To focus minds, the government gave the parties a discussion paper setting out key areas for agreement. They were given until lunchtime on Tuesday to respond to the draft paper. It includes changes to the petition of concern, equality and respect around the Irish language, Ulster Scots and an armed forces covenant. It also suggests a public consultation on plans to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, and details ways of making Northern Ireland's government more accountable. Details of the paper were published by journalist Brian Rowan. Shadow secretary of state Owen Smith has said the government still has to convince the Stormont parties it will be impartial in the talks. "I've not yet had that reassurance from [secretary of state] James Brokenshire or heard it from the other parties," said Mr Smith. "In the conversations I had with parties last week when I took on the post, they were still concerned that it would be difficult for the British government to illustrate impartiality and I still think they've got a job of work to do persuade people of that." Northern Ireland has been without a power-sharing executive since March and without a first and deputy first minister since January. The institutions collapsed amid a bitter row between the DUP and Sinn F¨¦in about a botched green energy scheme. The late deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, stood down, in a move that triggered a snap election. The parties have until 29 June to reach agreement and have been warned that if they cannot, direct rule could follow. The deadline was set by Secretary of State James Brokenshire. Speaking at a press conference at midday on Tuesday, Sinn F¨¦in's Gerry Kelly said it was Sinn F¨¦in's intention to re-establish the institutions but that "that has to be on the basis of integrity and respect and a number of outstanding issues." "This is about implementation of previous talks," he added. He said that the continuing talks between the DUP and the Conservatives in London "could have an impact" on the talks at Stormont. "Of course, what happens in Britain, and the DUP are hitching their wagon to the Tory government, will have on impact on what's happening here, we just don't know what it is yet," he said. Mr Kelly also made it clear that Sinn F¨¦in was not prepared to drop its demand that DUP leader Arlene Foster cannot become first minister while the inquiry into the RHI scandal continues. Meanwhile, the DUP will resume negotiations with the Conservative Party in London on supporting a Tory minority government. The party has been locked in negotiations with the Tories for more than week but it is still not clear when they might sign off on a deal. It was thought an agreement might be reached before the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, but the parties have refused to be drawn on a timeframe.

Question: Talks to @placeholder Northern Ireland 's power - sharing institutions are continuing , with just nine days left before the government 's deadline .


It's stating the obvious to say all the parties have female leaders. But the Green's Natalie Bennett, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP stand out for their gender in the male-dominated world of politics. There have been a total of 370 women MPs since 1918 at Westminster, for example. There were more men (502) elected to the House of Commons in the 2010 general election. The SNP, Green Party and Plaid Cymru all oppose the renewal of the UK's nuclear missile system - currently made up of four Vanguard-class submarines which carry Trident strategic missiles. The system is based on the Clyde, on Scotland's west coast. The SNP opposes nuclear weapons and wants Trident removed from Scotland. Plaid Cymru's manifesto calls the replacement of Trident "wasteful and unnecessary". The Green Party wants to decommission all existing nuclear forces and facilities. This election issue includes foreign policy and the role of UK¡¯s defence forces at home and abroad. The Green Party, Plaid Cymru and the SNP all want to see austerity scaled back. In its manifesto, Plaid Cymru says it does not support the continuation of "austerity" policies. A key part of the Green Party's manifesto is to end austerity and "transform" the UK economy in order to "close the gap between the rich and the poor". The SNP says it supports an alternative to austerity with "modest" spending increases. This issue includes the wider economy and deficit reduction but also employment and the role of business. The three parties all back EU membership. Plaid Cymru says it will campaign to stay in EU in event of a referendum, while Ms Sturgeon has said being taken out of the EU against Scotland's will would be "democratically indefensible". The Green Party stands for staying in a reformed Europe, but Ms Bennett has said it  wants to hold a referendum because the party "believes in democracy and self-determination". This election issue includes the UK¡¯s membership of the European Union and its negotiating position. Health and care is a devolved power in Scotland and Wales, but the three parties all pledge to end what they call the "creeping privatisation" of the NHS. This issue includes NHS funding, GP access and social care, particularly of older people. The SNP, Green Party and Plaid Cymru all want to lower the voting age to 16. It comes after Scotland allowed 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the Scottish referendum. This election issue includes devolution and reform of the Westminster political process. The SNP and Plaid Cymru only put up candidates in Scotland and Wales. The SNP is contesting all 59 seats in Scotland, and Plaid Cymru all 40 in Wales. Ms Bennett is the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, but there is also a Green Party in Northern Ireland and Scottish Green Party. Collectively, they are standing in 571 of the 650 seats. The two nationalist parties also have their own agendas. The SNP wants Scotland to be independent (the Scottish Green Party was in favour of an independent Scotland).  Plaid Cymru wants Wales to get the same powers and funding as Scotland, and harbours longer-term independence aspirations. The Green Party wants further devolution within the UK. However, it ranks things like ensuring global temperatures do not rise by more than 2C and renewable electricity generation among its priorities. In terms of immigration, the Greens' main pledges include removing restrictions on foreign students, abolishing some family migration rules, and giving asylum seekers more rights. Plaid Cymru wants to create a Welsh Migration Service and draw up a skills-shortage list to ensure migration meets Welsh needs. The SNP wants powers over immigration to be devolved to Scotland in the way they are in Australia's states, with adjustment of the points-based system for skilled migrants who choose to move to Scotland. It also wants graduates from Scottish universities to be able to work in Scotland for an agreed period. Read the BBC's full policy guide to political parties' positions on key issues, which is being updated as each manifesto is launched.

Question: The image of the leaders of the SNP , the Green Party and Plaid Cymru hugging went viral after the BBC debate on Thursday . Commentators have highlighted the friendship between the " progressive @placeholder " , but what do the three parties have in common ? And what do they disagree on ?


Butler won the IBF world title from 37-year-old Hall on a split decision in Newcastle in 2014. The winner of the re-match in Liverpool on 30 September will be in line to challenge for the WBA title, held by another Briton, Jamie McDonnell. "If I lose this that's boxing finished for me, I'm retiring." Hall said. "But I feel like this is just the start. Jamie McDonnell - that's the fight I've wanted." It is not the first time that retirement has crossed Hall's mind, having previously said he would consider his future after his IBF title fight defeat by Lee Haskins last September. Hall returned to the ring last month by outpointing Jose Aguilar and his second meeting with Butler represents the chance to avenge his previous loss to the 28-year-old. "I'm buzzing, there's no pressure on me," he told BBC Tees. "I don't want it going to the judges, I'm going to do everything in my power to knock him out." Butler stopped Mexico's Carlos Ruben Ruiz in his most recent contest and has a record of 24 wins and only one defeat. He will have home advantage for the re-match with Hall, who he says will be walking into "the lions' den". Butler told BBC Merseyside: "I went to his backyard and took the title off him. This time I plan on doing a right number on him."

Question: Stuart Hall has vowed to @placeholder the ring unless he beats Paul Butler in September 's re-match in a world bantamweight title eliminator .


The reports say Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove through the seafront promenade area of the French city on Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation. More than 80 people died when he ploughed his vehicle into people celebrating Bastille Day on Thursday. Six people are being held in connection with the killings. The latest, an Albanian couple who have not been identified, were arrested on Sunday morning, French judicial sources said. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was shot dead by police when his vehicle's path along the Promenade des Anglais was eventually halted. Europe 1 radio said CCTV footage from the days beforehand showed him driving through the area in the lorry, closely observing the scene. On the day itself, Lahouaiej-Bouhlel phoned his brother in Tunisia during the afternoon, sending a photograph of himself among the crowds, Reuters news agency reported. "That last day he said he was in Nice with his European friends to celebrate the national holiday," the brother, Jabeur, said, adding that in the photo "he seemed very happy and pleased, he was laughing a lot". France has called up 12,000 police reservists to boost security in the wake of the killings. A BBC correspondent in Nice says the beaches and cafes are busy again and the promenade has been re-opened. Many people have taken the opportunity to leave tributes or pay their respects to those, including 10 children, who were killed. An impressive air of normality in much of tourist-packed Nice is deceptive. As well as grief, bewilderment hangs in the sea air. There are tears, hugs and silence at the mountain of candles, flowers and cuddly toys on the beach promenade, where joggers stop and parents bring young children to read the messages. A large white banner says: Why children? And, in a child's handwriting: Why do you want war? The bloodstains on the tarmac are gradually disappearing. The lampposts the lorry smashed into will be replaced. But for those who knew or loved the victims, things will never be the same. More armed police and soldiers guarding the streets will serve as a reminder. Amid the fear and sadness, and the unanswerable questions, defiance acts as a source of comfort. He will never defeat us, says one message on the promenade. Another reads: Love defeats hate. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel's estranged wife, who was detained on Friday, was released on Sunday. Those still being held are said to be close associates of the killer but have not been identified. French President Francois Hollande has called the attack terrorism and officials have said investigators will seek to find out whether the Tunisian had links with extremist groups. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Lahouaiej-Bouhlel seemed to have been "radicalised very quickly". He was unknown to French intelligence services although he had been in trouble with the police for threatening behaviour, violence and petty theft. Tunisian security sources have told the BBC he visited Tunisia frequently, the last time eight months ago. It is not known if he trained in Syria or had any help planning the attack. So-called Islamic State said the attacker was acting in response to its calls to target civilians in countries that are part of the anti-IS coalition. Eighty-five of those injured remain in hospital; 29 are in intensive care and 18 of those are listed as critical.

Question: The Tunisian man who drove his lorry into crowds of people in Nice @placeholder the route in the days before the attack , French media have reported .


