English is one of the advantages India has which are said to be propelling it to economic superpower status. There are all those Indians who speak excellent English. It's the mother tongue of the elite and effectively the official language of the central government. Then there is the growing number of parents who now aspire to give their children an education through the medium of that language. But is the craze for English an unmixed blessing? Back in the sixties the British regarded Indian English as something of a joke. The comic actor Peter Sellers had mocked it so comprehensively that I found it well nigh impossible to get the BBC to allow anyone with even the faintest Indian accent on the air. In India, we native English speakers laughed at quaint phrases like "please do the necessary and oblige", or more simply "please do the needful", and "it is suggested that the meeting be preponed", which appeared regularly in Indian official correspondence. A senior British diplomat once suggested that his PA should find some less geographically specific way of answering the telephone when he couldn't take the call than saying, "Sahib is not on his seat". Much to the diplomat's dismay a colleague told him that his PA had misunderstood the instruction and been even more specific. He'd told the colleague, "Sahib is in the lavatory." Now with Indian writers carrying off the major literary awards, and Westerners in the IT and BPO industries talking of being "bangalored" when they are replaced by English-speaking Indians, Indian English is anything but a joke. But could the very success of English in India "bangalore" India's own languages? The linguist Professor David Crystal speaking in Delhi said: "A language is dying every two weeks somewhere in the world today. Half the world's languages will no longer be spoken in another century. This is an extremely serious concern, and English has to share the blame." Others put it less politely, describing English as a killer language. But should India worry if English kills off some of its 22 officially recognised and hundreds of its not-so-official languages? Perhaps the answer is no. In his book comparing the future of India, China, and Japan, the former editor of The Economist, Bill Emmott, said India fell short of China in almost every measure except the ability to speak English. So why shouldn't India build on its one advantage? One practical reason is because, looking back over the history of India since it became independent in 1947, it is clear that any threat to Indian languages has the potential to provoke a violent backlash. Mark Tully is a writer and former BBC India correspondent. This is an edited extract from his new book,  Non Stop India, published by Penguin Books, India

Question: Whether the government , the private sector or NGOs should deliver development is a question which will not have much @placeholder unless India 's wealth continues to grow to pay for that development .


Michael Forbes' art portrays the US President-elect and also Madonna, who is shown as the Statue of Liberty. Black Isle-based Forbes created the piece this week. Madonna, who opposed Trump's election campaign, has posted an image of the painting on her Facebook and Instagram pages. Her post to Facebook has had more than 57,000 "likes" and her Instagram post more than 40,000. Pop surrealist artist Forbes is part of the Tripping Up Trump movement which protested against the building of Trump's golf resort at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. The artist painted a mural on a barn of a farmer, also called Michael Forbes, who refused to sell land to Trump for the golf course. Artist Forbes has a gallery in New York and his work in Scotland includes posters for the Highlands' Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, created his painting of Trump this week. Among the latest Trump piece's references are the US election's popular vote won by Hillary Clinton. She lost the election due to the electoral college system. American comic book superhero and pop culture icon, Superman, also appears in Forbes' piece. Madonna features because of her views on Trump and also Forbes' admiration of her activities in the gay community in the US. The artist, who in his youth worked as an assistant to British Pop artist Gerald Laing, has been amused and pleased with the reaction to his Trump painting. He said: "After Madonna posted it on Instagram my phone has been ringing repeatedly with people telling me about it." President-elect Trump takes the oath of office on Friday with an estimated 900,000 people expected to gather in Washington for the induction and related activities.

Question: A Scottish artist 's painting of Donald Trump as King Kong has been @placeholder thousands of times online after postings by singer Madonna .


The search was launched after Pepsi vanished at Findon on Monday afternoon. Potential sightings were reported in the Portlethen area, where the dog was located on Tuesday afternoon. Pepsi's owner Claire Muir, of Aberdeen, told the BBC Scotland news website it was "amazing" news and thanked everyone who had helped. She said: "Pepsi has been found safe and well in the outskirts of the Portlethen area by my incredible parents. "She's been checked over by vets and she's safe, well, hungry and as cheeky and hyper as ever! "Simon, myself and all our friends and family who dote on Pepsi are so thankful from the bottom of our dog-loving hearts. Seeing strangers pull together over social media in such a short time and making such a big difference is unbelievable. "We'll thank everyone properly as soon as we get this girl home and washed."

Question: A dog who sparked a major coastguard and lifeboat search after disappearing near @placeholder has been found safe .


But they are linked through a song which captures the hope and despair of Wales' quest to reach a first major football championships since 1958. Manic Street Preachers release their Euro 2016 song Together Stronger (C'Mon Wales) on Friday. Yet an oversight meant the process of recording it nearly ended in failure. The song has its roots in the build-up to a match 23 years ago, when a team which included Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush and Mark Hughes was on the verge of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. "Back then, the only chant fans had to sing was (to the tune of) an outdated John Lennon song that went 'all we are singing is give us a goal'. "It sounded desperate," said John Morgan, then head of promos at BBC Wales. As a do-or-die clash with Romania approached, he wanted to find a tune that would "capture the imagination of a nation" and turned to an unlikely source - 1978 film The Deer Hunter. "People remember the Russian roulette scene near the end, but I remembered a brilliant song sung by Frankie Valli in the film," Mr Morgan said. "There is a little sequence with soldiers in a Pittsburgh bar about to go to Vietnam. They are all singing along, letting their hair down, before facing the terrible thing. "It stuck in my head and I thought that would do it." Andy Williams' version of that song - Can't Take My Eyes Off You - was used in television adverts and came to symbolise, for a generation of fans, the agony of a missed Paul Bodin penalty and a 2-1 defeat. "I can remember walking up to the stadium and suddenly there was not that fear in the crowd, just jubilation," said Manics singer, James Dean Bradfield. "Obviously we know it was misplaced now, but the crowd was singing this song and you could hear it all the way down Westgate Street." For lyricist and bassist Nicky Wire, his "personal introduction to Welsh forlornness" was the 1-1 draw with Scotland in 1985 that denied the country qualification for the 1986 World Cup. A "dodgy hot dog" which gave him food poisoning and the death of Scotland manager Jock Stein after the game helped create a sense of despondency around such occasions. "I've written lyrics before when we have had playoffs (Wales lost to Russia over two legs for a place at Euro 2004), but then chucked them away," he said. "For the Israel game (a 0-0 draw in September 2015 which left Wales close to qualifying for France), I was in a Welsh mini-skirt and scarf ready to post a message saying 'happy days'. "But that selfie is still on my phone ready to go." When qualification did come, courtesy of a Cyprus victory over Israel in October 2015, attention turned to how the Manics would mark it. The answer was simple - Wire lyrics set to the tune of Can't Take My Eyes Off You. According to Bradfield, their version would "retain the spirit of the original" with Everything Must Go era "produced trashiness". As they started recording, Gavin Fitzjohn from Cogan joined the band to record trumpet and saxophone parts. "I've said a million times how incredible this scenario is. You're getting on with your stuff day-to-day and it pops into your head that we've qualified," he said. "I'm going to hear this (song) a lot probably, so it is a bit nerve-wracking. I need to make sure it's bang on." They duly recorded a "great version" that Wire said the band was happy with, before they "hit the wall" in December and the dream appeared over. "Like the complete numpties we are, we hadn't checked with the publishers that we could get permission to actually use the song but with our written lyrics," said Bradfield. "(They refused) then we were left with nothing." In January, Bradfield said "a phoenix arose from the flames" as he had an idea for putting the words to a new tune. "It's not A Design for Life or If You Tolerate This but they came to me in 10 minutes flat and so did this," he said. "I dashed from the house to the studio and had a really good old bloke moment, thinking 'I can still do it'." He praised Wire's words for giving him a "great template" to work from. These used the 1958 World Cup quarter-final defeat against Brazil - Wales' last appearance at a major tournament - as a starting point. "There was a lack of a cultural impact in that era which was really sad as it was still such a great achievement," said Wire. "To lose to the world's greatest player (Pele) and world's greatest team (Brazil) 1-0, in modern times, you would have lived off that for decades." He tried to get as many names into the song, but said it would then have ended up as "just a list of the greatest Welsh players". One name that did make it was that of former manager Gary Speed, who died in 2011. "As a player, he was amazing," said Wire. "I remember against Russia (in the Euro 2004 play-off), he tried to drag the whole Wales team up akin to David Beckham versus Greece, saying 'Come on this is it'." The band met up with the Welsh football squad at their Vale of Glamorgan base to record the song in March. Wire described it as a classic Manics "romantic tragedy" with good doses of Welsh melancholy and enthusiasm. That is not to say it will not provide an upbeat, sing-along soundtrack to many Welsh people's summer. As Bradfield said: "If New Order, who were Joy Division, can get away with it, then we can get away with it."

Question: Vietnam - bound soldiers drinking in a Pittsburgh bar and football fans in France this summer may sound like two @placeholder sharing little in common .


