It is easy to dismiss Tuesday's lengthy (8 hours, 24 minutes) meeting of Labour's national executive committee as a festival of navel-gazing, but there is a lot more at stake. The idea that Wales should have its own seat on the NEC has been around for some time. Alun Michael used it as part of his Welsh Labour leadership campaign in 1988. It will now happen, but only after a close vote and a long debate over how the Welsh representative should be chosen. He or she will now be a "frontbench" member of the Welsh Assembly, chosen by the party leader in Wales. (Carwyn Jones can currently attend NEC meetings but has no voting rights). The vote was close - 16 to 15 - because supporters of Jeremy Corbyn thought it better that the Welsh rep be chosen by rank-and-file members who might be more in tune with his philosophy than someone chosen by the Welsh party leadership. Welsh Labour will also now take responsibility for its own elections, so the electoral college is likely to survive. One member one vote, with supporters able to pay to take part, is widely seen as key to the election of Jeremy Corbyn and few in the Welsh Labour hierarchy want to repeat the experiment when Carwyn Jones moves on. The leader of Welsh Labour will also get the right to attend "Clause V" meetings, where the Labour general election manifesto is signed off. And the Welsh executive will "administer the procedure and selection of Westminster parliamentary candidates in Wales". It's not clear whether that includes by-elections, where candidates have often been shortlisted by the NEC. But it could be significant with proposed boundary changes likely to mean some sitting Labour MPs going head-to-head for their own job. Some MPs fear that Corbyn supporters will try to deselect them before the next election in what they would describe as a purge and others see as wider democracy in constituencies with growing memberships under the current leader. Again, it's unclear whether devolving powers to Cardiff would have any impact. The changes add up to a more federal structure within Labour and "parity" with Scottish Labour, although its leader, Kezia Dugdale, says it will now have the power to make policy in reserved (i.e. not devolved) areas too. In other news, the polls have closed in the Labour leadership election, with Owen Smith doing little to fuel optimism among his supporters that he might win:   "I won't be serving in Jeremy's cabinet but I will do what I've always done which is be Labour, vote Labour loyally serve this party, make sure that from back benches I continue to make the arguments I've made during this campaign." The election result will be declared on Saturday ahead of the Labour conference in Liverpool, where the changes to Labour's internal machinery are expected to be approved by delegates.

Question: As a political anorak , I @placeholder to few in my fascination with the internal rulebook of political parties . I recently spent an enjoyable summer 's afternoon ploughing through the constitution of the Welsh Liberal Democrats .


The agreement would have meant an Orange parade, prevented from returning to Ligoniel on July 12, 2013, would have been completed on Friday morning. A loyalist protest camp at Twaddell Avenue would then have been dismantled. The deal was to be announced on Monday, but a press conference was cancelled. The Crumlin and Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA), the residents group involved in the talks, held a public meeting on Monday night to outline details of the proposed agreement. Afterwards, some of those who attended said they were opposed to the deal, but believe it will go ahead. Members of CARA then held a private meeting to discuss the feedback and agree the next step. A statement is expected to be issued later. It is understood discussions involving loyalists and Orange Order members are also taking place. Sources told the BBC that opinion about the proposal among those at the meeting was divided. Two nationalist MLAs for north Belfast who attended the meeting said they hoped a resolution to the dispute could be found. "The mood of tonight's meeting is that this could be an extraordinary moment, but people are very, very worried, they want to come to a conclusion," said Sinn FÃ©in MLA Gerry Kelly. "CARA outlined proposals that were brought forward by two facilitators, they have given an update about where it is at the moment and they have taken soundings, listened to people. There were many different opinions in there." Mr Kelly said CARA now faces a difficult decision and that he will support whatever they decide. SDLP MLA Nicola Mallon said the meeting had been told that one of the three Orange lodges involved in the dispute has said it would not support the proposed agreement. "Tonight was the first time that many people have had a chance to look at those details and to consider them," she said. "Certainly a lot of people had a lot of questions to  ask and have asked that CARA goes away and reflects on their views and comes back." The deal between CARA and the Orange Order also included a moratorium on future parades that pass a contested section of the route past the Ardoyne shop fronts on the Crumlin Road. Under the terms of the deal, CARA would not object to five morning parades by the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys. In return, the Loyal Orders had agreed not to apply for permission for return evening parades, including on the Twelfth, until agreement could be reached. The agreement would be hugely significant, but it does not have universal support. Another nationalist residents group, the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC), has made it clear that it is opposed to the deal. In recent days, members of one of three Orange lodges involved in the parades dispute have not backed the agreement. Ballysillan LOL 1891 has said it would not take part in the parade back to Ligoniel on Friday morning. That caused concern on the nationalist side that any agreement would not stick and that some members of the Orange Order might continue the protest. The loyalist protest at Twaddell Avenue began in July 2013 after a Parades Commission determination not to allow a return leg of an Orange parade to pass a section of the Crumlin road. Campaigners had vowed to keep protesting until the original parade was allowed to return past the Ardoyne shops.

Question: A proposed deal to end a long - running dispute between the Orange Order and a nationalist residents group in the Ardoyne area of Belfast has @placeholder .


Media playback is not supported on this device The former captain guided the home side to 171-4 in the 59 overs that were possible. He withstood some excellent South Africa bowling, particularly from Vernon Philander, who took 2-17. England gave Test debuts to three players, with Tom Westley making 25 and Dawid Malan one. Pace bowler Toby Roland-Jones is included in a bowling attack that is without left-arm spinner Liam Dawson, who was omitted to make way for an extra batsman. Rain arrived before lunch, during tea and finally, just after 18:00 BST. The four-match series is level at 1-1. Media playback is not supported on this device Following a heavy defeat in the second Test at Trent Bridge, England's batsmen came in for some fierce criticism for a cavalier approach that is often not suited to the longest form of the game. Here, they all looked to apply themselves, with Cook giving a perfect demonstration of the judgement, grit and patience that has made him England's all-time leading run-scorer. The left-hander only played the ball when necessary, often leaving on length, scoring with tickles off the pads and pushes square on the off side. He added 52 with Essex team-mate Westley, 49 with captain Joe Root and an unbeaten 51 with Ben Stokes, who remains on 21. With the match evenly poised, England will look to the former skipper to push on to a 31st Test century and well beyond on Friday. Media playback is not supported on this device What made Cook's knock all the more impressive was the examination provided by the South Africa pace attack on a green-tinged pitch that offered just enough assistance. Philander managed only four overs in the morning session because of a stomach upset, but still had Keaton Jennings caught at third slip for nought. The opener has now made three ducks in nine Test innings. Morne Morkel tormented Root after lunch, but it was Philander who struck, a wonderful delivery matched by the one-handed catch of diving wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. However, it was Kagiso Rabada who produced the moment of the day, a searing inswinging yorker that bowled Malan off his pads. Right-hander Westley, given an opportunity at number three after Gary Ballance broke a finger, was at the crease in only the fourth over and looked at home in Test cricket. Strong off the pads, he followed Cook's example to leave well outside off stump. He fell after lunch, loosely driving at Chris Morris to be caught at third slip. Middlesex's Malan, a left-hander, endured a more difficult day, taking 15 deliveries to get off the mark. But he was in no way to blame for his dismissal, with Rabada's toe-crushing pace virtually unplayable. Media playback is not supported on this device Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan on TMS: "Malan got an 88mph yorker, which is always difficult, but I do think he gets a bit shut off. "That front foot can just be opened a little bit to get in a better alignment because clearly he is going to get that ball again in the second innings. "I can't see Jennings opening in Australia this winter but I saw him in Mumbai and thought he could play. "Clearly he is low in confidence and I don't see him walking out at Brisbane but you never say never. The second innings is clearly going to be very big for him." Media playback is not supported on this device England debutant Tom Westley, speaking to the BBC: "It was the proudest moment of my life when I got my cap this morning and it was exciting to bat but equally frustrating to get out after making a start. It's been mixed emotions in that respect. "I was looking forward to batting full stop, but it did help ease the nerves to be batting with Alastair who I know well from Essex. "I didn't feel miles out of my depth which is pleasing and I take confidence from. I'm looking forward to having another bat and also when we bowl because there is something in the wicket."

Question: Alastair Cook 's @placeholder 82 held England together on a rain - affected first day of the third Test against South Africa at The Oval .


