Jeffrey Blue is suing Mr Ashley, saying that during a pub meeting he was promised £15m if he used his expertise to increase the firm's share price. But Sports Direct chairman Keith Hellawell, said Mr Blue only mentioned the figure of £1m. The High Court in London heard Mr Blue had been paid £1m for "other deals". Mr Ashley, who also owns Newcastle United, has previously told the court the conversation with investment banker Mr Blue in a London pub four years ago was "drunken banter". Mr Hellawell, a former chief constable of West Yorkshire Police before he embarked on a business career, said he had a conversation with Mr Blue three years ago. "He had told me £1m - I was very clear on what he said in that conversation," he said. Mr Ashley has told Mr Justice Leggatt that he did not make a share price increase agreement with Mr Blue and had paid him £1m for other business. Lawyers are due to outline closing legal arguments on Wednesday, and the judge is expected to deliver a ruling later in the year.

Question: An investment banker who claims Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley @placeholder him £ 14 m told the firm 's chairman he was only being paid £ 1m , a court has heard .


The Dubai Financial Market closed down 7%, while the Saudi exchange also lost 7% after Fitch ratings agency cut its outlook for the country. Last week, the Dow Jones in the US fell 6%, while the UK's FTSE 100 posted its biggest weekly loss this year of 5%. Investors are concerned about a slowdown in China and the knock-on effects for the global economy. Both France's Cac 40 and Germany's Dax indexes lost 7% of their value last week. In the Middle East, there is particular concern about low oil prices, which are down by more than a half this year and have been falling steadily since May, when Brent Crude stood at $68 a barrel. A barrel now costs $45. This is mainly due to an abundance of supply, in large part from from US shale oil producers, which are weakening OPEC's once dominant position in global oil markets. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are all members of OPEC. Moods were further dampened by a report from Fitch which cut the agency's outlook on Saudi Arabia from "stable" to "negative". The move reflects concerns about the future of the country's finances, which are heavily dependent on revenues from exporting oil. These worries come against a backdrop of falling global stock markets, reflecting widespread fears about the pace of the slowdown in the Chinese economy. On Friday, figures from the world's second largest economy showed that factory activity in August shrank at its fastest pace in more than six years. The data triggered another sell-off in Chinese shares, which ended the day down more than 4%, and 12% on the week. Earlier this month, the country's central bank announced measures to devalue the country's currency, the yuan, seen widely as a move to help Chinese exports - a weaker yuan makes Chinese goods cheaper overseas. This came after official figures showed the country's economic growth continuing to slow. For the three months to the end of July, the economy grew by 7% compared with a year earlier - its slowest pace since 2009.

Question: Stock markets in the Middle East have fallen sharply after a @placeholder week for all major global share indexes .


The deal will see the firm taken over by holding company Cheil Industries, another part of the Samsung group. The merger is strongly opposed by some of Samsung C&T's shareholders, led by US hedge fund Elliott Associates. For Samsung's founding family, the move is a crucial step in consolidating control of the conglomerate. Shareholders in Cheil Industries approved the merger earlier on Friday. Shares in Samsung C&T fell 10.4% and Cheil Industries dropped 7.7% after the merger was approved. Elliott Associates, which is the second largest single shareholder in C&T, says the takeover significantly undervalues the company's stock. The hedge fund had filed several unsuccessful law suits to stop the vote from going ahead. The takeover is key to consolidating the Samsung founding family's control of the multi-headed conglomerate. It is of particular significance as it comes ahead of a generational power transfer at Samsung. The business empire's patriarch Lee Kun-hee has been in hospital since May 2014 and his son Lee Jae-yong is to take a bigger leadership role.

Question: One of South Korea 's most @placeholder mergers has been given approval by shareholders of the construction company Samsung C&T .


In addition, it said, fake technical support scams rose by 200% and crypto-based ransomware attacks grew by 35%. Hackers also made more use of unknown software bugs to make sure attacks work, said the annual threat report. It said the gangs behind the attacks had become more professional and now resembled legitimate software firms. "They have extensive resources and highly skilled technical staff that operate with such efficiency that they maintain normal business hours and even take the weekends and holidays off," said Kevin Haley, director of Symantec security response in a statement. Call centres had been set up by some gangs to make scams and cons more effective, he said. Some of these groups were involved in tech support scams that try to trick people into paying to fix non-existent problems on their home computers. The US, UK, France, Australia and Germany were the hardest-hit by the fake support scams, it said. Fake pop-up warnings on websites were being used by some groups to try to convince people their computer was riddled with viruses. In a small number of cases, said Symantec, people who rang to get help had ransomware installed on their computer when they let fake support staff have remote access to their PC. Ransomware, which encrypts files on a computer that are only unlocked when victims pay a ransom, also remained popular among cybercriminals last year. The number of potential targets increased, it said, as ransomware for Apple Macs, smartphones and Linux all debuted in 2015. Last year was also remarkable for the huge number of data breaches companies and other organisations suffered, it said. More than 500 million records of login names, passwords and other ID information went astray in the last 12 months. In 2015, there were nine breaches that exposed more than 10 million records. By contrast, in 2014 only four breaches were this severe. One breach, of US Voter registration records, saw information about 191 million people exposed online. Hospitals, healthcare firms and insurance companies suffered the largest number of breaches, said the report. The ultimate number of digital identities that have been exposed could be higher, said Mr Haley, because many firms had stopped reporting exactly how much data had been lost. "The increasing number of companies choosing to hold back critical details after a breach is a disturbing trend," he said. "By hiding the full impact of an attack, it becomes more difficult to assess the risk and improve your security posture to prevent future attacks."

Question: More than 500 million digital identities were stolen or exposed in 2015 , @placeholder a report from security firm Symantec .


Trading Standards officers said the boards were in danger of overheating, exploding or catching fire. Hoverboards, which are popular with celebrities including Lilly Allen, are expected to be big Christmas sellers. The London Fire Brigade said at least three house fires were caused by such devices over 10 days in October. Many have plugs without fuses, faulty cables or chargers that can burst into flames, according to Trading Standards. It said that 88% of the hoverboards it seized around the UK were found to be defective. Most were discovered at the Suffolk port of Felixstowe, but others arrived at East Midlands airport and in Glasgow. The faulty devices are thought to have come from East Asia and China and do not conform to European safety standards. Most are not branded and have been ordered by websites or small traders to sell on to bargain-hunting shoppers. "We suspect that most of these products are being imported for onward sale domestically as Christmas approaches. We urge consumers to be on their guard when purchasing these products," said Lord Harris, the chair of National Trading Standards. Consumers are being advised, as a minimum, to check that the three-pin plug conforms to BS 1363. Safety laboratories have been so busy testing suspect products that they have had to take on extra staff. Trading Standards is now giving the following tips to consumers who are thinking of buying a hoverboard or who may already have done so: "Consumers should not let a new fashion or craze cloud their judgement and remain vigilant at all times," said Leon Livermore, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Trading Standards officers in Salford, Greater Manchester, seized 90 hoverboards last month, citing similar safety worries. Fires have also been reported in the US, Australia and Hong Kong. Hoverboards are so called because of a similar device seen in the 1989 film, Back to the Future 2. But it is illegal in the UK to ride them on pavements, or on roads. They can only be used on private land. Anyone who finds such products for sale is being urged to contact the Citizens Advice helpline, on 03454 04 05 06.

Question: More than 15,000 @placeholder hoverboards - otherwise known as self - balancing scooters - have been seized at ports and airports around the UK .


The now-disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) has been accused of various war crimes, including organ-harvesting from murdered Serb captives. Opposition politicians boycotted the vote on the establishment of a court. But the prime minister said the issue was a "challenge we have to deal with". The United States and the European Union have pressed Kosovo to address the accusations. The constitutional changes were backed by 82 deputies in the 120-seat parliament on Monday. Former KLA rebels who have become politicians were among those in parliament who opposed the vote. Ex-KLA fighters are held in high regard by many in Kosovo's majority Albanian population. But PM Isa Mustaf told legislators before the vote: "Finding the truth about some allegations from during and after the war is a challenge that we have to deal with." In May EU judges in Kosovo convicted 11 former Kosovo Albanian guerrillas over their role in the conflict. Among those sentenced to prison was Sylejman Selimi, Kosovo's ambassador to neighbouring Albania. The new tribunal will be part of Kosovo's judicial system, but proceedings will be handled abroad, with reports they may be held in the Netherlands. Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority fought an insurgency against Serb forces in the late 1990s, in which more than 10,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands driven from their homes. Nato bombed Serb positions to halt the persecution of civilians and, in June 1999, Kosovo was placed under UN administration. Kosovo formally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that was opposed by Belgrade. The international community is split over recognition.

Question: Parliament in Kosovo has amended the constitution to allow the creation of a @placeholder court to investigate alleged war crimes committed by ethnic Albanian fighters during the war in the 1990s .


