Syphilis and gonorrhoea sexually transmitted infections are continuing to rise in England, new figures show.

Article: At the start of 2015, Rics expected that prices would rise by just 3%.
However it has now revised its estimate upwards, due to the shortage of homes on the market, and "accelerating prices".
Mortgage lender the Halifax said house price inflation in the year to August was 9%, with the monthly rise up 2.7%.
That is the highest monthly increase since May 2014.
"Strengthening demand, and highly constrained supply, are likely to mean that house price growth continues to be robust in the short-term," said Martin Ellis, Halifax economist.
The average price of a home across the UK is now Â£204,674, according to the Halifax measure.
In response, economist Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight, said he was raising his house price inflation forecast from 6% to 7% for 2015.
The Rics price indicator was the highest for 15 months, with 53% more respondents reporting price rises than price falls.
"Given current market conditions, the latest data unsurprisingly shows house prices continuing to rise, and at an accelerating pace," said Simon Rubinsohn, Rics chief economist.
"And there is good reason for this trend to be sustained into next year, however uncomfortable that may be for those looking to enter the market."
Prices are expected to rise fastest in East Anglia and Northern Ireland.
In East Anglia, Rics has raised its forecast from a 3% rise in prices this year, to 9%.
Northern Ireland is now expected to see an 11% increase, instead of 4% predicted earlier.
Earlier this summer, Rics reported that the stock of homes for sale was at a record low, and called on the government to get more houses built.
However the Nationwide Building Society estimates house price inflation to be significantly lower than its rival Halifax.
It said prices in the year to August rose by 3.2%. It uses different methodology to the Halifax.

Summary: House price inflation across the UK is now likely to hit 6% this year, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).
###
Article: The charity questioned 1,000 people seeking opinions about abortion in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality.
Of those questioned, 72% agreed abortion should be lawful if the pregnancy was a result of sexual crime.
Some 7% did not agree or disagree and 15% disagreed.
In Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, abortion is only allowed if a woman's life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her physical or mental health.
The Amnesty International figures also suggest that the numbers of people supporting access to abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality has risen.
Two years ago a similar poll showed 60% of respondents backed abortion in such circumstances. That figure has now risen to 67%; 17% disagreed.
Almost 60% of those asked thought abortion should not be a crime in Northern Ireland, while 22% were opposed to a change.
The poll also indicates the views of DUP and SDLP supporters - parties who have been traditionally opposed to changing the law.
Seventy-three per cent of DUP supporters support access to abortion in cases of rape or incest, with 17% opposed.
Among SDLP supporters, 69% back access to abortion in such circumstances, also with 17% opposed.
In the survey 1,000 people were questioned face-to-face in their homes by independent research company Millward Brown.
The polling was carried out in the middle of September and the representative sample were aged 16 and over in multiple urban and rural locations across Northern Ireland.
Adrianne Peltz of Amnesty International said: "These poll findings demonstrate an overwhelming demand for change to Northern Ireland's draconian abortion laws.
"This is not a small margin of support for women's access to abortion, it's a definitive landslide. Northern Ireland has changed."
However, Life Northern Ireland said it was concerned by the results of the poll.
"Life Northern Ireland does not believe that abortion is best healthcare, nor is it a solution to the crisis the woman and her family may be facing," said spokeswoman...

Summary: More than 70% of people in Northern Ireland have shown support for a change in abortion law, according to an opinion poll by Amnesty International.
###
Article: The elections will be Myanmar's first openly contested polls in 25 years, following decades of military rule.
The ruling Union Solidarity Development Party, which has been in power since 2011, is holding a rally in Yangon.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) is expected to make major gains on Sunday, though she is barred from the presidency.
But the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Yangon says there are no reliable opinion polls in the country, also known as Burma, so no-one really knows how the vote is going to play out.
Decision-making in the Delta: the BBC's Jonathan Head in the small but crucial town of Hinthada
Elections explained: Why does this vote matter?
'Abandoned people': What rights do the Rohingya Muslims have?
Myanmar vote causes business uncertainty
On Friday, campaign signs and stickers were being taken down ahead of a day of "silence" in the campaign, from midnight until polls open on Sunday.
Former Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ms Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency, even if the NLD wins, because of the constitution which disqualifies anyone with foreign offspring.
But at a press conference on Thursday, she repeated her insistence that if her party wins she would lead the government anyway and be "above the president".
Ruled by the junta for nearly half a century, Myanmar has seen economic and political reform in recent years.
However, according to the constitution 25% of all parliamentary seats will still be reserved for the military in this election. Therefore, the NLD must take 67% of all contested seats in order to gain a majority.
Ms Suu Kyi has already raised concerned about poll fraud and voting irregularities. In the 1990 election, the NLD won a majority, but the results were largely ignored by the generals.
For its part, the government has warned that rapid change could lead to civil unrest.

Summary: Candidates in Myanmar have entered their final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's general election.
###
Article: After photographs of her West Highland Terrier received more "likes" on social media than even the most stunning Glencoe landscapes she could capture, Sam Grant conceded that "the wee white dug" should star in her Scottish travel blog.
"Casper is my unique selling point," says Sam Grant, an Edinburgh-based VisitScotland ambassador who spends her spare time travelling the country with her pet.
She adds: "There are lots of travel bloggers out there who are very good writers, but they don't have the wee white dug."
Her eccentric website details places of interest in areas including Orkney, Loch Lomond and the Scottish Borders.
It was launched in 2015 after an Instagram account written from Casper's perspective proved popular with followers.
The social media profile has nearly 4,000 followers, who Sam says "can't get enough" of the wee white dug's quirky anecdotes about his travels.
Sam says travelling with Casper has given her lots of insight into Scotland's best pet-friendly tourist attractions and holiday accommodation.
She says: "There are loads of good places that you can visit nowadays where you can bring along your four-legged friends."
Sam hopes the blog could encourage more Scots to look around their own country, as well as attracting other visitors.
She says: "If you visit the beaches in the Outer Hebrides, you'll see there's really no need to go to the Caribbean - unless you're a sun worshipper.
"Scotland's a country with a rich history and heritage. A country full of stories just waiting to be told."
Sam says most traffic to her website comes from the UK and US but she has had visitors from more than 100 countries - including China.
"When I see that I've had visitors from far-flung countries, I imagine them on the other side of the world reading about Scotland and the wee white dug," the writer adds.
Asked if she thinks some people could say her pictures are a bit twee, Sam replied: "I did worry about that at first, so I try to make a joke of it.
"But if people like my pictures and they bring a bit of...

Summary: .
###
Article: The Pavilion Theatre said it had to draw up the guidelines after repeated problems, including crying babies, over several years.
But it has been condemned by parents who say the rules should not apply to children's shows like Justin's Party.
The Pavilion said its policy showed a "common-sense approach".
The theatre, which brands itself as Glasgow's Family Theatre, says that crying babies must be "removed from the auditorium as quickly as possible".
It adds that parents should ensure that "every effort is made to avoid your baby being sick" when winding children.
Emma Smith, from Clarkston in East Renfrewshire, said she became aware of the theatre's policy when she saw someone selling-on tickets to Justin's Party - a children's show starring CBeebies' Justin Fletcher.
"I went onto the website to see what the theatre's babes-in-arms policy was and I couldn't believe it," the mother-of-two told the BBC.
"Babies are not allowed to be sick or cry - it's ridiculous."
Ms Smith has a six-year-old daughter and a 15-month-old son and said most parents of toddlers or young children who wanted to go to the theatre would be in a similar position.
"Some shows are just for adults and that's fair enough, but this is for children. Most people have more than one child and are likely to be bringing babies," she said.
The primary school teacher said she also thought some of the language in the policy was "unprofessional".
"It uses the word 'disgusting' about changing nappies," she said.
"Most parents would know not to change a nappy in the theatre, and take their baby out if it was crying. That's pretty normal. It's about common sense.
"Only a minority of parents wouldn't do this."
The policy, written by the theatre's owner Iain Gordon, was drafted after "numerous complaints".
It states: "This has been made necessary due to the large number of inconsiderate parents with very young babies which has led to other customers' enjoyment of the show being spoiled.
"It is unfortunate that we have to treat everybody the same but...