He runs the Hook and Cleaver butcher in Ealing, west London. "At the time trade really did go through the roof, especially with mince products, burgers, sausages, things like that," he says. Consumers had lost confidence in some supermarket products and favoured local butchers like Mr Dzido who could tell them more about the meat they were buying. The scandal emerged in mid-January, when Irish food inspectors announced they had found traces of horsemeat in some frozen beefburgers stocked by UK supermarkets including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl. Over the next few months a number of stores and suppliers across the UK and Europe had to remove products labelled as beef after test results revealed they contained varying quantities of horsemeat - in some cases up to 100%. As a result sales of frozen burgers and frozen ready meals plunged. The most dramatic decline came in March and April of last year when frozen burger sales tumbled 41% compared with the same months in 2012, according to figures from industry analysts Kantar Worldpanel. Frozen ready meals also saw a sharp drop in sales, falling 11% in March and 15% in April. But since that panic the frozen burger has made a comeback. For the 12 weeks to 8 December 2013, burger sales were down just 1% compared with the same period in 2012. The reason? Heavy discounting. Food retailers, including Iceland, discounted burgers after the crisis and shoppers found that hard to resist, particularly at a time when many households were struggling with tighter budgets. "If something is out there at half price you get huge spikes in sales, people immediately react to that," says Ed Garner, communications director at Kantar Worldpanel. However, frozen ready meals have not seen the same kind of recovery. The most recent figures show sales still down 6% compared with a year ago. Analysts say that is probably because shoppers were uncertain about the quality of frozen ready meals, even before the horsemeat scandal broke. "People were already predisposed to suspect frozen foods were somehow inferior," says Mr Garner. "It kind of confirmed matters when people saw that a frozen ready meal turned out to be all horse and no meat." As well as affecting sales, the horsemeat scandal has changed the way some customers shop for food. An Ipsos Mori poll run in partnership with the Grocer magazine shows that almost a third of respondents said the incident had "permanently impacted" the way they chose and bought food. And a survey carried out on behalf consumer organisation Which? in late November found that 49% of respondents said the horsemeat incident had changed their shopping habits, with 25% saying they bought less processed meat and 17% saying they bought more products from butchers and farmers' markets. And it seems that value for money is still the main concern for many shoppers. "Twenty-six per cent of the British public are buying cheaper food than they were a year ago, which may suggest that price is still a central factor in food choices," says Stephen Yap, head of Ipsos MarketQuest. According to the Ipsos Mori poll, Tesco and Iceland suffered more damage to their reputations from the incident than other supermarket chains. Ipsos Mori asked if people felt more or less favourable towards the six major UK supermarkets after the incident. In response, 20% of those polled said they felt less favourably about Tesco, and 14% felt less favourably about Iceland. But both chains would probably point to the fact that almost 70% of respondents "felt the same" about them. A Tesco spokesperson told the BBC: "The horsemeat issue impacted customer confidence across the retail industry. In response to the issue, we promised our customers we would make significant changes, and we have done so. "We take nothing for granted and will continue to work hard to ensure customers know our food is of the highest quality." Iceland did not respond to a BBC enquiry. Retailers have been working hard to regain trust, according to industry body the British Retail Consortium: "Over the last 12 months suppliers have been reassessed, supply chains are less complex including an increase in sourcing from the UK, there has been an increase in the unannounced audits of suppliers, and increased testing of ingredients." Back in Ealing, Mr Dzido is proud of the fact that he travels to Smithfield meat market and personally selects the meat sold in his shop. "We offer a bit more than supermarkets do. We are in more direct contact with the farmers, there's less people in the chain before we process any of the meat. "I know every ounce of meat hanging in my fridge, what it is and where it's come from."

Question: Paul Dzido @placeholder the weeks after the horsemeat scandal was revealed last year - because business boomed .


Australia's Bureau of Meteorology had forecast a tropical storm north of Darwin to intensify into a cyclone on Tuesday. Authorities said although conditions had improved, heavy rainfall was still likely to cause a flood risk to some communities. It comes after a cyclone hit Australia two weeks ago, bringing flooding that killed at least six people. Northern Territory authorities have warned people to avoid flooded roads. "The system looks unlikely to reach cyclone intensity until it moves further west into the Timor Sea," said forecaster Adam Morgan. If the weather system does intensify, it will be named Cyclone Frances.

Question: A cyclone warning for Australia 's Northern Territory has been @placeholder .


"What are they trying to hide?", Mr Trump tweeted. At least 20 states have said that they will not or only partly comply with the request, citing privacy concerns. Democrats fear that the commission may be used to justify tightening voting procedures - changes which could make certain groups less likely to vote. The groups most affected by so-called voter suppression tend to vote Democrat. But it is not just Democrats who are opposed to the collection of such data by the federal government. Mississippi's Secretary of State, Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, said in an official statement that his reply to the commission would be "they can go jump in the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi is a great state to launch from". Mr Trump set up the commission to investigate claims - unsubstantiated, but which he repeats - that millions of fraudulent votes cost him the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election. He secured more votes in the all-important electoral college than his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, thus winning the presidency. Mr Trump established the Presidential Advisory commission on Election Integrity in May, despite evidence that voter fraud is not a widespread problem in the US. The aim is to "increase the American people's confidence in the integrity of our election systems". Kentucky's Secretary of State, Alison Lundergan Grimes, said she would not be releasing "sensitive personal data to the federal government". "Kentucky will not aid a commission that is at best a waste of taxpayer money and at worst an attempt to legitimise voter suppression efforts across the country," she said in a statement. The panel, described by Mr Trump as "very distinguished," is chaired by Vice-President Mike Pence. On Wednesday its vice-chair, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, sent a letter to the 50 US states and the District of Columbia requesting details from voter rolls including: names, addresses, dates of birth, political affiliation, last four digits of social security number, voting history since 2006, criminal convictions and military status. The information would be used "to fully analyse vulnerabilities and issues related to voter registration and voting," the letter said. Many other states, including California, Connecticut, Minnesota and Alabama have said they will not send the information, or will only send information that is already publically available. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

Question: President Donald Trump has @placeholder the growing number of US states refusing to pass on voters ' details to his commission on electoral fraud .


Louis Masai has painted water voles, bees, a giant hedgehog and a bat on commercial properties and homes. Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset Art Works aim to highlight the nature found in Taunton's urban environment. Project manager Nick Tomlinson said many people would otherwise miss the "rich pockets of wildlife" in the town.

Question: Street art with an environmental @placeholder has been taking shape in Taunton over the weekend as part of a project to connect people with nature .


Outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau - in their first appearance together since Monday's election - laid a wreath in remembrance. Dignitaries were joined by a large crowd as well-armed police kept watch. The attacks helped usher in a sweeping anti-terrorism law. "We will not allow threats to shape us, nor bow to those who mean to undermine our values and way of life," Mr Trudeau said on Thursday at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. One year ago, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Muslim convert shot and killed Nathan Cirillo at the war memorial before attacking parliament. Zehaf-Bibeau charged into parliament and fired several shots before he was killed by Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers. Another Canadian service member, Warrant Ofc Patrice Vincent, was killed in a separate attack only a few days before.

Question: Canadians have @placeholder to pay tribute to an honour guard soldier -  a year after he was killed by a gunman who went on to storm parliament .


In two experiments, teams of researchers managed to attach tracking and sound-recording tags to 17 blue whales and two beaked whales. They then played simulated sonar sound through an underwater speaker and measured the animals' responses. The findings are reported in two Royal Society journals, Proceedings B and Biology Letters. Researchers have previously linked mass strandings and deaths of beaked whales around the world to military exercises using what is known as mid-frequency sonar. So scientists have been keen to understand if the sound harmed the animals. The new study does not explain those strandings - the chain of events that leads to these remains unclear. But marine mammal expert Patrick Miller, from the University of St Andrews' Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), who was not involved with the new study, said the results showed it would be wise for naval exercises to "avoid critical habitat areas". The beaked whale study was led by scientists also from the SMRU. It revealed what researchers had long suspected, that man-made sound had a negative effect on these deep-diving whales. Beaked whales use sound to hunt as well as to communicate. They produce echolocation clicks as they dive up to 1.5km (1mi) in depth, picking up echoes that bounce off the bodies of the squid they are hunting. When the scientists played the sonar sounds during their experiments, both of the tagged Cuvier's beaked whales stopped hunting and "swam rapidly, silently away". Perhaps more surprising was that, in the other study, led by Jeremy Goldbogen from the Cascadia Research Collective in the US state of Washington, several blue whales also responded to the sound. Blue whales communicate with very low-frequency sound - far below that of naval sonar. And because they do not use sound to hunt, the scientists thought they would not be affected. Yet the whales' responses did vary. Animals that were feeding close to the surface showed almost no response, but animals that were diving for krill - rather than sifting the surface waters - reacted very differently. "One animal was diving and feeding repeatedly all throughout the day," recalled Dr Goldbogen. "And as soon as the sound started, the animal stopped feeding and maintained a directed heading and moved away from the sound source." These vast animals can scoop up half a million calories' worth of krill in one gulp as they dive, so disturbing their feeding deprives them of large amounts of energy. "I calculated that in that time, the animal lost a metric tonne of krill," said Dr Goldbogen. "So if this happens a lot in these feeding hotspots, that could have real consequences." And currently, naval exercises are carried out in these hotspots. The blue whales in this study, for example, were feeding in the in-shore waters of California during the summer and autumn of 2010. The study area is where the US Navy carries out regular exercises and where the whales come to build up fat stores for the long migration to their breeding grounds. Even subtle disturbance to this vital pre-migration gorge, said Dr Goldbogen, "could have real consequences for the population health". "These are the biggest animals that have ever lived, so they need a huge amount of food," he added. The detailed examination of the whales' behaviour was made possible by the technology contained within the tracking tags. See inside a blue whale How do whale species live for 200 years? Hear humpback whale mating calls "A lot of the same sensors that are in our smartphones are in the tags we attached to these whales," said Dr Goldbogen. "When you rotate your phone and the screen moves with you, that's because there are these sensors called accelerometers and magnetometers. "That's how we get the information about the position of the whale." This resulted in detailed animations of each whale's position, speed and movement. But to actually put a tag onto one of these giant mammals involved a chase. The tags are attached using suction cups, so the researchers had to use a small boat to move alongside each whale, while one member of the team used a long carbon fibre pole to "tap" the tag onto the animal's back. "It's a lot easier in blue whales than some other whales, because they're so big," said Dr Goldbogen. "We can programme the tag to release, so we find the tag and download the data." This is a far trickier exercise with beaked whales, which are smaller and dive for an hour at a time. "If you see a beaked whale and if you don't get the tag on it, you might never see it again," said Dr Goldbogen. Although both studies provide clear evidence that sonar affects these rare marine mammals, the scientists say much more research is needed into the specific impacts of human activity on their environment. Dr Miller commented: "Further research on the possible long-term impacts of these effects is needed, to evaluate whether more protection measures are required." Dr Goldbogen concluded: "We didn't expect blue whales to have a strong response, so there's clearly a dearth of basic data on how animals respond to man-made sound. "These animals have evolved in a very different environment to the one they're living in today."

Question: Blue and beaked whales ' behaviour is disturbed by simulated navy sonar , according to two @placeholder studies .


Comic founder and writer Pat Mills and artist Kevin O'Neill have co-written Serial Killer, the first in a planned series of books. Mills started his career with Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson in the 70s. He said Scots he met during his time there and later while working in London inspired the novel's character, Joy. While at DC Thomson, Mills worked on the publisher's girls' titles Romeo and Jackie. After he left the Dundee publisher, he created the girls' mystery comic Misty and co-created the war stories comic Battle and science-fiction/fantasy comic 2000AD, which is 40 years old this year. With O'Neill, who illustrated 2000AD's Nemesis the Warlock stories and Alan Moore's famous graphic novel The Extraordinary League of Gentlemen, Mills has written Serial Killer, the first in a series of novels entitled Read Em and Weep. Mills said: "The novels are set in the eccentric 'Life on Mars' world that was the 1970s and features classic 1970s comics, including fictional versions of Battle, Action and 2000AD. "It's a story of revenge for a lost childhood, of flawed and eccentric characters, strange passions and arrested development." Joy, a journalist, is one of the book's main characters. Mills said: "She's inspired by a number of female journalists I worked with at DC Thomson as well as Scottish women I know in London. "One chapter in the novel comes to mind. It was inspired by a time when I worked on Romeo. "The female journalists on Romeo and Jackie were quite outraged by the awful female hygiene products that were being aimed at teenage girls. This would have been in the early 70s. "I'm pretty certain they won and the adverts were withdrawn which is admirable. The products quoted in the chapter of the novel, though fictional, are close to reality. "What was difficult on teenage magazines was how to handle real teenage girl problems and I recall the editor of the Romeo problem page telling me that she wasn't allowed to deal with serious issues and she found that very frustrating. Once again, Joy mirrors this subject." Mills also recalls how working at DC Thomson gave him a "love of popular culture which has stayed with me my entire life". Describing Scotland as having a "supportive atmosphere" for comics, he said he found DC Thomson's comic strips "so much funnier" than other mainstream British comic publishers. Among those who made the comics funny was the late Manchester-born artist Ken Reid, the inspiration for another character in Serial Killer. Mills said: "DC Thomson's fun comics were so much funnier than others and Kevin and I tackle that subject with gusto in another chapter. "We mention Ken Reid - referred to as Ken Royce - who was a protÃ©gÃ© of DC Thomson and was behind comic characters Jonah and Rodger the Dodger. "Both Kevin and I are huge admirers of his wonderfully subversive material which I do think has a Scottish satirical, almost dour, element."

Question: Women working in Scotland 's publishing industry @placeholder the writing of a character in a new novel by two legends of British comic books .


Robert Owens, 47, pleaded guilty to killing Iris Owens, in Ystrad Mynach, near Caerphilly. He appeared via videolink from Cardiff prison for the hearing at the city's crown court. He is due to be sentenced next month. Judge Eleri Rees ordered him to be seen by a psychiatrist "because of the peculiar nature of the case".

Question: A son has @placeholder the murder of his 75 - year - old mother at her home in Caerphilly county last May .


Natalia Doherty was last seen on 15 April 2003 in Eastbourne, where she was living at the time. She is thought to have travelled to Luton to stay with her ex-husband, Gerald Doherty, who has since died. Police have been searching an address in Icknield Way and have arrested a 71-year-old man from Port Glasgow. He has been held on suspicion of assisting an offender and preventing a lawful burial, and has been bailed until October. On Tuesday, police launched a new appeal for information about Ms Doherty's disappearance. They believe she was murdered, as inquiries had shown no sign of her being alive. Ms Doherty, a mother-of-three who was also known by the surnames Wilkanowska and Logan, is thought to have travelled to Luton to stay at the Regents Arms in Hastings Street. Det Sgt Graham McMillan said: "This has been a complex 20-month investigation for our officers who are committed to finding out exactly what happened to Natalia, to bring anyone involved in her disappearance to justice, and to finally bring closure to her family."

Question: Police investigating the disappearance of a 50 - year - old woman who vanished 12 years ago are searching a @placeholder in Luton .


Unlike gangs in Europe or Canada who largely hold territory so that they can control the illegal drug markets in that area, US gangs see holding territory as an end in-and-of-itself. "They're very territorial," Mr Falco said. "It's all over claiming territory or states". The Bandidos, one of the gangs involved in the shootout on Sunday, control Texas as part of their group's territory, he said. Members of other gangs can usually pass through or even live in Texas with little trouble, as long as they do not sport a Texas "bottom rocker" - a patch on the lower part of a biker's vest that shows which state the gang member is claiming. The Cossacks, who were also involved in the shooting, started as a family biker club, he said. Over time, however, their ranks grew and they began wearing the Texas bottom rocker in an act of rebellion against the Bandidos. "It's just to say they're the biggest gang on the block," Mr Falco said. "They want to keep expanding, and growing, and claiming that area as their own, and kicking out the other biker gang that might control that area." Mr Falco said that a lot of the violent gang members were formerly in the military, and the gangs themselves have strict military-like features. "A biker gang is highly structured - military style structure - with a ton of rules, regulations, and built as a war machine". The men who make up these gangs are usually older and have better training in fighting than members of other types of gangs. "They're much more sophisticated in turning out a war," he said. "A lot of these clubs started - were World War II vets or Vietnam vets - and now a lot of clubs have started based around guys returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.  So you're having an influx of new biker gangs." The Bandidos are no exception and formed in Texas during the Vietnam War era. Mr Falco said joining or creating a biker gang allows a small set of "anti-social" veterans who "love-war" to live out their combat fantasies. Joining is not quick or easy. The exact process of initiation varies in length and procedure from gang to gang, but they usually require inductees to go through several steps to prove their loyalty, according to Mr Falco. The current gang members often invite newcomers - called hang-arounds - to their club houses and parties. At these parties the newcomer is expected to serve drinks and carry out other menial tasks to show their loyalty. Overtime, as trust is built, the hang-around is made a prospect. "When you prospect you get the vest, but you only get the bottom rocker," Mr Falco explained. "You don't get the patch or anything that says the name of the club." The prospect is still required to conduct many of the humiliating tasks that newcomers are required to do, but wearing the vest allows current gang members to see how the prospect conducts himself while in uniform. "They're going to see how you deal with the police," he said. "Once you start wearing those vests... the cops are going to start messing with you." After further trust building, the prospect becomes a bonafide gang member. The exact procedure for this transition varies between gangs, with some requiring a consensus vote by all members and others needing only local validation. While many seek the comfort and security that gang affiliation might purport to provide, inductees often find that gang membership brings on a new set of insecurities. Vigilance is constantly required, Mr Falco said. Members keep tabs on rival gangs and on potential moles within their own ranks. Betrayal and backstabbing run rife, as members compete for power both within the gang and against other gangs. "They're jockeying for power, one minute you have power, once you lose it everyone leaves you," he said. "Some of the guys are very likable, some of them have generosity towards each other, and you think 'Oh that's really nice'," he said. "In reality that's all for themselves, so that they have that power, so that they have that belonging."

Question: The recent gun battle in Texas has put a spotlight on violent biker gangs in the US . Charles Falco is a former government informant who has infiltrated some of America 's most notorious biker gangs and now lives in hiding . He shared what it is like inside some of these deadly gangs and what @placeholder Sunday 's violence .


The prince met traders and security staff who helped people during the attack on 3 June. The historic market in south London was closed for several days to allow police to carry out forensic investigations. It re-opened on Wednesday when traders held a minute's silence to remember the victims. Hundreds of people, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, had gathered at the market to mark the re-opening after days of intensive cleaning and clearing by the community. Prince Harry bought a box of doughnuts from Matt Jones, of Bread Ahead, whose staff protected members of the public on the night of the attacks. Mr Jones said the attack "was a horrible thing", and Harry replied: "The strength of this community and London as a whole is magic." He also praised the bravery of staff who worked in bars and restaurants around Borough Market and helped people during the assault. Prince Harry spoke to security officer Ganga Garbuja, who was one of the first on the scene and led people to safety. A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "Prince Harry was keen to come down as soon as possible to spread the message that this vibrant market is open for business." Inquests into the deaths of the eight victims are being held at Southwark Coroner's Court.

Question: Prince Harry has @placeholder Borough Market a day after it re-opened following the London Bridge terrorist attack in which eight people died .


Police targeted the supply of crack cocaine and heroin in the city centre. Operation Avignon was launched partly in response to a VBS.TV documentary called Swansea Love Story which showed addicts injecting themselves in public. The Swansea Crown Court sentencing followed undercover offices targeting street dealing in the city centre. Police said they were determined to disrupt the supply of class A, B and C drugs with a particular emphasis on heroin and crack cocaine. It was partly in response to the number of drug deaths and overdoses in the area. It was also motivated by the amount of discarded needles and other drugs paraphernalia found in the city. Officers also said they wanted to tackle the image of Swansea portrayed in the film which followed the everyday lives of addicts. During sentencing, Judge Peter Heywood said: "Heroin leads to a life of misery and degradation, it's a downward spiral for those who take it. "The police very properly had concerns about the escalating problem of heroin use in the city. "It was becoming readily available and easy to get hold of. "It's almost at endemic levels in south Wales." Supt Phil Davies of South Wales Police said the sentences reflected "the concerns that society has in respect of Class A drugs" and "in particular heroin supply within Swansea and the impact it has upon the the community". "I also hope that these sentences will provide a focus for reflection upon the need to seek harm reduction advice for those who are addicted to this drug and a stark reminder of the likely consequences to those who continue supplying class A drugs within our community."

Question: An undercover police operation targeting drug dealers in Swansea has seen 26 people @placeholder for a total of more than 50 years .


Jerry Bance had been competing as a Conservative in a Toronto district but a party spokesman said on Monday that he is "no longer a candidate". Broadcaster CBC used hidden cameras in 2012 to video Mr Bance as he attended to a leaky sink as a repairman. In a statement he said he was "deeply regretful" over the incident. But opposition politicians wasted no time trying to capitalise. "He must be someone who is adept at [Prime Minister] Stephen Harper's trickle-down theory of economics,'' said New Democrat leader Tom Mulcair. Mr Bance was filmed during an episode of CBC-TV's investigative series Marketplace, which was aiming to expose and confront workmen overcharging for simple repairs. With the homeowner in the next room, he is seen relieving himself in a mug before dumping its contents into the sink and rinsing it out. Canadians go to the polls on 19 October, with Mr Harper's governing Conservative Party seeking re-election. Last week, the country recorded its second consecutive quarter of economic contraction and officially entered a recession.

Question: A tradesman caught on camera urinating into a coffee cup while working in someone 's @placeholder has dropped out of running for Canada 's parliament .


More say over energy, transport and the assembly's own elections are on offer. But a report said the draft Wales Bill was "constricting" the assembly, by the way it was reserving many matters as the responsibility of Westminster. Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said he was open to changes amid accusations the bill may reduce Welsh power. It proposes moving to a "reserved powers" model for Wales, by which all policy areas are assumed to be devolved unless specified as remaining with the UK government. Opposition parties have claimed the list of reservations is too long. Monday's report from Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre and University College London (UCL) said the UK government's latest devolution proposals were "clunky and short-sighted". Professor Richard Rawlings from UCL said Wales had experienced "three deeply problematic devolution settlements" since 1999, and there had been hopes of a process putting Welsh devolution on a "sustainable constitutional basis". But he warned: "The draft Wales Bill does not do what was promised. "All too often, the Secretary of State's fine policy objectives of a stronger, clearer, fairer and more robust devolution settlement are frustrated by provision that is constricting, clunky, inequitable and constitutionally short-sighted. Prof Rawlings said the assembly faced a "triple squeeze" of "intrusive general restriction, over-occupation of legislative space, and blurry forms of executive veto". MPs on the Welsh Affairs Committee have been carrying out their own inquiry and are expected to publish a report soon. A spokesman for the Wales Office said: "We want the Wales Bill to create a stronger Wales within a strong United Kingdom and we published a draft bill so that we could listen to comments and make sure we get this right. "Clearly before publishing the full bill we have to wait for the Welsh Affairs Committee to publish its report, and then give due consideration to its recommendations." A Welsh government spokesperson said Monday's report backed the first minister's assertion that the draft Bill was "too important to be rushed". "We urge the UK government to delay introduction of the Bill and take the time needed to get this right, with proper engagement between UK and Welsh governments and other stakeholders," the spokesperson added. Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said Monday's report echoed many of her party's concerns. "The only way of securing a robust and sustainable devolution settlement is to give Wales parity with the other nations of the UK," she said. "At present, Scotland and Northern Ireland are being handed significant tax powers while English cities will gain control over policing - all of this without a referendum. "Time and again, Wales is forced to jump through more hoops than any other part of the UK, only to end up with less control over our own affairs." By the standards of the usual dry constitutional language associated with reports like this, there was some eye-catching criticism here. The authors say the draft Wales bill, if left unchanged, would give lawyers a field day and have a "chilling effect" on AMs who would be reluctant to legislate because of the lack of certainty on the boundaries. We are told Stephen Crabb is in listening mode. He will need to be in reading mode as well, with another report from Welsh MPs on its way on the same subject. The Welsh secretary has already said he is going to make alterations. The question is whether there is enough time available to him to make the kind of changes that are being called for.

Question: Plans to give more powers to Wales are so @placeholder AMs should reject them altogether , a team of academics and former senior civil servants has said .


It has always ended like that, wherever he has been. Media playback is not supported on this device But if England have failed in their attempts to manage him, then so has everyone else. At least the decision not to pick him again was unanimous and made by those at the England and Wales Cricket Board who know what really went on. It has been made by people within the dressing room, not by journalists or supporters. Players have said various things off the record about Pietersen and his behaviour, but when a camera or dictaphone is put in front of them they will tell you what a great lad he is. On the field of play, he may have been England's leading run scorer in the 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia, but he dug deep and fought only once, when he scored 71 and 49 at Melbourne. If he had averaged 40 and been caught behind every time, then he may have survived. However, the way he got out in the first three Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will have played a big part in the decision taken by the ECB. Pietersen has always batted however he feels on a particular day, but if he could not get his head down and play for the team when they were up against it, could he ever do so? His international career could easily have ended 18 months ago when he sent text messages to the South Africa dressing room, undermining then captain Andrew Strauss. That was shameful - and Pietersen knew it. The ECB did all it could to bring him back on board, but when you have been so completely and utterly dismantled, as England have been this winter, you have to draw a line. Nov 2004: Makes England one-day debut, scoring 27 not out against Zimbabwe Jan/Feb 2005: Scores three hundreds in one-day series in South Africa July 2005: Makes Test debut in opening Ashes Test, scoring 57 & 64 not out Sept 2005: Scores 158 on the final day of the Ashes series as England win urn for first time in 18 years Aug 2008: Named England Test and one-day captain Jan 2009: Resigns as England captain following a rift with coach Peter Moores, who is sacked May 2010: Scores 248 runs and is named player of the tournament as England win the World T20 in West Indies Jan 2011: Part of England team that wins a Test series in Australia for first time since 1987 May 2012: Announces retirement from international limited-overs cricket Aug 2012: Reverses his retirement decision Aug 2012: Dropped for third Test against South Africa for sending "provocative texts" to opposition players, days after scoring a brilliant century at Headingley Oct 2012: Agrees to be "reintegrated" into England team after signing new ECB contract. Recalled for India tour and scores 186 in Mumbai in 2-1 series win Sept 2013: Helps England to 3-0 Ashes series victory over Australia Jan 2014: Part of England team that suffers 5-0 whitewash in Australia Feb 2014: Told he is no longer in the ECB's plans England's new managing director, Paul Downton, says he wants to "rebuild not only the team, but also the team ethic and philosophy". And he is exactly right. Teams sometimes get too settled, get stuck in their ways and lose sight of what they are there to do. It is not about being the greatest team in the world ever, it is about fighting for every run and wicket. That is what you have to get back to. England need players like Durham's Ben Stokes, who is young, hungry and ambitious. They must work really hard to build up a team again, especially after team director Andy Flower's resignation last week. Only those close to the team can decide whether Pietersen would have bought into that - and they clearly thought he would not. The England management could have told him he would not feature in the limited-overs tour of the West Indies and the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh that follows, but that if he got his head down and scored some runs in county cricket then the route back was possible. That would have placed the emphasis on him. If he wanted to reach that 10,000-Test run landmark that he talked about and if he wanted to work under a new coach, that would have been in his power. That was the option I thought the ECB would take. I will remember Pietersen as possibly the most entertaining, brilliant and unorthodox batsman I have ever seen. Some of the shots he played were things that not even West Indies great Viv Richards - my idol growing up - would have played. It is very easy to say that Pietersen has not fulfilled his potential - he averaged less than 50 in Test cricket and missed out on the 10,000 Test runs he should have scored - but much of the disappointment that people feel towards him is similar to the way people felt about David Gower. People would complain about Gower playing another loose shot outside off stump, but often that was because they had wanted to watch him at the crease for a little longer. It is a shame we will never see Pietersen in England colours again. Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport's Mike Henson.

Question: The people who have been closely involved with the Kevin Pietersen story @placeholder it was always destined to finish in a dramatic parting of the ways .


Officially the Grateful Dead had no leader. But from the band's origins in 1965 to his death 30 years later, Garcia was the best known member of a group which still evokes the excitement of American counterculture in the 1960s. As well as '60s psychedelia, the group's albums show the influence of jazz, bluegrass, mainstream pop and even their early days as a jug band.  But when they toured it was the lengthy jam sessions fans loved - and central to those was the Garcia guitar sound. Devoted Deadheads identify five classic guitars which Garcia played at different times: Alligator, Rosebud, Lightning Bolt, Tiger and Wolf. The last two were auctioned together in 2002 and made more than $1.5m (£1.2m).  Now Wolf is back at the same auction house to benefit the advocacy group the Southern Poverty Law Center. Arlan Ettinger runs Guernsey's auction house in New York which is handling this month's sale. Guernsey's specialises in the unusual.  "I've loved having a pioneering sale of John F Kennedy memorabilia or jazz artefacts," says Ettinger. "But selling Tiger and Wolf the first time round was a huge thrill because real fans are amazingly passionate about the Grateful Dead. It's like they've become the ultimate rock icon of '60s America and all that excitement and the passion that went with it." Tiger was bought in 2002 by the hugely wealthy Jim Irsay, who owns the National Football League (NFL) team the Indianapolis Colts.  Wolf went for more than $700,000 (£543,000) to Dan Pritzker, whose family founded the Hyatt hotel chain. Ettinger remembers there had already been a lot of press interest in who owned the guitars. "They were consigned to Guernsey's by the man who made them - the luthier [guitar maker] Doug Irwin.  In his will Jerry had bequeathed the guitars back to Doug but the band members challenged that legally. Times had been tough for Doug Irwin and he had at times been homeless. "Everyone was saying they were worth maybe $25,000 (£19,000) or $50,000 (£39,000) apiece.  But we built a big auction of Grateful Dead material around them and we proved they were worth a lot more. The auction was at the ultra-hip disco Studio 54 in Manhattan which made it pretty special. "So I was surprised and delighted when Dan Pritzker got back in contact to say all these years later he wants to auction Wolf again for charity.  Dan is intent that every dollar of the hammer price should go to the Law Center and we've agreed to that. "Given what it sold for in 2002 and given how great a cause this is, we're hoping the Center will get more than $1.5m (£1.2m) from the sale this month." The Southern Poverty Law Center was founded in Alabama in 1971 to focus on civil rights. Ettinger thinks Garcia would be delighted to see it benefit from the sale of Wolf. "Southern Poverty has fought racism and hate groups and neo-Nazis through the courts. So I thought it was a noble thing for Dan Pritzker to do.  It's a pure gift with no tax write-off and there's no seller's commission for us. "Dan told me he was deeply troubled by the direction our new government is taking.  He wanted to take some proactive steps to do something important and good with the money the auction will raise." The guitar's Wolf association came about almost by accident: it wasn't something Irwin included when he made the instrument. Garcia stuck a cartoon wolf on the guitar as a joke. At one point the instrument went back to Irwin for repairs and he decided to incorporate the cartoon wolf more permanently. Ettinger thinks only the most obsessive Deadheads can identify exactly which guitar Garcia played in each recording. "But the Wolf design means you can often pick out that exact instrument at a particular concert in photographs and film footage. "There is so much interest still in Jerry and the band. There's a new Martin Scorsese six-part TV series about them: I think that will tell us about the world they lived in, not just about their music. "It's funny when you think of the guitar as just wood and strips of metal and wire strings.  But it takes people back to very important moments in their lives.  It's been around since 1973 so it's fantastic that all these years later it will do so much good in the world." The guitar will be auctioned at Guernsey's in New York on 31 May. 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: It 's more than 20 years since Jerry Garcia died ending the glory years of the Grateful Dead , one of the most popular rock bands to date . These days some ardent fans ( or " Deadheads " ) will pay top prices for the right piece of band memorabilia . But now , possibly the ultimate Garcia artefact is coming to auction in New York - his favourite guitar , @placeholder Wolf . And a single charity is to benefit .


