The first of the new, £1.5m-a-year, £1.5m-a-year, £1.5m-a-year, £1.5m-a-year, £1.5m-a-year, £1.5m-a-

A fire which destroyed a Bradford mill has "underlined the urgency" of working to preserve West Yorkshire's mills, Historic England has said.

Article: Farmer Rob Morgan from Three Crosses won the competition to provide the tree - a Nordman fir - for the pillared state dining room.
His family have been in sheep and cattle farming for five generations and started planting trees in 1996.
"It's like winning supreme champion at the Royal Welsh Show", said Mr Morgan.
The Gower farmer was runner-up from around 300 entrants in the British Christmas Tree Growers Association competition in October.
Mr Morgan told BBC Wales he was "immensely proud" to be chosen and was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister David Cameron at the unveiling of the 12ft (3.6m) tree inside 10 Downing Street on Monday.
"I'm a fifth generation farmer here - these fields have produced livestock over the years," he said.
"I changed the trend of the farm to plant Christmas trees - I hope I'll have made my all my forefathers proud by creating something like this in a different business."
Mr Morgan said he now had around 320,000 trees but was a much smaller operation than many of his rivals, who would have had millions of trees to choose from.
He said success in producing a prize-winning tree was down to "shape and height, all in proportion, a fairly natural look" - and taking good care of them over a growing period of at least ten years.
"Every tree is nurtured from a seedling ...  you can't just plant a tree and watch it grow," he added.
Source: British Christmas Tree Growers Association

Summary: A fir tree grown on Gower has been unveiled as one of 10 Downing Street's two official Christmas trees.
###
Article: But a dogged group of winemakers in the foothills of the Altai Mountains have conquered the frosts to produce both red and white varieties, and hope to start selling them next year.
Vladimir Vagner, head of the Altaiskaia Loza ["Altai Vine"] wine company, is convinced the wines will prove a hit around the world.
He recruited the help of experts from France to find grapes that could weather the frosts and thrive during the area's balmy summers - which can be as hot as many parts of France and other wine-producing countries.
He told the Siberian Times: "Our French partners spent two years studying the climate conditions and soil, and once they made sure these were appropriate, they started choosing grape types.
"Initially, we selected an area for the vineyards. It was a former fruit garden, we planted 600 saplings to see if they could make it through winter - and all but two of them actually did so."
The vineyards lie around the village of Altaiskoye (population: 4,000). The first was planted in 2009 using cuttings from the Franche-Comté region of eastern France, supplied by the Guillaume family nursery. It included 20 types of grape chosen specially for their hardiness.
Ultimately, the growers picked four or five - including Pinot Noir and Muscat Blanc.
"We produced last year, three kinds of red wine and have made pink wine by mixing white and red grapes," Mr Vagner told the BBC.
"We made a white wine based on the varieties of Muscat, and as an experiment made the first wine from frozen grapes - so called "ice wine". Given our climate, we will continue to apply this technology further."
Ice wine, also known by its German name "Eiswein", is a very sweet dessert wine made from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine - an ideal solution for winemakers in snow-capped climes.
Temperatures in Siberia are well below freezing throughout the winter, and remain sub-zero into April. In January, the average temperature is -17.8 °C (-0.4 °F), but by July the mercury can hit a more enjoyable 13.8 °C (56 °F).
Mr...

Summary: Siberia is known for its bitter, snowy winters - hardly the conditions associated with a thriving wine industry.
###
Article: The Grade II-listed Drummond Mill on Lumb Lane in Manningham was ravaged by a fire which started in the basement on Thursday.
The building has now been partially demolished to prevent further collapse.
Historic England said West Yorkshire's mills are "important landmarks which need to be cherished".
The organisation, which preserves and lists historic buildings, is currently part-way through a review into West Yorkshire's mills to establish best practice for future redevelopments.
Spokesperson Deborah Wall said: "The community is deeply affected and emotional about the loss of this historic building.
"It just shows how important these landmarks are to people and why the work to find ways to capture the stories of these places and to cherish them is so important."
Last month, property consultants Cushman and Wakefield began work with architects and Historic England to examine ways in which West Yorkshire's vacant textile mills could be brought back into use.
Trevor Mitchell, Historic England's planning director for Yorkshire, said: "West Yorkshire's textile mills are iconic buildings that people care deeply about.
"Some have been brilliantly and creatively converted into places to work, live or socialise.
"We are working to understand how these successful conversions have been achieved and try to find solutions for those mills that need a new purpose to become great landmarks in our region again."
Successful redevelopments include Tower Works and Marshalls in Leeds, Sunny Bank Mills in Pudsey, Lister Mills in Bradford, Salts Mill in Saltaire, Red Brick Mill in Batley, and Dean Clough in Halifax.
Yorkshire has 172 listed textile mills.
Ms Wall said the future of Drummond Mill was "totally uncertain" until Bradford Council and the fire service had determined the full extent of the damage.

Summary:


The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU animal welfare rules must apply throughout the transport of live animals to countries outside the union.

Schools have been reopening in Guinea after a five-month closure because of the deadly Ebola outbreak.

Article: Mr Johnson had previously suggested that only by voting to leave would the UK "get the change we need".
But in The Times, Mr Johnson stated categorically: "Out is out".
Meanwhile finance ministers from G20 countries have raised concerns with the chancellor about a possible Brexit.
The UK will vote on whether to Leave or Remain in the EU on 23 June.
How plausible is second EU referendum?
Mr Johnson wrote in his Daily Telegraph column on Monday that "EU history shows that they only really listen to a population when it says 'no' ".
This claim was widely interpreted as suggesting he would then advocate a second referendum.
But on Saturday, Mr Johnson said in the Times: "What I want is to get out and then negotiate a series of trade arrangements around the world."
Asked whether he had given up on the idea of a second referendum, Mr Johnson added: "I don't think it would be necessary."
He told the paper the vote was a golden opportunity "to take back control, to renew our approach to law making, to strike new trade deals around the world, to galvanise our economy and politics and to give people confidence back in their country".
"The advantage of a 'no' vote is that it would jolt the whole system in Europe," he said.
"For their own sake, they need to look at the way they are doing things."
Chinese and American officials and the head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, discussed the referendum with Chancellor George Osborne on Friday in Shanghai during the G20 summit, where finance ministers from the world's biggest economies discuss key issues in the global economy.
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the ministers were expected to raise an official warning of the risks of an Out vote when the final communique of their meeting was published later.
Lord Howard, who led the Tories between 2003 and 2005, said on Friday that EU leaders would have to think again about far-reaching reform in the immediate aftermath of an Out vote.
The BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason said the suggestion an Out vote...

Summary: London Mayor Boris Johnson has clarified his position on the idea that a vote to leave the EU could force Brussels to give Britain a better deal and trigger a second referendum.
###
Article: The case was triggered when authorities in Kempten, southern Germany, refused to let a local firm export cattle to Uzbekistan in Central Asia.
EU rules say cattle must get a rest period of at least one hour, with food and water, after 14 hours of travel.
The court has made it clear that those rules include travel in non-EU states.
On longer journeys the animals must be unloaded and have a 24-hour rest with food and water, after another 14 hours of travel.
The cattle transport by German firm Zuchtvieh-Export GmbH would have involved more than five days of travel in non-EU countries.
The company's journey log had not specified rest points for the cattle during the 7,000km (4,340-mile) journey across former Soviet countries.
Under the ECJ ruling, authorities can now demand inclusion of those welfare provisions in the journey log for live animal transports that leave the EU.
An ECJ press release said that "the requirements relating to watering and feeding intervals and duration of journeys and resting periods also apply to those stages of the transport taking place outside the EU".
EU-wide rules on protection of animals during transport were adopted in 2004 and further legislation was added later.
A British Liberal Democrat MEP, Catherine Bearder, said EU animal welfare law had helped reduce unnecessary suffering during live transports, but "too often these rules are callously ignored, including when animals are shipped further afield".
"Today's ruling should encourage us to ensure EU laws on animal transport are properly enforced, both at home and abroad."

Summary: The European Court of Justice says EU animal welfare rules must apply throughout the transport of live animals to countries outside the union.
###
Article: Correspondents said the atmosphere at schools was subdued and many pupils had not returned.
They said parents had been taken by surprise by the government's decision to reopen schools with only four days' notice and many were not prepared.
More than 8,400 people have died in West Africa in the world's worst outbreak of the Ebola virus.
The reopening of schools in Guinea comes four days after the UN said the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the country had fallen to its lowest weekly total since August.
At one school in the Guinean capital, Conakry, only about 220 of the approximately 2,000 pupils were reported to have returned.
Of the 36 teachers, more than half were back at work.
Many schools have introduced health precautions, including hand-washing and temperature checks.
Ebola has had a severe impact not only on public health but also on the Guinean economy.
Unemployment and underemployment have risen, leaving many parents with difficulties meeting school-related expenses at the beginning of a new academic year.
Schools remain closed in Sierra Leone and Liberia, the two other countries hit hard by the Ebola outbreak.
Earlier this month, the outgoing head of the UN team fighting Ebola, Anthony Banbury, said he believed cases of the virus would be brought down to zero by the end of 2015.

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Children who read for pleasure are likely to do better in maths and English than those who rarely read in their free time, research suggests.

Article: Mr Putin said: "We can say with certainty that the party has achieved a very good result."
The nationalist LDPR and the Communist party are way behind United Russia, with about 14-16% each.
Liberal opposition parties appear to have failed to pass the 5% threshold needed for party-list representation.
However, the exit polls say though they could still get seats in individual constituencies.
A VTsIOM exit poll gave United Russia, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, 44.5%, with the Public Opinion Foundation putting its total higher, at 48.7%.
Partial official results later confirmed a large lead.
The two exit polls differed on whether the LDPR or Communists were second, but both were well behind.
A Just Russia was fourth on about 8%.
These four parties had dominated the last State Duma (lower house).
Two opposition parties, Yabloko and Parnas, were projected to receive 3.5 and 1.2% respectively.
The turnout was significantly down from the 2011 elections - just below 40% two hours before voting ended.
Election Commission head Ella Pamfilova said she was "fully confident that the elections are proceeding in a quite legitimate way".
In the system of "Managed Democracy" crafted by the Kremlin, it was unthinkable that President Putin's control of parliament would weaken.
And so, the four pro-Kremlin parties which dominated the previous parliament will do so again. But will the new parliament be recognised by the public as legitimate?
The Russian authorities have tried to present this as one of the cleanest elections in years. Some opposition candidates were permitted to run; a respected human rights advocate was appointed head of the Russian Election Commission.
Yet throughout the day there have been reports of voting fraud - and video to back them up. In some cases, webcams installed at polling stations recorded what appear to be election officials stuffing ballot boxes.
It was vote-rigging which sparked anti-government street protests after the last parliamentary election. President Putin will be hoping that...

Summary: United Russia, backed by President Vladimir Putin, is far ahead in the nation's parliamentary election, taking at least 44%, exit polls suggest.
###
Article: He tweeted: "Can you imagine if the election results were the opposite and WE tried to play the Russia/CIA card. It would be called conspiracy theory!"
The US president-elect also questioned why the allegations were not widely made public before the election.
His remarks set the incoming commander-in-chief against intelligence services that he will preside over.
"Unless you catch "hackers" in the act, it is very hard to determine who was doing the hacking. Why wasn't this brought up before election?" Mr Trump tweeted on Monday morning.
The FBI said in October that it believed Russia was behind the Democratic Party hacks but on Friday the CIA went further by concluding Russia's motive was to help Mr Trump.
On Monday, the Hillary Clinton campaign, which lost to Mr Trump in last month's election, said it was supporting an effort by a handful of members of the electoral college to request an intelligence briefing on the latest hacking allegations.
Mrs Clinton's top political adviser, John Podesta, told Politico: "The bipartisan electors' letter [requesting the intelligence] raises very grave issues involving our national security."
The electoral college meets next week to ratify the results of the election.
Mr Trump's latest Twitter tirade comes a day after he told Fox News the Democrats were disseminating the "ridiculous" hacking reports because they lost the election, and it was "impossible to know" who was behind it.
On Friday, CIA officials told US media they had "high confidence" that Russian hackers had attempted to sway the US election in Mr Trump's favour.
The Trump team responded to those reports in a statement: "These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction."
Despite Donald Trump's boasts to the contrary, he's entering the White House with a very tenuous claims to a presidential mandate. He trails Democrat Hillary Clinton in the popular vote by 2.8 million votes, and while he posted a comfortable Electoral College win, by historical standards it ranks towards the...

Summary: Donald Trump has poured fresh scorn on US intelligence claims of Russian hackers meddling in the US election.
###
Article: The study, by the Institute of Education, London University, examined the reading habits of 6,000 children.
It indicated reading for pleasure was more important to a child's development than how educated their parents were.
The researchers concluded a wide vocabulary helped children absorb information across the curriculum.
They analysed the results of tests taken at the age of 16 by 6,000 children, all born in one week, from the 1970 British Cohort Study.
The findings showed those who had read often at the age of 10 and had been reading books and newspapers more than once a week aged 16 had performed better than those who had read less.
There was a 14.4% advantage in vocabulary, a 9.9% advantage in maths and an 8.6% advantage in spelling, the research found, once parents' background and reading habits were taken into account.
The study said: "The influence of reading for pleasure was greater than that for having a parent with a degree."
The total effect on children's progress of reading often - reading newspapers at age 16 and being a regular library user - was four times greater than the advantage of having a university-educated parent, the study suggested.
The Institute of Education also looked at the impact on test scores of having brothers and sisters and found that those youngsters with older siblings were less likely to do well, particularly in vocabulary.
It suggests this could be because children in larger families spend less time talking one-to-one with their parents and have less chance to develop their vocabulary skills.
There was less effect if children had younger brothers and sisters, although they may score lower on vocabulary, the study found.
Study author Dr Alice Sullivan said: "It may seem surprising that reading for pleasure would help to improve children's maths scores.
"But it is likely that strong reading ability will enable children to absorb and understand new information and affect their attainment in all subjects."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said: "It absolutely...

Summary:


David Beckham's plans to create a team in Miami have edged a step closer after a site for the franchise's stadium was approved by Major League Soccer.

Article: The Â£25m Airlander 10, which is 302ft (92m) long, "nosedived" during its second test flight in Bedfordshire.
Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) said repairs were confined to the hull and the forward part of the cockpit.
But specialist tools needed for some of the repairs were not acquired from the US Army and needed replacing.
The aircraft was first developed for the US government as a surveillance aircraft but the project was shelved amid defence cutbacks.
British firm HAV launched a campaign to return it to the skies in May 2015.
It made a successful maiden flight last month from Cardington Airfield but was damaged on landing during its second flight on 24 August.
Chief Executive Steve McGlennan said the hull repairs would take about three or four days to complete but tools required for some cockpit repairs were not acquired from the US Army at the end of its multi-intelligence vehicle programme and their replacement "contributes significantly to the estimated overall time required".
"There are however no substantial repairs necessary to the other areas and systems of the aircraft which remain operational," he said.
Mr McGlennan said the three to four month estimate also included a "disciplined and thorough" investigation into the heavy landing and it was "already clear" there were steps that could be taken to "improve" procedures.
He added that despite the heavy landing, HAV was "very pleased by the capability the Airlander had shown in initial flight tests" and was "encouraged" both prospective customers and new investors were continuing discussions with the company.

Summary: The world's longest aircraft will take about three to four months to repair and test after a "heavy landing" on a test flight, it has been revealed.
###
Article: Paul Smith, of Holm Garth Drive, was also given a 12-month community order after pleading guilty at Hull Crown Court to owning explosive substances.
Smith told police it was a "hobby" when they found two pipe bombs in a workshop at his home earlier this year.
The 40-year-old was even given a bomb-shaped birthday cake, police said.
Smith, who also pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of a Class B drug, has been banned from owning flares or fireworks that are not commercially available under the order.
During the search, officers had found bomb-making equipment and a number of "sophisticated" explosives. An Army bomb disposal team had to make his house safe, police said.
Det Ch Insp Steve Hibbit, from Humberside Police, said: "We never found any evidence that Mr Smith had any intent to harm anybody, either as a group or an individual.
"But anybody making devices like that inevitably brings danger to themselves, to others in the immediate vicinity and who's to know how this would've ended up."
Smith told police he had an interest in explosives "in the same way that other people have an interest in collecting stamps".
Det Ch Insp Hibbit said: "What is extraordinary is the fact that he was living at home [with his parents] and he was even given a birthday cake in the shape of a bomb.
"If it wasn't so dangerous it could be comical. He was clearly self-taught using recipes that are readily available to anybody, but it's not a joke. It is a very serious matter."

Summary: A man who had a "bomb workshop" at his Hull home has been given a 10-year anti-social behaviour order banning him from owning certain fireworks.
###
Article: The former England captain's team of investors acquired land in the city's Overtown neighbourhood this week.
It was the Beckham team's fourth attempt to buy a suitable Miami site.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said Miami Beckham United's bid plans "for a world-class venue within the urban core" were "impressive".
He added: "We are very supportive and look forward to working with David and his partners to finalise plans to bring Major League Soccer to Miami."
Beckham's advisers inserted a clause into his contract when he signed for Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 that would allow him to create his own MLS franchise.
The former Manchester United midfielder hopes to turn Miami Beckham United into a super-club with the financial clout of Manchester City and Paris St-Germain and aims to attract the world's top players.
Meanwhile, the MLS board has said it supports expansion of the league to 28 clubs.
The league's current plans are to expand from 20 to 24 teams by 2020.
"There is no shortage of demand for MLS expansion teams and we believe the opportunity exists to grow beyond our current plans," said Garber.
"We will evaluate how to grow the league to 28 teams and establish a process and timeline for future expansion."

Summary:


A man who was jailed for life for the rape and murder of a woman in Leicester has been released.

A killer has been jailed for a "sadistic" sexual attack a year after his release.

Article: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence wants to make it easier for people with limited mobility to get out and about.
Most crossings allow between four and seven seconds before the green man starts flashing.
But many people are slower than this.
The average walking speed for older men has been estimated at 3ft (0.9m) per second, and 2.6ft per second for older women.
The speed for crossings recommended by the Department for Transport is around 4ft (1.2m) per second, but local councils can adjust the timing to suit their residents' needs.
The draft NICE guidelines also recommend that councils move bins, hanging baskets and any other obstacles that might get in the way of disabled pedestrians and others who may struggle to get around, such as parents with prams.
Prof Mark Baker, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, said: "It should not matter whether you are on foot, in a wheelchair, have a visual impairment or if you're a parent pushing a pram.
"If streets, parks and other open spaces are well planned, everyone should be able to get around their local area easily.
"Safe, accessible streets and well-maintained parks can help people to get active and live longer, healthier lives."
Dr Justin Varney from Public Health England said: "Physical activity benefits everyone at all stages of life.
"People living with impairments are less active, and this can be due to the way the built environment, including public spaces and transport systems, is designed.
"Making physical activity accessible to everyone when planning spaces benefits communities in terms of health, environmental sustainability and economic regeneration."
The NICE recommendations are out for consultation until October.

Summary: The green man walking sign on pedestrian crossings may be too fast for elderly people to cross the road safely, suggest new draft guidelines for local councils.
###
Article: Police discovered the animals - some of them in cages - in the basement and back room of Gary Samuels' Armley Vets practice in Leeds, in February 2015.
Samuels, of Weston Road, Enfield, was sentenced after being convicted of six offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
The RSPCA described the conditions the animals were kept in as "unthinkable".
Four dogs and a cat were put down after the raid on the practice in Town Street. But, 21 animals have been rehomed.
Officers discovered some of the animals by accessing a trapdoor covered with carpet, while others were found shut in a separate room.
RSPCA Inspector Nikki Cheetham said: "I've seen a lot of shocking things working for the RSPCA but I would certainly never have expected to deal with something like this.
"It is unthinkable to consider what was going on in this surgery as clients were coming and going, paying their vet fees."
Samuels' sentence was suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 15 hours of unpaid work, fined £200 and told to pay £500 towards the costs of the prosecution.
His assistant, Rochelle McEwan of Stonecliffe Close, Leeds, who was also convicted of six offences under the Animal Welfare Act, was sentenced last month.

Summary: A vet who kept 30 dogs and cats in a "filthy dungeon" has been given a 12-week suspended sentence and banned from working with animals for life.
###
Article: Michal Podlaszczyk had already served 12 and a half years for the equivalent of manslaughter in his native Poland in 2003 when he was 18.
A year after his release he came to the UK and in October raped and robbed a woman in a Leicester park.
Podlaszczyk, 33, was jailed again on Wednesday for a minimum of seven and a half years.
He had previously admitted nine different charges including rape, sexual assault and robbery.
Leicester Crown Court heard Podlaszczyk attacked a 55-year-old woman as she walked to the bus station through Bede Park shortly after 07:00.
He punched her to the ground, dragged her to a secluded part and raped her.
During the attack he took her bank card and demanded her Pin number in order to steal Â£20 from her account.
He also took her mobile phone and Â£1.15 from her purse saying he needed money for beer.
Prosecuting, Jim Thomas said the woman was left with injuries to her knees and face, including a denture being knocked out.
Reading a statement from the victim, Mr Thomas said: "She is frightened to go out and is constantly worried when there's a knock at the door."
Podlaszczyk had been released from prison in Poland in July 2015 and settled in the UK last August.
Judge Philip Head called the attack "sadistic" and described the defendant as a "damaged and dangerous" killer.
He said the defendant took "great pleasure from it [the attack] by humiliating her by some disgusting actions".
"This was motivated by sex and he thought he could profit at the same time."

Summary:


The BBC's The World at One is a series of interviews with people who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The series is produced by the BBC's World at One team, which includes the BBC's World at One correspondent, Dr. Sarah Hogg.
The World at One is broadcast on

A care trust that was told to improve its services has now been classed as "good" overall by health inspectors.

Article: The anomaly about Anomalisa, however, written and co-directed by four-time Oscar nominee Charlie Kaufman, is that it's a stop-motion animation - "an animation truly intended only for adults", he says.
The New York-born screenwriter, who won an Academy Award for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in 2004 and is also the writer of 2002's Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, first created Anomalisa as a radio play more than a decade ago.
British actor David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh, recently the star of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, took the parts of Michael Stone, a self-help speaker who is suffering within, and Lisa, a socially awkward sales rep, who meet at a conference.
Kaufman says he didn't really know who David Thewlis was 10 years ago, adding:  "I just liked his work, and the same for Jennifer Jason Leigh.
"I wrote David a note asking him if he'd come over to the States and do this sound-only play for me and he did. I couldn't imagine casting any other voices for the movie either."
Anomalisa was first performed in 2005, but Leigh says she "was in love with Lisa from the very first minute".
"When we did the plays, I was so sad when it was over, it felt like an all-too-brief moment. The film treatment was proposed quite soon afterwards though, so I suppose she's stayed with me all these years.
"It's quite a challenge for an actor - it's sound only, no interaction between us, even when we were standing on stage reading the script for the play.
"But an animation feels like precisely the right treatment because the focus of the film really is on voices - how difficult it is to hear a different one in a crowd, one that means anything to us."
Anomalisa is co-directed by Kaufman and TV producer Duke Johnson, but it was eventually brought to life by funding from Kickstarter. Kaufman describes being surprised and relieved to get the money to make the film.
"We've been working on it for three years under the radar, with very few people knowing about it and it was a struggle," he says.
"We didn't...

Summary: It's a tale of a world-weary, middle-aged man struggling to find meaning in his existence  - and then he meets a woman, Lisa, who may or may not change his life.
###
Article: Donald Trump says he would bring back outsourced manufacturing jobs from Mexico and China. There's a factory that is a symbol of outsourcing.
"You thought you had a job for life," says Gregg Trusty. "As long as you didn't show up to work drunk or punch your supervisor, you thought you could work there until you retired."
A wander around the factory Trusty is talking about gives a stark example of the precarious nature of the American economy today.
The gigantic Western Electric plant in Shreveport, Louisiana was once one of the country's biggest producers of telephones. Now it's abandoned, the machinery silently rusting. Nature creeps in on all sides. Dusty papers sit on desks and lights still blaze on to empty factory floors, as if the people working there were forced to leave in a hurry.
If you want to understand how Donald Trump has tapped into economic insecurity across America, this humid city of 200,000 in northern Louisiana is an excellent place to start. Western Electric was the wholly-owned manufacturing arm of corporate behemoth AT&T, which for most of the 20th Century held a monopoly on the US telephone business.
At its height, the company employed 7,500 people at its Shreveport plant. But long before the rise of Chinese competition, the ubiquity of the mobile phone and the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico - which Trump has called "worst trade deal ever" - the factory's future was clear.
Starting in the 1980s, AT&T slashed its domestic workforce and moved telephone manufacturing to Singapore.
"There was a feeling of disappointment," says Don Corliss, who worked at the plant for 25 years. "We moved from a manufacturing economy to a service economy.
"Did the average worker on the shop floor realise what was hitting them? I don't know."
Several factors led to the factory's closure. In 1984, a lawsuit ended AT&T's monopoly and opened up American telecommunications to competition. And, of course, the last 30 years have seen unprecedented international competition and...

Summary: Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter
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Article: The Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust was given the rating following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September.
Chief Executive Heather Tierney Moore said she was "proud" of the progress made since its previous inspection.
The trust was told to focus on issues including staff training, safety and risk assessments in mental health.
The trust, which provides services in district nursing, offender health, and mental health and community services such as wellbeing, had been told it "required improvement" in November 2015.
Ms Moore said the improved rating was "a fantastic achievement solely down to hard work and effort" it has put into improvements.
"This fills us with pride and shows that we are a truly compassionate organisation," she said.
Ms Moore said a theme through the report was that patients were treated "with dignity and respect".
The trust said the issues highlighted were already being addressed and the relocation of Hurstwood Ward (formerly ward 22) from Burnley to Royal Blackburn Hospital has been completed.
The trust was set up in 2002 and has almost 7000 staff across 400 sites.
In October, a whistleblower who worked at the trust as a therapist claimed that dozens of prison inmates with serious mental health problems were being left untreated.
The trust denied the claim and said severe cases were treated.

Summary:


The Duke of Edinburgh has been appointed as Honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force.
The appointment is the first of his career.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who has been a member of the Royal Air Force since the age of 16, will be the first of his family to hold the

US transport safety officials have proposed guidelines to limit driver distraction from gadgets built into cars.

Article: Her appointment as Honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief is her first military-linked role.
She will represent 42,000 air cadets aged 12-19 and 15,000 adult volunteers.
Thanking the 94-year-old duke, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty said he was "admired and respected by cadets and volunteers alike" and would be missed.
The Duchess of Cambridge is already patron of a number of youth and mental health charities, and is a trained scout volunteer.
The Duke of Edinburgh took up his appointment with the air cadets following the death of founding patron King George VI.
Relinquishing his role during an audience at Buckingham Palace, he was presented with an engraved crystal vase celebrating 75 years of the cadets.
Air Cmdr McCafferty said: "We will be forever grateful to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh for his outstanding commitment to the Air Training Corps over the decades.
"He is admired and respected by cadets and volunteers alike and we will miss his ready sense of humour and genuine interest in the development of the nation's youth."
The duchess, whose husband Prince William trained as a helicopter pilot with the RAF, was presented with a copy of Horizons, the history of the air cadets.
"Her links to the RAF family are already well-established and her desire to support youth development is well recognised around the world," Air Cmdr McCafferty said:

Summary: The Duchess of Cambridge has become patron of the RAF Air Cadets - taking over from the Duke of Edinburgh, who has held the position for 63 years.
###
Article: Dr Nihal Weerasena was accused of various failures in the care of six children and one adult while employed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust between 2008 and 2012.
The surgeon had claimed he was made "a scapegoat" for shortcomings at the unit.
The tribunal will now decide whether his fitness to practise is impaired.
The trust referred the doctor to the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2014 after a review of paediatric care services, which included looking at clinical outcomes.
A report later concluded the unit did not have excessive mortality rates.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found the surgeon had shown "substandard practice" in his treatment of a seven-year-old patient in 2012 in a "complex" surgery.
However, he was cleared of missing a key event during the operation in his typed report which had appeared in his handwritten note.
He also failed to keep an accurate record of surgery on a six-year-old patient in November 2010, the panel found.
Failings also occurred in an operation on an eight-year-old patient in September 2010 to repair narrowing of the arteries into the heart.
Dr Weerasena was cleared of failing to seek senior surgical help during another procedure and not explaining in his typed operation report why the patient had died.
His treatment of two other children was also found to be substandard. An allegation involving his care of a sixth child was not proved.
Another charge that he failed to obtain informed consent from a male patient to repair an aortic valve, when the patient was "100% certain" he was supposed to have a replacement, was proved.
The surgeon did not attend the hearing in Manchester but explained his absence in writing and alleged he had been the victim of a "cover-up".

Summary: A surgeon has been found guilty of misconduct after a number of errors at a hospital's child heart unit.
###
Article: The planned voluntary rules would cover "integrated electronic devices, including mobile phones".
Officials want distracting functions to be disabled when driving.
In 2010, US figures suggested that "distraction by a device or control integral to the vehicle was reported in 26,000 crashes".
Thenew proposals include goals to reduce the amountof inputs required to operate a device - the number of buttons to push - and reducing unnecessary visual information.
There are also guidelines requiring one-handed operation and a two second limit on "off-road glances" - the time spent looking at the device.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also wants built-in gadgets the driver can use to turn-off non-essential functions while the car is moving, and keep them disabled until the car is parked.
In particular they want to prevent manual texting, use of the internet/social media, entering addresses into sat navs and dialling long phone numbers.
Displaying more than 30 characters of text not related to driving should also be prevented, it says.
Electronic warning systems would be exempt from the rules, the NHTSA said.
The first phase of the plans only apply to built-in devices.
However, the NHTSA said that in later phases it might issue further guidelines on the use of "devices or systems that are not built into the vehicle but are brought into the vehicle and used while driving".
This could include "navigation systems, smartphones, electronic tablets and pads, and other mobile communications devices".
Official figures suggested that in 2010 electronic devices were involved in 47,000 distraction-related crashes.
NHTSA administrator David Strickland said consumers wanted more "tools and conveniences" but said the guidelines would help carmakers "develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want - without disrupting a driver's attention or sacrificing safety".
The NHTSA is currently consulting on the first phase of the proposals.

Summary:


The personal details of more than 150,000 members of dating website Muslim Match have been posted online.

Article: VTech was hacked in November, exposing millions of accounts.
In response, the firm took some essential services offline, meaning products could not be registered on Christmas Day.
While some people were critical, others said VTech was doing its best to deal with a difficult situation.
Many parents whose children received VTech toys for Christmas posted messages on the company's Facebook account.
Some said that VTech should have withdrawn their toys from sale when it became clear their systems would not be online when children received their gifts.
"You've known about this cyber-attack since November, and continued to sell your products in the run-up to Christmas, in full knowledge of the fact that these devices wouldn't be functional at Christmas. What sort of company are you running?" wrote Garrett Murphy, whose Facebook page says he lives in Sligo, in Ireland.
Others said their children were upset. Sharon Mcgee wrote: To say I'm fuming is an under statement! I've a crying 3 year old all day Santa brought him a broken gift!"
She added: "I would not mind but when buying this it was the most expensive one in the store but I thought you are paying for better quality!" She said she would return the toy and never buy another from VTech.
Another customer, Peter Box, whose Facebook profile says he lives in Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, wrote that his children had been upset and that it was "extremely poor customer service by vtech, to intentionally sell a product that they know doesn't work for Christmas".
VTech told customers on Christmas Eve that Learning Lodge, the company's app store, with which customers need to register, would be down. It had also taken down other sites in the immediate aftermath of the hack, while it conducted a "thorough security assessment".
The firm provided a temporary workaround for Christmas that would enable some, but not all functions and gave customers some free games as recompense. But Mr Box - and others - said the warnings were insufficient.
Morgan Calhoun wrote: "Knowing the...

Summary: Parents have expressed anger after they found the VTech toys their children were given for Christmas were not fully functioning.
###
Article: Deirdre Michie, however, has warned the industry will be "extremely challenged" to sustain growth in 2016.
Oil & Gas UK predicts oil and gas production increased by 7% in the past twelve months.
The increase in production follows more than Â£30bn of investment in the past few years.
Ms Michie said: "Government data for the first ten months of 2015 shows that the total volume of oil and gas produced on the UK continental shelf (UKCS) was up 8.6% compared with 2014, with the production of liquids up 10.6% and gas up 6.1%.
"Output in November and December tends historically to be more stable, but even so, Oil & Gas UK now expects year end production for the full year of 2015 to be seven to eight per cent higher than last year.
"Given the difficulties being faced by the industry this is welcome news.
"In February 2015 we predicted a marginal increase in production for 2015, but the industry-wide focus on improving production efficiency coupled with investments of more than Â£50bn over the last four years to bring new fields on stream across the last twelve months is paying off and yielding a better result."
Ms Michie predicts that there will be job losses in the industry in 2016, but the UK continental shelf still holds great importance.
She added: "The upturn underlines the industry's commitment to the UKCS - which still holds great promise for the future and is vital for the country's security of supply.
"For example, only last week, oil company Taqa announced first production from the Cladhan field north-east of Shetland, estimated to produce 10,000 barrels of oil a day from the UK's waters."

Summary: The chief executive of Oil & Gas UK has welcomed the first increase in production on the UK continental shelf for over 15 years.
###
Article: More than 700,000 private messages between members have also been leaked.
A message on the site's homepage said: "We have been made aware of an alleged security breach and we are reviewing our systems as we work to remedy the situation and tighten our security."
The leaked details included sensitive information such as whether a member would consider polygamy.
The breach was discovered by security researcher Troy Hunt who runs a cybersecurity alert website.
Details of members' employers, location, marriage status and whether they were a convert to Islam were revealed, as well as names, email addresses, Skype handles and IP addresses - according to technology news site Motherboard.
Muslim Match's Facebook page describes the site as: "Single, divorced, widowed, married Muslims coming together to share ideas, thoughts and find a suitable marriage partner."
One of the leaked messages read: "I wanna marry you - if u agree I send my photos and details."
Another read: "You will enjoy when you speak to me, I am genuine and truthful and am seriously seeking a right muslimah who could be a friend, a companion to hold hands thru journey of life and beyond."
The bulk of users affected are believed to live in the United Kingdom, United States and Pakistan.
The website's operation has been temporarily suspended. The company said it will be closed until Ramadan ends this week.

Summary:


The US military has been accused of using drones to kill civilians in Libya.

All diets - from Atkins to Weight Watchers - have similar results and people should simply pick the one they find easiest, say researchers.

Article: Ansar al-Sharia named seven people it said were killed in the strike in the eastern Libyan city of Ajdabiya. The list excluded Belmokhtar.
Libya's Tobruk-based government said on Monday that Belmokhtar had been killed.
He was the mastermind of the 2013 siege of an Algerian gas plant, killing 40 people, most of them foreigners.
An al-Qaeda loyalist, Belmokhtar was an Algerian who operated across the vast Sahara desert.
"While we eulogise these heroes... we deny the killing of any other personalities besides those whom we have named who are sons of this land [Libya]," Reuters news agency reports quotes the statement on Ansar al-Sharia's Twitter account as saying.
The statement's authenticity could not be independently verified.
On Monday, US defence officials stopped short of confirming Belmokhtar's death.
"The actual impact of that raid is still being assessed," US Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said.
The US said Belmokhtar was targeted and the strike was successful, but it was analysing the operation's results and would give details "as appropriate".
Belmokhtar's death has been reported many times in the past.
He was once a senior figure in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and had been sentenced to death in absentia in Algeria for numerous attacks.
Profile of Belmokhtar
How do you verify a militant's death?
The US filed terror charges against Belmokhtar and officials 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," Pentagon spokesman Col Steve Warren said.
Libyan's internationally recognised Tobruk-based 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, with its parliament forced to operate in the...

Summary: A militant Islamist group in Libya has denied that a US air strike killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, one of North Africa's most feared jihadists.
###
Article: Four large floodgates rose out of the water creating a temporary sea barrier.
Once completed, 78 mobile flood barriers will be raised from the seabed to shut off the lagoon in the event of rising sea levels and winter storms.
The city suffers flooding on a yearly basis. In 1966, 80% of the city was flooded by high tides.
Applause broke out among the VIPs invited to witness the first public test of the project, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.
Construction on the barriers began 10 years ago but has been hampered by delays in funding due to Italy's economic crisis.
The Moses project has already cost more than $7bn (Â£5bn) and is not expected to be completed for another two years.
Once finished, the floodgates will extend more than a mile, blocking the three inlets to the lagoon.
A government minister has promised funds to complete the scheme on time in 2016.
But the head of the construction consortium said they would need $800m immediately, otherwise the jobs of some 4,000 construction workers would be at risk.
Some Venetians argue the project is a waste of money and there is no guarantee it will work, our correspondent says.
In 1966, some 5,000 people were left homeless when flood levels in the city reached 1.94m (6ft) causing immense damage.
Earlier this week,  Venice saw its first high tide of the season, known as "acqua alta".

Summary: Barriers designed to protect the Italian city of Venice from flooding during high tides have been successfully tested for the first time.
###
Article: The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analysed data from 48 separate trials.
The Canadian team concluded that sticking to a diet was more important than the diet itself.
Obesity experts said all diets cut calories to a similar level, which may explain the results.
Diets go in and out of fashion on a regular basis, with a current debate around the relative benefits of low carb and low fat diets.
Scientists at McMaster University in Ontario and the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute in Toronto analysed data from 7,286 overweight dieters.
The range of diets covered included, Atkins, South Beach, Zone, Biggest Loser, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, Volumetrics, Weight Watchers, Ornish and Rosemary Conley.
It showed that after 12 months, people on low carbohydrate and low fat diets both lost an average of 7.3kg (16lb). Those on low carb meal plans had lost slightly more at the six-month marker.
The report said: "The differences [between diets] were small and unlikely to be important to those seeking weight loss."
It concluded: "Our findings should be reassuring to clinicians and the public that there is no need for a one-size-fits-Âall approach to dieting because many different diets appear to offer considerable weight loss benefits.
"Our findings suggest that patients may choose, among those associated with the largest weight loss, the diet that gives them the least challenges with adherence."
However, the study did not look at wider health issues, such as levels of cholesterol, which may vary according to diet.
Prof Susan Jebb, from the University of Oxford and a government advisor on obesity, said diets were more similar than they appeared, advocating cutting calories to 1,500 a day, sticking to strict meal times and avoiding biscuits, cakes and chocolate.
"The issue is about adherence and it's how closely and how long can you keep sticking to the plan over time that matters.
"That probably means finding the right diet for you, rather than one being so particularly...

Summary:


The Queen's official birthday is on June 30, and the Queen's birthday party is a celebration of the Queen's life and work.

A giant street party will be held next year to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.

Article: Previously loyal supporters and critics alike are asking: Has the new Labour leader got a women problem?
It was an issue that first arose as the result of the Labour leadership election was announced on Saturday morning, when Corbyn and Tom Watson became the all-male team of leader and deputy leader of the party.
When the key appointments were announced to the shadow cabinet, the voices grew louder.
Shadow chancellor - man. Shadow foreign secretary - man. Shadow home secretary - man.
Late on Sunday night reporters waiting for more appointments heard first hand that the gender issue was being taken seriously in Team Corbyn.
As the BBC's Eleanor Garnier reported: "Then, close to midnight, a new voice, we thought it could be Simon Fletcher: 'We're taking a fair amount of shit out there about women… let's make Angela… shadow first minister of State, like Mandelson, she can do PMQs… do the Angela bit now."
Shortly afterwards Eagle, already the shadow business secretary, did indeed become Corbyn's defacto deputy.
By the time the full shadow cabinet was named on Monday lunchtime, Labour were able to trumpet the fact that more than half of their shadow cabinet was made up of women.
That fulfilled Corbyn's campaign pledge and is the first time any party has been able to make such a claim.
When he, and his new shadow chancellor John McDonnell were asked about the lack of women in top jobs, they had similar responses - that traditional views of what the great offices of state were was based on the days when Westminster had an Empire to rule.
Actually, they both said, education and health were the big priorities and the big jobs for them and they were both roles filled by women.
And yet that suggestion has failed to impress the commentators.
In the Daily Telegraph Dan Hodges writes: "In a mere 48 hours, it has all disappeared - all that stuff about new principles and new values and a new beginning. Vanished into the night."
In The Times, Rachel Sylvester writes: that "for all the talk of a new kind of politics, Team...

Summary: It is a question made for a tabloid headline, but the issue facing Jeremy Corbyn has got nothing to do with his private life.
###
Article: The National Federation for the Blind of California is one of those bringing the case which cites at least 40 instances where drivers have refused to carry guide dogs.
Uber said drivers are told to comply with all laws relating to the carriage of service animals.
It said the claims have no merit.
The case against Uber includes two instances in which Uber drivers allegedly yelled "no dogs" at riders.
In another instance an Uber driver allegedly refused a blind woman's plea to pull over once she realised the driver had locked her guide dog in the boot of his car.
Aaron Zisser, a lawyer for Disability Rights Advocates in Berkeley, California, which helped bring the case, said:
"Uber is a very popular service, and it is important for riders with service animals to be able to use it like anyone else,"
Uber supervises drivers who wish to use their own private vehicles to offer a taxi-like service and who use the company to find potential passengers.
It had argued that the case should not be allowed to be brought by a group of individuals and institutions but rather that each should seek arbitration separately.
It added that it was "on the cutting edge of expanding accessibility" for the disabled.
But US Judge Nathanael Cousins has allowed the case to be heard and gave Uber until 2 May to formally respond to the complaint.
James White from UK charity, Guide Dogs, said dogs being refused transit is a significant problem in the UK.
"Far too often we hear about guide dog owners being refused access to taxis.
"This is extremely upsetting, embarrassing and frustrating for the person involved.
"Such discrimination can prevent people with guide dogs from getting out and about with confidence.
"Without the appropriate legal exception it is a criminal offence for minicabs and taxis to refuse a passenger who is accompanied by an assistance dog."
The UK's Royal National Institute of Blind People added that taxi drivers had very few circumstances where they could refuse carriage:
"In the UK .. taxi and private hire drivers have...

Summary: The ride-sharing firm, Uber is being taken to court over allegations that its drivers are discriminating against people with visual impairment.
###
Article: Media playback is unsupported on your device
9 July 2015 Last updated at 09:20 BST
The Patron's Lunch will be attended by 10,000 guests - many from charities supported by the Queen - in London in June next year.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William and Prince Harry will be at the party too.
Organiser Peter Phillips - the Queen's grandson - said his grandmother was "excited" about the event.
The street party will be the finale to a weekend of national events to celebrate the Queen's official 90th birthday.

Summary:


A man was found dead in a model boating lake in Hampshire while feeding swans after apparently suffering an epileptic seizure, an inquest heard.

ScotRail has announced plans to recruit up to 100 new train drivers.

Article: Charity shop worker Simon Burgess, 41, of Burnhams Walk, Gosport, was found floating in the shallow lake at nearby Walpole Park in March 2011.
Coroner David Horsley recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Firefighters and police defended their decision not to enter the lake, instead waiting for specialist crews to arrive.
The inquest was told that firefighters arrived at the scene within five minutes of a 999 call.
PC Tony Jones volunteered to wade into the lake but was told not to by his control room and by Hampshire Fire and Rescue watch manager Tony Nicholls, who concluded that Mr Burgess had died.
The court was told that Mr Nicholls was following a force policy not to enter water more than "half a boot" deep unless it was a life-critical situation.
Paramedic Robert Wallace also suggested he should enter the water, but did not when Mr Nicholls asked where his equipment was.
Mr Burgess was retrieved from the water at 12:52 GMT, 37 minutes after the 999 call, and was pronounced dead at hospital at 13:42 GMT.
Mr Horsley told the court: "In this case, the delay in arrival of the specialist team has not been a significant factor in this tragic death."
He called on the emergency services to re-examine their protocols in dealing with such situations.
After the hearing, Mr Burgess's father, David, said: "We will never know if Simon could have been saved, if he had been pulled from the water as soon as the emergency services arrived on the scene or if it was already too late for him.
"When a loved one is involved in an incident like this, you can only hope that everything possible is done to save them regardless of how small the chances of success are."
A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Let us be clear, the decisions taken at the Walpole Lake incident had nothing to do with health and safety or the depth of the water.
"On arrival at the scene, the officer and crews saw a body face down and submerged in the water, who we now know to be Mr Simon Burgess.
"That person was unresponsive and showing no visible...

Summary: A man drowned in a model boating lake in Hampshire while feeding swans after apparently suffering an epileptic seizure, an inquest heard.
###
Article: They sniff and sip a type of Oolong tea from tiny, white china cups while making notes on its aroma, body and aftertaste, and consider what food with which to pair it.
Part of a generation that had eschewed tea leaves in favour of the lattÃ©s, espressos and frappucinos sold by international chains like Starbucks, young Chinese are rediscovering the country's tea drinking tradition.
And in doing so, they have sparked a boom that is both a cultural and business phenomenon.
"My parents drink tea like this every day but I seldom do," says Sharon Ho, a 30-year-old who works in accounting, as she sips a cup of Wuyi Dark Rock Oolong tea grown in the mountains in Fujian province in southeastern China.
"Normally I drink coffee, but as Chinese we should know about this."
Prices of rare, high-end Chinese teas - such as Pu Erh, a black, fermented tea that can be aged for up to 100 years, or First Flush Longjin, a freshly picked green tea - have rocketed over the past decade.
The industry has been shaped in ways that parallel the Western captivation with wine, with tea becoming a distinctly Chinese way to flaunt your wealth and invest your savings.
Vivian Mak, the tea master who runs the tastings, brews the tea in the traditional way using small fine china tea sets and metal implements on a wooden tray that drains off excess water. But she prides herself on taking an innovative approach to an old industry.
Her signature drink is a jasmine blossom-scented green tea she likes to serve in a martini glass. She serves the fragrant and visually arresting beverage as an alternative to wine at corporate events for clients like Goldman Sachs.
"There's not too much water inside, so you can sip while you mingle," she says.
Mak believes different Chinese teas can complement any type of cuisine, be it a nutty, malty Longjing green tea with a Chinese seafood dish, or a stronger Oolong tea to accompany a hearty French casserole. She also likes to pair teas with different types of chocolate.
"It's like wine. You serve something more...

Summary: On a humid September Saturday, a group of 20- and 30-something professionals gather at a tea house in an industrial building in a now gentrified Hong Kong neighbourhood.
###
Article: The rail operator said recruiting trainees at depots across the country would support the expansion of timetables and roll-out "faster, bigger and greener" trains.
The roles will be based in Aberdeen, Ayr, Bathgate, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gourock, Helensburgh, Inverness, Perth, Stirling and Tweedbank.
Train drivers' union Aslef welcomed the announcement.
Trainees will be paid £24,559 during their first year.
This will gradually increase to £43,212, following a probationary period.
ScotRail Alliance managing director Phil Verster said: "We're investing in Scotland's railways by modernising trains, expanding timetables and adding journey options - and recruiting a large group of new drivers is vital to make these improvements possible.
"We are proud to be supporting local communities and the Scottish economy by creating quality jobs that will make a real impact for customers."
ScotRail said it wanted to hear from "enthusiastic, reliable candidates with excellent attention spans, experience of safety-critical roles and a passion for customer service".
Scottish Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: "The Scottish government is investing record levels in Scotland's railways with a £5bn package to upgrade trains, track and services across the country.
"Key investment in infrastructure, such as the recent historic reopening of the Borders Railway and our substantial programme of electrification, are only part of the story.
"The staff who keep our railways running are a key asset and I am delighted to launch this unprecedented, nationwide recruitment drive that will create up to 100 new train driver jobs."
Kevin Lindsay, Scottish secretary of Aslef, said: "This is a great opportunity for all sections of our community to apply to join the railway.
"As a union, we look forwarded to continuing our good working relationship with the Scottish government and Abellio as we jointly develop and deliver Scotland's railways."

Summary:


The Greek government has been forced to announce a new austerity programme, which will see the country's public sector cut by up to 40% in the next three years.
The government has also announced a new pension scheme, which will see the average pensioner's monthly pension cut by up to 20%.
The government has

I haven't been in Greece for three weeks but I am told it is eerily quiet and - in respect of tourism - surprisingly busy.

Article: A mother was in the B&M store at Aberdeen's Kittybrewster retail park with her child when the incident happened on Saturday afternoon.
She sought staff help for the 14-month-old and between them the baby's hands were loosened from the trolley.
It was found that other trolleys had been targeted at the front of the shop.
Store manager Dave Farquharson said an investigation had been launched to track down the culprits, including reviewing CCTV footage.
He said: "I really don't understand the mindset of individuals who would have thought it would have been a prank."

Summary: An investigation has been launched after a baby's hands got stuck on a shop trolley which had been smeared with fast-setting glue.
###
Article: Councillors will discuss whether to grant a licence to Uber on Monday.
Objections have come from the GMB union and taxi companies, but calls have also been made for the council to support Uber drivers as small business owners.
Councillor Mary Mears said there were serious concerns and urged the council to refuse the licence.
Founded six years ago, San Francisco-based Uber "connects riders to drivers" with an app that uses GPS technology to locate available vehicles.
Users tap their phone to hail a cab and pay automatically on arrival with a credit or debit card.
Drivers sign up as independent contractors and are their own boss.
In Brighton, objections to the application raised issues about identification of Uber cars, whether vehicles would be wheelchair accessible, whether customers' data was secure, and how drivers would be checked.
But Darren Fell, founder of Hove-based Crunch Accounting, which works for micro-businesses including Uber drivers, said the city had to embrace change.
He said there were already 15,000 Uber drivers in the country, the smartphone app was creating thousands of new business owners, more platforms were emerging in the marketplace and the world was changing.
Arguing that Uber would bring an economic boost to Brighton and Hove, he said: "The council would be out of their minds to consider banning it. We are an entrepreneurial, dot com-savvy city.
"I want to see the council behind it. Do they support digital business or don't they?
"Users absolutely love it and all around the world we see people trying to ban it."
He said Uber offered a livelihood for someone who could not invest in a Hackney carriage - and it also offered drives balanced lives.
"Many of the drivers are family men," Mr Fell said.
"They can spend time with their family, their wife can go to work, they can see their children, and then they can go out to work in the evening in complete control of their lives.
"This is what the freelancing world gives people."
A spokeswoman for Uber said: "Uber has been licensed as an...

Summary: City chiefs considering whether to allow Uber to operate in Brighton have been told they would be "out of their minds" to ban the taxi-hailing app.
###
Article: No demos on the streets of Athens - even though the Syriza government is poised to agree and implement yet more austerity and liberalisation measures, mandated by creditors and of the ilk that till recently it characterised as hateful.
And Greece's resorts are teeming: Athens airport expects 25 million arrivals this year, up from 21 million; the incremental 4 million are not all eurozone and IMF officials intent on turning the country into a protectorate run from Brussels, Frankfurt and Washington (home of the IMF).
Maybe holidaymakers were hoping to be on the ground for euro break-up history. Or more likely Greece simply looks like a wonderful place to take the kids compared with resorts closer to territory controlled by the so-called Islamic State.
But why aren't the Greeks manning the barricades in protest against already-announced, painful VAT increases and pension cuts, and in anticipation of swingeing reductions in farm subsidies, controversial privatisations and the opening of professions and industries to the harsh wind of competition?
Well it may be the calm before the revelation later this week of just how much Alexis Tsipras has conceded to obtain â‚¬86bn of new credit from the eurozone and (well maybe) the IMF, in the third bailout of this cripplingly indebted country.
Surely at the very least Greek citizens will be curious to learn why Mr Tsipras is rushing to agree terms that he and his colleagues eschewed when elected at the turn of the year.
Presumably the explanation is that Greece's near-death experience in July - the closure of banks and the collapse of economic activity - turned Syriza into disciples of TINA ("there is no alternative").
What is striking of course is that Tsipras remains remarkably popular, in spite of conspicuously failing to deliver an end to fiscal (tax and spending) austerity.
Worse, his standoff with the rest of the eurozone has saddled Greece with monetary austerity too: the continued partial closure of the banks mean they have no money to lend.
Not that many Greek...

Summary:


A man has been arrested after he was found to have been in possession of a large amount of cannabis.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been interviewed under caution by police following an allegation he racially abused an airline staff member at Heathrow on Monday night.

Article: Dead Girls Tell No Tales tells the behind-the-scenes story of Grace Archer's death in a fire.
The BBC said the drama, which airs later this year on Radio 4, would depict "life in and around The Archers' production office and studio" in 1955.
The cast will feature Ysanne Churchman, the original Grace Archer, who is now 90 years old.
Churchman said: "It was a great pleasure to be invited back to The Archers to record this momentous piece of radio drama and revisit the excitement of September 1955.  Looking back on those days, it was another life."
The world's longest running radio soap opera, The Archers is set in the fictional Midlands village of Ambridge.
Twenty million people tuned in to the episode in which Grace Archer died in her husband Phil's arms after she tried to rescue a horse from a stable fire.
It has been the subject of much debate whether the plotline was timed to thwart the launch night of ITV - the BBC's commercial rival.
"This is a really special occasion for anyone who has ever been a listener to The Archers," said the programme's current editor Sean O'Connor.
"We're going to reminisce about the very beginnings of this extraordinary programme - but also unearth the mysteries that surrounded this landmark moment.
"I'm particularly thrilled to welcome back Ysanne Churchman who created an iconic character and was at the very heart of a genuinely game-changing moment in media history."
Dead Girls Tell No Tales, written by Joanna Toye, will feature other characters from the early years of the programme, including Dan and Doris Archer, Carol Grey and John Tregorran, plus Archers creator Godfrey Baseley.
It will be broadcast on 19 September, almost 60 years to the day after the pivotal episode was originally aired.

Summary: One of the most dramatic plotlines in The Archers is to be the subject of a special BBC radio drama.
###
Article: The man was taken to hospital with chest injuries after falling during a performance of the Windsor theme park's Pirates of Skeleton Bay show on Wednesday.
The Sun newspaper reported he had fallen several metres to the ground.
Legoland Windsor Resort said it was in touch with the man's family who said he was "recovering well".
South Central Ambulance Service confirmed it was called at 13:24 BST after a man in his 20s had fallen and suffered chest injuries.
Thames Valley air ambulance, an ambulance and an emergency response vehicle were sent to the attraction and the man was taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.
An investigation is underway, a Legoland spokeswoman said.

Summary: A stunt show at Legoland has been shut down after a performer was injured in front of watching crowds.
###
Article: Swiss Xhaka, 24, is believed to have been with a friend who had visited him in London and was returning home.
The man is understood to have arrived late for his flight back to Germany and was not allowed to board.
It is at this point that the racial abuse is alleged to have occurred.
Arsenal have declined to comment other than to say it is a private matter that is now in the hands of the police.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told the BBC: "Police were called at 19:29 GMT on Monday, 23 January following an allegation that a member of staff had been racially abused at Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five.
"The allegation was made by a third party. Officers attended and spoke with a man in his 20s. He was not arrested. He voluntarily attended a west London police station where he was interviewed under caution. Enquires continue."
The incident occurred just over 24 hours after Xhaka was sent off during his team's 2-1 victory over Burnley in the Premier League.

Summary:


The BBC has confirmed that it has been investigating allegations that a former BBC sports presenter was involved in a racist attack on a black man in the UK.
The BBC said it had been co-operating with the US regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation

A top Mongolian rapper was beaten into a coma by a Russian diplomat after wearing a swastika on stage, his lawyer and family have claimed.

Article: The exchange-traded fund (ETF) is run by celebrated financier and Pimco co-founder Bill Gross, who has been interviewed by US authorities, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Pimco Total Return ETF has grown rapidly in the past couple of years.
Pimco said the investigation was a "private matter" and that its pricing procedures were "entirely appropriate".
The Californian firm confirmed it had been co-operating with the US regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the investigation had been going on for months and concerned the manner in which Pimco purchased and valued certain bonds.
The company, widely considered to be the world's biggest bond manager, was set up in 1971, and acquired by insurance giant Allianz in 2000.
Shares in Allianz have fallen slightly following news of the SEC investigation.

Summary: A fund run by investment firm Pimco is being investigated over allegations that managers inflated returns.
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Article: Media playback is not supported on this device
Tennis player Andy Murray won the award last year and in 2013, either side of Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton.
The winner will be revealed on 18 December, with tickets for the event at Birmingham's Genting Arena on sale.
The public will be able to vote for their favourite by phone and online during the live show on the night.
Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan will present the programme from 18:40 GMT on BBC One, with further coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website.
The 10 contenders for the Young Sports Personality of the Year were also released on Friday - and the top three will be announced during Blue Peter on 8 December.
"This is an unparalleled era to be competing under the union jack," says BBC chief sports writer Tom Fordyce.
"Sports Personality of the Year? Good luck with whittling it down to the shortlist, let alone choosing your winner."

Summary: The contenders for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be announced live on The One Show on BBC One from 19:00 GMT on Monday.
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Article: Amarmandakh Sukhbaatar was performing in the country's capital Ulan Bator when the alleged attack took place.
Russian news reports said he was hit over the head with a bottle and repeatedly kicked in the face.
The Russian embassy said it was investigating, but called local press reports "distorted".
The rapper had taken to the stage in a red deel - a Mongolian robe - embroidered with a swastika.
Though associated with the Nazis, the swastika is a traditional symbol in Mongolia that pre-dates Hitler.
Mr Sukhbaatar's father, Sevjidiin Sukhbaatar, told a news conference that his son spent about 10 days in a coma after the beating.
"My son was hit in the face several times with a metal object and was seriously injured. His brain was seriously hurt," he said.
Mr Sukhbaatar displayed a book of traditional swastika patterns to emphasise that it is not a hate symbol in his country.
The Russian official accused of attacking the rapper has not been identified.
In a statement, the Russian embassy said it was investigating press and social media reports of the assault.
"According to our preliminary information," it said, the reports were "distorted, particularly about the date, the number of participants and the circumstances of the accident".
Tens of millions of Soviet citizens died fighting the forces of Nazi Germany during World War Two.
The swastika is believed to have originated in India thousands of years ago, and was used in Mongolia as a symbol of eternity centuries before the Third Reich.
Amarmandakh Sukhbaatar - who is known as Amraa and is the lead singer of the band Khar Sarnai [Black Rose] - frequently wears the symbol on stage, and his songs often refer to his country's history, culture and identity.
The swastika is also used by groups on Mongolia's far-right however.
The musician's lawyer, father, and a band member denied reports on social media that he shouted "Heil Hitler" at the show.
Lawyer Gankhuugiin Batbayar said the suspect in the beating had not been arrested, adding: "[He] must be investigated...

Summary:


The world's largest and most powerful supercomputer is being built in the UK, and it's being built by a company called GCHQ.
The project, which is being run by the UK's National Security Agency, is being funded by the Department of Defence.
The supercomputer, which is being built at the

A famous white humpback whale has been spotted on his annual migration to Australia's north.

Article: Grandmother-of-five Doreen Bindley will be studying English and maths as part of a course normally taken by school-leavers.
The Co-op worker from Desborough, Northamptonshire, is three months into the Government-backed retail customer services assistant apprenticeship.
She said without challenges "you might as well sit down in a chair and die".
Mrs Bindley, who enjoys quizzes and computer games, said she last studied "about 30 years ago" when she took her O-levels.
She has worked at the Gladstone Street Co-op for 17 years and was persuaded to take the course by fellow workers.
"I never thought I'd be doing something like this at my age, but I'm so glad that I listened to my colleagues who said 'go for it'," she said.
She said the idea of being tested again had been "quite daunting" but had so far found the apprenticeship, aimed at anyone 16 and older, "easy".
"When you get older you get more experience and you can do things a lot easier," she said.
The Central England Co-operative Society's Alison Cooper said Mrs Bindley was "really enjoying the new challenges".
She said: "Doreen's age is not really anything to do with it. She has got a good skill set and this was a chance to refresh those skills."
Julian Jones, managing director of Adaptive Business Support, which works alongside the Central England Co-operative Society to support the apprentice programme, said Mrs Bindley proved apprenticeships were for everyone.
"Occasionally inspiration emerges from the most unlikely places," he said.

Summary: A 76-year-old is returning to study for the first time in 30 years after embarking on a retail apprenticeship.
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Article: More than 140 million tickets to live music events are sold each year, according to music listings site Pollstar, in an industry worth more than $10bn (Â£6.5bn).
And the vast majority of these will be physical print-outs, even if they are bought online.
But two UK start-ups are hoping to bring gigs screaming and kicking into the paperless age.
One of them, Dice, has developed a free app that allows users to browse upcoming gigs from a curated list. When you buy a ticket it is stored in a virtual wallet on your phone.
For smaller gigs, your name on an animated strip is enough to gain entrance. For larger gigs, you'll get a unique QR (Quick Response) code that can be scanned quickly by a reader.
Dice sends its own representatives with a bespoke app for reading the QR codes - and emergency phone chargers.
"If I was going to see the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park then maybe I'd want to keep the ticket, but not tonight," confides one dedicated live music fan before a Ghost Culture gig.
He got into the Corsica Studios venue in south London by simply flashing an app on his phone to the man on the door.
"Young people don't have printers, they don't have email addresses, to print a ticket is a huge hassle for them," shouts Jen Long, music editor at Dice, as the support act warms up behind her.
"Everyone just does everything on their phone."
Una, another music ticket start-up, is taking a different approach.
It provides users with a plastic membership card with embedded chips, to be scanned at venues. The card works in conjunction with a user's online account and can also be used for cashless payments.
"If you are selling tickets for a major event like Glastonbury or Wembley you can't expect everyone to have Android or iOS," says Amar Chauhan of Una Tickets, which will launch in November.
Una members pay a small membership charge, then a standard booking fee per ticket in return for the convenience of paperless, hassle-free gig-going.
Members can transfer tickets to other members, but only at their face value.
Dice is...

Summary: You can check in at the airport and the cinema using a smartphone these days, but live music gigs have stubbornly clung on to the paper ticket.
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Article: Migaloo is known for his distinctive colouring and for many years was the only documented all-white humpback whale in the world.
He has been sighted off the coast of New South Wales state, including the resort town of Byron Bay.
Migaloo's journey up Australia's east coast has attracted large numbers of whale enthusiasts.
The 14m-long mammal was spotted with a companion during his venture north but now appears to be travelling solo.
A Twitter account run by the White Whale Research Centre provides real-time updates of the whale's whereabouts.

Summary:


The number of people who have been diagnosed with depression in England has risen by more than 50% since 2012, according to a new report.
The number of people who have been diagnosed with depression in England has risen by more than 50% since 2012, according to a new report.
The number of people who have

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

Article: There are nearly 2,400 posts being contested, including six new combined authority mayors created under devolution deals.
Voting has also taken place in county, unitary and metropolitan councils and for local council mayors in Doncaster and North Tyneside.
Registered voters were able to cast their ballots until 22:00 BST.
Almost every seat was being contested in the authorities involved, including 126 seats in Durham, 98 in Wiltshire and 84 each in Cumbria and Norfolk.
Counting will not take place until Friday morning in most areas.
Those counting overnight, straight after polls close, include the West of England mayor and councils for the Isle of Wight, Warwickshire, Dorset and Essex.
Most councils will declare results on Friday afternoon, with the West Midlands and Greater Manchester mayors expected to be announced on Friday evening.
2,370
Councillors
10,000 Approximate number of candidates in England
39 People standing for combined authority mayor posts
6 New combined authority mayors
2 Local authority mayors
The first directly-elected mayors will be chosen in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, West of England and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
They will oversee new combined authorities, which are groups of existing councils working together to make use of new devolved powers.
The mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development, but some will have powers over transport and housing.
While councillors will be elected by a simple majority, the combined authority mayors are being chosen under the supplementary voting system - giving people a first and second choice.
It means that if no candidate has won at least 50% of the vote, the top two candidates go to a second round with the second choice votes counted of everyone whose first choice was eliminated.
Cornwall Council is electing 122 of its 123 councillors. One contest, in Bodmin St Petroc, has been delayed following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Rogerson.
The Council of Isles of...

Summary: Polling stations have closed in England's local council and mayoral elections.
###
Article: Sickness levels have remained "fairly stable", but, anxiety and depression have risen since 2012, it added.
Its figures showed more than 700 days were lost to post-traumatic stress.
The force said life outside work was to blame and the figures "did not reflect the overall trend".
Nigel Rabbitts, chair of Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said: "Our concern is that there has been a dramatic rise in some of the stress-related psychological disorders which coincides with the reduction in numbers.
"This needs further investigation and early intervention to protect officers and mitigate the cause and effect."
He said an operational shake-up and compulsory retirement over the past five years could also be behind the rise.
In a Freedom of Information request to Devon and Cornwall Police, it said at the end of March it had 2,851 full-time serving police officers, compared to 3,339 in March 2010.
However, if part-time officers and those seconded out of the force or on a career break were included, it would have 420 fewer officers, rather than almost 500, the force said.
The force has been cutting the number of officers because of spending shortfalls and savings plans.
Despite the fall in officers, the number of reported crimes that have ended in a conviction, caution, penalty notice or restorative justice, has stayed between 34% and 37% since April 2011.
Mr Rabbitts said: "With 500 less officers, the resilience within the system has gone.
"In the end, long-term sickness only builds further pressure on those still on the frontline."
Devon and Cornwall Police said the federation's figures did not include "a number of sub categories so did not truly reflect the overall trend".
Ch Supt Steve Swani said: "Devon and Cornwall Police recognise the demands our officers and staff face.
"Absence through psychological disorders has remained consistent.
"We monitor absence closely and we know from staff feedback and our providers, who deliver counselling support to staff, that the...

Summary: A "dramatic rise" in stress-related sickness in Devon and Cornwall Police has coincided with cuts of almost 500 officers, the force's police federation has said.
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Article: Rangers say the defender slipped over during the squad get-together the day after Saturday's 2-0 win over Burnley.
The Sun claimed Caulker was injured after a fight broke out at a pub that Crystal Palace players were also at.
But QPR's head of communications Ian Taylor insisted: "Steven Caulker was not involved in an altercation."
Taylor added: "He suffered a cut to his head, which he received treatment for at hospital before being discharged the same evening."
Taylor also explained that players had been given permission to have Sunday lunch together given QPR's next game against Everton was not until Monday, 15 December.
QPR owner Tony Fernandes took to Twitter to comment on the claims.
"Steven Caulker slipped over and hurt his head and is fine," wrote Fernandes. "Nothing else to report."
Former Tottenham and Cardiff centre-back Caulker, who has one England cap, has made 15 appearances this season, scoring once.

Summary:


The Scottish government has announced it will be offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man who is believed to be responsible for the death of a woman in the Highlands.
The reward is being offered by the Scottish Government's Public Protection Unit, which is investigating the death of a woman in

The new Miss USA beauty pageant winner has sparked controversy by declaring that healthcare was a "privilege", not a right.

Article: The quality assurance analyst from Newtownards is obsessed with the Ulster fry mainstay and has so far visited 50 towns and 66 outlets to taste and rate the potato bread sold in bakeries and restaurants.
A record of Kirsty's travels and the results of her tests can be found on Facebook, where she has set up a page dedicated to her passion.
On Potato Bread Girl NI, potato bread of all kinds is rated based on five factors - tastiness, texture, toastiness, service and value - and an overall scale of between one and five.
"I go 'potato breading' every Saturday," said 27-year-old Kirsty.
"When I finish work on a Friday evening I do my research and plan where I'll head off to the next day.
"On the Saturday morning, I make a 'before' video updating everyone on where I plan to go and then an 'after' video when I arrive at my destination.
"Then I visit every bakery and restaurant in the area that sells potato bread and bring samples home to toast and rate them.
"I also have a potato bread gang to help me - plastic toys Ducky, Tutti and Sundae (who I always mention in my videos).
"I really look forward to every weekend and never get sick of it. I love potato bread and eat at least two bits every day.
"My goal is to find the best potato bread in Northern Ireland and to create awareness of how unique potato bread is to Northern Ireland and celebrate it as part of our cultural heritage."
Kirsty came up with the idea in 2014 when she was facing redundancy from a previous job and her mum was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
"Instead of dwelling on all the negativity, I decided to focus on something I love - potato bread - and do something with it," she told Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme.
"It gave me something to look forward to."
Since she began her search, Kirsty has tried various versions of the food including recipes with spelt and black pudding.
While most of us enjoy it as part of a fry-up, she has hers simply toasted without butter.
"I don't think it needs fried," she said.
"And to ensure a fair taste...

Summary: County Down woman Kirsty Meredith spends each weekend searching for Northern Ireland's best potato bread.
###
Article: Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, he said the question was over the timing which was "in the hands of Nicola Sturgeon".
The SNP MP argued there were three things driving the issue forward.
He said these were a failure to deliver on the so-called "vow", the possible outcome of the EU referendum and "divergent views" over austerity cuts.
The SNP said the timing of any future referendum was "a matter for the people of Scotland".
Scottish voters rejected independence by 55% to 45% in last September's referendum.
After the SNP won 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland in May's general election, party leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stressed there was "'no second Scottish independence referendum on the immediate horizon".
In an interview with Andrew Marr, Mr Salmond said: "I think a second independence referendum is inevitable. The question of course is not the inevitability, it is the timing."
Asked about the sort of issues that could "provoke" another vote, he said: "I can see three issues which are moving things towards a second referendum, on a timescale yet to be determined.
"One is the refusal to deliver the 'vow'. The 'vow' was about home rule, devo-to-the-max, and that has not been delivered.
"The second issue is the European issue - if you had a situation where Scotland voted to stay in EU and was dragged out on the votes of the people of England.
"The third thing emerging is from the Budget and the Welfare Bill. Instead of getting devo-to-the-max we are getting austerity-to-the-max and that divergent view of what is right in social terms between Scotland and England is another thing which is moving things to another referendum."
Before the general election, Nicola Sturgeon always said a "material change" in circumstances would be required in order for a second independence referendum to take place.
Could the election of 56 MPs at Westminster, or a UK referendum vote to leave the EU while Scotland votes to stay in, be that trigger?
The SNP say they have no plans for a second...

Summary: A second referendum on Scottish independence is inevitable, according to former first minister Alex Salmond.
###
Article: Kara McCullough, a scientist at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, appeared to link healthcare to employment.
But the beauty queen, 25, faced a backlash on social media.
It comes as the Trump administration battles to overturn Obamacare, which aimed to extend insurance coverage to the 15% of Americans who lack it.
Earlier this month the lower chamber of the US Congress passed a new healthcare act that Democrats say will leave millions uninsured.
However, Republicans in the Senate have indicated they will cast it aside and write a new law.
Asked during Sunday's pageant in Las Vegas whether healthcare was a privilege or a right, Miss McCullough said: "I'm definitely going to say it's a privilege."
She added: "As a government employee, I'm granted healthcare and I see first hand that for one to have healthcare, you need to have jobs.
"We need to continue to cultivate this environment that we're given the opportunity to have healthcare as well as jobs to all American citizens worldwide."
Her remarks divided liberal-minded and conservative-minded viewers. Some were quick to criticise her stance.
Miss McCullough - who was born in Italy and was representing Washington DC - was also asked if she considered herself to be a feminist but said she preferred the term "equalism" and said men and women had equal opportunity in US workplaces.
"I don't really want to consider myself - try not to consider myself like this die-hard, you know, like, 'Oh, I don't really care about men'," said the contestant, who says she wants to see more women employed in government science roles.
Some people on social media supported her views.
Obamacare has been opposed by Republicans since it was first proposed in 2009.
Republicans say the law imposes too many costs on business and describe it as a "job killer", although the number of jobs in the healthcare sector has risen since it was introduced.
Opponents have also decried it as an unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of private businesses and individuals.

Summary: