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CHILE MOVES TOWARDS A FUTURE WITHOUT PLASTIC BAGS
The president of Chile has signed a bill that prohibits the use of plastic bags in more than 100 coastal areas.

The move was made with the intention of addressing the amount of plastic that turns the stomach that has found its way to the oceans. A 2015 study in Science estimated that it equals five plastic bags per foot of coastline worldwide. The same study found that humans add 8 million tons of plastic to the ocean each year.

Plastic bags are eaten by marine life, causing suffocation, malnutrition and death. The amount of plastic consumed by fish and other marine species is not exactly known yet, but the studies are not encouraging.

Although the problem seems daunting, this movement from Chile is another step in the right direction to clean up our oceans. In early 2017, the Maui County Council voted to ban polystyrene containers (also known as polystyrene foam). A Norwegian billionaire announced his plan to donate most of his fortune to finance a mega-yacht, which will be able to draw 5 tons of plastic per day from the ocean.

The signing of this bill by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet coincides with her government's planning to create 1.6 million square kilometers of marine conservation areas by 2018.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, this movement "marks a very important milestone for Chile" and could mean that they are on track to completely ban plastic bags.

In the United States, California and Hawaii are the only two states that have "de facto" bans on plastic bags. The District of Columbia has implemented rates. Several states have recycling and reuse programs. However, many states have not taken action and some have even enacted preventive measures to prohibit the possibility that localities implement their own prohibitions.

The United States is one of the most wasteful countries in the world and is not a leader in recycling. Since the USA UU Currently, they lack solid federal leadership in environmental management, states and municipalities should take note of recent actions and President Bachelet's initiative to replicate or emulate Chile's progress.

A souped-up sports car ended up in two pieces after the driver apparently lost control and smashed into a bus stop. The modified Ford Focus was said to have been travelling at 70mph when it hit the shelter – leaving two seperate pieces of twisted metal littering the street.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/11/13/ford-fo...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Pornography allegedly found on Damian Green’s computer was so extreme it would have been illegal if found weeks later, it was claimed last night. The computer was seized from the House of Commons in November, 2008, before the law on possessing extreme images was changed in January, 2009.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/11/18/porn-on...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Welcome to our Christmas Corner, a special selection of
Harry Potter festive goodness. Why not pull a cracker and
share a hilarious wizarding world joke, or enjoy our gorgeous illustrations? Be sure to pop back from time to time –
you never know what you might find. Merry Christmas!
https://www.pottermore.com/features/c...

What did Scabbers have for dinner?

Rat-atouille

How does Harry enter his room?

Through the Gryffin-door

https://www.pottermore.com/features/w...

https://www.pottermore.com/features/p...

On Tuesday, prosecutors dropped a case against a man charged with raping a child under 16 due to police providing "relevant" evidence in recent days.

Last week, Liam Allan's trial collapsed because of the late disclosure of evidence.

The Met said the same officer worked on both cases and remains on full duty.

A police spokesman said the force was not referring the officer involved to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The IPCC told the BBC it was "monitoring the situation".

In the most recent case of Isaac Itiary, the Crown Prosecution Service said "new material" provided by Scotland Yard meant the case could not proceed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42417553

Men accused of New Year murder
The police on the scene
Mark Casey, 50, was found at an address in Seacroft and pronounced dead at the scene.

1 hour ago
From the section Leeds & West Yorkshire

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england

Prosecutors are considering the findings of a fresh inquest into the death of toddler Poppi Worthington after the coroner ruled she was sexually assaulted by her father.

David Roberts concluded on the balance of probabilities that Poppi was abused before she died on 12 December 2012.

Her father, Paul Worthington, denies the accusation.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it would look carefully at the judgement along with Cumbria Police.

Mr Roberts, senior coroner for Cumbria, ruled, in a third court judgment on the case, that the 13-month-old died from asphyxia following the assault at her home in in Barrow-in-Furness.

He said she died because her ability to breathe was compromised as a result of "an unsafe sleeping environment."

'Why did you hurt your daughter?'
Latest updates as the coroner delivers his inquest findings
Key dates in the Poppi investigation
The inquest: Review of evidence, findings and conclusion
During a three-week inquest at Kendal Coroner's Court, Poppi's father declined to answer 252 questions relating to the circumstances surrounding her death.

However, Mr Worthington did tell the hearing he had gone to get Poppi a fresh nappy and a few minutes later he reached over and found her limp.

The toddler was pronounced dead at Furness General Hospital shortly after.

Paul WorthingtonImage copyrightKELVIN MEDIA
Image caption
Paul Worthington denies abusing his daughter and has faced no charges
Mr Roberts said: "A coroner must adjourn an inquest and notify the Director of Public Prosecutions , if during the course of an inquest, it appears to the coroner that the death of the deceased is likely to have been due to a homicide offence and that a person may be charged in relation to the offence.

"For the reasons that should be clear from my conclusion that provision did not apply. That said I have sent a copy of my decision to the CPS for their consideration.

"It is a matter for the CPS to consider my decision, not for me to make recommendations."

Presentational grey line
Coroner's powers
Despite the coroner's conclusion, the CPS has said the prospects of another criminal investigation remain slim.

The burden of proof in a criminal court is higher than that of a coroner's court and the CPS must be confident of a conviction before it sanctions any re-investigation.

It has previously said it would be difficult to secure a conviction because of the lack of physical evidence.

Rule 25 of the Coroners (Inquest) Rules 2013 state that "a coroner must adjourn an inquest and notify the Director of Public Prosecutions, if during the course of an inquest, it appears to the coroner that the death of the deceased is likely to have been due to a homicide offence and that a person may be charged in relation to the offence".

Mr Roberts was clear that provision did not apply.

He has sent, as is normal practice, a copy of his conclusions to the CPS, but did not and cannot make any recommendations as to what actions, if any, should follow.

Presentational grey line
A spokesman for the CPS said: "We have received a copy of the coroner's decision and will now consider this carefully in liaison with Cumbria Constabulary."

Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability, Victoria Atkins, added: "The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Poppi Worthington are extremely distressing.

"We were deeply concerned about the findings in the Independent Police Complaints Commission report into Cumbria Constabulary last year.

"Cumbria Constabulary have accepted their failings in this case. We trust improvements will continue in order to keep vulnerable people safe from harm."

HM senior coroner for Cumbria, David RobertsImage copyrightPA
Image caption
Cumbria coroner David Roberts oversaw the inquest
Poppi's mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has called for prosecutors to re-examine the case following Monday's ruling, which mirrored two fact-finding judgments by a High Court family judge in 2014 and 2016 that Mr Worthington abused his daughter shortly before her death.

Mr Worthington, 50, has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-...

A "lack of communication" contributed to the death of a woman who suffered an allergic reaction to a chicken burger, an inquest jury has found.

Shahida Shahid, 18, from Worsley, Salford, was out with friends on 9 January 2015 when she collapsed after eating at Almost Famous in Manchester.

A friend gave her an injection in a bid to stem the reaction and she was rushed to hospital, but died three days later.

The jury at Manchester Coroner's Court returned a conclusion of misadventure.

The hearing previously heard how the University of Manchester student suffered severe brain damage after eating the burger, which was marinated in buttermilk.

On two previous occasions she had been hospitalised with allergic reactions after inadvertently eating dairy products, including once on her 16th birthday.

Great Northern Warehouse ManchesterImage copyrightGOOGLE
Image caption
Shahida Shahid had eaten at the Great Northern Warehouse branch of the burger chain
At the conclusion of her inquest, the jury found a "lack of communication" between a server and a chef at the Peter Street restaurant "led Shahida to believe she could eat the meal".

The menu did not specify the burger was marinated in buttermilk, the jury's foreman said, although it did invite customers to discuss any allergies with staff, which Shahida "confidently did".

He added: "The ticket went through to the kitchen containing Shahida's allergies, which were missed numerous times during the preparation, construction and delivery of the burger."

Speaking after the hearing, the teenager's older brother Rasel Shahid said she had known "how to look after herself, knew where to eat and knew what to eat".

"If she was ever unsure, she would walk away," he said.

Mr Shahid said he hoped restaurants would see what had happened in this case and take on board "how severe allergic reactions are".

Correction: An earlier report from the hearing, originally published on 11 January, incorrectly attributed a comment by sous chef Mathieu Pierre about a "terrible mistake" to the restaurant's head chef.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern...

A man whose wife was killed in the Omagh bomb said he would be willing to stand against Sinn Féin in a by-election in West Tyrone.

The Sinn Féin MP for the constituency, Barry McElduff, stepped down on Monday after posting a controversial video on Twitter.

Kevin Skelton said he would attract support from "right across the political divide".

Mena Skelton, 49, was one of 29 people killed in the 1998 Real IRA bombing.

The victims of the attack included a woman pregnant with twins.

Omagh bomb: Background
It was the single worst atrocity in 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland.

Mr Skelton said if he were elected he would be a voice for victims.

People observe the counting at an election for the West Tyrone constituency
Image caption
A date has yet to be set for the West Tyrone by-election
He told BBC News NI: "I would love to stand.

"I would like to think I would get support from the victims' sector, but I think I would get support from right across the political divide."

No date has been set for the by-election.

The Ulster Unionist Party said it would support a unionist unity candidate in the area, but the Democratic Unionist Party is yet to make its strategy public.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern...

Stormont: Fresh NI devolution talks announced
18 January 2018
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Karen Bradley and Simon Coveney at Stormont, 18 January 2018Image copyrightPA
Image caption
Karen Bradley, who was appointed last week, was joined by Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney
A fresh round of talks aimed at restoring devolution in Northern Ireland has been announced by the Northern Ireland secretary.

Talks involving all five main parties will begin next Wednesday, 24 January.

Karen Bradley, who was appointed last week, was flanked by the Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Coveney as she made the announcement.

Mr Coveney said progress must be made in "weeks rather than months".

Stormont deadlock: What you need to know
Politicians eye life after Stormont
What caused the stalemate?
Mrs Bradley said "time is short" but there was one last opportunity to restore the Stormont executive.

She said she believed an agreement was possible and that it was vital that all parties are involved.

The talks will be short and intense and "progress must be swift", she added.

"The gaps are narrow but there are still significant differences to overcome."

Mr Coveney said all parties had a responsibility to restore devolution, adding that the Irish government would spare no effort to do so.

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'Build on progress'
Significant progress had been made during previous rounds of talks, he said, suggesting an agreement was possible.

Discussions between the DUP and Sinn Féin ground to a halt in October.

Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill said her party was willing to take part in the talks, adding it should be a "short, sharp process".

The DUP's Simon Hamilton said he believed new talks would help the parties "build on progress that has been built to date".

He added: "While I am reluctant to talk about deadlines, it is more than apparent that time is short."

Parliament Buildings at Stormont
Image caption
With no ministers in place, civil servants have been making the decisions on running public services
'All inclusive process'
Last week, the UUP, SDLP and Alliance Party urged a quick resumption of talks to re-establish a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

Speaking to BBC Good Morning Ulster, Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann welcomed the suggestion to include all five parties.

He said part of the difficulty in making progress was that it has been "a two-party process since June".

Mr Swann reiterated his party's opposition to an Irish language act, one of the main sticking points in the talks.

He said Sinn Féin had to be "realistic" if it wanted to a part of the solution, saying its red lines were holding up the process.

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'Publish progress'
Alliance party leader Naomi Long gave a cautious welcome to the announcement of new talks but reiterated they need to be all-party with an independent mediator if they were to have any possibility of success.

"We not only need a change of pace in these talks but a marked change in attitude from the two largest parties, if we are to see the Assembly restored," she said.

"The appointment of an independent facilitator would be another significant step forward and we are disappointed that has not yet happened."

While the leader of the SDLP, Colum Eastwood, welcomed a new round of talks, he said his party "will not negotiate blind".

"The progress that was made between the DUP and Sinn Féin, that we were all told about, needs to be published so the public and other parties can see how far they've got," he said.

"We're coming at this with a will to solve the problems, and we'll see if anyone else is up to the challenge."

Northern Ireland has been without an executive since last January, when the DUP and Sinn Féin's power-sharing government broke down in a bitter row.

The two parties have failed to find a resolution in spite of several rounds of talks.

A number of flood warnings have been put in place across Scotland due to melting snow and recent rainfall.

In Dumfries, the Whitesands was closed to traffic and vehicles removed from a riverside car park as waters rose.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued a warning for the area for about 16:30.

Other warnings cover parts of the Borders, West Central Scotland, Caithness and Sutherland, Easter Ross and Great Glen and Tayside.

The full list of warnings and alerts is on the Sepa website.

Twitter post by @BBCSouthScot: More footage of cars fighting through the water on the #Whitesands in Dumfries Image Copyright @BBCSouthScot@BBCSOUTHSCOT
Report
It said the River Nith in Dumfries was continuing to rise steadily after an increase in temperatures since the weekend.

Police initially shut the west car park in the area and later closed the road.

Insp Hugh McCombe said diversions would be put in place, but asked drivers to avoid the area if possible and expect traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, a yellow Met Office warning for wind has been put in place for parts of Scotland on Wednesday.

The northern and western Highlands could see gusts up to 80mph between 01:00 and 14:00.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it was preparing for a period of adverse weather which could cause disruption in the north of Scotland throughout the day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

The public spending watchdog has questioned plans to fund increased nursery provision in Scotland.

Audit Scotland said in a report there was a "significant risk" councils would not be able to resource a planned expansion.

The Scottish government has promised to almost double the annual hours in paid-for nursery places to 1,140.

In response to the report, the government repeated its pledge to fully fund the policy.

Ministers plan to meet the new target for nursery provision by August 2020.





It is not unusual, at this point in the life of a major project, for people to have different ideas as to the final costMaree Todd, Childcare minister

It is the equivalent of about 30 hours per week during term time.

The watchdog's report, which was prepared for the Accounts Commission and the Auditor General, said: "There are significant risks that councils will not be able to expand funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to 1,140 hours by 2020.

"In particular it will be difficult to increase the infrastructure and workforce to the levels required, in the limited time available.

"The Scottish government should have started detailed planning with councils earlier, given the scale of the changes required."

Staffing requirement

The report drew attention to a gap between council and government estimates of the cost of the policy.

Councils expect spending on the policy to hit £1bn by 2021-22. The indicative government figure is £840m.

Local authorities have estimated they will need 12,000 whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff, while the government believes between 6,000 and 8,000 WTE staff will be needed by 2020.

The report also examined the 2014 expansion of funded places to 600 hours.

It found the government has invested almost £650m but did not plan how to evaluate the outcomes, meaning "it is not yet clear whether the investment is delivering value for money".

Accounts Commission chairman Graham Sharp said: "The scale of change needed over the next two years is considerable and there are significant risks that councils will be unable to deliver that change in the time available.

"There is now an urgent need for plans addressing increases in the childcare workforce and changes to premises to be finalised and put in place."

'Not clear enough'

Caroline Gardner, Auditor General for Scotland, added: "Focusing on the early years has the potential to make a real difference to young people's lives but the Scottish government was not clear enough about what the expansion of funded hours in 2014 was expected to achieve.

"We are encouraged that the Scottish government is now planning better for how it will assess the impact of the expansion to 1,140 hours and has already published some baseline information."

Minister for Childcare and Early Years Maree Todd said the government remained "on track to deliver 1,140 hours by 2020".

She said: "It is not unusual, at this point in the life of a major project, for people to have different ideas as to the final cost. What is not in doubt is that the Scottish government has pledged to fully fund this policy.

"That's why we are working with councils to help them develop their expansion plans and have recently reached agreement with Cosla on the process of arriving at the multi-year funding needed.

"While this work is under way, we have already increased capacity in early years courses in colleges and universities and are investing in the significant expansion of the workforce needed to deliver the expansion."

Scottish councils

The local authority body Cosla has welcomed the Audit Scotland report.

Spokesman Stephen McCabe said: "Scotland's councils are dedicated to getting it right for children and young people and no more so than when we are delivering services for our youngest children and their families.

"We know that it is at this point that we can make the greatest difference to the outcomes in their lives.

"Cosla are pleased that the quality of local authority provision is recognised in this report as is the continual growing of flexible ELC provision within each council area."

Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said the report was "damning in terms of exposing the failures of SNP policy on child care".

For Labour, education spokesman Iain Gray added: "This independent report blows a £160m black hole in a flagship SNP government policy.

"Raising the amount of free childcare families are entitled too has been a cornerstone of the SNP's offer to families - but this report reveals that, not only does the Scottish government not expect to fully fund it, but that it is also miles behind the levels of staff recruitment needed."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43...

The Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to a $500m (£359.7m) settlement with New York State over the mis-selling of financial products in the lead up to the 2008 global financial crisis.

RBS is the sixth bank to settle with the state over similar claims, linked to risky mortgages.

The agreement will see the bank pay $400m in relief to homeowners, as well as $100m to the state.

RBS still faces a potentially massive fine from the US Department of Justice.

The bank said last month that it had put aside £3.2bn ($4.4bn) to cover upcoming settlements with the US and others.

'Important step'
The sale of the risky mortgage-backed securities had contributed to a housing price crash during the financial crisis, the New York attorney general's office said.

"While the financial crisis may be behind us, New Yorkers are still feeling the effects of the housing crash," said state attorney-general Eric Schneiderman.

"Today's settlement is another important step in our comprehensive effort to help New Yorkers rebuild their lives and communities."

RBS reports first profit in 10 years
'Secret' report into RBS published
RBS to close one in four branches
RBS is majority owned by the UK government. It has been trying to return to financial health since the financial crisis, when it was bailed out for tens of billions of pounds.

The bank said last month that it had returned to profit for the first time in ten years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

A senior executive at NHS Fife has been suspended pending an investigation.

Prof Scott McLean, the chief operating officer in charge of acute services at the health board, is understood to have been absent from his post since November 2017.

It is not known what the allegations are against the 42-year-old.

Barbara Anne Nelson, NHS Fife's director of workforce, said they had a legal responsibility not to comment on individual matters.

She said: "NHS Fife has a legal responsibility to protect the privacy of its employees, and is therefore, unable to comment on matters relating to individual staff members, past or present."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

The family of a security guard who died after becoming trapped in heavy snow on a remote wind farm are demanding answers about his death.

Ronnie Alexander, 74, was working at Afton wind farm in Ayrshire when he became stranded in severe weather.

His daughter, Tracy Fraser, has been told he may have lain in deep snow for up to seven hours before he was found.

She said the death of her "lovely, hard-working" father during bad weather in January had devastated the family.

Wind farm worker stranded in snow dies
Worker dies in wind farm accident
"My mum is in bits, as is my sister and her family and my sons," she said.

"We really need to know exactly what happened, we don't want this happening again.

"It's horrible knowing that my dad, who was such a fit, healthy man, died like this. It should never have happened."

Image caption
Tracy Fraser said her father was hard-working, even at the age of 74
The tragedy unfolded on 21 January, after The Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" warning for heavy snow across large swathes of Scotland.

Ms Fraser said the family became concerned about her father when he failed to return from a 12-hour shift at the wind farm near New Cumnock.

They tried to call his mobile phone but the signal at the construction site was patchy at best, and they could not make contact.

A search was mounted for Mr Alexander after his grandson, Dale, raised the alarm at about 20:20.

The family were told at 01:00 that Police Scotland's Mountain Rescue Team had found the security guard - more than six hours after his shift finished.

Intensive care
Ms Fraser said she has been told he was discovered lying in deep snow, up a steep hill about a mile from the security cabin.

He was airlifted off the site with a younger colleague. Police said at the time that both had been stranded without heat or power. It is understood that a generator failed.

When the family arrived at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, they were given the devastating news that Mr Alexander was unlikely to survive.

"When we got up there my dad was in intensive care and they said he had a 5% chance of living but they would try everything to help him," Ms Fraser said. "And they really did."

Mr Alexander, who lived in Kilmarnock, died later that morning.

"It's just horrible, it should never have happened," said Ms Fraser.

"There was nothing else wrong with him. Once they'd done the post-mortem, they said he'd died of hypothermia - that's it."

Image copyrightPETER WOOD
Image caption
Farrans Construction has overall responsibility for health and safety on the site.
The family believe he may have become disorientated with the hypothermia, which may explain why he was found so far from the security hut.

But Ms Fraser added: "We really don't know what happened. We have so many questions."

She said she was concerned by rumours that workers had not been issued with satellite phones to raise the alarm in an emergency.

And she questioned whether anyone should have been working on the site in such hazardous weather conditions.

The family also want to know whether the alarm was raised when the next shift arrived at the site, unable to start work.

Ms Fraser said: "I want answers. It's not going to bring my dad back. I want to know what happened so it never, ever happens to any other family because it's absolutely broke my heart."

Health and Safety Executive
The tragedy came less than a year after the death of a Portuguese worker at another Ayrshire wind farm.

Antonio Joao Da Silva Linares, 37, died following an accident inside a turbine at Kilgallioch wind farm in March 2017.

BBC Scotland has learned that construction firm Farrans was the principal contractor of both sites, with overall responsibility for health and safety.

Both incidents are being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and they have led to calls for safety improvements at wind farms.

Farrans Construction offered its "deepest sympathy" to the family of Mr Alexander but it said it could not comment on the investigation into his death.

A spokeswoman for the company said it was "co-operating fully" with the authorities and Afton Wind Farm Limited, which owns the site.

She added: "Farrans takes its responsibilities in relation to safety extremely seriously. In addition to compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations, Farrans promotes a strong culture of safety across all of its operations.

"As part of this we place a constant and uncompromising focus on ensuring that all of the sites at which we operate are safe environments for workers."

'Precise circumstances'
She added that the company was unable to comment on the investigation into the fatal accident at Kilgallioch wind farm.

Mr Alexander's employer, CSM Facilities, said it wanted to express its "deep sadness" over his death.

A spokesman added: "The precise circumstances of his death are not known to us as at this stage - no information has been shared with us by the site management or the investigating authorities.

"We want to assure all concerned that this incident is being treated with the utmost seriousness.

"We are in the process of conducting our own inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Alexander's death with such information as is available to us. Until we have a more complete picture of these circumstances it is not possible for us to comment further."

He said the firm had never experienced the serious injury or death of a colleague in its 16 years of trading and said it was "determined that this will never happen again".

Industry body Scottish Renewables said the sector took safety seriously and worked with HSE to ensure best practice was followed.

Deputy chief executive Jenny Hogan added: "The health, safety and wellbeing of the industry's workforce, and of the public, are paramount, and developers are constantly examining where improvements can be made as the industry grows."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

The first polar bear cub to be born in the UK for 25 years has emerged at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig.

Previously, the birth had only been confirmed by high-pitched noises heard from the maternity den.

The cub was born in the week before Christmas, after its mother Victoria mated with Arktos, one of two male polar bears at the park.

Victoria's enclosure has been closed to the public.

It is expected to be reopened to park visitors later this month.

The first image of the cub is from footage filmed by STV Productions for a Channel 4 documentary.

Image copyrightRZSS/HWP
Image caption
Polar bears Victoria, left, and Arktos
Una Richardson, head keeper responsible for carnivores, said: "Victoria had started to come outside by herself for short periods to eat, drink and roll around in the snow, so we knew her cub would soon follow her but we couldn't be sure when.

"I was visiting Victoria on Sunday morning to check she had fresh water and to continue slowly reintroducing food to her diet, after four months during which she lived solely off the fat reserves she built up before she entered her den.

"Suddenly I saw a small, fluffy bundle next to her and had to pinch myself to check I wasn't seeing things. It was a very special experience and one I'll never forget. We also have motion-sensitive cameras safely positioned near Victoria's den and we were delighted to see we had captured her cub's first few steps outside.

"Having only been able to hear sounds from inside the den before, we can now be certain Victoria has had one cub rather than two and we couldn't be happier as this is the moment we have been working towards and really looking forward to.

"Both mum and cub appear to be doing well, though this is still a sensitive time and they need as much peace and quiet as possible. Our keeper activity at their enclosure will remain at a minimum for the next couple of weeks, after which visitors will be able to see Victoria and our wonderful new arrival.

"In the coming weeks we'll also be able to find out if we have a little boy or girl and then we'll decide on a name."

Bear necessities: A brief guide to polar cubs
Polar bears mate between March and June
Females normally give birth to one or two cubs in November or December
Newborn polar bear cubs are blind, about 30cm long and weigh little more than a guinea pig. They only open their eyes when they are a month old
Victoria, who was born in 1996 at Rostock Zoo in Germany, previously gave birth at Aalborg Zoo in Denmark in 2008. She arrived at RZSS' Highland Wildlife Park in March 2015
Male bear Arktos arrived at the park in April 2012 from Hanover Zoo in Germany. He was born in 2008 at Vienna Zoo
Arktos shares an enclosure with another male, Walker, whose own time as a cub was the source of a controversy over the BBC's Frozen Planet documentary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan/433...

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mi...

High levels of sickness and staff leaving their jobs have left Powys' under-fire children's services "unsustainable", a report warns.
In October, a watchdog warned children were at risk of harm due to failings in the department.
While a new report says improvements have been made, it raises concerns about significant numbers of agency workers.
Powys council has been approached for comment on the findings.
The report, to go before the authority on Tuesday, says that while agency workers have helped to bring stability and reduce case loads, there are staffing issues.
It points to pressures in some social worker teams, including Newtown and Welshpool, where staff are leaving and there are high levels of absence.
The report by Rachel Powell, cabinet member for children's services, says: "Plans are in place to strengthen these teams with additional agency social workers."
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In October, a report by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) said there was evidence of missed opportunities to safeguard children which put them at "considerable risk".
After the CSSIW's findings were published, it emerged the authority was also talking to police about the potential manipulation of performance data in children's services.
Powys council was given 90 days to improve by the Welsh Government or risk being taken over by ministers.
A further CSSIW visit in December showed early signs of improvement in many areas, but the inspectorate said it remained concerned "about the quality of operational practice", the frequency of statutory visits for looked-after children, and safeguarding practices.
The report says Powys council has a "considerable number of actions" in place to improve safeguarding.
"Working together, we will deliver not only the priority actions set out in the plan but also sustainable improvement and good outcomes in the lives of our children and young people", it reads.

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Politicians across the UK must find a better way of financing the NHS if it is to continue to meet demand, the director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales has said.
Tina Donnelly said a lack of resources has left nurses feeling they are unable to fulfil their duty of care.
She warned they could quit and the NHS would be left without enough staff.
The Welsh Government has said there were more registered nurses working than ever before.
There are currently 29,345 nurses, midwives and health visitors in the Welsh NHS.
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Ms Donnelly called for a review by political parties across the UK into how the NHS is funded to "make sure staff are not put under relentless pressure so that they leave".
"People don't want to go to work every day if they think that they can't achieve the standards they are supposed to achieve through their training," she told the Sunday Politics Wales programme.
"Governments across the UK owe it to the British public to turn round and say 'how we can continue to fund the NHS to meet the demands?'
"Without that, there is going to be insufficient resource to meet sufficient demand, and the NHS will not continue to exist.
"That's the bottom line, because you won't have the staff to be able to meet the demand."

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Ann Thomas said she had felt "disenchanted" with her job
Ann Thomas, a nurse who recently retired after nearly 40 years in hospitals across south Wales, said she had come to feel "disenchanted" with her job.
She said: "It was number crunching; it was getting the patients through as quickly as you can. I didn't want that. I felt that wasn't why I became a nurse."
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "We know there's spiralling demand within the Welsh NHS, if we don't have the staff to meet the demand waiting times will increase."
He called on Welsh Labour Health Secretary Vaughan Gething to "pull his finger out and get on top of this".

Ann Thomas, a nurse who recently retired after nearly 40 years in hospitals across south Wales, said she had come to feel "disenchanted" with her job.
She said: "It was number crunching; it was getting the patients through as quickly as you can. I didn't want that. I felt that wasn't why I became a nurse."
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "We know there's spiralling demand within the Welsh NHS, if we don't have the staff to meet the demand waiting times will increase."
He called on Welsh Labour Health Secretary Vaughan Gething to "pull his finger out and get on top of this".

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Vaughan Gething said nurse training places have risen by 68% since 2014
Mr Gething said that since 2014 the number of nurse training places commissioned has risen by 68%.
He said: "It's important to note that figures will fluctuate over the year as nurses retire and new graduates come into the system, but health boards are reporting more nurses joining the profession than leaving, with overall numbers continuing to increase.
"Despite the severe impact of eight years of UK government austerity, we continue to invest record levels in the NHS workforce."
Mr Gething added: "This year we're investing £107m in education and training programmes for healthcare professionals, resulting in a 10% increase in commissioned nurse training places on last year."
The Welsh Government launched the Train, Work, Live recruitment campaign last year, aimed at promoting nursing as a job and Wales as a place to live and work.
The NHS in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Government, which provides funding largely sourced from the grant it receives from the UK government

Heroin deaths in a Carmarthenshire town have dropped since raids were carried out on 28 members of a drugs gang who have now been jailed, police have said.
The gang supplied a "staggering" amount of Class A drugs in Llanelli as well as Aberystwyth in Ceredigion.
Drugs deaths in both towns between 2014 and 2017 sparked Operation Ulysses to tackle to the multi-million pound ring.
The gang was sentenced to between three and 16 years at Swansea Crown Court following guilty pleas.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the gang conspired to supply in excess of 20kg of heroin and cocaine, along with MDMA, cannabis and ketamine throughout Wales.
The force said the defendants were operating from within north Wales, south west Wales and also with another group based in Liverpool.
They were described as a sophisticated group dealing on an industrial scale and "executed their criminal enterprise with precision".

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Dyfed-Powys Police
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Some of the drugs seized by officers
Judge Paul Thomas said it had been a "…colossal and exceptional investigation".
In a statement released after the court case, Dyfed-Powys Police said Operation Ulysses was set up to "tackle the scourge of Class A drugs and to prevent further tragedies".
"Today marks the successful outcome after 28 defendants have been sentenced to more than 193 years in prison between them," the force said.
"Significantly, we have also seen a decline in the number of heroin-related deaths in Llanelli since the group's operation was busted."

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Dyfed-Powys Police
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Drugs were pulled from the undergrowth by police

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Dyfed-Powys Police
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A tube of drugs was also found by officers investigating the gang
Det Sgt Rhys Jones, of the serious and organised crime team, said: "There is a human cost to the trade of supplying drugs, and we will work tirelessly to stop this.
"I hope these sentences send out a clear, unequivocal message to those involved in supplying and distributing drugs.
"There is nowhere to hide."
Gemma Vincent, senior prosecutor at CPS Wales, said: "Drugs are a blight on communities throughout Wales. They can have a devastating effect on individuals and their families.
"The CPS will continue to work with the police to tackle criminals that are involved in this destructive activity."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43...

Staff at a council in north Wales have been told to accept changes to their contracts - or face losing their jobs.
Gwynedd council has told its workers they must accept amendments to their current employment terms or they will lose their jobs on 30 June.
A cabinet report estimated the changes will save the authority between £300,000 to £450,000 per year.
Unions representing the staff are expected to make a statement on the council's actions next week.
A local authority spokesman said the letter to the workforce was "complex" and "contained a number of clauses".
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The letter also told staff their employment would be ended if they did not respond to it.
The council said it had been in discussions with trade unions about pay and conditions since 2015.
The unions Unison, Unite and the GMB said they will issue a joint statement on Tuesday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43...

A man who snatched a 10-year-old girl who was walking along a canal to her friend's house before sexually assaulting her has been jailed.
Artus Kozlovski, 23, dragged his victim to an area of wasteland in Openshaw, Manchester on 10 February.
When he started to roll a cigarette after the attack, she escaped and was helped by a nearby dog walker.
Kozlovski, who admitted sexual assault on a female under 13, was jailed at Manchester Crown Court for five years.
The court heard how the girl had been walking along Ashton Canal by Clayton Lane when Kozlovski overpowered her and dragged her to wasteland near Kincraig Close.
He covered the girl's mouth as he sexually assaulted her.
'Horrific attack'
CCTV footage captured Kozlovski chasing her and he was later spotted at a nearby corner shop.
Wearing a distinctive hooded top with a rose emblem, he was arrested within hours of his image being released to the public by police.
Det Insp Claire McGuire, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Every person that heard about this appalling case was genuinely shocked, struggling to comprehend that such a young girl could be so horrifically attacked by a stranger in their community.
"However it is the people in this community I'd like to thank, both for their support of this young girl and her family, and for helping us to identify Kozlovski, so that we could take him off the streets so quickly."
Kozlovski will remain on licence for an additional three years and has been issued with a sexual harm prevention order.

The Hottest New Releases of April

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Love, longing, war, and getting real with yourself: April's new books have something for every type of reader.

This month, the author of the bestselling World War II novel Lilac Girls is back with her sophomore book, a prequel set a generation earlier. Or check out the book that's already a huge success in the U.K. and is just now hitting U.S. bookstores, Sally Rooney's literary love story Normal People.

Two Australians are also winning raves for their new novels. There's Sally Hepworth's domestic suspense The Mother-in-Law and the coming-of-age debut Boy Swallows Universe by journalist Trent Dalton.

Each month the Goodreads Editorial team takes a look at the books that are being published, how early reviewers are rating them, and how many readers are adding these books to Want to Read shelves (which is how we measure anticipation). We use the information to curate this list of hottest new releases.

24 New Historical Fiction Novels to Read Now

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Sometimes the best place to visit as a reader is the past. Luckily for you, this year is already seeing fantastic new historical fiction ready to transport you to many other times and distant story lines.

We rounded up some of the new books Goodreads members have been loving so far this year. These novels explore the California gold rush, a Norwegian fishing village in the 1600s, the flight of immigrants to Chile in the 1930s, Laos in the 1960s, and many more eras and destinations. Be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf!

I will close down Goodreads Encyclopedia.