Instead, hundreds of photographers and men turned up for the event on Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema beach. More than 2,000 women had said they would take their tops off on the beach on Saturday morning to call for the law to be scrapped. Organisers say most women probably felt too intimidated to join the protest. Protesters say Brazilian legislation, which defines beach topless as an obscene act, is anachronistic and hypocritical. They argue that nudity is tolerated during the annual carnival parade in Rio. "It's a false-Puritanism and indicative of our macho culture that we have a law forbidding that a woman can go topless," Olga Salon told the Associated Press news agency. She was one of the few women who went ahead with the protest and took her top off before a crowd of photographers and male beach-goers. The organiser, Ana Rios, said the idea was to raise awareness to the prejudice against women in Brazil. "It is a pity it became a media circus. What really amazes me is the number of men who came here just to see women's chests," she said. The movement began after Brazilian actress Cristina Flores was approached by local policemen during a photo session. She says they threatened to arrest her if she did not agree to put her top on. "I didn't even know it was illegal when I did it," she said. A 1940s law says going topless on the beach is punishable with three months to a year in jail or a fine. The harsh penalties are rarely enforced, but topless sunbathing is not tolerated on most Brazilian beaches.

Question: A protest in Brazil against a decades - old ban on topless sunbathing has failed to @placeholder more than a dozen women .


Most migrants were said to have relocated to accommodation in refitted shipping containers but some moved their tents further inside the camp. Authorities want to clear the area next to a motorway for security reasons. Riot police have been overseeing the operation which seemed to be happening without incident. The move is part of a new housing project in attempts to improve conditions in the camp, which is used by about 5,000 migrants and refugees. The 125 converted containers are equipped with electricity, heating and bunk beds, and each one can accommodate 12 people. Officials had given between 1,000 and 1,500 residents until last Thursday to leave the area, but they were reportedly given a grace period until Monday. But many migrants and refugees had refused to use the new accommodation and moved their temporary homes further inside the camp, despite poor living conditions. Many reportedly feared they could be permanently trapped at the new camp, unable to continue their attempts to cross to the UK. Some also expressed their unhappiness about leaving an area where they have established a community, and are concerned about their future treatment by the authorities. "This (the container camp) is the same as a jail. It is not good," one resident told the BBC. Volunteers helped residents to move their tents from the area in recent days. French and British officials want to reduce the number of migrants in Calais and deter others from arriving in the hope of reaching the UK.

Question: Bulldozers have @placeholder to clear part of the makeshift Calais camp known as the " Jungle " after about 1,000 residents left the area .


Russian MPs have backed a bill to ban "undesirable" foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or firms. The draft leaves the definition of "undesirable" open to interpretation. Under an existing 2012 law, foreign-funded Russian NGOs linked to politics must register as "foreign agents". The label has connotations of spying. A party loyal to President Vladimir Putin drafted the new law. His supporters dominate both houses of parliament. The text going through the Duma - Russia's lower house - says it will be up to Russian prosecutors and the foreign ministry to decide if a foreign organisation or firm is "undesirable". A foreigner declared "undesirable" could face a fine of up to 500,000 roubles (Â£6,343; $10,000) and up to six years in jail. The bill passed a second reading in the Duma on Friday. It still requires a third reading, then approval by the upper house (Federation Council) and President Putin to become law. In most cases that is a formality. The legislation comes amid frosty relations between Russia and the West, characterised by sanctions and counter-sanctions over Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. The BBC's Yuri Vendik in Moscow says the legislation opens up foreign firms to potential prosecution, because it does not include the word "non-commercial" in the text. The MP who drafted it, Alexander Tarnavsky of the party A Just Russia, said he wanted foreign businesses to be covered by the law. "Unfortunately some foreign organisations for various reasons are working against Russia. "They may be ideological reasons, or in the interests of shareholders, or economic interests, it's normal for them to say: 'Come on, let's push Russia down, so the value of Russian shares goes down, and then we'll buy them,'" he told the BBC. 'Pressure on foreigners' - Yuri Vendik, BBC Russian: This law is a way of strengthening pressure on foreigners - it can be seen as a political step. It doesn't give any criteria to define "undesirable", so it is not clear which organisations could be affected - the language is not precise. In theory they can punish whoever they like - businesses, media organisations. Or it could be an oil firm, or someone in the financial sphere. Non-governmental organisations are not clearly defined in Russian law. The text has been finished - there won't be more amendments now. But there might be a procedural delay before the Duma's third and final reading. Pavel Chikov, head of a human rights umbrella group called Agora, said: "Simply declaring someone 'undesirable, we don't want to see him on our territory' will be a violation of international law and general legal principles, and of the civil legal code." He predicted "a mass of disputes over interpretation of the law". In a commentary on the draft law, the popular Russian daily Moskovsky Komsomolets said the "undesirable" label could be applied to any foreign organisation, "commercial and non-profit alike". It said NGOs such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Reporters Without Borders and Transparency International "are certainly under threat". It described the new law as a "weapon" that could be used "next time relations with the West escalate, or under the influence of paranoid 'anti-Maidan' nightmares" - referring to Russian fears of a Ukraine-style popular revolt against the government.

Question: Russia plans to introduce new @placeholder to prosecute foreigners whose activities are seen as " undesirable " on national security grounds .


Newshub reported that their owner, Derrick Millton, dug a track and herded them down to a safer area. A geologist told the news portal that the Herefords may have "surfed" the land as it crumbled and left them marooned several metres above ground. The two adult cows and one calf are now safe, but "quiet... they've had a terrible ordeal," said Mr Millton. He added: "You're a clever cow to skip and dance while the land beneath you is disappearing down the hill." The cows were among 14 which were rescued after the land collapsed. Mr Millton told Newshub that he had lost other cattle. The rescued cows "desperately needed water, cows don't like living without water so that was the first requirement, and I think one or two had lost calves in the earthquake so they were a bit distressed," he said. The incident took place at a farm near Kaikoura, northeast of Christchurch and the town hardest hit by Monday's 7.5-magnitude earthquake. Rescues are ongoing at Kaikoura.

Question: Three cows stranded on a tiny @placeholder of grass after Monday 's earthquake in New Zealand have been rescued .


Kyle Johnson, 15, was seriously injured and still has fragments of air rifle pellet lodged in his brain. Steven Thompson, 39, admitted shooting the teenager in Sunderland in October and was jailed for 11 years and 10 months at Newcastle Crown Court. "He won't make me feel like this forever," said Kyle. He has lost most movement in the left side of his body and can only walk for short spells, using a wheelchair for longer distances. "I have the fight and determination to make my life better, and I will," he said. "I just want to get back to being my old self.  I will get there one day." A court order preventing Kyle being identified has now been lifted by the judge, Northumbria Police said. His mother Lindsy said is was "truly heart-breaking to see a once active young boy fighting to get his body and mind back to what it once was". "He is inspirational and his determination is unbelievable," she said. In March, Thompson, of Hewitt Avenue, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an air rifle without a firearms certificate. He had been angered by the noise of the bike, the court heard. Det Insp Ed Small said Kyle was lucky to survive and had been "extremely brave throughout this investigation". "No 15-year-old should have their freedom or dignity taken away from them in this way," he said.

Question: A teenager shot in the head while riding on the back of a moped says he has the " fight and determination " to @placeholder .


Private investment firm Ennismore said improvements and upgrades were being made throughout the Perthshire hotel. The project includes a new bar in the Dormy Clubhouse and refurbishment of the hotel's main bar. Ennismore plans to create public spaces that "reflect Gleneagles' distinctly Scottish identity, but with a contemporary feel". Designers involved in the initiative include David Collins Studio, Timorous Beasties, Macaulay Sinclair and Goddard Littlefair. Work is expected to be completed by early summer. The hotel and golf resort was bought by Ennismore last July in a deal thought to have been worth about Â£150m. Ennismore chief executive Sharan Pasricha said: "We're approaching the refurbishment with bold and creative decisions while respecting the hotel's history and building on its remarkable heritage. "It's an organic progression - evolution, not revolution - and will ensure the iconic Gleneagles brand remains synonymous with luxury, and the hotel maintains its position among the leading hotels of the world." He added: "When Gleneagles first opened its doors in 1924, it was dubbed as the 'Palace in the Glens' and our aim is to surpass these glory days. "We look forward to introducing our guests to the new spaces and continuing to provide them with a five-star experience in a setting that is effortlessly stylish and luxurious."