The two-page instruction by the Vatican's department on doctrine said ashes of the dead must be kept in "sacred places" such as cemeteries. It also stressed that the Roman Catholic Church still preferred burials over cremations. The Vatican allowed cremation in 1963 but has always frowned on the practice. It also stressed at the time that cremation must not suggest a denial of faith about resurrection. "It is not permitted to scatter the ashes of the faithful departed in the air, on land, at sea or in some other way, nor may they be preserved in mementos, pieces of jewellery or other objects," said the instruction by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. "These courses of action cannot be legitimised by an appeal to the sanitary, social, or economic motives that may have occasioned the choice of cremation." The Vatican said it was issuing the new guidelines to counter "new ideas contrary to the Church's faith" that had become widespread since 1963. It said the Church could not "condone attitudes or permit rites that involve erroneous ideas about death, such as considering death as the definitive annihilation of the person, or the moment of fusion with Mother Nature or the universe, or as a stage in the cycle of regeneration, or as the definitive liberation from the 'prison' of the body". The guidelines reiterated that Catholics who chose to be cremated "for reasons contrary to the Christian faith" must be denied a Christian funeral. The Vatican also stressed that "the Church continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased, because this shows a greater esteem towards the deceased". Pope Francis had already approved the guidelines, the Vatican said. Fearing the impact of naturalistic ideas about the circle of life, where the body is regarded as no different to other physical matter, the Vatican has decided to clarify its position on what should happen to the remains of the dead. Cardinal Gerhard Muller, the head of the Church's powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said ashes of those cremated should be committed to a cemetery or another consecrated place. But Britain and some other western countries face a shortage of land in which to bury bodies. There are concerns this announcement will not only place financial burdens on Catholic families but also increase the pressure on cemeteries, half of which are expected to run out of space within the next 20 years.

Question: The ashes of cremated Catholics can not be kept at home , scattered or @placeholder among family members , the Vatican has announced in new guidelines .


Pictures on social media showed people dancing in the streets as the restriction came to an end at midnight local time (21:00 GMT). Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he had taken the decision to help normalise life in Baghdad. It came despite a string of explosions in the capital which killed at least 32 people on Saturday. Residents had previously had their movements restricted between the hours of 00:00 and 05:00. Following the decision to lift the curfew, Iraqis ventured out on to the streets flying flags and honking car horns. "Before, we felt like we were in prison," said cafe owner Faez Abdulillah Ahmed, speaking to AFP news agency. "We were restricted." Shop owner Marwan Hashem added: "We were waiting for this decision for years." The curfew was introduced as a security measure in the violent aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion. An official from Mr Abadi's office said the decision to lift it had been made "despite the existence of a state of war", AFP news agency reports. Bombings and explosions remain a fact of life for many in Iraq's capital. Ministers have also had to deal with the threat of Islamic State (IS) militants seizing large swathes of territory close to the city. At least one of Saturday's bombings was claimed by IS, according to the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi activity. It was carried out by a suicide attacker who detonated his explosives near a restaurant, killing at least 22 people. There were also a series of separate blasts on Saturday, including one at a central market. An interior ministry spokesman said he did not believe the attacks were connected with the government's decision to end the curfew, Reuters news agency. Last year there were fears that IS gunmen might attack Baghdad following their sweep across Iraq and Syria. But following Western intervention against the group, the government has regained some of its lost territory. When 'bombers' meet victims on TV Country profile

Question: People in Baghdad have been @placeholder the lifting of a 12 - year - old curfew in the Iraqi capital .


These words have appeared more in Paris in recent days on signs, walls and the Eiffel Tower, marking people's resilience after the attacks of a week ago today. People have been going back to work, and going out to bars and restaurants. Here, Parisians describe the night of the attacks and how they have been trying to return to normality. Marine lives a few kilometres away from the Bataclan music hall where many of the victims died. "I heard police sirens near the Bataclan and I watched the story unfold on TV. "I couldn't believe this was happening so close to me. "I asked myself why the Bataclan and at the bars and restaurants. "Then I realised that was what the terrorists wanted." Marine works at Disneyland Paris and had to go in to work the day after the attacks. "Although the park was closed my department was open. "We took calls from people who were frightened and wanted to cancel their trips. "Kids were sad because they were looking forward to their visit but now wouldn't be able to come. "Some people asked about our security arrangements but at the time we didn't know. "But there were a lot of nice people who rang to say they were sorry about what had happened, and some called to say that they will be coming as planned. "A woman from England said we must not be afraid. "We try to be joyful and stay in a good mood but it can be difficult." On the night of the attacks Samuel Pean was at a bar watching the France v Germany football match. He did not know about what was going on outside until a friend in the United States messaged him to check he was OK. "When we left the district we saw restaurants and bars were closed but people were inside in the dark. "Police said we had to move because it was not safe. I didn't know if I could take the metro or not so I went to my parents' house. The following day Samuel went home but he felt the need to be with people. "I couldn't stay at home. I went to see friends in another district and took the metro. "But we all knew friends of friends who were affected or who had died. "I had to go to work on Monday but it was good to be close to colleagues - we are like a family. "A colleague was crying all day - we needed to be together. "We are all still a bit afraid. "I went out to a bar after work which I wouldn't normally do early in the week but it was more of a symbolic gesture. "It's not normal but we have to pretend. The military and police are everywhere, there are less people on the subway, and more suspect package alerts. "Paris is quiet and there is not a lot of cars. As it's less noisy you can hear sirens more." After work, Solene Bertelli planned to meet her boyfriend outside the Bataclan near to where he lives. She saw a crowd of people in front of the Bataclan having drinks, waiting to go inside to see a band play. "After that we walked down the street and saw a man who was shouting, "Run, run." "People were standing around not knowing what to do. Then suddenly everyone started running. "No matter what direction we went to there was panic. "We met some strangers who offered to take us into their home. "This was around 22:00 and we stayed there until 04:00." Solene and her boyfriend wanted to go to his home near the Bataclan. "At the beginning the police didn't want us to go as it was carnage. But a policeman walked with us. "There was blood and bullets everywhere, and dead people were being taken away." Solene works at a bakery and found it difficult to go back to work. "I work a few days a week at the bakery. It was hard for me to return. "I had to take the subway, and then I realised what had happened on Friday - I didn't feel safe. "But as the days go on I am feeling better. "There are more people on the streets - it's more alive."

Question: Fluctuat nec mergitur - that is the Latin motto on the coat of arms of Paris @placeholder , ' Buffeted ( by waves ) but not sunk . '


Select committee chairmen Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) and Angus MacNeil (SNP) said he has scrapped UK schemes aimed at cutting emissions, despite pledging internationally to protect the climate. They singled out the decision to axe a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project promised in the Tory manifesto. The government said the CCS scheme had always been "subject to affordability". David Cameron is due before the Commons Liaison Committee later, which is made up of MPs who chair Commons select committees. He will be questioned on climate change, as well as the conflict in Syria. Mr Cameron had said CCS was "absolutely crucial" for the UK, so the decision to scrap a ?¡ê1bn competition for a large-scale trial CCS plant is being criticised by the MPs. CCS is the "Holy Grail" of the fossil fuel industry. If it can be made to work economically at industrial scale, it will capture the emissions from power stations that heat the climate, and bury them deep underground. That would allow coal and gas to be burned in the low-carbon future deemed essential by all governments at the climate summit in Paris. Mr MacNeil, who chairs the energy and climate change committee, told BBC News the decision to scrap the CCS fund was incomprehensible. He said: "The prime minister said that carbon capture and storage was crucial to meet our climate change targets. "Yet the government's long-promised carbon capture competition has become the latest low-carbon policy to be chucked on the scrapheap by the government." Mr MacNeil said "sudden changes" to energy policy were undermining investor confidence in the energy sector. He added: "The prime minister must acknowledge that building a new generation of gas plants means that we either have to fit power stations with carbon capture technology in the coming decade or potentially bust our carbon budgets." Mr Irranca-Davies, chairman of the environmental audit committee, added: "We're hearing a growing gulf between the prime minister's bold talk about climate change on the international stage and the short-termism and incoherence of decisions on energy and sustainability at home." On another issue, Conservative Neil Parish, who chairs the environment, food and rural affairs committee, warned that flood relief would have to be a "much bigger priority" for the government if flooding becomes "the new normal". In an appearance before the liaison committee in December 2014, Mr Cameron said carbon capture and storage was "absolutely crucial if we are going to decarbonise effectively". He said more needed to be known about CCS before committing to it, which is why the government committed ?¡ê1bn for the trial. Energy industry leaders were astonished when the fund was scrapped without explanation following November's Autumn Statement. The Department for Energy and Climate Change told the BBC: "The government was clear that this was subject to affordability. "The Spending Review was a tight financial settlement and difficult decisions have had to be made. CCS (still) has a potential role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK." The decision to scrap the CCS trial was applauded by Nigel Lawson's pressure group, the Global Warming Policy Forum. Its spokesman Benny Peiser told the BBC: "Worldwide, there are currently more than 20 pilot projects being funded. "Let's wait and see whether the controversial technology will ever be viable at large scale. If so, Britain could simply buy it off the shelf if need be." But Professor Dieter Helm, from Oxford University, a supporter of many of the government's other energy reforms, said: "It's a no-brainer that the shallow North Sea is the place to try out CCS, with lots of empty holes, pipelines, experience and gas plants nearby. "So the question is really whether the UK cares about the climate change problem or is merely trying to achieve its carbon production targets at minimum cost." Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin or on Facebook www.facebook.com/roger.harrabin

Question: The PM has been accused of double @placeholder over climate change , ahead of a Commons committee appearance .


