP subcontractors Transocean and Halliburton "negligent".

The US Supreme Court has rejected oil giant BP's legal challenge to a compensation deal over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

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The victim was walking countrywards on the Sydenham Bypass between 22:00 and 23:00 GMT on Saturday night when she was forced into the man's dark-coloured car and attacked. The woman then escaped. The car was reported to have travelled along the road in the direction of Holywood following the attack. The man was said to be in his 30s and was wearing a dark top with the hood up.

A woman has been raped after a man pulled her into his car in east Belfast.

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HS2 Ltd is overseeing the expansion of Euston to cater for passengers using the first phase of the new rail line between London and the Midlands. The revamp was originally scheduled to end in 2026 but the firm now says it will finish in 2033. Camden Council has warned the extended works will "blight" the area, but HS2 says it will be "easier to manage". The station is set to gain six new platforms and an additional concourse, with building works due to start in 2017. In a change to plans submitted two years ago, HS2 Ltd has proposed the construction of five further platforms within the existing station should be delayed. They would be ready for phase two of HS2 which will run from the capital to Leeds and Manchester in 2033. Rupert Walker, Euston development director of HS2 Ltd, said: "It is more construction over a longer period but it's less intense. It will be easier for us to manage." The impact of building all 11 platforms in one go would have caused a reduction in the capacity of trains using Euston every day, he said. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the changes would "dramatically improve the design" of the station. Sarah Hayward, leader of Camden Council, predicted: "HS2 will cause decades of blight in the Euston area - to property prices, to our small business' trade and to our residents' lives." She said the council is "ardently opposed to the scheme", adding it could only be a success with "close collaboration" between the local authority, residents and businesses. HS2 Ltd's new plan will be submitted to Parliament next week in order to form part of the legislation which will allow phase one of High Speed 2 to go ahead. The firm also announced that the budget of the Euston project has risen from £2 billion to £2.25 billion, but said this would not affect HS2's overall budget of £42 billion.

The redesign of London's Euston station to accommodate High Speed 2 will take seven years longer than planned.

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Media playback is not supported on this device The Barcelona forward curled home a free-kick after only 12 minutes, and Luan added a second after the break. Brazil will now play Honduras in Wednesday's semi-finals after they won 1-0 against South Korea, thanks to Alberth Elis's winner. Germany play Nigeria in the other last-four match. The Africans beat Denmark 2-0 in their quarter-final, while Germany won 4-0 against Portugal. Brazil's second pool win came after 0-0 draws with Iraq and South Africa, and a 4-0 victory over Denmark. Neymar, the poster boy for the Games, finally got off the mark at the fourth attempt when he curled home from 25 yards out. He then provoked a mass brawl between the two teams after a heavy challenge on Andres Roa, and five yellow cards were handed out. Brazil made sure of a place in their third consecutive Olympic semi-final when Luan's effort from outside the area beat goalkeeper Cristian Bonilla.

Neymar scored his first goal of the Olympics as hosts Brazil beat Colombia 2-0 to reach the semi-finals of the men's football.

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It is buying €3bn (£2.3bn) of euro-denominated bonds and $2bn of dollar-denominated ones. Rumours on Wednesday that it was about to buy the debt sent Deutsche Bank's shares soaring. The confirmation on Friday gave the shares a bit of a boost, although they had already been up by about 10% earlier in the day. Deutsche Bank said that it had the resources to make the purchases without changing its funding plans. "The bank's strong liquidity position allows it to repurchase these securities without any corresponding change to its 2016 funding plan," it said. The buyback has been taken as a signal of the bank's robustness. On Friday, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble brushed aside concerns about the bank, whose shares fell to a 30-year low earlier in the week, saying Germany's largest lender was "strong". "Deutsche Bank has enough capital," Mr Schaeuble said. The shares fell 13% on Monday and Tuesday, despite assurances from the bank that its balance sheet was "rock solid".

Deutsche Bank has announced that it is to buy back more than $5bn (£3.5bn) of its own debt.

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Plans for a £41m revamp of the central London street, including a daylight ban on cars six days a week, were approved by Camden Council in 2014. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTA) said it was "madness" and would hinder customer pick-up and drop-off. It sought a judicial review of the decision that was refused on 1 June. The council said the redesign would make the street safer and support businesses ahead of the opening of a Crossrail station in 2018. It undertook an assessment of the impact the partial car ban might have and said allowing taxis to use the street would lead to more traffic congestion, worse air quality and increased traffic collisions. Only buses, bicycles and local access would be allowed on the street from 08:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday, but side streets should still give other vehicles 60% access to Tottenham Court Road, the council added.

Black cab drivers have been denied permission to mount a legal challenge against the decision to limit car access to Tottenham Court Road.

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Mr Miliband called the prime minister's refusal to take part unless the Green Party was involved a "pathetic excuse". He said he would debate with "anyone invited by the broadcasters". But Mr Cameron said the Labour leader was "chickening" out of facing the Greens and all "national parties" must be represented. The exchanges came after Mr Miliband, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and UKIP leader Nigel Farage urged broadcasters to press ahead with televised debates before the 7 May poll even if Mr Cameron refuses to take part. The three leaders have written to Mr Cameron saying it would be "unacceptable" for the prime minister to refuse to appear, saying an empty podium should be provided in his absence. In response, the BBC, Sky News, ITV and Channel 4 said they "remain committed" to staging debates before the poll on 7 May. Raising the issue in Parliament, Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron had argued back in 2010 that it would be "feeble" for any party leader to walk away from the debates but was now threatening to do just that. A high stakes poker game in which the ultimate prize is power - that is what the row about TV leaders election debate has now become. The players at the table are not just the nation's party leaders but also the bosses of the country's biggest broadcasters. Watching and waiting are highly paid lawyers who know that this may end up being resolve by a judge and not by the court of public opinion. The question is - will anyone blink before it gets to the court-room? Read more from Nick "It is not for him, it is not for me, it is not for any party leader to decide who is in the debate," he said. "It is up to the broadcasters, that is the country we live in. "I think he does protest too much. He has run out of excuses, he is running scared of these debates and in the words of his heroine Margaret Thatcher 'he is frit'". Mr Cameron said Mr Miliband wanted "to debate having a debate" because he did not want to talk about the economy and other issues. He said he was keen to defend his record during the campaign, suggesting he would support the idea of two debates, one a head-to-head encounter between him and Mr Miliband and another in which all "national parties" were represented. "The more time he and I can spend on television and in the television studio, the happier I will be," he said. But Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who was sitting next to the prime minister, was heard shouting "excuses, excuses" as Mr Cameron answered one of Mr Miliband's questions. In identical letters to Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband, Mr Clegg and Mr Farage called for a repeat of the 2010 debates - the first ever leaders' TV debates in a British election - and insisted they "not the property of the politicians". They wrote: "I believe it would be a major setback to our democratic processes if these debates were not repeated in 2015 because of one politician's unwillingness to participate." The added: "Therefore, if you are unwilling to reconsider, the three party leaders who have committed to participate will ask the broadcasters to press ahead with the debates and provide an empty podium should you have a last-minute change of heart." Under plans put forward by the BBC, Sky News, ITV and Channel 4 in October, the pre-election live TV debates would include the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP. Mr Cameron would take on Labour leader Mr Miliband head-to-head in one debate, another would feature Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg, and a third would also include UKIP's Mr Farage. The suggested schedule is for debates on 2 April, 16 April and 30 April, ahead of the general election on 7 May. Mr Farage said the BBC would be "within its rights", under the terms of its editorial guidelines, to stage a debate without Mr Cameron and providing an empty podium would be "entirely appropriate". "If David Cameron chooses not to turn up that is his hard luck," he told the BBC News Channel. "My guess is that if the broadcasters hold firm, Mr Cameron will buckle and say yes." Lord Ashdown, who is leading the Lib Dems' general election campaign, urged broadcasters to "stick to their guns" or else he feared the impetus for the debates would "ebb away". He told Sky News: "You just can't let the prime minister or anybody else basically hold the country and our democracy to ransom by saying no." But Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said she backed Mr Cameron's stance and said it was in the interest of the three other leaders to help persuade broadcasters that her party should be included in one of the debates. Ms Bennett said ITV had not yet made a final decision and she hoped to hold talks with the broadcaster in the near future. "Staging the debates without the prime minister might score a point but would not serve the public, who rightly expect the political parties and the broadcasters to find a format that is acceptable to all concerned," she wrote in a letter to the trio. "If you indicated that you were open to the inclusion of the Greens, then I feel sure that ITV would respond." John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, said that having "nailed his colours to the mast" over the Green Party's participation, it would be difficult for Mr Cameron to shun the debates if they were invited. The three debates in 2010 were watched by a total of 22 million people, and they have been cited as one reason for the increase in turnout at the election, which rose for the first time since 1992. While the debates were a "good test of political leadership", Prof Curtice told the BBC that they had dominated the campaign and "not necessarily succeeded in reaching out to more marginal voters". The SNP and Plaid Cymru, which have more seats in Parliament than either UKIP or the Green Party, also say they should be represented in any series of debates. SNP deputy leader Stuart Hosie said: "The idea that the SNP, bigger than UKIP and the Lib Dems combined in terms of membership, should be excluded from debates which are broadcast into people's homes in Scotland is just simply quite unacceptable." In a statement, the four broadcasters said: "The debates played an important role in informing millions of our viewers in 2010 and we will continue to work with all the parties to ensure that they happen again in 2015". The Guardian, Daily Telegraph and YouTube are proposing a separate digital debate, which they suggest could reach up to 55 million internet users. They have invited the Greens, UKIP, the Lib Dems, Labour and the Conservatives to take part.

David Cameron and Ed Miliband have accused each other of "running scared" over election TV debates, as they clashed at Prime Minister's Questions.

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The East Midlands Trains service was travelling at 65mph (105 km/h) when it derailed at Barrow on Soar in Leicestershire in February 2008. The train derailed after an engineering works tipper lorry hit a footbridge. Leicester Crown Court heard the firm did not have a proper construction site safety assessment in place. A train driver had to be cut free from his cab after the bridge collapsed in the accident, but no-one else was hurt. A warning message had been sent out, but the Nottingham-to-Norwich passenger train was unable to stop in time. The tipper truck driver did not realise the height of his truck and had left the back of it raised in the air, the court heard. The train driver was trapped for two-and-a-half hours and suffered serious leg injuries. "Network Rail's poor planning and management of construction site safety at Barrow placed members of the travelling public a risk," Darren Anderson of the Office of Rail Regulation said. The court heard that the train driver "thought he would die" and still suffered from flashbacks. "It should never have happened and I would like to say sorry for the fact that it did happen," Network Rail spokesman Martin Frobisher said.

Network Rail has been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £32,000 after admitting causing a train to derail in Leicestershire.

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Prof Higgs, who does not own a mobile phone, said a former neighbour had pulled up in her car as he was returning from lunch in Edinburgh. He added: "She congratulated me on the news and I said 'oh, what news?'" The woman had been alerted by her daughter in London that Prof Higgs had won the award, he revealed. He added: "I heard more about it obviously when I got home and started reading the messages." The 84-year-old emeritus professor at the University of Edinburgh was recognised by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for his work on the theory of the particle which shares his name, the Higgs boson. He shares this year's physics prize with Francois Englert of Belgium, and joins the ranks of past Nobel winners including Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. The existence of the so-called "God particle", said to give matter its substance, or mass, was proved almost 50 years later by a team from the European nuclear research facility (Cern) and its Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland. Speaking for the first time about the award at a media conference at the University of Edinburgh, he said: "How do I feel? Well, obviously I'm delighted and rather relieved in a sense that it's all over. It has been a long time coming." An old friend told him he had been nominated as far back as 1980, he said. Prof Higgs added: "In terms of later events, it seemed to me for many years that the experimental verification might not come in my lifetime. "But since the start up of the LHC it has been pretty clear that they would get there, and despite some mishaps they did get there". Stressing the involvement of other theorists and Cern, he added: "I think clearly they should, but it is going to be even more difficult for the Nobel Committee to allocate the credit when it comes to an organisation like Cern. "I should remind you that although only two of us have shared this prize, Francois Englert of Brussels and myself, that the work in 1964 involved three groups of people, (including) two in Brussels. "Unfortunately Robert Brout died a few years ago so is no longer able to be awarded the prize, but he would certainly have been one of the winners if he had still been alive. "But there were three others who also contributed and it is already difficult to allocate the credit amongst the theorists. "Although a lot of people seem to think I did all this single-handed, it was actually part of a theoretical programme which had been started in 1960." Prof Higgs was born in Newcastle, but developed his theory while working at the University of Edinburgh. The landmark research that defined what was to become known as the Higgs boson was published in 1964. Discovering the particle became one of the most sought-after goals in science, and the team of scientists behind the $10bn LHC at Cern made proving its existence a key priority. In July of last year, physicists at Cern confirmed the discovery of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson. Prof Higgs, who had often been uncomfortable with the attention his theory brought, was in Geneva to hear the news, and wiped a tear from his eye as the announcement was made. Reacting to the discovery at the time, he told reporters: "It's very nice to be right sometimes."

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Prof Peter Higgs has revealed he did not know he had won the award until a woman congratulated him in the street.

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The 31-year-old Australian was hurt during the Chiefs' narrow Champions Cup loss at Ulster and needs surgery. Salvi joined the Chiefs in the summer of 2015 from Leicester and became a key part of the side that made last season's Premiership final. "We're still waiting to learn the full extent of it but it looks relatively serious," head coach Rob Baxter said. Salvi was twice short-listed for the Premiership's Player of the Year award while at Leicester and is a former Australia Under-21 captain. "He does put in a huge contribution over 80 minutes, and that's probably what we'll miss the most," Baxter told BBC Sport. "His biggest quality is his consistency. He turns up every week, and even when we've had some poor performances and even when some individuals within the side have played poorly, Julian's contribution has always been absolutely first rate," added Baxter. "He's virtually always our top tackler, virtually always our top clearout guy, and probably the thing that people don't appreciate about him is how important he is to our attack. "A lot of people talk about open-sides as being tacklers and defenders and disruptive people, but Julian is very important to our attack because he clears so many breakdowns."

Exeter flanker Julian Salvi has been ruled out for the rest of 2016 after injuring his biceps.

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The Lionesses' third-place finish in Canada makes them the second most successful England team ever, only behind the men's victory in 1966. Sampson replaced former boss Hope Powell in August 2013. "It's been instilled in us over the last 18 months, that family atmosphere, the togetherness," said White. "It's 23 players, we're all in it. You can't win it without 23 players or the backroom staff as well." During Powell's 15-year reign as manager, the Lionesses never progressed beyond the World Cup quarter-finals - and former players have since criticised the negative feeling among the team during her time in charge. However, speaking to BBC Radio Three Counties, 26-year-old White says it has been a different story under Sampson. "He's changed a lot in the team, he's brought in new people," said White. "I always think it's good to have a change. "He's definitely brought that togetherness, that fire, that passion. Everyone was on board with everything. "We all stuck together and we're definitely like a little family."

Notts County striker Ellen White says England's success at the Women's World Cup was down to the "family atmosphere" instilled by manager Mark Sampson.

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Anna Signeul's team have lined up home games with Romania and Republic of Ireland either side of a trip to meet fellow finalists Sweden. Euro 2017 runs from 16 July - 6 August, with the Scots making their debut at a major finals. Scotland open the competition against England on 19 July, with Spain and Portugal also in Group D. Friendly dates: Scotland v Romania (Falkirk, 9 June) Sweden v Scotland (Vaxjo, 13 June) Scotland v Republic of Ireland (TBC, 7 July)

Scotland Women will play three warm-up friendlies ahead of this summer's Euro 2017 tournament in the Netherlands.

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The papers were presented to a meeting of health board chief executives and civil servants last month. They suggest the NHS is facing a £400m funding gap, and sweeping changes will be needed for boards to break even. The Scottish government said it was committed to "protecting and increasing the NHS budget". The papers were passed to the BBC and The Herald by a senior NHS whistleblower, who said they had become frustrated by the argument of the "Yes" campaign that the biggest threat to the NHS comes from the UK government. The documents state: "The status quo and preservation of existing models of care are no longer an option given the pressing challenges we face." The whistleblower has alleged that pressures on the NHS come from Scottish government policies. The confidential documents relate to a meeting held by NHS bosses on 6 August 2014. As part of an initiative to transform care by 2020, legislation has been passed by the Scottish government to encourage more community care. However, the papers say this has been undermined by "continued commitments" which are "directly in conflict" with the 2020 vision and increase the cost of expensive hospital care. The documents say new obligations are "not fully funded". The documents conclude that the "status quo in terms of service and workforce planning is not an option". The papers outline a funding gap of £400-£450m in the next two financial years, 2015-17, which is described as "a level significantly in excess of that previously required". The documents suggest that health boards will have to consider centralising hospitals and closing services - a measure which the SNP vowed to stop when it was elected in 2007. The Scottish government reversed the closure of Accident and Emergency departments at Monklands and Ayr hospitals, but the papers suggest such dramatic measures may be back on the table. "Radical and urgent decisions need to be made regarding the shape and configuration of services," the document states. But it also points out that boards are "without the mandate and authority to implement the scale of change and redesign required". "We need to commit to these priorities and accept that significant changes require to be implemented," the papers conclude. The whistleblower told the BBC: "Services are unsustainable right across Scotland from three emergency centres in Lanarkshire, to emergency care at the Vale (of Leven) to paediatrics at St John's (in Livingston), and with particular issues for more rural boards, hence the problems at Grampian. "The current pattern of services is underpinned but short-term money and fixes won't stack up going into next year. "There is a complete gap between policy announcements about care in the community and more money for primary care, and the announcements and commitments which continually increase the cost of acute care." The Scottish government said the paper was "part of the regular discussions among NHS leaders to plan for NHS Scotland's future". Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "We've protected Scotland's NHS from the Tories' cuts, and with independence we can ensure that it is never again under threat from Westminster's dangerous obsession with austerity. "Despite Scotland's budget being slashed by 7.2% by George Osborne between 2010/11 and 2015/16, our increases in health spending means that the NHS is receiving record high funding, with a budget increase of over £1bn between 2010/11 and 2015/16." He added: "To ensure we can continue to develop the NHS, it's important that NHS boards regularly discuss their future plans to inform budget discussions with Scottish government officials, and to identify how we will continue to deliver quality care and treatment. "We continue to develop our health service to meet the changing demands of the people of Scotland, and that's why we've already legislated to integrate health and social care from April next year. "This integration of services is particularly important to ensure our elderly population is kept well and provided with care in the best setting for their wellbeing."

Confidential papers passed to the BBC suggest a radical cost-saving plan will be implemented in the Scottish NHS after the referendum.

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Connecticut-based hedge fund Gramercy purchased the defaulted debt at a discount in 2008 after other bondholders failed to reach a deal. Peru's finance minister said the government would oppose any legal action outside its borders. Purchasing defaulted bonds on the cheap to make a profit in a settlement is a common hedge fund tactic. The South American country defaulted on the $5.1bn (£3.33bn) in bonds in the 1980s. Gramercy has threatened to bring a claim against Peru under a tribunal system established in a US-Peruvian trade deal. This type of action has been called "predatory" by groups in favour of sovereign debt relief plans. Argentina has been engaged in a prolonged court battle with hedge funds over bonds it defaulted on in 2005. This week Peru has played host to meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Among the topics discussed was how to help country's restructure debt after a default to avoid drawn-out court battles.

A US hedge fund has threatened to sue Peru over bonds issued by the country's former military regime.

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She said the offer of taking 20,000 migrants over the Parliament but none from Europe proved the prime minister was "contemptuous" of Calais people. Natacha Bouchart said migrants in Calais saw Britain as a soft touch on benefits and illegal work. She told MPs migrants said they could easily find work and accommodation in England and were not controlled. Giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, via an interpreter, the French politician said less than 10% of the 3,500 migrants currently in Calais wanted to seek asylum in France, all others wanted to come to England. She said if France made 50,000 places available, they still would not seek asylum in France, and it must be confirmed that the UK was not a "El Dorado" for migrants.

The mayor of Calais has said she is "disgusted" by David Cameron's response to the migrant crisis.

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George Kay, 35, was charged with assault by beating and unlawful possession of a stun gun disguised as a torch. Mr Kay did not enter a plea at Brighton Magistrates's Court when he appeared earlier. He is also charged with possessing a bladed article. The charge relates to a hunting knife found in a wardrobe. Mr Kay is next due to appear at Lewes Crown Court on 11 January. He was arrested at the couple's house in Crowborough on 3 October.

The husband of reality TV star and former singer Kerry Katona has appeared in court accused of beating her up at their home in East Sussex.

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The 29-year-old world number 204 began two shots behind leader Adam Hadwin of Canada, but birdied three of the last four holes to finish on 20 under par. Hadwin was one clear of the field after Saturday's round of 59, only the fourth on the PGA Tour on a par 72 course. He followed it with four birdies and two bogeys in a 70 to finish runner-up. Scotland's Martin Laird was the highest-placed European, tied for ninth place on 14 under.

American Hudson Swafford carded a final day 67 to seal his first PGA title with a one-shot victory at the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, California.