Question: The new owners of The Gleneagles Hotel have launched a multi-million pound refurbishment of the @placeholder .


Opposition parties and human rights groups say this would erode the independence of the judiciary. The governing Law and Justice party says the reforms are needed because the judiciary is corrupt and serves only the elite. The bill must now be signed by the president in order to become law. A demonstration against the changes is scheduled to take place in the capital Warsaw on Sunday. Since it came to power in 2015, the government of the conservative, populist Law and Justice party (PiS), has passed a series of controversial reforms, triggering mass protests. Polish senators backed the legislation in a vote in the early hours of Saturday morning. Earlier this week, Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro had argued that the changes were necessary because the current system of appointing judges was undemocratic. "We want to end corporatism and introduce the oxygen of democracy there. Because Poland is a democracy based on the rule of law. "This is not court-ocracy," the minister said. But opposition parties are concerned that the law would give parliament - dominated by PiS lawmakers - a greater say  in appointing judges, violating the constitutional separation of powers. The legislation will now go to President Andrzej Duda for signing. He has given no indication he plans to veto it. A separate bill was also presented in parliament this week, which would allow the justice minister to get rid of all of Poland's Supreme Court judges and appoint new ones. This piece of legislation was not consulted beforehand and introduced to parliament in the middle of the night, reports the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw. Under the PiS government, the justice minister already wields considerable power over the prosecution service in his role as prosecutor general because he can influence prosecutors to launch investigations, our correspondent says. Grzegorz Schetyna, who leads the opposition Civic Platform party, denounced the tabling of the bill as an "announcement of a coup", the AFP news agency reports. Earlier this week, the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner, Nils Muiznieks, said the reforms were "a major setback for judicial independence". Meanwhile, Manfred Weber, the leader of the European Parliament's largest grouping, the EPP, said "Law and Justice is putting an end to the rule of law and leaving the European community of values".

Question: Poland 's parliament has approved a bill to give MPs and the justice minister the power to appoint judges without consulting judicial @placeholder .


Visit our live guide for direct links to all our live sporting coverage - including text commentaries - while BBC Sport app users can also set event reminders so they never miss a moment of their favourite sports. All times GMT. Fixtures and event start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. For more details of forthcoming coverage, visit the specific sport's page on the website. Coverage on BBC Red Button can be subject to late schedule changes. BBC Radio 5 live ushers in the new Super League season as St Helens host Leeds, while BBC Two has the latest football news and interviews in The Premier League Show. 19:00-20:00, 5 live Sport - including St Helens v Leeds build-up, BBC Radio 5 live 20:00-22:00, Rugby league - St Helens v Leeds, Super League, BBC Radio 5 live 22:00-22:30, Football - The Premier League Show, BBC Two (23:15-23:45, BBC Two NI) 22:25-00:00, Football - FA Cup fourth-round goals, BBC Red Button The return of the Super League continues with live commentary on Castleford v Leigh, while you can follow all the action from the women's combined events at the Alpine World Ski Championships from St Moritz. 08:45-10:45, Winter sport - Ski Sunday Extra: Women's combined downhill, Alpine World Ski Championships, BBC Red Button and online 11:45-13:20, Winter sport - Ski Sunday Extra: Women's combined slalom, Alpine World Ski Championships, BBC Red Button and online 13:00-14:00, The Friday Sports Panel, BBC Radio 5 live 19:00-21:00, Football - The Friday Football Social, BBC Radio 5 live 19:00-21:15, Rugby union - Scrum V: Munster v Dragons, Pro12, BBC Red Button and online 19:10-21:10, Rugby union - Wales U20 v England U20, BBC Two Wales, Connected TV and online 19:30-21:25, Rugby union - Ulster v Edinburgh, Pro12, BBC Two NI, Connected TV and online 19:30-21:30, Basketball - Worcester Wolves v Manchester Giants, BBL, Connected TV and online 19:30-22:30, Rugby league - Castleford Tigers v Leigh Centurions, Super League, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra 21:00-22:00, Rugby union - Six Nations preview: Week two, BBC Radio 5 live A full day of men's and women's Six Nations coverage includes Wales taking on England across BBC TV, radio and online, plus Usain Bolt captains his own team as the second Nitro Athletics event takes place. 09:00-10:00, The Danny Baker Show, BBC Radio 5 live 10:45-13:10, Winter sport - Ski Sunday Extra: Men's downhill, Alpine World Ski Championships, BBC Red Button and online 11:00-12:00, Fighting Talk, BBC Radio 5 live 11:25-13:30, Rugby union - Wales Women v England Women, Women Six Nations,  BBC Two Wales (only) 12:00-13:00, Football - Football Focus, BBC One (not in Scotland) 12:00-14:30, Football - Celtic v Inverness, Scottish Cup fifth round, BBC One Scotland 12:10-18:45, Athletics - British Athletics Indoor Team Trials, Connected TV and online 13:15-14:00, Athletics - Nitro Athletics: Usain Bolt Takes On The World, BBC One (not in Scotland) 14:00-16:00, Rugby league - Challenge Cup second round, Connected TV and online 14:20-16:25, Rugby union - Italy v Ireland, Six Nations, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra 14:30-16:30, Football - Final Score, BBC Red Button and online (Connected TV and online until 17:30) 15:00-16:50, Football - Manchester United v Watford, Premier League BBC Radio 5 live 16:15-18:55, Rugby union - Wales v England, Six Nations, BBC One (16:15-19:15, including Forum, Connected TV & online; 16:50-19:00, BBC Radio 5 live; watch with 5 live commentary on the BBC Red Button) 16:30-17:30, Football - Final Score, BBC Two (not in Scotland; 16:30-17:00, BBC One NI) 16:30-17:30, Football - Sportscene Results, BBC Two Scotland 17:00-17:30, Football - Final Score from NI, BBC Two NI 19:55-22:00, Rugby union - France Women v Scotland Women, Women's Six Nations, Connected TV and online 19:00-20:30, Football - 606, phone-in, BBC Radio 5 live 22:30-23:55, Football - Match of the Day, BBC One (not in Scotland) 22:30-23:40, Football - Scottish Cup highlights, BBC One Scotland Scotland play France and Ireland face Italy in round two of the men's and women's Six Nations. The Alpine World Ski Championships continue, and Swansea host Leicester in the Premier League. 07:30-09:00, Football - Match of the Day (repeat), BBC One 09:00-10:00, Sportsweek, BBC Radio 5 live 10:45-12:50, Skiing - Ski Sunday Extra: Women's downhill, Alpine World Ski Championships, BBC Red Button and online 11:55-16:55, Athletics - British Athletics Indoor Team Trials, Connected TV and online 12:15-13:00, Football - MOTD2 Extra, BBC Two and BBC Radio 5 live 12:55-14:45, Rugby union - Exeter v Wasps, Premiership, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra 12:55-15:00, Rugby union - Italy Women v Ireland Women, Women's Six Nations, Connected TV and online 13:00-14:00, Athletics - Nitro Athletics: Usain Bolt Takes On The World, BBC Two 13:00-16:00, 5 live Sport - including updates from Burnley v Chelsea (Premier League) and France v Scotland (Six Nations), BBC Radio 5 live 14:15-17:00, Rugby union - France v Scotland, Six Nations, BBC One (14:15-17:15, including Forum, Connected TV and online; 14:55-17:00, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; watch with 5 live commentary on the BBC Red Button) 16:00-18:06, Football - Swansea v Leicester, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live 17:00-17:45, Winter sport - Ski Sunday, BBC Two (repeated 21:00-00:20, BBC Red Button) 18:06-19:30, Football - 606, phone-in, BBC Radio 5 live 22:00-23:00, Football - Match of the Day 2, BBC Two (22:30-23:30, BBC Two NI) 23:45-00:15, Rugby union - Women's Six Nations highlights, BBC Two (not in Northern Ireland) Bournemouth host Manchester City in the Premier League as the Alpine World Ski Championships continue, plus there is live coverage of the opening day's play in the Welsh Open snooker, where Ronnie O'Sullivan is defending champion. 08:45-10:55, Winter sport - Ski Sunday Extra: Men's Combined - Downhill, Alpine World Ski Championships, BBC Red Button and online 11:45-13:25, Winter sport - Ski Sunday Extra: Men's Combined - Slalom, Alpine World Ski Championships, BBC Red button and online 13:00-13:30, Rugby union - Women's Six Nations highlights, BBC Two (not Wales or Northern Ireland) 13:00-16:20, Snooker - Welsh Open, BBC Two Wales (13:25-16:20, BBC Red Button) 19:00-20:00, Snooker - Welsh Open, BBC Two Wales, BBC Red Button and online 19:00-20:00, Football - The Monday Night Club, BBC Radio 5 live 20:00-22:00, Football - Bournemouth v Man City, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live 22:00-22:30, Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy, BBC Radio 5 live 23:00-00:15, Rugby league - Super League Show, BBC One (North West, North East & Cumbria, Yorks & Lincs & Yorkshire) BBC Radio 5 live is on hand with updates from tonight's Champions League and Football League fixtures, Welsh Open snooker continues in Cardiff and the third-round draw for rugby league's Challenge Cup takes place live on the BBC Sport website. 10:45-12:55, Winter sport - Ski Sunday Extra: Team Event - Alpine World Ski Championships, BBC Red Button and online 13:00-16:15, Snooker - Welsh Open, BBC Two Wales, BBC Red Button and online 13:15-14:00, Rugby league - Super League Show, BBC Two (repeated 17:30-19:00, BBC Red Button; 00:05-00:50, BBC Two Wales) 18:30-22:30, Football - 5 live Final Score, Connected TV and online (20:00-22:30, BBC Red Button) 19:00-20:00, Snooker - Welsh Open, BBC Two Wales, BBC Red Button and online 19:00-19:10, Rugby league - Challenge Cup third-round draw,  Connected TV and online 19:00-22:30, 5 live Sport - Coverage and goal updates from the night's Championship and EFL fixtures, plus Champions League updates, BBC Radio 5 live Arsenal travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, with build-up, live commentary and post-match reaction on BBC Radio 5 live. 13:00-16:25, Snooker - Welsh Open, BBC Two Wales, BBC Red Button and online 19:00-20:00. Snooker - Welsh Open, BBC Two Wales, BBC Red Button and online 19:45-22:00, Football - Bayern Munich v Arsenal, Champions League, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 18:30) 22:00-22:30, Football - 5 live Football Social, BBC Radio 5 live You can view BBC Sport output as well as listen to our radio sports programming on the BBC iPlayer. The BBC Sport website is available via desktop, mobile, tablet and app, giving fast and easy access to the live stream, text commentaries, news, reports, schedules, videos, as well as highlights of the day's action. The BBC Sport app is available free on Apple and Android devices. National and regional variations have been included in this list where possible, but please check your local listings for more detailed information.

