Northampton Town have appointed former Newport County and Gillingham boss Justin Edinburgh as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

He replaces Rob Page, who was sacked on Monday after a run of nine defeats for the Cobblers in their last 11 games.
They are 16th in League One, eight points above the relegation zone.
Edinburgh, 47, was dismissed by Gillingham on 3 January after less than two years in charge, with the club then 17th in the table.
He began his managerial career with Billericay Town, Fisher Athletic and Grays Athletic, before moving to Northamptonshire with Rushden & Diamonds, who he left when the club went into administration.
He then spent over three years with Newport, who he led back into the Football League via the 2013 Conference play-off final.
"We spoke with a lot of managers this week and had a lot of applications, but Justin's teams have always impressed me with the energy they play with, even back to his Rushden days.
"His career has seen a solid progression upwards from non-league through to League One and he is has managed a lot of games in his time, so the experience is there," said Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas.
The Cobblers have a home game against Scunthorpe on Saturday but Edinburgh will watch from the stands, with Paul Wilkinson in charge of the team, before formally taking over on Monday.
"Northampton Town has a reputation of being a very well-run club, with some fantastic training facilities and an excellent fanbase. There is potential there to take the club forward and I will work very hard to do just that," he said.
"My teams are known for strength, high energy and playing on the front foot and I want to continue that here.
"I know how much the Northampton Town supporters get behind their team and I have experienced some fantastic atmospheres at Sixfields as an opposing manager, and hopefully we can work together to enjoy some good times."


California is now well into a fourth year of severe drought.

This year's record low mountain snowpack, which the state relies on to get through its dry summers, means that already reduced reservoir levels will not see many gains from the melting of late spring and early summer.
The state is in a process of learning to live with drought.
Our historic drought conditions have many looking for silver-bullet solutions such as increasing supply through more storage, desalination or water reuse.
Others might propose controlling demand by conserving or restricting water use by people in urban and agricultural areas.
Many of these steps are already being taken where they make sense - for example, recently imposed mandatory water restrictions are now making an impact on all urban residents.
At the same time, many cities in California have been striving for water independence for years.
By conserving more water and increasing supplies through desalination (removing salt from seawater) and water reuse, the urban sector is continuing to become more efficient and less dependent on state and federal water supplies.
This means that future droughts will be likely to affect cities less, but they will also have fewer options to reduce their water use.
Agricultural users are also continuing to look at conservation and supply augmentation to increase resilience and even expand production.
But because there is a nearly endless supply of land to be brought into production, agriculture will always face years of plenty and years of scarcity.
For many farmers, this is already a way of life. For others, the lesson is just now being learned.
Meanwhile, environmental flows - that is, water that stays in rivers and streams for fisheries and ecosystems - will also continue to vary, as they always have.
But environmental protections must remain. Ecosystem restoration and other environmental enhancement projects may increase the effectiveness of these environmental flows, but eliminating variation in flows is neither desirable nor possible.
To understand California's water situation we have to recognise a fundamental paradox: enough will never be enough.
We are a land-rich, but water-limited state and increased supply leads to more demand, which makes answers to California's water challenges complex and context-dependent, involving a combination of policy, technology and conservation.
California is blessed with an abundance of productive agricultural land in a climate that allows us to grow crops that thrive in only a few places in the world.
The state's agricultural sector is also its largest consumer of water.
Our abundant water supplies have helped create an incredible agricultural industry that leads the world in production.
At the same time, given the size of the state, we will always have more land available to bring into production than we will have water to put on it.
This paradox - that enough water will never be enough - means that efforts to increase supply of water or reduce demand for water will ultimately lead to more agricultural lands being brought into production, more water available for cities to grow and more water to remain in streams to ensure a healthy environment.
But eventually we will face more drought and water supplies will again be inadequate to meet the new higher levels of demand.
There are other arenas where this kind of phenomenon is well understood.
For example, when it comes to motorways, congestion leads to demand for more lanes to be built.
More lanes temporarily reduce congestion and lead to increased housing construction and, over time, that increased housing construction leads to more congestion. That, in turn, leads to demand for more lanes.
Accepting the fundamental paradox of enough water not being enough doesn't mean that we should throw our hands in the air and do nothing - and in fact, we aren't.
We need to pursue all options in order to have healthy communities, healthy agriculture and a healthy environment.
We also need to recognise, however, that these options will never fully eliminate future scarcity.
Californians have always accepted, and at times even embraced, the uncertain nature of life in this beautiful, diverse state.
From the boom and bust of the Gold Rush to a new population living on the fault lines, California's uncertainty is built into our lives.
Drought is no different.
We will always face times when water is scarce, so we must optimise water use while accepting uncertainty as an integral part of the California lifestyle.
There is no solution to drought, only a change in our way of thinking about water and drought.
Doug Parker is director of the California Institute for Water Resources at the University of California, where Faith Kearns is a water analyst. They also write for The Conversation.


A Gulf War-era fighter jet has been put on sale online for £20,000 by a couple who took six years to rebuild it.

Dave and Leslie Blissett, of Lincolnshire, bought the Tornado GR1 - extensively involved in the 1991 conflict - as a shell.
For sale on Gumtree, it has no engine, or guns and the wings have been removed for transportation purposes.
The ex-RAF engineers, whose love of aeroplanes brought them together, said it would make an ideal museum display.
Mr Blissett said he has always had a passion for taking things apart.
He took on the project after being involved in the restoration of a Lightning jet at RAF Binbrook, near Market Rasen.
"What we started with was literally a bare frame - you couldn't recognise it as a Tornado," he said.
"Over the years we've bought, swapped and gone through scrap bins to get it to where it is now."
Mrs Blissett said when it first arrived it looked like a "metal caterpillar on the back of a lorry".
"Some people go for garden gnomes, we go for aeroplanes," she said.
The Panavia Tornado GR1 was used extensively in combat by the RAF in 1990s, including in the Gulf War in 1991.
On the classified ads website, the couple have written: "She is virtually complete and is ready to move as her wings have already been removed."
Andrew Panton, manager of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, said it was "unusual" to sell aircraft on Gumtree, as they are generally sold via the Ministry of Defence surplus service.
"They way they are doing it - making it known worldwide - could work in their favour," he said.
As interesting as the piece is, it is the "wrong era" for the centre in Spilsby, which focuses on World War II aircraft, he said.