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Provan, who can also play as a winger, left Notts' fellow Women's Super League One club Reading at the end of the 2016 WSL season. She said: "I'm very excited to join such an experienced squad." Manager Rick Passmoor added: "Shelly adds a wealth of knowledge. She gives us a different option on the left-hand side, in an attacking sense as well." The Spring Series sees teams play each other once in a one-off, six-week transitional competition before the WSL's switch to a winter calendar. For top-flight teams, the Spring Series runs over six weeks, from 23 April until Saturday, 3 June.

Notts County Ladies have signed full-back Shelly Provan on a contract until the end of the 2017 Spring Series.

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Mick Schumacher, 18, will drive demonstration laps in a 1994 Benetton car, a family spokeswoman said. His father took his first race victory at the circuit on 30 August 1992 before going on to a further 90 race wins and seven world titles. Schumacher, 48, suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013. He has not been seen in public since. He retired in 2006 in after two world titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 before five titles in a row with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004 - clinching his seventh world title at Spa. He made a comeback in 2010 with Mercedes but was unable to replicate his earlier success. Schumacher family spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said it was not possible to use the race-winning 1992 Benetton for the demonstration because of mechanical and insurance issues. Mick Schumacher is currently racing in European Formula Three.

Michael Schumacher's son will mark the 25th anniversary of his father's first Formula 1 win by driving at Spa before Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

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He made the comments on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme. It is understood that Sinn Féin have proposed an individual to chair the new talks process. It is believed the name has been forwarded to the British and Irish governments but there has not yet been a response. A number of politicians strongly criticised the handling of previous negotiations, which ended without success last weekend. Mr Brokenshire has invited parties to another round of talks on Monday. The UK and Irish governments have said they want the talks at Stormont Castle to have an agreed agenda and regular roundtable meetings. The two governments have described it as "an intensive process to drive progress". The parties missed Monday's deadline for forming a power-sharing executive. However, Mr Brokenshire said he believed there was still a window of opportunity for further dialogue. Mr Brokenshire also told MPs earlier this week that he does not believe there is an appetite for a fresh snap election. He said he does not want to see a return to direct rule from London, but has to keep all his options open.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire has said he does not see a role for an independent mediator or chair in the next round of Stormont talks.

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Lt Gen Zaid al-Saleh, head of the government's local security committee, said rebel fighters did not "have much time" and needed to "surrender or die". Tens of thousands of civilians are also believed to be in the rebel enclave. Syrian state TV showed footage of people in Aleppo celebrating, amid reports the army was close to victory. The director of the UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, warned of "real massacres" being carried out in Aleppo. Rami Abdel Rahman called on the international community to find a safe haven for civilians. Rebels have now lost more than 90% of the territory they once held in eastern Aleppo since government forces stepped up their offensive to regain full control of the city a month ago. Russia, which backs the government, says more than 100,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting and that 2,200 rebel fighters have surrendered. Aleppo was once Syria's largest city, and its commercial and industrial hub before the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in 2011. For much of the past four years it has been divided roughly in two, with the government controlling the western half and rebels the east. Troops finally broke the deadlock with the help of Iranian-backed militias and Russian air strikes, reinstating a siege on the east in early September and launching an all-out assault weeks later. On Monday morning, the official Sana news agency cited a military source as saying that the army had taken full control of the key southern district of Sheikh Saeed, as well as the neighbouring areas of Karam al-Daadaa and Saliheen. Hours later, nearby Bustan al-Qasr, Kallasa, Fardous, Jaloun and Jisr al-Haj had also fallen after rebel fighters withdrew in the face of an intense government bombardment, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Late on Monday the monitoring group said that clashes were continuing in Salah al-Din neighbourhood and other areas remaining under rebel control. In an interview with the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, an English teacher who is still inside a rebel-held area described the conditions as terrible. "The situation inside the eastern part of Aleppo is literally doomsday," Abdul Kafi Alhamado said. "Bombs are everywhere, people are running, people are injured in the streets, no-one can dare go to help them, some people are under the rubble." The Syrian Observatory says that at least 415 civilians and 364 rebel fighters have been killed in rebel-held areas since 15 November. Another 130 civilians have died in rebel rocket and mortar attacks on the government-controlled west. Russia and the United States, which backs the rebels, held talks in Geneva over the weekend to discuss a deal for civilians and rebel fighters to leave Aleppo. But on Monday, US officials said their Russian counterparts had rejected a proposal for an immediate cessation of hostilities to allow for safe departures. Analysts say the fall of Aleppo would be a big blow to the opposition, as it would leave the government in control of Syria's four largest cities. However, the head of the umbrella group that represented political and armed opposition factions at failed peace talks at the start of this year insisted that their determination to overthrow the president would not be diminished. "If Assad and his allies think that a military advance in certain quarters of Aleppo will signify that we will make concessions, then [I say] that will not happen," Riyad Hijab, general co-ordinator of the High Negotiations Committee, told reporters. As fighting intensified for the last rebel-held neighbourhoods, there have been frantic efforts to secure guarantees to evacuate the most vulnerable - the very ill, gravely injured and innocent children. All efforts have been in vain. "It's a far dream," one frustrated aid official told me on Monday, about a long-standing request for a UN-organised medical mission for about 500 patients and their families. Two efforts, which seemed close to agreement, collapsed last week when Russia asserted there was no need for a ceasefire since tens of thousands were escaping without one. Sources say Russia then shifted its stance. But rebel groups demanded a ceasefire and a delivery of aid first. In desperation, aid agencies reduced their request from 72 hours to just three. A group known as "Doctors Under Fire" has also been pleading for the evacuation of hundreds of children. British surgeon Dr David Nott says "we only need a temporary cessation of 60 minutes to save them all." Even that seems to have been too much.

Syria's army says the battle for Aleppo is in its final phase, after major gains by troops in the city's south left rebels on the brink of defeat.

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The federation represents thousands of rank and file PSNI officers. Its chairman, Mark Lindsay, has said confidence in the office of the ombudsman is at an all-time low. A spokesperson for the ombudsman said the comments were "disappointing" and "at odds with the feedback from police officers who had been investigated". Mr Lindsay told the federation's annual conference that "reform is not so much desirable as essential". He also said the PSNI is in a state of crisis because of reducing budgets and officer numbers. Criticism of the office of the ombudsman by the federation is not new. In his speech on Wednesday, Mr Lindsay said the federation accepted the need for the independent investigation of complaints against police officers. But, with Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire among the audience at the La Mon House Hotel, he suggested some feel they are victims of a "witch hunt". "It gives me no pleasure to say that, unfortunately, there is very little officer confidence in relation to the operation of the ombudsman's office," he said. "The credibility of the office is also seriously questioned." The federation chairman highlighted the ongoing PSNI investigation into the theft and unlawful disclosure of documents from the ombudsman's office. He also cited the discovery of a gun and ammunition in a filing cabinet belonging to a member of staff in the office last year. "There is an obvious need for an independent avenue of appeal, whereby officers will have meaningful redress against malicious and inept investigations," he said. "The ombudsman is with us today and I say to him that this isn't about you, but rather the legislative architecture of the system you preside over. "If your office conducts itself with the high standards you demand of police officers, then surely you have nothing to fear from such accountability." Mr Lindsay said the level of assaults against police officers by members of the public is "unacceptably high" and called for tougher action to protect them. He told the conference that eight out of 10 PSNI officers who responded to a survey said they had been victims of a physical or verbal assault during the past year. It's understood that 14% of PSNI officers took part in the survey. The federation has called for the introduction of "spitguards" to prevent people in custody spitting at officers. He also warned of "dire consequences" for the PSNI because of reducing budgets and officer numbers. "We're now beyond the point of warning of a crisis. Right now, we're in the middle of a crisis," Mr Lindsay said. "What's needed now is for our politicians from all sides to make a stand against this madness of continuing austerity. "They must make policing one of their main priorities and campaign as never before to get the government to re-think its disastrous policy."

The Police Federation has called for an independent appeals process to allow challenges to investigations reports by the Police Ombudsman.

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Leicestershire Police said the searches in Braunstone Avenue relate to the death of Megan Bannister, whose body was found in a car following a crash. A post-mortem examination revealed her injuries were not consistent with a crash. Two men, aged 27 and 28, are still being quizzed on suspicion of murder. A police spokeswoman said: "Searches carried out at an address in Braunstone Avenue were in connection with the investigation into the murder of Megan Bannister." Megan, from Leicester, was dead before the collision between a car and a motorbike in Enderby, Leicestershire, on Sunday, police said. Her body was found in the back seat of a black Vauxhall Astra. Updates on this story and more from the East Midlands Megan was due to take the first of her GCSE exams on Tuesday, said her school. She wanted to become a midwife. Her family said in a statement that Megan was their "beautiful, talented, loving daughter and sister", who was "bright, clever, and a responsible person". Wigston College, where Megan was a student, said in a statement Megan was "funny, friendly and good".

Searches at a house in Leicester are connected to a murder investigation into the death of a 16-year-old teenager, police have confirmed.

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Leicestershire became crucially important to Richard III after Henry Tudor landed in Wales in August 1485. The king stayed in Leicester on the night of 20 August before marching out to cut off Henry's progress through the midlands. Richard's death at Bosworth, along with the recent discovery of his bones, have left a rich legacy in the area. On 22 March the reburial cortege will pass some of these places - starting at Fenn Lane in Leicestershire before heading into the city. Below is a map of the planned procession through the county. Click here for the route through Leicester city centre. Fenn Lanes Bosworth Heritage Centre Bow Bridge Fenn Lane Farm Dadlington Church Sutton Cheney Church University of Leicester City Map To see an interactive map of the city route, click on the link above this map

(Please note - this page is best viewed on our desktop site).

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Rocky Taylor, a friend of 40 years standing, said the former BBC radio DJ and Crackerjack presenter had died in hospital in Bournemouth. Stewart's former brother-in-law, Adriano Henney, tweeted to say "Fun guy-Huge loss". Director of BBC Music Bob Shennan said Stewart had been a "stalwart" of popular music broadcasting. Mr Shennan said Stewart's shows had been enjoyed by millions of listeners. Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart: Your memories Stewart's BBC Radio 2 colleagues were extremely saddened, he said, adding: "We are thinking of Ed's friends and family at this difficult time." Stewart's fellow DJ from his early days on pirate radio, Tony Blackburn, who also went on to Radio 1, said Stewart would be missed. "A lovely guy, loved his golf and he loved playing the songs on Junior Choice. "I think he'll probably be best remembered for Junior Choice because he did that programme, I think, particularly well. "He was very, very good at that, and of course, on television." His former colleague and friend of 50 years, BBC DJ David Hamilton, said Stewart "was a little bit like a good wine; he just got better as time went on". The DJ, also known by the nickname "Diddy", said he spoke to his old friend just a few days ago. He said: "We used to play football together in the showbiz football team, we even once rode in a speedway race together at Wembley Stadium, so we've done a lot of things together. "He was a really good guy, Ed, and I really will miss him." His younger sister, Sue Mainwaring, 69, described him as hardworking, loyal and "such a good brother". "We had such fun. When he was on the pirates [radio stations] he had two weeks on and one week off - of which every weekend he'd invite everybody back for jazz sessions. Celebs used to come along, including Kenny Everett, David Hamilton, Tony Brandon. He loved jazz. He loved music." She said she had spent Christmas and New Year with him and other members of the family. Devon-born Stewart's broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years. He started out as an announcer, film critic and rugby reporter with Radio Hong Kong. In an interview with the Express newspaper in 2014, he said he had returned to England five years later and joined pirate radio ship Radio London, based four miles off shore. He was one of the first presenters on Radio 1 when it launched in 1967, and went on to become a regular Top of the Pops presenter in the 1970s. He was a regular Radio 2 presenter for 15 years, and during that time broadcast from the summits of Ben Nevis and Snowdon, Mount Vesuvius volcano in Italy, and also live from the Falkland Islands. On television, Stewart was best known for children's favourite Crackerjack. He hosted the show from 1973 to 1979. He was also a longstanding presenter of children's show Junior Choice, which last broadcast on BBC Radio 2 over Christmas. On it he coined his trademark catchphrase: '''Ello darling." In his sign-off at the end of his final programme, he thanked listeners, saying: "I'll be with you whenever, but have a great Christmas Day, won't you, folks?" Off air, he was a keen golfer and dedicated Everton FC fan. On Twitter, TV presenter Noel Edmonds left heartfelt messages about the man he called his "mentor". Edmonds joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969, taking over from the sacked Kenny Everett in 1970. At 21, he was the station's youngest DJ at the time. "In '67 Ed Stewart heard a DJ audition tape, liked it, passed it to Kenny Everett and my career was born. Stewpot I owe you everything xN," he tweeted. Former Radio 1 DJ and current Radio 2 broadcaster Simon Mayo wrote in a tweet: "How sad to hear of the passing of Ed Stewart. Junior Choice was always a radio classic". Celebrity astrologer Russell Grant tweeted: "So sad to hear an old DJ colleague of mine Ed Stewart 'Stewpot' has passed over. "I last worked with him on Radio Mercury. Happy memories." Coronation Street actor Les Dennis posted: "Sad to hear Ed "Stewpot" Stewart has died. A great broadcaster and a nice man." Stewart is survived by his two children, Francesca and Marco, and four grandchildren.

Former BBC DJ Ed "Stewpot" Stewart has died at the age of 74, a few days after having a stroke, friends have said.

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The phrase "rapid rise through the ranks" is a standard line in profiles of political leaders. But it's rarely as speedy as in Natalie Bennett's case. The Australian-born former Guardian journalist woke up on New Year's Day 2006 and decided she wanted to do something to change the world. After pondering her options (should she get involved with an NGO or the UN?) she joined the Green Party. Within six short years she had become its leader. Three years after that she was sharing a stage with the prime minister and other party leaders in a televised general election debate. Her sudden arrival on the frontline of British politics was all the more remarkable because she had never won an election, other than the one that had made her party leader. Her first aim when she took on the job was to insert the Green Party - routinely ignored or patronised by the mainstream media - into the national conversation. But when media outlets finally began calling, on the back of a surge in support for the party, she sometimes found it difficult to get her message across in a suitably snappy way. Her vision for the party was to show how "economic and environmental justice are indivisible", she explains, "the idea that tackling environmental problems isn't an add-on luxury". It was "not a easy concept to get across", she confesses. "I still don't think I've got the 12 second soundbite. But I am going to keep working on it." "It's a classic Shakespearean thing," she says of her struggles with the broadcast media. "It's both my strength and my weakness that I answer the question." But, she adds, "when you get asked a stupid question, it's rather hard to know what to do at that point. And I guess I get tangled up in my desire to answer a question, even when it's a really stupid question". Did she get asked a lot of stupid questions? "Yes." Asked for an example, she ponders for a minute, before highlighting an interview with the BBC's very own John Humphrys, which led to her having "to spend time, valuable peak time, explaining how the interviewer got the question wrong. And listeners don't particularly like that because it's all technical and boring and you are arguing with the interviewer but if it's entirely on the wrong track you have to". She says she has some sympathy with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has also attracted criticism for broadcast interviews in which he has deviated from the usual prepared soundbites. "The focus on the individual is a problem for British politics and it's very uncomfortable when the focus is on you," she says, arguing that the media in continental Europe are focused more on policies than personalities and trivia. "I am not complaining - you have to work within those limits," she adds, but she believes British politics is "broken" and the media must take its share of the blame. "There should be some pressure on the journalist to ask better, more sensible questions," she argues. There was nothing particularly stupid about the question that prompted her darkest moment in a radio studio, however, when she struggled over several excruciating minutes, punctuated by coughing fits, to answer a question from LBC's Nick Ferrari on her party's housing policy. She was quick to hold her hands up afterwards, apologising to supporters and blaming her sub-par performance, in the heat of the general election campaign, on "brain freeze". "That was a very tough moment. And of course you take a bit of a punch to the stomach. "But then a few weeks later I was up on the leader debates, able to look David Cameron in the eye and challenge him about his failure to welcome Syrian refugees to Britain, and that was one of the best moments. "My great problem on that day was that I was in no way well enough to actually be doing anything. I'd had about three and a half hours sleep and I'd been throwing up most of the night. I should have just pulled the day but that's partly a function of how we got to that point. "We weren't used to getting a lot of media attention and it was very, very hard to turn media attention down." One of Ms Bennett's proudest moments came at the end of the BBC leaders debate when she joined Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in a "group hug", while Labour leader Ed Miliband looked on awkwardly. This felt like a watershed moment for women in politics, she says, sending out the message "that politics can not just be 'dog eat dog', it can be people agreeing on some things and disagreeing on others but supporting each other". As a lifelong feminist, she is particularly pleased to have been told by "lots of young women" that they had been inspired by the "group hug", which she stresses had not been planned in advance. "I hope and think that that moment really, in 15 years' time, 20 years' time, we might see a whole crop of MPs down the road who will reference that moment as the time they decided they were going to try and get there." Ms Bennett's decision to pitch for the anti-austerity vote, positioning the Greens as a left-wing alternative to what was then Ed Miliband's Labour Party, struck a chord with idealistic young people who felt alienated by mainstream politics, and led to a surge in party membership. But then Jeremy Corbyn came along and shifted Labour firmly to the left, inspiring idealistic activists to join his party in numbers the Greens could only dream about. Hasn't the Green Party, which had a mixed set of results in May's elections, losing four councillors in England and failing to make progress in Wales but getting its best ever result in London, been crowded out of the picture by Labour? Ms Bennett insists this is not the case, arguing that there is a "very clear distinction" between the Greens and Labour on a range of issues - from nuclear weapons to fracking - and that voters know exactly what they are getting when they vote Green. But she is also open to the idea of a "progressive alliance" at the next general election, with local Green Parties potentially making electoral pacts with Labour, Plaid Cymru, the SNP or other parties who broadly share their outlook. She remains a passionate advocate of electoral reform. The Green Party fielded a record number of general election candidates in 2015, standing in 93% of constituencies, and gaining more than a million votes. By rights, she argues, the party should have 25 MPs. She believes the case for scrapping what she sees as Britain's outdated first-past-the-post electoral system is gaining ground in the country. She says she has had an "amazing" four years as leader, and has no regrets, believing the party is in better shape now, having quadrupled its membership and gained a foothold in the national debate on issues such as welfare and the economy, than when she took over. But she is also keen to stress that she will not be leaving politics. "I'm aiming to turn former leader into a role in its own right, to keep travelling the country, supporting local parties, doing media. Leadership is a role we can share around. It's not you become leader, that's the pinnacle, and then you disappear." Asked if she has any advice for the next leader, she says trust the party membership. Anything else? "Work out how to answer stupid questions," she laughs. "I still don't quite know the answer to that one myself."

As the Green Party of England and Wales prepares to unveil a replacement for Natalie Bennett, who is standing down after four years as leader, she reflects on life in the media spotlight - and what she plans to do next.

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Linney, the joint chief executive of Outsourcery, previously featured on TV in the Channel 4 show Secret Millionaire. Linney will join regulars Duncan Bannatyne, Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and another new Dragon, Kelly Hoppen. In the BBC Two show, business leaders hear pitches from entrepreneurs before deciding whether to invest. Linney said he was "excited" and would "widen the appeal of the Den to information economy entrepreneurs," adding, "they are key to the future success of the UK economy." The qualified solicitor also worked as an investment banker and venture capital fund manager and was named in The Power List of the UK's 100 most influential black Britons. His company Outsourcery was launched in 2007 and employs 150 people across the UK. Executive producer Ceri Aston called Linney's story "inspiring", adding: "Piers is a new breed of dragon. A young and dynamic digital entrepreneur, he has his finger on the pulse of an industry that has never been represented in the Den before. Departing dragon Paphitis said "The time felt right to give up my seat, stop breathing fire and allow someone else to enjoy the wonderful experience of being a Dragon." Haulage firm boss Hilary Devey left the show last year for her own Channel 4 series and interior designer Kelly Hoppen was announced as a new dragon last month.

Cloud computing pioneer Piers Linney has been named as the new member of the Dragons' Den, replacing Theo Paphitis.

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Ashford Borough Council is owed more than £70,000 and Canterbury City Council is owed almost £45,000 in unpaid fines, BBC South East has found. More than half of Kent's councils are using a private company to help recover fines issued to foreign drivers. In Brighton more than three-quarters of fines were unpaid, a Freedom of Information request has found. Brighton and Hove City Council told BBC South East it had issued 5,402 fines to foreign drivers, with 1,216 paid, and 3,400 remaining unpaid. The council said it had written off the remaining 746 fines. Most of those drivers fined in Kent were in tourist destinations in East Kent and near the Channel ports. A private company called Euro Parking Collection has been hired by eight councils in Kent to work with Vehicle Licensing Authorities to collect some of the outstanding fines. Illegal parking in the UK is a civil offence so councils cannot request drivers' names and addresses from their home countries. In France and some other European countries however, illegal parking is a criminal offence dealt with by the police. Patrick Troy from the British Parking Association said: "Local authorities don't have the means by which to enforce fines against foreign registered vehicles in the same way the do against UK registered vehicles. "There is discrimination here and we've been arguing for some time that the government should work with colleagues in the European Union to negotiate reciprocal arrangements."

Foreign drivers owe south-east councils tens of thousands of pounds in unpaid parking fines issued in 2014-15.

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Chris Coleman's team are likely to face a tough draw as they will be one of the lowest-seeded teams. But former striker Rush believes the biggest nations will not want to face a Welsh side which lost only once in qualifying. "They won't want Wales in their group," Rush told BBC Wales' Sport Wales. "I'm not saying we are going to win it but the opposition won't like to play Wales. "Every game will be a big test and they will learn from it and I think we will win a game." Rush is the country's all-time leading goalscorer with 28 goals, while Gareth Bale took his tally to 19 with Wales' second goal in the 2-0 win over Andorra. Real Madrid forward Bale scored seven of Wales' 11 goals in Euro 2016 qualifying, with Aaron Ramsey netting twice and Hal Robson-Kanu and David Cotterill scoring one apiece. But former Liverpool and Juventus striker Rush is not too concerned by Wales' limited forward options. "The lads that play there I think you forget the work that they do. They put in a tremendous work rate," Rush added. "What we may be missing is someone to tap the ball in "But Robson-Kanu, [Sam] Vokes and [Simon] Church give it 110% so you can't knock that. I think sometimes you need that goal to give you confidence. "Get the confidence in the friendly internationals and you never know what might happen." *Watch Sport Wales most Fridays on BBC Two Wales and for seven days after transmission on iPlayer

Wales should fear no team at the 2016 European Championship finals in France next summer, says all-time leading goal scorer Ian Rush.

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The union wants to take over Newport Gwent Dragons and the ground, hoping to solve the water-logging problems by laying a 4G surface. But if County stay up Football League rules do not allow artificial surfaces. "Ideally we would have wanted to put an artificial pitch down," said WRU chief executive, Martyn Phillips. "We want the ground to be a hub for rugby for women and girls and kids and get it played on all day, every day. "That is probably not going to be possible now because Newport County need a grass pitch. "So we are in a dialogue with them now about how, over the summer, we put it back to what a pro club should have." County, under boss Mike Flynn, are looking to pull of what would be a miraculous relegation escape against Notts County, having been 11 points from safety as recently as March. Following financial difficulties at the Dragons, the WRU has offered a deal to take over the region and a vote is set to be held by shareholders of Newport RFC who own Rodney Parade. The rugby club, Dragons and County share the pitch which has major drainage problems that have forced postponements and abandonments this season. County have an agreement to play at Rodney Parade until 2023 and Phillips said it would be honoured. However, relegation would raise the prospect of a 4G pitch being laid as such surfaces are allowed in the National League Phillips added: "Newport County have a licence there and, despite what anyone might think, we are not in the business of wanting Newport not to be a pro club. "We are like everyone else in that we hope they get the win and carry on. "But the flipside of that is that the pitch is no good for us and no good for them."

The Welsh Rugby Union will halt plans for an artificial pitch at Rodney Parade if Newport County stay in the Football League.

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The 21-year-old from Wiltshire needed to finish 14th in Spain to secure the title and began 18th on the grid. He finished ninth on his Honda, with race winner Miguel Oliveira of Portugal second in the final standings. Barry Sheene was the last British champion, winning the 500cc in 1977. Kent won five of the first nine races of the season, but two retirements and a highest finish of sixth in the last five events saw his commanding lead reduced to 24 points going into the final weekend. Oliveira's third successive victory was his sixth of the season, matching Kent's tally of wins, and the pair will be team-mates in Moto2 next season. "The emotions are so high, in the last four races there was a slight chance of being world champion and it's normal to be disappointed each time but for sure we are going to have a great evening," Kent said. "It's an amazing feeling, a dream come true. You need luck, a great bike and a great team behind you."

Danny Kent became the first British motorcycling Grand Prix champion for 38 years as he sealed the Moto3 Championship by six points in the final race in Valencia.

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The Mi-8 transporter was brought down by rebels, Russia says, in northern Idlib province. It was returning from delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged city of Aleppo, the defence ministry said. It is not clear which group brought the helicopter down. An alliance of forces, including hardline jihadist factions, is the dominant power in Idlib. Jabhat Fateh al-Sham - formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra - is among those active in the province, and so-called Islamic State has vowed to carry out jihad against Russian forces. The helicopter was carrying three crew and two officers. Pictures on social media, purportedly of the latest Russian helicopter downing, showed burning wreckage and bodies, with armed men milling around. Footage showed at least one body being dragged away. Another is seen apparently being trampled on. This is the worst single loss of life for Russia since it launched its air offensive in Syria in support of President Assad towards the end of last year. Moscow says the helicopter was not involved in a military mission, but was delivering humanitarian aid. Rebel sources appear to confirm this. It may not have been known to those who shot the helicopter down, as most of Russia's airpower in Syria has been used for military purposes to support pro-government forces. But it will further inflame feelings in Russia against rebels in Syria. Moscow has repeatedly said it sees little distinction between the rebels in terms of brutality and extremism. The graphic images of victims posted online of the aftermath of the incident will add fuel to the fire. Russia has previously, though seldom, lost aircraft since it launched operations in support of the Syrian government at the end of September 2015. In July, two Russian pilots were killed when their helicopter was shot down east of the city of Palmyra by so-called Islamic State (IS). Last November, the pilot of a Russian Su-24 fighter plane was killed when the aircraft was shot down by Turkey on its border with Syria. A Russian marine sent on a mission to rescue the pilot was also killed when his helicopter was shot down. Russia is a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and is supporting pro-government forces with air strikes on rebels. Government forces cut off rebel-held eastern parts of Aleppo last month. Russia and Syria announced the opening of what they called humanitarian corridors for civilians and rebels wanting to surrender, but few people are reported to have used them, fearing they would be targeted. The child sitcom star killed in Aleppo Burning tyres to curb air strikes Opposition activists have dismissed as a lie Russian claims that 160 civilians had left rebel-held districts. The United Nations has warned that basic supplies for the around a quarter of a million people who live in besieged areas will last only three weeks. On Sunday, rebel groups south of Aleppo launched a push to try to break the siege, in what observers said was one of the biggest counter-offensives in months.

A Russian military helicopter has been shot down in Syria killing all five on board - the deadliest single incident for Russia's military since its air campaign began last September.

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The clip, said to have been filmed in the city of Mosul, in northern Iraq, is the first footage of John Cantlie to emerge in more than a year. In the footage, Mr Cantlie ridicules US attempts to destroy IS. The Foreign Office said it was "looking at the contents of this latest propaganda video". Mr Cantlie was last seen in a similar video in Syria in February 2015. Like the latest film, it also had him addressing the camera as if he was presenting a television report. Mr Cantlie, who is originally from Hampshire, has seen his work appear in the Sunday Times, the Sun and the Sunday Telegraph. He has been held captive in Syria twice. After being kidnapped in July 2012, he escaped with help from the Free Syrian Army. He was then kidnapped for a second time when he returned to the country towards the end of 2012. It is believed he was with US journalist James Foley, who was later killed. Last month, Mr Cantlie's supporters set up a petition on Parliament's website urging the government to ensure his safe release.

A video has appeared online apparently showing a British photojournalist who was taken hostage in Syria by so-called Islamic State in 2012.

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The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council said the footage, released by animal rights group Animals Australia, was "horrific". Animals Australia said it had been filmed inside the two abattoirs approved to process Australian cattle. Exports to Egypt were halted in 2006 for four years over similar concerns. And in 2011, livestock exports to Indonesia were suspended after evidence of cruelty emerged there. The Egyptian videos have not been made public, but Animals Australia said they showed cattle believed to have come from Australia being treated in a "vicious, cruel and clumsy" way. The group is campaigning for a full ban on livestock exports. "The way that these animals are treated are quite horrific," said spokeswoman Glenys Oogjes. In one instance, a cow fell off the processing line and was chased through the abattoir before having its legs cut and being stabbed to death, she said. "It is quite terrible and it shows systemic problems in these abattoirs for our animals. And how Australia ever sent animals back there after a suspension in 2006 is beyond us." The chief executive of the Livestock Exporters' Council, Alison Penfold, said the acts shown in the footage were "exceptionally distressing" and "completely unacceptable to the industry and to Australians". She told the BBC the trade was undertaken under a memorandum of understanding between the Australian and the Egyptian governments. The industry was investigating, she said, and working with the Egyptian authorities to ensure the welfare of animals already at the facilities. Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said in a statement it was "pleased with the level of co-operation" from the Egyptian authorities. Australia exports more than 700,000 cattle each year, and the industry is worth about A$1bn ($1.03bn: £0.7bn) a year. But pressure is growing for a total ban on live exports amid a series of cruelty scandals. Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said he backed the industry's voluntary suspension. He said the export industry had "bright future" but that it had to "maintain animal welfare outcomes", The Australian newspaper reports.

Australia is suspending the export of live cattle to Egypt after video emerged showing extreme cruelty to animals in Egyptian abattoirs.

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But boss Rafa Benitez is missing Dwight Gayle, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Vurnon Anita and Isaac Hayden through injury. Birmingham manager Gianfranco Zola says he may rest defender Michael Morrison and striker Lukas Jutkiewicz. Blues are without new signing Craig Gardner (ineligible), Clayton Donaldson (knee) and Greg Stewart (Achilles). The teams drew 1-1 in the original tie at St Andrew's, Jutkiewicz's strike cancelling out Daryl Murphy's early opener. Whoever wins Wednesday's replay will travel to League One side Oxford United in the fourth round on 28 January. Media playback is not supported on this device Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez: "Isaac Hayden is doing well, hopefully not serious. Vurnon Anita has a problem with his ankle, could be six weeks, more or less. "Dwight Gayle is much better than expected. No time frame, he will be assessed every game. It's too early." Birmingham manager Gianfranco Zola: "It's a tough place to go but I will make some changes because we also have a very important game at Blackburn on Saturday. "I have to try to change some players, especially because we have one or two that have little issues physically and I want to preserve them." Attempt missed. Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Che Adams. Attempt blocked. DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Jonathan Grounds. Foul by Achraf Lazaar (Newcastle United). Che Adams (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing. Attempt missed. David Cotterill (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick. Foul by Cheick Tioté (Newcastle United). David Cotterill (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Matt Ritchie. Attempt saved. Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Attempt missed. David Cotterill (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt missed. Viv Solomon-Otabor (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Foul by Yasin Ben El-Mhanni (Newcastle United). David Cotterill (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Goal! Newcastle United 1, Birmingham City 0. Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal. Penalty Newcastle United. Yoan Gouffran draws a foul in the penalty area. Adam Legzdins (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Penalty conceded by Adam Legzdins (Birmingham City) after a foul in the penalty area. Attempt missed. David Cotterill (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Viv Solomon-Otabor (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Cheick Tioté (Newcastle United). First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is available for the FA Cup third-round replay against Championship rivals Birmingham City after a five-match ban.

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Media playback is not supported on this device Despite the Super League leaders looking set to be overturned by second-placed Warrington, Radford's side came from behind to grab a late 12-10 win. "That's the togetherness we have in this team," he told BBC Sport. "We have the ingredients there to go on from this. We have the foundations in place to go and achieve more." Hull, who have already qualified for the Super League play-off semi-finals, still have to host both Warrington and third-placed Wigan, as well as visiting fourth-placed St Helens before determining who might line up at Old Trafford for the Grand Final on 8 October. Radford added: "There's the League Leaders' Shield to still play for and then we could be only 80 minutes away from a Grand Final." The same two goals are also still very much in the sights of Tony Smith's Warrington. "It will go down as one of the better finals for many a year," said the Wire boss, after his club suffered their first defeat at the rebuilt Wembley and missed out on a fourth Challenge Cup victory in eight seasons. "We'll go away and lick our wounds, but we won't sulk for too long. We're a proud club and we've still got a great opportunity to win two other trophies." Even in a sport that is full of ups and downs in so many contests, it is an impressive statistic that Saturday's final was the 14th time that Hull have come from behind to win this season. "It's history-making for us and we should feel rightly proud," said Radford. "There's been a lot of past Hull teams with some tremendous players who have not achieved what we have. "And it was great for Jamie Shaul to get the winning try. He's a local lad like me, so he gets a lot of stick when we lose. But he can now go and walk his dog with pride." Modest Hull scrum-half Marc Sneyd played down his own contribution to Hull FC's late rally after being named man of the match. "I was surprised I'd won," he said, suggesting that he was expecting hooker Danny Houghton to pick up the Lance Todd Trophy. His coach Radford also had praise for Houghton, who made a try-saving tackle on Ben Currie with two minute remaining, adding: "He would not look out of place in the England team." Media playback is not supported on this device But Hull skipper Gareth Ellis, finally successful in his third final, insisted that Sneyd fully deserved his individual accolade. "Don't let him kid you he was not a worthy winner of the Lance Todd," Ellis said. "It was a hot, sapping day and when he put that 40-20 in (before Mahe Fonua's try) you could see some Warrington heads drop. "Warrington were the better team for 60 minutes, but Marc has been quality with his kicking all season and he produced it when it mattered. He was superb."

Proud Hull FC boss Lee Radford predicts there is more to come from his side after the Black and Whites' first Challenge Cup final win at Wembley.

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In-form striker James Vaughan gave the hosts a 22nd-minute lead before Reece Brown scored a 45th-minute free-kick from around 40 yards. Bury were stunned by three goals in eight minutes through Erhun Oztumer and a Jason McCarthy brace, but Tom Soares pounced at the death to deny Walsall a third straight win. Tom Pope and Amadou Bakayoko had gone close at each end before Pope crossed for Vaughan to slide in his 17th goal of the season - and seventh in three games. Neil Etheridge then saved a Pope header and blocked the striker's follow-up, while Bury's Rob Lainton saved a Bakayoko shot. But Bury doubled their lead as Brown's free-kick caught Etheridge off his line and flew into the top corner. The Shakers eased off in the second half, though, and Walsall made them pay. Matt Preston had a shot blocked on the line and Lainton denied Isaiah Osbourne from the rebound. But Oztumer hit a 20-yard free-kick into the bottom corner on 71 minutes to spark the Saddlers' fightback. Five minutes later, McCarthy fired home from Bakayoko's cut-back before the Southampton loanee headed home from Osbourne's cross. Soares then glanced in Brown's cross to rescue a point but Bury remain in the relegation zone. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Bury 3, Walsall 3. Second Half ends, Bury 3, Walsall 3. Substitution, Walsall. Andreas Makris replaces Amadou Bakayoko. Foul by James Vaughan (Bury). (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Goal! Bury 3, Walsall 3. Tom Soares (Bury) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Reece Brown. Substitution, Walsall. George Dobson replaces Erhun Oztumer. Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Reece Brown. Foul by Taylor Moore (Bury). Joe Edwards (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing. Attempt blocked. Erhun Oztumer (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Substitution, Bury. Ryan Lowe replaces Hallam Hope. Substitution, Bury. Jermaine Pennant replaces Jacob Mellis. Attempt missed. Erhun Oztumer (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Goal! Bury 2, Walsall 3. Jason McCarthy (Walsall) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Isaiah Osbourne. Foul by Hallam Hope (Bury). Jason McCarthy (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Goal! Bury 2, Walsall 2. Jason McCarthy (Walsall) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Substitution, Bury. George Miller replaces Tom Pope. Attempt missed. Taylor Moore (Bury) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Attempt blocked. Jacob Mellis (Bury) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Substitution, Walsall. Simeon Jackson replaces Florent Cuvelier. Goal! Bury 2, Walsall 1. Erhun Oztumer (Walsall) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner. Reece Brown (Bury) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Reece Brown (Bury). Erhun Oztumer (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Reece Brown (Bury) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick. Hand ball by Neil Etheridge (Walsall). Reece Brown (Bury) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Isaiah Osbourne (Walsall). Attempt saved. Hallam Hope (Bury) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Hallam Hope (Bury) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall). Attempt saved. Hallam Hope (Bury) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Tom Pope (Bury) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall). Attempt missed. Isaiah Osbourne (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Attempt blocked. Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Attempt saved. Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Greg Leigh.

Walsall fought back from 2-0 down only to concede a stoppage-time equaliser as they drew a thrilling League One encounter 3-3 at Bury.

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This is an edited version of the session. Question from Sean on Facebook: Why is #Florida always the last to announce the results? Can't they count there? Katty answers: They can count in two languages there! It's one of closest fought, most populous states so it takes longer Question from @SHSPolitics: How have Dems been able to increase their senate seats? Is it due to akin/mourdock? Katty answers: Yes. The GOP didn't do itself any favours with those two candidates Question from @errant1977: Jeb Bush for GOP run in 2016? adage says without "Bush or Nixon on the ticket" they've never won since 28? Katty answers: Hmm. In their dreams, yes. He can expand the party but his last name still isn't Smith and he's told me that's an issue Question from @alyssaweis: How do you feel the legalization of marijuana in certain states will affect the rest of the nation? Katty answers: For me, question is whether this is like gay marriage, part of a social/demographic trend - I'm not sure yet Question from @lizrob92:Where do you think Mitt will go from here? esp. considering his own people in Mass. didn't vote for him? Katty answers: He'll get some sleep, spend time with his family and then look at his future. I'd guess some non-profit, GOP leadership role Michael in London asks: What is the future of the GOP after the re-election of Obama? Katty answers: This is THE biggest question out of the election. GOP needs to be more inclusive, but may start w a conservative backlash A friend on our BBC World News Facebook asks: Are you wearing your hipster glasses today? Katty answers: My 16-year-old daughter says it's never good to be hipster anything! Does this mean I have to be blind again? Question from @benlhcarpenter: Why do Americans want change yet vote in the same man? Katty answers: Understandably they aren't happy with the economy but they seem to have decided to give Obama's policies more time. Question from @ds_andrews asks: What do you believe the #GOP'ers have to do to obtain more diverse votes? (Hispanic, African American etc.) Katty answers: Changing their tone on immigration would help and signing up to comprehensive immigration reform would help even more. Question from @Elly1J: What do you think would be the impact among the black people if Obama hadn't won? Katty answers: The prospect of the first Af Am president being a 1-term president was part of what drove so many black voters to polls Question from @NairnMcD: When will the inauguration be held for his second term? Katty answers: This year it was due to be held on a Sunday, so it's been pushed back to Monday 21st January. It'll be chilly either way! Michael in the UK asks: Could you explain why there is so much#Republican resistance to so called "Obamacare"? Katty answers: Republicans believe Obamacare represents a costly, inefficient expansion of government. It was a big deal for GOP voters Question from @jmesaghafi: Do you think #Obama has a strong mandate - given the dropoff in votes vs. '08 (9 million less)? Katty answers: Remember, voters also chose to keep Republicans in the House, this was a vote for divided government Question from @laurenlamack: What do you think the #GOP can do to become more "woman friendly" than they are/appear today? Katty works: Ask Mr Mourdock and Mr Akin to keep quiet. Question from @essex_tom: What should Obama's main priorities be in his second term of presidency? Katty answers: First off is the budget but today Harry Reid mentioned immigration and climate change - expect to see both on the agenda Question from @ChristopherJor5: What of Paul Ryan. Potential candidate for 2016? Katty answers: Yes. At the Republican convention this year they were much more excited about Ryan than Romney Question form @fergold: Why do so many Americans view socialism as some kind of evil? Katty answers: Getting govt off your back is part of the American DNA, the pioneering spirit of individualism. It's also easy politics. John Happ from Hingham, USA emails: Who will replace Mrs Clinton, now that the election is over? Katty answers: I heard today that Hillary may stay for a bit longer to clear up Benghazi mess - beyond that Susan Rice or John Kerry Question from @Steve_Map: Did you enjoy the election? Do the US have the same amount of coverage of the UK General Election? Katty answers: Yes and no Question from @SimenAndersen2: Is John Boehner really a nice guy? Doesnt seem like the most cooperative republican Katty answers: I've never met him. I never hear that he isn't a nice guy Question from @rhysbart: Who gets to keep the "Mitt Romney for President" plane? Does Mitt get to take it home ? Katty answers: Even Gov Romney doesn't have a garage big enough for a plane. There was a rumour Bruce Springsteen was taking it on tour Question from @robertch07: Without enjoying majority in house of representative, Can Obama pass any major bill? Katty answers: Yes, if he can get compromise. That will take strong effective leadership Question from @AndrewWork:Does Obama keep the same VP? Katty answers: A snr WH official tells me Biden is there for the full four years and Obama has a lot of time for his VP Q from @AmrNail: Now that Obama has been re-elected will the#republicans concede the fact that they have to increase taxes? Katty answers: Speaker John Boehner has just said he knows revenue has to be part of the deal Question from @dandemay: Any ideas on Dem candidate for 2016? Hillary perhaps? Katty answers: Hillary, possibly. Rahm Emmanuel. Gov Martin O'Malley. Gov Hickenlooper - though I confess the name's a tad tricky From Google+ user William D: Why wasn't there more coverage of Gary Johnson or other third party candidates? Katty answers: Because they weren't going to win, or make a real impact on the race Question from @MarkCWarner :How do you view the Tea Party's future in subsequent elections? Katty answers: with confusion Question from @RestlessRani: Think #Obama will act on pressure re action in #Syria? Katty answers: There is still very little appetite for intervention in Syria, but he may have more freedom to focus on foreign issues now Question from @CleverDemocrat: Puerto Rico voted in favor to be a US state, but will they actually become the 51st state of the US? Katty answers: It would have to be voted on by Congress so chances are slim that GOP would approve a new hispanic state Mike on Google+ asks: I'd like to know what's being said in Britain about the election's outcome? Katty answers: After Romney's super successful trip to London this summer, Brits were mildly relieved not to see him elected Katty says: Thank you for joining us today & following #election2012 with the BBC. Now go get some sleep! #AskKattyBBC For more tweets from Katty Kay you can follow her Twitter account: @KattyKayBBC Produced by Glenn Anderson, Claudia Milne and Susanna Cooper

Following the results of the US elections, BBC Washington correspondent Katty Kay answered your questions in a live Twitter Q&A on Wednesday 7 November 2012.

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Abbie Lee Everett posted the image of her nephew Ben, 14, on Facebook saying he was "lucky to be alive". "It's not an easy photo to look at is it? He ended up in a coma because of somebody spiking his drink," she said. North Wales Police is investigating an incident in Old Colwyn, Conwy county, on Saturday night. Ms Everett said "people may not like this picture" but Ben, who is now home from hospital, had agreed for it to be shared to show what can happen. She added that few people show the consequences of when "kids can get their hands on drugs". "He ended up in a coma because of somebody spiking his drink.. he was lucky to be alive if another lad didn't carry him home when he did and my sister and her husband phoning an ambulance when they did, he wouldn't be here," she posted. "His bloods came back as some alcohol in his blood but really high of MDMA. A dodgy drug nearly took his life, is it really worth taking these kind of drugs?" She added: "Please share to show kids what can actually happen." Police said no arrests have been made but appealed for information.

A photograph of a teenager lying in a coma after his drink was "spiked with ecstasy" has been shared by his family online to raise awareness of drugs.

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Some 60 excavators and 100 dump trucks are being used in the search. The boy fell down the 40m dry well in Baoding, Hebei province on Sunday morning. He had been helping harvest vegetables, his father told Chinese media. The child's condition is unknown. Oxygen, food and water have been supplied. The 30cm-diameter well is too narrow for an adult to retrieve him. After two days of careful digging, rescuers have dug only 13m down the metal shaft, which threatens to collapse at any moment. An 800-square metre work area has been cleared to facilitate rescue attempts, a volunteer told The Paper, a Shanghai-based news website. The well had been left unused for five years and there were no warning signs. Visual imagery has so far failed to locate the boy. Many locals volunteered to help in the rescue, rushing to the scene after learning about the accident on WeChat, a popular communication app in China. Most netizens sent good wishes to the boy. "It was saddening to read about such news. As a mother, it was heartbreaking to see a child fall into a well. I hope the child will be alive and alive," one user called 80 Hou Bu Huai wrote. Some wondered who was to blame. Weibo user S_AND_YY wrote: "Parents have to take care of their children and it's dangerous everywhere." But not everyone agreed. "The kid is in primary one already. Do his parents have to spend every minute with him? Is it possible? Shouldn't the well be the focus? If the well didn't exist, would this accident happen?" wrote another user. Falling ground water levels in Hebei province have left many wells without water, reports say.

Dozens of rescuers in China are trying to reach a five-year-old boy who is trapped deep down an abandoned well.

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A rugged, mountainous country, with lush valleys to the south and north, it is Central Asia's poorest nation. Tajiks are the country's largest ethnic group, with Uzbeks making up a quarter of the population, over half of which is employed in agriculture and just one-fifth in industry. A third of Tajikistan's population is under 14 years of age. The Tajik language is very close to Persian, spoken in Iran, and to Dari, spoken in Afghanistan. Tajikistan profile - home Read more country profiles Country profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring The five-year civil war between the Moscow-backed government and the Islamist-led opposition, in which up to 50,000 people were killed and over one-tenth of the population fled the country, ended in 1997 with a United Nations-brokered peace agreement. Tajikistan's economy has never really recovered from the civil war, and poverty is widespread. Almost half of GDP is earned by migrants working abroad, especially in Russia, but the recession in 2009 threatened that income. The country is also dependent on oil and gas imports. Economic hardship is seen as a contributing to a renewed interest in Islam - including more radical forms - among young Tajiks. Tajikistan has been accused by its neighbours of tolerating the presence of training camps for Islamist rebels on its territory, an accusation which it has strongly denied. Tajikistan has relied heavily on Russian assistance to counter continuing security problems and cope with the dire economic situation. Skirmishes with drug smugglers crossing illegally from Afghanistan occur regularly, as Tajikistan is the first stop on the drugs route from there to Russia and the West. Russia maintains military garrisons in Tajikistan and in 2004 took back control over a former Soviet space monitoring centre. These developments were widely seen as a sign of Russia's wish to counter increased US influence in Central Asia. Economic ties with neighbouring China are extensive. China has extended credits and has helped to build roads, tunnels and power infrastructure. Chinese firms are investing in oil and gas exploration and in gold mining.

A former Soviet republic, Tajikistan plunged into civil war almost as soon as it became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.

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The centre acts as an accommodation hub for refugees waiting to be sent elsewhere in North Rhine-Westphalia. Everyone inside hall 18, where 180 refugees were staying, was brought to safety, according to reports. As the fire raged, a thick, black plume of smoke could be seen across Duesseldorf. The smoke drifted close to the flight path from Duesseldorf airport. The fire department advised those in the north of the city to keep windows and doors shut, reported RP Online (in German). Some 70 firefighters were at the scene. Ben Smith, a former BBC reporter, was waiting for a flight when he saw smoke rising up on the other side of the airport. "The smoke was thick and pretty quickly a column was reaching up and flames started to appear," he said. "It caused a bit of a stir among passengers but it became clear pretty quickly that it wasn't a plane or an airport building. "Flights were continuing to land as all this was going on. The fire wasn't that far from the runway but the smoke wasn't blowing [in the direction of the airport]."

A large fire has broken out at a convention centre in the western German city of Duesseldorf.

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She was 12 at the time and living with her parents and two siblings in northern Peru. On that night, two officials came to their home and took away her father. Mr Katsura, who owned a small general store, was arrested because he was part of Peru's prosperous Japanese community. "My father told them he hadn't done anything wrong, but they didn't listen to him," she recalls. Japanese people began migrating to Peru in considerable numbers at the end of the 19th Century, drawn by opportunities to work in the mines and on sugar plantations. By the 1940s, an estimated 25,000 people of Japanese descent lived in Peru. Many had become lawyers and doctors, or owned small businesses. Their prosperity, further fuelled by racism, soon triggered anti-Japanese sentiment in Peru, Stephanie Moore explains. Ms Moore, a scholar at the Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project, says after the outbreak of World War Two, the Japanese community in Peru became a target, and their assets were confiscated. "In May 1940, as many as 600 houses, schools and businesses belonging to citizens of Japanese descent were burned down," she says. Following Japan's 1941 attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the US government asked a dozen Latin American countries, among them Peru, to arrest its Japanese residents. Records from the time suggest the US authorities wanted to take them to the US and use them as bargaining chips for its nationals captured by Japanese forces in Asia. Mr Katsura was among the 2,200 Latin Americans of Japanese descent who were forcibly deported to internment camps in the US. Blanca Katsura, who is now 83 and lives in Northern California, remembers how she learned of his fate. "A month after my father was detained, he sent me a letter because it was my birthday," she recalls. "He had been taken to Panama from where they were planning to send him to the US," she adds. Six months later, Blanca Katsura's mother decided to take her three small children to the US to search for her husband. "When we arrived in New Orleans after a month-long trip, they confiscated our passports and then sent us by train to the Crystal City camp." As many as 4,000 people were interned during World War Two in this camp in Texas run by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service. Most of the detainees were of Japanese descent, although some German and Italian immigrants were also held there. It was at Crystal City that Blanca Katsura was reunited with her father. "I was shocked, he had lost so much weight," she remembers. For the next four years, her family lived in the barracks at the camp. Her memories of that time are not particularly traumatic, she says. "Being a child at the time time, I had no worries and made lots of friends. "We were able to go to school and learn Japanese," she adds. Ms Katsura says she later learned that the camp authorities were keen for the children to learn Japanese so they would be able to speak the language once they were deported to Japan. Chieko Kamisato's memories of life at Crystal City are less positive. "You could call it a concentration camp, because we were surrounded by barbed wire fences and guards with guns," she says. "We couldn't go out at all, although we were free to move around inside," she recalls. "My parents were really bitter about the situation because they were forced to come to the US. They had no choice," she says. Ms Kamisato's father had moved to Peru from Japan in 1915 and had worked hard to open a bakery in the capital, Lima. Now 81, she lives in Los Angeles. Of the 2,200 Latin Americans of Japanese descent to be interned in the US, 800 were sent to Japan as part of prisoner exchanges. After World War Two ended, another 1,000 were deported to Japan after their Latin American home countries refused to take them back. Ms Katsura's and Ms Kamisato's families successfully fought deportation and were eventually allowed to remain in the US. In 1988, then-President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act and apologised on behalf of the US government for the internment of Japanese-Americans. Under the act, the government paid tens of thousands of survivors of the camps $20,000 (£13,000) each in reparation. But Japanese-Latin Americans did not qualify for the payments because they had not been US citizens or permanent residents of the US at the time of their internment. Outraged, they filed a class-action suit and 10 years later, the US government agreed to pay them $5,000 each. Most accepted, but a small group headed by camp survivor Art Shibayama decided to hold out, demanding to be paid the same as Japanese-Americans. Blanca Katsura says that even though her childhood at the camp may not have been traumatic, no amount of money can compensate her family for its loss. "My parents wanted to go back to Peru but couldn't. They missed the life they had there," she recalls. "The Peruvian government sold us out to the US government and that is not a very nice feeling. How would you feel about it?"

Blanca Katsura will never forget the night of 6 January 1943.

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John Griffith-Jones was asked at a Treasury Select Committee hearing whether the Treasury had leant on the FCA or undermined its independence. He said that the "simple answer" was "no to both". Acting chief executive Tracey McDermott said the suggestion was "nonsense". Two senior FCA figures were speaking at a committee hearing called after it emerged that the inquiry, described as a "thematic review", had been scrapped. The FCA had planned to look at whether pay, promotion or other incentives had contributed to scandals involving banks in the UK and abroad. Ms McDermott told the committee the review had been shelved because "we didn't think that we would be able to put out something that was sufficiently useful or valuable to make it worthwhile spending resources and time on doing it". She said the review would have duplicated other work carried out elsewhere, notably by the Banking Standards Board, which was "looking at precisely the same issue". She said the FCA was now seeking to "build on work done by other bodies" and would be focusing on individual firms through regulatory supervision. Banks around the world have faced huge fines from regulators for their involvement in numerous scandals. In May last year, the news agency Reuters calculated that 20 global banks had paid £152bn in fines and compensation to customers since the 2008 financial crisis.

The chairman of the City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has said political considerations played no part in its decision to shelve an inquiry into the culture of banking.

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Their rise to third place in the polls comes despite a string of pre-election scandals. One local candidate stood down after a picture emerged of her wearing a swastika armband. Another was highlighted for posting racist and anti-immigrant comments online. And yet, the revelations appear to have had little obvious effect on voters, even if the mainstream parties do not want anything to do with the party. They are led by the dapper and clean-cut Jimmie Akesson, 35. Voters also seemed unperturbed by the news that he has gambled half a million kronor (£43,000; 54,000 euros; $70,000) online. "Every crisis the party gets into Mr Akesson handles very efficiently," says Ulf Bjereld, professor of political science at the University of Gothenburg, who sees him as a very skilful politician, if uncharismatic. Any political party would struggle to fend off accusations of racism, he told the BBC, but the party leader simply took them off the list and said they were not welcome. They will now occupy 49 seats in Sweden's 349-seat parliament. By publicly stressing the Sweden Democrats' zero tolerance towards racism for the past two years, he has been careful not to fall out of step with the tolerance that Swedes believe they have towards ethnic minorities. In contrast with other EU countries, Sweden is granting automatic residence to all refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict and some 80,000 people are expected to apply for asylum this year. The Sweden Democrats have carefully refined their 2010 election platform, when their campaign commercial featured an elderly woman pushing slowly towards a welfare desk. "You can choose if you want to save money from the pensions or immigration budgets," ran the commentary, over menacing music. The pensioner is overtaken by a group of women in burqas. The party made it into parliament in 2010 with 5.7% of the vote, five years after Jimmie Akesson took on the leadership. Beforehand the party had been linked for years to neo-Nazis and other extremist groups. In a speech in August, he identified himself as a nationalist but called for his party to show they were "broad and inclusive". But he was forthright on the risks of political Islam. "Islamism is the Nazism and communism of our time. It has to be met with disgust and much stronger resistance than has so far been the case." The anti-immigration rhetoric has been toned down and carefully argued, with a policy of preferring to help refugees in their own countries. There are obvious parallels with France's National Front which, under the leadership of Marine Le Pen, has moved into the political mainstream. The two parties go back many years, and Ms Le Pen visited Jimmie Akesson last year in Stockholm. A few months ago he praised the National Front's "modern, quite fresh direction". That does not mean the Sweden Democrats have shaken off their past but, with two MEPs in the European Parliament, they are now part of the same grouping as the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party - the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group. Swedish voters are attracted to the party, more because it gives a voice to people who dislike the political elite than its stance on immigration, Prof Bjereld believes. And although he argues that party membership will always have a racist element, the main stance is more xenophobic than racist. "One of Jimmie Akesson's skills is that he sends one message to the racists in his party and another to the general public."

They see themselves as the kingmakers of Swedish politics and, after polling 13% in national elections, the far-right Sweden Democrats are now difficult for mainstream parties to ignore.

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Hills Quarry Products has submitted a planning application to the county council for a sand and gravel quarry near the village of Clifton Hampden. It said the development, known as Fullamoor Quarry, will see 2.5m tonnes of earth extracted over 10 years. But residents said the plan poses a threat "to the health and wellbeing" of their communities. Chairman of campaign group Bachport (Burcot and Clifton Hampden Protection of the River Thames) Ian Mason said: "It's vital that people express their deep concerns. "A quarry would devastate a tranquil part of the Oxford Green Belt bordering the Thames and we fear more flooding as the proposed site is in the flood plain." He added that the biggest concern was the traffic a quarry would generate, with 570 lorry movements a week. Hills Quarry Products director Peter Andrew said the application followed an 18-month public consultation, which included meetings with residents. He said: "As a result of the feedback received, we significantly reduced our plans in relation to the volumes of material we hope to extract and the time we will take to work the site. "The final restoration plans were also scaled back so that no additional material is brought on to site, which in turn reduced the overall number of vehicle movements." In a statement the company said the proposed quarry covers an area of 104 hectares, of which 76 hectares will be worked. People have until 13 May to comment on the application.

A campaign group has urged people to object to a quarry they claim would "devastate" Oxfordshire's green belt.

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Three Wise Monkeys Climbing, the business behind the project, plans to convert Macintosh Memorial Church near the town's High Street. It has already managed to raise £30,000 in 23 days through a crowdfunding appeal. However, the appeal reaches its deadline at 17:00 on Wednesday. If the funding bid is successful, the centre will be opened in stages. A bouldering wall would be created first, followed by a cafe, then a roped climbing wall and extra bouldering wall training room.

A former church in Fort William could be turned into a climbing centre if £40,000 can be raised by Wednesday.

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Police said Alexandria Hollinghurst, 17, and Brandon Goode, 18, wrote what appeared to be suicide notes. The notes were recovered before the pair were found dead in undergrowth on Saturday. The head teacher of Miss Hollinghurst's former primary school in Derbyshire said she was a "talented pupil". Her family had emigrated to the US six years ago. Orange County Sheriff's Office said the couple had been reported as "missing endangered due to the suicidal notes" in the hours before the shooting. A police spokesman said: "Goode and Hollinghurst are now officially considered suspects in the homicide of Officer Robert German. "While Goode and Hollinghurst died of what is believed to be gunshot wounds from apparent suicide, we are awaiting the medical examiner's findings for the exact cause of death." The shootings took place in the early hours of Saturday in the suburb of Windermere, Orlando. The sheriff's office said Windermere Police Department Officer German had reported stopping "two individuals" on foot at 03:57 local time, and had then radioed for backup. When colleagues arrived they discovered Officer German "mortally wounded" with a gunshot injury and he was later pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Centre. At the same time, gunshots were heard nearby and the bodies of Miss Hollinghurst and Mr Goode were discovered a short distance away, police said. Miss Hollinghurst and her family previously lived in the Derbyshire village of Hadfield. Tony McMylor, who lived next door to the family in Hadfield, believes Miss Hollinghurst was murdered. "He shot her and then shot himself. That's what I believe," he said. "I can feel for the parents. It's just horrendous." Andrew Cartledge, head teacher of St Andrew's Church of England Junior School in Hadfield, said: "Alex Hollinghurst was a pupil at St Andrew's until she was 11 years old. "She was a talented pupil who it was a pleasure to have in school. "Alex was sociable with many friends and an outgoing personality. Our thoughts are with her family at this tragic time." Police said the contents of the apparent suicide notes "will not be revealed at this time as the investigation is active and open". The sheriff's office said the pair's vehicle was recovered from the car park of a bank in the Kissimmee area of the city, several miles from where the couple are believed to have crossed Officer German's path. Detectives said they would examine the vehicle for further clues.

A British teenager and her American boyfriend are believed to have killed themselves after shooting dead a police officer in Florida.

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The Coseley School in Dudley has 557 pupils - just over half its 975 capacity - and last year's GCSE results placed it bottom in the borough. About 100 people protested outside Dudley Council house on Monday as the decision was made to put the closure plan to the public. The consultation will run until 5 April, with a decision due in May. 'Safe haven' If the plan goes ahead, years seven, eight and nine will go to different schools next year. Current year 10's would stay and complete their GCSE's with the school shutting altogether in August 2017. Head girl Tatiana Davies protested with fellow pupils against the closure. She said: "This place is like a safe haven for kids and it's a community that's being ripped apart by the council. "It's not fair whatsoever that they've made a decision to do this... We care about our school so much." Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children's services, said: "Proposing the closure of the school is very much the last resort and not something we have taken lightly. "During recent years it has experienced a dramatic decline in pupil numbers, which are forecast to drop even more over the next three years, as well as results below the national minimum standards. "We know the school has worked hard to try and raise attainment but unfortunately all these factors have led us to take this action." Only 54 parents have chosen the school as their first preference for September 2016 and the council says the school is facing a £1m shortfall. Ofsted rated the school "inadequate" following an inspection in September 2012 and "requires improvement" in September 2014.

A school with low pupil numbers and grades could close under plans being put to the public.

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Three pro-EU MPs argue this approach risks creating "losers" because almost all sectors are linked to the EU. Tory Anna Soubry, Labour's Chuka Umunna and Lib Dem Nick Clegg all want the UK to remain in the EU single market. Pro-Brexit Tory Michael Gove says the single market is a "bureaucratic web" which the UK should leave. The three pro-EU MPs are part of Open Britain, which replaced the official Remain campaign after the EU referendum. At an event in London, they will present a report looking at different sectors of the UK economy and their links with the EU. Written by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, it says every sector appeared to benefit from trade within the single market with 3.25 million UK jobs directly or indirectly linked to EU trade. Manufacturing would "certainly suffer significantly" from restricted access to the single market, it says, while banking and insurance and professional services also have a "very strong link" to the EU and other sectors have "indirect" links. "Although it might seem theoretically possible to cherry pick a number of sectors and negotiate trade agreements for the sectors, there is considerable linkage between the sectors," the report says. "It has taken a quarter of a century to negotiate the single market as it exists today and could take nearly as long to renegotiate a new arrangement on a sectoral basis." Any attempt to choose "winners" for free trade deals with the EU "cannot be achieved without the risk of creating 'losers' through reduced access and reduced future mutual benefits", it adds. Ms Soubry will say: "There are no inevitable outcomes. There is no mandate for one particular Brexit option. The only question on the ballot paper was whether to leave, which we will, but how we execute our extraction must be debated." The single market - which allows EU states to trade free of tariffs and other barriers - is central to the debate on what kind of deal the UK should seek when it leaves. EU leaders have said access to, or membership of, the single market is dependent on the UK continuing to accept the principle of free movement, while Downing Street says people voted for greater control over the UK's borders and says it will not compromise on immigration controls. Ministers have yet to set out in detail their negotiating aims, but say they want maximum possible access to the single market. Prime Minister Theresa May has also said the UK will not seek to replicate other countries' trading arrangements with the EU, saying she will be pressing for a "bespoke" deal. A spokesman for the Department for Exiting the EU said: "The government has been clear that we want to give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the single market - and let European businesses do the same here. "But we have also been clear that the UK should make its own decisions on controlling immigration and the authority of EU law should end. "It's not in the UK's interest to give a running commentary on our thinking that could undermine our negotiating position." On Sunday, ex-minister and Vote Leave campaign chief Mr Gove told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I think when people voted to leave the European Union they voted to take back control of our money, our laws, trade deals and our borders. "That means that the single market, that is basically a bureaucratic web, we need to be out of." In other Brexit news, 81 MPs and peers have signed a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk calling for a deal to protect the rights of both Britons living in other EU countries and EU nationals in the UK. The letter, co-ordinated by Conservative MP Michael Tomlinson, says people are not "bargaining chips" and calls for discussions to "move forward quickly".

Campaigners are urging the government not to "cherry pick" different parts of the economy for special trade agreements with the EU after Brexit.

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The 6.8-magnitude quake struck some 120km (70 miles) north of the second-largest city of Mandalay, at a depth of 10km, the US Geological Survey said. A bridge under construction collapsed in Shwebo, close to the epicentre, throwing workers into the river. In the early hours of Monday a second quake, of 5.6 magnitude, struck the same region, the USGS said. There was no immediate information on whether the latest quake caused further deaths or major damage. The first earthquake hit at 07:42 local time (01:12 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. In Mandalay, terrified residents dashed out of their homes for safety, fearing more tremors. An official in Sintku township near the first quake's epicentre told Associated Press six people had died there, some of them workers at a gold mine that collapsed. A number of people were injured. A police officer in Shwebo said five construction workers who had been working on the Radana Thinga bridge near the town were missing after "a huge steel beam fell into the river". He told Reuters that one woman had also died and 10 people had been injured in the nearby town of Kyauk Myaung after a house collapsed. Temples were reported damaged at Mogok, close to the epicentre. An official from Burma's Relief and Resettlement Department told Agence France-Presse the death toll could rise. "This is the worst earthquake I felt in my entire life," 52-year-old Shwebo resident Soe Soe told Associated Press. Save The Children told AFP it had reports of 13 deaths across four sites in Burma, with some 40 people injured. Residents in Mandalay described panic in the streets as they fled the shaking buildings. "I ran from my bed carrying my daughter out to the street. There were many people in the road. Some were shouting and others felt dizzy," San Yu Kyaw said. "People are now scared of more earthquakes," he added. The earthquake was felt as far away as Bangkok in neighbouring Thailand. The US Geological Survey issued a yellow alert, indicating that "some casualties and damage are possible". Earthquakes are relatively common in Burma. In March 2011, at least 75 people died when a powerful earthquake hit Burma near the borders with Laos and Thailand.

A strong earthquake has rocked central Burma, with at least 12 people feared dead and dozens more injured.

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The Rhinos were beaten by North Queensland Cowboys in the World Club Challenge on Sunday, while Wigan and St Helens lost to Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters respectively. National Rugby League sides also won all three games in last year's series. "There's absolutely a point in doing it next year," said McDermott. "You learn through errors and from getting your backside kicked. Should we be involved in this competition next year then we'll give it an even better go and maybe we'll get our backside kicked again - but we'll get closer. "What you don't do is get beaten and then not play another of these games for five years and then see what you're like." Super League general manager Blake Solly echoed McDermott's thoughts. "It has to go ahead," he said. "The only way in which Super League and the players that play in Super League can improve is by this sort of competition. It's a great learning experience. "It's a lot more than just three games of rugby. There's a lot of activity that goes on during the week that helps boost the profile of the sport and there's obviously a hunger for it from the broadcasters." The Rhinos, who have lost their two Super League fixtures this season, went in at 4-4 at half-time at Headingley on Sunday before the Cowboys ran in 34 unanswered points after the break. Prop Mitch Garbutt was sent off late on for punching James Tamou and McDermott was disappointed with his player's actions. "There was some provocation but not enough. It was silly," he added. "It got passionate in that second half and I think our players got a bit frustrated. It wasn't justified, I'm sure Keith (Galloway) can handle being slapped."

Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott has said it would be wrong to scrap the World Club Series despite Australian sides winning all three matches.

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A UK and Finnish team found those with more education were as likely to show the signs of dementia in their brains at death as those with less. But they were less likely to have displayed symptoms during their lifetime, the study in Brain said. Experts said scientists now had to find out why the effect occurred. Over the past decade, studies on dementia have consistently shown that the more time you spend in education, the lower the risk of dementia. But studies have been unable to show whether or not education - which is linked to higher socio-economic status and healthier lifestyles - protects the brain against dementia. The researchers in this study examined the brains of 872 people who had been part of three large ageing studies. Before their deaths they had also completed questionnaires about their education. The researchers found that more education makes people better able to cope with changes in the brain associated with dementia. Post-mortems showed the pathology - signs of disease - in the brains of people with and without long educations were at similar levels. But the researchers found those with more education are better able to compensate for the effects of the condition. It also showed that, for each year spent in education, there was an 11% decreased risk of developing dementia. Dr Hannah Keage of the University of Cambridge, who co-authored the study, said: "Previous research has shown that there is not a one-to-one relationship between being diagnosed with dementia during life and changes seen in the brain at death. "One person may show lots of pathology in their brain while another shows very little, yet both may have had dementia. "Our study shows education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms." The researchers used data from the Eclipse collaboration, which combines the three European population-based longitudinal studies of ageing from the UK and Finland which have assessed people for up to 20 years. Professor Carol Brayne, who led the study, said: "Education is known to be good for population health and equity. "This study provides strong support for investment in early life factors which should have an impact on society and the whole lifespan. "This is hugely relevant to policy decisions about the importance of resource allocation between health and education." Ruth Sutherland, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "This is the largest study ever to confirm that hitting the books could help you fight the symptoms of dementia in later life. What we don't know is why a longer education is so good for you. "It could be that the types of people who study longer have large brains which adapt better to changes associated with dementia. "Another reason could be that educated people find ways of managing or hiding their symptoms." She added: "We now need more research to find out why an education can make the brain more 'dementia resistant'. Until then the message appears to be stay in school." Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, added: "During dementia, proteins build up in the brain and nerve cells become damaged. This research suggests that education is not able to stop the damage but enables the brain to cope better and alleviate its impact. "

People who stay in education for longer appear to be better able to compensate for the effects of dementia on the brain, a study suggests.

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It happened at about 08:00 GMT on Friday morning on the Belfast Road between Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, and Brookborough, County Fermanagh. The road has since reopened. The man, who has been named as Daniel Morris, was from the Brookborough area. Police have appealed for witnesses. DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Maurice Morrow, said the crash had "thrown the community into shock". "There is no good time to suffer such tragedy, but for such an incident to occur at Christmas is particularly severe," he said. "I am very familiar with the stretch of road in question and have travelled it many times. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim at this extremely harrowing time."

A 37-year-old man from County Fermanagh has died following a one-vehicle road crash.

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The predicted rise is above the UK average, which is expected to see an increase of 3% over the course of 2015. It is also higher than most other UK regions, including London. Northern Ireland's Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) rose 7% this year, but house prices are still more than 40% below the peak of the boom. Seven years ago, as the global economic downturn took hold, Northern Ireland suffered one of the most severe property crashes in economic history. Prices fell more than 50% below their peak in late 2007. However, the market began to show signs of recovery in the latter half of 2013. RICS has now predicted that next year, UK house prices will be bolstered by "recent changes to stamp duty, continuing demand and lack of supply of property". Its residential spokesman in Northern Ireland, Samuel Dickey, said 2014 had seen "stronger house price growth in Northern Ireland than RICS anticipated". He said said this was "largely due to a stronger economic recovery than expected". "In the local market, there is still an issue with supply, whilst buyer demand remains strong. This is creating the conditions for continuing price growth. "However, with public spending cuts likely to act as a drag on the economy, we expect price growth to be more modest in 2015 than it has proved to be in 2014." Mr Dickey said house sales in Northern Ireland were still at very low levels "relative to their pre-crises peak". But he added that sales were currently increasing and his organisation expected that to continue into next year. "The stamp duty reforms announced in the Autumn Statement, which will benefit the majority of homebuyers, will help," he said. The institution's forecast examines all parts of the housing market, including prices, sales, rental incomes to construction and repossession levels.

Northern Ireland house prices could increase by 4% next year, according to a forecast by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

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Integration with the mainland has brought Hong Kong much success as a global financial centre but it has also created problems. Those problems seem to be at their worst at any time since the handover, according to a series of surveys and opinion polls. The gap between Hong Kong's rich and poor is at a 30-year high, property rental prices have risen to record levels and residents are upset by daily news reports on corrupt lives of officials at the highest levels of Chinese government. An independent poll shows the Hong Kong public's mistrust of the Chinese government stands at a post handover high, largely because of a number of political scandals. These include the sacking of senior Communist Party official Bo Xilai, the plight of human rights activist Chen Guangcheng and, most seriously, the suspicious death of Tiananmen Square dissident Li Wangyang in June. "What happens in China very closely affects Hong Kong people, because we're all ethnic Chinese," said Frank Lee, a pollster at the University of Hong Kong's public opinion programme. "That's probably the reason why, at this moment, many people don't trust the Beijing government. In fact, anger is at the peak right now." Despite a relatively strong economy and a string of financial incentives announced by Beijing to boost popular support in the semi-autonomous city, Hong Kong is a much more restive place than it was five years ago, when Mr Hu last came to visit, in a blaze of pre-Olympic glory. Ahead of the visit, Hong Kong's census bureau publicised data that showed inequality had widened to its highest level in three decades. According to US government rankings, Hong Kong's wealth gap now outstrips all other developed nations. It ranks behind highly unequal countries such as Colombia, Haiti and Sierra Leone. Monthly incomes for Hong Kong's poorest have fallen by about 8% over the past five years, while salaries for the richest have grown by about 25%, according to the newest census data. Sze Lai Shan, a social worker with the Society for Community Organisation, said as a result of integration with the mainland, Hong Kong's economic structure had changed. "The factories have moved to mainland China, and the government believes in the trickle-down theory where everyone benefits from overall economic development. So they have done little for the poor," she said during a visit to a cramped sub-divided flat. The first-floor flat is in the shadow of the glitzy commercial district of Causeway Bay. Inside two dozen people - mostly single middle-age or elderly men - reside in enclosed wooden bunks the size of a single bed. Locals call these coffin homes, because each is slightly larger than the size of a coffin. Rent ranges from HK$1,000 ($128, £83) to HK$1,400 per bunk. Lee Chi Wai, a 57-year-old cleaner with a warm smile, lives with his worldly possessions - a tiny television, a few compact disks, some plastic shelves and several shirts - directly below Wong Ching Po, 60. When not working, the two men watch television and engage in friendly banter. Both decry the lack of opportunities and inadequate public housing in Hong Kong. "It's very hard to find a job," said Mr Lee. "Most companies have moved to China. Those that stay want temporary workers not permanent staff. When the contract is over, I have to look for another job. That is why life is hard." Following the release of the census figures, Hong Kong's incoming Chief Executive CY Leung - who is to be sworn in on Sunday - announced he would chair a new preparatory task force to tackle poverty. Besides anger over social inequality, Mr Hu will be greeted by two large-scale democracy protests over the weekend. The rally on Sunday is the annual human rights demonstration that traditionally starts at Victoria Park and ends at the Hong Kong government office in Admiralty. "Hong Kong people are very uptight about freedom issues on the mainland, because they reflect on us. If not today, then tomorrow. If it's not in Hong Kong's present, it's going to reflect on our future," said Claudia Mo, a member of the Civic Party. Last year more than 200,000 people took part. This year organisers hope the crowd will be even larger because Hong Kong residents feel the Chinese government is becoming more, not less, corrupt and repressive. The other rally on Saturday, due to finish at the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre in Wanchai, is timed to coincide with Mr Hu's dinner plans. Protesters will demand a reversal of the official verdict on Tiananmen Square, currently branded a counter-revolutionary activity, and a thorough investigation into the death of Mr Li, the elderly, disabled Chinese activist. Mr Li's suspicious death in early June in central China sparked outrage in Hong Kong. Chinese officials have promised a proper investigation, but Hong Kong people remain sceptical. Although Mr Hu's visit in 2007 coincided with pro-democracy protests, the political climate in China and Hong Kong was different at that time. Five years ago, China seemed relatively open to democratic reform, as it promised organisers who awarded Beijing the 2008 games. Restrictions were eased for foreign and Hong Kong journalists. Activists such as AIDS campaigner Hu Jia and pro-democracy campaigner Liu Xiaobo were given relative free rein to air their views. The country appeared to be edging ever so slightly closer to Hong Kong's core democratic values of clean government, the rule of law and freedom of speech. But this year the political atmosphere is strained as Mr Hu arrives bearing financial incentives to drum up public support. He is expected to stay until Sunday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived in Hong Kong to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the city's return to China, but he faces a noisy, unhappy public and an increasingly tense political climate.

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Media playback is not supported on this device Selby, 33, had trailed 10-4 but claimed nine out of 10 frames to lead 13-11. Higgins had a mini revival helped by a contentious refereeing decision, but Selby kept his composure to win. The world number one is only the fourth player after Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan to claim back-to-back titles in the modern era. The Englishman picks up a record £375,000 in prize money, retains the top ranking spot for the 116th consecutive week and gains revenge for the defeat by Higgins in the 2007 final. No player had come back to win from a greater deficit than six frames in a World Championship final since Dennis Taylor trailed Steve Davis by 8-0 and 9-1 in their 1985 classic. "I can't believe it, I am still pinching myself now," said Selby. "From 10-4 to get to 10-7 yesterday, I was over the moon as I had nothing left. He outplayed me yesterday. Today I came back fresh and was a lot better. "When I was 10-4 down I was missing everything and had nothing left. I said 'pull something together'. If you lose, you want to at least go down fighting. "To have three world titles is unbelievable and to be one of only four players to defend it is something I could only dream of." Media playback is not supported on this device Selby was 47-0 up in the 31st frame, and leading 16-14 on frames, when he potted a red before attempting to roll up to the black ball. It was unclear whether the balls touched and referee Jan Verhaas called a foul. Selby questioned the decision and score marker Brendan Moore checked the incident on a TV, initially saying the cueball had hit. The decision was reversed but Moore looked at it from another angle and said he was not sure. Verhaas then said, "If you are not sure, I will stick to the original decision" and the foul stood. John Parrott said on BBC TV: "I don't think it touched, it did not quite get there and the referee got it right," while Steve Davis added: "From one angle, I think it touched but from another I don't think it did." Higgins took the frame and went just one behind at 16-15, but Selby took the last two he required. Media playback is not supported on this device Leicester player Selby was out-of-sorts during Sunday's play at the Crucible, missing straightforward opportunities in the reds to hand his opponent the initiative. But the 33-year-old, who was named 'The Torturer' by Ronnie O'Sullivan for his gritty victory in 2014 from 10-5 behind, showed similar uncompromising characteristics with a ruthless display. The third session was the turning point, a slow, turgid affair when he won six out of the seven frames to hold the advantage by two frames. In the final session, the pre-match favourite made breaks of 71, 70 and a 131 clearance following the contentious call in the 31st frame. Selby also matches the record of five ranking titles in a season, previously achieved by Hendry in 1990/91 and Ding Junhui in 2013/14, and now has 12 in total. A dreadful collapse for Higgins means he missed out on moving into second place on his own in the list of most ranking titles won and remains one behind O'Sullivan's five world victories. Having come through a comfortable semi-final against Barry Hawkins, he was initially at ease against Selby, stroking in a 141 break which equalled O'Sullivan's effort in 2012 as the best break recorded in a World Championship final. I'm proud of myself but he was too good on the day But the 41-year-old lost his way on the final day, and late breaks of 88 and 111 were not enough, as he was left frustrated by his rival's dogged performance. The four-time champion has now lost two finals, but his run moves him up to second in the world rankings behind his opponent. "Mark is granite, just granite," said Higgins. "In the second session I had my chances, I missed a pink into the middle and I could have gone 9-3 ahead. "That was a big, big frame. Mark cleared up under extreme pressure. He is a fantastic champion. "It has been an unbelievable tournament, I gave everything. I came up short to a great champion. I'm proud of myself but he was too good on the day." Six-time world champion Steve Davis on BBC Two When we look at the quality of players that are potential winners here, to think there is a dominant character forcing his way through is amazing. Selby is an exceptional player and exceptional match player. It is going to take some young player coming through who takes every part of his game and becomes stronger to knock him off his perch. We're close to the ceiling of performance now. Media playback is not supported on this device Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news and reports on the BBC app.

Mark Selby defended his World Championship title with a stunning comeback to beat John Higgins 18-15 and secure his third crown in four years.

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Thousands convicted of murder or drug-related offences will go free, while 34 foreigners are also among those given amnesty. However, observers say political prisoners are not expected to be freed. Tens of thousands of prisoners have been granted presidential amnesties since 2009. Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong said no one guilty of "crimes against national security" would be released. The government also said that the amnesty showed the ruling Communist Party's "humanitarian nature" and would help inmates "become useful citizens". Human rights groups and some western governments have criticised Vietnam for jailing dissidents, and say more than 100 political activists remain behind bars.

Vietnam says it has granted amnesty to more than 18,000 prisoners to mark the country's 70th anniversary of independence from France.

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Pictures from the village of Dalori show burned-out buildings and charred livestock. Fires from the burning village could be seen in the the city of Maiduguri, nearly 10km (six miles) away. One witness reported hearing the screams of children as huts were set on fire. Other survivors say the shooting on Saturday evening continued for hours and left barely any parts of the village untouched. Residents said at least 50 people were killed, although a Reuters reporter counted 65 bodies at a hospital morgue. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorbikes and in lorries and were wearing military uniforms, Nigerian media reported. Survivor Alamin Bakura told the Associated Press that he hid in a tree as the attackers struck on Saturday evening. He said he saw militants firebomb huts and heard the screams of children as people were burned to death. He said several members of his family were among those killed or wounded. Boko Haram has also been blamed for deadly bomb attacks in neighbouring Chad on Sunday. At least three people were killed and dozens wounded when two suicide bombers struck two locations near Lake Chad, officials said. Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and displaced more than two million people over the past six years. Recent attacks have involved suicide bombers targeting civilians in Nigeria's north-east and across the border in northern Cameroon. Cameroon is part of a regional coalition fighting the group, along with Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Benin. Why Boko Haram remains a threat

At least 50 people are reported to have been killed in north-eastern Nigeria in a gun and bomb attack by suspected Boko Haram militants.

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The four-part CGI animated mini-series will bring an original interpretation to Richard Adams' classic 1972 novel. It tells the story of a band of rabbits in search of a new home after the destruction of their warren. Commissioned by the BBC, it is the first blockbuster drama made as a co-production between the BBC and Netflix. The series will also feature the vocal talents of Olivia Colman, Nicholas Hoult , Miles Jupp, Freddie Fox, Anne-Marie Duff and Gemma Arterton, and will be written by Bafta-nominated Tom Bidwell. "Before there was Harry Potter, there was Watership Down," said the BBC's drama commissioning editor Matthew Read. "Richard Adams' novel is one of the most successful books of all time and one of the biggest selling books in history. It is fantastic to have the opportunity to bring a modern classic to a mainstream BBC One audience with such an incredible roster of actors alongside the talented team overseeing the animation." The book was first adapted for screen in 1978, and was notoriously frightening for young children, with its adored rabbit characters killed in graphic scenes. This version, the show's executive producer told the Telegraph, "will not just tone down the levels of on-screen violence to make it more appropriate for children, but give a boost to its female characters." The series is due to air on the BBC in 2017, and worldwide, outside of the UK, on Netflix.

John Boyega, James McAvoy and Sir Ben Kingsley are among an all-star cast set to provide voices in a new adaptation of Watership Down.

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At an expat bar in Benalmadena, on the Costa del Sol, Brian was watching his club play a Champions League match on television. And the animation he displayed whenever his team got the ball was matched by his passion for the EU. "I've got really good Spanish friends. Obviously, I feel English and British first, then I feel European," he says. What worries Brian is that Britain might now vote to leave the European Union. "If I decided to up sticks, I could go to Portugal or France. But if Britain decides to leave… that may change." No-one knows how many British people are, like Brian, long-term residents in Spain; the number is thought to be anywhere between 300,000 and 700,000. But the British government has warned that two million British expats in Europe could be adversely affected in the event of an Out vote. Their right to free healthcare and their basic right to work could both be jeopardised, a Cabinet Office report says. Campaigners to leave the European Union have dismissed the report's findings as "scaremongering", part of what they see as a long-term strategy by the government which they have dubbed "project fear". It aims, they say, to persuade voters to stick with what they know and remain inside the EU. But fears about leaving the EU are all too real, as far as Christine Rowlands is concerned. She's the chairwoman of the Costa del Sol branch of Conservatives Abroad, and insists that the party locally is united in wanting to remain inside the EU, unlike her political counterparts back home. "It's not just about the money," she insists. "Our friends are Danish, German, Spanish. It's about a united Europe." Asked what she makes of the Conservative debate on Europe back home in Britain, Christine giggles a little mischievously. "It's like a children's playground," she says. There is certainly a stark contrast here with the situation back home, where local Conservative Associations are perceived mainly to be of a Eurosceptic bent. But in fact, there are plenty of Eurosceptic opinions to be heard on the Costa del Sol if you listen to the local English language radio station, Talk Radio Europe, and particularly its weekly phone-in show Viewpoint. It recently devoted a whole edition to the EU referendum, prompting many callers to sound off against the EU and all its works. David Cameron was denounced for fighting to keep Britain in, while Boris Johnson was praised for his "courage" in joining the Out camp. "We did not vote for federalism, we voted for a common market," protested one listener. Viewpoint's presenter is Richard Tildesley, a man with his ear very much glued to the ground when it comes to political opinion among expats. And he believes that living on the European mainland has put many people off the EU, however cosmopolitan their lives. They are not impressed by how EU funds are spent, he believes, thinking the money is wasted on unnecessary projects while neglecting problems that badly need sorting out. Tildesley also argues that expats see the EU as destroying the very aspects of Spanish life that originally drew them to the country. "What they perceive being created at the moment is a rather bland, pan-European homogenised culture." Given the strength of opinion on this subject, it is perhaps surprising that so few expats in Spain have actually registered to vote, either in the forthcoming referendum, or indeed for any British elections. British citizens who leave the country are entitled to vote, providing they have been away for less than 15 years. But so far, only 11,000 people from the hundreds of thousands in Spain are on course to make use of this right. The British embassy in Spain has launched a campaign to persuade British expats to register for the vote, a campaign that is being mirrored in countries across the world. It will use Facebook and Twitter to get its message across, but the embassy will also work with local Anglican churches, charities and any other organisations where expats are found. "Registration of expat voters is fairly low across the world," British ambassador Simon Manley complains. Like any good diplomat, he gives no hint of his own view on the UK's membership of the EU, but he is passionate about the need for more voter engagement. "The referendum is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to determine the future of our country. Whatever their views, wherever they live, I think it's important people exercise that right to vote." For more on this story listen to Paul Moss's report on The World Tonight.

Brian Last seems to have two great passions in life: Arsenal Football Club and the European Union.

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Oxford City Council's executive board agreed BMW could build on its land in Cowley, and that it will relocate leisure facilities currently on site. The 24-acre land is currently home to the Oxford Sports and Social Club, Oxford Cricket Club, and Oxford United's training ground. The expansion proposals are still subject to planning permission. The council said the new facility would include replacement football and cricket pitches, a classroom and a gym. It intends for the existing facilities used by the football club to remain in use until their replacement is ready. More than 2.5m cars have been made at the plant since BMW took over in 2001. Oxford United is already looking for an alternative location for its training grounds. When Oxford Sports and Social Club closes it will be the last of the old motor manufacturing social clubs to go, but its lease ends in March, and its owners aren't looking to carry on. A spokesman from Oxford Cricket Club told me they've effectively been evicted from the site - they played their very last game there on Saturday. He said they were disappointed not to have been involved in any discussions.

The Mini car plant in Oxford is to expand as part of a £4.9m deal with the city's authority.

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Crumlin Road Courthouse in north Belfast has been derelict for 15 years and is in a state of serious disrepair. It is owned by a private developer, but the executive has asked consultants to find a way forward. They think the best option is to repair the property and open courtroom number one as a tourist attraction. The courthouse is a 160-year-old listed building, but a series of fires in recent years have left it without a roof. Eight suggestions have been put forward for consultation, from doing nothing to options involving a hotel and restaurant. The consultants favour an option that would reconstruct a courtroom, refurbish the ground and first floors, but mothball the basement and rear wing. "It is really important something is done," said Justine Daly of consultants Turley Associates. "It is physically linked to the jail by an underground tunnel and we could make that work by coming up into court one." Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland said consideration would have to be given to bringing the building back into public ownership. The taxpayer would then face picking up the bill. "I would suspect as it has been sitting in private ownership for quite a number of years and has been allowed to fall into disrepair that is not going to be the way forward," Mr McCausland said. "It has to have some form of intervention. It is part of the cultural wealth of the city." Decisions will be made in the months ahead.

Consultants have suggested the part refurbishment of one of Northern Ireland's best-known listed buildings at a cost of about £12m.

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The attack happened on Shakespeare Street in the early hours of Monday morning. A Police Scotland spokesman said officers were looking for two men in connection with the incident. The injured man was said to be in a stable condition.

A man is being treated in hospital for facial injuries after he was assaulted in the Maryhill area of Glasgow.

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A 44-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman were arrested on Sunday following a search at a house in Broom Close in Twinbrook. Items recovered from the house included 700 rounds of assorted ammunition and seven mercury tilt switches. A detonator cord, firework powder and assault rifle magazine were also found. Det Insp Philip Montgomery said: "We believe this is a significant find because it has taken off the streets materials designed to kill and injure." Although the searches took place at the weekend, police have just released details and photographs of what was found. Det Insp Montgomery said the items were concealed in a bag in the roof space. He said: "Inside the brown paper bag were more than 700 rounds of assorted ammunition packed into items of clothing, plastic bags and containers." Officers later searched another property at Glenwood Walk in Poleglass and several items have been taken away for detailed examination. Det Insp Montgomery said: "We are not in a position at present to disclose what we have found there." He also apologised to local communities who were inconvenienced by Sunday's searches. "I am sure the overwhelming majority of people in these communities are thankful that such items have been prevented from causing harm. "We will continue to work with communities to reduce the threat posed by those involved in such activity and would ask people to contact police if they have any suspicions about terrorist activity."

Bomb-making components and ammunition have been seized during searches in west Belfast as part of a dissident republican investigation.

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The Cobblers made the early running and should have gone ahead, as Marc Richards got goalside of Cian Bolger, lofting a neat ball to Michael Smith who rattled the woodwork from barely five yards out. Justin Edinburgh's side seemed determined to stamp their mark on the game, Michael Smith firing wide from close range as the high-flying hosts looked to be limping to the break. But the game turned in a second when Adam Smith hesitated under pressure from Ball. The Fleetwood striker's chip was gathered by Devante Cole, who was denied at the first attempt but pounced on the rebound to find the net from the tightest of angles. Ball might easily have doubled Town's tally within minutes of the restart, another moment of uncertainty going unpunished as his shot slipped just wide of the back post. Fleetwood did soon find their second, Bobby Grant skipping around two men and firing past Smith from the right of the six-yard box. A second goal in the space of four minutes ended any hopes of a Cobblers comeback, Ball this time the architect and scorer. He made the most of David Buchanan's slip, racing in from the left and picking the moment to lift the ball over the advancing Adam Smith to bag his 13th goal of the campaign. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Fleetwood Town 3, Northampton Town 0. Second Half ends, Fleetwood Town 3, Northampton Town 0. Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town). Foul by Victor Nirennold (Fleetwood Town). John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Jak McCourt (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card. Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Paul Anderson (Northampton Town). Substitution, Northampton Town. Jak McCourt replaces Matthew Taylor. Attempt missed. Hiram Boateng (Northampton Town) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Attempt saved. Matthew Taylor (Northampton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Cameron Brannagan replaces Kyle Dempsey. Attempt saved. Ashley Hunter (Fleetwood Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Ashley Hunter (Fleetwood Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Ashley Hunter (Fleetwood Town). Matthew Taylor (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Zander Diamond (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. David Ball (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Zander Diamond (Northampton Town). Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Ashley Hunter replaces Devante Cole. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by John-Joe O'Toole. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Zander Diamond. Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Neal Eardley (Northampton Town). Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Victor Nirennold replaces George Glendon. Substitution, Northampton Town. Paul Anderson replaces Marc Richards. Attempt missed. David Ball (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Amari'i Bell (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town). Substitution, Northampton Town. Hiram Boateng replaces Gregg Wylde. Goal! Fleetwood Town 3, Northampton Town 0. David Ball (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Davies. Goal! Fleetwood Town 2, Northampton Town 0. Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Gregg Wylde (Northampton Town). Foul by George Glendon (Fleetwood Town). David Buchanan (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Cian Bolger (Fleetwood Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Adam Smith. Attempt missed. David Ball (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.

David Ball proved Northampton's undoing, creating one and scoring another as high-flying Fleetwood earned victory, their 17th successive game without defeat.

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National Offender Management Service annual reports failed to record that two prisoners, not one, were living in crowded conditions when they were in a cell designed for one person. Prisons minister Andrew Selous said the situation was "unacceptable". Campaigners said it was important to know the true scale of overcrowding. Mr Selous said in a written ministerial statement that prisons had been recording data incorrectly since 2008-9. He said: "The public should rightly expect this information to be accurate. Publication of clear, reliable figures on how many prisoners we hold in crowded conditions is an important part of making sure we can be held to account. "It is therefore unacceptable that these incorrect figures have been published over the last six years and that these errors were not identified sooner. Since discovering these errors, we have taken urgent steps to ensure that figures will in future be subjected to rigorous quality control." The Howard League for Penal Reform said the statement came two years after it published research showing that about 20,000 prisoners were being kept in overcrowded conditions. Chairman Frances Crook said: "This is a timely written statement, and we welcome the new culture of honesty and accountability at the Ministry of Justice. "Simple logic dictates that if two or three prisoners are sharing a cell designed for one, then all those people are being held in overcrowded conditions. We are pleased that the government's figures will now reflect this, as the Howard League has made this point repeatedly for many years. "Holding men in overcrowded cells with nothing to do all day is never going to help them become law-abiding citizens on release, and it is important that the true scale of overcrowding will be made known. Only by knowing what the problem is can we work together to find a solution."

Prison overcrowding has been underestimated for the past six years in England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has admitted.

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R&B Distillers is turning Borodale House, a derelict Victorian hotel on the Isle of Raasay, into a distillery and visitor centre. Getting to the island, which has a population of about 120 people, involves a ferry journey from Skye. The job description includes formal qualifications and experience and a willingness to live on an island. The production of the first whisky at the site could begin in April next year.

A distiller is being sought for one of Scotland's newest and remotest distilleries.

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In China, a huge fireworks display in Beijing marked the first day of the Year of the Monkey, one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. Celebrations include feasting, visiting temples, and spending time with family and friends.

Hundreds of millions of people around the world have been celebrating the Lunar New Year.

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In the first of the studies, vets are assessing dogs that have had surgery to repair damage to their knee ligaments. Edinburgh University's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies aims to improve health outcomes for pets receiving veterinary care. The team will explore whether dogs can also produce vitamin D in their skin after exposure to the sun. Previous studies have shown that animals with lower levels of vitamin D in their blood often show signs of increased inflammation. The team will examine whether inflammation linked to reduced intake can hamper dogs' recovery from surgery. Blood samples will be taken before and after surgery to allow the team to measure their levels and any symptoms of inflammation. They will then monitor the dogs to see whether having higher levels of vitamin D before surgery have a positive effect on their recovery. If a link is found, researchers will test if supplements can help to lower inflammation and improve the chances of better recovery from surgery. In a separate study, vets will investigate how dogs acquire vitamin D in the first place, taking blood samples to examine whether levels fluctuate with the changing seasons. The findings will help to determine whether dogs are getting enough vitamin D in their diet throughout the year. Dr Richard Mellanby, Edinburgh University's head of veterinary clinical research and companion animal sciences, said: "Vitamin D plays a vital role in bone health and there is growing evidence that it has other health benefits for people and animals. "Our research aims to understand whether dogs' vitamin D levels fluctuate throughout the year, which is important for making sure we're feeding our pets the right diet. "We're also interested in how vitamin D affects recovery after surgery and whether having less vitamin D is a cause or consequence of inflammation. "Untangling this complex relationship will help us to devise new approaches to improve the welfare of animals after surgery."

Pet dogs are being used in a research project to look at the effects of vitamin D on their health.

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Mr Modi coaxed the United Nations into declaring 21 June International Yoga Day and announced a grand event to be held in Delhi on that day. His government plans to get tens of thousands of people to perform yoga in the heart of the capital on Sunday. Mr Modi is an enthusiast himself - he told a biographer he tries to do yoga for an hour after waking up in the morning. So what does Sunday's mass yoga session tell us about India? Mr Modi's plan to get 35,000 people to perform yoga for 35 minutes on the stately Rajpath (King's Avenue) is aimed at setting a new Guinness World Record. The Guinness people have been invited to document the largest yoga class at a single venue. Indians already flaunt a number of yoga-related world records: the largest yoga class, longest yoga chain, longest yoga marathon and longest yoga class at multiple venues. Inspired by Mr Modi's call, even India's National Cadet Corps want to set another record on Sunday - "the largest ever demonstration of yoga by a uniformed organisation on a single day concurrently at multiple venues all across India". It says a million cadets will simultaneously do yoga at 1,900 locations. Yes, we are crazy about breaking world records. A reality check: Indians applied for some 3,000 records with Guinness World Records in 2013, just behind record-seekers from the US and Britain. The number of Indian record holders has risen an astonishing 250% in the past five years. It helps that we are the world's second-most populous nation, so we have also set records in things like the biggest blood donation drive and most number of people shaking hands. Writer Samanth Subramanian describes this as a "fevered subculture of record-setters". If a place in the Guinness World Records looks remote, no worries. We have our thriving, home-grown Limca Book of World Records and India Book of Records to take care of our achievements. But Mr Modi, clearly, has set his sights higher. More seriously, Sunday's gathering is a timely reminder that urban Indians need to get fitter. Doctors say India's cities are riding a diabetes and heart disease epidemic. India's diabetes rate jumped an alarming 123% between 1990 and 2013, compared to 45% worldwide, a new study found. One in four Indians die of heart disease. Obesity is on the rise. As the middle class swells and grows richer, more Indians are leading desk-bound, sedentary work lives and enduring stressful commutes in pedestrian-unfriendly cities, where there is no culture of walking. Gorging on junk food and fat-rich diets doesn't help matters. If Mr Modi's move encourages more Indians to take to yoga - with or without the spirituality attached to it - it would have served a purpose in making more Indians healthier. The moment Mr Modi's government unveiled its mega yoga plans, political rivals cried foul. Mayawati, the feisty leader of India's Dalits (formerly known as untouchables) said Mr Modi's party and its hardline allies were trying to use yoga to "vitiate communal harmony". The main opposition Congress party has taken pot-shots at the event, and a senior party spokesperson issued a snarky broadside: Some Muslim clerics are uneasy about the government's motives and equate Mr Modi's government's promotion of yoga with promoting Hinduism. A recent story by Reuters was headlined: PM Modi's yoga offensive gets Muslims stressed. Firebrand ruling BJP MP Yogi Adityanath fanned the flames by saying that those who opposed the surya namaskar - a series of yoga positions designed to greet Surya, the Hindu Sun God - "should drown in the sea" - a remark that was swiftly put down by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. The government has even taken out the sun salutation exercise from Sunday's performance, and is very keen to showcase it as secular. Political analyst Neerja Chowdhury says Sunday's event serves the prime minister well. "It's a win-win situation for Mr Modi. It boosts his image and keeps the hardliners happy," she told me. However, critics say Mr Modi's move comes at a time of rising anxiety among India's minorities, many of whom suspect that his party is trying to make India a pronouncedly Hindu nation. Analyst Ajaz Ashraf says Mr Modi's yoga celebration is a "mix of cultural nationalism, commercialisation and subtle coercion". Historian Dilip Simeon decries what he calls the "deceitful polemic about yoga" and says Indians will learn yoga not to please Hindu nationalists, "but for our health". "Yoga is part of ancient India's cultural heritage," says Manmohan Vaidya, a spokesperson of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the hardline ideological godfather of the BJP and the largest Hindu nationalist group in India. "By celebrating yoga on a mass scale we are validating our glorious past." Others say yoga is India's biggest contribution to society after, perhaps, zero and is a symbol of its cultural richness. There are concerns that India has lost control of "brand yoga" to the West - yoga is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide - although Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has said India would "never like an Intellectual Property Rights stamp on yoga". Is yoga essentially a religious activity? This BBC magazine piece has some answers. But closer to home, the Yoga Day is being seen by many as (Hindu) India "reclaiming" yoga. Wendy Doniger, leading American academic and author of The Hindus: An Alternative History, says many Hindus, concerned about their image, fear that their religion has been stereotyped in the West as a polytheistic faith of "castes, cows and curry". They look at yoga as the poster-child of Indian spiritual wisdom and the essence of Hinduism. But this, Doniger believes, ignores yoga's complex and contested history: there are at least five conflicting claims about when yoga began, including a provocative assertion by Mark Singleton that the roots of modern yoga actually do not lie in ancient India. The transnational, Anglophone yoga, Singleton argues, derives from a curious mix of British body-building and physical culture, American transcendentalism, Christian science, naturopathy, Swedish gymnastics and the YMCA. Yoga's appeal grew far and wide. Even Fritz Lang made a film about trippy yogis. In the end, as Doniger says, "for some people yoga is a religious meditation, for others an exercise routine, and for others, both". "It is a rich, multi-cultural, interdisciplinary construction, far from the pure line that its adherents often claim for it." There's no shortage of humour in India - and Sunday's event is no exception. I think sociologist Shiv Visvanathan puts it best. "[Mr Modi] is looking for a new kind of cultural revolution. I like the comic part of it - the fat cops, the bureaucrats, doing exercise. Here is India, getting fat on hamburgers and milkshakes. Modi is the Benjamin Franklin of India in many ways," he told the New York Times. Even India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh has managed to encourage officials in his office to practice yoga after work, as he keeps a watchful eye on their moves: Shripad Naik, the yoga minister, told the New York Times that yoga practice would help lower violent crime and produce better bureaucrats. "There will be a definite change in the way the bureaucracy functions," he said. "When they are thin, all their energy will go into producing better work." And popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev told a yoga rehearsal at a Delhi stadium last week that a yoga position would help "rid the world of gas". But this man practising on the soggy rain-soaked field did not quite appear to be listening to the guru's exhortations to put on the world's best yoga show on Sunday.

India is in the grip of yoga fever, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Koukash's club were docked six points and fined £5,000 for breaching the salary cap in 2014 and 2015 by the RFL. Before that ruling, he said he would go to "all-out war" with the RFL if they were found guilty. "I am in talks with a number of other chairmen to set up a meeting to bring a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the RFL," said Koukash. "They are not fit for purpose. We invest millions into rugby league and want what is the best for the sport. "I have been in the sport for four years and commercially the game has gone backwards in that time." Millionaire racehorse owner Koukash would need six of the 12 Super League clubs to call an emergency meeting and bring a no-confidence motion. In a statement, the RFL responded: "As an organisation, we are here to work for the clubs and all those with an interest in rugby league. "Our governance ensures that there is an established democratic process that a club can follow to make their voice heard and we will always listen to what they have to say. "Whilst we will continue to work hard to improve the fortunes of all clubs, a recent independent benchmarking report has demonstrated that, as a sport, we are generally in a stronger financial state than we were two years ago." Koukash will hold a press conference on Wednesday, 18 May where he is expected to discuss the recent salary cap charges further.

Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash has called for a vote of no confidence in the Rugby Football League.

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He told the BBC's Talkback programme that Gerry Adams gave him an ash tree to mark the 125th anniversary of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The Democratic Unionist Party member told the story as he reminisced about his time in the Stormont Assembly. Mr Wilson is stepping down as an MLA to concentrate on his job as an MP. The move comes ahead of a forthcoming ban on "double-jobbing" at Stormont, which will come into force next year. Speaking from his home on Tuesday, he said: "Most of my life in politics was dominated by people being killed, bombs going off, disruption in the streets, terrorism, etc. We have moved on from that and moved on very substantially." He added: "When I look down the garden, there is a symbol of how Northern Ireland has changed." The DUP member described how, during his tenure as finance minister, Mr Adams came to ask for permission to plant a tree in the grounds of Stormont to mark 125 years since the foundation of the GAA. "I think he expected me to say 'take yourself off, I'm not having any GAA tree in the grounds of Stormont'," Mr Wilson said. "I actually thought it was a step forward, that here was a body which we regarded as a nationalist sporting body, wanting to be recognised in the grounds of the parliament of Northern Ireland. "I said 'I have no difficulty with that' and he was quite taken aback. "Then I kind of joked with him and said 'Gerry, it's a bit of a change. It used to be, you lot wanted to plant bombs here, now you want to plant trees'. And at least he had the humour to laugh about it." Mr Wilson said that a few days later, the Sinn Féin leader presented him with a personal gift of an ash tree that he had grown from seed. "He said 'there's a wee thing just to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the GAA'. I've got it planted down the garden now. I suppose that's an indication of the changes that there have been in Northern Ireland," Mr Wilson added. The DUP member has been a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly since its foundation in 1998 and is one of its best known and most animated speakers. He told the programme he was a "strong supporter" of devolution and it was "difficult decision" to choose between his jobs as an MP and a Stormont MLA. Mr Wilson said he opted for Westminster as he did not expect he would get a third opportunity to be a Stormont minister because there were younger and "very able" people already in the posts. "There is no right that I would have to those positions and I supposed that if I was going to be a backbencher, I've decided better to be a backbencher in the bigger theatre of Westminster that the assembly." He said it had been a "great privilege" to serve his constituents during his time in Stormont.

Sammy Wilson has said a tree in his garden, given to him as a gift from the leader of Sinn Féin, is a symbol of political progress in Northern Ireland.

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The Scottish SPCA said the owner could not longer look after the two large lizards, a female named Pintosh and a male called Babysha. They are being cared for at the charity's centre in Drumoak. Assistant manager Claire Tyczynska said: "We are rehoming them separately as they don't get along with one another." She explained: "As they are very large and powerful animals, they aren't suited to novice reptile owners and this is why we are specifically appealing to people who have kept iguanas before. "Pintosh and Babysha are generally good natured with people, although they can be a little bit grumpy sometimes. "Due to their size, they will each need a very large vivarium with plenty of space to move around." She added: "We would like to hear from anyone who feels they have the knowledge and experience to offer Pintosh or Babysha a new home. "They will make fantastic pets for owners who will appreciate them and meet their care requirements."

New homes are being sought for a pair of iguanas in Aberdeenshire who do not get along.

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The bank will plough more profit into its capital base - the buffer it keeps to absorb surprise losses. It is now targeting a tier-1 capital ratio of 11% by the end of 2016, having already beaten its current 10% target. SocGen reported second-quarter net income of €1.35bn ($1.5bn; £943m) and revenue of €6.87bn. Analysts had estimated net income of €969m and revenue of €6.13bn. France's second-biggest listed lender said it planned to save another €850m in costs by 2017 on top of its annual target this year of €900m. Following in the footsteps of other large banks, it set aside €200m against potential litigation. Its French retail bank's revenue rose 4.2% as the economy improved, while investment banking sales advanced by 16.6%, helped out by a weak euro and stronger demand for share deals as stock markets rally. SocGen shares jumped 7% in early trading in Paris.

French bank Societe Generale has said it will boost its financial safety net as it reported earnings which beat analysts' forecasts.

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The IPCC - weren't they the ones who said the Himalayan glaciers would disappear by 2035? How can we trust what they say this time? The weight given to the reports of the IPCC is a measure of the global scale of scientific involvement with the panel. Divided into three working groups that look at the physical science, the impacts and options to limit climate change, the panel involves thousands of scientists around the world. The first report, to be presented in Stockholm, has 209 lead authors and 50 review editors from 39 countries. The 30-page Summary for Policymakers that will be published after review by government officials in the Swedish capital is based on around 9,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 50,000 comments from the expert reviewers. But among these icebergs of data, things can and do go awry. In the last report, published in 2007, there were a handful of well publicised errors, including the claim that Himalayan glaciers would disappear by 2035. The wrong percentage was also given for the amount of land in the Netherlands under sea level. The IPCC admitted it had got it wrong and explained that, in a report running to 3,000 pages, there were bound to be some mistakes. The Himalayan claim came from the inclusion of an interview that had been published in the magazine New Scientist. In its own words, the IPCC is there "to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts". The offspring of two UN bodies, the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, it has issued four heavyweight assessment reports to date on the state of the climate. These are commissioned by the governments of 195 countries, essentially the entire world. These reports are critical in informing the climate policies adopted by these governments. The IPCC itself is a small organisation, run from Geneva with a full time staff of 12. All the scientists who are involved with it do so on a voluntary basis. In 2009, a review of the way the IPCC assesses information suggested the panel should be very clear in future about the sources of the information it uses. The panel was also scarred by association with the "Climategate" rumpus. Leaked emails between scientists working for the IPCC were stolen and published in 2009. They purported to show some collusion between researchers to make climate data fit the theory of human-induced global warming more clearly. However at least three investigations found no evidence to support this conclusion. But the overall effect of these events on the panel has been to make them more cautious. Although this new report is likely to stress a greater certainty among scientists that human activities are causing climate warming, in terms of the scale, level and impacts, the word "uncertainty" features heavily. "What we are seeing now is that this working group is getting more careful than they already were," said Prof Arthur Petersen, chief scientist at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. "Overall, the message is, in that sense, more conservative I expect, for this IPCC report compared to previous ones." Hasn't global warming stopped since 1998? The 2007 IPCC report made no mention of any slowdown or standstill in temperature rises in recent decades. They pointed out that the linear warming trend over the previous 50 years was 0.13C per decade, which was twice that for the past 100 years. They forecast that, if emissions of carbon dioxide continued on their existing path, over the next century the climate would respond by warming between 2C and 4.5C, with a most likely rise of 3C. But since 2007, climate sceptics have loudly argued that global average temperatures haven't actually gone above the level recorded in 1998. The issue is now being taken more seriously by the IPCC and other respected science organisations. My colleague David Shukman summarised some of the explanations now being offered as to why the temperatures have not risen more quickly in line with the modelling. Most scientists believe that the warming has continued over the past 15 years, but more of the heat has gone into the oceans. They are unsure about the mechanisms driving this change in behaviour. The most recent peer reviewed article suggested that a periodic, natural cooling of the Pacific Ocean was counteracting the impact of carbon dioxide. "1998 was a particular hot year due to a record-breaking El Niño event, while recently we have had mostly the opposite - cool conditions in the tropical Pacific," Prof Stefan Rahmstorf, from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, told BBC News. "That warming has not stopped can be seen from the ongoing heat accumulation in the global oceans." Climate sceptics, however, argue that the pause is evidence that climate models used by the IPCC are too sensitive and exaggerate the effects of carbon dioxide. "In the last year, we have seen several studies showing that climate sensitivity is actually much less than we thought for the last 30 years," said Marcel Crok, a Dutch author who is sceptical of the IPCC process. "These studies show that our real climate has a sensitivity of between 1.5C and 2.0C. But the models are much more sensitive, and warm up three degrees." Am I going to get flooded? The 2007 IPCC report was heavily criticised for its estimations on sea level rise. The panel suggested that a warming planet would see waters around the world rise by between 18cm and 59cm by the end of this century. Heat causes the seas to expand but also increases the rate of melting of glaciers and ice sheets. The IPCC doesn't commission any new science, but reviews and condenses existing peer reviewed material. Each Summary for Policymakers is a short distillation of an underlying report that can stretch to several hundred pages. The final draft of the short summary is presented to representatives of the 195 governments who commission the report. In a hectic week before publication, every single line is gone through by the scientists and civil servants. The lead authors are in the room and can veto a change if it isn't supported in the underlying report. The IPCC figure didn't include any estimates for the extra water coming from the Greenland or Antarctic ice sheets as they said they didn't have enough accurate information. Other researchers were critical of this approach and have published studies that suggested a far higher sea level rise. But in recent months, a study funded by the European Union and involving scientists across the world, came up with what they believe is the most accurate estimate yet - and it increases the level of sea rise by just 10cm from the IPCC report. "What we are talking about is a reduction in uncertainty - we find we haven't changed the number enormously compared to AR4 (IPCC 2007 report)," said Prof David Vaughan, from the British Antarctic Survey (Bas), while speaking at the launch of the report. "We've added maybe another 10cm but the level of certainty we have around that is actually higher than it was in the AR4." Leaked details from the forthcoming report indicate that the worst sea level rise scenarios for the year 2100, under the highest emissions of carbon dioxide, could reach 97cm. Some scientists, including Prof Rahmstorf, have been unhappy with the models used by the IPCC to calculate the rise. Using what's termed a semi-empirical model, the projections for sea level can reach 2m. At that point, an extra 187 million people across the world would be flooded. But the IPCC is likely to say that there is no consensus about the semi-empirical approach and will stick with the lower figure of just under 1m. So will all this mean more flooding? "Yes, but not everywhere," said Prof Piers Forster from the University of Leeds. "Generally, the wet regions will get wetter and the dry ones drier." The report is also likely to assess the intensity of storms, and there might be some better news in that there is likely to be a downwards revision. And what about the Polar bears? The state of the North and South Poles has been of growing concern to science as the effects of global warming are said to be more intense in these regions. The IPCC has evolved a complicated way of communicating scientific certainty and confidence in a finding: very unlikely - 0-10% unlikely - 10-33% likely as not - 33-66% likely - 66-100% very likely - 90-100% Extremely likely - 95-100% Virtually certain - 99-100% Confidence is also expressed as very low, low, medium, high and very high. Evidence can can be limited, medium or robust. And levels of agreement can be low, medium or high In 2007, the IPCC said that temperatures in the Arctic increased at almost twice the global average rate in the past 100 years. They pointed out that the region can be highly variable, with a warm period observed between 1925 and 1945. In the drafts of the latest report, the scientists say there is stronger evidence that ice sheets and glaciers are losing mass and sea ice cover is decreasing in the Arctic. In relation to Greenland, which by itself has the capacity to raise global sea levels by six metres, the panel says they are 90% certain that the average rate of ice loss between 1992 and 2001 has increased six-fold in the period 2002 to 2011. While the Arctic mean sea ice extent has declined by around 4% per decade since 1979, the Antarctic has increased up to 1.8% per decade over the same time period. As for the future, the suggestions are quite dramatic. Under the worst carbon emissions scenarios, an Arctic free of sea ice in the summer by the middle of this century is likely. Some recent newspaper reports have suggested that sea ice in the Arctic has recovered in 2013, but scientists are virtually certain about the trend. "The sea ice cover on the Arctic ocean is in a downward spiral," said Prof Rahmstorf. "And much faster than IPCC predicted." And Prof Shang-Ping Xie from the University of California in San Diego told BBC News that the outlook for polar bears and other species isn't good. "There will be pockets of sea ice in some marginal seas. Hopefully, polar bears will be able to survive summer on these pockets of remaining sea ice," he said. Does the IPCC have a future? There have been growing calls for reform of the IPCC process from critics and friends alike. Many believe that these big, blockbuster reports, published once every six years, are not the way forward in the modern era. "The close government scrutiny and infrequent publication certainly fillip the climate change agenda," said Prof Forster. "But, given the pace of both science and news, perhaps it is time the IPCC moved with the Twitter generation." Many sceptical voices are also calling for changes. Marcel Crok says the whole process of the IPCC is bad for the scientific principle of open argument. "It is not designed to answer questions because the whole IPCC process, the whole consensus-building process, is choking the openness of the scientific debate," he explained. However, some argue the IPCC plays an important role as a source of information for developing countries. And again others think the organisation will survive for far more unprincipled reasons. "It is a UN body," said Prof Petersen. "It may perpetuate until eternity." Follow Matt on Twitter.

Our environment correspondent Matt McGrath looks at five critical questions now facing the Nobel prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as it prepares to present its latest report in Stockholm later this week.

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Maydown Precision Engineering (MPE) in Londonderry employs 133 staff and supplies parts to major aircraft firms. It was bought last month by Waterford-based Schivo Group, which said up to 15 jobs were "under consideration". Unite said its members received letters "warning about unspecified numbers of job losses at the company, which raises serious concerns for the future". Regional officer Philip Oakes said: "We are very disappointed that the new owners of Maydown Precision Engineering have decided to exclude the union from their plans for redundancies in the workforce. "It is unacceptable and a breach of our existing recognition agreement that we only found out about the planned job losses when members came forward with letters from management." Unite had said there was concern for the future of 140 jobs, but a spokesman for Schivo NI, formerly known as MPE, accused the union of "inaccurate and irresponsible behaviour". "Schivo NI has not breached any existing agreement with any trade union and 133 jobs at the facility in Derry are not at risk," he said. "Schivo NI recently acquired the business and assets of Maydown Precision Engineering and in line with restructuring the business, a small number of staff in roles that are not key to the growth and development of the business have been informed that the company is considering making their positions redundant. "Between 10 and 15 positions are under consideration, although at this stage nothing has been decided." He said the company was "committed to the long-term growth and development of the business in Derry".

An aerospace engineering company has rejected claims by a union that a large number of jobs are at risk.

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The 21-year-old joined Liverpool from Manchester United in 2013. She helped the Reds win back-to-back Women's Super League titles in 2013 and 2014. "I have been at Liverpool Ladies for a few years now, so I felt as though I needed a new challenge," Zelem told the club website. "I have had a wonderful four years and will take away some great memories."

England Under-23 midfielder Katie Zelem has left Liverpool Ladies to join Italian side Juventus Women for an undisclosed fee.

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Media playback is not supported on this device Players and fans clashed in Belgrade after a flag with a political message was flown into the stadium by a drone. Uefa has charged both countries' FAs. In a lengthy and emotive statement, the Albanian FA condemned the "racist violence" of the Serbia players and "negative propaganda" of their FA. "With cuts and bruises and bloody traumas to the head, the Albanian side was understandably emotionally shaken and psychologically distraught, unable to play the beautiful game in such an ugly, ugly situation," read the statement, written by Albanian FA marketing & PR director Gazmend Malo. "Yet the Serbian media has gone into high gear trying to put the blame on our beautiful boys, even contorting such ridiculous stories like the one that involves the Prime Minister's brother as the person controlling the drone. "Some Serbian media went as far as to declare that Olsi Rama was arrested, which he certainly wasn't, but the vile nature of negative propaganda thrives on such lies. "It is disheartening to hear recent statements of the Serbian Football Association, that do not muster the courage to take responsibility for their complete failure at organising a safe international sporting event. "The Serbian side seems unable to condemn the violence, extremism and racism that was displayed at Belgrade, but rather, they seem too busy weaving political statements that do not serve any purpose but to defend the shameful acts of racist violence and the unsportsmanlike conduct of their players, fans and security staff." Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic attempted to pull the banner down as it was carried over the pitch by the drone, sparking clashes between players and fans that led to English referee Martin Atkinson abandoning the game in the 41st minute with the score at 0-0. Albania's Bekim Balaj attempted to retrieve the flag from Mitrovic and was attacked by a pitch invader with a plastic chair. But the 23-year-old said: "With the players we have no problem. Even the Serbian guys, they tried to stop this situation." The statement from the Albanian FA comes a day after the Serbian FA (FFS) released its own, which accused its counterpart of being part of a political plot "whose sole aim was to force the game to be abandoned". "The incident itself and the behaviour of the Albanian players, coach and staff leaves no room for doubt that they were part of a synchronised plan to stop the match," the statement read. "For the truth and justice we will not and do not want to allow the perpetrators who violated football to present themselves as victims." Uefa has charged FSS with insufficient organisation, crowd disturbance, setting off/throwing of fireworks and missiles, field invasion by supporters and the use of a laser pointer, while the Albanian FA is charged with "refusing to play" and the "display of an illicit banner". The European governing body's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will hear the case on 23 October. This is the latest incident in the history of turbulent relations between the Balkans rivals. Much of the conflict relates to the former Serbian province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 and has a mainly Albanian population. It has been recognised by the United States and major European Union countries, but Serbia refuses to do so, as do most ethnic Serbs inside Kosovo.

Albania players were left "emotionally shaken and psychologically distraught" by the violence that caused their Euro qualifier with Serbia to be abandoned, says the nation's football association.

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Chinese jade and rhino horn were targeted in Cambridge, Durham, Norwich and Lewes, East Sussex. The 14 men, from across England and Northern Ireland, were convicted of conspiracy to steal between November 2011 and April 2012. They were jailed for between 15 months and six years, eight months. How police caught up with the £57m theft masterminds Follow live updates on this story and other Cambridgeshire news The members of the organised crime gang, from Cambridgeshire, Essex, London, the West Midlands and Belfast were found guilty by jury after a series of trials at Birmingham Crown Court. They were involved in organising two thefts and an attempted theft at Durham University Oriental Museum as well as further incidents at Gorringes Auction House in Lewes, Norwich Castle Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Jurors heard exhibits stolen in Durham and Cambridge were valued at about £17m but detectives believed they could have fetched up to £57m on the "booming" Chinese auction market. The six sentenced on Tuesday were: A further seven members of the gang were jailed on Monday: A 14th gang member, Robert Gilbert-Smith, 27, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty on 10 March 2015 and was sentenced to 15 months in jail on 27 April 2015. The gang hit the jackpot when their hired burglars made off with jade valued at about £15m from Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum, but before that not everything went to plan: Det Supt Adrian Green, from Durham Constabulary, who led a four-year covert investigation to bring the gang to justice, said the case had been "like putting together a huge jigsaw with no picture to go on". "Because of the complexity we were only able to get a conspiracy to steal and that's capped at seven years, which is a bit of a shame." Some of the sentences were fairly short compared to the seven, eight or nine-year sentences handed to some of those who carried out the burglaries, he said. "I'm just really pleased that we've been able to bring them to justice."

The final six members of a gang have been jailed for masterminding the theft of artefacts worth up to £57m from museums and an auction house.

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Fu Yuanhui, one of China's swimming stars, became an overnight social media sensation thanks to her frank post-race interviews and exaggerated expressions. Now, she's become a talking point online again - for breaking a sporting taboo by talking about her period. China missed out on a medal in the women's 4x100m medley relay on Sunday, coming fourth. After the match, team-mates Lu Ying, Shi Jinglin and Zhu Menghui were interviewed by a reporter - but Fu was initially nowhere to be found. It turns out she was crouched behind a board, doubled over in pain. When the journalist asked her (in Chinese) if she was OK, Fu said: "I didn't swim well enough this time," and apologised to her team-mates. "It's because my period came yesterday, so I felt particularly tired - but this isn't a reason, I still didn't swim well enough." It was a poignant moment for many Chinese viewers, who took to social media to express their support for her. "I really admire Fu Yuanhui, for swimming while she was on her period - women can be affected during their periods, especially with period pain... she felt guilty for coming fourth, but Fu Yuanhui we're still very proud of you," user TAO wrote on Sina Weibo. It's also sparked a discussion about tampons - which are not widely used in China. According to one industry survey, only 2% of women in China use tampons - compared to 42% of US women. Many women weren't familiar with how to use them, or had not heard of them before, the survey by Cotton Inc said. "Someone accused Fu of lying, asking how she could have gone in the water on her period," weibo user Dvingnew wrote. "Chinese people have prejudices about tampons - women in their 30s around me are ignorant about tampons, and full of fear about tampons." And there may also be cultural factors at play too - some Chinese women have been told to avoid using tampons because it could stop them from being virgins, despite health experts pointing out that the two things are unrelated. One poster defending tampons wrote: "Who told you virgins can't use tampons?...Come on, it's the 21st Century." According to reports, China's first domestic tampon brand may be launched soon - which may encourage more women to swim while on their periods. The subject of competing while menstruating is "definitely a taboo", Georgie Bruinvels, a sports scientist, tells the BBC. "A lot of [elite] sport coaches are men, and that makes it harder for women, who don't want to say 'I'm on my menstrual cycle'. "We need incidents like this to raise the issue" and encourage more research, she says. Ms Bruinvels surveyed over 1,800 sportswomen as part of her work as a researcher at the Female Athlete Health Group - a collaborative project between St Mary's University and University College London. "More than half the sportswomen I surveyed said they felt their menstrual cycle affected their performance." While there is not enough research into the impact of periods on sport, Ms Bruinvels says, one potential factor she was researching was iron deficiency. "Menstruation is the leading cause of iron deficiency in the developed world, but many women are not aware they have it. "There could be an impact on the amount of time you can exercise, and the maximum amount of oxygen" an athlete can use, and she recommends that sportswomen who feel they've been affected get their iron levels tested.

Competing in the Olympics is stressful at the best of times - but imagine doing so while having your period.

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Police responded to reports of cars being driven dangerously near Marrowbone Millennium Park on the Oldpark Road late on Wednesday. Officers found one abandoned car in the area and a second car leaving the scene at speed. The police gave chase and the helicopter was called in when speeds reached in excess of 100 mph. The car, a Volkswagon Golf, sped off through Newtownabbey, Doagh, Ballymena, Broughshane and Carnlough. The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed on the Munie Road, between Glenarm and Ballymena, at about 01:10 BST. The occupants of the car made off as police arrived at the scene, but the vehicle was seized and is being examined by forensic officers. Insp Paul Noble said: "The car has now been recovered and will be forensically examined. "The gates to the Millennium Park were damaged as a result of the earlier incident and the abandoned car set alight in the grounds of the park. "Enquiries are ongoing at present and I would appeal to anyone with any information to contact 101."

A PSNI helicopter was called out during a high-speed police chase across 40 miles of road in County Antrim.

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The search is now on for volunteers to help target the money in rural parts of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham. They will form local action groups with the regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd administering the scheme. Cadwyn Clwyd manager Lowri Owain said: "The main qualification will be that they have their finger on the pulse of their area."

Rural areas in north east Wales are set to receive £6m over the next five years to help their regeneration.

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The Englishman, 40, took the last two frames, sealing victory with a break of 55 to claim his first ranking title since the 2015 World Championship. Bingham had led 4-0 in the early stages and came through a scrappy final session that saw a highest break of 63. "Unbelievable," said the world number two. "To get my hands on another trophy means everything." Compatriot Trump, 27, cut the early deficit to 5-3 by taking the last frame of the afternoon session and moved 7-6 and 8-7 ahead in the evening. However, Bingham got back on level terms and, after Trump missed an early opportunity in the decider, it was the former world champion who prevailed with a clearance. "I honestly felt that Judd outclassed me from the word go," said Bingham. "The first two frames were massive but it was only from his mistake that I cleared up and won. "I've been knocking on the door since October, playing pretty well. I thought it wasn't going to happen here and hats off to Judd, from 4-0 down a lot of people would have crumbled and given up." Trump said: "It was tough. I missed a few chances early on. I kind of threw it away in the first four frames. "I missed too many easy balls and even tonight when I was getting back into it, I missed another easy ball. On the whole I did well to get back into it, it was just the odd shot here and there that cost me."

Stuart Bingham held his nerve in a tense final frame to beat Judd Trump 9-8 and win his first Welsh Open title.

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The Cavan woman will throw the ball in at the Dr McKenna Cup match between Fermanagh and St Mary's at Brewster Park, Enniskillen. Farrelly has previously refereed in quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Cavan Senior Football Championship. In 2012, she was a sideline official for an Ulster Club Senior Football tie. Last year she became the first female to take charge of an inter-county game when she was in the middle for the Ulster minor Championship fixture between Fermanagh and Antrim. Despite only taking up refereeing in 2008, she joined the Ulster GAA Referee Academy in 2011. Her first final came the following year, when she refereed the Cavan All-County League decider. In 2014, she refereed the county Under-21 final, the All-Ireland Ladies' Senior Final and was named Ulster GAA Referee of the Year.

Maggie Farrelly will make history on 3 January when she becomes the first female referee to take charge of a senior inter-county game.

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Alan Dawson, 64, of Newcroft Road, Urmston, was convicted of seven counts of indecent assault and one count of rape at Manchester Crown Court. He was part of the congregation at Mauldeth Road Gospel Hall, Withington. Police said he abused four girls between the 1960s and the 1980s, who were than aged between 11 and 16. The abuse took place at Dawson's home in Didsbury and at the homes of the girls. He gained the trust of the victims and their families at the church, with the abuse starting as "playful wrestling" before it escalated, officers said. One of the girls reported the abuse to police in December 2013. Det Con Terina Arthern said: "Dawson held a position of trust within the church a position he abused in the worst way possible. "He took the trust placed upon him to befriend young girls and their families and then sexually abused them over a period stretching nearly two decades."

A man who ran a Sunday school has been jailed for 16 years for historical sexual abuse against girls.

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Crews were called to the unit in Stonebridge, Milton Keynes at about 22:15 BST. Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Service said no-one was injured and the fire was contained within the building. A spokesman said the site, off Fingle Drive, was believed to be used by a furniture business.

A factory has been "severely damaged" in a blaze which was tackled by firefighters.

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Elland Bridge in Elland partially collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday after significant flooding in the area. A barge was wedged against the grade II listed bridge and several others were left stranded on the towpath after high water receded. Councillor Tim Swift said the crossing would not reopen until December at the earliest. A temporary footbridge has been installed over the canal near the the bridge. Road diversions are also in place. Calderdale Council said it had been having regular discussions with the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which owns the bridge. Cllr Swift said: "We have requested CRT make an immediate start to designing a replacement for Elland Bridge. "Unfortunately this will be a major project and initial estimates are that a new bridge would not be in operation until at least December 2016." Other bridges in Yorkshire suffered serious damage during the recent floods, including Tadcaster Bridge in Tadcaster.

A damaged road bridge in Calderdale is beyond repair and will need to be replaced, the council leader has said.

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Media playback is not supported on this device Two Jack Conan tries in the first half gave Leinster a healthy lead at half time, and Jamison Gibson-Park extended their advantage after the break. Adam Hughes crossed for the hosts to claw back Leinster's 14-3 half-time lead before the Irish province rallied. Richardt Strauss, James Tracy, Hayden Triggs and Luke McGrath all touched down for the visitors late on. Munster's 30-21 defeat by the Scarlets means that Leinster leapfrog their Irish rivals to move top thanks to their demolition of Kingsley Jones' side. The result means the Dragons, who had to play without Wales wing Ashton Hewitt due to concussion protocols in the lead up to the match, remain 10th in the table. After a period of momentum from the hosts before the break, hopes of a Dragons comeback seemed to be extinguished in the last play of the first half, when Dorian Jones hit the crossbar with a penalty. Despite being stunned by an influx of tries by Leinster in the second period, Matthew Screech crossed to keep the home fans entertained. Sarel Pretorius scored a late try to take the Dragons past the 20-point mark and round off a game which saw 11 tries scored by either side. Newport Gwent Dragons: Carl Meyer; Adam Hughes, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Pat Howard; Dorian Jones, Tavis Knoyle; Sam Hobbs, Elliot Dee, Brok Harris, Nick Crosswell, Rynard Landman, Ollie Griffiths, Nic Cudd, Lewis Evans (capt) Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Thomas Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Sarel Pretorius, Angus O'Brien, Adam Warren Leinster: Joey Carbery; Adam Byrne, Zane Kirchner, Noel Reid, Fergus McFadden; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Peter Dooley, Richardt Strauss (capt), Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Peadar Timmins, Jack Conan, Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Mike Ross, Hayden Triggs, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Cathal Marsh, Barry Daly Referee: Marius Mitrea Assistant referees: Claudio Blessano and Robert Price

Leinster moved top of the Pro12 table with an eight-try thrashing of Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

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Slade was moved to head of football in Cardiff in May and replaced as manager by Paul Trollope. The former Grimsby Town and Brighton boss left the Bluebirds on 3 June after just 28 days in his new role and was named Charlton boss three days later. "That was my decision, I instigated that," said Slade, who joined Cardiff from Leyton Orient in October 2014. Slade continued, "I believe in my own ability. I've been at Leyton Orient more recently for four and a half years. "[I had] a couple of seasons at Cardiff but it was a mutual decision for me to leave and come to Charlton." Slade has agreed a three-year deal at The Valley and is the club's sixth manager since March 2014. Charlton were relegated to League One after finishing third-from-bottom in the Championship in 2015-16 and nine points adrift of safety, ending a four year spell in the second tier. "I thought it was a good opportunity," Slade added. "The club maybe has lost its way, certainly last season. "But it's an opportunity for me to get this club back on its feet and going in the right direction."

Russell Slade says he "instigated" his departure from Cardiff City to become manager of Charlton.

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12 March 2015 Last updated at 13:26 GMT It's part of its push to make the UK more digital. One million Micro Bits will be given to all pupils starting secondary school in the autumn term. The BBC is also launching a season of coding-based programmes and activities. It will include a new drama about the creation of Grand Theft Auto and a documentary on Bletchley Park. The initiative is part of a wider push to increase digital skills among young people. The UK is facing a significant skills shortage, with 1.4 million "digital professionals" estimated to be needed over the next five years. The BBC is joining others like the British Computing Society, BT, Google, Code Club and Young Rewired State to try to solve the problem. It is hoped that the Micro Bit will encourage children to get involved in coding and programming. The device is tiny - fitting easily into the palm of a hand. Children will be able to create text via a series of LED lights. They will also be able to use it to create basic games. Watch two young children making a robot at home.

The BBC is be giving away a million mini-computers to 11-year-olds across the country.

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Nearly 1,000 demonstrators clashed with scores of black-helmeted riot police in the capital Kiev, with both sides using pepper spray and law enforcement officials wielding batons to disperse the crowds. The protesters had gathered on the previous day, after the country's parliament unexpectedly passed a controversial law that granted official status to the Russian language in regions where it is predominantly spoken. Language is a contentious issue in Ukraine. Many here view the use of the Ukrainian language as central to the country's identity. They believe that - after centuries of Russian and Soviet hegemony - to be a true Ukrainian, one must speak Ukrainian. Anything less is to surrender to the country's one-time cultural and political masters in Moscow - where many still view Ukraine as a Russian appendage - and ultimately threatens the country's continued independence. "This law is sending an incredibly powerful signal that the Ukrainian language is not needed," said Roman Tsupryk, a political commentator and chairman of the editorial board of the Ukrainian weekly "Tyzhden" (Week). "People don't see the mechanism behind it, but they will see the consequences in a year or a year and half." People in the country's Russian-speaking east and south have a predictably different view on the matter. They say that they are patriotic Ukrainians - just ones that speak another language - and they simply wish to have the right to speak their native tongue in courts, government offices and schools, as the new legislation stipulates. They also bristle at the accusation - especially in the country's west, where Ukrainian is predominantly spoken - that they are any less Ukrainian than the rest of the country. "I speak Russian - what's the big problem?" said Ruslan, a taxi driver in the eastern city of Donetsk, who asked to use only his first name. "Why do people in the west get to say who is Ukrainian and who isn't?" Given the intense emotions on either side of the language debate, however, the question arises why President Viktor Yanukovych's ruling Party of Regions chose this moment to stir up this particular hornet's nest? Some analysts believe the new language law is an opening salvo in the government's campaign for parliamentary elections in October. The law, touching on a cultural hot button, they say, serves a dual purpose - it distracts the electorate from more pressing issues like Ukraine's continued economic slump, and it riles up the political "base." "Every time we have elections, the issue of language is there," said Oleh Rybachuk, a cabinet member in the previous government and now an independent analyst. "Language is not so important - it is not among the top 15 priorities of the people. But for some reason, every time we have elections, we have that issue." According to Mr Rybachuk, however, opposition politicians also welcome this issue, since it allows them to mobilise their own constituency. But this could have disastrous consequences. "This kind of cementing of constituencies really divides the country," he says, adding that the unrest "creates space for radicals from both side." "It's easy to provoke a conflict, to shed blood," he adds. Granted, not all of Ukraine is divided into two opposing camps - and it remains to be seen how this pro and anti-Russian stand-off will play out among the rest of the population. A short, informal survey around the capital Kiev, a city which speaks both Russian and Ukrainian, yielded (tentatively) some unpredictable results. A number of native Russian speakers said that they were against giving Russian official status. They felt that ultimately Ukrainian should be the country's dominant mode of communication. While Ukrainian speakers said that they did not oppose giving Russian a more elevated status. "Ukrainian will win out in the end," said Svitlana, a native Ukrainian speaker who supported the new legislation. Whether the law becomes a reality is still an open question, however. In order for it to enter into force, it needs to be signed by the parliament speaker, who has tendered his resignation in protest over its passing, and President Yanukovych. The Ukrainian leader said that he would reach a decision after he "studied all questions" relating to the legislation.

On Wednesday, just days after the country celebrated the final whistle of the European football championships, Ukraine once again demonstrated its position as one of the former Soviet Union's more turbulent political cultures.

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Gary Fung announced the settlement with Music Canada via a blog published at the weekend. Isohunt was shut down in 2013, when Mr Fung agreed to pay $110m to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). One researcher said the cases could set a "worrying" precedent for those who run sites that may link to pirated content. A court order associated with the decision details the fees as follows: 55m Canadian dollars in damages, C$10m in "punitive, exemplary and aggravated damages" and a further C$1m to cover legal costs. The total amounts to 50m US dollars. The case dates from a legal order sent in May 2008 by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), now known as Music Canada. Previously, Mr Fung had promised users that he would not disclose their data - including email and IP addresses - during legal proceedings. "I've kept my word regarding users' privacy," he wrote. Isohunt did not host pirated media, but rather provided users with a directory of sources from where illegal files could be downloaded. The same model is used by The Pirate Bay, which is currently blocked in the UK. It's possible that cases like this could set a "worrying" precedent for social media websites, according to Ben Zevenbergen, a researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute. "Think of social media websites like Facebook where everyone shares their favourite songs with their friends - would these services need to employ full-time copyright police?" he said. He added: "Further, I truly wonder whether a penny of these fines ends up on artists' royalty checks, but I highly doubt it."

The owner of piracy site Isohunt has agreed to settle a music industry group lawsuit for $50m (£38m).

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Manar moved to Britain just three weeks ago, when her family was relocated to Bradford in West Yorkshire, from a camp in Lebanon. Her mum, Mariam, decided that Manar and her four sisters had no choice but to leave Syria after their neighbour's house was destroyed by a falling plane as war and fighting in the country got worse and worse. But it's taken three years for them to begin their new life in the UK. Speaking to Newsround reporter Ricky, Manar has been explaining how the war turned the country she loved upside down. Manar grew up in city of Idlib in north-western Syria. She said: "Before the war, it was really lovely. We used to come and go safely, we felt very comfortable." But Idlib is a region that has seen heavy fighting since 2011. Manar added: "We were really scared from hearing all the missiles and the shooting. We could hear gunfire and see the airplanes in the sky. Once it shelled near us, so we were terribly scared. We used to tell our mother just to get us out." The British Prime Minister David Cameron recently visited camps in countries close to Syria, such as Lebanon and Jordan, after announcing that the UK would take in an extra 20,000 refugees. And it was in similar camps where Manar ended up after leaving her home. She says it's an experience she does not want to repeat. She said: "It wasn't nice at all because we were being insulted and humiliated. No one respected us." Manar and her family are among 200 people who've moved to Bradford as part of a special scheme. She says being able to walk around freely is something amazing and she dreams of one day becoming a doctor. Watch her full story above and you can find out more about what's happening in Syria by clicking here.

An 11-year-old girl, who's just arrived in the UK from Syria, has been describing why she had to leave and how life in a refugee camp left her feeling insulted and humiliated.

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The Guardian said leaked Treasury documents suggested the measure could take effect in April 2016, benefiting more than 20,000 estates by 2020. The measure will not be included in Wednesday's Budget but could feature in the party's election manifesto. But the Lib Dems said the plans were a "cynical" pre-election move. The Conservatives announced plans in 2007 to raise the inheritance tax threshold for passing on property and other assets to £1m. It was a pledge in the party's 2010 election. However, the Lib Dems blocked any changes as part of their coalition agreement and inheritance tax thresholds have remained frozen since 2009. Under current rules, no tax is paid on the first £325,000 of an estate's value. The allowance can also be transferred between married couples making it worth £650,000. According to the Guardian, the Conservatives are considering plans for a new tax-free band worth £175,000 per person applying specifically to family homes or main residences passed on to a direct descendant of the deceased. This, it claimed, would be transferrable between married couples making it worth a maximum of £350,000. It could then be added to the existing inheritance tax threshold, meaning that in some circumstances properties worth up to £1m could escape inheritance tax altogether. The plans, which would not be as generous as the Conservatives' 2010 inheritance tax policy, would reportedly cost about £1bn. As part of the plans, allowances for estates worth more than £2m would be progressively withdrawn in relation to their value. This "taper" scheme could result in about 2,000 estates paying up to £260,000 more inheritance tax by 2016-17, assuming the plans were introduced in 2016. The paper, written by Treasury officials for the Conservative minister David Gauke, notes the scheme would be "very popular with the public and in the media" and would primarily benefit "high income and wealthier households". "It will allow you to say you are exempting those with modest homes from inheritance tax, with up to £1m of assets exempted in certain circumstances," it states. "This reflects the concern raised by the public about rising house prices increasingly leading to estates with a modest house particularly in London and the south east paying inheritance tax." When he was shadow chancellor, George Osborne said the Conservatives would raise the Inheritance Tax threshold to £1m, the announcement coming in the autumn of 2007 amid speculation that the then prime minister Gordon Brown would call a snap election. But the idea has not been seriously discussed since 2010. Asked whether it was now being revived, Conservative business minister Matthew Hancock said "he did not know about that", merely saying that the idea had been "floated seven or eight years ago". "That was in in our last manifesto just over five years ago," he told the BBC. Mr Cable said many people in his west London constituency were concerned about inheritance tax and he understood the "human instinct" to pass on property to children. But he said the plan sent a "very bad signal about the chancellor's priorities", which he said should be focused on reducing the tax burden on the lowest-paid. "This is an old chestnut that is wheeled out before every election," he told the BBC. Earlier this year, David Cameron said he would like to "go further" and take more families out of inheritance tax but warned about the cost of such a move. But speaking on Tuesday, Mr Cameron said inheritance tax was "not something in the Budget" and dismissed suggestions the Lib Dems were standing in the way of his plans. UKIP leader Nigel Farage told the BBC's Daily Politics he would abolish inheritance tax altogether, suggesting this "common sense, straight forward" move was the only way of helping people under-40 get on the property ladder in London. The Treasury collected £3.4bn in inheritance tax in 2013-4, an 8.6% increase on the year before. However, yields remain below their peak of £3.8bn from 2007-8. Nearly 16,000 estates were liable for inheritance tax in 2011-12 but this is projected to increase to 56,100 by the end of the next Parliament in 2020 as a result of house price inflation and the freeze in tax thresholds. The proposed changes envisage that this number would fall to 34,300 by 2020.

The Conservatives have reportedly drawn up plans to allow some parents to leave homes worth up to £1m to their children without paying inheritance tax.

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Redwan El-Ghaidouni, 38, was shot eight times through his car window in Uxbridge, west London, last year. A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder on Friday and released on bail until mid-June pending further inquiries. It follows the arrest of a 41-year-old man, a 29-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman on Wednesday. They were also held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and bailed until June. Father-of-three Mr El-Ghaidouni was shot after pulling into his driveway at about 19:00 GMT on 3 February 2015. He was killed at the home he shared with his partner and three children on the junction of St Andrews Road and Vine Lane. Police believe there were failed attempts to shoot Mr El-Ghaidouni on 31 January and 2 February 2015. "As we've previously said, Redwan did have a criminal past and had been linked to drug importation," Det Ch Insp McHugh Noel said. "He had been released from prison almost seven months before his death but he had been working full-time at a car dealership and enjoying being a family man again. "We continue to look into his background for answers about what happened but whatever the circumstances, his murder has left three young sons without a father and his long-term partner devastated." A £50,000 reward is being offered for information.

A fourth person has been arrested in connection with the death of a man who was shot dead on his driveway.

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The song, which features Bruno Mars, was due out in January. The British DJ and producer changed the date after it was performed on the X Factor on Saturday. Contestant Fleur East's version of the song spent three days on top of the iTunes chart before being trumped by Ronson's original. Uptown Funk is the first single from Ronson's Uptown Special album which is due out next year. Fleur East admitted that she performed the song after being handed it a just hours before the live show. She said: "I don't think anyone expected my performance to be as popular as it was. "We didn't expect it to go to number one on iTunes. That's crazy like." Seemingly wanting to benefit from the hype generated by Fleur, Mark Ronson, bought forward the song's release date. X Factor boss Simon Cowell and Mark Ronson are both under the Columbia Records umbrella and critics have suggested this is a clever PR move. Changing the release date of the song was seen as a gamble by some. Uptown Funk has entered the charts at the most competitive time of year - the race for Christmas number one. Although some bookmakers have suspended bets on the song staying on top of the charts over the festive period. However it faces competition from the Band Aid charity single and the X Factor's winner's single - which ironically could belong Fleur. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Mark Ronson was forced to release Uptown Funk five weeks early but that hasn't stopped the track racing to the top of the Official Singles Chart.

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The 36-year-old started his career with the Shrimps and helped them win promotion to the Football League, scoring in their play-off final win over Exeter in 2007. "I'm absolutely buzzing to be honest. I'm so glad to be back," Thompson said. Morecambe have also re-signed 34-year-old midfielder Michael Rose on a one-year deal. Rose made 50 appearances for the Shrimps last season after joining on a one-year deal in August. "I spoke to the manager last season and there was never really any doubts in my mind that I would re-sign," he said. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Morecambe have re-signed veteran forward Garry Thompson on a one-year deal after his release by Wycombe.

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Liu Xiaoming said President Xi Jinping's state visit would focus on "partnership" and "co-operation" between the two countries. The state visit, the first from China since 2005, begins on Tuesday. Mr Corbyn's spokesman has said he will use the visit to discuss human rights. He is due to have a private meeting with the Chinese president, and has not ruled out using a state banquet at Buckingham Palace to make his case. But Mr Liu told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I don't think the Labour Party will raise this issue at a state banquet... I don't think so." The president, he said, will be "here for co-operation, for partnership, he's not here for debate about human rights". Mr Liu said it was "natural" there were differences between China and the UK, suggesting Chinese people care more about jobs and housing. "We do not shy away from discussions about human rights," he said, adding that he had a "good meeting" with Mr Corbyn last week and that China was "not interested in microphone diplomacy". "First of all, I think the state banquet is for Her Majesty, it is her show, either Jeremy Corbyn or others are her guest," he said. President Xi is also expected to address Parliament and hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. David Mepham, UK director of campaign group Human Rights Watch, accused the ambassador of "empty rhetoric". He told the BBC News Channel: "What Human Rights Watch and others have documented over the last three years since Xi came to power as the president of China is a very rapid and marked deterioration in the human rights climate in China." Mr Mepham said there had been a "ferocious assault on human rights activists" in China, with "scores" of people sent to prison over the last three years, some of whom had been ill-treated and tortured. He said it was right for Mr Corbyn, along with Mr Cameron and other cabinet members, to address human rights issues. Mr Mepham added that activists in China said the public spotlight was vital for their own protection and to put increasing pressure on the Chinese government. Mr Liu also played down the significance of the absence of the Prince of Wales from the banquet in Buckingham Palace, saying the prince would be present on "separate occasions". After reports the prince was "staying away" from the event, royal officials said he would have "significant involvement" in the state visit, including meeting President Xi and his wife and a formal welcome on Horse Guards Parade. On Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, whose latest exhibition is at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Mr Liu said "he is not my taste". "There are so many talented Chinese artists but yet - there are many, much better than him - why is he so famous? "Because he is critical of Chinese government," he told The Andrew Marr Show. Mr Liu said the artist had "never been put behind bars" but had been under investigation for having been suspected of "destroying accounting documents".

China's ambassador to the UK says his country does not "shy away" from discussing human rights - but doubts Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will raise the issue at next week's state banquet.

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