Jack Proctor, 34, joined forces with cocker spaniel Fudge as he studied for his design and digital arts degree at Edinburgh Napier University. The seven-year-old dog starred in Jack's introductory video and course work, and was in his dissertation. Fudge was at the ceremony wearing robes made by Mr Proctor's wife. Mr Proctor, from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, said: "I know it seems eccentric, but Fudge has been part of my journey through uni since day one, so it just feels like a nice way to mark the journey's end. "He was such a fundamental part of my dissertation that I even mentioned him in the acknowledgement section." Mr Proctor and Fudge were seen online last year doing the Ice Bucket Challenge craze when technical trickery was used to show Jack being hoodwinked into getting a soaking by his four-legged friend. Fudge featured in a series of videos for Jack's dissertation on how designers can optimise the shareability of their work, comedy special effects being used to show the dog regularly outsmarting hapless humans. He also took lead and cameo roles in Mr Proctor's course assignment videos including The Dog Dice (in which Fudge plays Snakes and Ladders) and the Soi Dog Foundation. Mr Proctor said: "Our Ice Bucket Challenge video was our most successful, with millions of views on Facebook and 250,000 on Youtube, but other videos we had made have had view counts ranging from 30,000 to 300,000, and have appeared on news video sites. "We are very much a partnership so it just seemed right that Fudge should share my big day with me."

Question: A student and his dog have donned robes in Edinburgh at his graduation after the pet helped his owner @placeholder his university degree .


The Lincolnshire racer will ride a Triumph Daytona 675 for Team T3 Racing -  the same bike his last TT win came on in 2014 for Smiths Racing. Johnson will represent the three time British Supersport Cup Champions in both 600cc races. "It's great to be back on a Triumph 675," the 35-year-old said. "I have a wealth of knowledge on the bike and I hope to replicate the success of 2014 this year. "I'm eager to get going as we have a busy testing schedule ahead to be fully prepared for first practice in June".

Question: Two - time TT winner Gary Johnson has said he is " excited " after announcing a return to Triumph @placeholder at the 2016 event .


Two people have been killed in the state, the authorities say - an American surfer and a young Mexican swept away by flood waters. Fourteen fishermen were also reported missing at sea. Barbara quickly lost strength over land but drenched coastal areas with rain, leading to flooding in some areas. The hurricane came ashore some 130 km (80 miles) east of Salina Cruz, home to Mexico's biggest oil refinery. A warning was issued for the stretch of coast between Puerto Angel and Barra de Tonala. Thousands of people in Chiapas and Oaxaca states have been evacuated.  Roads have been closed and sea traffic suspended in the area. The storm that preceded the hurricane caused floods in many coastal areas, including the resort city of Acapulco, further north. The hurricane is expected to dissipate in the next 24 hours.

Question: Hurricane Barbara has been lashing @placeholder of Mexico 's Pacific coast after making landfall in the town of Santo Domingo Zanatapec , in Oaxaca state .


Bain slammed in a low cross from David Cox after 30 minutes after the visitors had absorbed some heavy pressure. Michael Paton went close with a free-kick for the Pars, while Michael Moffat miscued in front of goal. Faissal El Bakhtaoui messed up a close range header and the hosts' top scorer was inches away with a shot late in the game as Airdrie held on for victory. Airdrie, who were stubborn in defence and well organised throughout, move up two places to fourth in the table. Dunfermline, who had not lost in the league since mid-September, will have their lead cut to four points if nearest challengers Ayr United beat Stenhousemuir on Saturday.

Question: League One leaders Dunfermline slumped to a surprise defeat at home as Jamie Bain @placeholder for Airdrieonians .


Investigators allege that Mr Virzi received a $10m-kickback (?¡ê6.5m) from a company which won a lucrative irrigation contract, which he denies. The company's executives were arrested days ago trying to leave Panama. Mr Virzi is the latest in a series of high-ranking officials from former administrations to face investigation. In January, the Supreme Court appointed a special prosecutor to investigate claims that former President Ricardo Martinelli had inflated multi-million dollar contracts during his time in office from 2009 to 2014. Mr Martinelli denied the allegations and said they were part of a political vendetta waged against him by his successor in office, Juan Carlos Varela. Mr Varela, who was elected last year, campaigned on a promise to clean up Panamanian politics. The investigation into Mr Virzi centres around allegations that he received $10m from a company hired by the government of Mr Martinelli to build a huge irrigation system in the Tonosi region of Panama. At the time of the alleged payment, Mr Virzi was no longer vice-president but investigators said he still had close links with the government. On Monday, Mr Martinelli defended Mr Virzi, whom he referred to by his nickname, Pipo. The former president said that "for 40 years we have conducted all kinds of legal business with Pipo Virzi, buying, selling, renting and borrowing. Why is this getting so much negative attention?". The irrigation system was never built and the company's chief executives are under arrest. Mr Virzi has been charged with money laundering and corruption.

Question: A court ordered on Wednesday that Panama 's former Vice - President Felipe Virzi be @placeholder while he is investigated for alleged corruption .


The man snatched the bag from the woman in the Coal Wynd car park in Kirkcaldy at about 15:35 on Saturday. After her husband was knocked to the ground, and bumped his head, another woman stepped in and retrieved the bag. The suspect was described as being white, in his 30s, about 5ft 7in tall, of scruffy appearance with frizzy hair. He was wearing a black bomber-style jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms and was carrying a rucksack. Det Sgt Craig Fraser, of Police Scotland, said: "This was nothing short of a cowardly attack on an elderly lady by this suspect who saw fit to struggle violently with all three people in his attempt to steal this bag. "The last sighting of the suspect we have is of him is on the High Street near to the indoor market. Anyone who can help us identify this man is asked to call us."

Question: Police are trying to identify a man who tried to steal an elderly woman 's handbag and knocked her husband to the ground when he tried to @placeholder .


Three parcels of the suspected drug were found hidden behind a panel of a toilet on a decommissioned plane by Air Salvage International (ASI). The 2Kg (4.4lb) packages were discovered at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, Gloucestershire, on 18 October. Wiltshire Police said they were waiting the results of forensic analysis. A police spokesman said the hidden packages, each measuring 20 cm by 13 cm (8 in by 5 in) were found "well wrapped in plastic and black gaffer tape". "We searched the rest of the plane and put a drugs dog through but actually the dog didn't seem overly interested in the packages," he said. "But they were well wrapped and with the test we did on the powder at the station - we decided to send it for forensic analysis. "We're waiting for the results before we start trying to trace where the plane came from." Air Salvage International (ASI) has declined to comment.

Question: A haul of what is believed to be cocaine with a street value of ¡ê 120,000 has been uncovered by @placeholder dismantling a scrapped jumbo jet .


I wanted to find whether an American degree is worth it. What do those exorbitant fees actually buy you? Right near the BBC bureau in Washington, DC, is one of the more expensive universities in the country - George Washington University. Under its former President Stephen Trachtenberg, prices at GW, as it's known here, have more than doubled over the course of the past few decades. The world is getting wealthier - but with the gap between rich and poor feeling bigger than ever, who are the winners and losers of this richer world in 2015? A Richer World 2015 Listen to the reports and documentaries Trachtenberg invested in fancy dormitories, upmarket sports facilities and state-of-the-art classrooms in a deliberate strategy to make the school more appealing. It worked: the more he spent, the more fees rose and the more students wanted to go there. He has no regrets about the massive inflation in tuition costs because it all leads to better jobs. If a student can find work after graduation, "then presumably the university," he says, "has served the purpose they wanted, society wanted, and if they can pay the debt back, it's not a problem." But if you don't come from a wealthy family, those debts can be enormous. The high cost of fees creates a clear division between haves and have-nots among the student body - indeed in the country as a whole. I sat down for coffee at a local spot with three GW students. Each is working at least one part-time job to pay their college bills, and each is taking on some level of debt. Cindy Zhang is studying international affairs, and she works two part-time jobs to make ends meet. Her parents help out a bit, but she also has about $10,000 in loans per year. Shanil Jiwani currently has $60,000 in loans and he expects that number to double by the time he graduates - he'll be $120,000 in debt before he steps out into the world. Silvia Zenteno's university days are almost over. But even with the maximum amount of financial aid from the university, she still works 30 hours a week, and plans to graduate with $40,000 in loans. So why do it? Why put all that time, money and effort in? Maybe students here don't have much choice. "When you're talking about your career and how much money you're going to make, your college investment is basically your down payment," Anthony Carnevale told me. He's the director of Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. And because Americans don't have a social safety net to fall back on, like many European countries, Carnevale says, US degrees are "more valuable than degrees in other countries." So you pay a lot of money to get a degree from a good school, to get a good job, to pay back the loans of going to a good school. It's a vicious cycle of inflation that shows no signs of stopping. GW has just published its tuition fees for the upcoming school year: $50,367, up 3.4% from last year. What might just put a cap on the rising costs is that wonderfully egalitarian institution - the internet. More US universities are offering online courses virtually for free. You don't get the swanky campus facilities and face-to-face interaction, but you do get a good education. And if costs keep rising at the speed they have been, at some point more American students will say that looks like a pretty good deal. For more on the BBC's A Richer World, go to www.bbc.com/richerworld - or join the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #BBCRicherWorld

Question: Nowhere in the world does it cost as much to go to university as it does in the US . Some private universities here cost more than $ 50,000 ( ? ¡ê 38,000 ) per year just for tuition , and that does n't cover accommodation , @placeholder , or even books ( remember those ? ) .


Those with mental health or neurological conditions were least likely to have developed ways of living with their illness. A study of 15,687 adults has been analysed at Heriot-Watt University. The Welsh government said it was working with charities on a patient guide for those with chronic illnesses. The study, published in the International Journal of Cardiology and based on research in 2012, found: Chronic illnesses affect an estimated 800,000 people in Wales and are a growing problem for the NHS as the population gets older. Dr Ivy Shiue, assistant professor of environmental health at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, said people who had not learnt to live with symptoms experienced worse quality of life and the risks were especially high for those with mental health conditions. "These patients may start to lose hope and their sense of identity, ultimately leading to a feeling of fear, hopelessness and despair at their condition," she said. CASE STUDY: Lisa Welch, from Cwmfelinfach, Caerphilly County, has suffered with depression but got help through a self-management programme and mental health charity Gofal. "I've had mental health problems for 19 years but it got worse. I had a bad divorce and I couldn't cope. I wouldn't get dressed, I wouldn't go out, wash or shower, it all spiralled out of control from there and it made me feel worse. "I just didn't want to be here. But I have two boys and that kept me going." "It was only when I had rent arrears and then I was offered help and got introduced to Gofal. Dealing with my bills with the help of my support worker was a big weight off my shoulders." The Welsh government said people living with long-term health conditions could benefit from working with medical professionals to help manage their health and wellbeing. "This can also help to inform them about the support available to them from both the NHS and voluntary organisations," said a spokesperson. A guide for patients is also being developed with the Long Term Conditions Alliance Cymru.

Question: Nearly a third of adults in Wales are @placeholder to cope with the pain and symptoms of long - term health conditions , according to a new study .


Media playback is not supported on this device Captain Cook made 64 not out and Hales an undefeated 50 to give the home side a lead of 17. England earlier fought back well with the ball, taking five wickets for 42 runs to bowl Pakistan out for 400. Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes each took three, while Misbah-ul-Haq made 56. It was the wicket of Misbah, bowled by James Anderson, that began the England recovery, one desperately needed after Pakistan had dominated day two to begin Friday on 257-3. There was a wobble when Anderson was ordered from the attack controversially, an umpiring decision that helped Sarfraz Ahmed (46 not out) shepherd the tail to add 32 for the final two wickets. But England's openers took advantage of an increasingly benign surface and a lack of swing or turn to give the hosts the upper hand. Media playback is not supported on this device For all of the good work done on day three, England must still defy history if they are to go 2-1 up with one match to play in the four-Test series. In all of the previous 2,211 Tests, teams giving away a first-innings lead of at least 100 lost 69% of matches and won only 3%. Indeed, no side has won a Test at Edgbaston having batted first and given away a lead of more than 69. But with the surface now looking ideal for batting, England have the opportunity to set the tourists a sizeable total and take advantage of any potential deterioration on the final day. Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott told BBC Test Match Special: "It's been an absolutely splendid day's cricket - cut and thrust. Anybody who hasn't got a ticket for Saturday, go and get one." Even after that Pakistan lower-order subsidence, the tourists still had an opportunity to take firm control of the Test by making inroads into England's flaky top order. That they did not was down to England's discipline and their own inability to either penetrate or build pressure. Cook worked off his pads and played trademark cut shots on the way to a 51st Test half-century. Scoring freely, this was his sixth-fastest Test fifty, three of that half-dozen having come in this series. Hales, who began in more circumspect fashion than Cook, had the one moment of fortune when a top edge off Mohammad Amir flew over the slips before he began to find the off-side boundary. That England's deficit was manageable was a result of a bowling performance much improved on the second day. The bulk of the damage was done in the hour after lunch, at a time when the obdurate Misbah looked set to make light of the morning losses of Younus Khan and Asad Shafiq. In a chaotic hour, Anderson had Misbah play on to his stumps, Yasir Shah was run out by Woakes' throw from long leg and Amir was lbw to Woakes. Then Anderson, warned twice on Thursday, was barred from bowling for more, and seemingly minor, incursions on to the middle of the pitch. There is an area - sometimes referred to as the 'danger zone' - on which bowlers cannot run and which is protected by the umpires to prevent unnecessary deterioration of the surface that may unfairly aid bowlers later in the match. Without the threat posed by Anderson's swing, the busy and unorthodox Sarfraz elongated the innings with the help of Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali, who were both eventually removed by Broad. Like Broad, Steven Finn posed more danger than on day two, but still went wicketless, while spinner Moeen Ali was trusted to bowl only 17 of the 136 overs. Geoffrey Boycott on TMS: "Can England bat well? Can they get in a position where they declare? England have a sniff of victory. But don't put too much on it. "It's a good batting pitch and there's no spin for the wrist spinner. But when you have to chase 220-250, people make a hash of those chases." England seamer Chris Woakes: "Tomorrow morning is crucial again. We need guys to go on and get big scores. But we will obviously take that from where we were this morning." Media playback is not supported on this device

Question: England openers Alastair Cook and Alex Hales shared an unbroken stand of 120 to leave the third Test against Pakistan delicately @placeholder after three days at Edgbaston .


The 18-year-old joins Formula 1 drivers Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon as the third member of the scheme. Russell, who finished third in the European Formula 3 championship last season, will race in the GP3 feeder series with the leading ART team. "It's a dream come true," Russell told BBC Radio Norfolk. "The real hard work starts now." Russell, who lives in King's Lynn, added: "It's quite comforting knowing that if I do the job, I'm quite confident I will get the opportunity from Mercedes to further my career." Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff said: "George has shown impressive form in the junior categories and we've been keeping a close eye on him for a while now. It's still early days in his career but we see great potential in him."

Question: Briton George Russell has been @placeholder to world champions Mercedes ' young driver development programme .


Luaty Beirao was arrested in June with book club members discussing a book about nonviolent resistance. Mr Beirao recently ended his five-week hunger strike in prison. Their arrest prompted protests in Portugal and condemnation from human rights groups. Human Rights Watch's Zenaida Machado urged Angolan judges to "show independence and not permit this trial to be used as an instrument to silence the government's critics". The rapper, also known by his stage name Ikonoklasta, has been an outspoken critic of the government, calling for a fairer distribution of the country's oil wealth. Since the end of the conflict in 2002, Africa's second-largest oil producer has witnessed an economic boom, but critics of the elected government say the wealth has only benefited a small elite. The detained activists, who belong to a youth movement, had previously held demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has been in power for 36 years. Their book club had planned to discuss the 1993 book by Gene Sharp called From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation. The June arrests were defended by Angola's deputy state prosecutor who accused them of planning an uprising among students and workers "with incalculable consequences". The group face up to 12 years in jail if convicted. Who is Gene Sharp? Gene Sharp is a US academic who researches non-violent revolution. He is credited with the strategy which led to the toppling of Egypt's long-time Hosni Mubarak leader in 2011. His most translated and distributed work, From Dictatorship to Democracy, was written for the Burmese democratic movement in 1993, after the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi. Gene Sharp: Author of the nonviolent revolution rulebook

Question: A rapper is among 17 activists who have gone on trial in Angola 's capital , Luanda , charged with preparing acts of rebellion and @placeholder against the president and state institutions .


In June 1815, Major Harry Percy arrived by rowing boat at Broadstairs in Kent with the news. From there the dispatch was taken by a fast carriage to the Prince Regent in London. A group of volunteers have recreated the moment the boat arrived in Kent. On Sunday, the dispatch will be taken through London. The dispatch arrived earlier in the morning, landing at Viking Bay in Broadstairs. It was then taken to Canterbury to be presented to the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, before a service marking Waterloo at Canterbury Cathedral. On Sunday, it will arrive in London and be taken throughout the city. In 1815, the ship carrying the dispatch began to drift in the English Channel. The decision was made to row for 20 miles to shore before landing at Broadstairs. Rosalind Blinks, who is the Mayor of Broadstairs, said: "History was made here and history is often a quirk of fate, it wasn't their intended destination, so it is important that we honour the occasion." The 200th anniversary of the battle has seen a series of events throughout Europe re-enacting important moments. Earlier, thousands took part in a re-enactment of the battle of the same fields of Waterloo.

Question: An event to mark the arrival of a dispatch @placeholder by the Duke of Wellington telling Britain of the victory at Waterloo has taken place .


Rothamsted said that crops had been vandalised, causing "significant" damage. The incident took place on Sunday morning at the centre's test site in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. The project aims to see whether the modified crops can deter aphids - a major wheat pest. Rothamsted has previously pleaded with anti-GM campaigners not to destroy their experimental plots, which they say could help reduce pesticide use. But opponents of GM technology claim that planting the crops in the open air would allow modified pollen to get out into the surrounding environment. After the break-in at the site, Rothamsted scientist Toby Bruce             wrote on Twitter  that wheat seeds appeared to have been strewn onto plots, and the tops of plants had been cut off. However, the laboratory said the account was anecdotal and might not be accurate. In a statement, Rothamsted commented: "The intruder caused significant, random property damage, but failed to disrupt the experiment in this attack." The lab's director Prof Maurice Moloney said the act was an attempt to "deny us all the opportunity to gather knowledge and evidence" on a possible new approach for reducing the use of pesticides. A 50-year-old man from Devon is to appear at the Central Magistrates Court in St Albans on 13 July. The crop being trialled at Rothamsted contains genes synthesised in the laboratory. It will produce a pheromone called E-beta-farnesene that is normally emitted by aphids when they are threatened by something. When aphids smell it, they fly away. Anti-GM group Take the Flour Back has vowed to "decontaminate" the site unless the research is halted. The event was trailed on the organisation's website as "a nice day out in the country, with picnics, music... and a decontamination". There is no suggestion the man who has been charged is linked to Take the Flour Back. Eleanor Baylis, from the anti-GM group, said in a statement: "We have no information about this incident, but are relieved if the quantity of GM pollen released from the trial has been reduced. "The British people are clear that they're not swallowing this technology." The protesters have previously declined an invitation from Rothamsted to meet scientists behind the project and, following a heated debate on the BBC's Newsnight programme, a planned day of action on 27 May will go ahead. But a spokeswoman for Take the Flour Back told BBC News the group would be interested in engaging in a public debate with wide participation. She said the decision not to take part in the debate proposed by Rothamsted was due to the specific conditions of the event. Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

Question: A man has been charged with criminal damage following a break - in at the Rothamsted Research centre where a trial of GM wheat is being @placeholder .