The Trussell Trust said 29,049 people used its service last year, compared to 11,211 in 2011. It has 23 food banks in Wales, of which nine opened in the last 12 months and another four will open soon. "We believe in 2013 that figure is going to get even worse," the trust's Wales network manager Tony Graham said. "The food banks are increasing in numbers because they are needed. "Churches and community groups are approaching us. "They are coming to us and saying 'we need to do something about this need in our community'. "I think people are waking up to the scale of the crisis that we are suggesting and predicting isn't going to get better any time soon with static and decreasing incomes in real terms and an increase in the cost of living." The food distributed by the trust is donated by the public and given to people who public service professionals think need help. Doctors, nurses, social workers or staff at housing associations can give people vouchers which are exchanged for parcels at the trust's food banks. During a Westminster Hall debate, Labour claimed families were suffering a "cost of living crisis". Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan said some families had to chose between "heating and eating". He said: "Ministers in the Tory-led coalition government should be asking themselves, what the impact of their policies will be on the hundreds of thousands of Welsh families who're already struggling to make ends meet." Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams said "bluster" between political parties about who is responsible was an "unwelcome distraction from the real issue which is that, in the 21st century, people are still struggling to afford enough food to eat in one of the richest countries in the world". Backbench Conservatives criticised the debate and they stressed food banks pre-dated the coalition government. Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb called it a "self indulgent debate" and an excuse to have "an attack on government". Wales Office minister Stephen Crabb also criticised the timing of the debate, noting that no Labour MPs raised the issue of food banks until May 2010. He described it as "the latest stage in a political campaign by the Labour Party to use the food bank movement as a vehicle for its political attack". Mr Crabb stressed the UK government's commitment to supporting the poorest in communities through clamping down on pay-day loans and doorstep lenders, and by offering winter fuel payments to help with increasing energy bills.

Question: A charity says the number of people using its food banks in Wales rose nearly threefold in a year and is predicted to rise @placeholder .


Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK) said there had been a particular rise in the scam in the last few weeks. Several small or medium-sized companies in the UK have lost sums of between Â£10,000 and Â£20,000 as a result. Typically, staff in a firm's finance department receive an email, which they believe is from a senior manager. The fraudsters use special software to make the message appear genuine. The emails request that urgent payments are made outside normal procedures, often for a pressing reason, such as the need to secure a contract. The scam has been dubbed "whaling" fraud, as it targets the so-called big fish of business. When the money is transferred, it goes into an account set up by the fraudsters. "While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response, it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam," said Katy Worobec, director of FFA UK. Staff are being advised to:

Question: Office staff are being warned about @placeholder emails that appear to come from one of their bosses , telling them to transfer money .


A survey for the newspaper found a 52-48% split in favour of remaining in the United Kingdom, amid mounting speculation that a second independence referendum could be held in the autumn of 2018. Meanwhile the Scottish Daily Mail reports that high-risk sex offenders could be given "chemical castration" drugs designed to reduce their libido. Convicts would volunteer for the scheme, which could be piloted in Glasgow. The Scotsman leads with a warning from MPs that the UK could "crash out" of the European Union without a deal in six months. It reports that Conservative backbencher Anna Soubry claimed the government was preparing for the "swift failure" of Brexit talks. But the Daily Express reports that MPs have be warned "don't sabotage Brexit". It says ministers want to ensure the bill gets through the House of Commons unscathed. University leaders have called on Theresa May to allow Europeans to stay in the UK after Brexit, according to The Times. It says that the leaders of 35 Oxford colleges claim an "exodus" of academics has already begun. The Scottish Sun reports that Rangers fans claim they were "chaperoned" to toilets at the Old Firm match at Parkhead on Sunday. The newspaper reports that supporters were monitored in a bid to stop a repeat of a vandalism spree last year. A criminal who is serving a prison sentence for murder boasted about his crime online, according to the Daily Record. The National reports that two out of three torture victims are turned away from a specialist centre in Scotland, due to lack of capacity. Parents of pupils at an Aberdeenshire high school have been asked to search their children's phones for footage of a playground fight, according to the north-east edition of The Press and Journal. The Courier leads with a story about a chronic shortage of maths teachers at Blairgowrie High School. In a letter seen by the paper, its head teacher calls for parents to step in to support pupils. George Michael's death again features on the front page of the Daily Star of Scotland. It reports that the pop star's burial plot is under 24 hour surveillance.

Question: A new poll on Scottish independence shows that the @placeholder of the country is on a " knife edge " , according to The Herald .


Hayley Gillett worked at a residential service for adults with brain injuries when the three year relationship began. During that time she tried to end the relationship but the patient tried to take his own life twice, the Health and Care Professions Council heard. He suffered "actual harm" and there was a "serious breach of trust," it said. A Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) tribunal panel heard the relationship started in Autumn 2010 and ended in August 2013 when Ms Gillett worked at privately run Waters Park House in Plymouth. The patient told his GP what had happened in March 2014 and revealed intimate photographs of her on his mobile phone. She was then suspended while Plymouth City Council carried out a safeguarding investigation. In a letter to the HCPC, Ms Gillett said: "On two occasions he took an overdose apparently from illegally obtained drugs - and I felt compelled because of my concern for his welfare to continue to care for him and to eventually resume the relationship which he was demanding." The HCPC said she had made no attempt to seek advice or confess the relationship until she was confronted afterwards and had not only caused her patient "actual harm" but there was also "the potential for long term emotional and psychological harm". The panel concluded that her name be struck off the register, meaning that she cannot work as an occupational therapist for at least the next five years at which point she may re-apply. Waters Park House in Plymouth refused to comment.

Question: A senior occupational therapist has been struck off for having a " deplorable " sexual relationship with a @placeholder patient .


It is a coup to be the first international leader into the Trump White House. Whatever you make of the new American president, only Theresa May's most ardent critics would suggest that she shouldn't be meeting him. Why wouldn't you want the most powerful politician in the world as an ally? The relationship between the US and the UK though is always a special source of neuralgia for British leaders. David Cameron's team was almost embarrassingly pleased with the images of him and Barack Obama turning the sausages and burgers on the barbecue in the Number 10 garden. Look how cool David is! He's grilling alongside a really popular and glamorous President! Michelle and Samantha are doing the salads together! It's just like they are friends! And Gordon Brown's team sank to particular levels of frustration and despair when the press got wind of a meeting their man was forced to have in a kitchen in New York when the White House didn't find time and space for a formal meeting. A snub to meet among the ketchup bottles, to chat over the pastrami. And now? Theresa May is walking into a meeting with the most unorthodox president in decades, a man who today she will flatter, calling for the US and UK to "lead together again" as he starts to "renew his nation". A man who has found huge popularity among millions of voters precisely because he doesn't care for politician norms. But also a man with whom Theresa May disagrees overtly on a very long list of issues, whose views millions of other voters are deeply worried about, who has just suggested he might support torture as president. The prime minister believes that she can draw on the relationship and traditions between our two countries to talk frankly to President Trump, to disagree as well as discuss. Her aides say "she's not scared of anyone" and that the potential advantages of getting closer to the United States are well worth the risks of accusations of cosying up to a president who is not afraid of offending anyone - who has even made it a trademark. They say the tone will be "business like". We are not going to see the president and the prime minister high fiving at the basketball. We 're not going to see Philip May and Melania Trump popping off to hug American schoolchildren. But as prime ministers know, visits like this are never entirely in their control. The unpredictability of Donald Trump means means this time the special relationship could be a special headache.

Question: Ready for takeoff ? As the prime minister boards the RAF Voyager today for her first visit to the United States she faces a massive @placeholder but is also taking a risk .


The app is the latest development by Mikeysline, a charity set up following the deaths of two friends. Michael "Mikey" Williamson and Martin Shaw, who were both 23 and living in Inverness, were found dead within days of each other in October last year. Family and friends fear the young men took their own lives. Mr Williamson was found dead only hours after returning from a night out to remember his friend Mr Shaw. Launched in December last year, Mikeysline already offers support via text messages and is staffed by volunteers.

Question: A smartphone app designed to help young people who are dealing with @placeholder and suicidal thoughts has been launched in Inverness .


The application for community asset status was made by supporters' trust OxVox and it means the group must be notified if the ground is to be sold. Kassam's latest appeal against OxVox has now been rejected by the courts. Owners Firoka had asked Oxford City Council to hold an internal review of May's decision to award the status. Having a football ground listed as a community asset means supporter groups will have six months to put together their own bid for the stadium if it is to be sold. Since the ruling was made in May 2013, Manchester United's Old Trafford has also been listed an a community asset and applications have also been made for many other grounds, including Liverpool. Manchester United's owners also requested a review of the decision to list their stadium, but later withdrew this request. Oxford have played at the stadium since it was opened in 2001 by former owner Firoz Kassam, who sold the club five years later, but retained control of the ground. Current U's owner Ian Lenagan has previously stated his desire to try to buy the ground.

Question: The owners of Oxford United 's Kassam Stadium have failed with a second appeal to @placeholder the ground being listed as a community asset .


Monday's fourth-round play was due to get under way at 10:00 BST, but the forecast suggests there will be little or no action. Djokovic will face Spanish 14th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the day's opening match if play begins. Williams will then take on Ukraine's 18th seed Elina Svitolina. Britain's Andy Murray, seeded second, is already through to the quarter-finals, where he will face French ninth seed Richard Gasquet. That match is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, although the weather could force a delay.

Question: Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are among the players delayed by @placeholder rain on day nine of the French Open in Paris .


The update aims to encourage the few owners who have not yet returned the faulty devices to hand them in. Samsung issued a global recall for the Galaxy Note 7 in September following complaints about exploding batteries. It estimates that in Europe about 10% of Note 7 owners have yet to return their devices. In a statement, Samsung, which plans to begin the changes on 15 December, said the update it issued in September that limited charging capacity to 60% "helped to drive a high rate of return". "This new battery software update is specifically designed to reinforce to the remaining minority of customers to immediately replace their device," it said. Customers can swap their phones via local replacement programmes, it added. Reports suggest Samsung is taking different steps in other regions to encourage people to turn in their phones. In Canada, an update reportedly turns off all the radio communications on a phone, including phone, wi-fi and bluetooth, rendering it useless. In the US, Samsung said it would issue an update on 19 December that would stop devices charging and "eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices". It said about 93% of all faulty phones had been returned in the US. Verizon has said it will not apply the update because of safety concerns for people who have no other phone. "We do not want to make it impossible to contact family, first responders or medical professionals in an emergency situation," it said in a statement shared with tech news site The Verge. After the battery debacle, Samsung stopped global production of the Note 7. Reports of fires led to Samsung issuing a warning and asking owners to turn off their devices and hand them in. Profits at the electronic giant plunged following the recall. In late October Samsung announced that its operating profit for the three months between July and September was 30% down on the same period in 2015.

Question: Samsung is updating Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in Europe that are still in use despite a fire @placeholder , to prevent them being charged past 30 % .


Theo Bronkhorst made the remarks after his trial for failing to prevent an illegal hunt was postponed. He said the case was "crazy" and the permits to kill Cecil the lion outside Hwange National Park had been obtained. The killing in July has caused outrage around the world and the dentist, Walter Palmer, is in hiding. Protests have been held outside his dental clinic in Minnesota and vandals spray-painted "lion killer" on the garage of his holiday home in Florida earlier this week. Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri has called for Mr Palmer to be extradited to face charges. As he left the court in Hwange town, in north-western Zimbabwe, Mr Bronkhorst defended the American. "I feel sorry for [Mr Palmer]. He is a good man. He did nothing wrong," he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. He also attacked the legal proceedings as "frivolous" and said hunting was "integral" to Zimbabwe and had to continue. "If we do not use wildlife sustainably there will be no wildlife," the professional hunter said. How do you transport a lion's head? When is hunting not poaching The trial of Mr Bronkhorst was postponed on Wednesday to give his legal team more time to prepare their defence. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. Mr Palmer is believed to have paid about $50,000 (Â£32,000) to hunt down Cecil, a major tourist attraction at Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe's largest game reserve. Ms Muchinguri says Mr Palmer's extradition is being sought so that he can "be held accountable for his illegal action". The US is yet to respond to the request. What Cecil the lion means to Zimbabwe Cecil the lion in pictures How the internet hunted the hunter

Question: The US dentist who killed a lion in Zimbabwe did nothing wrong and was a " good man " , according to the hunter who led the @placeholder expedition .


One of the many surprises on 8 June was how Britain appeared to have turned the clock back to the era of two party politics, with 82% of voters casting their ballot for Labour or the Conservatives. Some of the surge in Labour's support may have been down to tactical voting, with left-leaning voters spooked by the prospect of a huge Conservative majority deciding to back whichever party they believed stood the best chance of beating the Conservatives in their constituency. Which, in most cases, was Labour. But in some parts of the country the choice was made easier for them. Local electoral deals saw some would-be election candidates stand aside to avoid splitting the "anti-Tory" vote. But despite warm words from some Labour and Lib Dem MPs, one party ended up doing most of the heavy lifting. Of the 41 seats listed by the Progressive Alliance, one of the organisations promoting tactical voting and cross-party cooperation, where "progressive candidates have stood aside to help another progressive candidate defeat the Tories", 38 of them were Greens, two were Lib Dems and one represented the Women's Equality Party. Not one Labour candidate stood aside, even though it was the Labour Party that got most of the benefit, in terms of extra votes and seats. The Green Party's co-leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley got behind the idea of electoral alliances as a way of forcing proportional representation on to the political agenda, having spent years getting nowhere with efforts to get candidates that back electoral reform elected through first-past-the-post. Last year's Richmond Park by-election, which saw the Greens stand aside to help Lib Dem Sarah Olney defeat the then (and future) Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, had shown them what was possible and they had the backing of Green party members. But the Labour and Lib Dem leaderships refused to play ball, rejecting their offer of a formal deal at June's snap election out of hand. Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC: "I just think the electorate would be concerned if they thought parties were stitching up elections privately. I don't think that's the way forward. The way forward is to support and vote for the Labour Party." Lib Dem leader Tim Farron was equally dismissive, despite support for the idea among some in his party, saying the "only plausible route of any kind towards the Conservatives not winning a majority" was having a sizable Liberal Democrat group of MPs. It was left to local Green parties to strike their own deals, if they could. It worked in some places, most notably Brighton Pavilion, where Caroline Lucas doubled her majority, after the Lib Dem candidate stood aside, as payback for Green support in Richmond Park. But her result was a rare bright spot in a dismal night for the Greens, who failed to gain any of their other target seats, and saw their vote drop from 1.1 million in 2015 to just over 500,000. It was a bad night for smaller parties in general. UKIP saw an even more dramatic collapse in its share of the vote than the Greens. The Lib Dems also saw their vote share squeezed - but only the Greens stood aside in significant numbers to aid other parties. On the day after the election, the Green Party's co-leader Jonathan Bartlett hailed the "brave" decision by 24 Green candidates in marginal seats to stand aside, which he said had made a "big difference to the election result". But that's not how some of the candidates-that-never-were felt. Green Party activist Jill Perry, who opted not to stand in Workington, said she now has "regrets" about doing so because she does not think it made any difference to the result, which saw the Labour candidate Sue Hayman retain the seat with a slightly reduced majority. It also deprived local Green members and supporters - including herself - of the opportunity to vote for their party, which on nuclear power, nuclear weapons and airport expansion, to name just a few issues, is diametrically opposed to the official Labour position. "I voted with a heavy heart because, obviously, I could not vote Green," she says. "It was a very difficult decision. It wasn't a personal decision, it was a group decision, but the group was very divided with strong feelings on both sides. "Really, I don't think it made any difference where candidates stood down" because a lot of people voted tactically to prevent the Conservatives getting a "massive majority" and, as a result, "everybody went back into the Conservative and Labour silos". The local Labour Party appreciated their gesture but Greens had been "put under an awful lot of pressure" by Labour activists in areas where they refused to stand aside, she added, and some Labour activists had been "very aggressive towards them". "In solidarity with those groups, I think we should stand next time," said Ms Perry. Andy D'Agorne, leader of the Green group on York City Council, told the BBC he does not regret standing aside for Labour at the general election but he would not do it again, unless Labour was committed to proportional representation. The Greens have strong support in York, gaining 10% of the vote at the 2015 general election in York Central, but Mr D'Agorne said the unexpected surge in the Labour vote has made it a safe seat for Jeremy Corbyn's party, rendering any future gestures of solidarity unnecessary. Nicole Haydock, co-ordinator of Bury Green Party, which opted not to run candidates in June, said the "backlash in the party after the election" was because "most people thought the progressive alliance meant we are standing down where Labour has a chance of winning" when it was actually about getting an agreement to back proportional representation. Green activist John Coyne refused to stand aside in Wirral West, despite pressure from local Labour activists and members of Momentum, to help Labour's Margaret Greenwood hang on to the seat she had won from Tory Esther McVey by 417 votes in 2015. The 429 votes Mr Coyne received in June might have made all the difference in another close contest, but Ms Greenwood was returned as Wirral West's MP with a majority of 5,365. Mr Coyne said: "If Labour said, 'yes we want PR' then that would make a big difference but all that's happened in discussions about alliances is that there has been an attempt to get people switching from Green to Labour, there has been no element of reciprocity at all, in this relationship. "And for that reason, if no other, I think there is no real future for it." The BBC understands Liverpool Green Party plans to table a motion at the party's annual conference in October to rule out future alliances unless there is a PR deal on offer. There is also the practical concern that the electoral pacts have hit the Green Party in the wallet, as Short Money is handed out by Parliament in line with the number of votes parties get. In 2016/17 the Green Party of England and Wales got Â£216,994 in Short Money. It will be a lot less this year. Caroline Lucas said it was time for "reflection and planning" in the Green Party and has promised to listen to the membership about future electoral deals. She said it was "clear" that the local Green activists who stood aside in June "helped cut down the Conservative majority". But she added: "The commitment to forming alliances was always about advancing significant electoral reform to give every voter a voice. "We want to forge a new kind of politics, and simply tactical voting under first past the post does not even begin to rise to that challenge. "Sadly there was no leadership from either Labour or the Liberal Democrats to put the urgent need for a fairer voting system at the heart of this election nationally." Frances Foley, campaign co-ordinator of Compass, the cross-party pressure group that set up the Progressive Alliance website and used tactics and personnel borrowed from Bernie Sanders in the US to promote it around the country, said she could understand how some Greens felt "chastened" by the drop in their party's vote share. But, she added, "despite that there is still a really strong appetite for the progressive alliance in the Green Party". There was also far more enthusiasm for cross-party cooperation, and proportional representation, among Labour activists than the party leadership, she claimed, and that change would eventually come "from the ground up". According to Compass's own research, "progressive" candidates performed 5.7% better where there was an electoral deal in place. She said the Labour leadership should view their success on 8 June as a "shared victory," as a handful of Labour MPs, such as Clive Lewis, in Norwich South, and Tulip Siddiq, in Hampstead and Kilburn, had done - and it would be a mistake for them to believe they could win a general election on their own. To supporters like Ms Foley, the progressive alliance holds out the prospect of an end to petty tribal politics, as parties with similar world views - pro-European, anti-austerity, greenish - work together for what they see as the "common good". The combined forces of the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the Lib Dems, Labour and the Green Party, as well as smaller outfits like the Women's Equality Party and the NHS party, add up to a "progressive" majority, they argue. More than enough to beat what they call the "regressive alliance" of the Tories, UKIP and the Ulster Unionists. But to have any future it is going to take a major change in attitude at the top of the Labour Party to convince the Greens and other smaller parties it is worth the sacrifice.

Question: Left - leaning parties worked together to cut Theresa May 's majority at the general election - was it a one - off or is the " progressive alliance " here to @placeholder ?


Steve Penny's exit follows allegations the organisation had turned a blind eye to claims of sexual misconduct. The Indianapolis Star newspaper claims "at least" 368 American gymnasts have made allegations of sexual abuse. "It has been heartbreaking to learn of instances of abuse," said Penny. "It sickens me that young athletes would be exploited in such a manner. "My decision to step aside as CEO is solely to support the best interests of USA Gymnastics at this time." Former team doctor Larry Nassar is in custody facing child pornography and sexual abuse charges.

Question: The president and chief executive of USA Gymnastics has resigned in the wake of the @placeholder 's handling of sexual abuse allegations concerning a former team doctor .


Hamza Choudhury, who has played 13 Championship games for Burton this season, got the opener from the spot. Spanish striker Raul Uche and Romanian Alex Pascanu scored the other goals for City. "Some of our football was really good and really brave, especially through the middle of the park," Cassidy said. Find out how to get into football with our special guide. "I'm so proud of the performance and attitude - they gave it everything, and if we keep giving them games like that we'll keep getting attitudes like that. "We knew our performance had to be at a decent level so we start to look like a team that are playing together, and we definitely got that." Jersey created numerous chances of their own, with striker Craig Russell going close, Kieran Lester seeing his shot cleared off the line and Max Thompson's deflected effort hitting the crossbar. Cassidy's side were using the game as part of their preparations for the upcoming Muratti against rivals Guernsey and the Island Games in Gotland. "We're still trying to work out whether we need to play with two up front, or whether we just try and be strong and compete in the midfield," he added. "We need to start adding goals to our game, that's a definite - that's a few games now that we're not scoring as regularly as we'd like."

Question: Jersey boss Martin Cassidy says he is " really proud " of his side despite their 3 - 0 @placeholder defeat by Leicester Under - 23s at Springfield on Wednesday .


The Hatters face Blackpool on Sunday in the first leg of the League Two play-offs, having failed in four previous campaigns in the last 20 years. But Jones told BBC Look East: "The old Luton record has nothing to do with me. "My play-off record's quite good. I've been in three and been promoted in two, so I'm happy with that." Although he was part of the Yeovil team that were beaten by Blackpool in the League One play-off final in 2007, Jones had tasted success at the Millennium Stadium a few years previously, when Brighton beat Bristol City to earn promotion to the Championship. And Jones wants to use those sorts of memories to override those of Hatters fans, who watched their side lose to Crewe in 1997, York in 2010, AFC Wimbledon in 2011 and York again in 2012. "I wasn't here then, so there's nothing I could do," Jones said. "It's a new group of players with a new group of goals. If the fans get behind us, and we perform, we've got a great chance. "I can't affect history - I can affect the present." Having finished fourth in League Two, Luton will start as favourites to be promoted - but Jones is keen to avoid the fate which befell Scunthorpe, who finished third in League One but lost to Millwall in the play-off semi-finals. "We're delighted to have finished where we have. That's a big statement from us," Jones said. "But the play-offs are a lottery. We saw in the League One games, Scunthorpe finished third but lost at home 3-2 to a really strong Millwall side, so we have to be wary of things like that. "The league table tells us we're the fourth best side so we have to prove that."

Question: Luton boss Nathan Jones insists he has no worries about the club 's supposed play - off @placeholder - because his record is far better .


At the close of trade, the FTSE 100 was down by just 0.81 points or 0.01% at 7,524.95. Shares in Burberry fell 3.7% after HSBC cut its rating on the company to "reduce" from "hold". But Convatec was the biggest faller on the index, down 4%, after two investors sold a stake in the firm. Nordic Capital and Avista raised £805m by selling 250 million shares. In the FTSE 250, shares in electrical appliances retailer AO World fell 10.7% after it warned of a significant slowdown in its UK business. The company said "challenging" trading conditions seen in the second half of its 2016-17 financial year had continued into the current quarter. AO reported a 17% rise in annual revenues, but full-year operating losses widened to £12m from £10.7m last year. On the currency markets, the pound slipped slightly against the dollar to $1.2895 and fell 0.2% against the euro to 1.1442 euros.

Question: The UK 's benchmark share index ended Tuesday virtually unchanged after spending most of the day in @placeholder territory .


Community leaders from Santa Clara County filed a notice of intention on Monday to collect signatures to recall Judge Aaron Persky next year. Judge Persky was accused of leniency in his June 2016 punishment of Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner. Turner had faced up to 14 years, but was handed a six-month sentence. He was released after serving only three months in county jail for the January 2015 assault. "Judge Aaron Persky stunned the world when he sentenced Stanford swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at a fraternity party," the notice to circulate a recall petition states. Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, who is leading the recall effort along with 50 community leaders, said at a news conference: "Santa Clara County residents deserve a judge who will protect victims, not rapists. "Women have had enough of rape culture," she added. "We are ready to take action and recall this judge." Judge Persky has seven days to submit a written response of no more than 200 words, said Anita Torres, a spokesperson for the county's registrar of voters. His response, which would appear in next year's guide document for voters, would be expected to set out the case for why he should remain on the bench, Ms Torres added. If activists can gather 58,634 signatures - 20% of the voting electorate - in the next 160 days, then voters in the 2018 countywide elections would vote on the recall. On a website created by Judge Persky, he argues he has "a reputation for being fair to both sides". "I believe strongly in judicial independence," he writes. "I took an oath to uphold the Constitution, not to appease politicians or ideologues." After Judge Persky's controversial ruling, the California State Assembly passed a law expanding the definition of rape and increased penalties for offenders who assault unconscious victims. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen also successfully had another sexual assault case removed from Judge Persky's docket, and he has already been transferred to a civil court in San Jose. Judge Persky has been cleared of misconduct by the California Commission on Judicial Performance.

Question: A California judge who faced a nationwide @placeholder for his sentencing of campus rapist is facing a formal attempt to remove him from the bench .


Rovers top scorer Kieran Sadlier shot the hosts into the lead on the half hour after the City defence failed to clear Craig Roddan's cross. Derry got level just six minutes later when Conor McDermott's effort was deflected in by Kyle Callan-McFadden for an own goal. It was Derry's first goal in 310 minutes of football. Cathal Farren blazed over the crossbar seven minutes from time as Derry tried to find a late winner. New Sligo boss Gerard Lyttle was introduced to the home supporters before the kick-off. The 39-year-old from Belfast was appointed on Friday, having resigned from Irish Premiership club Cliftonville to become Dave Robertson's successor. Declan McIntyre continued as caretaker boss for Saturday's game.

Question: Derry City ended their three - game @placeholder league run when they drew 1 - 1 away to one - from- bottom Sligo Rovers .


Remus Hamza, from Cardiff, is accused of assaulting the woman, 20, in the early hours of 20 September during freshers' week. Mr Hamza denied one count of rape during the hearing at Newport Crown Court. The defendant was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until 15 February.

Question: A 40 - year - old man has denied raping a woman outside Cardiff University at the start of the @placeholder year .


The market, built in 1902, will have an expanded food court, additional stalls and a live performance area. The work is part of a larger £25m redevelopment of the city centre in preparation for Hull hosting the City of Culture arts festival in 2017. Hull City Council said work is expected to be finished by summer 2017. Council planning documents said the market had become increasingly rundown as shoppers have moved away from Hull's old town towards the new retail development to the west of the city. Garry Taylor, a projects manager at the council, said: "It is only right that as part of the regeneration of the city centre, the market also receives a facelift." Plans for a University Technical College to be built next to the city's New Theatre were approved during the same meeting. The £10m project will eventually house 600 students aged 14-19.

Question: Hull 's @placeholder indoor market is to undergo a £ 1.6 m refurbishment as part of plans to attract new visitors to the city .


In a statement, Fulham said they "understand his true value" after boss Slavisa Jokanovic spoke about Aluko's future following defeat by Wolfsburg. Aluko, 28, joined from Hull last summer and has scored nine goals in 50 games. "All I can do is fight, around me there is news we're thinking about selling him," Jokanovic told BBC Radio London. "If we do this then it will be a big mistake for my team." Following Jokanovic's interview after Saturday's 3-0 pre-season defeat by Wolfburg at Craven Cottage, Fulham told BBC Radio London: "Ultimately, it looks likely there could be a contract extension. "The club have had multiple bids for him and have rejected them." Speculation about Nigeria international Aluko's future comes a week before the Cottagers start their Championship season at home against Norwich City on Saturday, 5 August.

Question: Fulham say there are moves to extend the contract of striker Sone Aluko and @placeholder " multiple bids " from an unnamed club have been rejected .


Hiddink is unhappy Chelsea's FA Cup sixth-round tie at Everton will be played on Saturday, 12 March. Chelsea were due to play Liverpool in the Premier League on 13 March and he doesn't see why the cup tie could not have been arranged for the same time. Hiddink said: "I am frustrated. We have to protect the players." Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini called for change after playing a weakened team in his side's 5-1 fifth round defeat at Chelsea, and Crystal Palace's Alan Pardew also expressed his unease with the situation. The FA said the present fixture calendar is "untenable" after having to schedule Arsenal's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Hull for Tuesday, 8 March (19:00 GMT) on a Champions League night, which Uefa's rules only allow in exceptional circumstances. Chelsea will now have to play four games in 12 days across the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. They travel to face Norwich on Tuesday and welcome Stoke next Saturday, before their Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Paris St-Germain the following Wednesday and the FA Cup tie three days later. "Hopefully the PSG game doesn't go into extra-time because players need time when the intensity of the league is like it is," Hiddink said. "The medical people at the FA and the Premier League should make this known. Every club has medical departments. The doctors should stand up and say: 'FA, television, whoever.... hey'." Meanwhile, Hiddink says it is "very tight" whether captain John Terry will be fit for the meeting with Paris St-Germain. The 35-year-old has missed three games with a hamstring injury, including Saturday's 2-1 win over Southampton. "I have the experience with these kind of injuries," Hiddink said. "Maybe John needs an 11 versus 11 at Cobham or six versus six or seven versus seven - but with intensity." Spain forward Pedro is also a doubt after he suffered a "problem with his hamstring" in Saturday's victory.

Question: Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink says Premier League club doctors should put pressure on the game 's @placeholder to change the fixture calendar .


The controversial broadcaster will appear as the guest host of Have I Got News for You on 24 April. "Jeremy's contract has not been renewed on Top Gear but he isn't banned from appearing on the BBC," a BBC spokesman said. Clarkson has hosted the satirical news quiz on numerous occasions. During one appearance in 2008, he threw a pen at regular panellist Ian Hislop that left the latter with a cut on his face. Clarkson was suspended by the BBC on 10 March following a "fracas" with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon in a hotel in North Yorkshire. Mr Tymon suffered swelling and a split lip in the assault on 4 March and visited a hospital A&E department for his injuries. Following an internal investigation, the BBC announced on 25 March Clarkson's contract on Top Gear would not be renewed. More than a million fans signed a petition to reinstate the presenter, but BBC director general Tony Hall said "a line has been crossed" and "there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another". On Tuesday, North Yorkshire Police said there was "no need for further action" against Clarkson following an inquiry into the "fracas". Top Gear is watched by some 350 million viewers worldwide and is one of the BBC's biggest properties - with overseas sales worth an estimated Â£50m a year. The BBC has said the show will continue without Clarkson, however it is unclear whether co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond will remain.

Question: Jeremy Clarkson is set to make his first appearance on the BBC since @placeholder his job as co-presenter on Top Gear .


26 January 2016 Last updated at 00:03 GMT This year, toy-makers have embraced technology to bring a modern twist to some classic favourites. Watch BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones go hands-on with an app-enabled Scalextric racing set and other new toys.

Question: The latest toys and @placeholder best - sellers are on show at an exhibition in London .


The Coatbridge boxer has not fought since breaking his jaw in a draw with Raymundo Beltran in September. But the 30-year-old is in confident mood ahead of his fifth title defence at Glasgow's SECC. "My jaw's been holding up as well. I've taken a few knocks and it seems to be holding up," Burns said. Training's gone well and, fingers crossed, I'm prepared for whatever's coming my way The Scot expects a "cracking and very hard fight" against American mandatory challenger Crawford. "Technically, he's very good. The training's gone well and, fingers crossed, I'm prepared for whatever's coming my way on Saturday," added Burns. "Fingers crossed [my jaw] holds up on fight night and there's no accidents. "Crawford is a very slick boxer; he switch-hits and he's very good both orthodox and southpaw. "We tried to get Jose Gonzalez, who I boxed before, over for sparring. He would have been ideal but sadly we couldn't get that to work, "But we know what we're expecting and we've had plenty of variety in sparring." Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Crawford has never been properly tested despite his unbeaten record. Crawford, 26, is unbeaten in his 22 bouts and has won 16 of his fights by knockout. Prior to the controversial draw with Beltran, Burns had an unconvincing win over Puerto Rico's Jose Gonzalez in May.

Question: Ricky Burns insists he has no @placeholder over his jaw ahead of Saturday 's WBO world lightweight title defence against Terence Crawford .


Jawad Fairooz and Matar Matar were detained in May after resigning from parliament in protest at the handling of the protests. Mr Matar told the BBC they had been tortured in prison. They were prosecuted in a security court on charges of taking part in illegal protests and defaming the country. It is not clear if they still face trial in a civilian court. Civilian courts took over jurisdiction after King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa lifted a state of emergency in June. Mr Matar told the BBC he believed his arrest had been intended to put a pressure on his al-Wifaq party. "At some stages we were tortured," he said. "In one of the cases we were beaten." Human rights lawyer Mohamed al-Tajir was also released. He was detained in April having defended people arrested during the Saudi-backed suppression of protests in March. Correspondents say their release appears to be an attempt at defusing tensions in the country, a key US ally in the region that hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet. Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa recently accepted a series of reforms drawn up by a government-backed committee created to address grievances that emerged during the protests. The kingdom's Shia community makes up about 70% of the population but many say they are discriminated against by the minority Sunni monarchy.

Question: Bahrain has freed two former Shia opposition MPs arrested in the wake of @placeholder anti-government protests .


A letter addressed: "Your man Henderson, that boy with the glasses who is doing a PhD up here at Queen's in Belfast. Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland," successfully reached its intended recipient last week - student Barry Henderson. A friend of Barry's sent the letter in an attempt to demonstrate how small Buncrana is. The letter travelled more than 80 miles from Belfast, before being delivered to the office of Mr Henderson's wife, Roisin in the town, which has a population of about 7,000. Inside was a note saying: "If this has arrived, you live in a village." Royal Mail had stamped on the letter: "Please remember to write the postcode clearly." Roisin Henderson told BBC Radio Foyle she thought the local postmen were "wonderful". "They go above and beyond," she said. "I actually cornered the postman that came into the office this morning, but he claimed it wasn't him. "I'm not sure if he was being shy or it really wasn't, but I'm going to find the postman." The letter arrived in the same week that the Republic of Ireland introduced postcodes for the first time, with every house receiving a unique seven-digit identifying code, known as an Eircode. "I think it proves there's no need for Eircode," Roisin said.

Question: While things like postcodes and addresses are usually thought of as pretty much @placeholder for letters to be delivered , it seems they 're not so important to the postmen and women of Donegal .


Changes to the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, mean authorities must take "all reasonable steps" to prevent someone from losing their home within 56 days. The Welsh government said it is "the most fundamental reform to homelessness legislation in over 30 years". Housing charity Shelter Cymru welcomed the move. Director John Puzey said homelessness "can happen to anyone". Launching the changes on Monday, Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister Lesley Griffiths said it is a "major major milestone". Councils now have to use privately rented accommodation where necessary and work more closely with government and housing associations. Local authorities have been provided with additional funding and training programmes from the Welsh government to introduce the changes. Even those with no local connection and who do not fit any of the 'priority need' categories are entitled to help. The most recent figures from the Welsh government showed there were 1,210 households accepted as homeless in Wales.

Question: A new law has come into effect , putting a @placeholder on local authorities to prevent homelessness .


The referendum was triggered by the Eurosceptic movement which used a new law designed to promote democracy to force a vote by gathering enough signatures on a petition. From the start, activists said this was a chance for voters in the country to express frustration at the EU, in particular what they see as its desire to expand despite democratic shortcomings. Although the turnout was only narrowly above the 30%  required to validate the result it has been hailed as a significant Eurosceptic victory. One "No" campaigner at a results party in Amsterdam described it as a "slap in the face of the European monster". In the UK Brexit activists were quick to claim the result showed anti-EU sentiment is growing despite the fact two-thirds of Dutch voters chose not to participate. While a vote in the Netherlands may not widely shape public opinion in the UK, it will embolden those campaigning for the UK to leave the EU. They will argue this result proves public concern over sovereignty and accountability is shared beyond Britain. But Netherlands voters were not asked to simply pass judgement on the EU, and throughout the campaign those promoting a "Yes" vote were frustrated by what they saw as attempts by Eurosceptics to hijack a debate which should have been about relations between Ukraine, Russia and Europe. Some say the multiple layers to this referendum means the result cannot be seen as a true reflection of the scale of euroscepticism in the Netherlands. Nonetheless the country is traditionally a stronghold of European integration, and the rejection of this deal will rattle the nerves of European leaders who are already struggling to maintain unity in the face of economic instability and the migrant crisis. The impact of this on the Ukraine agreement is not yet clear. Although the referendum was not binding, Prime Minister Mark Rutte signalled the result would not be ignored and he would now open discussions with EU leaders about how to proceed. Whatever the practical consequences, this referendum will be perceived and paraded by Eurosceptics as a symbol of growing support for their movement - pertinent timing as the UK prepares to decide its future relationship with the EU.

Question: Although @placeholder the Netherlands has rejected a landmark deal between the EU and Ukraine , in reality the issues that dominated this campaign were much wider .


Matthew Hepworth and David Kierzek discovered a chisel and a dagger in a Lancashire field, 20 years after one of them first explored the site. This led to the uncovering of an ancient barrow at the site, which lay untouched for thousands of years. The men will take part in a dig in July, which is being financed with a Â£49,500 Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Mr Hepworth, 40, said: "This site is untouched which makes it very, very rare. It wouldn't have been discovered if we hadn't found those artefacts. "I've been on the site five times before over 20 years, but metal items do move in the ground. "It was just a lucky find on the day. The first thing I found was a chisel, which is quite rare, there's only a handful in Britain. Then we found a dagger and other pieces in bronze." Previously, Mr Hepworth, who works as a community nurse, had discovered a stash of Viking silver in the area, which is displayed at Lancaster City Museum. He said finding the burial monument, which was used for around 1,500 years from the late Neolithic period to the middle or late Bronze Age, is "as good as it gets". The excavation will be carried out by DigVentures, a crowdfunding group founded by the three archaeologists concerned about the lack of funds for archaeological digs. Brendon Wilkins, archaeologist and projects director at DigVentures, said barrows are the "best windows we have into the lives and deaths of Bronze Age Britons".

Question: A Bronze Age burial site uncovered after two metal detector @placeholder found artefacts is set to be excavated .


Media playback is not supported on this device You don't have to go that far, but can still walk, run or cycle yourself #proud during the 2016 Sport Relief Games from 18-20 March. Find out what's involved on our special page or visit the Sport Relief website here.

Question: Every year brave celebrities take on epic @placeholder to raise money for Sport Relief .


At the same time, the first minister's tone was intriguing as she confirmed, in a news conference at Bute House, that the SNP will vote against a proposed incursion by the RAF into Syria when the Commons debates the issue tomorrow. I questioned Nicola Sturgeon as to whether there was ever any serious doubt that the SNP would be in the No lobby of the Commons when the vote was taken. In response, she went out of her way to emphasise that this was a carefully weighed decision, preceded by detailed thought and discussion. Her tone eschewed political rhetoric. Indeed, she praised the prime minister's efforts to attempt to convince sceptics, indicating that he had made progress in that direction. She summed up the position as "an honest difference of opinion." So what is driving this approach? Firstly, this "nuanced" view - Nicola Sturgeon used that very adjective - is driven by conviction. Within the SNP leadership, Ms Sturgeon has taken particular pains to stress that it was important to think carefully, particularly in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. She deliberately left the impression that this was not primarily a decision from pre-existing first principles but rather a careful, pragmatic calculation based on an assessment of all the elements, in Syria and globally. So Ms Sturgeon accorded weight to the Prime Minister's persuasion but argued that it fell short on two points; the lack of a credible ground force to support air strikes and the lack of planning for post-conflict reconstruction in Syria. Without those, she argued, air strikes might well make matters worse. There are of course wider political calculations. There are some who have been adamant against air strikes from the outset. Ms Sturgeon is not in that camp, matching perhaps the troubled thoughts of many in Scotland and the wider UK as they reflect upon Paris. Thirdly, the standpoint adopted by the SNP has the effect - intentional or otherwise - of contrasting with the uncertainty and disquiet in Labour ranks, reflected in the lack of a common position among Her Majesty's principal Opposition at Westminster.

Question: The @placeholder issue could scarcely be more serious ; potential UK involvement in air strikes against Syria in an effort to countermand a global terrorist threat .


Second-placed Tottenham will aim to close the gap to leaders Leicester to five points when they host Bournemouth. Both Sunderland and Newcastle are in the relegation zone after Norwich's win at West Brom on Saturday, with the Black Cats going to St James' Park one point above the 19th-placed Magpies. Manchester United will be hoping to close the gap to fourth-placed Manchester City to a single point at the Etihad Stadium, while a three-goal win would take them above West Ham into fifth. Southampton host Liverpool with the sides eighth and ninth respectively in the table. Newcastle United v Sunderland (13:30 GMT) Southampton v Liverpool (13:30 GMT) Manchester City v Manchester United (16:00 GMT) Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth (16:00 GMT)

Question: The Tyne - Wear and Manchester derbies feature among four Premier League games on Sunday with huge @placeholder for the top and bottom of the table .


Passengers had to get out through the driver's cab door at the next stop and were delayed for an hour waiting for another train. The conductor on the 08:16 Ilkley to Leeds service was left behind at Burley-in-Wharfedale station. The train and its passengers stopped at Menston. Northern Rail said it was an "operating incident". Passenger Simon Painter said: "We were offloaded on to the platform via the driver's cab and then waited at Menston for the next train. "Left Ilkley at quarter past 8 and arrived Leeds at twenty to 10." A spokesman for Northern Rail said: "Shortly after 8.23am on Tuesday 31 January the 8.16am Ilkley to Leeds service was delayed after the train left Burley in Wharfedale station whilst the conductor was still on the platform. "As a result, the service was terminated at Menston station." "We are currently investigating the cause of the incident and it would be inappropriate to comment further until that investigation has taken place." The incident led to delays on several other services between Ilkley, Bradford and Leeds on Tuesday morning.

Question: A guard was @placeholder stranded at a railway station when the train left without him .


The Accies boss admits McGovern's involvement in Euro 2016 is bound to attract interest in the soon to be out-of-contract Northern Irishman. "If he moves on I'll be the first to shake his hand and thank him for everything he's done for the club. "Ziggy  falls into the same category as Michael," Canning told BBC Scotland. McGovern, 31, has 10 caps for Northern Ireland, who will play Germany, Ukraine and Poland in Group C in June. The former Dundee United and Falkirk man took over as Accies captain after Canning became manager. "He's a fantastic person, a great professional and a very good goalkeeper," said Canning, whose side have won their last two matches and could secure their top-flight status by beating Kilmarnock at New Douglas Park on Saturday. "Guys like Michael deserve to go and test themselves and play at the highest level they can. "Ziggy's also out of contract in the summer and wants to see what else is available for him, which is his right to do so. "I think he's been here since under-10s so he's been a great servant to the club. "He's a really driven, hungry young boy and wants to play at the highest level he can. If that's with us for another season or two then we're delighted to have him." Midfielder Ali Crawford, another Hamilton youth product, has also been the subject of speculation about a move. But he is contracted until 2018 and Canning played down the prospect of the club selling the 24-year-old to generate funds. "We don't need to be cashing in on Ali," he added. "It's not a case at all of trying to punt him about to try and get rid of him; we would rather keep Ali here. We won't be actively looking to move him on. "He started the season really well and had a wee dip when he broke his hand and did his groin as well. Now he's starting to get back to what we expect of him and he is a talent." Meanwhile, Accies defender Lucas Tagliapietra has praised Canning for remaining calm under pressure as the club seek to secure their Premiership status. A 2-1 win over Dundee on 9 April was their first home win in nearly seven months, a run of 12 matches that featured seven defeats. But after a second straight win at Dundee United last weekend, Hamilton now sit seven points ahead of Saturday's opponents Kilmarnock, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, with four games left. "The most important thing for me is that as a manager he didn't change or panic when we went through a difficult spell," the Brazilian told BBC Scotland. "That was a great thing for us getting back on track and getting confidence back. "We all learn through difficult times. It's always important to keep calm and believe, because the quality is here and it's all about faith and hard work."

Question: Martin Canning says Hamilton Academical are realistic about the prospect of @placeholder goalkeeper Michael McGovern and defender Ziggy Gordon this summer .


Morrissey has a funny place in British culture - he's an aloof national treasure whose melodramatic croon and pithy pop poetry are burned into the hearts of millions, yet whose hallowed status has been somewhat eroded in recent years thanks to his outspoken online rants. Despite all that, there are plenty of people who are wary of an attempt to tell his story in fictionalised form, who are fiercely protective of him and his band, and who see it as sacred ground. "I just have to ignore them," says Mark Gill, who has directed and co-written England Is Mine, the movie about the singer's pre-fame years. Gill grew up less than a mile from Morrissey's house in Stretford, Manchester, and, like countless other 1980s music fans, was "obsessed" with The Smiths. So he was desperate to be the one to tell Morrissey's story. "I wanted to make this film and I was determined that if anyone was going to cock it up, it would be me." England Is Mine follows Morrissey from moping mop-topped teenager to bequiffed budding idol. It ends when he meets future bandmate Johnny Marr. The consensus seems to be that Gill hasn't cocked it up, while the director says he thinks he has created "something really special". Gill became a fan of The Smiths after being given their first LP at the age of 15. But his dad wouldn't let his teenage son travel into Manchester to see them live before they split up in 1987. "My dad loathes The Smiths," he says. "He absolutely cannot stand them. He used to come in and say, 'Turn that off.'" So what does Mr Gill senior make of the fact his son has directed his debut feature film about them? "Who knows what he thinks. He probably thinks, when am I going to stop with this band?" The release of England Is Mine comes three years after Gill and producing partner Baldwin Li were nominated for an Oscar for best live action short. Gill says he and England Is Mine co-writer William Thacker tried to strip away the persona that Morrissey has created since finding fame. "We wanted to make him just a very human character," the director says. "I kept saying we weren't making a film about Morrissey. "It was about this young kid, and despite the fact he goes on to be somebody of great importance artistically, he did start out as a normal teenage kid going through the same sort of stuff that the rest of us have gone through. "In a sense it relieved us all of that pressure of making a film about an icon, because we weren't. He goes on to do that. To me, the more interesting thing was the journey towards that. "I grew up in Stretford in the '80s and it wasn't a ghetto by any stretch of the imagination, but if you were slightly different, the pack closes in on you. "And Morrissey was very different, 10 years previously. So I often think, how did he survive?" Steven Patrick Morrissey is played by Jack Lowden, who can also be seen currently in a very different role - that of a World War II Spitfire pilot in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. At 27, Lowden was born three years after The Smiths split up and was not a particular fan before he landed this role. "Obviously I knew of him and I knew the reputation he had of being quite morose," Lowden says. "And the script was so funny for me that I thought, we have to go for this." It was "freeing" to think only about those early years and not the singer's later image, the actor says. "You cannot play a guy in the early part of his life if you're constantly aware of what he went on to become. And I think it did help that I was a Smiths virgin." Gill says he has not been in touch with the real Morrissey directly, but that the film-makers have "done everything we can to be respectful". He says: "We don't want to upset him. And you'll see it's not that type of film." In recent years, Morrissey's most prominent forays into the public eye have been in the form of outspoken interviews and blogs. As well as his zealous protection of animal rights - his favourite subject - he also raised eyebrows with comments about politics, the royal family, the media and Islam. To some his candid views are refreshing. Others find him increasingly unsavoury. "You can separate the person from the art I think," Gill says when asked what he thinks of Morrissey now. "He says some things which you just laugh out loud at and there are other things I don't agree with, but that's the same with anybody. "But one thing I do like about him is that he is one of the only artists who has consistently remained authentic. I don't see any difference between some of the things he says now and some of the things he said in The Smiths. "His views may have hardened or softened in certain directions, but nowadays it's incredibly rare for somebody like that to speak his mind. Who else does that? Nobody." So what if Morrissey launches one of his famous tirades against this new film and its makers? "I'll frame it," Gill replies with a smile. "Nothing's going to change - the film's coming out. "It would have been nice to have a conversation directly to say, 'This is what I'm doing. Trust me.'" England Is Mine is out in the UK on 4 August. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Question: As subjects for music biopics go , there can be few trickier than Morrissey , the idolised , enigmatic , prickly former frontman of The Smiths . However , that reputation did not @placeholder an Oscar - nominated film - maker who grew up down the road from the singer .


IS media channels say US-led airstrikes weakened the Tabqa dam, but US-backed fighters denied hitting the facility. Some reports say civilians have begun to flee, while others say they are being reassured they can stay. US-backed Syrian rebels are trying to capture Raqqa from IS. On Wednesday, the Pentagon said members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance had been airlifted to positions behind IS lines close to the Tabqa dam, which is about 40km (25 miles) upstream of the city on the Euphrates river. However, the BBC is not able to independently confirm the condition of the IS-held dam - which provides power to the region - nor the orders received by Raqqa's civilians. Earlier the anti-IS activist group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, said people had started to flee the city - but that militants had been using loudspeakers to tell them that the dam was safe and that they should not leave. That comes despite IS channels saying the facility was at imminent risk of collapse amid rising water levels. A technical source at the dam told the AFP news agency there had been a power failure - but said damage to the dam would only pose a danger over time, with water levels not rising significantly so far. And another source told the BBC the power had been partially restored. Aside from being strategically important and providing electricity to the region, the dam is believed to be used by IS foreign fighters to plot attacks outside Syria, according to the Pentagon. The United Nations recently warned that damage to it could lead to massive-scale flooding. There were similar concerns last year for a dam outside Mosul, an IS stronghold in northern Iraq. If the Mosul dam burst, floodwaters could kill 1.47 million Iraqis living along the River Tigris, the US embassy said. However, the dam has so far remained in operation. US warplanes are supporting the Iraqi army's mission to retake Mosul from the Islamic State (IS). Meanwhile the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the US, are said to be closing in on Raqqa as well as the Tabqa dam. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said coalition airstrikes had killed 89 civilians in the countryside west of Raqqa in the past week, including 35 in the Badya school, in the village of al-Mansoura.

Question: Fears that a nearby dam might collapse are @placeholder causing panic and confusion in the Syrian city of Raqqa , a stronghold of the so - called Islamic State ( IS ) group .


The facility would prevent jihadists from spreading their extremist ideology to the rest of society, he said. The country's anti-terror law allows security forces to detain people suspected of terrorist activities for a long period without charge. Kenya is battling home-grown militants linked to Islamist group al-Shabab, which is part of al-Qaeda. In 2011, Kenyan troops entered neighbouring Somalia in an effort to stop the jihadists from carrying cross border attacks and kidnapping people. Speaking at the passing-out parade of more than 2,000 prison wardens, Mr Kenyatta said additional money would be provided to meet logistical and operational requirements of the prison service. The country's correctional facilities have previously been described as inhumane, with some of them heavily overpopulated, reports the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza from the capital, Nairobi. At the moment, only death row inmates are kept in separate prison blocks from the rest of the convicts, he says. It is not clear when and where the new prison will be set up. Kenya contributes more than 4,000 troops to the 22,000-strong African Union force that is in Somalia helping the UN-backed government battle al-Shabab. Al-Shabab in Kenya Al-Shabab has staged numerous attacks in Kenya. It killed 147 people at Garissa University, near the border with Somalia, on 2 April 2015. It killed 68 people when it attacked Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre in 2013. There are also regular gun and grenade attacks attributed to the group both in border areas, where many Kenyans are ethnic Somalis, and in Nairobi. Al-Shabab has also set up a recruiting network in Kenya, especially around the port city of Mombasa, which has a large Muslim population.

Question: Kenya 's President Uhuru Kenyatta says he will set up a new @placeholder prison for violent extremist offenders .


An average 9.2 million tuned in to watch the launch show, peaking at 9.7 million, to see the return of Sharon Osbourne to the judging panel. Sunday night's show was watched by even more viewers, averaging 9.9 million and peaking at 10.4 million. Last year's opener fell to 8.7 million, down on the 12 million of 2011. Boss Simon Cowell has promised changes to boost flagging ratings. One of the big changes is the re-introduction of intimate auditions before the judging panel before contestants perform in front of an arena audience. Osbourne has been brought back to replace the departed Tulisa Contostavlos. She was last on the judging panel in 2007, having been one of the original cast back when it started in 2004. One of the highlights of Saturday's show was the appearance of prison officer Sam Bailey, who surprised the judges with her rendition of Beyonce's Listen, which saw all four judges rise to their feet in admiration. From the start The X Factor will be running two shows every weekend, with the Sunday night programme showing the contestants performing in front of a live audience as well as the judges. The BBC's own Saturday night entertainment staple, Strictly Come Dancing, returns on Saturday, The two shows will have a short overlap between Strictly ending and X Factor starting. The full line-up of Strictly Come Dancing contestants will be revealed on Wednesday night but four names have already been disclosed. Broadcaster Vanessa Feltz, Countdown maths whizz Rachel Riley, golfer Tony Jacklin and Abbey Clancy, wife of footballer Peter Crouch, will all be donning Lycra and sequins for the new series. ITV launched its own celebrity dancing shown on Saturday. Stepping Out, which saw six celebrity couples learning to dance together, attracted an average of 3.7 million for its first show.

Question: The return of The X Factor to Saturday night saw the ITV show win back some of the viewers it @placeholder for last year 's opening show .


By embedding tiny tubes in the plants' leaves, they can be made to pick up chemicals called nitro-aromatics, which are found in landmines and other buried munitions. Real-time information can then be wirelessly relayed to a handheld device. The MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) work is published in the journal Nature Materials. The scientists implanted nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (tiny cylinders of carbon) into the leaves of the spinach plant. They then delivered the nitro-aromatics into the water taken up by the roots and directly to the leaves in droplets. It takes about 10 minutes for the spinach to take up the water via the roots into the leaves. To read the signal, the researchers shine a laser onto the leaf, prompting the embedded nanotubes to emit near-infrared fluorescent light. This can be detected with a small infrared camera connected to a small, cheap Raspberry Pi computer. The signal can also be detected with a smartphone by removing the infrared filter most have. Co-author Prof Michael Strano, from MIT in Cambridge, US, said the work was an important proof of principle. "Our paper outlines how one could engineer plants like this to detect virtually anything," he told the BBC News website. Prof Strano's lab has previously developed carbon nanotubes that can be used as sensors to detect hydrogen peroxide, TNT, and the nerve gas sarin. When the target molecule binds to a polymer material wrapped around the nanotube, it changes the way it glows. "The plants could be use for defence applications, but also to monitor public spaces for terrorism related activities, since we show both water and airborne detection," said Prof Strano. "Such plants could be used to monitor groundwater seepage from buried munitions or waste that contains nitro-aromatics." Using the set-up described in the paper, the researchers can pick up a signal from about 1m away from the plant, and they are now working on increasing that distance. Follow Paul on Twitter.

Question: Scientists have transformed the @placeholder spinach plant into a bomb detector .


Hagino, who won IM bronze in 2012, held the lead following the backstroke and touched home just ahead of Kalisz in a time of four minutes 06.95 seconds. Kalisz took silver in 4:07.75 and Hagino's team-mate Daiya Seto was third in 4:09.71. Great Britain's Max Litchfield, 21, in his first Games, was fourth in 4:11.62. Find out how to get into swimming with our special guide. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Question: Japan 's Kosuke Hagino held off a @placeholder fightback from United States ' Chase Kalisz to win the Olympic men 's 400 m individual medley .


The complainant said he had sex with Julie Wadsworth up to 15 times, including once when her husband Tony joined in. Now in his 30s, he told police he felt compelled to report what happened after having child protection training. The couple deny assaulting seven boys in the 1990s. In video interviews shown to the jury, the alleged victim said he first met Mrs Wadsworth when he was 14 and she was sunbathing in a park in 1995. He went on to have sexual activity with Mrs Wadsworth at her then home in Long Street, Atherstone, the court heard. "The first time we had sex in her living room and basically from then until I was 18 I would say there are 10, 12 or 15 occasions I have seen her in the park and arranged to meet," he said. The man told the interviewing officer he only discovered the couple's names while channel-hopping on the radio. The man said: "It was probably after about a year or two. "While it was going on I was listening to the radio one night and I recognised their voices...co-presenting an evening programme. "You could play me a recording of 10 BBC presenters and I would be able to tell you straight away which one was them." The Wadsworths, from Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, who have worked for BBC Radio Leicester and BBC WM, deny five counts of outraging public decency between July 1992 and June 1996. Mrs Wadsworth, 60, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault, while her 69-year-old husband denies 10 counts of the same offence. The man told officers: "I took part in (child protection) training and it brought up incidents that happened to me over four years from when I was 14 to when I was 18, when I engaged in sexual intercourse with a couple that I had met in the woods in Atherstone. "I had never told a soul. I was sitting there having a conversation with myself, is this the day that I tell someone?"

Question: A man who claims he was indecently assaulted by two ex - BBC presenters as a child learnt their @placeholder when he heard them on the radio , a court heard .


Prof Neil Gow, from the University of Aberdeen, said more than one million people die from fungal infections around the world each year. Yet there are no vaccines and there is a "pressing need" for new treatments, he said. The warning comes as doctors in England say a new strain of fungi is causing outbreaks in hospitals. There are more than five million types of fungi, but only three major groups cause the majority of deaths in people: Prof Gow said: "Most people know about mild fungal infections, but nobody's ever died from athlete's foot. "However, a million people die a year from fungal infections and we need to understand these different types of infection and how to deal with them." The infections are more deadly in people with weakened immune systems - such as patients with HIV - so the fungal problem is particularly acute in Africa. "It's an underappreciated problem and it's a very serious challenge in the parts of the world least equipped to deal with it," Prof Gow added. Patients having cancer therapy or who are taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant are also more susceptible to infection. Speaking to the BBC at the Royal Society's Summer Exhibition, he said: "Fungi are extremely tough and manipulate the immune system to prevent themselves being recognised, they are very slippery customers." Meanwhile, health officials have warned of a new strain of Candida auris which has caused an outbreak affecting 40 patients in one hospital in south-east England. The infection was first detected in 2009 in Japan, but has since been discovered across Asia and parts of south America. Public Health England said "Candida auris appears to be unlike other pathogenic yeast species in its propensity for transmission between hospital patients" and warned it was resistant to the first choice anti-fungal drug. Dr Berit Muller-Pebody, from Public Health England, said: "This species of Candida is emerging globally. "We are monitoring it, but as it's an emerging pathogen it is very difficult to talk about trends. "We needed to make the healthcare community aware of it as [doctors] now need to identify the species of Candida that require a more proactive approach." Follow James on Twitter.

Question: Fungal infections kill more people than malaria or breast cancer but are not considered a @placeholder , say scientists .


Mr Corbyn reacted angrily after Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Sir Nicholas Houghton questioned his refusal to launch nuclear weapons if he became PM. The Labour leader said the military should remain politically neutral. But Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said it was "entirely proper" for Sir Nicholas to express a view. The row, which took place on Remembrance Sunday, highlighted tensions within Labour over the role that Trident has to play in defence policy, with Mr Corbyn at odds with many of his MPs and shadow ministers over the issue. Speaking during the Labour party conference in September, Mr Corbyn - who is a longstanding opponent of nuclear weapons and supporter of unilateral disarmament - stated that he could not see the circumstances in which he would be prepared to order a nuclear attack. Sir Nicholas said he would be worried if such an approach was "translated into power", prompting Mr Corbyn to argue that the head of the armed forces had overstepped the mark and breached conventions that the military should stay out of party political matters. Mr Corbyn lodged an official protest with the Ministry of Defence over the comments. But writing back to Mr Corbyn, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon defended the military chief's right to respond to questions about the UK's security. "In his interview, CDS was - as he stated expressly - making a point about the credibility of the deterrent rather than any individual," he wrote. "As the principal military adviser to the government, I consider it entirely proper for him to answer how we maintain the credibility of the ultimate guarantee of our security." He added: "CDS is unwavering in his commitment to the principle that members of the armed forces are politically neutral and serve The Queen and he government of the day. I am confident that he will continue to uphold it. "As you a now a member of the Privy Council, I would like to extend an invitation to meet with CDS and the other defence chiefs to discuss the current threats to our national security."

Question: The defence secretary has invited Jeremy Corbyn to discuss security threats with the UK 's top @placeholder after a row between the two men .


Media playback is not supported on this device The 14-year-old, who formed one half of the sport's most successful partnerships with Dujardin, 31, performed a special routine at Olympia. "He's just the best," said Dujardin after reprising her London 2012 test. Dujardin is weighing up several possible successors, including Mount St John Freestyle, for Tokyo 2020. Although he is retiring from competition, Valegro will continue to give celebrity appearances and demonstrations. "I want to retire him at the top of his game because he owes me absolutely nothing," said Dujardin. "Now we can take the pressure off and go around and really enjoy ourselves. He deserves that." Meanwhile Carl Hester, who is Dujardin's Great Britain team-mate, mentor, trainer and co-owner of Valegro, added freestyle victory to Tuesday's dressage success aboard Nip Tuck with a score of 84.669%. Media playback is not supported on this device

Question: Valegro , who won three Olympic golds with Britain 's Charlotte Dujardin , has been retired from competition after a @placeholder ceremony in London .


The county council agreed to release the cash for Netley chapel at Royal Victoria Country Park as part of a Heritage Lottery grant application. The chapel is the only surviving part of the British Army's first military hospital, the Royal Victoria. The £2.8m project includes restoring the hand-painted glass windows and a new exhibition of the site's history. From 1863 until 1966, the site was home to the hospital that for more than 100 years housed sick and wounded soldiers from across the world. Around the park and on four floors of the chapel an exhibition of peoples' stories will explore the recovery, rehabilitation and research into medical advances that took place at the hospital. Other plans include turning the chapel into a "cultural venue" that hosts arts performances. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone on 19 May 1856 and visited the hospital more than 20 times. Most of the building was demolished in 1966 following an extensive fire. Last year the chapel project received a £102,000 Heritage Lottery grant to develop an application for a full grant of £1.7m. Hampshire County Council was required to provide the £1.1m to match the Heritage Lottery funding. It is not yet known when Heritage Lottery will decide on the grant.

Question: A project to @placeholder a Victorian chapel in Hampshire for visitors has been given a £ 1.1 m boost .


Joe Wincott of The Sandon School in Chelmsford, Essex said an extra £1.3bn promised by the government was too late to help it in the next academic year. The head teacher said cutting lessons from 26 to 25 hours a week would allow him to balance the school budget. Education Secretary Justine Greening said per pupil funding was set to go up from £4,100 to £4,800 in 2018. Mr Wincott said the school budget had been cut by £450,000 since 2011 and he had reduced the costs of "everything from power supplies, examination and photocopying". He said: "We were down to the situation where we were unable to balance our budget for 2017-2018, so we took the decision... to drop to 25 hours, which is what most schools deliver." Parents at the mixed comprehensive school, which has 1,270 pupils aged 11 to 18 and was rated good in its last Ofsted inspection, had been "remarkably understanding". But the head teacher added a "significant number of pupils" were entering the school system, and pay, pension and National Insurance contributions were all due to increase. As a result, he believes the promised extra pupil funding in 2018 will "probably put us where we are now, but without having to make cuts to staff".

Question: A @placeholder school will cut an hour of teaching a week from the autumn in a bid to save £ 100,000 .


In a speech later the prime minister will say a million under-30s have already been taken out of the income tax system over the past five years as the personal allowance rose to Â£10,600. The Tory commitment to raise the threshold to Â£12,500 would exempt another 500,000, he will say. Mr Cameron is launching the Tories' five point guarantee for young people. At an event in Yorkshire, Mr Cameron will say: "If you're young, want to work hard and want to get on, the Conservative Party is the party for you. "If you put in, you'll get out. If you want to work hard and make something of yourself, whether it's through our apprenticeship programme, abolishing the jobs tax on young people, our income tax cuts or Help to Buy, we are the party of the first chance - the first job, the first pay cheque, the first home; the party of every young person who wants to get on in life." Other guarantees offered by the Tories include delivering more than three million new apprenticeships, maintaining the employment allowance, ensuring there is no national insurance on jobs for people under 21 years old, and abolishing employers' national insurance on apprentices under 25. * Subscribe to the BBC Election 2015 newsletter to get a round-up of the day's campaign news sent to your inbox every weekday afternoon.

Question: David Cameron will @placeholder that more young people would get a " first chance " under a Conservative government .


Itoje, 22, helped England complete the Six Nations Grand Slam and was part of the squad that secured a 3-0 series whitewash of Australia down under. England captain Hunter, 31, was ever-present throughout 2016. New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett won the men's player of the year award. Barrett, 25, is the fifth successive player from the world champion All Blacks to receive the award, after Dan Carter (2012 and 2015), Kieran Read (2013) and Brodie Retallick (2014). Itoje, his Saracens and England team-mates Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola, New Zealand's Dane Coles and Ireland's Jamie Heaslip were also shortlisted. Itoje is currently injured and missed England's 37-21 win over South Africa on Saturday. Steve Hansen was named coach of the year, and his All Blacks were team of the year having set a new record for winning 18 successive Tests. South Africa's Seabelo Senatla and Australia's Charlotte Caslick were respectively the men's and women's sevens players of the year. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Question: England forward Maro Itoje was named @placeholder player of year and compatriot Sarah Hunter won women 's player of the year at the World Rugby awards .


Sellers can drop tickets at the store ahead of a show, at which point the buyers receive a text alert. It has already launched in Fopp's Manchester store, and will roll out nationally by the end of the year. Founder Richard Davies said the initiative was about "convenience". "It enables people to drop off and pick up tickets in their own time and in a secure way at locations at the heart of many UK cities, and close to most venues," he said. Davies launched Twickets in 2011, after he saw a fan offering to give away tickets to a show for free on Twitter instead of letting them go to waste. The London-based web designer believed many other people would rather sell tickets to music, sport or theatre events at cost price, or less, to real fans, rather than cash in and sell them at a profit through secondary ticket websites like Seatwave and Viagogo. His service began as a Twitter account, putting buyers and sellers in touch with one another. But it grew quickly, launching an app in 2013, and attracting the attention of artists like One Direction and Adele - both of whom have encouraged fans to use the service. The site is currently selling tickets to the V Festival, and Morrissey's Manchester show, both taking place this weekend, this year for less than face value. One Direction even sold 6,000 tickets for their On The Road Again tour directly through the site - although it is worth noting that Twicket's backers include artist management company Modest, whose clients include One Direction. Twickets adds a 10% fee to every sale. "Drop and collect" tickets will attract a further Â£2.50 handling charge per transaction. Specialist music retailer Fopp, which is part of the HMV Retail group, currently has nine branches across the UK. It said the partnership with Twickets was "a great fit". Other secondary ticketing websites, including the Ticketmaster-owned Seatwave, already offer collection points near major venues; and say that about 10% of their inventory sells for less than face value. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Question: Ticket site Twickets , which allows fans to sell @placeholder concert tickets at face value , has set up a " drop and collect " service in Fopp record shops .