We have seen other insurrections - most notably at BP - but these have been non binding. What's the difference? Shareholders get to vote on pay every year but only once every three years does their vote have any teeth. This is the moment when the company presents the pay policy. In other words when it lays out the method by which pay will be calculated for the next three years. If shareholders reject this - as Weir's did yesterday - its back to the drawing board. The debate over high pay tends to focus on the injury done to our ideas of fairness and merit. The gap between the boardroom and the shop floor has become a chasm. According to the High Pay Centre, 20 years ago CEOs earned 40 times as much as the average worker. That multiple is now 180. There is increasing support gathering for the view that high pay is not just grossly unfair and socially divisive, it is economically destructive. How so? The argument goes like this. Remember, most company CEOs don't last long. The average tenure for a FTSE 100 boss is five years. Even when bonuses and pay are delayed, the period over which their performance is judged is pretty short. Therefore, the CEO has to work quickly. The best way to maximise profit is to keep prices as high as the market will bear while cutting costs to the bone. That will increase profits in the short term but is also a recipe for a lack of investment in new products, new machinery, new training, new technology, new anything. All the things that, over time, raise an economy's productivity and its citizens living standards. The amount of money businesses are investing in things that will provide long term benefits is lower than at any time since the 1960s. Some writers, like economist Andrew Smithers, argue that it is not too far fetched to link the decline in productivity, the amount of output per worker hour, to the excesses of executive pay. We have been here before. The shareholder spring of 2012 was meant to chasten boards into more comprehensible, more transparent, and less offensive pay awards. It ushered in the idea of a three-yearly binding vote that Weir just lost. And yet here we are today with Bob Dudley trousering ¡ê14m as his shareholders suffer and, wait for it, Sir Martin Sorrell to get a pay award of nearly ¡ê70m (his shareholders made money). Senior city figures realise something is wrong. Nigel Wilson, the chief executive of Legal and General last week launched a working group to examine a pay regime he described as "broken". It remains to be seen whether this shareholder spring gives way to yet another long summer for those in the boardroom.

Question: The roar of shareholder disapproval became @placeholder yesterday as Weir Group became only the second company in UK history to lose a binding vote on executive pay .


The staff worked with detainees held on the Pacific island of Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island. A signed letter from the workers argues that Australia must work to resettle refugees held in these centres. It follows the Guardian's publication of more than 2,000 leaked reports from the immigration centre on Nauru. The "incident reports" revealed widespread abuse and trauma among children and women at the centre. The former detention centre employees argue that the only way to secure the safety of asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island is to  immediately bring them to Australia. "It's an untenable situation for it to remain the way it is," said Toby O'Brien, a former child protection officer for Save the Children. Many of the staff say that they have already given evidence to several investigations. "Inquiries and so on are not really relevant to addressing the issue right now because quite a number of adults and children are at immediate risk of harm on the island," Mr O'Brien told the BBC. "By the time these inquiries are finished and recommendations are implemented it's highly likely that more people have been harmed." The news comes at the government confirmed it had repatriated a group of six Sri Lankans attempting to reach Australia by boat. "Our Sri Lankan partners provided advice that this vessel might be targeting Australia so we were ready and waiting to locate and detain the boat," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said. The immigration minister last week accused asylum seekers of setting themselves on fire, deliberately self-harming and making false allegations of sexual assault to get to Australia. The government of Nauru said on Monday most incidents detailed in the cache of files were "fabricated" and accused Australian media and politicians of using refugees as political pawns. "Most refugee & advocate claims on Nauru fabricated to achieve goal to get to Aus. So called 'reports' based solely on these claims #fact," it wrote on Twitter. "Aust left wing media, greens MPs and advocates still using refugees as pawns for their political agendas. Very sad."

Question: More than 100 former employees from Australia 's offshore detention centres have called for asylum seekers to be brought to the @placeholder .


Italian diplomat Filippo Grandi, who took over the post from Portugal's Antonio Guterres this year, was speaking on a visit to Lebanon. Mr Grandi also urged the EU to do more for Syrian refugees outside Europe. EU leaders have warned of a crisis after more than a million migrants entered illegally last year. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told the BBC this week: "If Europe can't protect its own borders, it's the very idea of Europe that could be thrown into doubt." On Friday, his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, warned: "When spring comes and the numbers quadruple, we cannot as the EU cope with the numbers any longer." The new UN High Commissioner for Refugees has been meeting refugees in camps in Lebanon and Jordan. Speaking to the BBC's Quentin Somerville, Mr Grandi said: "Europe can absorb more genuine refugees if it would be better organised among the different member-states. "However, we understand the predicament. It is a social and political predicament which is very serious." The EU is drawing up plans to share the "burden" of refugees more evenly among member states, scrapping a controversial rule that means they must claim asylum in the first country they arrive in. Hungary, one of the most vocal critics of migration policy, has dismissed the crisis as a "German problem" since Germany is where those arriving in the EU "would like to go". Mr Grandi also urged the EU to "do more for the countries of first asylum" so there would be "less motivation for people to flee further away". Katya Adler: Germans struggle to cope with influx Teaching migrants how to behave Migrants feel chill of tighter borders Europe's migrant crisis

Question: EU states could take more genuine refugees from Syria if they @placeholder together better , the new head of the UN refugee agency has told the BBC .


The 27-year-old also says that working with manager Brendan Rodgers for the third time influenced his decision to leave Aston Villa for Scotland. Following his ¡ê3.5m move, Sinclair hopes to rejuvenate his career. "[Petrov] told me about the atmosphere and the fans. He thought it would be great for me, to get my football back on track," said Sinclair. "You saw it when I came on and sprinted from my half to get onto the ball. That's what I want to bring, the excitement back for playing. "It's been a massive impact from the manager in my choice of coming here. I played under him at Swansea, that was my best football, which led me on to sign for Manchester City. "He lets me go and express myself. I worked with him at 16 at Chelsea. He thought it was best for me to move out wide, because I came as a striker. He thought that was the quickest route to play in the Chelsea first-team, which it was. "Over the last two or three years, the football hasn't been great for me and I just wanted to be at a club, enjoy it and playing under a manager who knows me and gives me the confidence to play freely. Media playback is not supported on this device "Because I've known him for so long, he was saying 'get your football back on track, enjoy it, play games', and at this stage in my career, that's the best option for me. With Celtic being a massive club, it was a no-brainer." Sinclair made an immediate impact on his debut, scoring the winning goal against Hearts on Sunday. He only arrived in Glasgow for a medical 24 hours before the game at Tynecastle. Celtic is the 14th club of his career and the former Manchester City and Chelsea winger wants a period of stability after signing a four-year deal. He hopes that "scoring goals, my trickery, my speed" will endear him to the Celtic support. "I've been at numerous clubs. It's all down to stability, if you look back at how many managers I had at Villa," Sinclair said. "Managers have different opinions on players. With the manager here, he knows what I bring and I know what to expect from him, and that's why it was my choice. He led me to this club and I just want to enjoy my football again. "When you haven't got much confidence and you're in and out of the team, you're not at your best. I kept digging in and I kept going to the gym and doing extra. It's broken through now, I'm happy to be here and I can't wait to kick on. "The fans were unbelievable. You saw my celebration, running to them, and I want that bond with the fans. "At some clubs I've not had that, because I've been on loan here, there and everywhere and you're not really a stable player for the team. I'm here for four years and I want to show the fans excitement and make a massive impact."

Question: Scott Sinclair says he was @placeholder to sign for Celtic by former Parkhead midfielder Stiliyan Petrov .


Mr Hofer, 45, won last month's first round but failed to avoid the run-off. If he wins on Sunday, Mr Hofer could become the EU's first far-right head of state, although Austria's president plays a largely ceremonial role. On Thursday, the two rivals traded accusations during a TV debate. Mr Van der Bellen, 72, accused Mr Hofer of wanting to dismiss any government that did not suit him. He was referring to the fact that, despite limited powers, the president can sack governments and also swears in chancellors. Mr Hofer countered that Mr Van der Bellen was the one who had refused to swear in a Freedom Party chancellor if the party won at the next general election in 2018. However, the debate was said to be less feisty than last Sunday's TV encounter, described by some commentators as a slugfest. In the first round of voting, Mr Hofer secured 35% of the votes, while Mr Van der Bellen, polled 21%. For the first time since World War Two, the candidates from Austria's two main parties - the Social Democrats and the People's Party - did not make it to the run-off. Both parties have governed Austria for decades - either alone or in coalition. This is a big shake-up in Austrian politics, as the country has had a president from the centre-left or centre-right since 1945. The victory in the first round of the far-right candidate reflects widespread discontent with the status quo, as well as concerns about immigration and the economy, correspondents say. Support for the Social Democrats and the People's Party has been falling in recent years. In the last general election in 2013, the two parties won just enough votes to govern in a "grand coalition". Incumbent President Heinz Fischer, 77, cannot run again after two terms in office.

Question: Austria 's far - right Freedom Party presidential candidate Norbert Hofer and his rival , Green - @placeholder Alexander Van der Bellen , are holding final rallies ahead of a run-off vote .