Question: Find out the details of the major sports coverage on @placeholder across BBC television , radio and online this week .


Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard knocked down shortstop Alcides Escobar with the first pitch of the game, a 98mph fastball that whizzed past his head. Syndergaard said he had thrown the ball to "make a statement". The Mets trail the best-of-seven series 2-1, with the fourth game taking place at Citi Field on Saturday night. Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas said his team were "upset" by Syndergaard's actions, adding: "All 25 guys in that dugout were pretty fired up." Escobar added: "The first pitch around my head, that's not good." The pitch set the tone for the game, in which the teams traded leads in the early innings, before the Mets pulled away.

Question: The Kansas City Royals were @placeholder by aggressive tactics from the New York Mets as they lost game three of the World Series 9 - 3 .


Since April, convicted criminals in England and Wales have had to pay a charge of between £150 and £1,200 towards the cost of their case. MPs on the justice select committee said the charge, which is not means-tested, created "serious problems" and was often "grossly disproportionate". Ministers said it was under review. The fee is paid on top of fines, compensation orders and defendants' own legal charges, and is higher for those convicted after pleading not guilty. It is set according to the type of case, with the minimum charge for magistrates' courts and the maximum level for crown court cases. In March, the then Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the fee would ensure that criminals "pay their way". But chairman of the cross-party committee Bob Neill said: "The evidence we have received has prompted grave misgivings about the operation of the charge, and whether, as currently framed, it is compatible with the principles of justice." He added that "in many cases it is grossly disproportionate" and created "perverse incentives - not only for defendants to plead guilty but for sentencers to reduce awards of compensation and prosecution costs". The committee's report said the lack of discretion for judges and magistrates on the level of the charge was creating "unacceptable consequences within the criminal justice system". It cited the case of a woman who had admitted stealing a four-pack of Mars Bars worth 75p, saying she "had not eaten in days" after her benefits were sanctioned. She was ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge on top of her £73 fine, £85 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and 75p compensation. The committee also said it was "highly sceptical" of government claims that the charges could deliver a net revenue of £80m to £160m a year by 2023 - with an annual cost of collection of about £20m and a £5m bill for imprisoning defaulters. The Ministry of Justice said the concerns were noted and the operation of the fee was being kept under review. It comes after Justice Secretary Michael Gove told Parliament earlier this month that the charge was generating revenue and helping to "ensure that the taxpayer is not the first port of call for supporting the way in which our courts operate". But Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the criminal courts charge was "unrealistic and unjust" and called on the Ministry of Justice to "suspend this policy immediately". "The innocent have been put under pressure to plead guilty, and ordering indigent people to pay money they simply do not have is never going to work," she said.

Question: The criminal courts charge should be @placeholder by ministers , a parliamentary committee has said , as it raised " grave misgivings " about the fee 's benefits .


But a quick glimpse at any high street with its rows of closed-down signs, pound shops and charity outlets suggest that consumers don't entirely agree. Now a new phenomenon - dubbed social shopping - threatens to incorporate the missing social element in online shopping and possibly destroy even more bricks and mortar stores. Social shopping encompasses a range of ideas, from shopping within social networks, to shopping-specific search engines that use friends recommendations to group buying sites such as Groupon. Groupon harnesses the power of the crowd to bring people daily deals that they may not even have known they wanted - from manicures to mountain biking. It has a very simple business model - people sign up for offers and once the required number of people are registered, the deal is confirmed and a voucher is sent to your inbox. The firm has five million users in the UK alone, and is said to be the fastest growing company ever. It puts much of its growth down to web-based recommendations - people see a deal and spread it among their online friends but not everyone is convinced by its social credentials. "There are a lot of myths about how social Groupon is. In the beginning many deals may have been spread via social networks but now it is primarily through a daily e-+mail," said Forrester analyst Sucharita Mulpuru, who has recently authored a report on social shopping. Word-of-mouth may have helped catapult Groupon into the limelight but its quarter of a billion dollar marketing spend probably played an even bigger role, thinks Ms Mulpuru. As the world's largest social network Facebook is keen that people talk to retailers as well as their friends and it is trying to figure out how to make the most out of social shopping. It boasts that half of the top 25 retailers use the site but the level of integration varies, from those who simply see it as a way to gain fans to "like" their brands to firms, such as clothing firm Asos, which are happy to allow users to make purchases from within the social network. Asos is one of Facebook's biggest successes. It puts its full catalogue on the site and its fan page has 800,000 members. Amazon uses the social network to offer product suggestions based on likes and favourites pulled from users' profile information. It has also introduced gift recommendations which let you know which of your friends have upcoming birthdays and suggests presents for them based on what they have shared with Amazon. Ticketing firm TicketMaster offers anyone who has bought a ticket on its site the chance to share the purchase information with their Facebook friends. It claims to have increased its revenue as a result of this feature. Meanwhile Levi's has what Facebook describes as a "social store front", offering users jeans that their friends may have liked and even using information to influence its supply chain. So if people in London are "liking" the skinny jeans most and people in Manchester are "liking" the bootcut style they can simply adjust their stock to match this. And herein, for Ms Mulpuru, lies the real power of social shopping - as a tool for retailers. "There is a ton of data that people share about themselves that the retailer can use to make more relevant offers. It is far more a personalisation tactic than about getting or retaining customers," she said. Facebook's director of business development Christian Hernandez believes that Facebook can help users "connect to brands that they care about" and he reckons that among his Facebook friends there is plenty of chatter about shopping. But Ms Mulpuru is not convinced it will become a shopping hub any time soon. "TV didn't transform retail and neither will Facebook. At the end of the day no-one buys something as the result of a link. The truth is that large brands just have not experienced any sizable gains in direct sales from Facebook," she said. "In spite of hundreds of thousands of developers having been given the opportunity to create useful shopping applications or to integrate commerce into Facebook, there has yet to be a blockbuster success," she added. It hasn't stopped a raft of companies betting that social and shopping is a powerful combination. Three former Yahoo executives have set up a dedicated social network aimed entirely at shoppers. Dubbed ChoozOn , the start-up is built entirely around shopping and personalised deals. It allows users to manage their various deals and discount services and upcoming apps for the iPhone and Android handsets will highlight nearby deals. Users can sign up for loyalty programmes and if they share their shopping preferences and the brands and retailers they like best, the shops will fashion specific discounts for them. Meanwhile UK start-up Shopow (Shopper Power) offers a shopping search engine that aggregates thousands of retailers and products across all areas of consumer goods. Like other price comparison sites it allow users to compare goods by criteria such as price, retailer, service and delivery, but it also integrates various social functions. It will display reviews and deals that have already been collected around a product, as well as drawing in more personal views. "Shopow is somewhere where you can interact with friends but also rate your recent purchases," explained co-founder Kevin Flood. He thinks people are far more likely offer to useful feedback via such a site than on Facebook. "While some deals are appropriate to share on Facebook, you wouldn't share your experiences with a dishwasher on there," he said. The ability of retailers to engage directly with consumers is a very powerful one and some have taken bold steps in this direction. In February, US fashion designer Derek Lam harnessed the power of the web when he asked eBayers to vote on which of 16 dresses should form his summer collection. More than 120,000 people voted and the five winners went on sale in May. Not wanting to be left out, the high street too is embracing social media. In March, London's largest shopping centre Westfield unveiled a tweet mirror that allowed shoppers to try on an outfit and share the image in real time with friends and followers on Twitter. The mirror, brainchild of Dutch firm Nedap Retail, is already installed in dozens of shops in Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland. How many shoppers want to invite their online friends into the changing room is unclear but it offers a small glimpse of what offline retailers will have to do if it wants to persuade consumers away from their screens and back to the mall.

Question: Offline retailers have long held that online shopping will never @placeholder a visit to the shops because sitting at a computer clicking on links is just not as much fun as hanging out at the mall .


Media playback is not supported on this device The 31-year-old, who was born without a right forearm, hopes to take on the solo round-the-world race in 2020. Taekwondo and badminton have replaced sailing in the Paralympics from 2020. "Sailing's been dropped from the Paralympics so this is me kicking in the door for everyone else to prove it can be done," she told BBC Look East. Stodel has never completed a full ocean cross, so in preparation will be attempting a transatlantic crossing in November. She also needs to raise funds in order to buy the correct boat for the Vendee Globe, considered by many as the hardest of sailing races, with the most recent edition of the competition running last year. The four-time Paralympian continued: "[The Vendee Globe] is certainly going to be a challenging race. Every skipper I've spoken to has said it's the best and the worst of off-shore racing. "I'm actually quite looking forward to that. At the same time I'm obviously scared of the challenge but my uncle left me with a nice little saying to put on the boat: I am strong, but the boat is stronger."