Summary: Parents have criticised a Glasgow theatre's policy on babies which refers to "inconsiderate parents" spoiling other customers' enjoyment.
###
Article: Between 2012 and 2015, cases of syphilis increased by 76%, from 3,001 to 5,288, while gonorrhoea infections rose by 53%, from 26,880 to 41,193, Public Health England data reveals.
The rise was notable among men who have sex with men.
At the same time, rates of genital warts decreased, thanks to a vaccination campaign.
Rates of sexually transmitted infections as a group also went down slightly, totalling 434,456. But experts say this could be because fewer people came forward for testing.
Chlamydia was the most commonly diagnosed STI, accounting for nearly half of the cases diagnosed in 2015.
Young people are routinely offered chlamydia screening, but only 13% of young men and 32% of young women were tested in 2015.
The large fall in genital warts - a 7% drop - was seen in young women, and experts say this was probably because of the national human papilloma virus vaccination programme.
All girls aged 12 to 13 are offered the jab as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.
The FPA charity's chief executive, Natika Halil, said boys should be offered the vaccine too, which is something ministers are considering.
Genevieve Edwards, of Marie Stopes UK, said the statistics should "set alarm bells ringing" about the availability of sexual health services for young people and men who have sex with men.
"We have to keep a focus on preventing sexual ill health, and providing prompt diagnosis and treatment to those who need it," she added.
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV said the continued rise of gonorrhoea was extremely disturbing, given the further spread of drug-resistant infections.
Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at PHE, said: "We need to do more to raise awareness about STIs and how they can be prevented, especially the effectiveness of using condoms.
"We recommend that anyone having sex with a new or casual partner uses condoms and tests regularly for HIV and STIs."

Summary:


The fascinating bright spots on the surface of the dwarf planet Ceres have come into sharper view.

Article: She is one of many Brazilian women who, in the last few months, have decided to interrupt their in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures because they worry about being infected by the Zika virus while pregnant.
"My husband and I have been doing IVF for seven years with no success," Ms Coutinho explains.
"My latest attempt to get pregnant would have been this January but we were so afraid of Zika that we decided to freeze the embryos and see how this unfolds," she says.
Last October, Brazilian health authorities detected a possible link between a recent outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus and a rise in numbers of babies born with underdeveloped brains.
Researchers found that the virus could be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy. They believe that Zika might be the cause of the rise in microcephaly cases.
Ms Coutinho lives in Pernambuco, the Brazilian state with the highest number of suspected microcephaly cases.
She says she and her husband have decided to postpone their IVF for at least three months.
"We don't know for sure what is going on and when it will end," she says. But the 47-year old adds: "We can't wait too long".
Ms Coutinho says that IVF is not just a costly, but also a physically and emotionally draining procedure.
Women who undergo the process have to take medication in order to stimulate the production of eggs.
Then the eggs are harvested by doctors, fertilised and implanted in the woman's womb.
If the cycle is not successful, the process has to be started all over again.
"Every time you try, you have fresh hope. And then when it doesn't happen, you're really frustrated," Ms Coutinho says.
"Two years ago, in between procedures, I had a natural pregnancy but I lost the baby," she explains.
"Since then, I've been in treatment in order to try again and now, when everything was perfect and ready, this happens!"
Fertility doctors across the country say that the number of women who have chosen to postpone their pregnancies has increased by about 10% since October.
That rate is...

Summary: "I don't have much time left to be a mother, but I'm really afraid" architect Ana Paula Coutinho, 47, says.
###
Article: As it stands, there are potentially only three clubs with the necessary financial clout and space in their squad to pull off such a deal.
The Chinese Football Association recently introduced a rule which only allows three foreigners in a club's match-day squad. Teams can have a maximum of five foreign players in their overall squad, which includes one drawn from another Asian country.
Given this, Beijing Guoan, Jiangsu Suning and Tianjin Quanjian are the most likely suitors for Rooney unless other potential employers transfer or loan out one of their existing foreign stars.
Tianjin's manager, Fabio Cannavaro, has said his club did make an approach for Rooney recently but added that he feels the 31-year-old doesn't suit the team's style of play.
Jiangsu, where former Chelsea midfielder Ramires plays, remains an option.
Beijing Guoan had been seen as the most likely destination for Rooney.
It is one of the oldest clubs in China and is rumoured to be supported by President Xi, China's premier who has a vision to turn his country into a sporting superpower.
But sources close to the club said on Wednesday that they are not interested in signing the Manchester United forward.
Significant barriers remain to any deal being done - some of which may be beyond the negotiating power of Rooney's long-term agent Paul Stretford.
Big-money transfers are complicated and difficult affairs at the best of times, with agreements around image rights, bonus payments, fees and commercial deals needing to be resolved before pen is put to paper.
A deal for Rooney to go to China would come with an added political twist.
That's due to embarrassment within sections of the ruling Communist Party at the sums being spent by CSL clubs on foreign players.
Matters were brought to a head recently with the sale of Carlos Tevez to Shanghai Shenhua and the enormous wages he now commands.
An 18-point plan was announced in January, in part to curb what has been called "irrational spending."
It has led to the limits being imposed on the numbers of...

Summary: If Wayne Rooney is heading to China then where is his most likely destination?
###
Article: Among the finds from the excavation at the old Stibbe factory site in central Leicester is the largest mosaic uncovered in the area for 150 years.
Items including brooches, pottery and coins have also been unearthed.
An open day held at the beginning of May saw hundreds of people queuing down the street, and the remains have already been seen by some 5,000 people.
Two last open days are being held this weekend before the site closes to the public. The mosaic will then be conserved and probably placed on display.
Gavin Speed of the University of Leicester Archaeological Services said: "We were surprised by the huge numbers of people flocking to see what we've discovered during the initial open weekend, so we extended public tours to the following weekday lunchtimes.
"We've had a tremendous amount of interest."
"The excavation has added another piece of the jigsaw into our understanding of Roman Leicester... and the extreme wealth and lifestyle of some of its inhabitants," Mr Speed added.
The mosaic in one reception room is considered "the largest and finest-quality mosaic found in over 150 years in Leicester", he said.
The dig, which began in September, has also unearthed beads, hairpins, gaming pieces and manicure objects, along with a decorated knife handle cast in copper alloy that depicts a scene showing victims being thrown to the lions in an amphitheatre.
The archaeological project was funded by Charles Street Buildings Group, which is involved in a major urban regeneration project in the Great Central Street area.

Summary: Archaeologists admit they have been surprised by the interest a dig that has uncovered a Roman street.
###
Article: Mr Cameron also said the case in Northern Ireland was different from elsewhere in the UK because of the land border with the Republic of Ireland.
The prime minister was giving evidence to MPs who chair a range of committees at the House of Commons.
He would not say if he would definitely devolve corporation tax powers.
He repeated that people must wait for the chancellor's autumn statement due to take place early next month.
The current rate of corporation tax paid by businesses in Northern Ireland is 21%, compared to 12.5% in the Republic of Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Executive wants to be able to match the tax rate in the Republic.
Asked by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee chair about whether corporation tax devolution depends on Stormont politicians resolving their budget problems, Mr Cameron said that the two issues were linked.
He said that it is difficult to argue the executive should get more responsibility in tax powers if it cannot sort out its current budget.
The prime minister said any future devolution of corporation tax was also linked to the tax regime south of the Irish border.
He referred to businesses benefiting from tax arrangements nicknamed the "double Irish" and therefore paying only 2% tax on their profits.
Mr Cameron said he was working to sort the issue out through international tax agreements and if 20% tax means 20% tax in the UK, then 12% tax should mean 12% tax in the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Cameron also faced questions about the Barnett formula which governs the funding of the devolved nations.
The prime minister told MPs he did not think the reform of the Barnett formula was "on the horizon".
The formula is used to set spending in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Welsh politicians have been strongly critical of the Barnett formula, which they believe gives Wales a poor financial deal.
The formula currently benefits Northern Ireland and Scotland to a greater extent.

Summary: The prime minister has said the argument made by Northern Ireland politicians for devolving corporation tax is strong.
###
Article: They were advised to agree proposals to set up a "waste transfer facility" on a site at Easter Langlee, near Galashiels.
The council's existing landfill site is due to reach capacity in 2017.
Plans to build a plant which would produce energy from the region's waste were scrapped earlier this year.
From January 2021, landfill sites in Scotland will no longer be able to accept biodegradable municipal waste that has not met "stringent pre-treatment processes".
A report to Scottish Borders Council estimated that the new transfer facility will cost Â£5.5m.
A spokesman for the council said: "The report recommends that the landfill site is closed in 2017, and that a waste transfer station is developed at Easter Langlee to take its place.
"The landfill will subsequently be restored and waste will be transported out of the Borders to alternative treatment facilities in order to comply with the 2021 landfill ban.
"This option is considered to represent the most flexible and cost effective way forward for the council at the current time. It will also provide time for the development of the council's new waste management plan."
About 40,000 tonnes of household and commercial waste is put into the Easter Langlee landfill site by the council every year.

Summary: Councillors in the Scottish Borders have approved plans to transfer household waste outside the region.
###
Article: What were initially thought to be just a couple of brilliant, closely spaced features at one location now turn out to be a clutch of many smaller dots.
The latest pictures were acquired by the US space agency's Dawn spacecraft on its first full science orbit since arriving at Ceres on 6 March.
The spots were seen from a distance of 13,600km.
Researchers on the mission concede they still have much to learn about the dots' true nature, but the new data is hardening their ideas.
"Dawn scientists can now conclude that the intense brightness of these spots is due to the reflection of sunlight by highly reflective material on the surface, possibly ice," said Chris Russell, who is the principal investigator on the mission.
With a diameter of 950km, Ceres is the largest object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Dawn will spend the coming months studying its geology and surface chemistry with a suite of cameras and remote-sensing instruments.
The intention is to get some insights into the processes that have sculpted the dwarf since its formation with the rest of the Solar System some 4.5 billion years year ago.
Having completed its first science orbit, Dawn is now heading downwards to get even closer to the body.
This second mapping campaign, which will commence on 6 June, will see Dawn moving just 4,400km from the surface.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

Summary:

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Parents of children due to go to a summer camp whose director has been charged with possession of indecent images have been offered refunds.

Article: Recorded cases rose 31% between 2013 and 2015, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said.
It said this had led to "excessive" workloads and affected the quality and speed of investigations in some forces.
Meanwhile, a separate HMIC report found 31 out of 43 forces must improve their protection of vulnerable people.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham issued the warning that police were close to being overwhelmed by the "staggering" increase in domestic abuse cases.
Her report is a follow-up to one published by HMIC in March 2014, which highlighted "significant weaknesses" in the service police gave domestic abuse victims.
The new report notes improvements since then, including a 31% increase in "domestic abuse related crimes" recorded by police - from 269,700 in the year to August 2013, to 353,100 in the year to March 2015.
Explaining why this is an improvement, the report says the rise could be partly due to better recording by police and forces "actively encouraging" victims to come forward.
There has also been a "determined effort" by police to make domestic abuse a priority, the report adds.
But it highlights problems including:
The report notes the "enormous" number of people affected by domestic abuse - with 900,000 calls to police in England and Wales in the 12 months to March 2015.
Violent, physical, sexual, psychological or emotional abuse - including threats and intimidation - in your home or elsewhere by your current or former partner, or any other adult family member.
It can also include financial abuse, such as a partner controlling your use of money or running up debts in your name.
Men and women can both be perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse, and victims are encouraged to call the police.
Sources: Met Police, Money Advice Service
In its separate report on protection of vulnerable people, HMIC graded all 43 forces in England and Wales, rating 12 "good", 27 "requires improvement" and four "inadequate". No force was rated "outstanding".
The four forces rated...

Summary: Police in England and Wales are on the verge of being "overwhelmed" by "staggering" increases in reports of domestic abuse, inspectors say.
###
Article: Truro councillor Lance Dyer published a tweet saying '"Holocaust hoax" suggesting that six million Jews weren't killed in the genocide.
Mr Dyer's membership of Mebyon Kernow, the Cornish nationalist party, has been suspended pending an investigation.
The party leadership said the views expressed on the website were "wholly repugnant".
The website claims the true number of Jews killed in concentration camps in the World War Two was just 271,000 - but six million is the usual figure cited.
Mr Dyer has now said he had been "very foolish" and that he wished he had taken more care to understand "the full significance of the false claims made on the website".
He said he hoped to "make amends in the coming week" and that he was not a Holocaust denier.
Shortly after posting the tweet he made attempts to justify his reasons for doing so to other Twitter users.
Jeremy Jacobsen, from Kehillat Kernow, Cornwall's Jewish community organisation, said: "It seems absurd to me that anyone should question something which has been so well-documented.
"What was his point in drawing attention to this?"
The Mayor of Truro, Rob Nolan, said Mr Dyer's remarks were "abhorrent in the extreme" and called for a full investigation by Truro City Council.
Mebyon Kernow's party leadership said the investigation into Mr Dyer's actions would begin in the next 48 hours.

Summary: A councillor who tweeted a link to a Holocaust denial website has been suspended by his party.
###
Article: The authority said in February it would give the umbrella body one year notice and terminate its membership in 2015.
Councillors reversed their stance after hearing Cosla had issued a revised constitution which highlights that there is no hierarchy between members.
Several others councils remain set to quit amid a row over government cash and tensions about power within Cosla.
Aberdeen, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils have all indicated they plan to leave Cosla next year.
Inverclyde's council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: "We raised our concerns earlier this year and Cosla has responded to those.
"Our notice to quit was a requirement of our membership but we made clear at the time that the door was open for the council to return.
"We have decided to do that and the council will confirm that we will remain a member of the organisation."
Inverclyde's annual membership fees to Cosla are Â£60,000.

Summary: Inverclyde Council has reversed a decision to leave Cosla - the body representing Scottish local government.
###
Article: The animal, which lived at the same time as the dinosaurs, probably emerged from a line of burrowing reptiles that lost their legs.
Where and how snakes diverged from their legged cousins the lizards has been a mystery.
Details of the find
          appear in the journal Nature
.
The debate over snake origins has been complicated by the scarcity of transitional fossils (those with features in between two groups of creatures).
But new fossils from eastern Wyoming, US, belonging to the ancient snake
          Coniophis precedens - which lived some 65-70 million years ago - could help clear up the mystery.
According to the analysis by Nicholas Longrich from Yale University and colleagues,
          Coniophis lived in a floodplain environment and "lacks adaptations for aquatic locomotion".
They describe it as a "transitional snake, combining a snake-like body and a lizard-like head".
"This thing quite probably would have had small legs," Dr Longrich told the AFP news agency.
The ancient reptile's small size, along with physical features of its spine, suggest that it burrowed. And analysis of its jaws show that it fed on relatively large, soft-bodied prey.
But it did not have the flexible jaws that allow modern-day snakes to swallow prey many times their own body size.
"The genesis of the
          Serpentes (the biological name that defines what we understand as snakes) that began with the evolution of a novel means of locomotion, followed by adaptations facilitating the ingestion of ever larger prey, thereby enabling snakes to exploit a wider range of ecological niches," the researchers write in Nature journal.

Summary: One of the most primitive snake fossils ever found hints that the slithery reptiles might have originated on land, not in the sea as has been proposed.
###
Article: Derby Museum Trust surprised everyone when it unveiled the paintings of Sir Richard Arkwright's mills and Willersley Castle on Monday night.
The trust had only two weeks to raise the money needed for both paintings which fetched Â£233,107.
It is thought the paintings could be among his last works.
The museum did not tell anyone it was interested in the auction at Christie's in New York and employed a secret agent who was under instruction to only bid if somebody else did.
Meanwhile, gallery staff back in Derby nervously watched the sale online.
Jonathan Wallis from Derby Museum said: "We were sat there with a beer not sure whether to open it and celebrate or open it and commiserate.
"It was quite nail biting. We were watching and the auctioneer said 'is that the final bid? It's with you madam on the telephone' and we knew our guy was in the room.
"It went right down to the wire. He just chipped in at the end and the auctioneer said 'new bidder in the room. Sold to you sir'."
Known as Joseph Wright of Derby, he was the first major English painter to be based outside London and sometimes referred to as an English Caravaggio
He was the first artist to depict industry and scientific experiments of the age
Mr Wallis said if it was known the museum was interested in the pictures, art dealers would have tried to buy the paintings and sell them on to the gallery with an added premium.
After consulting with experts in London, the gallery hatched its plot and secured them for less than the guide price.
"This is great for us to do this for the people of Derbyshire and actually bring back a piece of their heritage," Mr Wallis said.
It is thought the paintings were commissioned by Sir Richard Arkwright - a pioneer of the industrial revolution - and are the only examples of Derbyshire landscapes by Wright in the Derby Museum's collection.

Summary: A secret agent was used in New York to buy two paintings by English artist Joseph Wright of Derby and return them to the city of his birth.
###
Article: LL Camps in Bushey, Hertfordshire, was closed by Ofsted last week and director Ben Lewis has been charged with possessing indecent images of children.
Following the closure, parents vented their anger on the firm's Facebook page at the initial lack of information.
But camp co-founder Tal Landsman has now said refunds will be issued.
Ofsted closed the camp on 6 August and the company's website was taken down soon after.
One parent whose child was due to attend the US-style day camp wrote it was an "utter disgrace".
Another was concerned about parents who "could not afford alternative care without the refund".
A man whose children had gone to the camp told the BBC: "Fortunately, for us they were only going for one further day, and then they were going to a different camp.
"Had it been the situation that they were due to be there this week and all of next week, we'd be in a bit of bother."
But on Wednesday, Mr Landsman confirmed parents would be able to fill in a refund form which has been placed on a holding page on the company's official website.
Mr Lewis and Mr Landsman opened the holiday club in 2010.

Summary:


A "credible plan" needs to be agreed before any move to ban buses and taxis from a street in Oxford is made, a bus company has said.

Article: A naturally occurring protein, known as BsIA, can be used to create ice cream which stays frozen for longer in hot weather.
The ingredient could also help to reduce the amount of fat and sugar in ice cream.
The scientists say the ice cream could be ready to eat in three to five years.
Teams at the Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee developed a method of producing the ingredient, which occurs naturally in some foods as a friendly bacteria.
Professor Cait MacPhee, who led the project, said it works by keeping oil and water mixed together, stops air from escaping and coats the ice crystals in ice cream which stops them from melting so quickly.

Summary: A new ingredient developed by scientists in Scotland could mean that ice cream lovers can enjoy their treats longer before they melt.
###
Article: Alex Smith, from Oldham, said it was an "injustice" victims were receiving far less than those who contracted HIV through NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s.
His solicitors have asked the Department of Health (DoH) for comparable help.
The DoH said it was "more than doubling" its annual spending.
Mr Smith said he may start a judicial review of the government's cash help for those affected.
He said: "Why are they not treating us the same, why is my life worth less than someone with HIV?
"It is an injustice."
In 2015, the then Prime Minster David Cameron apologised to thousands of victims of the contaminated blood scandal.
The government announced in July that those with stage 1 Hepatitis C would receive Â£3,500 a year, with the provision to appeal for a higher payment close to the Â£15,000 received by HIV patients who received toxic blood.
Mr Smith's solicitor, Leigh Day, said the government's wording was "unclear" and needed clarifying, adding: "It continues the existing unlawful discrimination against stage 1 HCV claimants."
The payments ran counter to a government decision which said people with Hepatitis C should receive financial support which is "broadly comparable" for those who contracted HIV, the letter added.
The Department of Health said it was "more than doubling its annual spend on the scheme for people affected by this tragedy over the next five years, and was therefore able to provide an annual payment to all infected individuals for the first time."
It added: "This is significantly more than any previous government has been able to provide for those affected by this tragedy."

Summary: A man who developed Hepatitis C from contaminated blood is demanding more financial support from the government.
###
Article: The freeze applies to brands such as Tennent's Lager and Caledonia Best.
C&C Group-owned Tennent's said the move was designed to "further support Scotland's hospitality industry".
The company also announced it was changing the trading name of its sales and distribution arm from Wallaces TCB to Tennent's.
Wallaces TCB was formed after C&C Group bought wines and spirits wholesaler Wallaces Express in 2014.
Tennent's managing director Alastair Campbell said: "Scotland's pubs, club, hotels and restaurants are at the heart of our communities and part of the social fabric of our cities, towns and villages.
"Throughout our rich history dating back hundreds of years, Tennent's has been the strongest supporter of Scotland's licensed trade, and today we re-emphasise that commitment.
"We understand the challenges they're facing and, while other brewers have announced price increases to the trade, we are pleased to freeze the wholesale list price of our leading draught brands including Tennent's Lager, Caledonia Best, Magners Original Ice Cold Cider, Heverlee and Menabrea for the year ahead.
"This is further evidence of our support of the trade, allowing owners to direct greater investment into their businesses and help sustain jobs."

Summary: Tennent Caledonian has announced a 12-month freeze in the wholesale price of its major brands to Scottish hotels, pubs and clubs.
###
Article: In 1992 at their peak before mobile phones became popular, there were 92,000 phone boxes in the UK.
Telephone boxes still handle 33,000 calls a day, but one third of kiosks are never used to make a call.
BT said many phone boxes had become a burden and were expensive to repair and maintain.
"BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, but with usage declining by over 90% in the last decade, we continue to review and remove payphones which are no longer used," a BT spokesperson told the BBC.
BT intends to scrap the 20,000 telephone boxes over the next five years.
Out of the 40,000 phone booths still working, 7,000 are the traditional red phone boxes designed in 1935 to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V.
More than half of phone boxes lose money and the number of calls is declining by more than 20% per year.
The cost of maintaining telephone boxes annually is about Â£6m. BT is responsible for repairing damage to the kiosks, including replacing glass panes and broken receivers, as well as removing graffiti, rubbish and human waste.
It is estimated that 93% of all people in the UK now own a mobile phone, and 98% of the UK has 3G or 4G mobile internet coverage.
However, phone booths are still used by children, the elderly, people who can't afford mobile phones, and in emergencies when smartphone batteries go flat.
If there are two kiosks within 400m walking distance of a site, BT is allowed to remove one, as long as there is one left.
But if the telecoms provider seeks to remove the only phone booth on the site, Ofcom rules state BT must inform the public and consult with the local authorities. The authority then has 90 days to object, which is known as a "local veto".
"Payphone removals are carried out in strict adherence to Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities. Where we receive objections from the local authority, we won't remove the payphone," said BT.
In areas where telephone boxes are not being used, many local communities have transformed and...

Summary: BT is to scrap half of the UK's remaining 40,000 telephone boxes and focus on the ones in locations where people are more likely to use them.
###
Article: Mr Benn highlighted global political dangers as he insisted the case for staying in is "stronger than ever".
But Vote Leave, one of the groups campaigning for an exit, accused him of resorting to scare tactics.
It comes as Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the UK still has "issues" with a proposed EU reform package.
"There is no deal at present; there is a working draft," he said.
"We have issues, some of which have been addressed - language issues - in the latest iteration of the draft, some of which have not been addressed," Mr Hammond told reporters in Brussels.
"So the discussions continue and I do not think it is sensible to draw any conclusions about the shape of the deal until we see the final text that emerges from the European Council meeting," he added.
David Cameron is hoping to secure a deal on the proposed reforms at the EC meeting in Brussels next week, paving the way for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU in June.
Delivering a speech at the Chatham House think-tank in London, Hilary Benn said leaving the European Union would mean the UK was less able to deal with international challenges such as the migrant crisis and climate change.
Referring to Russian action in the Crimea and Ukraine, Mr Benn said it was down to "Europe's collective response that we have been able to exert real pressure and have an impact".
"Efforts towards the creation of an EU-wide energy union will, over time, weaken Russia's dominance as an energy supplier in Europe," he added.
"Let's be clear. President Putin would shed no tears if Britain left the European Union. He would see Brexit as a sign of our weakness and of the weakness of European solidarity at the very moment when we need to maintain our collective strength."
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Vote Leave campaign, hit back at Mr Benn's claims.
"Pro-EU campaigners cannot make a positive case for remaining in a political project that is incapable of dealing with the challenges of the 21st century," he said.
"Instead of accepting that we need...

Summary: Russian president Vladimir Putin would see Britain's exit from the EU as a sign of "weakness", shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn has warned.
###
Article: The county council plans to prohibit buses, taxis and private hire vehicles from using Queen Street.
Oxford Bus Company said the authority needed to consider the "additional pressure" on surrounding streets.
The council said it was "vital" for more pedestrians and cyclists to use the route.
Oxford bus Company said: "We can't have a situation where Queen Street is pedestrianised but the additional pressure put on surrounding streets means that waiting conditions for bus passengers become unbearable, or walks between stops become unacceptably long - or our customers can't get taken to where they want to go.
"A credible, agreed plan therefore needs to be identified between all parties before Queen Street can be closed and dialogue is ongoing to achieve this."
Oxfordshire County Council said the street was one of the main routes across the city centre and added pedestrian and cycle numbers were expected to increase "significantly" in the future due to development across the city.
"It is vital that strong pedestrian and cycle links are maintained and encouraged, and improvements to the pedestrian experience are made, to ensure a well-connected and joined up city centre that will continue to thrive," it added.
A consultation on the proposals runs until 6 June.

Summary:


Two 13-year-old girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the online horror character Slender Man have pleaded not guilty in court.

Article: The whale was spotted near North Stradbroke Island, about 80km (50 miles) east of Brisbane, early on Wednesday morning.
Her distressed calf was later seen apparently pushing her as she splashed in the water to get free.
About 40 minutes after getting stuck, the whale was able to dislodge herself.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) personnel were despatched to help the pair and planned to stabilise them until a team from Sea World, further along the coast, could arrive to help free them.
But incoming tides and the efforts of the young whale helped the mother get off the sandbank before they arrived.
"The whale was able to free itself and the adult and the calf were able to swim away," a spokesperson for QPWS told the BBC, adding that they successfully helped the pair out through shallow waters to the open sea.
"The mother was a bit tired and distressed".
Whales are common at this time of year on the Queensland coast, where many go to give birth and begin rearing their calves before heading back to Antarctic waters.

Summary: A humpback whale which was stranded on an Australian sandbank has freed itself after its calf was seen apparently nudging it into deeper water.
###
Article: Four constituents raised the action under the Representation of the People Act 1983, claiming he misled voters over a leaked memo before the election.
Judges said Mr Carmichael had told a "blatant lie" in a TV interview about when he had become aware of the memo.
But they ruled it had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt that he had committed an "illegal practice".
Mr Carmichael said he was "absolutely delighted" with the decision to refuse the petition, adding that he recognised there had been a lapse in his conduct.
He described it as a "highly politically-motivated" case.
Mr Carmichael said: "I was always confident that we would win and that has been the basis on which we've approached this.
"But despite that it has been a very difficult, very stressful and very expensive few months for me and the rest of my family."
Tim Morrison, one of the petitioners, said they had won the argument but Mr Carmichael had won the case "on a point of law".
He said: "Alistair Carmichael has been found by the court to have lied to his electorate.
"The fact that he has won has not exonerated him."
A spokeswoman for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards confirmed an inquiry into Mr Carmichael was ''ongoing''.
The contents of the memo, published in the Daily Telegraph at the start of the election campaign in April, claimed that SNP leader and Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, would secretly prefer Tory leader David Cameron as prime minister rather than his Labour opponent Ed Miliband.
The newspaper said the first minister's comments, reportedly made to the French ambassador, undermined claims that she wanted to build a "progressive alliance" with other left-wing parties.
Mr Carmichael claimed in a Channel 4 TV interview at the time that the first he had heard of it was when he received a phone call from a reporter.
He had in fact authorised his special advisor to leak the memo, an action he admitted days after being elected.
Mr Morrison said Mr Carmichael told the Channel 4 interviewer he had not leaked the...

Summary: A legal action challenging the election of Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has failed.
###
Article: He said he regretted strained relations with Moscow but said the US had to "prioritise deterrence" on Nato's eastern flank.
US-Russian ties have been strained by the Ukraine crisis and recent military encounters in the Baltic Sea.
Russia has accused Nato of threatening its national security.
Speaking during a ceremony at the US European Command Headquarters in Germany, Mr Carter said Russia was "going backwards in time".
But Mr Carter said: "We do not seek a cold, let alone a hot war with Russia."
Mr Carter's warning about Russia's nuclear sabre-rattling is a measure of how poor relations are between Nato and Moscow.
At root is Russia's annexation of the Crimea and its military operations in eastern Ukraine. But Moscow sees Nato's response - a whole series of reinforced exercises in Poland and the Baltic republics along with additional US armour stock-piled in Europe - as yet another expansion of the alliance's activities towards its own borders.
Russia has explicitly warned Denmark that its warships could become the target of nuclear strikes if it joins Nato's ballistic missile defence system and similar threats have been made to Norway and Poland.
Russia is significantly modernising its nuclear arsenal. It has also deployed Iskander-M nuclear capable missiles to its Kaliningrad enclave. This, along with increasingly aggressive Russian air patrols, is only encouraging Nato to enhance its own deterrent capability.
"We do not seek to make Russia an enemy. But make no mistake, we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us."
He added: "Moscow's nuclear sabre-rattling raises troubling questions about Russia's leaders' commitment to strategic stability, their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and whether they respect the profound caution that nuclear-age leaders showed with regard to brandishing nuclear weapons."
Mr Carter outlined plans to deploy a third US Army combat brigade in Europe in the coming year.
He said it was part of a $3.4bn...

Summary: US Defence Secretary Ash Carter has accused Russia of "nuclear sabre-rattling" and of being intent on eroding international order.
###
Article: The charity said a 75% increase in the number of wild animals being treated over the last five years had prompted them to open the new £3.5m development.
The centre will have the capacity to treat up to 5,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals each year.
The Scottish SPCA said the move was a "major step forward for wildlife welfare in Scotland".
Colin Seddon, manager of the new national wildlife rescue centre said: "We cared for 3,917 wild animals in 2011, including 2,678 birds, which is a staggering 75% more than five years ago.
"The demands on our services have increased at such a rate that our previous centre at Middlebank in Fife, which was originally designed as an oiled bird cleaning unit, was being stretched to cope with the volume and diversity of animals we were rescuing.
"We often had to transfer wildlife to other organisations to continue their rehabilitation but we can now care for every type of wild animal found in Scotland from rescue to release, with only whales and dolphins the exception."
The centre has veterinary facilities, seal, swan and otter pools, aviaries, wild mammal enclosures, paddocks and a stable block for deer.
Mr Seddon said members of the public would not be able to visit the centre because human interaction with the animals had to be kept to an absolute minimum.
He said: "We have to keep the public out of this facility because our main aim is to get animals back to the wild which means they can't be tame, so we have to limit any sort of human contact with all the animals on site for their own benefit".
The centre was opened by George Reid, a past presiding officer of the Scottish parliament and both MP and MSP for the area.
He said: "This is a state of the art facility in which all Scotland can take pride. It is an ideal location, easily accessible from both coasts and from the north and south of the country."
The centre was funded entirely by donations.

Summary: The Scottish SPCA has opened a new national wildlife rescue centre at Fishcross, near Alloa.
###
Article: There are now an additional six miles of streets that have been deemed officially polluted in the capital.
Tourist areas Princes Street, George Street, most of the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket are all now included.
Edinburgh City Council said it was looking at ways to cut pollution in the busiest parts of the city.
Gorgie Road, London Road and some of Easter Road also make up the additional six miles of polluted streets.
The city council is extending its existing three air pollution problem zones: central, St Johns Road and Great Junction Street and adding two new ones at Inverleith Row and Glasgow Road.
The Cowgate, the Grassmarket, most of Gorgie Road, London Road and the top of Easter Road will be added to the central zone.
The Great Junction Street zone has had Bernard Street, Commercial Street and North Junction Street added.
Dr Richard Dixon, Friends of the Earth Scotland's director, said: "Having to include even more streets in the pollution zones is a sure sign that a decade's worth of action plans have failed.
"Pollution from cars, vans, buses and lorries are still making the capital's air bad for our health and the council needs to take urgent action on transport to bring Edinburgh's air up to scratch.
"We need fewer and cleaner vehicles, as well as more action on public transport, walking and cycling."
Councils are obliged to declare air pollution problem zones for locations where European, UK or Scottish air quality targets are not going to be met.
Lesley Hinds, the city's transport and environment convener, said: "Despite 98% of our city meeting strict air quality standards, this is still an important issue for the council and local communities in Edinburgh.
"There are a number of proposals currently being considered that will look at reducing pollution in our busiest parts of the city.
"These include the council's city centre vision which aims to encourage walking and cycling in the city, as well as our current consultation on low emission zones."

Summary: Environmentalists are calling for "urgent action" after an increase in the number of Edinburgh streets affected by transport pollution.
###
Article: Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier have been charged with attempted murder over the attack.
Last week, a Wisconsin judge decided that they should be tried as adults, meaning they could face decades in jail if convicted.
The victim, 12 at the time, was stabbed 19 times but survived.
She was found by a cyclist crawling from the woods where she was attacked with stab wounds to her arms, legs and torso, after the attack in May 2014.
A judge entered not guilty pleas on behalf of both girls at a hearing on Friday.
Investigators say the two girls had been plotting for months to kill their victim in "dedication" to Slender Man, a fictional horror website character.
They spoke of their desire to become the paranormal figure's "proxies" by killing to demonstrate their loyalty, police said.
A lawyer for one of the girls told the AP news agency before the hearing that his client would enter a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Their lawyers have previously argued for the case to be heard in juvenile court, saying both teenagers were suffering from mental illness.
Following the attack, the suspects were found walking near a local highway and a knife was found in one of their backpacks.
The victim has recovered and since returned to school.

Summary:


A 91-year-old cyclist killed on a dual carriageway was doing a time trial to set a new national record for his age.

Article: The event will take place over three days and launch a year of celebrations across the UK and the world to mark the document's 800th anniversary.
Magna Carta, meaning Great Charter, was agreed at Runnymede, Surrey in 1215.
The document is seen as the cornerstone of Britain's constitution, outlining a set of basic rights.
There are four surviving copies of Magna Carta - two copies belong to the British Library, one copy is owned by Lincoln Cathedral and one by Salisbury Cathedral.
All three organisations will be involved in the event, which will be held at the British Library in London.
The library said it would be a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for researchers and the public to see the documents side-by-side".
The manuscripts will be examined by some of the world's leading experts.
The library said the unification of the documents would allow them to be studied much more closely, particularly faded or obscured parts of the text.
Source: The British Library
Historians would also be able to look for new clues about the identity of the writers of the texts, which is still unknown.
The charter was issued by King John as a way solving the political crisis he faced when powerful barons rebelled against him and captured London.
Although almost all the clauses have been repealed in modern times, the document established a number of important principles that have been copied around the world.
These include the principle that no-one is above the law - including the king - the right to a fair trial, and limits on taxation without representation.
It inspired the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Claire Breay, lead curator of medieval and earlier manuscripts at the British Library, said: "Magna Carta is the most popular item in the library's treasures gallery, and is venerated around the world as marking the starting point for government under the law."
The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Reverend June Osborne, praised the values of social justice in Magna Carta and said she hoped the...

Summary: The four surviving original copies of Magna Carta will be brought together in 2015 for the first time in history, the British Library has announced.
###
Article: The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said 27% of survivors had been targeted because of their religion or ethnicity.
Their family members were even more likely to be affected, with 38% saying they had been abused.
The trust polled 208 survivors of the Holocaust and Rwandan, Cambodian and Bosnian genocides, and 173 relatives.
The research was released ahead of an annual event in central London marking Holocaust Memorial Day.
It showed nearly three-quarters (72%) of survivors said they felt "very" or "fairly welcome" when they arrived in Britain.
About half (52%) said they waited more than 20 years before talking about their experiences.
Most said they did so to help more people understand what happened.
Holocaust survivor, Joan Salter, was a three-month-old baby when Belgium was invaded by the Nazis.
Her father was deported and her mother imprisoned.
In 1943, Ms Salter was put on a boat by the Red Cross and sent to live with a foster family in the United States.
She was reunited with her parents in London two years after World War Two had ended.
"It was anything but a fairytale ending though - both my parents were severely traumatised by what they'd experienced, broken in health, spirit and mind.
"Everyone deals with these things in their own ways. My mother was never able to talk about what had happened to her, it was just too painful."
Chief executive of the holocaust trust, Olivia Marks-Woldman, said the current persecution served as a "valuable reminder of how vital Holocaust Memorial Day is".
"It's shocking to think that these individuals, having survived some of the very worst acts in human history, have experienced hatred and discrimination on the streets of the country that is now their refuge," she added.
Despite more than a quarter of the survivors saying they still think about their experiences daily, 40% said their experiences had made them appreciate life more.
Ms Marks-Woldman said experiences were still "very raw" but that survivors were determined to share their stories to help tackle intolerance...

Summary: More than a quarter of survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides have experienced discrimination or abuse while living in the UK, research shows.
###
Article: Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday became the first sitting Israeli PM to make a trip to Australia.
He arrived hours after Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull wrote an article criticising the UN for "one-sided resolutions" unfavourable to Israel.
Mr Turnbull reaffirmed Australia's commitment to a two-state solution.
Last week, US President Donald Trump  broke with decades of US foreign policy by not committing explicitly to backing a future independent Palestine.
Mr Netanyahu is in Australia for talks about expanding co-operation in cyber security, technological innovation and science.
In an opinion column, Mr Turnbull reiterated his government's opposition to a UN resolution in December that urged an end to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
"Many view Israel exclusively through the lens of its conflict with the Palestinians," Mr Turnbull wrote in The Australian newspaper.
"They demand that the [Australian] government take the side of those in the international community who seek to chastise Israel - and it alone - for the continuing failure of the peace process."
Mr Netanyahu thanked Mr Turnbull for being willing to "puncture UN hypocrisy", describing Israel and Australia as "extraordinary friends".
"The UN is capable of many absurdities, and I think it's important that you have straightforward and clear countries like Australia that often bring it back to Earth," Mr Netanyahu said in a joint press conference.
Mr Turnbull called Israel a "truly miraculous nation", and stressed the countries must co-operate on security.
He said Australia had always supported a two-state solution.
"It needs to be resolved by direct negotiations between the parties and we certainly encourage that," he said.
More than 60 prominent Australians, including business and religious leaders, academics and entertainers, signed an open letter opposing Mr Netanyahu's visit before his arrival.
"Mr Netanyahu's policies consistently aim to provoke, intimidate and oppress the Palestinian population which increase that imbalance, thus...

Summary: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked Australia for defending his nation against UN resolutions during a historic visit to Sydney.
###
Article: Officials say the website, which was launched by the State Bureau of Letters and Calls on Monday, will help "broaden the channels" for public opinion.
However, some potential users expressed fears that the website would be used to expose petitioners.
Chinese microblog users also raised questions about the effectiveness of the site after it reportedly crashed on its first day.
In China millions of people petition government offices every year, in a tradition that dates back to imperial times when the emperors would listen to the complaints of common people.
But these petitioners - whose grievances range from land disputes to employment violations to unsolved crimes - are often seen as an embarrassment to local officials, with some intercepted and detained illegally.
The State Bureau has accepted online complaints on agricultural issues, social welfare and construction before now. However, it says it will now accept complaints on all types of issues online.
The bureau chief, Shu Xiaoqin, said the department would take all online comments and complaints seriously, so that "all issues would be settled, all cases would receive a reply".
The move was "an effort to improve the bureau's credibility" and "continue to broaden the channels through which public opinion could be expressed," she was quoted in Chinese media reports as saying.
However, the site requires users to register their details, including their real name, ID or passport number, home address and telephone numbers, leading some to fear that petitioners could face retribution from local officials.
"Would you dare submit a petition on this website?" Ma Juncao wrote on Sina Weibo, a Chinese microblog similar to Twitter. "Opening up online reporting is a good thing, but what's the point of asking for people's address? Maybe so they can retaliate against you."
Another user, Tears in Snow, described the website as a "fishing" exercise.
Many Chinese microblog users also expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of the site, after reports it crashed on its...

Summary: China has started a new online platform to accept petitions from its citizens.
###
Article: A pioneer of house - the sparse, electronic dance music that emerged from Chicago in the 1980s - Knuckles was just 59.
He was known for remixing tracks by Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, as well as his own songs, such as Your Love and The Whistle Song.
His death was confirmed by fellow DJ David Morales on Twitter.
"I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today," he wrote. "Can't write anymore than this at the moment. I'm sorry."
Knuckles' longtime business partner, Frederick Dunson, told The Chicago Tribune he had "died unexpectedly this afternoon at home".
That was confirmed by the Cook County medical examiner who said Knuckles died on Monday in Chicago. The medical examiner said a cause of death was not available.
Several music websites have reported Knuckles had died of complications from Type 2 diabetes.
In the mid 2000's, the DJ had developed the bone infection osteomyelitis after breaking bones in his foot while snowboarding. In 2008, he had the foot amputated after refusing to let up on his punishing work schedule.
'Art form'
Born in the Bronx, Frankie Warren Knuckles Jr learned his craft in New York City, where he was mentored by club DJ Larry Levan.
"We would spend entire afternoons working up ideas on how to present a record so that people would hear it in a new way and fall in love with it," Knuckles later recalled. "To us it was an art form."
He moved to Chicago in the 1970s, just as disco was dying out, and pioneered a style of extending soul and R&B records by adding drum machine loops.
"I would program different break beats and use them as segues between songs and additional beats," he said in 2011. "I had my own little piece of heaven right there."
He made his name at The Warehouse, a club in northern Chicago, predominantly patronised by gay men from the black and Latin-American communities.
"The people that used to hang out at The Warehouse coined the phrase 'House Music'," Knuckles said.
"At the time I was the only DJ in the city playing a sound...

Summary: Musician Frankie Knuckles, known as the Godfather of House music, has died unexpectedly, it has been announced.
###
Article: Ray Dare died when his bike and a van were involved in a collision on the A41 Ashton Clinton bypass, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, at about 14:45 BST on Wednesday.
He had belonged to the Surrey-based Kingston Phoenix Road Club for more than 60 years.
A statement on the club's website expressed "huge sadness and shock".
It said Mr Dare had been "attempting to set a new national record for a 91-year-old".
A post on the Timetrialling Forum said: "Other riders have spoken of him riding well and steadily before.
"As yet there are no further details but police, of course, are conducting a fatal accident investigation.
"I am sure all riders will be as shocked as the officials were at this news."
Circumstances surrounding the crash are being investigated and Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to come forward.
The driver of the van was uninjured. No arrests have been made.

Summary:


"We haven't had an earthquake lately," was Eeyore's tart response when asked about forecasts that the weather can only improve in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Article: Outbreaks in Asia, Africa and Middle East are an "extraordinary event" needing a co-ordinated "international response", the agency says.
It recommends citizens of affected countries travelling abroad carry a vaccination certificate.
It says Pakistan, Cameroon, and Syria "pose the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014."
The WHO recorded 417 cases of polio worldwide for the whole of 2013. For 2014, it had already recorded 68 cases by 30 April - up from 24 in the same period last year.
Polio mainly affects children under five years old.
The virus is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and multiplies in the intestine. It can then invade the nervous system, causing paralysis in one in every 200 infections. It is capable of causing death within hours.
"The conditions for a public health emergency of international concern have been met," said Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director General.
He was speaking after last week's emergency meeting in Geneva on the spread of polio which included representatives of the affected countries.
"The international spread of polio to date in 2014 constitutes an 'extraordinary event' and a public health risk to other states for which a co-ordinated international response is essential," the WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee said in statement.
"If unchecked, this situation could result in failure to eradicate globally one of the world's most serious vaccine preventable diseases."
The WHO also lists Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Somalia and Nigeria as "posing an ongoing risk for new wild poliovirus exportations in 2014."
It  is only the second time in the WHO's history it has made such a declaration, the first being during the swine flu pandemic of 2009, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva reports.
The polio virus is endemic in just three countries - Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. But attacks on vaccination campaigns in Pakistan in particular have allowed the virus to spread across borders.
Syria,...

Summary: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of polio is an international public health emergency.
###
Article: The expansion, they argue, will produce expensive energy, far beyond market prices, plunge Hungary into debt, and deepen dependence on Russia.
Viktor Orban's Fidesz government insists the reactors are necessary to cover growing energy demand, and will actually increase the country's energy independence.
The government also defends its decision to make the contracts for the new reactors secret for 30 years.
The existing four reactors at Paks generate 1,900 MW and cover 40% of Hungary's electricity needs.
Mr Orban based his 2014 election victory on promises to keep utility prices low.
Months earlier he struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin that saw Russia agree to loan Hungary around 80% of the estimated construction cost of the new reactors at Paks. Hungary will pay Russia back from the electricity generated.
By the time Hungary has to start paying for this next generation of reactors, in 2025, Mr Orban should be in comfortable retirement.
Nevertheless, the decision to sign a deal with Russia took even his own Fidesz party by surprise.
Built by the Soviet Union in the 1980s, the working life of the four existing reactors at Paks will run out between 2032 and 2037.
That means that no new decision on replacing them would actually be necessary until 2020 at the earliest.
Experts are also concerned that the overlap period, when old and new reactors are operating, will overstrain the Hungarian grid, and drive renewable and conventional energy producers from a market distorted by what they see as the overproduction of nuclear energy.
"Hungary is denying itself the opportunity to take into consideration at least six years' scientific development" by opting for nuclear expansion now, the Universities Student Committee established to debate the Paks expansion has just concluded.
The falling cost of renewable energy sources could make the cost solar energy comparable with that from nuclear and fossil fuels very soon, opponents of Paks expansion believe.
"Hungary's energy needs can be supplied in 2030...

Summary: Environmentalists in Hungary are hoping the European Commission will scupper a €12.5bn (£9bn) Hungarian-Russian deal to build two new 1,200 megawatt (MW) reactors at the Paks nuclear power station on the River Danube.
###
Article: Hamid Mir, a popular and sometimes controversial anchor for the country's leading news channel Geo TV, was shot and wounded on Saturday in Karachi.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) dismissed the accusation as baseless and misleading.
The defence department has urged the media regulator to suspend Geo TV.
Hamid Mir's statement was read out late on Thursday by his brother, Amir Mir, who previously went on Geo TV and directly accused the ISI of ordering the attack.
Although the news channel later appeared to distance itself from the accusations, this latest statement was given primetime prominence and will intensify the stand-off between the news channel and the military, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Islamabad reports.
"I had been facing threats from both state and non-state actors, but some developments in the recent past convinced me to inform my colleagues about the elements who could most likely try to kill me," Hamid Mir's statement reads.
He goes on to describe an occasion where intelligence officials apparently visited his home to say his name was on a hit list.
"I told them [colleagues] that in the current situation I felt the most immediate threat from the ISI."
The statement claims the ISI was angry because of his coverage of the issue of Balochistan and his criticism of the spy agency.
"State agencies often use the name of non-state actors to threaten journalists so as to prevent them from speaking or writing the truth," the statement said.
The ISI angrily denounced the accusations when they were originally put forward by Mr Mir's brother, and the defence ministry says Geo brought the agency into disrepute.
Pakistan's media regulator is considering its request that Geo TV be suspended.
The defence department complaint accuses Geo of conducting "a vicious campaign, libellous and scandalous in nature... against a state institution tasked to work for the defence, sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan".
Geo was also criticised by rival TV channels and ex-military analysts for its coverage in the...

Summary: The Pakistani journalist shot last week has issued his first statement, once again blaming the country's intelligence agency for the attack.
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Article: The report criticises the White House for not providing Congress a legally-mandated 30-day notice ahead of any detainee release, among other claims.
Democrats issued a rebuttal to some of the report's concerns and accusations.
Mr Berghdahl was released in May 2014, after nearly five years in captivity.
On Thursday, the popular podcast Serial launched its second series, which focuses on Mr Bergdahl's story and includes recordings of his first public telling of his experience.
In the interviews, conducted by filmmaker Mark Boal and excerpted in the podcast, he claims that he left his base to create a crisis and highlight poor leadership within his unit.
"What I was seeing, from my first unit all the way up into Afghanistan, all I was seeing was, basically, leadership failure, to the point that the lives of the guys standing next to me were, literally, from what I could see, in danger of something seriously going wrong and somebody being killed," he said.
Berghdahl's release was initially met with fanfare, but soon became embroiled in controversy amid suspicions that he deserted his post. A welcoming party in his home town was cancelled.
In exchange for his release, the Obama administration transferred five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Qatar - who acted as an intermediary in negotiations between the US and the Taliban.
The five men are still in Qatar, and are not allowed to leave the country or engage in militant activities.
The 98-page report reveals previously undisclosed details of the negotiations with Qatari officials.
It states that Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee - who issued the report - do "not have confidence" that the Defense Department has established who is responsible for making sure Qatar holds up its end of the deal.
But it was most critical of the Obama administration for not informing the committee of the "any of the specifics or contemplated courses of action" regarding the Guantanamo transfer and Mr Bergdahl's release.
The report claims that the detainees were...

Summary: The Obama administration misled Congress over negotiations to swap five Taliban leaders for Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, congressional Republicans have claimed in a new report.
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Article: He will become ITV's political editor, and present his own political interview programme, Peston on Sunday.
The correspondent made the announcement on his BBC blog, saying: "You may have noticed that I am off to another place".
"Working for BBC News has been the high point of my working life," he added.
Peston's departure marks the end of a nine-year stint at the BBC, where he covered the financial crisis and broke the story of Northern Rock asking for emergency funding in 2007.
His new Sunday morning show will place him in direct competition with the BBC's Andrew Marr.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Marr said he welcomed the challenge.
"If it's true that he's going to do a Sunday morning nine o'clock show directly against mine then on one level I say that's fantastic, bring it on," he told the Radio Times.
"Competition is good."
But he also had a word of warning for his erstwhile colleague. "You have to absolutely subdue yourself and not think the programme's about you because it never is," he said.
"The Andrew Marr Show could be done by anybody if you get the right guests on it and you ask the right questions in the right order."
Peston joined the BBC from the Sunday Telegraph in 2005, initially as the corporation's business editor.
At first, he was mocked for his stilted delivery. The presenter's idiosyncratic style was variously described as "strangulated", "ragged and querulous" and like "a dalek" - but his reputation grew thanks to a series of scoops about the financial crisis.
"I think lots of people think I'm an eccentric broadcaster," he told The Guardian in 2013.
But, he added: "I don't really care what people think about my style, except in so far as it gets in the way of people understanding the story.
"If I felt I was not communicating the important stuff in a way people can understand, I would worry."
In recent years, he has presented satirical quiz show Have I Got News For You and a one-off edition of Newsnight.
He admitted he wanted to replace Jeremy Paxman on the latter programme, but was...

Summary: The BBC's economics editor, Robert Peston, has been poached by rival broadcaster ITV, it has been confirmed, following days of speculation.
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Article: As government colleagues speak boldly of the economic opportunities Brexit might offer and point to the better than expected economic news since the referendum, the Treasury is quietly warning there may still be pain ahead.
Eeyore to the rest of the government's Tiggers, Number 11 is hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.
Yes, the chancellor has said to colleagues, the mood has changed since the Autumn Statement.
There will certainly be some "pats on the back" when it comes to the Budget on Wednesday.
The economy is more resilient as consumers - buoyed by ultra-low interest rates, cheap borrowing and high employment - keep spending.
And among the members of the European Union there is less talk of economic "punishment" as Brexit approaches - and more of "co-operation".
I am told that one banking chief executive was even bold enough to tell the Prime Minister at a recent private meeting that in three years' time the UK's financial services sector and the economy could be in a better position than they are now.
How to follow the Budget on the BBC
Better growth also means the government's borrowing position is more positive than predicted just three months ago.
Tax receipts are higher as stronger consumer spending and higher levels of business activity feed through to the Exchequer.
The Office for Budget Responsibility - the official economic watchdog - is set to upgrade its growth forecast for 2017.
And borrowing, it is likely to say, will come in at least £10bn lower than the official target. It should be remembered, however, that that target was significantly loosened last year.
So, with a better economic outlook, will the Budget be a time for a few politically targeted giveaways?
There will be some limited action. The Treasury was certainly stung by accusations following the Autumn Statement that Philip Hammond did not mention the NHS or social care funding despite predictions of a looming crisis.
Expect more money for social care, more money for business rate relief and more money for...