With its song-and-dance idiom, Bollywood has long been the symbol of popular Indian cinema, both at home and abroad. But a little known fact is that south India's Hyderabad-based Telugu film industry is much more prolific than Bollywood. It also routinely churns out more expensive films than its Mumbai counterpart. A good case in point is Baahubali, a $39m (?¡ê25m) Telugu-language film, which has made headlines for being India's most expensive film. Directed by SS Rajamouli,  the film, originally shot in the south Indian language Telugu, and dubbed in a number of other languages, set the box office on fire when it opened on Friday. So why has the film worked? One reason could be hype and scale. In the run-up to its release, the film's producers set the tone for the epic scale of the movie with the release of a 51,000 sq ft (4,738 sq m ) promotional poster, which it touted as the "world's largest poster". The massively publicised budget didn't hurt either. But Baahubali has also successfully married the traditional Indian film template with state-of-the-art special effects. For one, Baahubali is lavish and spectacular with breathtaking locales and special effects. And secondly, the story strikes a chord with a traditional Indian movie-going audience. The plot revolves around an Indian epic of warring princes, scheming aristocrats, loyal generals, valiant queens and lion-hearted kings.  It is a cocktail of Indian mythological and familiar fairytale plotlines of revenge and good triumphing over evil, ticking all the boxes that are familiar tropes in Telugu mythology. There is the lost prince Baahubali - thus named because of his powerful arms - and who grows up in obscurity in a tribal hamlet, completely ignorant of that fact that he is heir to the throne of a powerful kingdom across the mountains. There is the powerful figure of the Indian mother whose impassioned love for her son forms the core of the hero's vendetta to avenge her humiliation. There are angelic damsels whose marksmanship and serious sword skills are no match for the hero's charms in the romance department. The acting is marked by glowering and comic book action with lengthy hyperboles that Telugu films are famous for. The film's dazzling special effects have also drawn audiences to theatres, and are inviting comparisons to Hollywood's best. The film has convincingly recreated magical kingdoms, thrilling bull fights, breathtaking flights across mountain peaks and gripping chases down icy slopes. A spectacular 40-minute war sequence comes as a fitting grand finale. And this is not the first time Mr Rajamouli has successfully translated mythology on to the big screen. His 2010 film Maghadheera (The Mighty Valiant Hero), based on historical fiction, was also a big success. The film is made in two parts and the second part of Baahubali is set for release next year. Clearly, its successful formula of fusing mythology with special effects could become the next big thing in Indian cinema. Sudha G Tilak is an independent journalist and writer based in Delhi

Question: India 's battle epic Baahubali ( Strong Man ) , billed as its most expensive film to date , was released in cinemas on Friday . Sudha G Tilak explains why the film has @placeholder movie - mad India 's imagination .


Named Hydrogen One, the device comes cased in either aluminium ($1,195) or titanium ($1,595). It will be powered by Google¡¯s Android operating system and was available to pre-order on Thursday. Industry experts were baffled by the unexpected announcement. "I¡¯ll be completely frank and say I am struggling to get my head around this,¡± said Ben Wood, an analyst with CCS Insight. "It seems incredibly niche but catering to a very affluent, committed audience who are clearly more than happy to take Red at its word and put down a huge chunk of change to reserve a device they have few firm details about.¡± Red has made its name by selling extremely high-quality cameras used to create Hollywood blockbusters - such as Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, which was the first feature to be shot with the company¡¯s new compact 8K camera. But as a mobile device maker, it is unproven, and little is known about key features it has promised. ¡°Hydrogen One is the foundation of a future multi-dimensional media system,¡± the firm¡¯s press release reads, going onto explain that the device will be modular, meaning certain parts can be interchanged, adding or subtracting pieces of hardware to make the device do different things. However, no additional modules will be available when the phone is first launched, the company said, and aside from vague patent applications that is all that is known about the firm¡¯s plans. Perhaps even more ambitious is the company¡¯s promise of a holographic display that does not require any kind of special glasses. Red added: ¡°This incredible retina-riveting display advancement features nanotechnology that seamlessly switches between traditional 2D content, holographic multi-view content, 3D content and interactive games.¡± Analyst Ben Wood told the BBC the device would have a hard time capturing any significant amount of the smartphone market. "Camera and screen technology are anchor features on high-end smartphones and it would be foolish to discount something that looks so disruptive. "The problem is that history shows that it is rare that perceived breakthroughs like this actually end up changing a market forever.¡± But as could be expected, fans of Red were excited by the news - though they too were somewhat bewildered. ¡°There were rumours about a smartphone which I utterly and with complete certainty dismissed,¡± wrote David Shapton, from Red news blog RedShark. He added: ¡°There will be doubters. There will be haters. But there is every reason to be a believer too. At this early point, that's exactly what I am.¡± ___________ Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC You can reach Dave securely through encrypted messaging app Signal on: +1 (628) 400-7370

Question: A holographic , virtual - augmented and @placeholder - reality - ready smartphone has been unveiled by Red , the company better known for ultra-high quality film cameras .


The WDBS was launched this week to give more people with disabilities the opportunity to play cue sports. The first event will take place on 28 and 29 November at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester. Five different disability classification groups will participate at the tournament. The WDBS has been set up under the auspices of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, with help from the English Federation of Disability Sport. "We are delighted to announce the tournament and are sure it will be a great success," said WDBS chairman Nigel Mawer. "We encourage anyone eligible to take part regardless of their snooker standard. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet others, get free coaching, and compete in a competitive environment."

Question: The first tournament staged by the new World Disability Billiards and Snooker ( WDBS ) @placeholder will take place in Gloucester in November .


"It is like a little stolen holiday," says Radcliffe. "It is a long way from home and we get treated so well." The DJ and musician along with the other members of the pirate-themed band, Galleon Blast, will perform at Loopallu later this month. It will be the group's debut appearance at the long-running event. However, Radcliffe and several members of Galleon Blast have been up before with bands The Family Mahone and Mark Radcliffe & Foes. "Ullapool is very special place and the festival is in an amazing location, and its organiser Robert Hicks always makes us very welcome," says Radcliffe. "One of the things about Loopallu is that it brings musicians and acts to a part of Scotland that some people might not usually consider going to. "It is an important reminder that Scotland doesn't stop at Glasgow or Edinburgh or Aberdeen." A previous appearance at Loopallu by Radcliffe and his musical friends also tied in with a grand tour of Scottish islands, including Easdale, Mull, Iona and Lewis. A similar venture is not planned this time, though the DJ admits they might be a little more appropriately attired - such as pirate frock coats and tricorn hats -  for the sea crossings between the isles. But he says: "We will be bringing the Loopallu beer tent to a close on the Friday night and playing on the main stage on Saturday afternoon. "We will be playing sea shanties. Not everyone might be familiar with the songs, but once they hear the rhythms they should quickly get into to it. "We're a party band. It'll be good fun," he adds. Galleon Blast have already played Moseley Folk Festival and Shrewsbury Festival this year. Radcliffe says: "We've being warming up for Loopallu. "Our Olympic training regime should mean we'll be in peak condition by the time of our trip to Ullapool." Loopallu takes place on 30 September and 1 October.

Question: DJ Mark Radcliffe can not stay away from Ullapool 's Loopallu . As he prepares to make his fourth , or possibly fifth , visit by his calculations he explains why he is @placeholder to the little music festival in the north west Highlands .


Gavin Hunt, 41, from Tile Cross, and brothers Christopher Dixon and Jamie Dixon, both from Castle Bromwich, used axes and crowbars to break into homes. They then demanded car keys and cash. Hunt was jailed for 12 years and 10 months, Jamie Dixon, 32, to eight years and 10 months, and Christopher Dixon, 29, to seven years and three months. The three men, who wore balaclavas, targeted homes with expensive cars parked outside. In one case in January 2013, Hunt and Christopher Dixon smashed into a house in Newton Road in Great Barr, where they pulled a nine-year-old boy from where he was hiding behind the sofa and threatened him with an axe while his family found the car keys. The men stole a Nissan Pulsar GTR in the Great Barr robbery; an Audi R8 from Grange Park, Northampton; an Audi RS4 from Tile Cross Road in Birmingham, an Audi RS6 from Western Road in Sutton Coldfield; and an Audi RS4 from Oldburgh Drive in Loxley, Warwickshire. Det Con Damian Forrest, from West Midlands Police, said: "I have no doubt that the gang would have used serious violence to achieve their objectives if they had not got what they wanted." Correction 23 September 2014: In the original version of this story it was not made clear which defendants were involved in the offence in January 2013. The story was amended following clarification by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Question: Three men have been jailed for a series of robberies across the Midlands , including one in which a nine - year - old boy had an axe @placeholder to his throat .


The torch will be carried through 40 towns on a week-long journey before being flown to the UK ahead of the Games, which begin on 27 July. BMW is one of several international conglomerates that have agreed to pay for the 10-17 May event. The flame will be lit in Olympia, in southern Greece, on 10 May. The country's British-born 10-km swimming world champion Spyros Gianniotis will be the first torchbearer, and some 500 people will carry the flame on its 3,000-km (1,800-mile) tour of most of the Greek mainland and the island of Crete. The Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) did not say how much the Greek leg of the relay - previously partly funded by the Greek government - would cost. HOC chief Spyros Capralos told the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens that the contribution of sponsors meant the event would not have to be scaled back due to Greece's difficult financial circumstances. "On the contrary, the relay will not be affected adversely because it is too important an opportunity to promote Greece," said Mr Capralos. 'It's going all around the country... to remind all our fellow countrymen of the importance of the torch, the importance of the Olympic Games, that everything started from here.'' Greece has been hit by a five-year recession and is being kept afloat by rescue loans from other eurozone countries. The BBC's home of 2012: Latest Olympic news, sport, culture, torch relay, video and audio Last year, the country was stripped of the 2013 Mediterranean Games over budget cuts, and the event was moved to Mersin, Turkey. After the Greek relay, the Olympic flame will be handed over to London 2012 at a ceremony in the Panathinaiko stadium, Athens before flying to Britain on 18 May. In the UK, the torch will be carried by 8,000 people - 7,300 people who were nominated and 700 athletes and celebrities. Games organisers aim to bring the flame within 10 miles of 95% of the population. Its 70-day journey, which will begin at Land's End on the morning of 19 May.

Question: German car maker BMW has @placeholder ensure Greece will be able to fulfil its leg of the Olympic torch relay despite the country 's financial crisis .


You can't kick the buzz. Yes, they know the risks, but they're happy to take them at 200 miles per hour. Hundreds of riders bomb down Ireland's country roads on summer evenings - the air is thick with the growl of revving engines. And on the sidelines, the wives, the partners, the children stand and watch and wait - holding their breaths, counting down the laps. They cope with the wait and the worry for a son, daughter, husband or father to reappear again and make the chequered flag. But they cannot stop the racers. Speed kills but it also thrills. Warren Reeve grew up with road racing; it's in his DNA. "It's a bit like going in for a fight," he said. "You get nervous, you get the butterflies. You're just sat on the clutch and it's all focus and then all that nerve turns into energy." He is wary too, he understands the risks but he has a passion for racing. "You have to be at one with the bike, you have to feel the road through the tyres and the handlebars," he said. "I'd never fall out with the bike because she's bigger than me. You see the young ones getting off their smaller bikes and they're kicking the bike and I'm thinking no, don't do that, she'll get you next time." His wife, Jeanette, has her own views but she knows she can't stop him. "He's born with race fuel in the blood, I'd love him to stop," she said. "Why would you race on crazy roads? "He promised me glamour, I was thinking Lewis Hamilton stuff, high heels and make up. But no, it's wellies and raincoats." And she's got used to the thrills as well as the spills. "It's normal now, it's a good life, a scary one," she said. "There's a dark side, I've seen it first hand, but it's what we do." Robert McCrum is in love with the sport. He has lost a leg, but that hasn't grounded him. "The doctor said he would make me a limb for the motorcycle," he said. "I have a different limb for racing," he added, strapping it on in a matter-of-fact way. "You always want to win... But if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, no point in getting annoyed." The family come for the racing, he always brings the children, saying it's like "a wee holiday". Melissa Kennedy thinks she's immortal but, deep down, she knows she's not. Her passion for road racing comes courtesy of her genes. "My dad is such a strong figure to me, he's my hero," she said. "Dad bought me a bike for my birthday, he made me get on it and that was it.  Once the visor goes down, I'll get a tap on the back from my dad and he'll give me the thumbs up and that's it, I'm off. "Mum hates me doing it but she comes to every race because if she didn't she would be beside herself if anything was to happen me and she wasn't there. "But she can't bring herself to watch me." The enthusiast is passionate about road racing. "Racing is my love," she said. "If I have to give it up I will, but at this present moment in time, I'm sweet." Things don't always go right. People are killed and the racers mourn together. They are, many of them say, "one big family". They are bonded by their passion for the sport. Their stories are told in a series made by independent production company, DoubleBand Films. Photographer Stephen Davison has also captured the essence and individuality of Ireland's road riders in a series of haunting portraits to accompany the series which also form a touring exhibition. The first episode of Road Riders in on BBC One Northern Ireland at 22:40 BST on 19 April.

Question: For the road riders , speed is a drug that 's hard to @placeholder .


Michelle Kiss, from Whalley, was among 22 people who died in the suicide bomb attack on Monday. The vigil at Whalley Methodist Church, Lancashire, was organised by her husband Tony, and attended by hundreds who came to pay their respects. Her family said they were devastated "she had been taken away... in the most traumatic way imaginable". In a statement, they said she was a "loving" wife, mother and daughter to whom "family meant everything". Two girls who also died, were commemorated at a vigil held in Worden Park, Leyland, on Thursday. The town was home to the youngest victim, eight-year-old Saffie Roussos and where another victim, Georgina Callander, studied. About 1,500 people were are the event where balloons were released following a minute's silence. Deacon Ellen Monk-Winstanley, from Leyland Methodist Church, said the vigil "did a great job of reaching out to everybody" adding it was a comfort "in the midst of all this pain".

Question: A mother who died in the Manchester Arena attack has been @placeholder at a vigil in her home town .


Her back catalogue has appeared on TIDAL, the Sweden-based company Jay Z dropped ¡ê37m for two weeks ago. As any good Swiftie knows, Taylor had her differences with Spotify, and what it paid for her music. She pulled her back catalogue saying there was an "inherent value placed on art" when it came to her work. Now they appear to have re-emerged on TIDAL. All of Taylor's tracks, including her albums Red, 1989, and Fearless can be found by searching her name. The rapper's company, Project Panther, took over Sweden-based Aspiro for a reported $56m (¡ê37m) on 13 March. The firm owned WiMP - which rivals Spotify in some countries - and TIDAL (which streams music in HD). If the rumours are true, Jay Z did his homework before he bought the service. He apparently called a "summit" during Grammy week with some of the biggest names in music, including Chris Martin, Madonna, Nicki Minaj and, of course, Beyonce. Lawyers and music execs were there too, to discuss streaming and, according to Forbes magazine, how to make it work better for artists. The move will put Jay Z in competition with Beats Music, founded by Dr Dre and bought by Apple in 2014. Tidal currently offers users access to 25 million tracks, in addition to 75,000 music videos and other content including artist interviews, for ¡ê19.99 per month. That contrasts with Spotify's charge of ¡ê9.99 per month for 30 million tracks. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Question: The ink might not have dried on the @placeholder , but it seems Jay Z 's new streaming service has signed the star his rivals could n't - Taylor Swift .


A dismal first half yielded just three points from the boot of Jason Tovey. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne came off the bench in the second period to set up the first of two Damien Hoyland tries. And the replacement scrum-half darted through to score as the ill-disciplined visitors faded in the face of increased pressure from the hosts. Edinburgh nudge ahead of Glasgow and Munster into fifth place, with those teams in action on Saturday. If Alan Solomons' side are to hang on to a top-six spot and earn a Champions Cup place, they will need to turn in more performances like the second-half showing at Murrayfield. The error-strewn opening 40 minutes was simply appalling. A strangely sluggish Edinburgh moved ahead on 13 minutes when Tovey, making his debut after a loan move from Dragons, knocked over a penalty following a high tackle on thundering prop WP Nel. A ragged sequence of fumbles, stray passes and petty squabbles followed, with Kelly Haimona shoving a penalty wide for Zebre. The first half ended with Oliviero Fabiani barreling through a gap to touch down but the visiting hooker's route was cleared by an obstruction, picked up by the television review. With both sides penalised for squint line-out ball soon after the interval and Haimona short with a penalty attempt, an upturn in the quality on show looked unlikely. But Hidalgo-Clyne's introduction brought with it some much-needed zip and he threaded a grubber through for Hoyland to run on to and the winger was able to kick it on and win the race for the line. Soon after, Hoyland was diving over in the corner after Phil Burleigh did well to gather a fizzing high pass from Hidalgo-Clyne. Tovey converted on both occasions and the fly-half made it three from three when his clever break was supported well by Stuart McInally, with the replacement hooker offloading for Hidalgo-Clyne to waltz through unchallenged. The chance of a just a second try bonus for the hosts this season appeared to have gone when a late penalty was kicked into touch only for Zebre to rob the line-out. However, an offside infringement allowed Edinburgh to keep the ball alive and, with the clock red for almost two minutes, a patient passing move was finished off by Toolis. Edinburgh: Kinghorn, Hoyland, Allen, Burleigh, Brown, Tovey, Kennedy, Dickinson, Ford, Nel, Bresler, B. Toolis, Coman, Watson, Du Preez. Replacements: Helu for Brown (74), Hidalgo-Clyne for Kennedy (48), McInally for Ford (41), Andress for Nel (73), A. Toolis for Bresler (73), Bradbury for Coman (5). Not Used: Dell, Dean. Zebre: Van Zyl, Beyers, Boni, Pratichetti, L. Sarto, Haimona, Palazzani, Lovotti, Fabiani, Chistolini, Geldenhuys, Bortolami, Cook, Ruzza, Meyer. Replacements: Postiglioni for Lovotti (74), Ceccarelli for Chistolini (48), Caffini for Cook (24). Not Used: Roan, Koegelenberg, Burgess, Canna, Bisegni. Ref: Leighton Hodges (Wales).

Question: Alex Toolis crashed over deep into time @placeholder on to secure a bonus - point victory for Edinburgh at home to Pro12 strugglers Zebre .


An updated yellow "be aware" warning was issued by forecasters from 11:00 BST on Friday to 09:00 BST on Saturday. The Met Office said rain and showers will spread north through Wales on Friday evening into Saturday. While many places will miss heavier rain, there could still be "significant disruption" in some places. Forecasters said in addition to localised surface water flooding, lightning and hail could cause problems. Some thunderstorms could see 20-30mm (0.8-1.2in) of rain falling in an hour, with heavier persistent rain of  up to 40mm (1.6in) in some parts of south Wales. No incidents have been reported so far in Wales on Friday.

Question: Heavy rain and @placeholder severe thunderstorms could cause surface water flooding and disruption in parts of Wales .


Steffan Roberts Vernon, 33, from Caernarfon, died at the Llanberis beauty spot in Gwynedd, on Sunday alongside Alexander Hadley, 21, from nearby Dinorwig. Two others, aged 27 and 25, were treated in hospital and later released. Police believe the men got into difficulty while swimming in the "extremely cold" water. Friends have been posting tributes on a Facebook page called 'Steffan Vernon and why we all love him'. Debbie Ann Williams wrote: "So sad such a lovely smiley soul the gentle giant who always had a big hug 4 everyone rip steff xxxx" Eve Maria posted: "Xxx always ready for an adventure full of smiles and a beautiful crazy laugh xxx" Emma O'Neill said: "Some souls leave the world a far better place than when they arrived....just by being a part of it." The coroner for north west Wales has launched an investigation into their deaths and an inquest will be opened at a later date.

Question: Tributes have been paid to a " gentle giant " who died while swimming near a @placeholder in a north Wales village .


Aberdeen failed last week with an approach for the 25-year-old striker. "If clubs are interested it's a compliment," said Moult. "In terms of bids and people being interested I'm very, very grateful. "But it's the club's decision. I've got another year on my contract and they pay my wages." The former Stoke City trainee moved to Fir Park from Wrexham in 2015 and has been top scorer in his two seasons with the Steelmen, netting 18 goals in each campaign. Moult is recovering from groin surgery and while he insists he is confident of being a success should he join a bigger club, he is not agitating for a move. "It would be wrong for me to go and kick their door down if they value me a little bit more," he added. "I have come up here, worked hard, scored a few goals and people are interested. I'm very, very grateful, whether I am at this football club or another. This club have been unbelievable for me in terms of my profile and the people have been fantastic for me. "The manager at the time, Ian Barraclough, sold the club to me as a stepping stone. That's what the club is. "I believe I can score goals wherever I go. If someone pays money and the board feel that it's going to help the football club move forward financially, then I think I have done well." Motherwell have tabled a contract extension that would make Moult the best paid player at the club, but he admits the talks have not progressed in recent months. "It's kind of stood still a little bit. I think the negotiations started at Christmas. A lot has gone one since then, [former manager] Mark McGhee left, Stephen Robinson came in, a lot of new players came in. "It's a difficult one for myself to sign right now."

Question: Louis Moult says he always viewed Motherwell as a path to bigger things , but insists he will only consider leaving when a bid for him is @placeholder .


Three times the tourists led in Perth, through goals from Crista Cullen, Ellie Watton and Helen Richardson-Walsh. Each time they were pegged back - by Gabrielle Nance, Karri McMahon and Ashleigh Nelson - to keep the series tied before Thursday's fourth match. Captain Richardson-Walsh won her 355th cap to equal Karen Brown's all-time record. "I felt my 35 years old out there," she said. "It's a massive honour to equal Karen Brown's record. "It feels like we've been talking about it for a while so I can't wait to break the record. It'll be really nice to get there - a really huge honour."

Question: Great Britain women drew a thrilling third match with Australia 3 - 3 to leave their six - game series @placeholder at 1-1 .


"The constituent assembly lacks legitimacy and because of that we cannot accept the result," he said. Venezuela's President Nicol??s Maduro called the vote as protests against his government gained momentum in May. The opposition sees it as a move towards dictatorship. The new constituent assembly, comprising 545 members, will rival the National Assembly, currently controlled by the opposition. "We insist on a peaceful solution for the country's situation," said President Santos. Earlier on Friday, police in the Venezuelan capital Caracas fired tear gas and rubber bullets against opposition activists who blocked roads. At least two people were injured. Venezuela has banned protests that could "disturb or affect" the vote. Prison terms of between five and 10 years could be imposed on those contravening the ban, Interior Minister N??stor Reverol said on Thursday. The ban on activity will remain in force until Tuesday. Katy Watson, BBC News, Caracas When you drive around Caracas at night, you really notice the lack of street lights - it's very dark and it feels unsafe. A day after the government banned protests ahead of Sunday's vote, the streets of Caracas felt eerily quiet. There were sporadic demonstrations but what stood out were the blockades or "guarimbas" as the Venezuelans call them.  Some barricades are just piles of rubbish, others are made with bricks or barbed wire. It's a tactic used by the opposition aimed at halting traffic and causing disruption. And it works - finding a straightforward route is hard, dodging cars driving down the wrong side of the road is the norm, it seems, anything to find a way out of the barricades and get home. More than 100 people have been killed in protest-related violence since April. The situation has worsened to the point that the United States has ordered family members living at the embassy in Caracas to evacuate the country. It also authorised its staff members to leave if they desire. Mr Maduro said his opponents should "abandon the road to insurrection" and added that he would be willing to begin a "roundtable dialogue in the next few hours". On Wednesday, the US imposed sanctions on 13 senior Venezuelan officials, including Mr Reverol. The sanctions freeze the US assets of those targeted and stop American entities from doing business with them. President Donald Trump promised "strong and swift economic actions" if the poll goes ahead. Mr Maduro responded by describing the US as imperialists bent on ruling the world and called the sanctions "illegal, insolent and unprecedented".

Question: Colombia 's President Juan Manuel Santos says his country will not recognise the result of Sunday 's vote in @placeholder Venezuela to elect a new assembly with power to rewrite the constitution .


The total number of offences, under new legislation which criminalised religious hatred connected to football, dropped from 267 to 203 in 2013/14. Officials said this may account for a 15% drop in all offences with a religious aggravation. The figure of 587 was down from 689 the previous year and 898 in 2011/12. The totals for the preceding five years were relatively stable, with between 600 and 700 charges reported each year. In 51% of the football-related cases, the accused was affiliated with either Rangers or Celtic. In all, there were 635 charges relating to religious prejudice in Scotland when general offences of religious hatred were added to those under the new legislation - the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012. That was a 17% reduction on the previous 12 months. The government said it was committed to review the football legislation after two years, but said the figures showed strong action was being taken to tackle the actions of the "small minority" of fans who indulge in offensive behaviour at matches. As in previous years, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism were most often the religions that were the subject of abuse. There was an increase in the proportion of charges which related to Catholicism - from 57% in 2012/13 to 63% in the subsequent 12 months - although the number of offences fell. Offences relating to Protestantism remained steady at 29% - also with a reduced number. In 29% per cent of the incidents, the accused had affiliations with Rangers. Celtic fans accounted for 22%. More than a quarter (28%) referred to support for terrorist organisations. The legislation has proved controversial with football clubs and fans who have complained it does not specify exactly what constitutes offensive behaviour, including which songs or chants could contravene the law. Religious hate crimes fell by 17% overall, which ministers said was testament to hard work taking place to tackle these offences. The government said it had invested ?¡ê9m between 2012 and 2015 in community projects and set up an independent advisory group to tackle the scourge of sectarianism. The statistics also revealed rises in sexual orientation aggravated crime, which were up by up 22%; disability aggravated offences, which increased by 12%; and charges with an aggravation of transgender identity. However, in each case the numbers involved were low. Equalities Secretary Shona Robison condemned those increases and said an awareness campaign had been launched to encourage reporting of such crimes, which included the establishment of third party reporting centres across Scotland. "No-one should have to face discrimination or prejudice in any form in 21st Century Scotland," she said. "The more we talk about it, the easier it will be for people to report hate crimes to the authorities. "We are not becoming more intolerant as a society, but we are becoming less tolerant of those who hold prejudiced beliefs." Jan Savage, head of campaigns and policy at the charity Enable Scotland said the rise in offences against disabled people was disappointing. But she said: "More and more disabled people are exercising their rights to report hate crimes and reclaim their communities and the right to feel safe. "What this also tells us is that there is a real need to tackle the root causes of disability related hate crime, and work harder to change attitudes about disability."

Question: The number of sectarian incidents @placeholder at Scottish football matches fell by 40 % last season , according to Crown Office figures .


The Friday strike will affect short- and medium-haul flights, similar to Wednesday's action. Pilots staged a walk-out for long-haul flights on Thursday. The pilots' union is hoping strikes will put pressure on management during negotiations on retirement benefits. Lufthansa spokesman Martin Riecken said the company would be able to fly three-quarters of flights on Friday across all carriers under the Lufthansa group, including Swiss International and Austrian Airlines. He said the company would like to resume negotiations with the union. Lufthansa wanted to get rid of a programme that allows pilots to retire at age 55 and receive up to 60% of their pay until they reach the statutory retirement age of 65. Mr Ricecken says a new deal has been tabled by the airline offering to continue the benefit for existing pilots, but with a higher average retirement age of 61 and closing the scheme to new pilots. The airline has been plagued by strikes, which last year cost it €232m (¡ê165m). "It's not about preventing strategic business decisions," said Jorg Handwerg, a spokesman for the union, Vereinigung Cockpit, in a statement on its website. "Competition should not lead to a sell-off of the values ??that have a significant role in ensuring that Lufthansa has become one of the world's leading aerospace companies." The moves are intended as a cost-savings effort, as Lufthansa struggles to compete with low-cost competitors and rivals such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines.

Question: Lufthansa pilots plan a third day of striking on Friday , following two days of @placeholder action on Wednesday and Thursday , potentially disrupting thousands of passengers .


About 100 fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) took part, some crossing the border from Iraq, some moving from inside Turkey. The toll - of 24 dead and 18 injured - is the largest suffered by the Turkish security forces since 1993. The response by the Turkish military has been a predictable one: more raids by jets and helicopters on targets inside Iraq, with ground forces moving around 8km (five miles) across the Iraqi border. The military says it killed 15 of the PKK insurgents; it claims to have killed as many as 160 in air raids carried out since July. The PKK has proved before that it is capable of such an attack, and of inflicting heavy losses. In June last year, it carried out a very similar night-time raid, using large numbers of fighters, and killed 13 soldiers stationed at a remote outpost along the border. The government vowed then that the soldiers would be better protected, and questions were posed about the suitability of a young, conscript army for tackling an entrenched insurgency. If lessons were learned, they do not appear to have helped those battling the PKK in the latest attacks. Bigger questions hang over why the PKK has escalated its operations against the military over the past four months, and why the Turkish government, which repeatedly says it wants to pursue reconciliation, has been unable to stop the harsh treatment of Kurdish nationalist figures by the judiciary. Time and again, apparent windows for peace have been shut down abruptly. In October 2009, following Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unprecedented offer of a new beginning for relations between Turkey's largest minority and the state, 34 Kurdish activists, including eight PKK fighters, crossed the border from Iraq, and turned themselves over to the Turkish authorities. It was presented as a gesture, a test of the government's intentions. The activists were allowed to go free, instead of being prosecuted. But then it all went wrong. A jubilant welcome for the activists by tens of thousands of Kurds, waving PKK symbols, provoked a strong nationalist reaction in a Turkish public conditioned to think of the PKK only as an evil, terrorist organisation. The government had rushed into a badly thought-out peace initiative, without preparing the Turkish people for it. By the end of 2009, the main Kurdish party had been banned - for the seventh time - by the constitutional court, and dozens of Kurdish community leaders were being prosecuted under the draconian, catch-all anti-terror laws. One Kurdish editor was sentenced to 166 years in prison, merely for the pro-PKK sentiments published in his newspaper. It was a similar situation after the general election in June this year, in which Kurdish candidates did well. This opened the possibility of Kurds pressing their demands through parliament, and working with the government on a new constitution - one of their central demands. But a court decision to strip one Kurdish MP of his seat, and give it to the ruling AK party, poisoned the atmosphere. Kurdish MPs boycotted parliament, and announced what they called their own "democratic autonomy" initiative, taking greater control of local government. There has never been a constructive dialogue between the AK, Turkey's most successful democratic party, and Kurdish leaders. They just seem to talk, or shout, past each other, even though both have acknowledged that the use of military force by both sides has brought about nothing but hatred and the loss of more than 40,000 lives. This despite the fact that the AK is the first party to attempt to address the grievances of the Kurds, and has managed to ease some of the restrictions on Kurdish expressions of identity. The terrible atrocities committed against Kurdish communities in the 1990s have left a searing anger towards the Turkish state, compounded by the poverty, unemployment and ill-treatment that blight the Kurdish south-east. But such is the engrained hostility of millions of Turks towards the Kurdish nationalist movement, that any attempt to negotiate with it could cost a government significant numbers of votes. The lack of leadership on the Kurdish issue has left a vacuum, now filled by the armed hardliners of the PKK. It is hard to interpret its decision to increase its attacks on the army and police as anything else but an attempt to sabotage any future peace initiative, should it ever get off the ground. In the current, bitter climate of mutual recriminations, that is unlikely to happen.

Question: These were well - @placeholder attacks , carried out simultaneously a little after midnight , on military and police posts close to the border with Iraq .


But I ask because I am merely wondering whether we sometimes forget a grim reality of the story of life on Earth - that extinction has always been with us. In fact, it has quite often been good for us. We are certainly far better off without velociraptors slashing their way through our cities. Our streets are safer with no sabre-toothed tigers. And imagine trying to swat one of those monster prehistoric insects like a vulture-sized dragonfly. The question of extinction most recently surfaced at the talks on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - the treaty meant to save endangered species from the devastating effects of trade. The slaughter of rhino, the decimation of elephant, the forlorn last stand of the tiger - all had their profiles raised as the delegates in Bangkok negotiated their fate. BBC News: The Editors is a monthly programme on BBC One which brings together the BBC's on-air editors, each a specialist in their field, to answer some of the big questions about what's happening in the world. It is also on BBC World News. BBC News: The Editors And anyone hearing the protests and the campaigns, and the shocking statistics about the losses, might be forgiven for thinking that extinction was some new kind of evil that was not invented until rapacious and uncaring mankind came along. I should state right now that some of the most ghastly examples are indeed entirely the result of man's activities, sometimes unwittingly, sometimes carelessly. However, taking a long view, extinction has been part of the natural order of things throughout Earth's history. The most famous mass wipe-out was the loss of the dinosaurs. And four other great die-offs have been identified - one of them killing off something like 90% of species. But there is so-called "background" extinction as well - species fading out year by year, creatures quietly losing out to others and disappearing. These losses might not be spectacular - in fact, they're routine. The result is that the average species only lasts a few million years. Mammals do worst, surviving between one and two million years. Clams do better at five to seven million. A few hardy survivors - the leatherback turtle is a prime example of a sturdy design - cling on for tens of millions of years. But the blunt truth is that the living world is a restless, churning enterprise in which nothing endures forever. Astonishingly, almost every life form that has ever existed on the planet has died out. It is worth pausing to absorb what that means. Something like 90% - or even 99%, according to some estimates - of every kind of sea creature or land animal or insect or plant that enjoyed a spell on Earth then vanished into oblivion. Some remains morphed into fossils and ended up on the shelves of museums. Others have left no trace. Charles Darwin wrote of extinction in his landmark On the Origin of Species. For him, the process of evolution involved new species gaining ground and others losing out. He certainly did not mourn the passing of the losers. So, in the clamour to conserve a host of iconic species, is there a case for us to be more realistic about our ability to intervene? Might the awkward fact be that we can't save everything? It is certainly the case that the creatures with the best chance are those whose looks or adorability or loveable eyes have attracted the strongest support. No-one is fighting to save the tubeworm. But should the emphasis change if extinctions are our fault? Or, worse than that, if the losses are accelerating because of us - by tearing up habitats or causing pollution or simply slaughtering every member of a species? There is a long list of animals whose disappearance can be blamed squarely on human actions. I met one of them on the Galapagos Islands a few years ago - Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his species, a lumbering, sad-eyed, endearing creature. On his home island, the plants that he and his kind depended on had been nibbled away by goats brought by sailors, while their eggs were eaten by rats that jumped from the ships. The tortoises themselves used to be carried on board to serve as living larders. Clearly attitudes to the natural world change over time - and vary between regions. For a poor villager in Africa, poaching an elephant for its tusks is easy money. For people in China, ivory and rhino horn are important culturally and - wrongly - medicinally. Conservation is a fairly new idea - ivory used to be a major staple of British Empire trading. By contrast, I found the sight of a haul of smuggled tusks in Bangkok Airport profoundly depressing. The stench was intense and a customs officer said the ivory "smelled like death". So what are the arguments for resisting extinction? One is purely selfish - economics. For example, if we fish every last tuna, thousands of people in the fishing industry will lose their jobs. Likewise, if every lion or elephant is shot, the tourist trade will suffer. Extinction can cost in hard cash. Furthermore, there may be unintended effects from eliminating "keystone" species - the loss of one plant or creature in a food chain may affect a whole web that we depend on in some way that we have not yet understood. In Thailand, I heard that too few tigers could mean too many deer. In turn, that would mean more destruction of vegetation with a knock-on impact on the birds and monkeys that live in the trees. Another argument is moral - that as the most powerful species on the planet, we have an obligation not to obliterate others, especially if it is through wanton carelessness. In other words, a mark of civilisation would be to feel responsibility for the survival of weaker species. A final point that I find compelling is that we are the first species to have gained the remarkable knowledge that every living thing has its DNA at its heart. We all share that. We may not like everything - ants, spiders, slugs and snakes - but we are related to them. In an extremely loose sense, they are family. And that casts the threat of extinction - and our role in it - in a very different light. David Shukman's report What's wrong with extinction? will be broadcast in a new programme, BBC News: The Editors, starting on BBC1 on 25 March at 23:15 GMT.

Question: What is wrong with extinction ? I realise this question is the conservation @placeholder of a landmine - or an elephant trap . And that it is likely to ruffle a lot of fur .


The secret Elysium website had 87,000 members and was launched on the internet in December, prosecutors say. The suspected ringleader, a 39-year-old man, was arrested in the state of Hesse. The forum was also used to make appointments to abuse children. Police seized the website's server. They found that toddlers were among the children sexually abused, reports say. The chief suspect was arrested at his home in the Limburg-Weilburg area north of Frankfurt on 12 June. He has been linked not only to spreading videos and images of child sex abuse but is also suspected of carrying out acts of serious sexual abuse. What is the dark web? Several suspected users of the site have been arrested in Germany and Austria. Three were held in Germany and another 14 were detained in Austria, according to local reports. Prosecutors were due to give further details on Friday. The website only appeared on the dark web at the end of last year but attracted tens of thousands in a matter of months. Sites on the dark web are not visible through normal search engines, and while there are many legitimate uses for it, it has become a magnet for online criminal activity.

Question: German police have busted a child sex abuse site on the dark web where images and videos were @placeholder .


Businessman John Adams renamed Palleg golf club in Swansea the Celtic Minor to attract more members. But a spokesman for Celtic Manor warned they will fight "any attempt to take unfair advantage of their reputation". Celtic Minor said "there wasn't any issue" with the name change. Club manager Melanie Eaton said the name change "works in their favour." She added: "You put Celtic Manor into Google and there's the Celtic Minor popping up underneath it so there are advantages of having a similar name. "The club had been established a long time and initially the members didn't want a name change. But the response we get from most of them is brilliant. "The club was relatively run down when it was bought out and the new owner has spent a lot of money." The Celtic Minor golf course is 53 miles (85 km) away from the Celtic Manor, which is owned by billionaire Sir Terry Matthews. A Celtic Manor Resort spokesman said: "The Celtic Manor Resort would like to make it clear that Celtic Minor Golf Club has no affiliation with the Celtic Manor Resort or its three championship golf courses. "Celtic Manor is a registered trade mark of Celtic Manor Resort Limited (UK) and we reserve all our rights to protect our name from any attempts to take unfair advantage of our reputation or to exploit our goodwill in these services."

Question: Bosses of the Celtic Manor , which @placeholder the Ryder Cup and the Nato summit , are threatening legal action against a village club changing its name to Celtic Minor .


Mohammad Akhlaq was beaten to death by a group of men in Dadri in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Eighteen people are on trial for his murder. The slaughter of cows, considered sacred by Hindus, is banned in many Indian states. The court in Gautam Buddh Nagar, near the Indian capital, Delhi, gave the order after hearing a petition filed by one of Mr Akhlaq's neighbours. Mohammad Danish, Mr Akhlaq's son, said he "hoped a fresh investigation will bring out the truth". "I am hoping for a fair probe. The real facts will be revealed then," he told the CNN-IBN news channel. A lab test cited widely in the aftermath of the killing in September had said that the meat allegedly found in his refrigerator was mutton and not beef. However, a new lab report, revealed in June by the lawyers of 18 people on trial for his murder, said that the meat in question was, in fact, beef. Later, it was also revealed that the meat was never in his house, but found inside a bin near his home. Although police have said that the type of meat is irrelevant to the murder case, the defence team has been using the new test results to demand the release of the 18 suspects on the grounds that they were "provoked" into attacking Mr Akhlaq. Uttar Pradesh is one of the 10 Indian states where the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and bullock is completely banned. However, the slaughter of buffaloes and the sale and consumption of its meat is permitted.

Question: A court has ordered the police to register a case against the family of a man who was killed last year over allegations that they had been @placeholder and consuming beef at home .


The American, 29, has not played since beating Vera Zvonareva in last year's Wimbledon final. Shortly after winning that event, she cut her foot on broken glass then needed treatment for a blood clot in her lung. Also among the field for the Wimbledon warm-up are Serena's sister Venus and French Open champion Li Na. Venus has not played since retiring in her third-round match at January's Australian Open with an abdominal injury. Serena's problems started when she cut her foot in Germany shortly after claiming her fourth Wimbledon title. She played in an exhibition match in Belgium against Kim Clijsters days later but had the first of two operations on the injury when she returned to the United States. The second surgery was in October, followed by 10 weeks in a cast and 10 weeks in a walking boot. In February, she was diagnosed with the blood clot and also needed treatment for a gathering of blood under the skin on her stomach "I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again," she said. "These past 12 months have been extremely tough and character building." Media playback is not supported on this device

Question: Serena Williams has confirmed she will return to @placeholder at next week 's Aegon International event in Eastbourne .


The small Calabrian town of Gioiosa Ionica, population 7,000, is currently home to a group of asylum seekers, who are given the imitation bank notes, or "tickets" as they are known, as part of a voucher system. The refugees can spend the cash on whatever they like, but only in the town, so that local businesses benefit. Rather than featuring European architectural gems, they bear the likenesses of a collection of communists and leftist leaders - Che Guevara on the fake €10 note, Hugo Chavez on the €20 and Karl Marx on the €50. The reverse sides feature the signature of Giovanni Maiolo, the co-ordinator of the town's refugee services. It's all part of what they see in Gioiosa Ionica as a "win-win situation". The refugees get to buy food and spend some pocket money while the shopkeepers get new customers, which helps to defuse any tensions about the new arrivals. And the "win-win" goes further than that. The town hall receives €35 (¡ê29; $39) per asylum seeker per day from the central government in Rome. This has to cover everything, from accommodation, food and medical care to Italian language lessons, work placements and assistance with asylum bureaucracy. It also includes a couple of euros for pocket money. In an economically deprived place like Gioiosa Ionica that's more used to emigration than immigration, these sums are making a real difference. Previously empty houses now earn a rental income and more people are spending money in the local shops. The fake money ensures the asylum seekers can buy food on a regular basis, even when the funds from Rome are late. The refugee services pay the shopkeepers in real euros when the cash arrives. This way the weight of the delay is borne by the shopkeeper, who effectively gives credit to the refugee services, and not by the migrant. Looking after the refugees has created 20 much-needed jobs. It's all part of the mayor's plan. Left-of-centre Salvatore Fuda was elected three years ago on a manifesto that included bringing migrants to the town deliberately, by joining the government's "Sprar" system for the "protection of asylum seekers and refugees", which supports migrants by providing those €35 per day. "A project like ours, with 75 refugee places, brings us about €1m a year in total," says Mr Fuda. "This money is given to the town, not to the migrants, If you compare that to our annual town budget of around €8m, you can see it's a significant economic help for us. "It creates a virtuous circle - through the rental income, the jobs it's created and the money spent on food here. So it's brought an economic benefit." He hasn't just done it for the money, but also to bring an experience of multiculturalism to the local youngsters. "The children of Gioiosa Ionica will have no difficulties if they meet people of a different colour, culture or religion. They'll have learned for example that in Afghanistan or India people play cricket, not football, and they'll have seen how to play cricket. For him, it means that a child from the far south of Italy will encounter foreigners in just the same way as a child growing up in the big capitals of Paris and London. The migrants seem happy enough, too. Rather than having to live in big refugee centres with little to do, they can get work experience and share houses with other refugees where they can cook for themselves. A local print shop, for example, has given one young Somali man a work placement. And for as long as he can get work, he will be happy staying in this small town in the far south of Italy. Arlene Gregorius's report is episode three of the five-part Destination Europe series broadcast weekly as part of The Compass series on the BBC World Service You can listen to the programme on iPlayer.

Question: In a far corner of southern Italy , transactions in fake currency are not only accepted by local shopkeepers , they are positively @placeholder .


Lanning worked for channels including Sky Sports and ITV, and covered 50 successive speedway world finals. He described the moment in 1984 when John Lowe made television's first nine-dart finish at the World Matchplay. "Dave was one of the pioneers of televised darts and his dulcet tones entertained us for over 30 years," said PDC chairman Barry Hearn. "He gave us so many great memories with eloquence and style behind the microphone. "He is now reunited with his old sparring partner Sid Waddell, and they can share a drink together again tonight."

Question: Darts and speedway commentator Dave Lanning , who @placeholder the first televised nine - dart finish , has died aged 78 .


He told the Depeche du Midi newspaper he feared a violent hate campaign. Mr Cahuzac - who gained a reputation as a vocal crusader against the use of overseas tax havens - quit in March. The scandal damaged President Francois Hollande's already beleaguered government. Mr Cahuzac has been charged with tax fraud. He initially denied a report by an investigative website that he had an undeclared Swiss bank account until 2010. But after a meeting with investigating magistrates in April, he admitted to having the account, which contained about 600,000 euros (?¡ê509,000; $770,000). He told the Depeche newspaper he had transferred the funds to France: he would pay his debts to the state and turn any remaining funds over to charity. A by-election for Mr Cahuzac's old seat, in the south-western administrative department of Lot-et-Garonne, will take place on 16 and 23 June. Correspondents say the scandal is embarrassing for the French Socialist government which has made fighting tax evasion a priority, as it tries to cut public debt. Recent opinion polls show Mr Hollande's approval rating among the public has fallen to about 25%. This is the biggest slump for any French president in the past 50 years. On 5 May, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Paris to show their dissatisfaction with Mr Hollande.

Question: France 's disgraced ex-budget minister Jerome Cahuzac , who @placeholder down when he was found to have an undeclared Swiss bank account , says he will not stand in a by-election for his old seat .


The miniature robots - dubbed MicroTugs - have power equivalent to a human dragging a blue whale, according to the website detailing the development. The scientists behind the MicroTugs took inspiration from nature, borrowing techniques used by geckos and ants in their design. The robots could be used in factories or on building sites. The team at Stanford, including PhD students David Christensen and Elliot Hawkes, demonstrated a 9g robot that can carry more than 1kg vertically up glass. This is equivalent to a human climbing a skyscraper while carrying an elephant. Another one - that weighs just 20mg but can carry 500mg, was so tiny it had to be built under a microscope, using tweezers to put the parts together. The secret to the robots' strength lies in their sticky feet - which is copied from geckos, some of nature's most adept climbers. "The hardest part in the development of these guys was coming to the realization that this was possible," Mr Christensen told the BBC. He had worked on making things with the adhesive before but had not considered combining it with robotics. "When we stepped back and thought about it, this was actually a really great use for our adhesives, with its tiny contact force required, and ability to engage and disengage many times a second," he said. The team covered the robot's feet with tiny rubber spikes that bend and stick to a surface. When the robot picks its foot back up, the spikes straighten out again and detach. "It was a really fun project to work on, seeing these robots in action for the first time was pretty incredible," said Mr Christensen. The next step, he said, would be about "looking at ways to make multiples of them work together as a team, and scaling the technology up to larger bots with more industrial parts and a whole lot more force". The Pentagon's research unit Darpa is working on a similar technique that could allow a man to scale a wall with no climbing equipment, rather like Spiderman. Its Z-Man programme was shared with the public in 2014 although it has been in development for several years. The MicroTug robots will be on show at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation taking place in Seattle next month.

Question: Tiny robots that can pull @placeholder up to 2,000 times their own weight have been developed at Stanford University .


Shelley Hall, owner of tortoiseshell tabby Harriet, said she thinks her pet turned on a hot plate as she slid off a pile of ironing on the cooker. She then fled upstairs in her Shropshire home, where she was rescued in a "poorly" state by fire crews. The pet mask "perked her up and now she just smells of smoke", Ms Hall said. The fire was at her home in Diksmuide Drive, Ellesmere. More updates on this and other stories in Shropshire Ms Hall said she managed to retrieve her other pets but the heavy smoke prevented her from finding 15-year-old Harriet. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was the first time the specially-designed oxygen mask had been used to save an animal in the county. It follows a campaign earlier this year by charity Smokey Paws to raise funds to buy enough masks for all 23 fire stations in Shropshire.

Question: A cat which is thought to have started a fire in her owner 's house has been @placeholder using an oxygen mask designed especially for animals .


Dr Sarandev Bhambra, 25, was attacked with a machete by Zack Davies at a Tesco in Mold, Flintshire, in January. Neo-Nazi Davies, 26, from Mold, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years for attempted murder. Dr Bhambra questioned whether the "barbaric incident" could have been prevented and called Davies a coward. "He attacked me from behind and tried to behead me," dentist Dr Bhambra said outside court. "By the grace of God I remained conscious and was able to defend myself. "It is abhorrent that he has claimed that he tried to kill me in Lee Rigby's honour. My thoughts and prayers go out to Lee Rigby and his family." Dr Bhambra, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, added: "While Zack Davies has been convicted and sentenced for attempting to kill me, I am convinced the background behind the incident has not been explored fully. "Was I targeted? Mold is a small market town. Davies may have been aware of my movements. "By his own admission Davies was a man that harboured a real hatred for non-whites. He had a history of violence and always carried a knife. "He was, by his own admission, known to the police. Could this attack have been prevented?" The trial heard items associated with white supremacy and Nazism were found at Davies's home, including banners, swastika badges and stickers for the extreme rightwing racist group, Combat 18. During the attack, he was heard to say "white power", leading Dr Bhambra to also question why Davies was not considered a "terrorist" given his political ideals. After the guilty verdict was delivered in June, Dr Bhambra's brother, Dr Tarlochan Singh Bhambra, said he was "in no doubt" the case would have been reported as an "act of terror" had the "racial disposition of this case been reversed". The victim also said he would be meeting Peter Fuller, who is being honoured for coming to his defence during the attack. Since the attack, Dr Bhambra has undergone intense physiotherapy and rehabilitation. "Incidents of this nature are avoidable and have no place in our multicultural society," he added. "There are no winners here and true justice is never served. I am moving on with my life both emotionally and professionally in an attempt to catch up on time that has been robbed from me. "I will never understand racial hatred. What possesses a man to have so much distain for another person? I would not wish this experience on anyone and I will endeavour to gain positively from this totally negative ordeal." North Wales Police Det Ch Insp Alun Oldfield defended the force's actions, insisting that racist and extremist incidents are taken "very seriously". He said: "Having consulted with a number of agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service, a joint decision was made to charge Davies with racially aggravated attempted murder. "Although Davies was known to the police before this incident, there was nothing to suggest he posed an immediate risk to the public."

Question: The victim of a racially - motivated revenge attack for the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby believes his movements may have been @placeholder .


David Cameron was giving evidence to the liaison committee, which is made up of the chairs of select committees at Westminster. Neil Parish, who chairs the environment, food and rural affairs committee, put Mr Cameron on the spot. Neil Parish: "Are you very keen on tidal power? We have the Bristol channel, which has the second highest rise and fall in the world. We could increase our amount of renewable energy without taking good quality land to put solar panels on it." David Cameron: "Instinctively, I can see the strength of the argument for tidal power, because one of the problems with renewables is whether they can provide base-load power. "Nuclear can. Wind cannot, because it is intermittent. But tidal, because the tide is always going in or out, can provide base-load power. The problem with tidal power, simply put, is that at the moment we have not seen any ideas come forward that can hit a strike price in terms of pounds per megawatt-hour that is very attractive. That is the challenge for tidal. "Maybe they can come up with something. They are very long-term schemes with big investments up front, and they can last for many, many years, but right now my enthusiasm is reduced slightly by the fact that the cost would be quite high." Neil Parish: "The tidal scheme in Swansea definitely has a very high capital cost, but if you put that over a great number of years you will find that the power is naturally limitless and the cost is inexpensive." Mr Cameron: "Obviously we have to look at the figures as they come out. As I have said, tidal power has got the permanence to it. There are important economic benefits in terms of urban renewal and all the rest of it. I totally see all those arguments and have seen some exciting prospects, but as I said, you have to come back to the question of what the action I take will do to the security of supply and the cost of supply. In all the arguments about renewables, you always have to ask yourself what that will put on a household bill." During the later days of the coalition government, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats squabbled over which of them was the driving forced behind support for it within government. Then the election intervened and, returned to power, it dawned on the Conservatives just how expensive (much more than nuclear, I'm told) the project would be. It wouldn't be the first policy to be embraced enthusiastically by a party before an election only to be rejected afterwards. The Lib Dems have accused their former coalition partners of "playing games" over the project. Peter Black AM told me: "A new, more affordable strike price has been submitted by the company. My view is that it's more realistic and should be agreed." The project was raised during Welsh Questions in the Commons by the former Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan. She asked her successor-but-one Stephen Crabb: "When can we expect to hear what financial support will be forthcoming from the Government so that this exciting project can proceed without delay?" Stephen Crabb said she was right. "The Swansea tidal lagoon proposition is very exciting and commands wide support across the business community in Wales, but we also need to recognise that the project is asking for a very significant level of public subsidy and intervention. It is absolutely right that the Treasury and the Department of Energy and Climate Change should conduct very robust due diligence in making sure that such projects will deliver value for the taxpayer." The company itself is confident it can reach a deal at a price which it believes will make the project viable.

Question: I missed this on Tuesday due to a @placeholder clash with a Westminster Hall debate so I tip my hat to Construction News for spotting the prime minister 's " reduced " enthusiasm for the Swansea tidal lagoon project .


Alf Davies, 94, was one of a few survivors when the German SS ambushed a convoy in the French town of Wormhout. He described the massacre as "horrific", with many friends killed. Known as "Ambush Alf", he will be one of the first residents at Cysgod y Gogarth, Llandudno, when it opens, with his memories kept in a time capsule. Gunner Alf Davies of the 69th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery was travelling in an allied convoy of three trucks when the ambush happened. He described "absolute chaos" as the SS started firing from roofs and buildings on 20 British soldiers and 30 French POWs who tried to escape through a river. Mr Davies said: "Some turned left while me and a couple of mates turned the other way and made our way down the river. "We later found out that the ones who went the other way were caught and put in a barn with a lot of other British troops. "The SS called the men out five at a time and shot them in cold blood." Most of the 50 men died, while Mr Davies and two friends escaped over fields before finding a motorbike and riding to the beaches at Dunkirk. After leaving by boat, he eventually went on to fight at El Alamein in Egypt, Tripoli in Libya, then Italy, Germany and France. He said "you can never forget" such experiences. On returning to Llandudno, he was given his nickname and worked for the council. The great grandfather's memories will be preserved by housing association Cartrefi Conwy who are building the 26 apartments. Chief executive Andrew Bowden said the time capsule will be a reminder of "the courage and sacrifice of Alf's generation".

Question: The story of a war veteran who narrowly escaped one of World War Two 's worst atrocities will be preserved at a new @placeholder in Conwy county .


The 29-year-old Scot guaranteed her place in Rio as she eased away from the rest of the field in 54.93 seconds. "I'm confident," the European champion told BBC Sport. "The hurdles is very open, so I'll just keep plugging away. "They don't give away Olympic medals easily, but I'm going to try to fight for one." With Jessica Turner a distant second in 57.34, Doyle added: "It was all about remaining focused and putting on a show. "When you do hurdles, it's all about your stride pattern and running the right race. Sometimes competition can be irrelevant. It's all about your own performance." Laura Muir defended her 1500m title in style, a long way clear in a time of four minutes, 10.14 seconds. "I just wanted to get to Rio and I've done that," said the 23-year-old. "I was fifth at the World Championships last year, so I want to stay in that top five and five is close to three." Scots finished in the top three places in the 5,000m, with Steph Twell and Eilish McColgan booking their Olympic spots ahead of Laura Whittle. "It's been such a tense week, I ran that race in my head a thousand times," said Twell, 26, who competed at 2008 Games in Beijing. Like Twell, McColgan has battled back from serious injury, with the 25-year-old switching from the steeplechase following foot surgery. "I can't explain how happy I am," she said. "This is something I've thought about for so long. "I didn't even think I'd be running this year, so I'm over the moon to be going to my second Olympics in a different event." Lennie Waite was a disappointing second in the 3,000m steeplechase, behind Rosie Clarke, but, unlike the winner, will definitely be going to Rio thanks to a top-two finish since she has twice run inside the qualifying time this season. Waite, 30, said: "I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders for those last two laps. "I was not in a great place, just not wanting to mess anything up and get to that finish line. "I'm so happy to book my ticket but very disappointed that I wasn't able to win today." In the 800m, Lynsey Sharp led the last lap from the front but was caught close to the line by Shelayna Oskan-Clarke. "Obviously, I would have liked to have defended my title but it's nice to get that box ticked. I tied up a little and that's something I need to work on," said the European and Commonwealth silver medallist from 2014. Chris O'Hare also clinched his Olympic place, finishing second in a slow and scrappy 1500m, passing fellow Scot Jake Wightman on the home straight. With four Scottish athletes already selected for the marathon and the 10,000m, Andrew Butchart made if five on Saturday with his 5,000m win in Birmingham.

Question: Eilidh Doyle @placeholder to " fight " for an Olympic medal after a comfortable 400 m hurdles victory at the British Championships in Birmingham .


Universities and other experts will be called in to improve lessons and numeracy in an ?¡ê800,000 plan. Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said: "We must now work together to get the basics right", with Wales hoping to show an improvement in December in the international Pisa comparison tables. One teachers' leader welcomed the plan, but warned of a maths teacher shortage. The scheme, aimed at lessons for all ages from nursery to sixth form, includes: "Education reform is our national mission," said Ms Williams. "Working together we will ensure that our young people have an equal opportunity to reach the highest standards." In December 2015, a task force set up by former Education Minister Huw Lewis called for a centre of excellence for maths and hubs in schools to boost what was seen as the weakest of the core subjects. Dr Sofia Lyakhova, a senior lecturer in maths at Swansea University, said her institution had already been working with other universities to boost the teaching of further maths at A-level. "I am delighted that the government is making that support available across all of Wales," she added. Tim Pratt, director of the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru, welcomed the announcement, but also called for urgent action to tackle a shortage of maths teachers. "Schools are reporting difficulties in recruiting maths teachers with the right level of skills and training they need," he said. "We would be very happy to work with the Welsh government to develop strategies to address this situation." However, Mr Pratt added that the initiative should not "further skew the curriculum which is already dominated by maths, English/Welsh and science". "These are obviously very important subjects but so are other subjects, and we need to ensure that pupils are taught a broad and balanced curriculum."

Question: Maths teachers will be offered extra help to boost results with the launch of a national @placeholder of excellence .