The annual crime performance statistics for 2015/16, which will go to Tynwald in July, show a total of 257 offences compared with 198 the previous year. A police spokesman said most "were for low level possession, not supply". There were about 2,000 crimes recorded during the year - the lowest since the 1970s. Chief Constable Gary Roberts said low crime levels were "good news". Figures show there was a 53% fall in burglaries, an 18% drop in criminal damage and 33% fewer public order offences but there was an increase in sexual offences and domestic assaults. Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson said: "While recorded crime is falling, the demand on the constabulary is not. "Increasingly the constabulary's role focuses on broader aspects of public safety, including dealing with people who are dependent on alcohol or drugs."

Question: Drug crime in the Isle of Man has risen by 30 % over the past year , @placeholder Manx constabulary figures .


The 38-year-old was last seen in the Finaghy area of Belfast on Tuesday afternoon and the Daily Mirror claims he was discharged by a civil servant with no prisoner care experience. Mr Smith is charged with the murder of Stephen Carson, who was shot dead in his Belfast home in front of his partner and nine-year-old son in February 2016. The Mirror says that, until five years ago, the high-security routine of prisoner releases was undertaken by three experienced warders. However, it says the role is now the job of a single civilian staff member. The Irish News reports that more than 200 inmates have gone missing from prisons in Northern Ireland in the past decade. It says that between 2007 and 2015, there were 218 incidents of prisoners being unlawfully at large. The figures, released to news website The Detail, show 95 involved Magilligan prison, 93 were inmates at Maghaberry and 30 at Hydebank. According to the Department of Justice website, six inmates including Mr Smith were unlawfully at large as of Wednesday night. The News Letter quotes East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson describing Mr Smith's release as "catastrophic", while former justice minister David Ford says prison service procedures must be reviewed with "real urgency". It reports that Mr Smith's release comes less than a week after police managed to recapture Damien McLaughlin, who is charged in connection with the 2012 murder of Maghaberry prisoner officer David Black. In a change of gear, the newspaper reports that one of Simon Hamilton's last acts as Economy Minister was to block eight separate News Letter Freedom of Information requests for documents relating to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. It says the DUP MLA had not responded to requests dating back to mid-December, but adds: "On the afternoon of election day, refusal responses began flowing through to the News Letter and continued in the hours before Mr Hamilton left office at 10pm". The Belfast Telegraph front page features an appeal from Kate Carroll, the widow of Constable Stephen Carroll who was the first police officer to be killed in Northern Ireland since the formation of the PSNI. She urges politicians at the Stormont talks to "take this second chance by the scruff of the neck and lead us wisely". The Irish News reports on the pregnant woman and three children who died following a fire at a woman's refuge in Dublin. Irish President Michael Higgins and Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny have led tributes to the victims. The blaze was at a complex in Cluainin Cronan in Clondalkin. The fire is not being treated as suspicious, but police say investigations are continuing and they are keeping an "open mind". The story is covered by the Mirror which also looks at what Northern Ireland can expect as a result of Chancellor Philip Hammond's budget. It says the Stormont Executive is to receive an additional ¡ê120m - ¡ê90m for day-to-day spending until 2019-20, with another ¡ê30m until 2020/21. Stormont's annual budget for day-to-day spending is around ¡ê10bn, while the capital budget is around ¡ê1bn. With no executive in place, the spending plan for next year has not been set. On a lighter note, The Belfast Telegraph reports that a vixen who was rescued after a 100ft fall near Ballintoy has proved quite the little madam. Sianna the fox is receiving round-the-clock attention at Lucy's Trust, a dog sanctuary in County Antrim, but has tried to bite her carer, and has a penchant for the finer foods. A full recovery is not guaranteed after Sianna's ordeal, but vet and trust owner Olivia Kennedy says she is much "more animated and feisty" and has arranged "her crate to her own liking, with lots of ripped up fluff, blankets, cardboard and hay".

Question: Murder suspect Michael Smith is the face @placeholder large on the newspaper front pages after he was mistakenly released from Maghaberry Prison .


Denis O'Brien obtained the injunction to stop RT¨¦ from reporting details of his personal finances and relationship with former Anglo Irish Bank. Last week, a judge granted permission for the media to report details about Mr O'Brien's finances made under privilege in the D¨¢il (parliament). RT¨¦ lawyers said as a result there was no need for the injunction to remain. The media mogul's fortune is estimated to be around ¡ê5bn. Following the granting of the injunction, the purchase of one of Mr O'Brien's companies was discussed in the D¨¢il. The comments were made by TD Catherine Murphy under privilege. She said Mr O'Brien owed the former Anglo Irish Bank, now the nationalised Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC), upwards of 500m euro (¡ê362m). Ms Murphy, an independent left-wing TD, said Mr O'Brien was attempting to pay loans back at an interest rate of just over 1%, when it was arguable that the correct rate should be over 7%. In response to her comments, lawyers for RT¨¦ and the Irish Times returned to the high court to seek clarity over whether her remarks could be reported in light of the injunction. A judge told the media organisations that he never intended nor could he order any interference with what a TD may say under privilege in the D¨¢il. The application by RT¨¦ to have the injunction discharged relates to a planned broadcast regarding certain information regarding Mr O'Brien's relationship with IBRC. Lawyers for Mr O'Brien said they accepted that following comments made by the Sinn F¨¦in TD Pearse Doherty in the D¨¢il on Tuesday evening, there was nothing in the proposed RT¨¦ script that had been injuncted that warranted further restraint. The lawyer added that as far as he was concerned, the script in its entirety could be published, as a result of events that had happened outside the courtroom. On Tuesday, Mr Doherty gave details of what he said were documents related to Mr O'Brien's IBRC loans during a debate in the D¨¢il. The Sinn F¨¦in finance spokesman said he had documents which led to questions about the way IBRC was run in the public interest.

Question: Irish @placeholder broadcaster RT¨¦ is trying to get an injunction granted to Ireland 's richest man discharged .


The car, going at 88mph, hit a pole causing a power cut and stopping the town clock, the spoof statement said. The satire was among the first of what could end up being many tributes paid on Back to the Future Day. Movie fans are celebrating 21 October 2015, the date Marty and Doc visited in the 1989 sci-fi time travel adventure sequel Back to the Future II. The crash described in the police press release mirrors the key moment in the Back to the Future II plot, when Marty McFly, 17, and Doc go forward in time. It said officers asked the 17-year-old driver what speed he had been doing, to which he replied, 88mph (142km/h) - the speed the pair's modified silver DeLorean had to hit to trigger the flux capacitor to send them back in time. "A 17-year-old man was charged and was in possession of a licence which expired over 30 years ago," police said. "Investigations into the vehicle and what a flux capacitor is, are ongoing." It also posted an edited image of officers rushing to the scene on their hoverboards. Mount Isa Cinema owner Jodi Saunders was quoted as saying the driver had asked when Jaws 19 - the film being screened at the Holomax cinema in the film - was showing. Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady, meanwhile, was quoted as saying repairs were under way to save the clock tower, which in the famous scene is hit by lightning. Queensland Police Media is famed for its light-hearted social media posts. It has previously posted warnings on Facebook about wet roads from the tears of Top Gear fans after the show was cancelled, and has cautioned drivers not to "go ape" after a lorry carrying bananas crashed.

Question: Police in Queensland say they have @placeholder their " hoverboard unit " after a silver car crashed near a cinema .


But the Tories and Labour are today behaving as if the risk of another such shock in the current parliament is nil, because in different ways they've both limited their room to offset the impact of one. And history would teach us that the economy tends to go pop when we least expect it. So what have they announced? Well the Tories have said they would legislate within 100 days of forming a government to make it illegal for a chancellor during the life of the next parliament to raise income tax rates, VAT or National Insurance. There are a couple of things to say about this. First some will see it as a blatant admission that what politicians say, in their manifestos and elsewhere during an election campaign, isn't to be trusted. If we need a new law to convince us Tories won't put up taxes, that implies everything else they've promised during the election campaign is in the category of good intentions, which could be abandoned the moment the going gets tough. Which is hardly likely to reinforce our confidence in the political class. David Cameron would probably say he's prepared to take that risk, because he wants to reinforce the so-called brand of the Conservative Party that it will take as little money as necessary from us to maintain the public services we see as essential - and wants to imply that Labour is less responsible with our precious income. But it is odd, perhaps, that he won't make the same legislated commitment not to put up business taxes or rates, given that he has been frantically positioning the Tories as the pro-business party, in contrast to Ed Miliband's putative anti-business stance. But if businesses aren't to get legislated protection for the corporation tax and rates they pay, they might begin to fear they are the thin end of the Conservatives' no-tax-rises wedge. And then there are a couple of points to make about the conventional view of how best to run an economy. First is that orthodoxy in the Treasury for donkey's years has been that no chancellor should have his or her hands bound (one golden day there'll be a "her") in respect of what taxes can be increased or cut - because no chancellor can possibly have the gift of perfect foresight in regard to what economic circumstances may demand. So it is striking that George Osborne - who would presumably remain chancellor if the Tories are re-elected - has agreed that raising more money from income tax, NI and Vat is off limits - it deprives him of revenue-raising flexibility in respect of the three big taxes, which collectively are forecast to raise 65% of all taxation next year. In other words, he has restricted his fiscal room for manoeuvre by two thirds. Now that may or may not reassure voters, but it may not reassure credit rating agencies. How so? Well the UK still has one of the top-notch ratings for its debt, which helps the government to borrow at interest rates which are less than zero (adjusting for inflation). But the AAA and almost-AAA ratings given to us by assorted agencies are based in part on the idea that we have a robust economy able to raise whatever taxes are required to fill a hole, as and when the economy is knocked off track. So it is a bit odd perhaps that the Tories are sending out a signal that there are certain taxes that cannot be adjusted in an upward direction. That said I imagine any no-tax-rises law would contain some kind of force majeure clause, allowing it to be over-ridden in a fully-fledged fiscal crisis. But if that's the case, why bother with the law in the first place. So to get back to where I started, the law is only compelling at all if you believe there can't possibly be a serious economic setback in the next parliament. And that would seem an eccentric assumption to make, after looking around the world - in that the potential for accidents to occur everywhere from Beijing, to Frankfurt to Moscow is not de minimis. To be clear, a similar point can be made about Ed Miliband's pledge today that he would increase tax credits at least in line with inflation every year - in that there may be circumstances when saving a bit of money by being a bit meaner with them would be in the national interest. But in his case he is not planning a law to guarantee these increases. Or at least he hasn't spoken of such a law yet, although there are eight days left of this intriguing election campaign.

Question: In most British people 's @placeholder , the Great Crash and Recession of 2008 probably feels like yesterday - the defining economic shock of our age , we continue to live with its noxious effects .


Both attackers, reportedly from Central Asia, were shot dead after wounding two policemen. The gunmen were wielding firearms and axes and attacked police in Balashikha, east of Moscow. IS made the claim via Amaq, a news agency linked to the group. Also on Wednesday Russian special forces killed four suspected militants in a shoot-out forces during a raid on an apartment block in St Petersburg. Russia has long been battling extremism in the North Caucasus. Most Russians who have gone to fight for IS in Syria come from this area. The insurgency in the Caucasus followed two bitter separatist conflicts in Russia's Chechnya republic and has occasionally spilled over into violence in other parts of Russia.

Question: The so - called Islamic State group has said it was behind an attack carried out on @placeholder police outside Moscow on Wednesday .


During his confirmation hearing to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen Joseph Dunford called Russia's recent actions "nothing short of alarming". Relations between the US and Russia have deteriorated since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region last year. A pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine has also prompted US sanctions. "So if you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I'd have to point to Russia." Gen Dunford told senators on Thursday. Some US lawmakers have pushed for the military to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine's government, a move Gen Dunford called "reasonable". "Frankly, without that kind of support, they are not going to be able to defend themselves against Russian aggression," Gen Dunford said. Thus far the US has only provided non-lethal equipment and training for Ukrainian forces. More than 6,000 people have been killed in fighting in Ukraine, which began in April 2014, between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russia denies arming the rebels or sending troops there.

Question: A general in @placeholder for the highest US military post says Russia poses the greatest threat to national security .


Officers mounted a river search and scrambled a helicopter in a bid to find Josh Dinning, from Gateshead, who had not been seen since Monday night. Police were called at 09:15 BST and an initial search found nothing. He was discovered three hours later in a drawer under his bed. He said he had not wanted to go to school. A Northumbria Police spokesman said the force was reviewing the search to find out why the "hidden compartment" had not been checked. His mother, Michelle Dinning, a widow and mother of eight, said she had hoped Josh was already at school when she could not find him. But then the school rang to say he had not arrived, so she called the police. "At that stage it all got very real and I was panicking, thinking the worst could have happened," she said. Word of Josh's disappearance spread and dozens of neighbours joined the search, handing out pictures of him which had been printed off by a library. Ms Dinning said: "I suggested one more look around the house - this time the police lifted the beds. "I bent down and saw the green of Josh's school shirt and burst into tears." Josh said: "I could hear people looking for me and I thought I had better stay quiet because when they found me I would get shouted and bawled at so I just stayed where I was." His brother Scott, 20, said: "It's hard to believe that while all this was going on he was just curled up under his bed."

Question: A nine - year - old boy who sparked a police search when his mother @placeholder to find him missing was discovered hiding under his bed .


Last Monday, Venezuela deployed 17,000 troops along the border and began closing all the crossings at night. The one-month ban will be lifted in mid-September. Before the restrictions, up to 40% of goods Venezuela subsidises for its domestic market were being smuggled into Colombia, the authorities said. The goods were being sold illegally in Colombia at much higher prices. More than 20,000 litres of fuel have been seized from alleged smugglers in the past eight days, the Venezuelan authorities said. Venezuela, a major oil producer, has the cheapest petrol prices in the world. It costs less than $1 (?¡ê0.60) to fill a medium car's tank. It estimated, before the operation was launched, that 100,000 barrels of petrol were smuggled through its western border every day and sold illegally in Colombia. "The amount of staples smuggled to Colombia would be enough to load the shelves of our supermarkets," Gen Efrain Velasco Lugo, a military spokesman, told El Universal newspaper. "Those mafias are making a final, desperate attempt to get hold of them. But we are fighting them and vigorously tackling smuggling in the region." The Venezuelan military said it has also destroyed or partially blocked 64 paths used by smugglers to cross the porous 2,200-km long (1,360-mile) border. Dissatisfaction with the shortage of many staples, as well as rampant crime and high inflation, led thousands of people in the western Venezuelan states of Tachira and Merida to take to the streets in January. The protests quickly spread to the rest of Venezuela, which faces similar problems. The opposition blames what it says are the failed left-wing policies of the past 15 years - initiated by late President Hugo Chavez - for the country's economic crisis. Correction 11 September 2014: This report, originally published on 19 August, contained a reference to the border closure being agreed by the two countries, based on statements by Venezuelan officials. This has been removed as Colombia later called it a "unilateral decision".

Question: Venezuela says it has arrested 13 people and seized 136 tonnes of @placeholder since it launched an anti-smuggling operation on its border with Colombia .


Mr Valls told the BBC Europe could not take all the refugees fleeing what he called terrible wars in Iraq or Syria. "Otherwise," he said, "our societies will be totally destabilised." More than a million migrants, mostly refugees, arrived in Europe last year, many making perilous journeys. On Friday, at least 21 people were killed as their boats sank off Greek islands. Mr Valls also said that France could extend its current state of emergency for "as long as is necessary" because of the threat from Islamic State (IS) jihadists, whom he called "Daesh". "We will see if we extend it," he said. "We cannot live forever in a state of emergency." The measures were introduced after the IS-led Paris attacks on 13 November and then extended for three months. Mr Valls said the war against IS could last for a generation. "As long as the threat is there we must use all means at our disposal." Katya Adler: Germans struggle to cope with influx Teaching migrants how to behave Migrants feel chill of tighter borders Europe's migrant crisis Mr Valls was speaking to Lyse Doucet, the BBC's chief international correspondent, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Europe, he said, needed to take urgent action to control its external borders. "If Europe is not capable of protecting its own borders, it's the very idea of Europe that will be questioned." Asked about border controls inside Europe which many fear put the passport-free Schengen zone at great risk, Mr Valls said the concept of Europe itself was now in very grave danger. He did not directly criticise Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel for her welcoming message last year to refugees. Mr Valls said she "had courage",  but it was clear he believed her message was wrong, our correspondent says. "A message that says 'Come, you will be welcome' provokes major shifts" in population, says Mr Valls. He added: "We know clearly that after the Cologne incidents that with the continuous flow, not only to Germany but the countries of Northern Europe, Austria, the Balkans are confronted with this influx, that's why we need to find practical solutions for our borders." Mr Valls was referring to attacks in the German city on New Year's Eve - largely attributed to foreigners - that have sparked 800 complaints, 520 of them relating to sexual crimes. Mrs Merkel will later meet Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Berlin, with both the countries' cabinet members in attendance. EU countries hope Turkey will help to control the flow of migrants reaching the EU from Syria and other conflict zones. On Friday, at least 21 people, including eight children, died when two boats sank off the Greek islands of Farmakonisi and Kalolimnos, the Greek coastguard said. Some 48 survivors reached shore but dozens of other migrants were reported missing. On the issue of the state of emergency, Mr Valls said France was "at war", which meant "using all means in our democracy under the rule of law to protect French people". Paris attacks: In depth What happened on the night? French politics shift to the right The measure gives police more power to conduct raids and impose house arrests. When asked how long he envisaged the state of emergency remaining, Mr Valls said: "The time necessary. "As long as the threat is there, we must use all the means," he said, adding that it should stay in place "until we can get rid of Daesh", using an acronym for the IS group. "In Africa, in the Middle East, in Asia we must eradicate, eliminate Daesh," he said. "It is a total and global war that we are facing with terrorism," he added. "The war we are conducting must also be total, global and ruthless." Mr Valls said France "could see attacks again", adding that six plots had been foiled over the past few months. Attackers linked to IS killed 130 people in co-ordinated assaults across Paris in November, leading to the first declaration of a state of emergency in France in 10 years. The measures are set to expire on 26 February. This week, a group of UN human rights experts said they were "excessive and disproportionate".

Question: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has warned that Europe 's @placeholder crisis is putting the EU at grave risk .


Meeke, who had led after day one, withdrew after damaging his gearbox when he slipped off the road during the 12th stage. Triple world champion Sebastien Ogier will go into Sunday's final day with the best part of a two-minute lead over Volkswagen team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen. Hyundai's Belgian driver Thierry Neuville is in third place. Meeke, 36, is racing a reduced season for Citroen in 2016 but will compete in the full series for the team in 2017 and 2018. The County Tyrone man will race in six to eight rounds of this year's championship as he helps develops a new car.

Question: Northern Ireland 's Kris Meeke @placeholder his Citroen on the third day of the Monte Carlo Rally on Saturday .


Kenny Miller's first-half strike secured victory against Luxembourg's Progres Niederkorn in their Europa League first round qualifier. "I'm not a guy that can make miracles in three weeks," said boss Caixinha, who fielded five of his new signings. "The team is ready to get the rhythm. You only get it playing and by time." Three new arrivals - Fabio Cardoso, Ryan Jack and Dalcio - started the match, with fellow summer captures Daniel Candeias and Alfredo Morelos coming on as substitutes. Miller's first-half finish ensured the Ibrox side take a lead into Tuesday's second leg, but Caixinha's side were expected to win far more comfortably against the part-timers. "It's not a question of fitness, it's a question of time to get the fitness," Caixinha added. "The majority of the players had a good performance, a good rhythm. It's not a question of fitness but it's more a question of better decisions and more aggression." Niko Kranjcar, signed last summer by Mark Warburton but injured for most of the campaign, was the star of the show for Rangers. And Caixinha believes the Croat can be a key figure this term. "He's a fantastic player, a playmaker, he's someone that understands the game," the manager added. "With some freshness in the legs and some freshness in his decisions, we were producing some fantastic football. "He knows how to play between lines, how to make the last pass, his delivery on set-pieces was great. So he needs to keep playing to get the rhythm. "We are building a team and we know it's better to build with a small result but at the same time a win. We want to progress and keep going in this competition but, of course, in the second leg we need to do more and we want to keep going." The Portuguese coach says his side will be set up to go for the win at the Stade Josy Barthel on Tuesday. "It is half-time and we are winning," he said. "I don't want the team to think that we are winning going there and to just think about a draw or a 2-1 or whatever. "I'm not thinking like that. I just think about winning. This is the mentality of our club and the standards demanded. This is the way we need to think." Progres boss Paolo Amodio said. "We will start with 0-0 next week and anything is possible in football. "I think all the pressure is on Rangers to make sure they go through. They probably expected to win tonight by five or six goals and it's not the case so anything could happen next week." Should Rangers reach the second round, they look likely to face Cypriot side AEL Limassol, who won 4-0 away to St Joseph's of Gibraltar.

Question: Pedro Caixinha insists his new - look Rangers side needs time to find @placeholder after they laboured to a 1 - 0 win on their return to Europe after six years .


After intense criticism that the United States was not doing its part to help with the migrant crisis afflicting Europe, the Obama administration announced in September that it wanted to resettle about 10,000 Syrian refugees in the US by the same time next year. The decision was met with some fear that militants could exploit the refugee programme to gain entry into the US to carry out attacks. After the attacks in Paris, which left 129 dead, and the news that one of the attackers may have entered Europe as a refugee, those fears have become amplified and spread to governors' mansions across the country as well as the corridors of Congress. Syrian refugees in the US explained in graphics Newly elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan has now called for a "pause" in the US refugee program. He tweeted, "Our nation has always been welcoming, but we can't let terrorists take advantage of our compassion." The process for a Syrian refugee to resettle in the US is long and arduous, involving numerous federal agencies and intense background checks. Compared to Europe, where fingerprints and simple information are taken and migrants can resettle with little difficulty, US processes look very different and are much stricter. It is a long road for a Syrian refugee coming to the US - so where does it start? As cities, town and villages have been overrun, millions of Syrian people have become displaced both internally and externally. But to be eligible for permanent resettlement in another country, displaced persons have to leave Syria and find a camp run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in a neighbouring country. Many of these camps offer only the most basic living conditions. Upon arrival at the camp, the displaced person registers as a refugee and is given the option to apply for resettlement. Nothing is guaranteed at this point. Not every refugee will be referred by the UNHCR for resettlement. Refugees are allowed to express an interest in particular countries, but the decision on resettlement is ultimately at the UNHCR's discretion. The UNHCR then determines which refugees for whom resettlement makes sense, a senior administration official said. Certain refugees get recommended to the programme in the US. The State Department takes over after a referral is made from the UNHCR, and the Department of Homeland Security decides whether an individual application is approved. Certain indicators for why a refugee may be recommended for the US programme include: if he or she has a relative in the US or whether it is likely he or she will be welcomed by a certain community. "With Syrians, we've benefitted from years of experience in vetting Iraqi refugee applicants," one senior Obama administration official said. The screening is "robust since large-scale Iraqi processing in 2007." If a refugee is cleared to be considered by the US, the process for approval is lengthy - 18-24 months, said one senior administration official. Refugees are admitted at about a 50% acceptance rate after being subjected to "the most rigorous screening of any traveller to the US," an official told reporters in a conference call. That involves extensive in-person interviews about their experiences with conflict, as well as the collection of both biometric and biographic information that is cross-checked with the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and in some cases, the Department of Defense. 4,289,792 registered Syrian refugees around the world 2,370 Syrian refugee arrivals in the US since Oct 2001 Ten thousand people have been referred for resettlement in the US, but the US has not processed their applications yet. After 18-24 months, a refugee may then be sent to his or her new community. The BBC spoke with one young man who resettled with his family outside of Louisville, Kentucky in September. A local church organisation funded by the US government helped him land a job at a car factory. He wants to attend university in the US someday. Like the organisation that helped this man, there are nine organisations that work with the federal government to place refugees across the US.

Question: In the wake of the attacks in Paris , at least 24 US governors have said that they want Syrian refugees @placeholder from resettling in their states . What checks do Syrian refugees face before they enter the US ?


David and Carol Martin, both aged 54, appeared at a news conference at the Dalmahoy Hotel, south of Edinburgh. Mrs Martin said she was stunned when her husband said they had won. "I thought he was just joking," she said. "I couldn't believe it." Mr Martin said it felt "great" to have landed the huge win. They were one of two ticket holders who matched the six winning numbers 26, 27, 46, 47, 52 and 58. The couple received a cheque for ¡ê33,035,323. The record jackpot followed 14 consecutive rollovers. The Borders husband and wife said they were relaxing at home on Sunday morning with the lottery ticket on their mantelpiece and only checked it when a friend urged them to do so. They used a mobile phone to check the numbers and the first line contained all six winning ones. "Obviously the initial shock was surreal," said Mr Martin. "If we had won ¡ê50,000 we would have probably been dancing round the living room," said Mr Martin. "But when we were sitting looking at each other and we had won ¡ê33m we didn't speak to each other for about five minutes. "We were in total shock." The first person to be told the news was their 26-year-old daughter, Lisa, who lives in Australia. Mr Martin said she had thought they were "pulling her leg" when they told her the scale of their win. They now plan a family reunion this weekend to begin planning their futures. "My daughter's in Australia so that will be the first purchase, probably a first class flight home from Australia," said Mr Martin. Mr and Mrs Martin said they intended to take early retirement as soon as possible. Mr Martin has been working for the last eight years for Borders Care and Repair (part of Eildon Housing Association) which helps elderly and disabled people fit specialist equipment in their home.? Mrs Martin has worked in the local chemist for most of her working life. The couple, who have been married for 28 years, said they would love a new home in the country, near where they live now, and perhaps a holiday home in the sun. They also intend to help their family and closest friends. Mr Martin said they might look at some ways to help their home town which has been badly affected by flooding recently. "It has been everywhere with the flooding, not just Hawick," he said. "It is something we will look into. Hawick is a tight-knit community." The couple insisted they would not be changed by the win. "It will certainly change our lives but as people it won't change us," said Mr Martin. "We were happy without the money so hopefully we will be happy with it." Even though the prize total is shared, it is still the biggest National Lottery win. However, Saturday's prize is still dwarfed by the the biggest UK win in the Euromillions lottery, a draw where prize money comes from ticket sales in several European countries. Another Scottish couple, Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs, North Ayrshire, collected ¡ê161.6m in 2011.

Question: A couple from Hawick in the Scottish Borders have been @placeholder as the winners of half of last Saturday 's record ¡ê 66 m National Lottery jackpot .


The translation of works from one of India's most famous poets was by Chinese novelist Feng Tang. His publisher said on Monday that it was removing the work from sale following the "huge debate" in China's literary and translation circles. Mr Feng has defended his translation, saying a previous version lacked style. Tagore, known as the Bard of Bengal and seen as a literary god in India, was the first non-European to win the Nobel prize for literature. Chinese media picked up on Mr Feng's version of Tagore's Stray Birds poetry collection in recent days, noting that it differed greatly from past Chinese translations. A review by the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece People's Daily savaged the work, saying Mr Feng used "inelegant and vulgar words that makes one look askance". Much of the criticism appeared to centre on one particular poem, but others in the collection were heavily criticised as too inaccurate, or for using speech that was too informal. Mr Feng had based his translation on an English version of Tagore's original poems which were written in Bengali. Tagore's original (English version) The world puts off its mask of vastness to its lover. It becomes small as one song, as one kiss of the eternal Feng Tang's translation The vast world unzips its trousers in front of its lover Long as a tongue kiss Slim as a verse Publisher Zhejiang Arts and Culture Press noted on its microblog that the Stray Birds translation had "elicited a huge debate among our domestic literary and translation scenes". It said that the books would be pulled off shelves nationwide while  a group of experts evaluated the translation. Mr Feng is known for his racy depictions of Beijing youth in the 1990s in his works, reported AFP news agency. The author defended his work in an interview with the Dongfang Daily newspaper, saying he did not believe he had mistranslated Tagore. Responding to criticism that his translation style had "gone below the baseline", he said: "There are different understandings of original works and their authors' intentions. Who gets to decide what should be the baseline?" He added that a previous Chinese translation of the same work, which many had compared his work to, was basically accurate but "lacked childlike, spiritual, animalistic and natural poetic meaning". The decision to pull the translation off shelves, however, sparked another backlash, as netizens complained that this amounted to censorship. "Whatever the reason, a published book should not be pulled off the shelves, this is the responsibility of a publisher and is its most basic undertaking," said Weibo user Tuke2012. Another user, AhRRRQ, said: "I'm not a fan of Feng Tang and especially don't think much of his translation. But I hope this action was borne out of a decision by the publisher, and not because of some cultural agency or leader's 'administrative intervention'."

Question: A Chinese publisher has pulled a translation of Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore 's poems after it sparked controversy for racy @placeholder .


The Thaad system is designed to protect against threats from North Korea. Hundreds of local residents protested against the deployment, as vehicles carrying equipment arrived at the site in the south of the country. China argues Thaad will destabilise security in the region. The US has in recent days deployed warships and a submarine to the Korean peninsula, amid fears North Korea could be planning further missile or nuclear tests. The Trump administration, which has been urging China to rein in its ally, North Korea, is due to hold a classified briefing for senators on the situation at the White House later on Wednesday. The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system is designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight. "South Korea and the United States have been working to secure an early operational capability of the Thaad system in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threat," South Korea's defence ministry said in a statement. The system - agreed last year under the Obama administration - is not expected to be operational until the end of 2017, it added. The development coincides with China launching a new aircraft carrier - the first to be made domestically - in a bid to boost its own military presence in the region. Television footage showed military trailers carrying what appeared to be defence equipment to a disused golf course some 250km (155 miles) south of the South Korean capital Seoul on Wednesday morning. Dozens of police lined the road, trying to block hundreds of protesters, some of whom were hurling water bottles at the vehicles. More than 10 people were injured in the clashes with police, activists said. Many of the protesters were local residents of the two towns closest to the military site. "We will continue our fight and there's still time for Thaad to be actually up and running so we will fight until equipment is withdrawn from the site and ask South Korea's new government to reconsider the plan," protester Kim Jong-kyung told Reuters news agency. Police were unable to confirm the casualties. What impact will S Korea's expanded missile defence system have? China has expressed "serious concern" over the Thaad deployment and is urging the US and South Korea to withdraw the system, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters on Wednesday. The deployment has caused significant tension with China - South Korea's largest trading partner - and coincided with a number of economic measures imposed by China, including a ban on tour groups which saw a 40% drop in the number of Chinese visitors in the past month. South Korea last month lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization, but China denies its recent moves are related to the Thaad deployment. With tensions high in the region, North Korea and the US are continuing to exchange heated rhetoric over the scale of Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programme. US Vice-President Mike Pence warned North Korea not to "test" President Donald Trump, after it conducted a failed ballistic missile test on 16 April. On Tuesday, a US submarine - the USS Michigan - joined a group of warships in the Korean peninsula led by aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. US President Donald Trump had earlier vowed to send an "armada" to the region over North Korea's missile tests. North Korea meanwhile threatened to sink the aircraft carrier and launch a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike" against what it called US aggression. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged "restraint" on North Korea in a telephone call with President Trump on Monday.

Question: The US military has started installing a controversial missile defence system at a site in South Korea , amid high tensions over @placeholder North Korea 's nuclear and missile ambitions .


Avon lady Louise Houghton and neighbour Lisa Quinton were both bitten on the legs during two separate incidents at the house in Isfryn Road, Meliden. Donna Whitelam, 41, had pleaded guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury. Llandudno magistrates banned her from keeping dogs for two years. Whitelam had also admitted two lesser charges of owning dogs dangerously out of control. Magistrate John Rooney said the dogs had "acted in a pack temperament". He sentenced Whitelam to a 12-month community order, and ordered to pay the victims ?¡ê500 each in compensation.

Question: Five bulldogs involved in attacks on two women as they called at the owners ' house in Prestatyn must be @placeholder , a court has ordered .


The 24-year-old Spain player conceded a penalty in last week's win at Arsenal and BBC pundit Garth Crooks claimed Liverpool would be relegated if he remained in the team. "Alberto could have done better but I don't really understand what we are talking about," Klopp said. "I cannot be interested in criticism from other people." Moreno's tackle on Theo Walcott for the penalty at the Emirates was described on TV by former England coach Gary Neville as "absolute garbage". Klopp said of the Spanish defender, a ¡ê12m signing from Sevilla two years ago: "Are we doing this every time someone's performance isn't very good then we talk about it in a press conference? "He played, so there was a reason for it - that is what I think about and not what other people want me to think." Moreno remains the only specialist left-back at the club after summer target Ben Chilwell opted to sign a new contract with Premier League champions Leicester. However, Klopp says he is not concerned by the position, claiming: "We are not blind and we have other options. Milly [James Milner] can play it really good, we saw that in the Barcelona game. "I had a talk to him as I didn't want to force a new position on an experienced player. "Nathaniel Clyne played it, Trent Alexander plays right full-back so we have options and on a very defensive day Ragnar Klavan can play there. "It is possible to take another [player on a transfer] but only if it is the guy we want." Meanwhile, the German was optimistic the shoulder injury sustained by recent signing Sadio Mane in training would not sideline the former Southampton forward for too long. "It was a challenge with two players up in the air coming down and Sadio fell on his shoulder but it is not that serious," Klopp explained "At this moment I have no idea if he could be available for the weekend [at Burnley] but I don't think it will take a long time. "At the first moment it was not too good but I think it is all OK."

Question: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he will not be @placeholder by recent criticism of Reds left - back Alberto Moreno .


A Sky Blues spokesman said the club was considering moving to Coventry Rugby Club's Butts Park Arena. The League 1 side has two years left on its agreement to play home matches at the Ricoh Arena. Rugby club chairman Jon Sharp said both sides were looking at the "feasibility" of the plans and talking to architects over possible expansion of the stadium. More on this and other stories from Coventry and Warwickshire Butts Park could be redesigned to have between 15,000 and 25,000 seats, he said, but if it helped improve the rugby club's facilities and gave the football team a permanent home the deal would "make sense". "The two clubs have been talking for couple of years about training together and community work - this is [a] natural extension of that," he said. Mr Sharp added talks were still at an early stage, and that no timescale had been put on the plans, which he said would probably take at least two years. Coventry City have played at the Ricoh Arena since leaving Highfield Road in 2005, and shared it with rugby union side Wasps since 2014. The Ricoh has been the centre of several legal battles, and the Sky Blues were forced to play their home games for the 2013/14 season in Northampton after a rent dispute with the stadium's owners.

Question: Coventry City has confirmed it has held talks with the city 's rugby club over a potential @placeholder - sharing deal .


The options may include chemotherapy and radiation, his doctors said. The 80-year-old politician is in "good spirits" recovering at home. The tumour was discovered during a surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye last week. A Vietnam veteran, Mr McCain spent more than five years as a prisoner of war. The six-term senator and 2008 Republican presidential candidate underwent surgery at a clinic in Phoenix, in the state of Arizona, last Friday. Tissue analysis revealed that a primary brain tumour known as glioblastoma was associated with the clot, a statement from the Mayo Clinic said. "The senator's doctors say he is recovering from his surgery 'amazingly well' and his underlying health is excellent," it added. "Treatment options may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation." By James Cook, BBC North America correspondent John McCain is known in Washington as a tough, independent-minded senator - a warrior who is now facing another battle against cancer. He earned his reputation the hard way, being shot down as a US Navy pilot over Vietnam where he was held as a prisoner of war for more than five years, including two in solitary confinement. Repeatedly beaten and tortured, Mr McCain was never again able to raise his arms above his head. During the most recent presidential election campaign, Donald Trump belittled the senator as "not a war hero" saying "I like people who weren't captured". Many Americans were horrified. Mr McCain may have annoyed many Republicans by arguing for reforms to campaign finance and immigration laws. He may have irritated opponents of America's many wars with his forceful arguments in favour of the projection of US military might. But this country reveres its veterans. The attacks on John McCain's personal sacrifice were roundly condemned then - and millions of Americans will be praying for his recovery now. Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive brain tumour, and increases in frequency with age, affecting more men than women. Mr McCain, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, was in "good spirits as he continues to recover at home with his family", his office said. His family reacted with "shock" to the news, his 32-year-old daughter Meghan said. "It won't surprise you to learn that in all of this, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father," she said on Twitter. "So he is meeting this challenge as he has every other. Cancer may afflict him in many ways: but it will not make him surrender. Nothing ever has." President Donald Trump said Mr McCain has "always been a fighter" and, in a statement, said: "Get well soon". Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Mr McCain was a "hero to our country". "He has never shied from a fight, and I know that he will face this challenge with the same extraordinary courage that has characterized his life," he said on Twitter. Former President Barack Obama tweeted: "John McCain is an American hero and one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John."

Question: Veteran US Republican Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer and is @placeholder treatment options , according to his office .