Question: Three - time world champion Hannah Stodel hopes to set an example to others as she aims to become the first @placeholder sailor to complete the Vendee Globe .


Last year, the commission's board apologised for its handling of a dispute with crofters over the management of common grazing land. Board members also asked Mr Kennedy to resign. He has refused to do so. His name has been put forward for re-election as the representative for the South West Highlands. The ballot takes place in March. The other South West Highlands candidates are Ronnie Campbell, Catherine MacKinnon, Billy Neilson and Uilleam Smith. Mr Kennedy has argued he did nothing wrong in the months-long dispute with crofters over their grazings, and that the board's vote last September asking him to resign was not valid. In October last year, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scottish government ministers had the power to intervene in the affairs of the troubled Crofting Commission. Ms Sturgeon said ministers would not ordinarily get involved in the internal operations of the commission. However, during a First Minister's Questions session in Holyrood, she said legislation did give ministers the power to intervene if required.

Question: Colin Kennedy , whose actions at the Crofting Commission have been the source of a row , is standing for re-election to the public @placeholder .


Most of Crimea's two million people have been hit by the power cut. There are also some water shortages. Anti-Russian activists were blamed for the cut. Russian forces annexed Crimea in March 2014, during Ukraine's crisis. Public transport is still running and Crimean hospitals are using generators. A state of emergency was imposed in Crimea on Sunday after two more key pylons were damaged - bringing the total to four. Monday was declared a non-working day. It is still not clear how exactly the pylons were damaged in Kherson, a Ukrainian region adjacent to Crimea. That region has been tense since Russia's annexation of Crimea - an act that was condemned internationally. Crimean Tatar activists, denying repair workers access to the damaged power lines, suggested that the weakened pylons were blown down by the wind. But Ukraine's state energy company, Ukrenergo, said the damage was caused by "shelling or the use of explosive devices". Russia has blamed Ukrainian nationalists from far-right party Right Sector as well as Crimean Tatar activists, calling it "an act of terrorism". Earlier this year those activist groups prevented food lorries crossing into Crimea. The blackout has knocked out street lighting and cut cable and mobile internet. It has also forced the closure of some 150 schools. A Crimean Tatar activist told Ukraine's TV news broadcaster 112 Ukrayina that Russia must release "political prisoners" and let their leader Mustafa Dzhemilev return to Crimea in exchange for repairs to the power lines. But later Mr Dzhemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar National Movement, told BBC Ukrainian that his supporters would grant repair workers access to the power lines. "I think that Crimea will have electricity soon", he said. Crimean Tatar activists accuse Russia of abusing Tatar rights and denying them a voice since a pro-Moscow government was installed in Crimea. Images on social media show Ukrainian flags on some damaged pylons - and Crimean Tatar flags on others. Crimean authorities said they had managed to partially reconnect the cities of Simferopol, Yalta and Sevastopol using generators. Only 30% of Crimea's electricity is generated locally - the rest comes from Ukraine, Russia's government daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported. Emergency power-saving measures have been imposed: Sevastopol is getting three hours' supply, followed by a six-hour cut; in Simferopol residents have three-hour power cuts three times a day. Ukrainian authorities said they encountered activists blockading the site when they tried to repair the damaged pylons. The power cut is threatening food outlets which rely on cold storage and lack generating capacity. A hospital worker said the electricity was sufficient to keep wards warm but not to power hot plates, so patients were only getting cold food.

Question: Only essential services and government offices are operating in Crimea after key electricity pylons connected to the @placeholder were knocked down in Ukraine , causing a major blackout .


Media playback is unsupported on your device 1 May 2015 Last updated at 07:07 BST Faith Thomason, from Lymm, Warrington, was among the first Britons to fly back to the UK. Meanwhile, some Nepalese families living in the North West are mourning relatives lost in the tragedy.

Question: A Cheshire backpacker has described how the earth " turned to liquid " as she @placeholder to escape the earthquake in Nepal .


But it was also revealed that some 96 homes had been destroyed in the fire since it broke out on Tuesday. Some 58 sq miles (150 sq km) have been charred in San Bernardino County, 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Several more fires continue to burn in other drought-stricken parts of California. In pictures: Devastation from California wildfires Fire spokesman Brad Pitassi said late on Friday: "It's looking very good", adding that more gains were expected on Saturday, despite firefighters continuing to face dry, hot and windy weather. He said the number of buildings destroyed could have been far higher. Blue Cut, named after a narrow gorge where the blaze broke out, had led to an evacuation order for 82,000 people on Tuesday. Many people have now been allowed to return but others were left homeless. Johanna Santore was running an errand when the fire gutted her home. She fears she may have lost her pets. "I'm actually feeling numb,'' she told Associated Press from an evacuation centre. "It's like a nightmare.  We don't plan on rebuilding. We plan on leaving." Other fires still burning around the state include:

Question: Firefighters in California have gained @placeholder in tackling the massive Blue Cut wildfire , containing around 40 % and allowing many evacuees to return home .


Sections of London Bridge station's roof have been given to Vale of Rheidol Railway which operates small steam trains for tourists in mid Wales. London Bridge station, which opened in 1836 and is used by 55 million people, is undergoing a £6bn redevelopment. Network Rail has saved 16 columns, 14 beams and other elements of the roof. These parts of the Grade II-listed structure will form the cornerstone of the planned new locomotive museum in Aberystwyth. Robert Gambrill from the Vale of Rheidol Railway said it would be used to display a unique collection of narrow gauge artefacts. "The roof offers an opportunity to show the locomotives in context within a train-shed environment and the Vale of Rheidol will work hard to recreate the atmosphere, which only a London terminus can provide," he said. "Years ago they sold London Bridge to Arizona and now they've given London Bridge station to Aberystwyth." Mr Gambrill said it had taken a year to arrange a deal to remove about a third of London Bridge station's old barrel arch roof. All of the beams and columns had to be removed by cranes at night and at weekends, with specialist equipment needed to excavate the columns from their base plates after 150 years. The railway was built in 1901, opening to passengers on 22 December 1902. The 12-mile (20km) service started at the harbour in Aberystwyth and continued to Devil's Bridge. It was built originally to carry lead ore from the mines in the valley. In 1923 it became the property of the Great Western Railway and it was absorbed into British Railways on 1 January 1948. The 1960s signalled an era of neglect and the station moved to the vacant bay platform at Aberystwyth's main station. Having survived the Beeching cuts the line soldiered on until 1988 when it was to be sold. It was bought by the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust in 1991. The line attracts around 40,000 visitors annually from all over the world. Mr Gambrill said there had been doubts initially whether enough of the beams and columns could be saved to enable the museum to be built. "It has been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated team from Network Rail - their care and attention to detail has ensured as much of the structure that we need has been saved," he said. "Without their co-operation none of this would have been possible. We all look forward to unlocking the potential of our collection and seeing the Vale of Rheidol becoming a world class tourist attraction for Wales." Chris Drabble of Network Rail said the teams who worked on the project could be proud of what they had achieved. "This great news has been possible because many people, from many organisations have been working together," he added. "Up until the actual structures were lifted, we were never sure if any of this would be technically possible, so all of the teams can be really proud of what they have achieved." The Vale of Rheidol intends to submit plans for a 100,000 sq ft (9,300 sq m) museum to Ceredigion council and also plans to apply for grants to fund the project. The railway said it had a "unique historic collection" of around 30 locomotives and rolling stock, much of which was built in the UK and had never been displayed in public.

Question: Part of London 's oldest train station is set to be @placeholder in Aberystwyth as part of a £ 10 m plan for a narrow gauge railway museum .


They were accused of trying to trick a 20-year-old woman from Slovakia into having an abortion and arranging her marriage to a man facing deportation. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says new evidence had emerged "which seriously undermined the prosecution". Last November, 13 people were arrested in Greater Manchester but none will face further action. A CPS spokeswoman said four men and a woman were initially charged with immigration offences and "intentionally arranging or facilitating entry into the UK of a person with a view to their exploitation". She added: "The CPS concluded that there is no longer sufficient evidence to generate a realistic prospect of conviction, therefore on 1 April 2015 the CPS formally offered no evidence in the case against all five defendants." Charges have been dropped against Mohammed Ali, 40, and Hateji Yakuyb, 57, both of Ashfield Road, Rochdale; Anna Cicakova, 34, and Malik Ramzan, 27, both of Wesley Street, Failsworth; and Rehman Ghani, 39, of St Heliers Drive, Cheetham Hill.

Question: Charges have been dropped against five people who were accused of @placeholder a pregnant woman into the UK .


It's fair to say that this figure relies on relevant, rigorous and detailed economic modelling on what would happen to national income if the UK left the EU, based on what the alternatives would be. But ultimately that's a hard task given that no economy of the UK's size has ever left the EU before, so there must be uncertainty about the future. Indeed, economic modelling can be a perilous business. This particular figure is underpinned by the assumption that the UK would negotiate a Canada-style trade deal in place of EU membership. The Treasury's analysis is that this would mean slower growth compared to remaining in the EU - and that would mean less tax coming into the Treasury. Brexiteers, of course, argue that the UK would secure its own unique and superior trade deal and that the analysis ignores potential trade deals that the UK outside of the EU might strike with China or India. And it's important to note that this estimate is for the impact in 2030, not an immediate effect. £36bn, as the Treasury document says, would be "equivalent" to raising the basic rate of income tax by around 8p from 20p to 28p. Alternatively any government could cut spending instead, increase other taxes or choose to borrow more money. Reality Check verdict: The £36bn lower tax receipts figure, like the rest of the Treasury document, is based on what looks like a reasonable modelling exercise but it's impossible to be certain about how the economy will develop in the future. READ MORE: The facts behind claims in the EU debate

Question: £36 billion is a pretty big @placeholder to blow in the public finances , but the Treasury has picked it out as its mid-range figure for what might happen to tax receipts if the UK left the European Union .