Summary:


A former IRA leader has been charged in connection with the abduction and murder of Jean McConville.

Article: But what is behind this success?
Eyebrows were raised when the results of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's international maths, science and reading tests - the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) tests - were published.
Shanghai, taking part for the first time, came top in all three subjects.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong which was performing well in the last decade of British rule, has gone from good to great. In this global ranking, it came fourth in reading, second in maths and third in science.
These two Chinese cities - there was no national ranking for China - had outstripped leading education systems around the world.
The results for Beijing, not yet released, are not quite as spectacular. "But they are still high," says Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's head of education statistics and indicators.
Cheng Kai-Ming, Professor of Education at Hong Kong University, and closely involved in the Hong Kong and Shanghai tests, puts the results down to "a devotion to education not shared by some other cultures".
More than 80% of Shanghai's older secondary students attend after-school tutoring. They may spend another three to four hours each day on homework under close parental supervision.
The World Bank has looked at the distinguishing features of successful school systems.
According to the World Bank's education specialist, Harry Patrinos, this includes: improving the quality of teachers and making sure that teachers are highly regarded; providing information to make schools accountable and giving autonomy to schools and head teachers.
Putting money into the system does not necessarily lead to better results.
This matters not only for individual pupils but for the well-being of countries, he says, because improving educational performance has a direct impact on improving economic performance.
Successful school systems include Finland and South Korea.
Such diligence also reflects the ferociously competitive university entrance examinations.
"Not all Chinese parents are 'tiger...

Summary: China's education performance - at least in cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong - seems to be as spectacular as the country's breakneck economic expansion, outperforming many more advanced countries.
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Article: The announcement was made by the countries' energy ministers, Alexander Novak and Khalid al-Falih.
The price of Brent crude initially jumped by 5% but then fell to to stand 1.6% higher at $47.56 a barrel.
A statement said the plan was to support the "stability of the oil market ... ensuring a stable level of investment in the long term".
At the start of 2016 the price of oil fell to its lowest level in nearly 13 years due to a production glut and is still far below the $110 a barrel price hit just two years ago.
Mr Novak said the agreement, which might include attempts to limit oil output, was a "historical moment" between members of Opec, the oil producers' cartel, and non-members such as Russia.
He added that Russia was willing to join an oil output "freeze".
The outline agreement, to set up a joint task force, was announced at a news conference at the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
However, Saudi Arabia's Mr al-Falih said that freezing output was not "necessary" now.
"Freezing [production levels] is one of the preferred possibilities, but it's not necessary today," he said after the cooperation agreement was unveiled.
"The market is getting better and we have noticed that prices reflect this [improvement]."
Despite their differing views, Mr Novak said he favoured choosing a month from the second half of this year that would be the benchmark for a production freeze.
He added that Russia would accept any month for this purpose, and that it was important for other countries to support the proposal, possibly including a cut in production.
Strategies to keep oil prices high by limiting production are usually the preserve of Opec and are often not successful.
However, Russia and Saudi Arabia are the world's two largest oil producers.
The ministers from the two countries will meet again later this month, and again in both October and November.
The agreement to talk about a deal, despite the lack of detail, was welcomed by two other oil producers.
"This dialogue confirms that the main oil...

Summary: The price of oil jumped after Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to discuss ways to stabilise the oil market.
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Article: Plymouth Associates "irresponsibly placed" two adverts of naked women in the app My Talking Tom, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said.
Two parents complained after children aged seven and three saw the adverts while playing the game.
The company denied responsibility for placing the adverts in the mobile app.
My Talking Tom features an animated cat, which players can adopt and look after.
The subject of the ASA complaints were two pop-up ads that appeared in the My Talking Tom app between 6 and 9 August 2015.
The adverts promoted Affairalert.com - which is the name Plymouth Associates trades under - and featured "a selfie of a naked woman sitting in front of a mirror".
The adverts asked the viewer if they wanted to have sex with the woman, giving them options of "yes", "no" and "maybe".
Plymouth Associates, which is based in Anguilla, denied responsibility and said it took its social responsibilities seriously.
It said it "had no role in placing or commissioning any ad in, or with, the My Talking Tom app" and suspected the adverts were placed by someone "seeking to damage Plymouth Associates' reputation" by means of inserting "malicious ad code".
Outfit7, which operated the app, said its apps were not directed at children, but it "strove to be family friendly" and had systems in place to categorise, filter and prohibit inappropriate or pornographic adverts.
However, Outfit7 said it was "impossible to eliminate the risk altogether" and technical malfunctions or human error "remained possible".
After the incident, Outfit7 could not identify which network was responsible for the adverts.
In its ruling, the ASA said the sexually explicit nature of the adverts meant they "should not have appeared in media which might be seen by children".
It said Plymouth Associates did not provide evidence to prove a third party placed the adverts, so the watchdog considered them to be responsible.
Additionally, while Plymouth Associates had procedures in place the ASA was concerned these "had not been adequate".
It...

Summary: "Sexually explicit" adverts which appeared in an app used by children breached industry code, the advertising watchdog has ruled.
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Article: That man is, of course, our own football expert Mark Lawrenson.
He may have consistently tipped West Ham to falter and - like almost everybody else on the planet - failed to forsee Leicester's incredible title-winning campaign.
Indeed, if Lawro's predictions had all been correct, West Ham would have finished 17th with 34 points - 10 places lower and escaping relegation by a single point.
And he also had Leicester and Newcastle finishing in mid-table.
But you cannot argue with the facts over a full season. Lawro - who makes his predictions on a Thursday morning - outscored every single Premier League club's supporters by a healthy margin.
His season average of 76 points after 38 game weeks dwarves even the top-performing set of fans, Stoke City, who averaged 64.8 points across the season.
Spurs fans were the least knowledgeable - finishing bottom of the table with a 61.4. And those unforgiving West Ham fans? A respectable fourth-placed finish with a score of 63.8.
"The West Ham fans gave me some stick earlier in the season because of my scores," Lawrenson told BBC Sport. "They even sang about my predictions at one game, which I've never had happen before.
"I know I've annoyed Southampton and Swansea before, to name but two teams… and I'm sure Swansea fans have noticed that I have relegated them again, like last season.
"What I always say to anyone who asks me about my predictions is that if I could really seriously predict football results, I would be sitting on my ocean-going yacht, which would be moored off the Bahamas. But it is good fun, that is the main thing.
"It's nice to know I've done better than the fans but I would probably have a higher average score if I made my predictions as close to kick-off as they can.
"Some people have made a big deal about the league table based on my predictions, but when I am making them, I don't even look at it. I am trying to predict the right results that week, not balance it out so teams are closer to their actual positions.
"What Leicester have done in the Premier...

Summary: It takes a knowledgeable (and brave) person to predict Premier League results in the very public forum of BBC Sport Online - especially this season.
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Article: If they go ahead, the proposed changes would be implemented by the middle of August.
It comes after the group announced plans to end services in East Lothian and close depots in North Berwick and Musselburgh.
Scottish Borders Council said it had only just seen details of the plans and it was too early to comment.
Bus services across the region would be affected by the changes.
The X95 between Hawick and Edinburgh, via Galashiels, would switch from a half-hourly to hourly timetable.
Services facing cancellation are:
A spokesperson for First Borders said: "We appreciate this will be unwelcome news for our customers, however our operations in the area have not been viable for a number of years.
"Despite working hard to turn the business around, insufficient passenger demand, the continuing challenging economy and strong competition in places have all contributed to the proposed withdrawal from East Lothian, which may also lead to the withdrawal of a number of services in the Borders.
"Our proposal is very much based on sustaining the wider business, including operations in other parts of the Borders.
"We have already met with SBC to discuss bus provision in the area and no decisions will be taken until we have completed a full and detailed consultation, including with our staff and the trade union."

Summary: A string of bus services across the Scottish Borders could be cut by operators First Group.
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Article: The Belfast mother-of-10 was taken by the IRA from her flat in December 1972.
Ivor Bell, 77, who was a senior leader in the Provisional IRA  in the 1970s, was arrested at his home in Andersonstown on Tuesday.
He has been charged with aiding and abetting murder and membership of the IRA. He is expected to appear in court on Saturday.
Ivor Bell was part of an IRA delegation that held secret talks with the British government in London in 1972.
Among the delegation were Sinn FÃ©in's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.
Jean McConville, 37, became known as one of the Disappeared.
She was kidnapped in front of her children and accused of having been an informer. That claim was later dismissed following an official investigation.
She was held at one or more houses before being shot. Her body was recovered on a beach in County Louth in August 2003.
The Disappeared are those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the Disappeared.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains was established in 1999 by a treaty between the British and Irish governments.
It lists 16 people as "disappeared". Despite extensive searches, the remains of seven of them have not been found.

Summary: