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South Korea has returned from a public holiday. At the end of the session, the Kospi index closed up 1.75% at 2,015.93.
In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended the Thursday session higher by 3.2% at 16,911.05.
That is the highest closing level for the index this month.
The Japanese currency has steadily weakened to a one-week low against the US dollar.
Overnight, the yen was at 109.21 against the US dollar, after trading at about 107 earlier in the week.
A weaker Japanese currency would be welcomed by many Japanese exporters, as that would make their goods cheaper and more competitive overseas.
Shares in electronics giant Panasonic closed up by 4.1%. Shares of car manufacturer Toyota gained 3.25%, while its rival Nissan saw a 2.5% gain at the close of trade.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index added 0.89% or 187.71 points to 21,346.42.
On the mainland in China, the Shanghai Composite index edged up 0.06% to 3,068.58.
In Australia, the benchmark S&P ASX 200 closed up 1.3% - or 63.95 points - at 5,118.6, rounding off three days of gains.
Mining stocks led the rally in Australian markets, following a jump in iron ore prices. Shares of BHP Billiton surged by 5.3% at the close, while shares of rival Rio Tinto were up by 2.5%.
Data from Australia showed the economy added 26,100 jobs in March. That led to a dip in the unemployment rate to 5.7% - the lowest rate since September 2013. In February, the unemployment rate was at 5.8%.
The latest data could ease pressure on the Australian central bank to lower interest rates further, to help spur economic growth.
The central bank's key lending rate is currently at a record low of 2%. The last rate cut was in May 2015.
US markets closed positive overnight, led by gains in shares of financial institutions.
JPMorgan shares surged by more than 4% after it reported a quarterly profit that beat market expectations for the three months to March. JPMorgan is the biggest US bank by assets. | Asian stock markets held on to gains in Thursday trading, following the positive trend from US and European markets. | 36041826 |
Mokhtar Belmokhtar was killed in the eastern city of Ajdabiya, a statement from Libya's government said.
The US says Belmokhtar was targeted and the strike was successful, but it is assessing the operation's results and would give details "as appropriate".
Mokhtar Belmokhtar's death has been reported many times in the past.
Born in Algeria, Belmokhtar was a former senior figure in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), but left to form his own militia.
He gained notoriety with the attack on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria in 2013, when about 800 people were taken hostage and 40 killed, most of them foreigners, including six Britons and three Americans.
The US has filed terror charges against him and officials said they believed he remained a threat to Western interests.
"Belmokhtar has a long history of leading terrorist activities as a member of AQIM, is the operational leader of the al-Qaeda-associated al-Murabitoun organisation in north-west Africa, and maintains his personal allegiance to al-Qaeda," said Pentagon spokesman Col Steve Warren.
The Libyan government said the strike came after consultation with the US. Their statement said it resulted in the death of the "terrorist Belmokhtar".
Libya has been in chaos since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Its internationally recognised parliament is operating in exile in the eastern port of Tobruk.
A rival parliament, the Islamist-dominated General National Congress, is nearly 1,000km (620 miles) to the west in Tripoli.
Rival militia have been battling to fill the power vacuum, with Islamic State militants battling other Islamists in the east. | A top Islamist militant who ordered a deadly attack on an Algerian gas plant two years ago has been killed in a US air strike in Libya, officials say. | 33129838 |
The rescue means that nine people have been recovered alive from the Rigopiano hotel in the eastern Abruzzo region.
At least 15 people are still missing after the avalanche that came after several earthquakes and heavy snowfall.
While one more survivor has yet to be rescued, Italian media said other voices may have been heard in the ruins during the night.
Five people have been confirmed dead.
The first five survivors were taken to safety on Friday, some 40 hours after the avalanche hit on Wednesday.
They had reportedly taken refuge beneath a collapsed portion of ceiling, where they were able to light a fire to keep warm for two days.
The rescue has been hampered by deep snow blocking an access road.
There are also concerns that further avalanches could follow, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported.
The first person pulled out on Friday was an eight-year-old boy, the son of a holidaymaker, Giampiero Parete, who had gone to his car when the avalanche struck and first sounded the alarm by calling his boss.
The boy's mother, Adriana, was pulled out next, telling rescue workers her six-year-old daughter was still trapped inside.
The little girl was also later saved and the family was reunited at a hospital in the coastal town of Pescara.
Hospital officials told the Associated Press news agency they had symptoms of hypothermia and dehydration, but were otherwise in good health.
Reports said all four children who survived did so because they were all playing in the same games room, that avoided the worst of the damage.
The latest rescues, of two men and two women, took place at about 03:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Saturday.
Wednesday's earthquakes included four stronger than magnitude 5, in a region already struggling with heavy snowfall that buried phone lines and took out power cables.
Many of the guests had gathered on the ground floor of the hotel to await evacuation following the earthquakes.
But the avalanche completely buried the hotel at about 17:00 (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
The force of the snow partially brought down the roof and, according to some reports, shifted the building 10m (32 feet) off its foundations.
Rescuers, who were forced to ski and shovel their way towards the site of the avalanche, were reportedly only dispatched hours later.
Rescuers are unsure of the exact total of people - guests and staff - who were at the hotel, but say it could be as many as 35.
Italy has seen a wave of damaging earthquakes in recent months. The Apennines region saw three magnitude-6 tremors between August and October.
It is believed that the geological stress is spread across a number of fault lines in Italy's mountain ranges - with recent earthquakes as the result. | Four more people were rescued overnight from a hotel in Italy destroyed by an avalanche three days ago. | 38703592 |
Page, 20, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract at The Valley.
He made three first-team appearances for West Ham, all in the Europa League, and has previously been on loan at Coventry City and Cambridge United.
"He's quick, likes to get forward and is a good crosser. I really like that in a full-back," Charlton manager Karl Robinson told the club website.
"I got a chance to see him during his loan spell at Coventry and he's a left-back that fits in well with our system.
"We're building a squad here to get into that top six and Lewis will be an important part of what we are trying to do."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | League One club Charlton have signed left-back Lewis Page from West Ham for an undisclosed fee. | 38536025 |
Nadal faced a match point but the 18-year-old German missed an easy volley - admitting: "On match point I sucked."
Three-time champion Nadal plays Japan's Kei Nishikori next and could face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Serena Williams beat defending champion Simona Halep 6-4 6-3 to reach the last four in the women's draw.
The world number one now plays Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 7-6 and will reclaim the world number two ranking when the new list is released on Monday.
"She knows how to play in big stadiums and big matches, big games," Williams said of Halep.
Zverev has been widely tipped as the teenager most likely to make the breakthrough among the game's elite and he went agonisingly close to a landmark win over Nadal.
The 6ft 6in German, the younger brother of tour player Mischa Zverev, led 5-3 and 40-30 in the final set, only to make three straight unforced errors.
Nadal, 29, battled back impressively, but had glowing praise for the teenager, who is set to rise to a career-high ranking of 52 next week.
"He is amazingly talented," said Nadal. "He is probably going to be the number one in the world.
"With his second serve at 120mph, with a lot of spin and at 124, 123, 120mph, it was impossible. If he puts the first serve in at over 130 mph then you are in big trouble.
"So I think that I'm here, and still alive."
The world number one beat Spain's Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-3 to set up a quarter-final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
Djokovic had not been at his best in the previous rounds but saw off Lopez with little trouble.
"I was very solid. I didn't allow him to come to the net too many times," said the Serb. "It was a good performance."
David Goffin beat French Open champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5), while Milos Raonic knocked out sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 7-6 (9-7).
In the doubles, Jamie Murray will rise to the top of the world rankings if he wins his quarter-final later on Thursday. Murray and partner Bruno Soares face Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez from 22:00 GMT. | Rafael Nadal reached the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells after winning the last five games to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 6-0 7-5. | 35829369 |
The award for Age Concern Jersey is the highest given to voluntary groups by the Queen.
The charity, which supports the elderly and campaigns on their behalf, said it was "absolutely thrilled" volunteers had been recognised "by the most prestigious award".
It will receive the accolade at the Queen's birthday reception at Government House later this month.
Daphne Minihane, from the charity, said: "We couldn't manage without our volunteers.
"Not just the present ones, but the ones who have been with us since we started 26 years ago. They've all been fantastic.
"It is indeed a great honour."
The charity has dozens of volunteers helping in its charity shop, as well as drivers delivering meals to elderly people. | A charity has won a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in Jersey. | 32974529 |
Pro-democracy activists have staged huge protests, the most recent on the 1 July anniversary of the day Hong Kong was handed back to China from Britain.
They have threatened to occupy parts of the city if their demands are not met.
Public discontent in Hong Kong is at its highest for years with concern over Beijing's influence over elections.
The city's police estimated Sunday's turnout at more than 110,000 people, but a specialist polling group based at the University of Hong Kong put the figure at around 80,000.
"We want to let the world know that we want peace, we want democracy, but please, do not threaten us, do not try to turn this place into a place of violence," Robert Chow, co-founder of the pro-government Alliance for Peace and Democracy told AFP.
Political rallies are a common sight in Hong Kong, a special Chinese city with a high level of freedom.
But large-scale demonstrations supportive of the Chinese government in Beijing are extremely rare.
The demonstrators -- much older than their pro-democracy rivals and clearly mobilised by dozens of pro-China clan organisations -- carried signs opposing the civil disobedience movement called Occupy Central.
Questions have been raised about the legitimacy of the demonstration.
Hong Kong media reports have suggested some companies and business groups had asked their employees to take part.
Despite those controversies, Johnson Yeung, a pro-democracy activist who organised the recent 1 July protest, told BBC News the rally was indeed an historic event.
"For the first time since the handover in 1997, the central government has organised a mass rally of this scale. It really shows their commitment against Occupy Central."
The large turnout is a reminder there is still no consensus in the battle for Hong Kong's political future.
In the other camp, pro-democracy activists from the "Occupy Central" group have said they would mobilise protesters to take over some of the busier areas of the central business district if electoral reform is not put in place.
City authorities say such an occupation would be illegal however, and argue that it could tarnish Hong Kong's reputation.
Hong Kong's next elections will take place in 2017, and China says it will introduce universal suffrage for the vote.
However the current Chief Executive of Hong Kong CY Leung was elected by a committee largely loyal to the Chinese government.
The pro-democracy protesters fear that the shortlist of candidates to replace him will be a similar group also loyal to Beijing.
The chief executive is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee. A majority of the representatives are viewed as pro-Beijing.
The Chinese government has promised direct elections for the leader, known as the chief executive, by 2017.
However, voters will only have a choice from a list of candidates selected by a nominating committee, and Beijing has said all candidates must be "patriotic".
Activists fear China will use the committee to screen out candidates it disapproves of. | A major pro-government rally in Hong Kong is drawing in thousands of supporters, in response to civil disobedience campaigns by activists. | 28824975 |
The Pioneering Spirit, owned by Allseas, used its vast lifting capacity for the first time to remove a platform for scrappage.
It carried out the operation on Monday, and is taking the platform to a Norwegian yard.
The ship's first lift was in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
After the fitting of additional lifting equipment in the Netherlands, the ship is booked later this year to start work on platforms in the UK North Sea.
Its arrival begins to open up the market for scrapping ageing North Sea equipment, which is estimated as being worth around £40bn in the next four decades.
The Pioneering Spirit was built in Singapore and fitted out in Rotterdam.
It is also capable of lifting the steel jackets on which platforms have been sitting since the 1970s. | One of the world's biggest ships has begun a new era for the North Sea oil and gas industry. | 37161319 |
Haigh, 39, left Leeds in April 2014 after Massimo Cellino bought the club.
"Penzance is a great grounding of a club, with an awful lot of potential to grow in the community," Haigh told BBC Radio Cornwall.
Penzance are bottom of the South West Peninsula League Division One West, the 11th tier of English football.
"The club contacted me through Twitter asking if I could help out," Haigh said. "I'd had one or two offers since Leeds, and I said no to them.
"But, the reason why I said yes to Penzance is because of the potential. They're at the bottom, so they can only go up.
"What I liked when I chatted to the committee was the passion. They're without debt, they can build on that and that's why I was really interested."
After leaving Leeds, Haigh moved to Dubai where he was acquitted in March over charges of sending an offensive tweet about a business partner.
But, he served a two-year sentence on separate charges of financial misappropriation.
Haigh, who grew up in Cornwall and has relocated to the county since leaving Dubai, will be sponsoring Penzance rather than financially backing them.
"There's no reason why clubs in Cornwall can't play at a higher level," he added. "But, it's going to take some investment in terms of infrastructure." | David Haigh, the former managing director of Leeds United, has been appointed as a committee member at Cornish non-league side Penzance AFC. | 38973435 |
Selby was ringside in Brooklyn to see Frampton beat champion Leo Santa Cruz on points to win the title.
Frampton wants to defend the title in his home city of Belfast and did not rule out a rematch, although he also has Selby in his sights.
"He's mentioned me a few times, sounds like he wants the fight," Selby said.
"I want the fight and it shouldn't be too difficult to make."
Selby said any possible meeting could be held in Belfast or Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Barry-born Selby insisted before the fight there was no chance of him meeting British rival Josh Warrington, who beat Patrick Hyland to retain his WBC International featherweight title.
Selby accused Warrington of 'running scared,' after talks fell through over arranging a summer contest at Leeds' Elland Road.
Frampton inflicted the first defeat of 27-year-old Mexican Santa Cruz's career to become the first Northern Ireland fighter to win a world title in two weight divisions.
It was Frampton's first pro bout at featherweight, having moved up a division after unifying the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles by beating England's Scott Quigg in Manchester in February.
Selby said he was not surprised by Frampton's majority verdict over Santa Cruz, who has held world titles at three weights.
"I thought it was a brilliant fight and very competitive from the first bell to the last," Selby added.
"Carl Frampton boxed excellent and he surprised me with his tactics. I thought he would box on the back foot and use his range and jab.
"But at times he held his feet, stood in the middle of the ring and went toe to toe and beat Santa Cruz at his own game." | IBF world champion Lee Selby is confident his next fight will be against new WBA world featherweight champion Carl Frampton. | 36936314 |
Wiggins, 36, had hinted the race in the city of his birth could be his last, but afterwards said he was "not sure yet" what his plans are.
"I don't know, I've still got really good legs," he said.
"This might not be my last race. This for sure is my last ever race with Mark Cavendish, though."
The 2012 Tour de France winner added that he "just wants to enjoy this moment".
Wiggins' admission follows his comments after last month's London Six Day, when he hinted he could be tempted to race there again next year.
Wiggins and Cavendish claimed overall victory in Ghent after winning the final madison event.
The pair also contested the Ghent Six in 2007 and won madison gold together at the World Track Championships in London in March.
They competed together in the madison at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, finishing joint eighth.
"We've had an incredible 12 years and have achieved so much together. It's been a pleasure," Wiggins added. | Sir Bradley Wiggins refused to confirm whether he plans to retire after winning the Ghent Six Day event alongside fellow Briton Mark Cavendish. | 38043726 |
It is understood the pilot reported problems with the hydraulics system.
The issue was reported within minutes of the plane taking off from Belfast International Airport.
The plane has now landed safely. | A United Airlines flight from Belfast to Newark has been diverted to Manchester Airport. | 35678196 |
A woman fell from a bridge over the motorway at junction three, near Nursling, and died at the scene. No-one else was injured.
Thousands of motorists were caught up in the resulting chaos as the westbound carriageway was closed during the evening rush hour.
The motorway fully reopened at 01:00 on Friday. | Nine people had to be treated in hospital for shock after witnessing an incident on the M27 at Southampton. | 34807079 |
14 May 2015 Last updated at 08:26 BST
The goslings needed to leap from the first floor onto tarmac, so crash mats were placed below to create a soft landing.
It seemed to do the trick as the little birds made it safely down, bounced on to the mat and waddled off with their parents across the campus.
Finlay Macniell from the University of Calgary said: "I was just answering some emails in my office, and a goose flew up onto the roof outside my office window, and was honking loudly, and strutting back and forth, and tapping on my window."
He added: "I wasn't sure what was going on at first but then a gosling dropped from a higher level roof above my office down next to mum, and then it was quite clear what the fuss was about."
The video, posted by Calgary University, has already been viewed more than 100-thousand times.
Pictures from the University of Calgary | When a group of baby geese got stuck on the roof of a university building in Canada, fast thinking staff decided to help. | 32718294 |
It said the investigation following complaints from price comparison websites had failed to understand the "reality" of online shopping.
It blamed a drop in traffic for price comparison sites on Amazon and others.
Europe's competition commissioner first accused the firm of abusing its dominance in search in April 2015 and made further claims in July 2016.
Google's shopping results appear as a box of images and links displayed alongside other search results.
In 2015, the EU competition commissioner claimed these results gave prominence to Google's own services and advertisements, to the detriment of price comparison websites, which may have lost visitors.
Google responded that the EU had failed to take into account the significance of online shopping giants such as Amazon, which it said also competed against price comparison websites.
In its updated claim, the EU said Amazon could not be considered a rival to price comparison websites because it sometimes paid such sites to be included in search results.
Google's latest response says websites such as Amazon get a "tiny fraction" of their visitors from price comparison websites, "hardly enough to support the idea that they don't compete" with one another.
It also pointed out that Amazon provides its own price comparison tools for its customers.
"The commission's revised case still rests on a theory that just doesn't fit the reality of how most people shop online," the company said in a blog.
"It's not surprising that when Amazon and other new competitors arrived in European countries, traffic to sites offering only price comparison went down."
The company said it would "look forward" to continuing discussions with the commission.
FairSearch Europe - a lobby group that was one of the complainants against Google - said Google's actions were "anti-consumer".
In a statement, the group said: "We believe it is the European Commission that has the interests of consumers in mind, not a private company that makes money by using its market power to charge high prices to advertisers.
"When consumers look at Google ads they do not get the best, most relevant results. Instead, they get results from advertisers willing to pay Google the most money." | Google has again rejected the EU's objections to how it displays shopping links in its search results. | 37860227 |
Ednane Mahmood, of Plane Street, Blackburn, is accused of disseminating a terrorist publication.
The 19-year-old, who was arrested after allegedly trying to travel to Syria, is also accused of engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism.
At Manchester Crown Court he denied both charges and was bailed until his trial date on 26 October.
The teenager is accused of providing a service to others to enable them to obtain, read, listen to or look at a terrorist publication between 1 June and 25 November 2014.
He is charged with providing links to poems and other propaganda, and at the time of doing so was allegedly reckless as whether his conduct would be a direct or indirect encouragement to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Mahmood is further charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism on 21 September 2014 in that he planned to travel to Syria in order to engage in acts of terrorism. | A teenager from Lancashire has denied trying to travel to Syria to engage in acts of terrorism. | 34044284 |
Lorraine Kirkwood, 37, was last seen with a man as they got on to a bus in the East Dunbartonshire town.
Police had appealed for other passengers to contact them. | A Kirkintilloch woman reported missing, after last being seen on Saturday night, has been found safe and well. | 34633167 |
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The 25-year-old Englishwoman finished nine seconds ahead of Australia's Ashleigh Gentle, with Wales' Helen Jenkins seven seconds adrift in third.
Stimpson and Jenkins, 31, will vie for Britain's third Olympic place at next month's World Series event on Australia's Gold Coast.
Non Stanford and Vicky Holland have already secured their places in Rio.
Both missed the race in Abu Dhabi, as did world champion Gwen Jorgensen.
Stimpson said: "I am extremely motivated to make one of the Olympic spots and my winter couldn't have gone any better.
"Me and Helen are great rivals. She is a fantastic athlete and I've got a lot of respect for her. We couldn't have made it harder for the selectors."
Stimpson, who won the first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, clawed her way back after a modest 1500m swim to join two-time world champion Jenkins in the leading group for the 40km bike section.
The two Britons led from the front as the challengers were gradually whittled down, before Stimpson used her greater power to pull away in the final kilometre of the 10km run.
Jenkins, who has had a catalogue of injuries in the past two years, said: "Everything is moving in the right direction for our selection race at the Gold Coast.
"It is just a pity Britain could not get four Olympic spots. We will just have to fight it out and do our best."
Britain's selectors have chosen the Gold Coast race as the decider because it most resembles the Olympic course in Rio.
In the men's race, Mario Mola made it back-to-back World Series victories after winning last year's final race in Chicago in September.
Adam Bowden, in 11th, was the highest-placed Briton.
Brothers Alistair and Jonny Brownlee have already qualified for this summer's Olympics and will not compete until later this season.
Britain's selectors will decide who will get the third spot by the Yokohama race on 14 May - the fourth event of the year.
The second of the nine World Series events takes place at the Gold Coast on 9-10 April. | Commonwealth champion Jodie Stimpson won the opening race of the 2016 World Triathlon Series in Abu Dhabi. | 35735556 |
The Xylella fastidiosa bacteria also threatens citrus fruit and vineyards.
The Commission says at least 10% of the 11 million olive trees in Lecce are infected. It wants Italy to destroy infected trees and restrict any trade in species vulnerable to the disease.
New emergency measures are to be proposed by the Commission this week.
Thousands of hectares of olives are affected by the outbreak - a major worry for Italy, which is the EU's second biggest olive oil producer after Spain.
The Commission set out a range of measures to contain the outbreak last July, but says the situation has deteriorated since then and more action is needed.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says the disease, which kills trees by desiccation, is spread by various sap-sucking insects.
An EFSA spokesperson told the BBC that there remain "a lot of uncertainties" about the Italian outbreak, despite a comprehensive EFSA study of it published in January.
"Even trees not showing symptoms might carry the bacteria, which makes it really difficult. Just cutting down trees with symptoms might not be enough," he said.
Italian officials in Lecce say 15km-wide (nine-mile) buffer strips will be created around plantations which have infected trees. Those strips should be free of species vulnerable to the disease, so that the blight is contained.
Local officials, quoted by Italy's AGI news agency, suspect the disease entered Italy through ornamental plants imported from Costa Rica.
The Xylella blight has previously ravaged vineyards in California and citrus groves in Brazil, EFSA says.
A local campaign group called Peacelink disputes the EU data on the disease, however, arguing that a fungal infection is most likely to blame.
In a letter to EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, Peacelink says more than 500 olive trees treated for fungi have recovered since spring last year.
It says research by the University of Foggia pointed to fungi, rather than Xylella, as the cause.
Peacelink urged the EU not to destroy olive trees en masse in the affected area, saying such a move would be "totally unnecessary". | Italy must step up efforts to contain a bacterial disease blighting olive trees in the southern province of Lecce, the European Commission has warned. | 32031233 |
It said its food and funerals business had performed "robustly", with same-store sales in food up 0.4%, but its insurance business had lost money.
The Co-op has begun a three-year plan to steady the business after deep problems emerged in 2013 with its bank, which it has since largely sold off.
In 2014, it made a net profit of £216m selling its pharmacy chain and farms.
Chief executive Richard Pennycock said without the proceeds of the sales the group would have, "at best, broken even".
He said the organisation had made good progress reducing its costs, which had fallen from £176m to £146m and it had also cut its debts from £1.4bn to £808m.
Co-op Group chairman Allan Leighton told the BBC that the business had strayed a long way: 'We lost the heart of what the Co-op was. I mean look at what's happened to the business, it's terrible.
"The Co-op did used to stand for something and it was in the community, membership was important. Co-operation was important, but we've had unco-operation, we should have been called the unco-operative. Because that's the reality of where we've been."
The Co-op is the country's largest mutually-owned organisation with more than eight million members, who share in the profits of the business.
It is the UK's fifth-largest food retailer with almost 2,800 stores. In the last year, the group added 82 convenience stores and refurbished more than 700 stores. It plans to expand by adding another 100 outlets this year.
But despite the improving performance, the business warned it would not be paying a dividend to its members until 2018.
Last year, the Co-op recorded a net loss of £2.3bn, once one-off losses relating to its bank and its then-owned Somerfield business were taken into account.
It was forced to divest itself of a large chunk of the bank to a number of private investors, largely hedge funds, and now owns just 20% of that business.
That prompted a review by Lord Myners in which he called the group "manifestly dysfunctional" and recommended a major shake-up in its organisational structure.
Co-op members will also get the chance to vote on whether the group should continue to make donations to political parties.
BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed says that in effect, the board is asking the members of the Co-operative Group whether they want to continue financially supporting the Co-operative Party.
The Co-op Party includes among its members a number of prominent Labour MPs such as Ed Balls, Stella Creasy and Chris Leslie. They stand as candidates of both the Co-operative Party and the Labour Party.
Our business editor points out that the board has "carefully not given a view. But it is interesting to note that the new Co-op chairman, Allan Leighton, did sign a letter backing Labour in 2001". | The Co-operative Group has revealed it made a profit of £124m in 2014 compared with a loss of £255m the previous year. | 32229825 |
The six-year-old victor, ridden by Noel Fehily, was cut to about 16-1 from 66-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
Alary, trained by Colin Tizzard, had been considered a Gold Cup hope but was pulled up before the third last fence.
Bristol De Mai sealed a Haydock double for Nigel Twiston-Davies after The New One became the first horse to win the Champion Hurdle Trial three times.
The nine-year-old, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies for his trainer father, produced a gutsy display to edge past runner-up Clyne.
Unbeaten Neon Wolf ran out a nine-length victor of the novices' hurdle, while 2014 Champion Hurdle winner Jezki returned from a 632-day absence with a comfortable success at Navan.
Earlier, Ascot's Grade One meeting and Taunton's card on Saturday were called off because of frozen ground.
The Ascot fixture was due to feature the Clarence House Chase, which has been rescheduled to take place at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day on 28 January.
Cheltenham will now have a nine-race card next week, with racing starting at midday.
Cornelius Lysaght, BBC horse racing correspondent
Abandoned Ascot was billed as the day's top fixture, but had it been on, it'd have struggled to compete for interest with Haydock in terms of the build-up to March's Cheltenham Festival.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained pair The New One and Bristol De Mai showed off the fact they are players - not necessarily the biggest - but definitely players in whatever they go for at Cheltenham.
But the horse to really catch the eye was the Harry Fry-trained Neon Wolf who breezed home under jockey Noel Fehily (2-05) and will line-up in one of the Festival's big novice hurdles. | Bristol De Mai romped home to win the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock as the well-touted Alary disappointed. | 38703429 |
In February, clubs agreed "in principle" to use the system from next season and those plans were confirmed at an EGM on 6 April.
Goalline technology has been used in the Premier League since 2013.
It has also been utilised in previous Football League play-off finals.
However, this season the technology will be available for both Championship semi-finals, as well as the final at Wembley on Monday, 29 May.
"The introduction of goalline technology is a significant step forward for Championship clubs and reflects the importance of the outcome of every single game in the division," said EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey.
"It has already proved successful elsewhere in our competitions and I'm confident it will have a similar positive impact week in, week out in the Championship, starting with this year's Championship play-off semi-finals." | Goalline technology will be used in this season's Championship play-offs before being introduced in all second-tier matches in 2017-18, the English Football League has said. | 39578985 |
Each course teaches students, who must be 18 or older when attending, about GCHQ's work to combat cyber-threats and helps them develop their "cyber-skills".
The schools are held at four sites in the UK, an increase from two last year.
The expansion was made following high demand for places, GCHQ has said.
One of the schools, Cyber Insiders, will give participants the chance to learn from a range of cybersecurity experts and will be held at Cheltenham from 4 July to 9 September.
Another, named Cyber Exposure, is targeted at students with a "natural curiosity for technology and problem-solving".
The Cyber Exposure courses will be held at sites in Scarborough, the Manchester area, and the Thames Valley between 11 July and 19 August.
"It is good that GCHQ is doing this, it increases the number of people that are learning about cybersecurity," cryptography expert Prof Mark Ryan, at the University of Birmingham, told the BBC.
"We do have a cybersecurity skills gap where we just aren't training enough people in cybersecurity."
The Cheltenham-based school is targeted specifically at first- and second-year students studying computer science, maths, physics or related subjects.
The other courses are open to students of any subject who have five GCSEs, including maths and English, who are also on track to achieve two A-levels at C grade or higher.
In a statement, GCHQ said that work at the summer schools would cover a wide range of technologies.
"Students will learn about GCHQ's role in defending the UK against cyber-threats whilst being paid £250 a week," the agency said.
Applications are now open at the GCHQ careers website. | UK intelligence agency GCHQ has announced it will pay £250 per week to students attending its Cyber Summer Schools this year. | 35354942 |
Save Fenton Town Hall say they are protesting because the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is selling the building.
They say a World War One memorial is at risk of being destroyed if the building is sold.
However, the government has said "a legal covenant" means any buyer would have a duty to preserve the memorial.
The group said they wanted to see the building preserved for community use and were prepared to stay there all night.
The magistrates' court, which was built in 1886 as a town hall, closed in December 2012 as part of government plans to shut 93 courts in England and Wales in a bid to save £41m.
The Great War Memorial, which contains 498 names of soldiers from Fenton, is built into the wall of the court.
An MoJ spokesman said: "We are aware of the issue at the court. We understand the police are in attendance and the protest will be a matter for them." | Some 30 campaigners have occupied a former town hall and magistrates' court in Stoke-on-Trent. | 29980910 |
The Ivorian government has approved a near €6 million euros (£5.1m) budget for the team's campaign in Gabon.
It is an increase of €600,000 euros (£507,000) from the last finals in Equatorial Guinea two years ago.
Ivory Coast kick off their tournament against Togo on 16 January, before facing DR Congo and Morocco in the group stage.
The two-time champions opened a training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday where they will face Sweden in a friendly on 8 January and will complete their warm-up with a game against Uganda, another Nations Cup-bound side, three days later.
The Confederation of African Football has revealed the winners of this year's Nations Cup will collect $4m (£3.26m) in prize money, which is a 64% increase from a previous $1.5m (£1.2m).
Kicking off on 14 January, the tournament ends with the final on 5 February. | Defending champions Ivory Coast have been given extra financial support for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals. | 38488369 |
England's last one-day international tournament meeting with the Black Caps ended in an eight-wicket defeat at the World Cup in February 2015.
Morgan says that heavy loss was like "men against boys", with New Zealand going on to reach the final.
"It's completely different now, two years down the line," said Morgan.
England recovered later that year to beat Brendon McCullum's tourists 3-2.
Another victory in Tuesday's match, which starts at 10:30 BST, would put them into the Champions Trophy last four, after New Zealand's game with Australia on Friday was abandoned because of rain.
"We've got a completely new team, pretty much," added Morgan.
"A lot of it has to do with confidence. We come into this tournament full of confidence.
"The dominant factor in New Zealand was that they had that confidence, whereas we didn't."
Morgan's side face Australia at Edgbaston on Saturday in their final Group A game.
Steve Finn has replaced injured all-rounder Chris Woakes in the squad and Morgan says the Middlesex seamer was an automatic choice.
"It was backing up consistency in selection and trying to get guys together as a group that we've showed trust in over the last couple of years," he said.
"We've tried to go like-for-like as often as we can. But when we can't, we go for a guy we can throw the ball to at any stage in order to try to make an impact in the game.
"Finny is one of those guys, and I'd have no hesitation in playing him if we felt it was the right thing to do." | England captain Eoin Morgan says his side have the confidence to beat New Zealand in Cardiff on Tuesday and reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals. | 40167279 |
The 8,000 capacity stadium at Huntington was due to open in August 2016 but will not be ready for occupation until around December, the club said.
York Council said it would work with the Minstermen to "minimise any impact to the club and its fans".
City said the delay would have "very little impact".
In a statement, it added: "Although some may be slightly frustrated that the club will not be in a position to move into the new stadium for the start of the 2016/17 season, ensuring the future development is built correctly is crucial in providing a fantastic new home for York City for decades to come."
Work on the Jockey Lane site was expected to start in June but the council said it is still finalising contracts.
A spokesman added: "Once these matters are finalised the development phase can commence and work can begin on the stadium itself."
York FC will continue to play at Bootham Crescent until the new stadium is complete.
"The club wish to point out that precedents have been set by fellow football clubs switching stadiums during a season and although some fans may not view it as ideal, the eventual move to the York Community Stadium will be fundamental in securing York City's long term future," the club said. | A new £37m home for York City FC will not be finished until part way through the 2016/17 football season. | 33508374 |
He is the highest-ranking US official to publicly implicate Beijing since news of the data breach emerged.
China always dismissed suggestions that it was behind the hacking.
The statement comes after three days of high-level talks in which China and the US agreed to a "code of conduct".
"China remains the leading suspects," said Mr Clapper at a conference in Washington DC, but "the US government continues to investigate" he added, according to his office.
Background to a "massive" hack in five points
US hit by 'massive data breach'
China military unit 'behind prolific hacking'
At the Washington talks where cyber security was a top priority, US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was a need to work with China to develop a "code of conduct" on state behaviour in cyberspace - Chinese representatives had agreed with these conclusions.
"It's something that we agreed needs to be addressed and hopefully it can be addressed soon," State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.
China has said any suggestion that it was behind the hacking is "irresponsible and unscientific". | China is the "leading suspect" in the massive hack of a US government agency holding the personnel records of millions of Americans, US intelligence chief James Clapper has said. | 33281269 |
Northumberland County Council is planning to scrap Haydon Bridge station as well as downsizing West Harton Community Station.
Dave Ledger, chairman of the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Authority, said the council had "no choice" but to make the cuts.
The council also plans to scrap engines in Ponteland, Seahouses and Wooler and replace them with smaller appliances.
It has to save £500,000 on top of £1.5m cuts and has just finished a three-month consultation on its proposals.
The authority said a number of concerns had been raised, including how the county would cope in the face of further flooding when fire crews are called to help.
During the consultation it received three petitions, 84 online responses and 76 letters raising concerns over the plans, a spokesman said.
Mr Ledger, who is also the deputy Labour leader of Northumberland County Council, said: "To say I am concerned about the future is an understatement.
"We simply have no choice. The Government keeps saying we have choices - well I'd like them to tell us what the choices are."
The fire service has 88 full-time firefighters and 180 on-call officers in the county.
A full cabinet meeting will be held on 21 March when a final decision will be made.
Mr Ledger added: "Should the recommendation be approved, we will continue to have 21 emergency response vehicles and, through the introduction of smaller fire appliances, in some areas we will be able to increase the cover we provide." | A fire station in Northumberland is facing closure amid £500k budget cuts. | 35788565 |
The BHA aims to halt a decline in the number of horses taking part in races lower down the scale with an increase in prize money and appearance fees.
The scheme has the support of the Racecourse Association and Horsemen's Group.
The proposals come as the 2018 fixture list is released, with 1,508 meetings next year, 11 more than in 2017.
Richard Wayman, chief operating officer for the BHA, said: "Although there has been growth in total prize money in recent years, much of this has been at the top end. The returns to our sport's participants further down the scale are simply not sufficient at present to be sustainable.
"Targeting grassroots with extra funding will help racing's participants to maintain their involvement in the sport, keeping more horses in training, as well as helping with the recruitment and retention of staff to care for our horses."
The BHA proposes to invest additional levy income in racing from 2018, with the aim of delivering three key objectives for the sport - supporting ownership, delivering more competitive and compelling racing, and increasing customer engagement.
A statement by the BHA proposed that, in addition to the increased number on meetings next year, there will also be "customer-friendly slots on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons throughout summer with the aim of increasing attendances".
"We need the fixture list and race programme to work in a manner that meets our customer's requirements. As customer and betting habits change it is essential that our sport evolves with them," Wayman added. | Grassroots racing will receive an extra £9.7m in 2018 under new proposals from the British Horseracing Authority. | 40715897 |
The National Housing Federation inquiry shows a worker paid the region's average wage - £23,405 - would need close to a £15,000 pay rise to qualify for an 80% mortgage.
The average home in the region costs almost £166,000, more than seven times the average salary.
In Harrogate, North Yorkshire, the average cost rises to 11 times salary.
The NHF report shows Harrogate has an average house cost of almost £277,000, where the average salary is still £24,731.
In comparison it found in Barnsley, Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire the average house cost less than six times the average salary.
£277,000 Average house price in Harrogate
£166,000 Average house price in Yorkshire and the Humber
£38,000 The minimum salary needed for an 80% mortgage
£23,405 Average salary in Yorkshire and the Humber
The cost of renting or buying a home in the region was getting "further out of reach for many", according to the NHF.
Jo Allen, of the NHF, said: "In some places people are completely priced out of their local communities. In others we see areas which need employment opportunities and investment in empty homes."
The foundation represents independent non-profit housing associations in the United Kingdom.
It uses the mean average for house costs and wages and assumes an 80% mortgage based on a lending ratio of 3.5 times salary.
Salary data is based on the Annual Survey on Hours and Employment by the Office for National Statistics.
Yorkshire and the Humber is one of nine regions of England identified for statistical purposes. | Workers need to earn about £38,000 a year to afford a mortgage in Yorkshire and the Humber region, a report said. | 34910719 |
Father-of-two Greg Gilbert, 39, from Southampton, has been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.
His fiancée Stacey Heale said his only chance of survival was to go abroad for treatment which she said was not available to him on the NHS.
GoFundMe said the appeal was one of the "fastest ever" campaigns on its site.
More than 4,000 people have so far donated to the fundraising page, posted at 10:30 GMT on Wednesday, including music stars Craig David and Ellie Goulding.
In a Facebook post, Mr Gilbert said the response was " truly humbling".
"I can't begin to express our gratitude - not a penny is being taken for granted and we've been moved to tears many times over the last few days reading the supportive messages from not only friends and family but also strangers from all over the world."
Ms Heale said she and Mr Gilbert had been "in tears and holding hands" as they watched the pledges come in.
She said: "It's been overwhelming; our phone has been ringing off the hook. I was refreshing the page this morning and were just like, 'oh my God, we've done it'.
"Grateful doesn't cover it. We've had one person donate £2,000. After such a difficult year for people, to have this at Christmas is so hopeful for us."
Ms Heale said she was researching options for treatment, including personalised immunotherapy in Germany and the USA.
She said she was considering posting a new fundraising target of £250,000, after a private specialist warned that Mr Gilbert's medical bills could amount to £100,000 a year.
Writing on the funding page, Ms Heale said her fiancée had begun chemotherapy for the cancer, which had spread to his lungs.
She said she was disappointed the drug Avastin, for advanced bowel cancers, was currently not routinely available on the NHS.
A fundraising gig has been organised on 5 January at the Southampton venue, the Joiners, where Delays have played many times during their career.
The band was formed in Southampton in 2001 by brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert with Colin Fox and Rowly. | An appeal to pay for cancer treatment for the lead singer of indie band Delays has reached its £100,000 target in 48 hours. | 38413814 |
3 February 2015 Last updated at 17:47 GMT
He's been in prolific goal scoring form for Derry City and by the time he tucked himself into bed on Monday night, the transfer window had closed and Michael Duffy was living his boyhood dream.
He will be moving to Celtic after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Scottish champions.
BBC Newsline's North West reporter Keiron Tourish has more. | He's 20 and a Northern Ireland U21 international. | 31111569 |
The Northern Ireland striker headed home on the hour mark as Ian Cathro's side struggled at Borough Briggs.
Dunfermline, having played a game more, top Group B after a 9-8 penalty shootout win over East Fife following a goalless draw.
The shootout victory meant the Pars picked up two points with East Fife taking one.
After 17 penalties without a miss, Ben Gordon was the unlucky man to fail with his spot-kick.
Hearts head coach Cathro was happy to see summer signing Lafferty open his account for the club.
"We anticipated it would be difficult, it's not an easy place to come and play," he told BBC Scotland. "They defended well and we had to be patient.
"I'm pleased that we stayed calm and that Kyle (Lafferty) got a goal. It was a good finish."
In Group A, Inverness Caledonian Thistle held on to top spot despite needing a shootout following a 0-0 draw away to Stirling Albion.
Liam Polworth and Iain Vigurs were the only ones to score in the shootout to hand John Robertson's men a 2-0 win on penalties and the bonus point.
In the derby between Brechin City and Forfar Athletic, Mark Millar took the game to spot-kicks with a late penalty after Isaac layne had given Brechin a second-half lead.
Brechin moved into third place, one point behind Falkirk, after Kalvin Orsi's winning penalty earned the bonus point.
Inverness Caley Thistle manager John Robertson blamed a lack of a killer instinct for his side failing to earn all three points.
"In terms of the ball, we dominated most of the match," said Robertson. "We knew Stirling would be at it and they were, all credit to Dave Mackay and his team.
"We lacked belief in the first half, had great chances to score and didn't take them. Second half we said up the tempo and get at them, which we did. But we just couldn't find that killer instinct.
"The more it went, the more frustrating it was. I thought we were going to be here until midnight with the penalties. Two scored out of eight, that's incredible. Two of our guys missed the target and for professional players that's bad technique." | Kyle Lafferty scored on his debut to give Hearts a 1-0 win over League Two Elgin City in the League Cup. | 40650020 |
It looked at the number of accidents recorded at each junction, then weighted the results according to the severity of injuries sustained and how many cyclists were active in the area.
The Arkleston Road/A761 junction in Paisley headed the list.
The charity, which promotes walking and cycling, said the results highlight the importance of better infrastructure.
The findings will be presented at the Scottish Transport Applications and Research conference this week.
Locations with dangerous junctions included Wallyford, Dundee, Tranent, Inverness and Stirling.
Roundabouts were featured in eight of the dangerous junctions, with seven others being T-junctions or staggered junctions.
Sustrans Scotland director John Lauder said: "Safety is often cited as the main reason why people don't cycle for more of the journeys they make every day.
"This research highlights the importance of having high-quality cycling infrastructure in place at junctions, so that collisions can be prevented.
"We know that better cycle infrastructure increases the feeling of safety and ultimately the number of people on bikes."
He added: "Put quite simply: the more people in a place who cycle, the safer it becomes for everyone."
Sustrans Scotland has been working with local authorities to address some of the specific concerns.
It contributed to a consultation on improving one of Edinburgh's busiest junctions, at Sheriffhall roundabout.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "The Scottish government remains committed to undertaking improvements at Sheriffhall roundabout having announced the preferred route option earlier this year.
"As part of the scheme, grade separation at Sheriffhall will improve access for pedestrians and cyclists compared to the existing arrangement.
"By allowing Edinburgh City Bypass traffic to pass over it will significantly reduce congestion and improve accessibility for all modes of transport including pedestrians and cyclists." | A list of the country's top 20 cycling collision hotspots has been drawn up by the charity Sustrans Scotland. | 39990952 |
The 70-year-old will take charge of pre-season after having a tumour removed from his bladder, the Sun on Sunday has reported.
Tests later showed that the tumour was not malignant, but Redknapp will have further check-ups every three months.
"I could feel it in my body - I knew it wasn't right. This is the first time I've been properly worried," he said.
Redknapp took charge of the Championship club in April after Gianfranco Zola resigned, and succeeded in saving them from relegation.
The former West Ham and Tottenham boss signed a one-year contract with Birmingham the following month.
He told the paper that it was his wife Sandra who urged him to seek medical advice.
"They cut it out, took it away, sent it away to make sure it is not malignant and luckily everything was OK. I know I am fortunate," Redknapp said.
"They cut it out, there was no other option. Once they did that I was up and about after a couple of days. I am relaxed about it now because what can you do?"
Redknapp and the Birmingham squad arrived in Austria on Sunday for a pre-season trip that will see them play friendly matches against German club Union Berlin and Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona from Israel. | Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp has been given the all-clear by doctors after emergency cancer surgery. | 40548272 |
Notts folded on the eve of the Women's Super League One Spring Series season, prompting concern that players would be left without a club for the campaign.
Players told the BBC on Friday that the timing had left them "abandoned".
Four of England's squad for Euro 2017 - Carly Telford, Jo Potter, Laura Bassett and Jade Moore - played for Notts.
A Football Association statement on Thursday said: "The FA can confirm that it has given Notts County Ladies players the opportunity to move to new clubs within England with immediate effect.
"Following Notts County's decision last week to terminate its women's team, the FA has worked closely with the PFA and wider stakeholders to enable players to find new clubs as soon as possible.
"Players are now in a position to sign for new clubs in England. They may also move to leagues in other countries where the transfer window is open."
A statement from the Professional Footballers' Association on Friday had said: "We have also been in discussions with the FA and FAWSL to ensure that players can register with other clubs outside of the transfer window given the exceptional circumstances the players find themselves in due to no fault of their own."
What remains unclear is how many WSL clubs will have contingency within their budgets for the Spring Series to sign additional players. | Notts County Ladies players will be allowed to sign for other sides after the club were liquidated, despite the English transfer window being closed. | 39739713 |
The Northampton skipper will not be able to play until 14 May, meaning he is free to take part in England's June tour to South Africa if selected.
Ireland flanker Ferris drew attention to the incident during England's 30-9 Six Nations victory on 17 March, but it was not spotted by referee Nigel Owens.
"I am disappointed by the result," said Hartley, who may decide to appeal.
"I will wait for the written judgment as to how the panel came to their conclusion.
"I now have to put it behind me and focus on supporting Saints in training and off the field."
Hartley has been ruled out of the rest of the regular domestic season but he could return if Saints reach the Premiership final on 26 May.
The lowest suspension for biting is 12 weeks, with a maximum sanction of four years.
But an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee decided Hartley's case was worthy of a lesser punishment after Tuesday's hearing.
"The offence merited a low entry point in the International Rugby Board's table of sanctions and allowed mitigation of four weeks," said a statement released by the committee.
The panel listened to evidence from both Hartley and Ferris, who spoke via videolink, while England forwards coach Graham Rowntree and Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder also represented their player.
Rowntree said: "It is unfortunate for Dylan and Northampton, especially as he was in good form during the Six Nations, and he has developed as a player and a leader.
"However, we are looking forward to him being available for the tour to South Africa."
Mallinder added: "We are disappointed that Dylan has been suspended, especially at a crucial part of the season."
It is the second time Hartley has received a lengthy suspension from the game. He received a six-month ban for eye gouging while playing for Northampton against Wasps in 2007. | England hooker Dylan Hartley has been handed an eight-week ban for biting the finger of Ireland's Stephen Ferris. | 17527026 |
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi announced that Tiran and Sanafir would be transferred in April, during a visit by Saudi Arabia's King Salman.
More than 150 people were jailed in connection with protests over the deal, though many were later acquitted or had their sentences reduced on appeal.
The Egyptian government has said it will challenge Tuesday's ruling.
Tiran and Sanafir are uninhabited and located at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, a strategic part of the Red Sea bordered by Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Egyptian troops have been stationed there since 1950 at Riyadh's request.
Mr Sisi's decision in April to cede control of them to Saudi Arabia sparked widespread criticism.
The president was accused of violating the constitution and "selling" the islands in return for a multi-billion dollar aid package unveiled by King Salman during his visit.
But Mr Sisi insisted that Tiran and Sanafir had always belonged to Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, Egypt's State Council, an administrative court, issued a verdict annulling April's maritime borders agreement between Cairo and Riyadh.
The maritime border agreement signed earlier this year between Egypt and Saudi Arabia took many Egyptians by surprise.
Since then, protesters have taken to the streets calling the arrangement unconstitutional, and accusing the government of giving away Egyptian territories in return for aid packages and investments worth billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, a strong backer of President Sisi.
Some of these protesters were arrested and charged with disrupting public order. A few are still behind bars.
The lawsuit was filed by a number of prominent human rights lawyers, headed by a former presidential candidate, Khaled Ali.
When the verdict was issued, many cheered inside the courtroom, chanting "the islands are Egyptian". But the legal battle has not come to an end yet, because the decision can be appealed.
The verdict stated that the two islands would "remain under Egyptian sovereignty".
If it is approved by the country's High Administrative Court it will become legally binding.
However, the State Lawsuits Authority, which represents the Egyptian state in lawsuits, said on Tuesday evening that it would challenge the ruling, state television reported.
Mr Sisi has cracked down on all dissent since leading the military's overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and 40,000 are believed to have been jailed, most of them supporters of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood. | An Egyptian judge has quashed a government decision to hand control of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. | 36584812 |
Scottish Borders Council will set up a working group to examine how it handled the procedure.
It comes after more than 4,000 people signed a petition against the project, to which the council allocated £3.5m.
Concerns have also been raised that its planning application was approved by a committee of just four members.
Tweeddale councillor Keith Cockburn said the group will address "public disquiet" over the decision-making process.
"We can definitely make sure that we can learn some things about the consultation," he said.
"There's been many questions about how we looked at the alternative sites, how we looked at the feasibility of the business plan, etc.
"A decision has been made so we have to recognise and respect that, but also look at what we can learn from it."
A petition against basing the tapestry at Tweedbank was considered "very carefully" by councillors, council leader David Parker said at the time.
However the petitions and deputations committee decided to take no further action.
Councillor Jim Torrance said the working group was not needed as the subject had been fully debated twice at council.
"It's been debated so much I don't see what any working group is going to find out from it that's going to be of any use," he added.
The council's scrutiny committee voted to set up a tapestry working group at its next meeting. | The process which led to the decision to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Tweedbank is to be the subject of an investigation. | 34670854 |
The 77-year-old man, from Newhaven, and the woman, from Lewes, were on the A259 at White Rock when the accident happened on Thursday evening.
They and the motorcyclist were taken to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, where the man later died.
Police said the 22-year-old motorcyclist, from St Leonards, and the woman were not detained.
Sussex police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened just after 21:00 BST on Thursday. | A man died and a 90-year-old woman was injured in a collision with a motorcycle on a busy road in Hastings. | 32654728 |
The gaffe was picked up by a number of viewers, among them Sanjeev Bhaskar, who suggested the broadcaster had "misunderstood diversity issues".
ITV News blamed the mistake on "an error in the production process".
Sir Lenny said he was "very thankful" to receive a knighthood from the Queen for services to drama and charity.
The Comic Relief co-founder has often spoken out on the subject of diversity in the media, a topic he was again asked to comment about on Friday.
"We've made progress as far as on-screen representation is concerned," said the 57-year-old following the investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
"But there's a lot of work to be done in the furthering of diversity behind the camera."
"ITV News apologises for the error broadcast in the lunchtime news package today regarding Sir Lenny Henry's knighthood at the palace," said an ITV News spokesperson.
"This was the result of an error in the production process in a piece intended to celebrate Sir Lenny's significant achievements in British entertainment."
BBC News has contacted Ainsley Harriott for comment. | ITV has apologised for showing a news item about Sir Lenny Henry receiving a knighthood that briefly featured footage of TV cook Ainsley Harriott. | 35009530 |
The Magpies held crisis talks with manager John Carver earlier this week after losing their last eight league matches - their worst run since 1977.
They are now two points above the relegation zone with three games left.
"On behalf of the squad we would like to apologise for the moment we are going through," wrote Coloccini.
"Players and staff have come together in order to leave all past problems aside and to focus 100% on the three 'cup finals' that we have left.
"I would like to make a call to all fans today to also leave aside all differences, all different opinions, anything that divides us as people who love this club."
Newcastle host West Brom on Saturday before travelling to QPR on 16 May and then hosting West Ham on 24 May.
"The time we have left to turn around this situation is short but after the end of the season we will try to learn from the mistakes we made so that we don't have to go through this again," added Coloccini.
"This is as painful for us as it is for you, because when this team comes onto the pitch we do so with the intention of winning and to defend not just the colours of this club, not just our shirt, but also to represent thousands of fans, the whole city."
Carver's position came under fresh scrutiny after he accused defender Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off in Saturday's 3-0 defeat by fellow strugglers Leicester City.
However, the club issued a statement insisting he was staying.
BBC Sport understands Derby County boss Steve McClaren was asked to take over for the final three games but turned the job down. | Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has written an open letter to fans calling for unity as the club battles to stay in the Premier League. | 32599066 |
The first bird emerged at the Cors Dyfi reserve near Machynlleth on Friday, followed by a second on Sunday.
The eggs were laid six weeks later than usual leading to concerns over whether the chicks would hatch.
Parents Monty and Glesni set up home on a 30ft (9m) tall man-made nest on 3 May.
They are one of only two known breeding pairs in Wales, with a second pair nesting near Croesor in the Glaslyn Valley.
Staff and volunteers at the Cors Dyfi nature reserve had an anxious wait for the chicks who took 32 hours to emerge from their shells.
Cracks in the first egg were spotted on Friday afternoon, with the bird finally hatching at about 21:00 BST.
The second chick started chipping away from inside its egg on Saturday afternoon but did not hatch until 20:40 BST on Sunday.
Monty and Glesni became a breeding pair for the first time this year after Monty's previous partner of two years, Nora, did not return from her African migration.
Ospreys return from migration in late March or April and usually lay eggs two or three weeks later.
But Monty and Glesni did not pair until 3 May and their two eggs were laid between 22 and 25 May - six weeks later than average.
Alwyn Evans, of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, said: "By the time Monty finally paired off with his new partner, Glesni, a three-year-old bird from Rutland Water, it was getting late in the season.
"At that stage none of us knew if they would lay eggs, let alone whether they would hatch.
"It's been an emotional weekend to say the least."
Mr Evans said cracks in the second egg on Saturday were greeted with loud applause and shouting from visitors at the wildlife trust's osprey centre who had gathered to watch the birds hatch.
Last month the wildlife trust said ospreys were still persecuted and egg collecting remained a problem in the UK.
To protect the Powys eggs, more than 50 trust volunteers have worked 1,300 hours to ensure the nest has been watched 24 hours a day during the six-week incubation period.
The first osprey chick in the Dyfi valley for 400 years hatched in 2011.
Once prolific birds of prey in the UK, their numbers were drastically reduced in the 1840s after years of persecution, including egg collecting, hunting, taxidermy and loss of habitat.
The Dyfi Osprey Project has been popular with tourists, with an average of about 30,000 people visiting the nesting site annually. | Two osprey chicks have hatched at a nature reserve in Powys despite fears their parents had paired up too late in the mating season. | 23130281 |
Falcons twice led through Vereniki Goneva and Rob Vickers tries, with James Short and Harry Williams replying to level before a Simmonds penalty put Chiefs 17-14 up at the break.
Simmonds landed his fourth kick to convert a second-half penalty try.
A Sam Skinner score and a second Short effort ensured the bonus-point victory.
The win lifts them to within a point of leaders Wasps, who face Gloucester on Sunday.
For 20-year-old fly-half Simmonds, it was the perfect day with the boot as he replaced injured veteran Gareth Steenson in a side that was missing a number of players - including England's Jack Nowell and Henry Slade - due to Six Nations duties.
Newcastle, who a week earlier earned an impressive 46-31 win over Northampton at Kingston Park, made a strong start with Goneva crossing for a superb try, which started with a bustling run from Calum Green.
Short, who would finish the day by touching down for the fifth time in two games, restored parity for the first time with a 90-metre effort, which came from an error as Newcastle closed in on a second try.
While Exeter were made to work hard for their first-half lead after Vickers again edged Falcons ahead, the hosts were more ruthless after the break and heavily restricted Newcastle, who are still without a win at Sandy Park.
Exeter Chiefs assistant coach Ali Hepher:
"Newcastle are a good side and in good form and came here with a good deal of confidence but we started poorly, especially in defence.
"We were hesitant in that first half particularly when we had ball in hand as we needed to run hard instead of trying the clever ball.
"There was plenty to address at half-time but our defence was outstanding in that second half and to earn a bonus point was invaluable.
"Moving one point into second and above Saracens at this stage is not important as the top four places are really tight but we are hoping to remain there and to secure a top two finish would be really nice."
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards:
"I'm disappointed as we started really well but we weren't accurate enough and this allowed them back into the game.
"We should have been further in front but we didn't take our chances and too many kicks went straight into touch.
"They are very good side, who are incredibly patient, as they wait for a chink in your defence before striking."
Exeter: Dollman; Woodburn, Whitten, Devoto, Short; Simmonds, Maunder; Moon, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Lees, Parling, Horstmann, Armand, Waldrom.
Replacements: Malton, Rimmer, Low, Skinner, Atkins, Townsend, Hooley, Hill.
Newcastle: Tait; Goneva, C Harris, Waldouck, Sinoti; Hodgson, Takulua; Vickers, Cooper, Wilson, Green, Olmstead, M Wilson, Welch (capt), Latu.
Replacements: Sowrey, B Harris, D Wilson, Young, Chick, Egerton, Delany, Burdon.
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | Joe Simmonds kicked 11 points in his first Premiership start to help Exeter Chiefs move into second in the table with victory over Newcastle Falcons. | 39043453 |
The bill regulates agreements between occupiers and site owners over the termination of contracts and the sale of caravans.
It also brings the definition of a caravan into line with the rest of the UK.
The Private Members Bill was sponsored by UUP MLA, John McAllister.
It is the first since 1948 to have gone through all the stages of the Assembly to become law and is likely to take effect from the Autumn.
Mr McAllister was congratulated by politicians from other parties including the DUP MLA, Jim Wells, who said he welcomed the legislation.
Fabulous
"It will hopefully stop the situation that saw some people signing away their rights to how they insure, sell and maintain their caravans."
More than 14,000 static holiday caravan owners will also have increased protection including the right to a written contract and to have a greater say in how their caravan site is run.
Jack Moore, who lives in a mobile home in Ballyhalbert in County Down, had been campaigning for the change since 2008.
"It's absolutely fabulous it had gone through, it brings us into line with legislation in England and Wales," he said.
"We were way behind, the park homes in England have been in use for over 50 years, whereas the park homes here are in their infancy."
Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood, said: "For years, some caravan owners have been forced, at the drop of a hat, to accept changes made by site owners.
"Many have faced raised fees, moved caravans and even eviction from sites, without much protection," he said.
"This bill will make a real difference to those people, by clearly setting out in law the obligations for site owners and holiday caravan owners."
"I'd like to pay tribute to John McCallister, the Bill's sponsor, for his considerable efforts in completing the bill which will make a real difference to the lives of static caravan owners, in both the residential and holiday sectors." | The Caravans Bill has been passed granting legal protection in NI to both those who holiday in caravans and those who live in them permanently. | 12477724 |
The Troup seat has been vacant since the death in September of Conservative councillor John Duncan, who had represented the ward since 2002.
Independent Jack Moodie resigned from the Kirkwall West and Orphir seat on Orkney in the same month.
Votes can be cast between 07:00 and 22:00, with the counts being held on Friday. | By-elections to replace councillors in Aberdeenshire and Orkney are being held. | 30210000 |
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Ainslie, 35, admits it would have been "difficult to top" the feeling of winning at his home Olympics and is keen to move on with new challenges.
"It was a tough decision," Ainslie told BBC Sport.
"I've had a fantastic Olympic career but I want to make it clear that the focus is now on the Americas Cup."
Ainslie won a silver medal at Atlanta 1996, with golds in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London. He has won more medals than any other sailor, ahead of Denmark's Paul Elvstrom, who has four golds.
He is fourth in Britain's all-time individual medallist's list, behind Sir Chris Hoy (cycling; six gold, one silver), Sir Steve Redgrave (rowing; five gold, one bronze) and Bradley Wiggins (cycling; four gold, one silver, two bronze).
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Ainslie added: "I considered all of the factors - my fitness and the issues with my back, the venue for the next Olympics and the type of boats, but what it really came down to was this opportunity with the Americas Cup."
The sailor envisages skippering his Ben Ainslie Racing AC45 catamaran to glory in the historic competition will be one of the "biggest tests" of his career.
"It's always been a dream of mine since I was a kid to be part of a winning Americas Cup team and ultimately I want to try and bring it back to the UK where it all started in 1851."
Ainslie, who won his first Games medal - a silver in the Laser fleet - at Atlanta 1996, says he may have extended his Olympic career into a twentieth year had the International Sailing Federation [ISAF] reversed their decision to axe the Star class from Rio 2016.
"There was a possibility that it may have been reinstated, but that didn't happen," reflected the four-time World Sailor of the Year Award winner.
"There would have been no guarantees I would have made it to the Olympics going up against 2008 gold medallists Iain [Percy] and Andrew [Simpson], but certainly it was an option to go into that class."
Ainslie ranked his success in London as his greatest personal Olympic moment, but that attaining a first gold at the Sydney 2000 Games was a close second.
"It meant a huge amount to me to reverse the silver medal from 1996 and it gave me a huge amount of confidence that I could go on and achieve more," stated Ainslie who switched from the Laser to the Finn dinghy for Athens 2004.
"I am proud of what I achieved [in the Olympics] but I think this decision [to retire from dinghy sailing] really helps to make it clear what the goal is and the intensions are.
"Hopefully now we can go ahead and get the support to make that [Americas Cup success] happen." | British sailor Ben Ainslie will not bid for a fifth Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games and will instead focus on his Americas Cup campaign. | 20499890 |
Ashbourne's Royal Shrovetide Football game involves two sides competing to move a ball to posts at opposing ends of the town.
It takes place across fields, streets, car parks and waterways each Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.
The game was won 1-0 by the Up'Ards, who defeated the Down'Ards in the two-day event.
The Up'Ards - traditionally those born north of Henmore River - play against the Down'Ards from the south of the town's river.
Each game begins with a guest of honour throwing the elaborately painted ball into the crowd.
Prince Charles and the late Nottingham Forest and Derby County football manager Brian Clough are among the famous names chosen to "turn up" the ball in previous years.
This year the honour fell to Dallas Burston, a former GP who became a businessman, and John Stubbs, a retired dairy farmer.
Shop windows around the town were again boarded up ahead of the famously hard-fought contest.
Players were also reminded they were not allowed to climb over parked cars or enter cemeteries, churchyards and memorial gardens.
A goal was scored by Kurt Smith at about 20:20 GMT on Tuesday and it took nearly and hour for it to be confirmed. There were no goals on Wednesday. | Play has ended in a mass game of football that has been played in a Derbyshire town for centuries. | 39105489 |
The 30-year-old Australian-born forward represented Scotland at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
He holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in the NRL with 215 between 2006 and 2014.
"The club has a great profile and stature in the game and I hope to be able to contribute to developing that wonderful culture," he said.
Douglas will join St Helens ahead of the 2017 season.
"I am told Saints have the best fans in the game and I can't wait to engage with them. I'm really looking forward to this next chapter in my life," he added. | Super League side St Helens have signed prop Luke Douglas from NRL's Gold Coast Titans on a three-year deal. | 37497014 |
The Shadow Man, and a Christmas poem called Noel, were found at Our Lady's School, Abingdon.
It is thought Tolkien got to know the school while he was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University.
The poems were printed a year before Tolkien's first literary sensation The Hobbit was published.
The Shadow Man is an earlier version of a poem eventually published in 1962 in Tolkien's Adventures of Tom Bombadil collection.
The existence of the poems came to light after American Tolkien scholar Wayne G. Hammond got in touch with the school.
He knew from notes made by Tolkien that two of his poems appeared in a magazine he called The Abingdon Chronicle.
This was actually the 1936 annual of Our Lady's School, which was then run by the Sisters of Mercy.
School principal Stephen Oliver said: "At first we couldn't find the 1936 edition and referred Mr Hammond to the archives of the Sisters of Mercy in London.
"Then, while preparing for an event for former pupils of the school, we uncovered our own copy and I saw the two poems Mr Hammond had been looking for. "
The school hopes to put the annual on display at a future exhibition. | Two poems by author JRR Tolkien have been discovered in a 1936 copy of a school annual. | 35585467 |
Unite union members based at plants in Cowley, Goodwood, near Chichester, Hams Hall in the West Midlands and Swindon, turned down the offer by 56.6%.
Workers have already staged four walkouts during the dispute, which is over the closure of a final-salary pension scheme.
BMW said the offer was "fair" and it was disappointed at the ballot result.
Unite representatives will meet on Tuesday to discuss the next steps in the dispute, which has seen the first-ever strikes by the company's British employees.
Three 24-hour strikes scheduled in May were suspended while workers considered the offer, which the union did not recommend to its members.
Unite national officer Fred Hanna said: "It is clear that it did not go far enough or deal with the concerns many of our members have over BMW's pension plans.
"We would urge BMW bosses to reflect on the result and listen to the workforce by further engaging in meaningful talks with Unite."
A BMW spokesman said: "We are now considering the implications of the ballot result and we will be meeting with the union in due course to discuss next steps.
"We believe the offer, which resulted from lengthy negotiations with the union since September last year, was fair.
"It was designed to improve competitiveness, which is in the long-term interests of all our employees in the future." | Workers at car giant BMW have voted to reject an offer aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over pensions. | 40245105 |
The Common dolphin was discovered on the high water line at Gyllingvase near Falmouth early on Wednesday.
Members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue covered the animal with wet towels and seaweed to keep it comfortable.
A vet who was called to the scene assessed that it was too sick to be returned to the sea.
There have been 41 strandings of Common dolphins in Cornwall in the past year according to figures from the Marine Strandings Network.
Almost 3,500 whales, dolphins and porpoises have been stranded on UK coastlines over the six years up to December 2011, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Overall it recorded a fall in the number of strandings but said that some still were not being reported.
The Society has launched a campaign to encourage the public to tell them when they find beached mammals. | A dolphin found stranded on a Cornish beach has been put down, say marine rescuers. | 19811758 |
The pro-Rouhani reformist group Omid (Hope) won all 21 seats, ousting their conservative rivals who had been in power for 14 years.
Mr Rouhani won Friday's presidential election in the first round.
He promised voters a moderate and outward-looking Iran and criticised the conservative-dominated judiciary.
Council elections were held alongside the presidential vote and the results were announced on Sunday.
The new city council must convene within 45 days when it will elect a new mayor to oversee services for Tehran's nine million residents.
Incumbent Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was a candidate in the early stages of the presidential election but dropped out to back hardliner Ebrahim Raisi.
Mr Raisi only received 38.5% of the vote, which was not enough to take the election to a second round.
President Rouhani, 68, said his resounding victory showed that voters rejected extremism and wanted more links with the outside world.
Analysts say he is in a strong position to seek reforms and to revive Iran's ailing economy.
After his re-election there were celebrations in the capital, Tehran, with crowds of young people singing and dancing in the central Vali Asr Square.
In his first speech after the result was announced Mr Rouhani said: "The Iranian nation has chosen the path of interaction with the world, a path which is distant from extremism and violence."
Mr Rouhani supports the landmark deal with world powers to curb Iran's nuclear programme. | Iran's re-elected moderate President Hassan Rouhani has received a further boost after reformists won key council elections in the capital, Tehran. | 39992416 |
Business and political circles in Switzerland had supported the plan, which was designed to prevent taxes rising sharply for foreign investors.
However 59% of voters opposed the plan in Sunday's referendum vote.
The government will now need to find an alternative, which may involve higher tax rates for multinational companies.
"It will not be possible to find a solution overnight," said Ueli Maurer, Switzerland's finance minister. He told a press conference it could take a year to come up with a new plan, and that Switzerland risked losing foreign investment as a result.
Currently Switzerland grants special status to foreign firms which allows cantons, or districts, to offer them lower rates of tax than domestic firms, making Switzerland an attractive destination for foreign investors.
But international organisations such as the OECD have deemed the system unacceptable and Switzerland has made a commitment to reform it by 2019.
To avoid raising taxes for multinational companies too sharply the government had agreed to abolish the special status for multinationals but instead offer new tax breaks for research and development and other activities.
As part of the proposal, Switzerland's cantons planned to lower their tax rates for businesses across the board, including domestic business, helping to avoid steep rises in tax bills when foreign firms' status was brought into line.
Some of the resulting budget shortfall in the cantons would have been plugged by federal funds.
But the plan was opposed by Social Democrats, Greens, trade unions and churches who argued that the reduced tax revenue would still lead to cuts in public services or higher personal taxes.
"The conservative parties wanted to push through tax reform with arrogance and haughtiness against the interests of the people. The Greens demand a new proposal with a sense of proportion," the opposition leftist party said of the vote. | Swiss voters have rejected a plan to reform the country's corporate tax system, sending the government back to the drawing board. | 38951701 |
Nonsuch Palace was painted by the Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel in 1568.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has placed a temporary export bar on the watercolour in the hope a UK buyer can match the asking price of £1m.
"We have very few paintings of the palace so I really hope we can find a buyer to keep this masterpiece here in Britain," he said.
The piece is the oldest of six remaining depictions of the palace, considered to be one of the Renaissance period's most stunning buildings.
Nonsuch Palace - named because no other palace could equal it - was built in 1538 for the Tudor king to celebrate the birth of his first legitimate son and mark his 30th year on the throne,
It was intended to rival the opulent residences of French king Francis I.
In 1670 Charles II gave the palace to his mistress, Barbara Villiers, who began to dismantle and sell parts of the building to pay off gambling debts.
By 1690 the building had all but disappeared.
The painting went for auction in 2010 but failed to meet its reserve price of £1.2m.
The decision to defer the export licence follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), administered by Arts Council England.
They made their recommendation on the grounds of its close association with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance for understanding the nature of English Renaissance architecture.
The decision on the export licence application for the watercolour will be deferred until 31 May. | The earliest depiction of Henry VIII's "lost" palace in Surrey could leave the UK unless a buyer comes forward. | 35699837 |
They will be joined at next year's Olympics by South Africa who defeated Equatorial Guinea in Bata 1-0.
It is the first time that any Zimbabwe team has qualified for a global football tournament.
Rudo Neshamba's 8th minute goal was enough to send Zimbabwe to Brazil.
It's a great achievement for us, I'm so happy I can't even explain how I'm feeling right now
The result meant the tie finished level at 2-2 on aggregate, with Zimbabwe qualifying on the away-goals rule.
It was disappointment for Cameroon who represented Africa at the Women's World Cup in Canada, reaching the second round.
Neshamba (pictured) was again Zimbabwe's match-winner, having scored their crucial away-goal in the first leg in Yaounde.
Her captain, Felistas Muzongondi, said it was a famous day in their footballing history.
"It's a great achievement for us, I'm so happy I can't even explain how I'm feeling right now," Muzongondi told BBC Sport.
"This is our first time in history to beat Cameroon, and we were expecting this because we prepared very well."
Zimbabwe's skipper also admitted it was a very tough match.
"There was so much intensity so we had to put much pressure on them because they have so much more physical fitness than us."
Zimbabwe booked their place in Rio despite severe financial difficulties facing football in their country.
They were only able to continue in this qualifying tournament after Ivory Coast withdrew.
Also on Sunday, South Africa defeated Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Bata to win the tie by the same score on aggregate after the first leg had ended goal-less.
Jermaine Seoposenwe's second half goal proved crucial for Banyana Banyana and was enough to win them their place in Rio.
The South African Football Association (Safa) President, Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated Banyana Banyana for their achievement.
"Today is a historic day for women football; not only have they qualified for the Rio Olympics but have done so in style - winning away from home in 'hostile' Bata environment," Jordaan said in a statement.
"Few teams survive trips to Equatorial Guinea as Nigeria would attest but coach Vera Pauw plotted one of the greatest wins in South African football history," Jordaan added.
South Africa's progress to the Olympics makes up for their disappointment of missing out on qualification for the Women's World Cup earlier this year. | Zimbabwe's women beat Cameroon 1-0 in the second leg of their final Olympic qualifier in Harare to book a place at Rio 2016. | 34567035 |
About 20 firefighters helped bring the fire under control at Thorpe Willoughby, near Selby, on Saturday night.
It is not thought anyone was injured. An investigation is under way to find out how the fire started.
Pictures circulated on social media showed smoke from the fire was visible from several miles away from the site. | A large blaze has ripped through the site of a former mushroom farm in North Yorkshire. | 39544729 |
The tech-heavy index rose 68 points, or 1.3%, to 5,132.95
Meanwhile the Dow Jones closed up 180 points, or 1% to 18,115 while the S&P jumped 21 points, or 1%, to 2,121.22
As traders digested the Federal Reserve's statement from Wednesday, they were encouraged by its insistence that rates will only be increased gradually.
"The Fed's likely to raise rates later this year, but maybe not as aggressively as some market participants worried," said Michael Baele, managing director and senior portfolio manager at US Bank Private Client Reserve.
The Nasdaq closing high was more than 25 points above its last record on 27 May.
On the economic front, new figures showing an uptick in inflation and fewer jobless claims sketched a picture of modest improvement.
US consumer prices registered their largest increase in two years on higher oil prices. The CPI rose 0.4% in May, after a 0.1% rise in April.
The US Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 267,000 for the week ending 13 June.
It was the 15th consecutive week that claims held below 300,000, a threshold usually associated with a firming labour market.
In corporate news, shares in Martha Stewart Living, which owns the Martha Stewart publishing and homeware brands, jumped more than 20% on reports that Sequential Brands was close to buying it.
Another company to do well was Harley Davidson, which rose more than 4%, after UBS upgraded the company.
On the downside, technology giant Oracle shares dived more than 4% as it reported disappointed net income for the quarter. | (Close): US stock markets rallied on Thursday with the Nasdaq closing at a record high. | 33186707 |
He said William McNeilly's allegations were either factually incorrect or the result of misunderstanding or partial understanding.
The Royal Navy submariner has claimed missile programme system on the Clyde was a "disaster waiting to happen".
He wrote a report, detailing "serious security and safety breaches".
In a statement addressing the 25-year-old's concerns, Mr Fallon insisted that neither the "operational effectiveness" of the fleet "nor the safety of our submariners or public have been compromised". | The UK's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said a whistleblower's concerns about Trident nuclear submarine safety have not been proved. | 32914688 |
Most swimmers will be take to the waters of Windermere to swim a mile (1.6Km) with some longer swims scheduled for Sunday.
The event is expected to attract 10,000 swimmers, organisers said.
A 10k marathon distance has also been introduced and is expected to take experienced swimmers four hours to complete.
Great Swim Director Alex Jackson said: "The Great North Swim is proving to be as popular as ever, with 10,000 expected in Windermere for our ninth event here."
Introducing the "10k event will provide a new challenge" he added. | Thousands of swimmers have headed to the Lake District this weekend to take part in the Great North Swim. | 36507049 |
The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Chesterfield, scoring 15 goals in 38 appearances for the Spireites.
Novak has agreed a three-year contract at The Valley and becomes the Addicks' third signing of the summer.
"Lee has shown a consistency at both Championship and League One level and is a proven goalscorer," Charlton boss Russell Slade told the club website.
Novak joined Birmingham from Huddersfield in summer 2013 and scored 12 goals in 69 outings for the Blues.
Meanwhile, Charlton striker Igor Vetokele has joined Belgian Pro League side Zulte-Waregem on a season-long loan deal.
Zulte-Waragem have an option to buy the 24-year-old Angola international as part of the deal.
Vetokele moved to south-east London in the summer of 2014 and scored two goals in 18 appearances in 2015-16.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | League One side Charlton Athletic have signed Lee Novak following the striker's departure from Birmingham. | 36559202 |
The 19-year-old, from Staffordshire, died on Wednesday after a four-year battle with the disease.
Stephen's appeal in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust on his Just Giving page has now raised £3.7m.
There are now plans to make a film about his life, using footage shot over the past 12 months.
Film-maker Grigorij Richters, 26, from Hamburg, Germany, met Stephen at the Champions League final at Wembley in May 2013 and they became friends.
The visit to Wembley was on the "bucket list" of 46 ambitions Stephen wanted to achieve before he died, along with raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
The pair agreed to film the bucket list together and he now has hours of footage, which he wants to use to tell Stephen's story.
Mr Richters said Stephen was "a young man who did the inconceivable, the unbelievable, at a young age".
At his former school, Chase Terrace Technology College in Burntwood, people have queued to sign a book of condolence and leave flowers.
Tributes have also been written in chalk on pavements in Birmingham.
Suggestions on social media that there should be a permanent memorial in the city will go before the Broad Street Walk of Stars committee in the summer.
Mike Olley, the manager of Broad Street in Birmingham, where the stars are located said: "We are always happy to take suggestions for the Walk of Stars.
"Many people have nominated Stephen now and I am delighted to put this before the committee." | An appeal started by the cancer fundraiser Stephen Sutton has raised a further £400,000 - only a day after the teenager died. | 27421493 |
Notices of intended prosecution claimed 991 drivers had broken a 40mph (64km/h) speed limit in Conwy tunnel last October.
But the limit had been imposed for night maintenance only and not lifted in the morning as it should have been.
Within days the drivers got an apology in the post.
North Wales Police released the figures in a Freedom of Information reply.
The force said: "The issue was caused by an administration error surrounding the enforcement period.
"North Wales police do not record the cost of cancelling notices." | Nearly 1,000 drivers were wrongly sent speeding notices after a temporary limit on a north Wales road was not lifted, figures have shown. | 38634119 |
Clifton, 18, spent the 2016-17 season on loan with Grantham Town in the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier division.
He turned professional in July 2015 after coming through the academy, but is yet to play a game for the Mariners, who finished 14th this season.
However, Clifton has earned a new deal after impressing manager Russell Slade, who replaced Marcus Bignot in April. | Midfielder Harry Clifton has signed a one-year contract extension with League Two side Grimsby Town. | 40031007 |
The 19-year-old suffered the injury during the second half of Saturday's win at Swansea.
"We're very disappointed, but that's football and that can happen," Koeman said. "It's unlucky but OK.
"The boy has to keep going and it's difficult because he had a great start to the season, but it's part of the football and he will come back."
Up until the injury, Ward-Prowse had played for Southampton in every fixture this season.
Meanwhile, Koeman said that another young English player, Nathaniel Clyne, should be called up by the national side.
The 23-year-old scored Southampton's second in their 2-1 win at Arsenal in the League Cup, with a brilliant 35-yard strike.
"I think he's ready [to play for England]," Koeman said of Clyne, who has played at under-19 and under-21 level.
"He has a lot of experience, he is playing very well from the beginning of the season.
"He scored a great goal. I think his performance was very good and I think it's an option for the national coach and I'm very happy to have Clyney in our team because he brings a lot of experience.
"He brings a lot of spirit and I like to have and play with offensive full-backs. He shows that quality and it's very important for the team." | Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse has been sidelined for 10 weeks with a fractured foot. | 29338750 |
A child welfare agency and hospital in Pennsylvania have paid Elizabeth Mort $143,500 (£94,500) for the mistake.
Her three-day old daughter, Isabella, was removed from her for five days in April 2010.
The lawsuit argued that the opiate test in question had a far lower threshold than federal guidelines.
Jameson Hospital failed to inform Ms Mort that she had failed the test, then reported it to Lawrence County children and youth services without a secondary test.
"Elizabeth Mort never imagined that the last thing she ate before giving birth to her daughter - a poppy seed bagel - would lead to the loss of her newborn, but that is exactly what happened after the Jameson Health System failed to account for the possibility that her positive urine drug screen was due to her ingestion of poppy seeds," the lawsuit said.
Child welfare officials arrived the day after the family returned from hospital with an emergency protective custody order and took Isabella.
She was later returned after the agency could find no evidence Ms Mort had used illegal drugs.
The lawsuit, which was filed on her behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), was settled on Tuesday.
ACLU officials said Jameson had changed its policy to ensure newborns were not taken from parents solely on the basis of maternal drug test results.
"We hope that this case will encourage hospitals that routinely test pregnant women for drug use to reconsider that practice due to the harm that can result from false positives," said ACLU lawyer Sara Rose. | A US woman whose newborn was taken from her because she failed a hospital drug test after eating a poppy seed bagel has won a settlement, says her lawyer. | 23153685 |
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Inst led 6-3 at the break thanks to two Hume penalties while John Crowther slotted over a Campbell penalty.
Campbell piled on the pressure in the second half but could not find a way through a resolute RBAI defence, even when Mark Keane was yellow-carded.
Hume sprinted clear from deep in his own half to run in a try, which he converted in the game's final action.
Campbell will rue missed opportunities during the St Patrick's Day decider in a sun-kissed Belfast.
They dominated the latter stages of the first half and entire second period.
Penalty opportunities were turned down in favour of going for a try but they were thwarted by handling errors and Inst defending.
Campbell launched a final attack but Hume collected from a bouncing ball and raced away to seal a second straight Schools' Cup triumph.
RBAI captain Conor Field said: "I can't describe my feelings after that but I am so proud of the boys.
"Credit must go to Campbell as they put us under so much pressure although we defended strongly throughout the game.
"To see James run clear to win it for us so late in the match was absolutely brilliant." | James Hume scored a late try as RBAI beat Campbell College 13-3 at Kingspan Stadium to retain the Schools' Cup. | 35834687 |
In April 2014 Jack Sexty completed the Greater Manchester Marathon on a pogo stick in 16 hours and 24 minutes.
But earlier this month the course was found to be 380m too short and all timings for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 events were declared null and void.
Guinness World Records said the record Mr Sexty set will no longer stand.
"We would invite Jack to go for the record again in the future and we hope this won't deter him from breaking records in the future," a spokesman said.
Mr Sexty, from Bristol, said he "wouldn't be losing any sleep" over the decision.
He said in reality he believed he had done more than a marathon because of having to hop on and off pavements.
"I have video of the event and if Guinness want to watch all 16 odd hours they are more than welcome.
"I still have the record for the most distance bounced in 24 hours. That was the original record I was going for.
"The only reason I had the fastest marathon record is because I'm the only person to have done it."
Marathon courses are measured out using a bicycle fitted with a counter to calculate distance by the turning of the wheels.
The Association of UK Course Measurers (AUKCM) said an accredited measurer had ridden the course in 2013 but indicated there had been an error in the calibration of the bicycle wheel.
The mistake, caused by a measuring error, affected some 24,000 runners who competed in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Their timings are no longer recognised.
A true marathon distance is 26 miles and 385 yards. | A student who bounced his way into the record books has been stripped of the accolade after it emerged a marathon route was too short. | 36130945 |
The 32-year-old damaged knee ligaments in the at the end of December.
"We're hoping I can feature in the pre-season block of games if all goes well," Sturgess said.
I don't like sitting on the bench behind anybody so I definitely want to be fighting for the position
"I'm 16 weeks post-op and I'm running and doing really good leg weights again and progressing next week to off-line running and upping the load a bit."
Sturgess has had a difficult couple of seasons with injury, having missed a large chunk of the 2012-13 campaign
Next season will be his eighth at Sandy Park after joining Exeter from Connacht in 2007.
"One of the disappointing things about the injury is that I wasn't able to get the starting jersey back.
"You're not guaranteed your place, but after previous seasons you may feel you're going into the next season holding the jersey," he said.
"This season I definitely know I'm going in as second choice and will need a good pre-season and perform in the pre-season games to try to get my place back.
"I don't like sitting on the bench behind anybody so I definitely want to be fighting for the position." | Exeter prop Brett Sturgess hopes to return to action in time for pre-season as he recovers from knee surgery. | 27937451 |
Keepers at Drusillas Park in Alfriston could not work out why Sofia and male Tupee had failed to bond since being introduced to each other in 2011.
Head keeper Mark Kenward said it was not easy to establish the sex of a sloth and medical records had shown Sofia was female when she arrived.
"We are going to have to find a more suitable name for Sofia," he said.
It is likely that either Tupee or Sofia will now be re-homed to another zoo, and another female introduced.
Mr Kenward said: "We had never looked after sloths before and were relying on the information provided.
"Unfortunately we cannot keep our two boys together and it would also be a waste of their breeding potential."
After enlisting the help of Bristol Zoo, Mr Kenward said it all made "perfect sense" given the problems they had been experiencing with the animals. | A pair of sloths at an East Sussex zoo failed to breed after it emerged that they were both in fact males. | 25233287 |
The Houthi delegation, which was due to arrive on Sunday, was still in Djibouti in east Africa on Monday evening.
Mr Ban warned that "while the parties bicker, Yemen burns" and urged an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
An estimated 20 million Yemenis are in need of aid following months of fighting in the country.
The humanitarian situation has been described as "catastrophic" by the UN, with more than 2,000 people killed in the conflict.
Opening the talks, Mr Ban said: "Today Yemen's very existence hangs in the balance."
He urged action on three main areas: "First, a renewed humanitarian pause to allow critical assistance to reach all Yemenis in need and provide a respite for Yemenis as the holy month of Ramadan begins.
"Second, I urge the parties to reach agreement on local ceasefires. Third, I call on them to resume a peaceful and orderly political transition and to ensure that the process includes more representation from other political parties, women, youth and civil society."
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva said the Houthi representatives were apparently delayed over what airspace their plane could fly through. She said that the confusion did not bode well for the talks.
A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has been bombing the Houthi rebels and their allies since March.
The bombing campaign was launched to support Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who escaped to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, when the Houthis advanced on his stronghold in Aden in southern Yemen.
In recent weeks, fighting between Saudi forces and the Houthis has intensified on Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia claimed to have shot down a Scud missile fired by the Houthis.
The attack followed fighting on the border on Friday, in which four Saudi soldiers and a number of Yemeni rebels died.
On the same day, bombs hit the Old City of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, killing five people according to local sources. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has opened talks in Geneva on the conflict in Yemen but without the presence of Houthi rebel representatives. | 33131496 |
Northumbrian Water, which supplies water across the north-east of England, is expanding its cohort of water rangers.
It is recruiting new volunteers to walk by streams, becks, burns and bathing waters which are prone to pollution and report back on their condition.
The company's wastewater director, Richard Warneford, said the scheme had been "hugely successful"
"[It] has helped us to spot and deal with potential threats to the environment at the earliest possible opportunity on a number of occasions," he said.
New routes have been added in Northumberland, Tyneside, County Durham and Teesside.
The rangers are trained in environmental issues and what to look out for when monitoring watercourses.
The new routes are situated in: | A scheme to tackle water pollution is to be extended. | 38038923 |
The Markit construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 55 from 57.8 - well below the 57.5 forecast by economists.
The figure contrasted with a stronger-than-expected start for the manufacturing sector published on Monday.
Factory output rose from 52.1 in December to 52.9 in January.
Any figure above 50 indicates growth in the sector.
Markit economist Tim Moore said construction firms were struggling for momentum, with increased economic uncertainty holding back new orders and contributing to one of the weakest rises in output levels since summer 2013.
"Taken together with the slowdown in new order growth, the latest survey suggests that construction companies are braced for a relatively subdued first quarter," he said.
David Noble, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, which compiles the survey along with Markit, said a shortage of bricks and blocks contributed to the slowdown.
Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said weakness in construction orders and a downturn in public sector infrastructure work, which accounts for about a quarter of total construction and is not covered by the PMI, suggested the sector would post only "lacklustre growth" this year.
Optimism among construction companies waned to its lowest level since December 2014, the survey showed.
"Some firms highlighted concerns that underlying demand conditions had started to soften," Markit said.
Analysts use the PMI surveys for early signals about the economy. However, the construction sector figures have been at odds with data used in official growth figures in recent months.
Growth in the dominant UK service sector fell slightly in December to 55.5 in December, down from 59.9 in November, but remained above average. | Growth in the UK construction sector slowed down in January to its weakest level for nine months. | 35470675 |
That is a key department policy which decides whether schools should close or not.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said that the policy is undermined by "flawed and inaccurate data".
Education Minister John O'Dowd said he would consider what additional action, if any, needed to be taken.
He said: "The sustainable schools policy has been tested in court on several occasions and found to be a competent policy upon which to make decisions both about the future of individual schools and area planning more widely.
"I have already accepted the eight recommendations within the Northern Ireland Audit Office report and these are being progressed by my department."
The policy is also used to plan educational provision across Northern Ireland.
The PAC also said that the number of empty places in schools in Northern Ireland is "likely to be overstated".
A Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report previously found the number of empty places totalled over 71,000, about 20% of capacity.
However, the NIAO also said that the department did not have a standard method for calculating school capacity.
The PAC said it was "unacceptable" that the department could not provide accurate numbers of surplus places.
The committee is calling for up-to-date school enrolment figures to be gathered "as a matter of urgency".
The PAC report also said the department took too long to take decisions on whether to close schools, and whether suspended teachers should be dismissed.
It found that 106 teachers had been suspended during the past five years, but only six had been dismissed.
The department paid £4.2m on wages, national insurance and pension contributions for suspended teachers during that period.
The committee also concluded that Northern Ireland's education system was still failing too many young people. | There should be a "root and branch" review of the Department of Education's sustainable schools policy, a Stormont committee has said. | 35701038 |
Robyn Malcolm had been photographing a pod of whales on a feeding frenzy 500km (310 miles) south of Sydney.
But she only realised she had taken the unusual picture when she went through the photos later, she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Animal experts say that witnessing such a partnership is rare.
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife whale expert Geoff Ross told the paper the coupling was very rare but he had heard of it happening once before.
"The only other time was a seal trying to get away from a killer whale. The seal hopped on the back of the pectoral fins of a humpback whale," he said.
Ms Malcolm insisted that the photo was not doctored.
"I'm positive, because I don't know how to use Photoshop. And I do still have it on the camera so I can prove it," she told the newspaper.
The meeting of seal and whale is the latest in a series of serendipitous animal piggyback rides which have been captured this year.
In March, amateur photographer Martin Le-May shot this picture of a weasel clinging on to the back of a woodpecker at Hornchurch Country Park in east London.
In June, a family walking in a forest in central Florida spotted this raccoon hitching a ride on the back of an alligator.
Mr Richard Jones told local television station WFTV that he "snapped a lucky picture right when the gator slipped into the water and before the raccoon jumped off and scurried away". | An Australian photographer has captured a rare moment of animal communion with a shot of a fur seal surfing a humpback whale off the New South Wales coast. | 34276032 |
That is the view of the organisation representing micro breweries which says the thirst for craft beer in pubs and beyond shows no signs of drying up.
It comes as the number of traditional pubs have declined, with a pub closing every couple of days in Wales.
But the number of breweries has doubled in the past five years to 88.
"It's growing really rapidly," said Buster Grant, chairman of Drinks Wales, which represents independent brewers as well as cider and wine producers.
Welsh brewers are set to showcase their beers at two key events.
There is Cardiff Brew Fest this weekend and a three-day festival in London next month will feature 100 Welsh beers and ciders.
Mr Grant, managing director of Brecon Brewery, said: "There's a growth of craft beer in places like Cardiff where people like stronger, hoppier beers and more extreme flavours but also there's still growth in more traditional ales.
"In an age of austerity, people are not going out quite as much but when they do they're seeking out something different; they're a little bit more picky about where they go and are prepared to pay a little bit more."
He said Welsh brewers are taking their beers across the UK and looking abroad. At home, 20 small Welsh breweries now have their own pubs.
Four micro breweries - Bragdy Nant, Bragdy Conwy, Purple Moose and Great Orme - got together to reopen one pub in Conwy three years ago and recently bought two more.
Bragdy Conwy employs nine people and has enjoyed 20% year-on-year growth, supplying supermarkets, bars, restaurants and pubs.
Owner and head brewer Gwynne Thomas said it was difficult to predict the industry's future.
"About 2008, during the financial crisis, I thought we'd reached saturation point but the last few years growth has accelerated.
"It's a relatively straightforward but there are people who are good at the technical side of brewing but haven't got the organisational side right. You have to be strong at both."
Q&A: Real ale? Craft beer? Confused?
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) included 14 new Welsh breweries in its annual beer guide last year.
This is set against a background of a pub closures, which is running at a net loss of about 10 a month in Wales.
Spokesman Neil Walker said the boom in people setting up their own micro breweries or finding work in the industry "can only be good news for the future of beer and pubs" . | If the number of independent brewers in Wales continues to rise, it could hit the 100 mark within the next year. | 34063142 |
The SFO says the probe is "into suspected corruption in the conduct of business in the Republic of Guinea by the Rio Tinto group, its employees and others associated with it".
It is asking anyone with relevant information to get in touch.
Rio Tinto says it "will fully co-operate" with the investigation.
The firm employs 50,000 people in 35 countries across six continents.
Last October the mining firm agreed to sell its entire stake in the Simandou iron ore project in the west African country to Chinese firm Chinalco for between $1.1bn and $1.3bn.
The following month, Rio Tinto said it had contacted regulatory authorities in the UK and US over certain consultancy payments made in 2011 with regard to the Simandou project.
In a statement the company said: "Rio Tinto will fully co-operate with the Serious Fraud Office and any other relevant authorities, as it has done since it self-reported in November 2016." | The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it has opened an investigation into British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Group. | 40710478 |
Their study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, argued elderly people had the least to gain.
The team at University College London (UCL) has called on doctors to discuss the risks more clearly with patients.
The charity Diabetes UK said doctors needed to strike a careful balance when prescribing treatment.
Type-2 diabetes is an inability to control blood sugar levels and is linked to lifestyle factors including diet and obesity.
In the long-term it is linked to heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage and even blindness.
Drugs such as metformin can be used to lower blood sugar levels to prevent the side effects.
The report, which was carried out by the University of Michigan as well as UCL, said an average 45-year-old who dropped their blood sugar levels by one percentage point would gain 10 months of healthy life, compared with three weeks for a 75-year-old starting treatment.
It added this needed to be balanced against the down-sides to a lifetime of medication including: Having to have multiple injections and blood sugar tests each day, drugs causing indigestion or sickness, or insulin treatments risking blood sugar levels dropping dangerously low (hypoglycaemia).
One of the report's authors, Prof John Yudkin, told the BBC: "What it means is if you're someone with type-2, it's your right to know what the benefits of the treatment are in terms of gain in life expectancy or reduction in heart attacks or going blind.
"And then you are entitled to decide, but not many doctors have got those figures to hand."
He said GPs were too "target focussed" and were often looking only at the blood sugar level.
The findings do not apply to people with type-1 diabetes.
Commenting on the report, Simon O'Neill, the director for health intelligence at Diabetes UK, said: "Sometimes there is a balance to be struck where certain medications might help give someone a longer life, but also cause side effects that might negatively impact on quality of life.
"This study highlights the importance of looking at the individual needs of the person with type-2 diabetes, rather than adopting a blanket approach."
Patients are advised not to make any decisions without consulting their GP.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which advises the NHS on medication, said: "The current NICE guidance on the management of type-2 diabetes recognises that glycaemic [sugar] control targets should not impair a person's quality of life as a result of the side effects of treatment.
"Where medication does not help achieve this target level, lifestyle therapies such as dietary advice should be offered."
Refreshed guidelines are due to be published next summer. | The downsides of taking medication for type-2 diabetes may exceed the benefits for some patients, researchers have advised. | 28090419 |
The quake happened at about 21:10 local time on Friday (04:10 GMT on Saturday) and its epicentre was 1 mile (2km) east of the town of La Habra.
There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries.
A 4.4-magnitude quake was felt near Los Angeles earlier this month, rattling nerves but causing no major damage.
The latest earthquake was shallow at only 1.2 miles (2km) deep, according to the USGS.
It was felt across four counties, from Palm Springs in the east and Ventura County to the north, Reuters news agency reported.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it was checking buildings and transport infrastructure for damage.
It said the quake was a reminder for people to be prepared.
The San Andreas fault, on the edge of the Pacific tectonic plate, runs directly through California, and the western US state has long braced for a devastating quake.
The 1994 Northridge quake, at 6.7 magnitude, left at least 60 people dead. A 6.9-magnitude quake in San Francisco five years earlier killed 67 people. | A magnitude 5.1 earthquake has struck the Los Angeles area of southern California, the US Geological Survey says. | 26798153 |
Fury, 27, is the second Briton to win the award, after he shocked Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to claim the IBF, WBA and WBO titles in November.
"I can't believe I've just won Ring magazine fighter of the year," Fury said. "I'm so flattered."
The magazine said Fury's defeat of Klitschko "turned boxing's traditional glamour division upside down".
Following his title win in Dusseldorf, Fury caused controversy over derogatory remarks he made about women, and for criticising homosexuality and abortion.
Almost 140,000 people signed a petition calling for Fury to be removed from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.
Fury remained on the list and, during the show in December, apologised if any of his comments "hurt anybody".
He finished fourth in the vote for the award, which was won by tennis player Andy Murray.
American former WBC, WBA and IBF title-holder Mike Tyson said about Fury: "He is the best heavyweight champion of the world since myself. He is the man, I don't care what anybody says.
"I know this is going to sound ignorant, he can say what he wants to say. You know who is going to look up to him? The people who never thought they had a chance in their life."
Former world welterweight and light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton, in 2005, is the only other Briton to win the Ring award. | The Ring magazine has named world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as its 2015 fighter of the year. | 35288104 |
Mr Justice Mostyn said the game could be said to be a legitimate sport under English law.
He has granted the Aylesbury-based English Bridge Union permission for a full judicial review of its status.
Sport England has refused to recognise the game and said it was no more a sporting activity than "sitting at home, reading a book".
Mr Justice Mostyn, who said he played Bridge on social occasions, heard a claim the game ought to be recognised as a "mind sport" that exercises the "brain muscle".
Kate Gallofent QC, for Sport England, said the definition of a qualifying sport was an "activity aimed at improving physical fitness and well being, forming social relations and gaining results in competition".
That definition is based on a European Sports Charter promoting "a common European definition of sport".
However, the judge was told other EU countries, including the Netherlands, Ireland and Poland, "recognise Bridge as a sport".
Miss Gallofent insisted: "The starting point of the definition of sport is physical activity. Bridge cannot ever satisfy this definition."
Mr Justice Mostyn told her: "If the brain is a muscle, it does.
"You are doing more physical activity playing Bridge, with all that dealing and playing, than in rifle shooting.
"In 1999, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised that Bridge and Chess should be recognised as mind sports."
The judge granted the union permission to mount a full judicial review challenge to Sport England.
Contract Bridge is a complex game played by millions of people across the world in competitions and at social events.
All the cards are dealt from a normal 52 card deck for each game.
Two players from each of two teams sit opposite each other across a table and through a bidding process (auction) agree to win a number of tricks.
Suits are ranked upwards - clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades and no trumps.
If they achieve the number of tricks agreed at auction they win the game but if not they lose.
The team with the highest number of games takes the rubber.
These are the simple basic rules. At higher levels, the game includes bonus points, complex dealing and other laws. | The card game Bridge is "arguably" a sport and could qualify for lottery funding, a High Court judge has found. | 32483538 |
Malik said: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.
"I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right."
One Direction will continue their world tour as a four piece and record a fifth album later this year.
Last week, Malik walked away from the band's world tour after being signed off with stress.
He returned to the UK shortly after being forced to defend his relationship with his fiancee, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards.
A photo had earlier emerged of him holding another woman around the waist.
A second photo, taken from behind, showed Malik standing close to the woman. Their hands and arms looked as though they were linked.
In a statement, the rest of the group said: "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future.
"The past five years have been beyond amazing - we've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends.
"The four of us will now continue. We're looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour."
Simon Cowell, who discovered the boyband on talent show The X Factor, said: "I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction.
"Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond - and immensely proud - of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave.
"As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band."
Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records in 2010 after finishing third on The X Factor.
Zayn's had a tumultuous time with the band and almost quit during bootcamp.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | Zayn Malik has quit One Direction, the band have confirmed in a statement. | 32057401 |
However, with today's decision to recommend a third runway at Heathrow, this government has arrived at a point that its predecessors failed to.
From beating ourselves up for not building anything, we are suddenly building everything. Heathrow was chosen because of the extra boost it gives to the UK economy, but it is not the only mammoth project out there.
After a last minute wobble, the £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear power station has been given the green light, while the biggest of them all is coming down the track fast.
Construction on the £42bn HS2 high-speed rail line from London to the North is scheduled to begin next year. And that is probably not all.
The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, has hinted he may reveal some moderate government borrowing to fund targeted infrastructure spending in his Autumn Statement next month. It is enough to make the Victorians sit up and take notice.
If projections for a fairly sharp post-Brexit slowdown in the economy next year are correct, we may need this spending boost.
Yet if these projects proceed on time, there is something else we will need: people to build it all. With unemployment close to historic lows, it is not clear we have enough.
As the Victorians did, it seems very likely we will need to look abroad to find the workers for what some say promises to be a golden age of infrastructure. And that, post-Brexit, will present a political rather than an engineering challenge. | We have a long way to go before the we see the proverbial shovels in the ground - there will be legal and planning challenges aplenty to come. | 37768930 |
The poll has been triggered by the resignation of Tory MP Zac Goldsmith in protest at the government's backing for a third runway at Heathrow.
Mr Goldsmith, who will run again as an independent, has said it "must be a referendum on Heathrow expansion".
But the likely Lib Dem candidate said Mr Goldsmith's backing for Brexit would be "uppermost in voters' minds".
Sarah Olney, who has already been selected to fight the seat at the next General Election, said it was a "farce" the by-election was taking place, saying it was the result of Tory in-fighting but added that the Lib Dems were looking forward to "putting our message in front of voters".
Ms Olney, who like Mr Goldsmith is opposed to Heathrow expansion, told the BBC's Daily Politics: "We are on the same side as far as Heathrow is concerned, so for the voters to be able to choose between us, it's going to be fought on other issues - and I think Brexit is currently going to be the main issue that's uppermost in voters' minds."
A local breakdown of the EU referendum results shows almost 70% of voters in the Richmond council area, which makes up the bulk of the constituency, backed Remain.
Ms Olney is expected to be confirmed as the party's pick for the by-election after party leader Tim Farron rejected the idea of parachuting in one of its big names.
The Conservatives are not fielding a candidate against Mr Goldsmith, who held the south-west London seat in 2015 with a 23,015 majority. The Lib Dems, who held the seat until 2010, finished second.
Labour says it will field a candidate despite three of its MPs urging it to consider standing aside to maximise the chances of a Tory defeat.
The Green Party said it was also likely to put forward a candidate although it said it supported "progressives working together to beat the Conservatives".
In standing down, Mr Goldsmith - who has long campaigned against a third runway - fulfilled a pledge to quit if the government backed the expansion.
He said: "There was no small print, no expiry date, no ambiguity. It was a simple promise. And it mattered.
"I know it mattered, because the thought of Heathrow expansion fills most of my constituents with dread." | The Liberal Democrats have vowed to make the Richmond Park by-election about Brexit, not Heathrow. | 37779423 |
The 21-year-old came through the Rams academy and has played 27 first-team games, including eight this season.
Hanson, an ex-England Under-20 player, can also play in defence.
"Jamie is an exciting prospect and Derby feel that his development will be better served by coming on loan to us," said Wigan boss Warren Joyce.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here. | Wigan Athletic have signed midfielder Jamie Hanson on loan for the rest of the season from fellow Championship side Derby County. | 38743930 |
The weakness in the oil and gas market has resulted in £2.56bn turnover between January and June, down from £3.07bn at the start of 2015.
Profits fell even faster. Pre-tax profits on continuing operations were down by 39% to £96m.
However, that does not include exceptional items. Post-tax reported profit was down 68% to £44m.
The company has had one-off costs of cutting back sharply on its overhead costs, shedding a 10th of its workforce in the first half of this year.
Wood Group is currently in a pay dispute with maintenance workers on Shell platforms in the UK North Sea.
Chief executive Robin Watson said: "We have continued to focus on what we can control and what we can manage during a period where lower oil prices have endured and activity has fallen.
"Our focus remains on managing costs, improving efficiency and maintaining capability. We are working with our customers to work smarter, streamlining work processes while increasing quality and efficiency."
The engineering firm has told investors it expects full year profits to be 20% lower than in 2015.
The outlook was helped, it said, by early signs of oil production projects being given approval, and signs that the sharp drop in North American onshore drilling may have bottomed out.
Wood Group has also announced a $700m multi-year contract for oilfield automation services in Kazakhstan. This continues work it has been doing there for Tengizchevroil since 2013.
In other energy news, Cairn Energy, based in Edinburgh, announced a significant increase in the estimated size of its oil discovery in Senegal.
An independent company has assessed it as containing 473 million barrels of potentially recoverable oil or its gas equivalent, and up to 2.7 billion in total in the field.
The company said the new North Sea fields in which it has a significant interest, Kraken and Catcher, remain on schedule to be in production by the end of next year. The downturn in the oil market means the capital expenditure behind them has fallen between 10% and 20%.
The Wood Group share price rose 2% in morning trading after its half-year results were announced. Cairn Energy was up nearly 3%. | Wood Group, the oilfield services firm based in Aberdeen, has reported half year revenue falling 17%. | 37095705 |
The Canadian company, a major employer in Belfast, has faced a public outcry over the planned pay increases.
Over the last two years Bombardier has cut thousands of jobs and been bailed out by the Canadian state.
Yesterday a protest against the pay rises was held outside its Montreal headquarters.
The company says the executives will get half their pay rises now but will have to hit performance targets to collect the rest in 2020. | The chief executive of the Bombardier aerospace firm has asked the company's board to defer significant pay rises for its top executives. | 39483366 |
Most of the passengers are reported to be from Latin America.
The crash happened on Interstate 10 close to the resort town of Palm Springs in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Investigators are examining the cause of the crash, which happened as the bus was bound for Los Angeles.
Rescuers used ladders to climb into the bus windows to remove bodies. Five of the injured passengers are in critical condition.
The Los Angeles Times described the crash as the deadliest in California for several decades. It said that the bus careered into the rear of the truck at high speed, mangling the front third of the bus.
Most of those who died were apparently at the front of the bus, the newspaper reported. The driver was among the fatalities.
Officials quoted by the paper said that identifying the victims could take days, because some were not carrying identity cards or had lost their belongings when they were taken to hospital.
They have warned that it may not be possible to determine exactly why the accident happened because of the driver's death.
Investigators will assess whether he might have fallen asleep or had a heart attack, in addition to determining if there was a mechanical failure or some other kind of emergency.
The westbound lanes of the interstate were closed near the crash site but are now reported to have been reopened.
According to the Desert Sun newspaper, the tour bus, run by US Holiday, was coming from Red Earth Casino, near Salton City in California.
The small Los Angeles-based company, runs trips to casinos in California and Las Vegas. The driver of the bus was one of the owners of the tour company.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records show the company had one vehicle and one driver. According to the data the company held a satisfactory safety rating and had not been in a crash for two years. | Thirteen people have been killed and more than 30 injured in southern California after a tour bus ran into the back of a lorry, media reports say. | 37745642 |
The authority will hold public meetings between 16 November and 7 December to discuss services which could be cut.
It believes it has found two-thirds of the £21m savings needed in the next financial year, but it still needs to find a way of slashing £7m more.
Councillors and officers hope residents can help persuade the Welsh government to reduce the impact of the cuts.
Council leader Aaron Shotton said: "We are trying to put up an argument and stand up for local services and not simply passport through austerity cuts.
"There's a window of opportunity to save services in Flintshire."
The council has previously warned it cannot find ways of saving the money and that, if the government cannot be persuaded to limit the loss to Flintshire's grant, then services may be at risk.
It has suggested the grant to Clwyd Theatr in Mold could be withdrawn, bins may be emptied less frequently, leisure centres could be closed and winter road gritting could be cut to a minimum. | Flintshire residents have been invited to help save services threatened by £21m of council spending cuts. | 34658045 |
The claim: The UK leaving the European Union would mean cuts to pensions, defence and the NHS.
Reality Check verdict: What, if anything, gets cut if there is a Brexit will be a matter for the government to decide.
"If we restrict our access [to the single market] we will be less well off and that obviously affects what we can spend on our public services," he said.
In the past few days, voters have been warned that leaving the European Union would have severe effects on different areas of public spending.
We've been told both by David Cameron and Labour's Tom Watson that the triple-lock protection on state pensions would be threatened.
We've had Chancellor George Osborne warning that Brexit would lead to between £1bn and £1.5bn of cuts to defence spending.
He pointed out that even if the government stuck to Nato's target of spending 2% of national income on defence, if national income fell, then so would defence spending.
And the prime minister has also warned about spending on the NHS being threatened if the UK left the EU.
Why are they making these warnings? Because economic forecasters have said that leaving the European Union would mean the economy would grow by less than it would have done. That would mean lower tax revenues for the government, which would mean it would struggle to achieve a budget surplus as promised in 2019-20.
What the government chose to do about that would be a question of policy, as David Cameron confirmed, but that has not stopped various groups having a guess.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies predicted the government would decide to delay balancing the budget, bringing in an extra one or two years of austerity at the current rate.
Labour In for Britain said the government would attempt to balance the budget in 2019-20, meaning it would need to make savings of £28bn, which would be divided equally between tax rises, departmental spending cuts and cuts to social security spending.
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research said the government would be trying to save an extra £44bn in 2019-20.
It is also possible that the government could decide not to balance the budget and borrow more instead.
There is a pretty strong consensus that the initial economic shock from a vote to leave the EU would make it harder to achieve a balance in 2019-20, although it could be smaller than some groups have predicted.
Read more: The facts behind claims in the EU debate | On the Andrew Marr Show, David Cameron talked about the effects of leaving the European Union. | 36511598 |
De Niro is opening the Sarajevo Film Festival on Friday with a screening of his 1976 classic Taxi Driver, digitally restored for its 40th anniversary.
He is also due to be presented with a lifetime achievement award.
Sarajevo's film festival was founded in 1995 during the Bosnian war, after nearly four years under siege.
About 300 taxi drivers have put up posters in De Niro's honour, Reuters reported.
"Many of our colleagues became taxi drivers after being retired from the Bosnian army and in a sign of gratitude and compassion with the main character we have decided to stage him a warm welcome in this way," Hasib Losic of the Sarajevo Taxi Association told the agency.
Taxi Driver depicts the life of an isolated, angry army veteran turned taxi driver on the streets of New York. | Taxi drivers in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo have been putting posters of Robert De Niro on their vehicles in tribute to the actor ahead of a visit. | 37063862 |
Thirty years since Johnny and Baby first appeared in cinemas and created a cult hit, the producers of the TV remake have offered a glimpse at the updated version.
Starring Little Miss Sunshine star Abigail Breslin as Frances "Baby" Houseman and Colt Pratte as Johnny Castle, it recounts their 1987 love story and what happened to their romance after the summer ended.
Fans will relive memorable scenes like the lift in the lake, dancing on the log, and the infamous: "Nobody puts baby in the corner."
The stars of the remake also teased viewers with their own images on social media.
Breslin shared photos of herself dancing in front of a fireplace with a shirtless Pratte. In one he is seen dipping Breslin backwards and another sees her dancing with her arms above her head.
She captioned the shots: "Casually dancing around a fireplace, as one does," and "just casually dippin' around a fireplace. As one also does."
Modern Family star Sarah Hyland, who plays Baby's sister Lisa Houseman, also shared a photo on Instagram of herself in costume.
Will and Grace star Debra Messing, who plays their mother Marjorie, posted pictures including a shot of the Houseman family sitting around a table when Johnny tells them: "No one puts Baby in the corner."
She also included a picture of former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger dancing in character as Penny Rivera. She captioned the collection: "The Catskills are alive with music and [dancing emojis]."
The three-hour TV movie will be broadcast on US network ABC on 24 May, and promises to take the story beyond where the 1987 film ended.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | It's the moment Dirty Dancing fans have been waiting for. | 39516715 |
The 22-year-old, who will join City on 1 July, said: "I'm now at one of the best teams in the world".
Silva has made 58 appearances for Monaco this season - including two against City in the Champions League - scoring 11 goals and 12 assists.
He said the chance to work with Pep Guardiola influenced his decision.
"Of course when you have the opportunity of being trained by Guardiola, you don't say no," added the playmaker, who has played 12 times for Portugal, scoring once.
"If not the best coach in the world, he is one of the best."
Guardiola's City finished third in the Premier League this season, securing Champions League football next year.
Silva was integral to the Monaco side that reached the semi-finals, suffering eventual defeat to Juventus, who play Real Madrid in the final on Saturday, 3 June.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live
I am surprised in that I think that is the one area of the pitch where they have enough options. Manchester City's attack has been sensational this season. Bernardo Silva is very similar to David Silva. I wouldn't let David Silva go, I think he's been tremendous.
You don't know if other clubs were ready to push the button and City thought 'we have got to do it'. There are some players that come along and you have to do it there and then.
Tottenham defender Danny Rose, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live
I played against him away this season and he's the best opponent I faced. It's a great addition and gives Pep Guardiola another attacking option.
BBC Sport's Simon Stone:
Silva was excellent in Monaco's 5-3 Champions League defeat at Etihad Stadium in February and Pep Guardiola decided the Portuguese was a man he wanted. So much so, in fact, that he is prepared to put him among the top five most expensive players in City history.
A product of the Benfica academy, Silva is an attacking right-sided midfield player and is, at 22, just the kind of age Guardiola likes - old enough to understand his role, young enough to absorb the intricate tactical lessons his new manager imparts.
If, as expected, Kyle Walker also arrives this summer from Tottenham, Guardiola will have the raw pace from his full-back that creates the danger - and space - for Silva to cut inside and slice open defences.
*Initial reported fees | Manchester City have completed a £43m deal for Portugal attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva from French champions Monaco. | 40061812 |
The company owns the network of lines, poles and substations that brings electricity from power stations to homes and businesses.
It does not generate electricity, nor does it sell power to consumers.
It makes money by charging suppliers to use the infrastructure and the cost is then passed onto consumers.
Sara McClintock of NIE Networks said: "We know that there is nothing more frustrating than being told: 'We can't deal with your query, you need to speak to someone else.'
"That is why we are trying to clarify the difference between NIE Networks and electricity suppliers.
"If there is a power cut, it's our job at NIE Networks to fix it." | Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) is changing its name to NIE Networks in an effort to clarify its role in the Northern Ireland electricity market. | 34316776 |
Nicholson reported on the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Falklands War, the Balkans conflict, the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
He joined ITN in 1964 and was the network's senior foreign correspondent between 1989 and 1999.
He died while on a cruise with his wife Diana. ITN chief executive John Hardie said he was a "true legend".
Nicholson, who died on 11 December, presented reports from around the world on ITV's flagship current affairs programme Tonight.
He had four children and three grandchildren.
He was known for smuggling an orphaned girl out of Sarajevo while reporting on the conflict - and bringing her back to the UK, where he adopted her.
The correspondent met nine-year-old Natasha Mihaljcic while he was working on a story about children being trapped by shelling in the Bosnian capital in 1992.
He went on to write a book about the events which was used as the inspiration for the 1997 film Welcome To Sarajevo.
Nicholson was ITN's first bureau chief in South Africa in 1976 and was the first television correspondent to live in the country during apartheid.
He also witnessed the toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad in 2003.
Former ITN presenter Sir Trevor McDonald said Nicholson "was almost without doubt the finest television journalist of his generation".
"His aggressive pursuit of stories came to symbolise what the new kid on the block, as ITN then was, was all about."
ITV News presenter Alastair Stewart said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the death of ITN giant Mike Nicholson".
Mr Hardie said: "Michael Nicholson is rightly regarded as a true legend of ITN.
"As a journalist he is renowned and revered throughout our industry and beyond for his courage, his intelligence, and his compassion."
In a statement, his family described him as "an amazing father, devoted grandfather, loving husband and dear friend". | Veteran ITN war correspondent Michael Nicholson, whose career spanned more than five decades, has died aged 79. | 38349366 |
Ezewele, 20, joins on a one-year deal with the option for a further 12 months and is Fylde's sixth summer signing.
He started his career at West Brom but failed to make a first-team appearance before moving to Yeovil in July 2016.
The defender will link up again with Kidderminster team-mates Jordan Tunnicliffe and Zaine Francis-Angol, who have also joined the Coasters.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Newly promoted National League side AFC Fylde have signed full-back Josh Ezewele from Kidderminster Harriers. | 40430300 |
Meeting in Berlin, they also criticised Russia's air strikes in Syria.
It was their first summit since Donald Trump won the US presidential election. Mr Trump has criticised Nato and said he hoped for warmer ties with Russia.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump and Nato's chief "underlined the enduring importance of Nato", the military alliance said.
In a statement, it said Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg had spoken by phone to Mr Trump, congratulating him on his election victory.
In the German capital, President Obama - who has been on a farewell trip to Europe at the end of his two terms - met German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
A White House statement later said the leaders had "affirmed the importance of continued co-operation through multilateral institutions, including Nato".
It said they had "agreed on the necessity of working collectively to move the transatlantic agenda forward, particularly on bringing stabilisation to the Middle East and North Africa".
On Ukraine, the leaders said the sanctions imposed against Russia must remain in place until Moscow fully met its commitments to resolve the conflict.
Western nations accuse Russia of sending its troops and weapons into eastern Ukraine to support separatist fighters - a claim Moscow denies.
On Syria, President Obama and the EU leaders said attacks on the city of Aleppo by Syrian government troops and Russia "should be immediately halted".
Mrs May said the leaders "were united in our condemnation of the atrocities that are taking place there".
"We agreed the need to keep up the pressure on Russia, including the possibility of sanctions on those who breach international humanitarian law," she added.
Russia launched its air strikes in Syria in September 2015, saying it was acting at the request of President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow denies targeting civilians, saying it is bombing Islamic militants.
In a separate development in Berlin, Mrs May said preparations for the UK's exit from the EU were "on track".
"We do stand ready to trigger Article 50... by the end of March 2017."
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble earlier told the Financial Times the UK might have to continue paying into EU budgets for more than a decade after it leaves the EU.
He said Britain would "certainly have to fulfil its commitments" to the EU until its departure - and possibly after. | Outgoing US President Barack Obama and EU leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to Nato unity and sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis. | 38029868 |
The remarkable victory means the Devils have a five-point advantage over the second-placed Giants.
New signing Jerome Leduc scored twice and Mike Forney got the other as the Giants took control of the contest.
Mark Richardson gave Cardiff hope and Sean Bentivoglio got it back to 3-2 before Joey Haddard equalised and Patrick Asselin netted the winner.
It was a devastating final period for the Giants who had hoped to cut the Devils lead to a single point.
Now Derrick Walser's men must pick themselves up immediately as they host Cardiff again in Belfast on Saturday night.
As befitting a clash between the top two teams, the game started at a frenetic pace which lasted the entire first period.
Both keepers were kept busy but it was the Devils' Ben Bowns who was beaten first as debutant Giant Leduc, signed only this week, finished with aplomb in front of goal to give the home side the lead in the 14th minute.
With 48 seconds of the period remaining, a Forney shot sneaked past the unsighted Bowns to raise the roof at the SSE Arena as the Giants snatched a two-goal advantage.
Leduc's fine start in a Giants shirt continued in the second period when he slammed in his second goal of the night to make it 3-0 on a Belfast power play.
The visitors were not daunted by that deficit and came back hard at the Giants with a number of impressive saves from Stephen Murphy keeping the three-goal margin intact.
But there was an almighty twist in the tale. The Devils struck early in the final period as Richardson arrowed the puck into the top corner of the net past Murphy.
Now it was the small but vocal contingent of fans from Wales who were making all the noise in the arena as the scoreline became 3-2 as a Bentivoglio shot was deflected into the net off Giants' player-coach Walser, setting up a tense finale.
Haddard then made it 3-3 with less than six minutes remaining.
Then, incredibly, Patrick Asselin's close-range finish completed a remarkable turnaround by the Devils in what could well have been a huge step towards the Elite League title. | Leaders Cardiff Devils came from 3-0 down to beat their main rivals for the Elite League title in Belfast. | 39011316 |
Arlene Foster, Martin McGuinness, Mike Nesbitt, Colum Eastwood and David Ford all took part in Election 2016: The Leaders' Debate.
They were questioned by a studio audience made up mostly of grassroots supporters and some undecided voters.
The debate was simulcast to UK-wide audiences on the BBC News channel.
It was hosted by Noel Thompson.
An early flashpoint in the debate came between Mike Nesbitt and Arlene Foster over who should be first minister.
"I think that Arlene has a five-word plan - do not mention Peter Robinson," said Mr Nesbitt.
"I have a one-point plan - the Ulster Unionist one-point plan is make it work. Make Stormont work."
Mrs Foster replied: "Unlike Mike Nesbitt, I remember the bad old days of pushover unionism.
"I remember what it was like in 1998 when we had a concession a day to the IRA, I remember what happened in relation to prisoners, I remember what happened to the RUC."
David Ford said that the argument over who should be first minister was about trying to frighten people.
"I think it's rather sad that this is now the third election in a row that the DUP's campaign has been based on the politics of fear.
He added: "Not looking forward to the future, not looking about growing our economy, not looking about growing a united community, not looking to meet the needs of our children to stop them emigrating.
"Instead of that we're just into who's biggest and who's not biggest."
Martin McGuinness and Colum Eastwood also clashed over who would be in government or opposition after the election.
Mr McGuinness accused the SDLP leader of not knowing "what he wants to do" over being in government, but Mr Eastwood responded that the election is "not a coronation".
"I am going into government. Colum can't say that tonight. I am going into government," said Mr McGuinness.
Mr Eastwood replied: "Not like in the south, where they've refused to go into government at every opportunity."
During the debate, the leaders also faced questions on health, the past, the economy and the make-up of the government after the election.
Following the debate, political discussion continued in The Spin Room, a programme that provided instant analysis and reaction to the leaders' debate.
The programme featured senior representatives from the Green Party, TUV and UKIP.
An invited audience of commentators, members of the public and private sector, and young people from the BBC Generation 2016 initiative also gave their views on the debate. | The leaders of Northern Ireland's five main parties have gone head-to-head in a debate before Thursday's assembly election. | 36191435 |
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