UFC champion Conor McGregor says he will "shock the world" as talk of a fight with five-weight boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather intensifies.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The Irishman, 28, was at Madison Square Garden to support compatriot and former Olympian Michael Conlan, who won on his professional debut.
In an animated ringside interview, McGregor said the Mayweather fight was "close" to being finalised.
"I'm going to stop Floyd and you're all going to eat your words," he said.
"No-one in this boxing game knows what's coming. I'm the boxing guy. Watch me take over boxing.
"Trust me on that. I'm 28 years of age, and I'm long, rangy and dangerous with every hand."
Multi-weight UFC world champion McGregor has long talked up a fight against undefeated 40-year-old Mayweather (49-0), who announced last week that he is "out of retirement" to make the fight happen.
UFC president Dana White also suggested confirmation of the match-up would be soon, saying this week he "doesn't see how it doesn't happen".
The fight is widely expected to be held in Las Vegas in June.
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More than 50,000 people in the UK are alive today because of organ transplantation, new data suggests.

NHS Blood and Transplant said that figure included 36,300 kidney patients, 9,800 given livers, 1,900 who received a pancreas, and 1,000 who were given an intestine transplant.
It marks the first time the 50,000 barrier has been broken, the NHS added.
The number of registered organ donors also reached a record of 23.6 million - up 4.9 million over five years.
Yearly transplant figures have risen by 20% over the last five years to a record 4,753 in 2016/17, with some of those patients receiving more than one organ.
Some 36% of people in the UK are now on the NHS Organ Donor Register, compared with 30% five years ago.
Currently in England and Northern Ireland, people must join the register or their family or close friends must give consent before their organs can be used.
People in Scotland are set to automatically become organ donors unless they opt out - following a similar move introduced in Wales in 2015.
But the move has for now been rejected in England and Northern Ireland, which instead relies on public awareness campaigns.
Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Our specialist nurses in organ donation are now almost always involved in discussions with families over organ donation.
"Families tell us donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grieving process."
However, the report showed there is still a shortage of organ donors.
There were 457 people who died last year while on the active transplant waiting list, which means they were ready to receive a donor organ but did not get one in time.
A further 875 people were removed from the list - in most cases because they became too ill to undergo transplant surgery.
There are currently 6,389 people on the active transplant list.
Around 3,000 more people need a donor but are currently suspended from the list.
Reasons for this can include being temporarily too ill to undergo a transplant or because they are abroad.
Steve Gazzard's daughter Sarah suffered from a rare lung condition - idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis - and died aged 36 while waiting for a double lung transplant.
She was put on the top of the waiting list in 2012 but died in November of that year - three sets of lungs became available in the week after her death.
Steve told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Unfortunately Sarah didn't get her transplant but she donated her organs (two kidneys and her liver) and there are now three people alive who only had weeks to live.
"It is a total lottery and that's why I made a promise to Sarah that I would continue the fight to get the law changed to an opt-out system.
"Another promise I made to Sarah is I would continue with this campaign to sign people up."
He holds an event every week in Exmouth, signing up over 4,700 new donors since 2012, and Steve says the town now has the highest sign-up rate for any town of the same size in the country.
The study also showed that survival rates continue to improve once people get a transplant.
In the early 1990s, an adult undergoing a common kidney transplant had a 66% chance the organ would still be functioning after five years.
Now this figure stands at 87%.
Health minister Jackie Doyle-Price said: "These numbers show excellent progress and are a testament to the brilliant work of NHS Blood and Transplant and all those involved.
"Now we need more organ donors to come forward so everyone requiring a transplant stands the best chance of receiving one."


A woman has died and two men have been seriously injured after a crash near a village in Conwy county.

Police are investigating after a silver Renault Clio and a black Mercedes SLK collided on the A543 near Pentrefoelas just before 15:45 GMT on Saturday.
The female passenger from the Mercedes - who was in her forties - died.
The two drivers - one in his 20s and the other in his 40s - were taken to hospital in Stoke-on-Trent with life-changing injuries.
North Wales Police is appealing for witnesses.


St Olave's in Orpington is an intensely competitive grammar school, with stellar exam results and a long queue of applicants trying to get through the entrance exams.

But it's now at the centre of a row about whether it is playing fair. And it's highlighted a question relevant to many other state schools.
A group of parents at the school are challenging a decision not to let some pupils progress from lower sixth into the upper sixth, because they are not on target to get good enough A-level results.
This is far from unusual - many schools filter out pupils between lower and upper sixth (or Year 12 and Year 13).
But what makes this different is that the parents are trying to launch a legal challenge.
This is still at an early stage. But the parents' lawyers are claiming that stopping pupils moving from lower to upper sixth is in effect a permanent exclusion.
Pupils can be excluded for bad behaviour or bad attendance, but they can't be excluded for not doing very well in exams.
As such, the parents' lawyers argue that these are unlawful exclusions, and they are calling on the courts to order a reversal.
This argument says that there might be admissions rules when pupils start a school, or join in sixth form, but once they have been admitted, any removal of a pupil constitutes an exclusion, and exclusion rules should apply.
The school has so far not commented.
But the legal challenge is against a practice used by many head teachers, with selective and non-selective schools operating a variety of entrance policies for lower sixth and then onwards to upper sixth form.
These can be formal thresholds, such as minimum grades in exams. Or they might rely on the professional judgement of teachers to decide whether a pupil is suitable for A-levels.
They might be written down as formal "progression policies".
For example, one successful sixth form tells pupils they will be "at risk of not completing" if they don't meet minimum requirements.
There are schools that specifically assert their right to exercise their own "discretion" over such decisions.
Others spell out that "progression from Year 12 to Year 13 is not automatic".
And there are colleges that present entry to upper sixth as a separate application process after successfully navigating lower sixth.
No mention of anyone being excluded, removed or kicked out, but if pupils don't meet the requirements, the message is pretty clear that they're not going to be taking their A-levels there.
And schools are currently making their own decisions about where these thresholds should be placed - whether a bare pass or getting high grades.
Schools have not seen this as an "exclusion", but a form of non-admission or non-progression.
AS-levels until now have provided a clearer halfway point during sixth form.
But their separation from A-levels, and their gradual disappearance, will make it even more a case of schools setting their own internal targets.
Hovering in the background is the spectre of league tables and the risk of perverse incentives and unintended consequences.
Removing weaker students before they take their A-levels will boost average results for a school.
Helping a struggling student to get a D rather than an E, might make a big difference to that individual - but it's not going to do much for the league table rankings.
There won't be a page on the school website talking about how many students achieved a few hard-fought E grades.
In fact, for high-achieving schools, it might look better if struggling pupils didn't take their A-levels at all, or at least shifted to another school or college.
The reason they might be so high achieving is that they have only high-achieving pupils taking the exams.
But is this the logic of competition between schools?
There is also the question of moral obligation.
If a school has taught pupils since the age of 11, if the school has been the centre of their friendship groups, if it's where they have put down their roots, it seems tough to push them out the door at the very last stage.
If they haven't been very successful in their exams, perhaps the school has some responsibility as well.
There might plenty of parental sympathy for families seeing a pupil pushed out after lower sixth and having to scramble round for another school.
And there are no league tables for the heartache for families.
But from the perspective of schools, any legal involvement in such decisions is going to get very complicated indeed.
Could lawyers get involved in every individual decision about whether someone should move into upper sixth?
And even if pupils were admitted to the upper sixth, could schools be required to enter pupils for A-levels, if the staff thought them unsuited? Or would there have to be a further legal battle over each exam?
An acrimonious exchange over this is suggested in the legal challenge at St Olave's.
The school seems to have said pupils could return but they would have to take a vocational qualification in health and social care rather than A-levels.
The next stage of the legal process will be next month. But the debate has already begun.


Three Scottish cities will receive an extra 374 bed spaces to accommodate an influx of youth hostellers this summer.

SYHA Hostelling Scotland said three additional summer youth hostels will open in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth between June and August.
The new hostels will be based in existing student accommodation vacated during the summer months.
The announcement follows a refurbishment of Portree Youth Hostel on the Isle of Skye.
Edinburgh University's halls of residence on the Cowgate will provide 199 spaces, with 110 at the Glasgow School of Art's Margaret Macdonald House and 65 in Perth College's student residence.
The hostelling organisation said visitors would be offered a choice of self-catering apartments and single, double, and twin rooms.
SYHA Hostelling Scotland chief executive, Keith Legge, said: "In response to customer demand we are again delighted to be providing extra accommodation in three popular city destinations - Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
"All three youth hostels are perfectly situated for city tourist attractions, outdoor activities, cultural and music festivals and events, shopping, restaurants and bars; as well as for onward travel to our other hostels throughout Scotland."
The organisation will build a new youth hostel at Glen Nevis later this year.


Diabetes must be treated more seriously by the public as it has become "the silent killer" in Northern Ireland, a County Antrim GP has said.

It is estimated that 100,000 people in the region have diabetes and about £1m is spent by the health service each day on treating people with the condition.
Figures show that 235 people had limbs amputated due to the disease in 2015.
Diabetes causes a person's blood sugar level to become dangerously high.
There are two main types - while people are often born with type one, others will develop type two as a result of obesity and lack of exercise.
Now a pilot scheme in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust is trying to bring the number of amputations down.
Operating out of the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, patients will see their podiatrist, dietician and nurse under one roof all within 24 hours, if required.
GPs can refer an emergency case knowing the person will be seen sometimes on the same day.
One such patient is Breda O'Kane, who was diagnosed with type two diabetes six years ago.
Among her symptoms were ulcers on her feet and she had to have two toes amputated.
She has acknowledged that she underestimated the real risks of her condition.
"They are so painful, very, very painful - it's not nice living with them," Ms O'Kane said.
"There are so many things you can't do with ulcers - you can't wear shoes, it's hard to walk.
"I can't go swimming and all because I didn't treat my condition seriously - I wish now I had."
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has the highest number of diabetes cases, with more than 22,000 men and women on the diabetes register.
Elaine Davidson, the health trust's chief podiatrist, said diabetes can "attack" a person's nervous system, blood supply and the arteries in their legs.
"Because your feet are the furthest part away from the heart, with limited blood supply, the reaction can be devastating," she said.
"You can get blockages in the arteries, so a minor trauma to the foot can cause blisters, which can sometimes mean a foot emergency.
"We need to treat those patients within 24 to 48 hours."
GP Brian Connor, who is the lead in the pilot project, is already seeing a reduction in the number of amputations in the health trust.
He said the pilot is proving to be successful.
"For many people who have diabetes this can be the silent killer," he added.
"In the Northern Health Trust we have so many patients - the highest number of patients across all of the health trusts who have had amputations due to diabetes.
"Not only is this having an impact on the patients lives but also the health service due to the costs incurred.
"In fact, Northern Ireland spends around £1m a day treating diabetes."


Police investigating a murder in Rhyl are handing out leaflets in a bid to establish the last movements of a 44-year-old man found dead in his flat.

A murder inquiry was launched after a post-mortem examination raised concerns about the cause of Liam Hill's death.
Police will visit local pubs and takeaways and give out a picture of Mr Hill as well as visiting nearby homes.
He was last seen at a takeaway the day before his body was discovered on Friday, 8 January.
Senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Andrew Williams said: "It is crucial we establish Mr Hill's whereabouts in the two days leading up to the discovery of his body."
He was seen in the Bar Bow pub in Water Street on the evening of Wednesday 6 January and at the Asher Indian restaurant, close to the town's police station, on the following evening. His body was found on the Friday.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.


Macclesfield and Bromley both remained unbeaten three games into the season after a fairly mundane stalemate at Moss Rose.

The home side were disappointed not to go in front in the first 15 minutes when Koby Arthur's shot was saved by David Gregory.
At the other end, Brett Williams nearly broke the deadlock with a deflected shot that was tipped over by Shwan Jalal.
In the second half, affairs remained tight and the visitors' Iffy Allen fired just over from the edge of the box.
Noe Baba produced a late, spectacular drive that went just over, but both sides ended up with a point.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Bromley 0.
Second Half ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Bromley 0.
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Scott Wilson replaces Koby Arthur.
Substitution, Bromley. Jordan Higgs replaces Luke Wanadio.
Substitution, Bromley. George Porter replaces Brett Williams.
Frankie Sutherland (Bromley) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Bromley. Adam Mekki replaces Iffy Allen.
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Mitch Hancox replaces Ryan Lloyd.
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Billy O'Brien replaces Shwan Jalal.
Second Half begins Macclesfield Town 0, Bromley 0.
First Half ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Bromley 0.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


Iraqi Kurdish parties are locked in a bitter stalemate over the fate of the presidency of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, which expired on Wednesday.

Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani's powerful Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is seeking an extension of its leader's tenure against the will of four other major political parties.
These four parties are now pushing to settle the matter in parliament amid warnings that a lack of consensus might spark political unrest.
The Kurdistan Region is known for its political stability and has attracted dozens of international oil companies keen on tapping energy potential. More recently its vital contribution to the fight against the Islamic State (IS) has been grabbing international headlines.
The region shares a 1,000km (620 mile)-long frontier with IS-held territory, stretching from the Iranian border in central Iraq all the way to the Syrian border.
Iraqi Kurdish forces known as the Peshmerga - supported by US-led coalition air power - have been hailed for recent advances against the IS on several fronts in northern Iraq. They even helped fellow Kurds in Syria defend the besieged town of Kobane.
Domestic turmoil over the presidency will inevitably affect the Peshmerga as they are heavily divided along partisan lines.
Just last week the region's capital, Irbil, saw the president's party flex its military muscle in a rare display of might. Troops affiliated with the KDP drove through its streets in a long convoy, fuelling tensions.
Though Mr Barzani later banned such displays, the message was clear. The incident is one of many reasons why the issue of the presidency is seen as more divisive than any other issue in the region since the civil war that tore it apart in the 1990s.
Mr Barzani has served his two terms, the maximum currently allowed. His last term expired in 2013, when it was extended by two years. But the KDP, which currently leads a coalition government that includes the other four parties, is firm on Mr Barzani staying in office.
However, existing laws provide neither a clear mechanism for electing a new president nor a legal route to keep the current one in place.
The KDP says that given the Kurdistan Region's conflict against IS, if no agreement is reached Mr Barzani should stay in power as a caretaker president until the next election in 2017.
However, existing laws stipulate that the speaker of parliament should take over the president's powers in the event of a presidential vacuum.
So an extension for Mr Barzani at this point would be divisive at best and possibly illegal in the eyes of many.
The four other major parties disagree with the KDP and have suggested amending current laws to make the system of governance in the Kurdistan Region a fully-fledged parliamentary system.
The changes would mean the president is elected by MPs rather than a popular vote. This will also automatically make the president accountable to parliament.
The president's powers would also be significantly reduced - this would mirror the political system of the federal Iraqi government, where the presidency is a largely ceremonial position.
The KDP strongly rejects the amendments and is engaged in a last-ditch attempt to frustrate the parliamentary efforts.
Mr Barzani himself has stayed quiet for months but recently likened the attempt to amend the law to a coup and called for parties to reach a "consensus". His party has refused to budge on its demand for the extension of his term with full powers.
His critics say the post has been tailored to Mr Barzani and that, for as long as possible, he will not hand it over.
In fact, his presidential office is based at the resort town of Sari Rash, overlooking Irbil, which is also his personal residence and the headquarters of his party.
These are uncertain times for the Kurdistan Region: its fragile economy is heavily dependent on oil sales and payments from Baghdad.
The global decline in oil prices and tense relations with the cash-strapped federal government have prevented the Kurdish economy from prospering.
The presidency countdown has proved to be truly democratic in spirit with parties clashing and showing great determination. But additional political turmoil over the matter looks likely to continue.
Many will be hope no harm is done to the reputation and reality of the region as a politically stable oil boomtown as that turmoil passes.
Roman Zagros & Kareem Abdulrahman are senior editors at Insight, an Iraq-focused political analysis service, follow @inKurdistan


Access to BBC services in an independent Scotland "would require a great deal of negotiation", a former BBC Trust member has claimed.

Jeremy Peat told MSPs that Scottish viewers might not have "free and unfettered" access to all BBC services.
He suggested that digital services could be cut off and viewers could be required to pay for other services.
The Scottish government said viewers "would still be able to watch all the BBC's output post-independence".
Mr Peat, appearing before the Scottish Parliament's education and culture committee, argued: "I don't think there can be the presumption that access would continue on a free and unfettered basis to all services."
In response to a question from Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur on what was likely to happen in the event of a Yes vote in September's referendum, Mr Peat said: "So far as access to BBC services is concerned post-independence, my understanding is DTT (digital terrestrial television) could be cut off close to the border."
He added: "Already so far as the iPlayer is concerned and the web is concerned, for countries outwith the UK there is a requirement to pay for access and a somewhat different service is provided.
"I would assume that the starting point again would be that those services would be available to Scotland as an independent nation in a different way from the way they are at the moment, for payment, and potentially a different service."
Mr Peat, who was a member of the BBC's governing body from 2005 to 2010, said viewers in Ireland had "access to the majority of BBC services" but that he believed it was on "a commercial basis".
Viewers in the UK pay a TV licence fee to fund the BBC. The Republic of Ireland's public service broadcaster, RTE, is funded through a licence fee and by advertising.
In 2010 the governments of the UK and the Republic of Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding enabling "the widespread availability of RTE services in Northern Ireland on a free-to-air basis, and BBC services in Ireland on a paid for basis".
In its White Paper on independence, the Scottish government proposed the establishment of a Scottish Broadcasting Service (SBS).
The SBS would be funded by the licence fee and would supply programmes to the BBC in return for access to BBC programmes.
"The deal that is set out is extremely attractive to Scotland if it can be negotiated and implemented, but I am simply saying it is not a deal that can be deemed done until negotiations and discussions have taken place," Mr Peat told the committee.
Lorne Boswell from the actors' union, Equity, told the same committee: "The BBC is part of the social union of these islands and we should keep the BBC after independence."
Mr Boswell, Equity's Scottish secretary, said he could "see no reason why STV couldn't be the national broadcaster" in an independent Scotland.
However, the White Paper says that "existing licences for broadcasters in Scotland will be fully honoured" and commercial broadcaster STV's current deal with the ITV network is set to continue until 2024.
A Scottish government spokesman said: "Viewers across Scotland would still be able to watch all the BBC's output post-independence, just as they do now.
"The BBC is watched, as live, in Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland, so it makes no sense to suggest that an independent Scotland would be uniquely blocked.
"The fact is, Scottish licence fee payers have contributed to the BBC and would be entitled to a reasonable share of that asset following independence.
"Viewers and listeners would continue to receive the programmes and channels they currently enjoy, but with significantly more programmes being commissioned and produced in Scotland."


Two kayakers have been rescued in rough seas clinging to their upturned boat in the Firth of Forth.

The Coastguard said they had received a call at about 13:45 from a member of the public who was concerned about the kayakers.
The two men - who were both in the same kayak - were making their way from Fisherrow Nest to Musselburgh.
Following a search, the men were winched into a helicopter and taken to hospital.
A spokesman for the Coastguard said they appeared to be suffering from mild hypothermia. Their condition is not thought to be life-threatening.
Before their rescue, the men were last spotted at about 14:45 north-west of Fisherrow and drifting towards Joppa.
South Queensferry, Fisherrow and North Berwick Coastguard rescue teams and the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Prestwick were sent to the scene.
Kaimes Beasley, from HM Coastguard, said: "This was a very swift water rescue and, given the conditions at sea today, these two men are extremely lucky.
"We are grateful to the member of the public who called us to report this incident - they did exactly the right thing when they saw the weather conditions were poor.
"This incident shows you how important it is to be prepared for your water activity, and have several means of contacting the Coastguard or raising an alarm, if you're heading out to sea."


China says India has withdrawn troops from a disputed Himalayan border area, ending a tense stand-off lasting weeks.

The foreign ministry in Beijing said it was pleased that "trespassing Indian personnel have all pulled back to the Indian side of the boundary".
India's foreign ministry confirmed troops were "disengaging" at Doklam after agreement between the countries.
The row began in mid-June when India said it opposed a Chinese attempt to extend a border road on the plateau.
The area is known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China.
The news comes a week before a visit to China by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan's claim over it.
Earlier on Monday China made clear it would "continue its sovereignty rights" in the area.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Chinese troops had verified on ground that Indian personnel had withdrawn in the morning.
End of Twitter post  by @PDChina
A senior Indian government source told the BBC that both sides had pulled out "personnel and equipment" from the area.
Robin Brant, BBC News, Shanghai
China's president is about to host India's prime minister, among others, at a summit this weekend. No-one likes a reignited border dispute to spoil a showpiece event, especially the Chinese.
But state media here see this as a clear win, referring to Indian troops as "trespassing".
One of the most eye-catching things about this latest stand-off is how it started - road building. China has a vast infrastructure strategy unfurling beyond its western borders but some critics say the One Belt, One Road plan isn't just about economics.
To some the Doklam dispute looked like it fitted this analysis; the army builds a road to establish a physical presence to justify a historical claim. Not dissimilar to the highly controversial island-building China has engaged in for years now in the South China Sea, some said.
Then there's Pakistan, India's arch enemy. It's currently the second biggest recipient of Chinese infrastructure investment. Evidence of a strategy aimed at expanding China's influence around the Indian Ocean, as well as around India.
Sanjoy Majumder, BBC News, Delhi
It might appear as a major victory for China and a climbdown for India - but that is not how Delhi sees it.
The Indian foreign ministry says the troop pullout is a result of sustained diplomatic efforts behind closed doors over weeks and a senior government official described it as "an honourable draw".
There's no way of verifying what's happening on the ground - and little detail of any concessions that either side may have made. But few doubt that the Indian government will be relieved the stand-off is over without it escalating into a major military confrontation, given China's overall superiority.
One question remains - will the road that started this dispute now be built or abandoned?
In the weeks since the row broke out in June, both countries increased troop numbers and even engaged in several minor confrontations in the area.
Both countries also called on each other to back down, with China in particular warning of "serious consequences".
Atul Bhardwaj, adjunct fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies in Delhi, told BBC News that an agreement was the "only alternative" since a confrontation between the two Asian giants  "could not have gone on".
He added that the resolution showed "India had initially given primacy to its relationship and commitments to Bhutan" but officials had clearly changed their mind.
"India needs Chinese markets and Chinese investments," he said, adding it would be interesting to see the political fallout of the decision in India, given that Delhi had said it would not back down.
India and China fought a war over the 3,500km (2,174-mile) shared border in 1962, and disputes remain unresolved in several areas, causing tensions to rise from time to time.


Alloa's winless run stretched to nine matches after Kyle Benedictus' injury-time equaliser earned Raith a draw at Recreation Park.

Raith peppered Scott Gallacher's goal but Ryan Hardie and Lewis Toshney were among those denied.
Steven Hetherington made the visitors pay by drilling one past Gallacher into the bottom left corner.
But Benedictus levelled at the death to leave Alloa waiting for their first win since January 12.


Lewis Hamilton won a tight battle for pole position between Mercedes and Ferrari at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Briton Hamilton took pole position by 0.268 seconds as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel joined him on the front row.
The German pipped Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas by just 0.025secs as the new era of faster, more demanding cars got off to a promising start.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took fourth ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
The Australian Grand Prix is live on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website on Sunday - Australian Grand Prix coverage details.
The tightness of the battle in qualifying between Mercedes and Ferrari is what was expected after pre-season testing but an impressive performance by Mercedes on Friday led to fears the world champions may dominate again.
But Ferrari were in much better shape on Saturday and gave every sign they will be able to push Mercedes hard this season, as testing had promised.
Vettel was fastest in final practice and the red cars were in the mix from the start of qualifying.
A slightly scruffy final lap from Bottas might have stopped him joining his team-mate on the front row but even so the margins were slight and a fair bit of Hamilton's advantage may well have been in the driver on a circuit on which the three-time champion has always excelled.
Bottas, though, was impressive in his debut for Mercedes, qualifying closer to Hamilton than his former team-mate Nico Rosberg did at this race last year.
In truth, pole position always looked like it was Hamilton's to lose from the moment he took to the track in Friday's first practice.
Seemingly intent on laying down a marker for Bottas, Hamilton was flying from the start, the car dancing through the tricky chicanes around the demanding Albert Park track.
He ended the day half a second clear of the field, with Bottas and Vettel again separated by tiny fractions, and although Hamilton's margin was reduced in qualifying, the fundamental pattern remained.
The 32-year-old still has much to do, however. There are new rules governing starts this year which have put control much more back in the drivers' hands and have therefore increased the possibility of errors.
And it will be a demanding race in pretty much the fastest cars ever raced in F1, following rule changes over the winter, and on tyres on which the drivers can push flat out for the entire race for pretty much the first time in six years.
Hamilton said: "It has been a fantastic weekend so far and it is quite amazing to be here for the 11th time. It feels like it was only yesterday I came and had my first race here in 2007.
"Such a great journey, and I am incredibly proud of my team. This rule change has been huge, a massive challenge for everyone and to be up here is fantastic.
"Valtteri did a great job in his first qualifying session for the team. It is close between us all and it is going to be a tight race this year, I think."
Vettel added: "I think we have a good car, things are working well as a team, things are improving. We had a mixed day yesterday but the confidence in the car was there from testing.
"I was not entirely happy with my lap but I think Lewis did a very good lap and I don't think pole was up for grabs but we can do something in the race."
Outside the big three teams, Romain Grosjean put in a highly impressive performance to be sixth in the Haas.
McLaren and engine partner Honda salvaged something in the context of a dire, reliability-hit testing programme to qualify a respectable 13th with Fernando Alonso.
There was a highly impressive performance by Sauber's Antonio Giovinazzi, who was drafted in at the last minute in the morning after regular driver Pascal Wehrlein pulled out citing a lack of fitness.
Giovinazzi, who stood in for Wehrlein in the first pre-season test as the German recovered from a back injury sustained in the winter, was quicker than team-mate Marcus Ericsson after the first runs and was less than 0.2secs adrift in the end, despite aborting his final lap because of a mistake at the penultimate corner.
Giovinazzi, who is Ferrari's third driver, said: "I am so happy. It is a dream come true for me."
Briton Jolyon Palmer had a torrid time, qualifying last after a weekend disrupted by problems, 3.3 seconds behind team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in first qualifying.
He said: "Horrendous. I am a second off what I did on my second lap of the weekend, and that was on a soft tyre with traffic. The pace right now is a disaster."
Qualifying top 10
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:22.188
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:22.456
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:22.481
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:23.033
5. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:23.485
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:24.074
7. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1:24.443
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (SPA/Toro Rosso) 1:24.487
9. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 1:24.512
10. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) DNF


Former Australia lock Dan Vickerman has died at the age of 37, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has confirmed.

South Africa-born Vickerman played 63 Tests for Australia after his 2002 debut and featured in three World Cups.
"The rugby world is in shock after news of the tragic passing of Dan Vickerman. He was an enforcer on the field and a much-loved character off the field," said ARU chief executive Bill Pulver.
No details of the cause of death have been disclosed.
The former Wallaby died at his family home in Sydney and is survived by wife Sarah and two sons.
He retired from the game in 2012 after spells with the Brumbies and Waratahs franchises in Super Rugby, and also spent the 2009-10 season in England with Premiership side Northampton Saints whilst studying at Cambridge University.
He played for Cambridge in their 2008 Varsity match defeat by Oxford, before captaining the Light Blues to victory in the 2009 edition at Twickenham.
England head coach Eddie Jones, who coached Australia and the Brumbies in his homeland, was among those to pay tribute.
"On behalf of the RFU and myself, I would like to send my condolences to Dan Vickerman's family, Sarah and the two kids," he said.
"He was a wonderfully committed team player and a good guy. He will be sorely missed by the rugby community."
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Police investigating the rape of a 12-year-old girl have released an e-fit of a man wanted in connection with the attack.

The victim was grabbed from behind while walking in Chapel Street, Levenshulme, Manchester, between 16:00 and 16:30 GMT on 22 November.
The balaclava-clad man, who was over 6ft (1.8m) tall, ran off in the direction of Stockport Road.
The girl reported the attack to police on 30 December.
Police said the suspect was wearing dark clothing and a woollen balaclava.
Det Insp Dave Moores of Greater Manchester Police said: "We have carried out extensive inquiries since this incident was first reported to us and now have an e-fit of a man we want to speak to as part of our investigation.
"I know this has caused a lot of concern, and understandably so, but I want to assure everybody that we are putting significant effort and resources into finding the offender.
"We have a team of specially trained detectives investigating the case and are continuing to provide the victim of this horrendous incident with support."
He added there had been increased patrols from officers in the area to reassure residents.
He urged anyone with information about the attack to come forward.


Three members of a group who sold sick puppies to the public in Greater Manchester have been jailed.

A total of 39 animals were seized during raids in Oldham in 2013 after concerns were raised to the RSPCA about sick dogs being offered online.
The charity said "glossy brochures and health check cards" were created by the group, but two-thirds of the seized dogs had congenital defects.
At Oldham Magistrates Court, six people were banned from owning dogs for life.
During the raids, officers found chihuahuas, pomeranians, spaniels, shih tzus and Yorkshire terriers kept in purpose-built pods.
Six of the seized puppies had to be put down due to their health.
A cockapoo puppy sold by the group, called Crumpet, was so sick that it died less than two weeks after the sale, said an RSPCA spokesman.
RSPCA staff also discovered about Â£3,500 in cash and a step-by-step guide to selling puppies.
The group is thought have made more than Â£8,000 a week with sellers gaining Â£50 commission on each sale.
Ch Insp Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA's special operations unit, called it "animal suffering on an almost industrial scale".
He said: "They rent houses and put a smattering of furniture in them to make it look like a family home, from which they peddle these sick puppies.
"On some occasions that we have been told about, adult dogs would be presented under the false pretence that they were the parents of the puppies being sold."
The RSPCA believe the dogs had been imported from across Europe and then sold as part of an organised business.


A missing 16-year-old girl from North Ayrshire is believed to have travelled to Birmingham to meet someone she was in contact with online.

Police are trying to trace Abbey Lewis, from Saltcoats, who was last seen at about 23:15 on Sunday in the town's Dockhead Street.
She was heading in the direction of Saltcoats railway station.
She is described as being 5ft tall, of slim build with collar-length, dyed blonde hair, and was wearing glasses.
She was also wearing a black padded jacket, blue jeans and white Adidas trainers. She had a black backpack and was carrying a grey holdall.
Sgt Ryan Paterson, from Police Scotland, said: "Inquiries carried out so far have shown that there is a possibility that she is heading to the Birmingham area to meet someone she has met online and we are liaising with our colleagues at British Transport Police to check trains, and linking in with other police forces to gather any additional information that could help us trace Abbey.
"I would urge anyone who has seen Abbey, or who has any information on her whereabouts, to contact Irvine Police Office through 101."


Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne has returned to the Conservative Party 21 years after she defected to the Liberal Democrats.

Lady Nicholson said she would rejoin the party next week "with tremendous pleasure".
She said her energies were "dedicated to fighting for our new PM and her policies".
A former Tory party vice-chair during Margaret Thatcher's government in the 1980s, she left the party in 1995.
At the time, Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown described her move as a "historic, principled decision".
He later said she was a believer in "one nation. In values of decency and fairness. In the politics of conscience and compassion as well as enterprise and initiative."
Lady Nicholson resigned the Lib Dem whip during parliamentary recess this summer.
Previously MP for Torridge and West Devon for a decade until 1997, she served as an MEP from 1999 to 2009, and has been a peer since 1997.
Announcing her decision on Saturday to rejoin the Tories, she said: "My greatest strengths are the Conservative strengths and I will be fighting for Britain from the Conservative benches from now on in."
Listing her reasons for rejoining the Tories, she highlighted Theresa May's education speech on Friday as evidence that the prime minister "leads a party with a real commitment to delivering for the next generation and building a country that works for everyone".
Mrs May said all schools in England are to be given the right to apply to select pupils by ability, under plans also allowing grammar schools to expand.


A judge in Brazil has found two men guilty of the murder in 2011 of two activists in the Amazon rainforest.

The men were sentenced to more than 40 years in prison. A third man accused of masterminding the attack was acquitted.
Jose Claudio Ribeiro da Silva and his wife, Maria do Espirito Santo da Silva, were shot dead in a forest reserve in the northern state of Para.
The couple were known for campaigning against illegal logging in the Amazon and had faced numerous threats.
The police said the couple had been opposing the eviction of rural workers from land owned by a local farmer.
The farmer was found not guilty of arranging the killings by the judge in Maraba in northern Brazil on Thursday.
However, two other men - Alberto Lopes do Nascimento and Lindonjonson Silva Rocha - were imprisoned for 45 years and 42 years respectively.
At the time of the murder, police said two gunmen hid in the forest early in the morning and shot the couple as they slowed down to cross a bridge on a motorbike.
The campaigners had lived in the town of Nova Ipixuna for 18 years.
A sister of Mr Silva, Claudelice Silva, told Globo TV in Brazil that they had many enemies.
"There were a lot of people who wanted them dead because they constantly denounced environmental crimes," she said.
Local authorities say they often reported on the illegal activities of loggers and cattle ranchers in the region.
The Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff, ordered a federal police investigation at the time, and the authorities promised to increase protection for environmental activists most at risk.
A group that keeps a tally of land-related threats and deaths, the Catholic Land Pastoral, said last month that illegal logging and the resulting conflicts were responsible for most of the 32 murders of local activists last year.
It said most of the murders were carried out by gunmen hired by loggers, ranchers and farmers to silence protests over illegal logging and land rights in the Amazon rainforest.


A former Canadian naval intelligence officer has pleaded guilty to spying for Russia for several years.

Sub Lt Jeffrey Delisle admitted selling Canadian and Nato intelligence to Russia for $3,000 (Â£1,875) a month.
He worked at top secret Canadian naval military facilities and had clearance to intelligence-sharing systems linked to countries such as the US and UK.
For nearly four years he copied secret information onto memory sticks to share with his handlers in Moscow.
He apparently walked into the Russian embassy in Ottawa in 2007 to volunteer his services, and was arrested in January.
The case has resulted in severe and irreparable damage to Canada's relationship with its allies, a Nova Scotia provincial court heard on Wednesday.
the BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto says the 41-year-old's guilty plea came as a surprise. It means a publication ban has been lifted allowing details from the case to be published for the first time.
At a bail hearing in March, portions of a police statement were read out in which he reportedly described the day he walked into the embassy as "professional suicide".
"The day I flipped sides... from that day on, that was the end of my days as Jeff Delisle," said the statement.
He is expected to be sentenced in January and could face anything from five years to life in prison.
Suspicions were raised when Delisle returned in 2011 from a four-day trip to Brazil - where he had met a Russian handler - with several thousands dollars in cash.
That prompted the involvement of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who broke into an email account he shared with his handlers.
He is the first Canadian to be convicted under the country's Security of Information Act, passed by parliament after the 11 September attacks on the US.
Delisle joined the navy as a reservist in 1996, became a member of the regular forces in 2001 and was promoted to an officer rank in 2008.
He reportedly worked for a unit that tracked vessels entering and exiting Canadian waters, with access to information shared by the Five Eyes community that includes Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Canada's military has not revealed any details about any information disclosed to the Russians.
Mike Taylor, for the defence, said his client had never put any Canadian troops in danger.
"There was no information that indicated where troops were or ships were," he told the Associated Press news agency.


As the odds on Gary Neville taking charge at Fulham tumbled on Tuesday, the bookmakers - for once and along with everyone else - were looking in the wrong place.

The 40-year-old former Manchester United and England defender, part of manager Roy Hodgson's backroom team with the national side, was finalising details of his surprise appointment as head coach of La Liga side Valencia until the end of the season.
Neville, who replaces Nuno Espirito Santo, will not be in charge when Los Che face Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday but will be in the technical area when they host Lyon in the Champions League next Wednesday.
The new Guardiola? Listen to one journalist's opinion on 5 live.
Neville's decision to move away from television punditry, where his forensic analysis has marked him out as an outstanding exponent of the art, into coaching is the clearest signpost that he sees his long-term future in full-time management.
And no-one could accuse him of making an easy start. No easing in down the leagues. Not only straight in with a club of rich pedigree and ambition, but also abroad.
It is a sign of Neville's confidence in himself that he has accepted the challenge at the Mestalla. And in many respects he has served the perfect apprenticeship to start this phase of his career in such pressurised surroundings.
He spent 19 years under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably Britain's greatest manager, at Manchester United, winning 20 trophies and establishing himself as a figure of significance and influence in a dressing room packed with powerful personalities.
Neville also won 85 England caps and his coaching education has been rounded off even further by his association with the national team, where he has been at Hodgson's side along with Ray Lewington since his appointment in 2012.
With England, he has worked alongside elite players and travelled to major tournaments such as Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine and the World Cup in Brazil last summer. Neville is the sort of character who will have been soaking up vital information like a sponge.
It hardly takes someone close to Neville to work out that this is a man of strong opinions, convictions and deep football intelligence, as well as searingly high standards in all matters involved with football from his days at Old Trafford, where nothing but the best was good enough on and off the pitch.
Listen to his punditry and read his column in a national newspaper and it is easy to detect a single-minded deep-thinker who will have the courage to put his plans and beliefs into practice, whether that is behind the scenes at Salford City - the non-league club of which he is co-owner - or in Spain with Valencia.
He has not entered an easy arena, trying to revive a Valencia side who have been strong in defence but poor in attack this season, and who must beat Lyon in his first game to maintain an interest in the Champions League.
They are also five points off the top four places in Spain, winning only five of their opening 13 league games, but by acting now Valencia believe Neville can correct that shortfall.
He has to start his club career somewhere. He has served his apprenticeship and as with the rest of his career he will not regard failure as a palatable option.
It is a daunting leap from punditry into coaching and management, but Neville is someone who always seemed destined to make his long-term career in the latter, even if this current time away from the studio turns out to be only temporary.
Many modern pundits, such as Ruud Gullit and Alan Shearer, have had mixed careers in management.
Alan Hansen, the celebrated BBC Sport pundit, made it plain he never once considered moving into coaching and, when offering any critique of managers, either on screen or in his website column, always made the point that any comment he made must be shaped by the fact he never took on the job himself. He was never over-critical of those brave enough to take on a job he never did himself.
One of the questions asked of elite players who make the move into management is whether they can they cope with handling players who may not have the same drive, attitude and approach as themselves.
Neville has his standards but will also be a realist. He will accept honest failings but not a lack of professionalism. He speaks the language of players so relating to them should not be a problem.
Media playback is not supported on this device
As David Moyes pondered his recent sacking from Real Sociedad, one of the criticisms aimed in his direction was that he had failed to grasp the Spanish language during his 12 months in Spain.
Neville, for now at least, only has five months to make his message clear so he has to hit the ground running on and off the field.
His brother Phil arrived at Valencia as a coach in July, having also left his job as a football pundit with BBC Sport. He has been having Spanish lessons to immerse himself in the culture so will no doubt be able offer early help, as will the Salford connection at the club.
Peter Lim, Valencia's Singaporean owner, has a stake in Salford City, which Neville co-owns. He will, no doubt, make every resource and assistance available to make sure his new manager gets his thoughts across.
Neville will also be a firm believer that football is a universal language and maybe even some of the technological and tactical wizardry he used in the television studio might help to bridge the barrier.
Neville has not yet got his feet under the desk at Valencia, but already the future is rich with possibilities should he make a success of his stint in Spain.
If it does not work out, he has an open invitation to return to Sky, such has been the scale of his success since becoming a pundit.
If he succeeds, then many doors will open, from staying in Spain to returning to England and perhaps serving clubs or even his country. There would be no shortage of suitors.
England manager Hodgson regards Neville's move as "another string to his bow" and will benefit the national side as they prepare for Euro 2016 in France.
If England fail to shine in France and the Football Association decides on a change of direction, then success in Spain could put Neville in pole position to succeed Hodgson, especially with Gareth Southgate blotting his copybook with failure at last summer's under-21 Euros.
And what about Manchester United? Ryan Giggs would appear to be primed to succeed Louis van Gaal, whose pragmatic approach is drawing criticism from many supporters and former players such as Paul Scholes.
A reunion of "The Class Of 92" - which would bring the Nevilles back into play - would be seen as the dream ticket in Old Trafford's line of succession and if he comes through this tough Spanish test with flying colours his stock will only increase.


Many Gulf heads of state have said they will not attend this week's summit of US and Arab leaders at Camp David.

Their substitution with more junior leaders is seen by some analysts as a rebuff to President Obama's talks with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
Saudi officials denied this, saying King Salman said he needed to stay home to oversee a ceasefire in Yemen.
The US said the king had spoken by phone to Mr Obama to voice "his regret at not being able to travel" to the US.
The talks in Camp David near Washington on Thursday are designed to reassure the Arab allies of US support on a number of issues including talks with Iran and instability in several Arab states.
They will now be largely attended by leaders at the ministerial level.
The official reason for the Saudi leader's absence is that the summit coincides with a humanitarian ceasefire in neighbouring Yemen, where a Saudi-led alliance is battling Shia Houthi rebels.
"I know there had been some speculation that this change in travel plans was an attempt to sent a message to the United States," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
"If so, that message was not received, because all the feedback that we've received from the Saudis has been positive."
The White House later said that President Obama had spoken by phone to King Salman on Monday and they had discussed preparations for the Camp David summit.
At Saudi Arabia's embassy in Washington, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters the move was not related to any disagreement.
But diplomatic experts say it is a clear signal of Saudi displeasure with the US president and his negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.
"I don't think they have a deep respect, a deep trust for Obama and his promises. There is a fundamental difference between his vision of post-nuclear-deal Iran and their vision," Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, a professor of political science at Emirates University told the Associated Press news agency.
"They think Iran is a destabilising force and will remain so, probably even more, if the sanctions are lifted."
The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, said King Salman has never quite forgiven President Obama for cancelling the missile strikes on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the 11th hour in September of 2013, when King Salman was defence minister.
Separately, the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain, whose leadership has close ties to the Saudis, said that it would be sending its crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, to the meeting.
A source familiar with the talks told the BBC that the Sultan of Oman and the President of the United Arab Emirates are both known to be very ill, and do not travel for non-medical purposes - and were not expected to attend.
The Kuwaiti emir, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, will attend the summit and has already arrived in the Washington area.
Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is expected to attend as well.


Niger has banned the export of donkeys, warning that a three-fold increase in trade, mainly to Asian countries, is threatening its donkey population.

"If the export continues the animals will be decimated," a government official has told the BBC.
China imports many donkey hides, using the gelatin in medicinal tonics, aphrodisiacs and anti-ageing creams.
In August, neighbouring Burkina Faso banned the export of donkey skins on similar grounds.
"About 80,000 donkeys have been exported so far this year compared to 27,000 last year," Atte Issa, at Niger's livestock ministry, said.
The government has also banned the slaughter of any donkeys within Niger.
The BBC's Baro Arzika in Niger's capital, Niamey, says the trade in donkeys has become so profitable that livestock sellers are abandoning other animals for the donkey trade.
A donkey now costs between $100 (Â£75) and $145, when it used to cost about $34.
A similar price hike in donkey skin was witnessed in Burkina Faso where the animal's hide rose from about $4 (Â£3) a few years ago to $50.
In both countries donkeys are commonly used to transport goods, though some communities eat their meat.
The ban was issued through a joint decree by Niger's ministries of farming, finance and internal affairs and trade.
Gelatin made from donkey skin is highly prized in China as a medicinal tonic, thought to nourish the blood, boost the immune system and act as a general pick-me-up.  It is sometimes referred to as one of the "three nourishing treasures" (zi bu san bao), along with ginseng and the antlers of young deer.
The most famous donkey gelatin is produced in Dong'e County in north-eastern Shandong Province, where it is traditionally made with the local well-water.
Donkey gelatin is sometimes mixed with walnuts, goji berries and other tonic foods and sold in dark, gummy slabs that can be eaten as a snack.
Health and longevity is a Chinese national obsession, and tonic foods like this are often lavishly packaged and presented as expensive gifts.
Aside from gelatin, donkey meat is a delicacy in some Chinese regions, especially in the north of the country.
Here, the lean meat is often simmered in a richly-spiced broth, and then cooled, sliced and served with a refreshing dip of chopped garlic and vinegar. The meat has a fine, dense texture and a marvellous flavour that's a little reminiscent of beef.
In northern Hebei province, one famous snack is the lu rou huo shao, in which chopped, spiced donkey meat is mixed with fresh green chilli and stuffed into a layered pastry - its name is  sometimes translated into English as a "donkey burger".
Donkey meat may also be made into soups and stews.
As the Chinese middle classes have grown richer, demand for donkey gelatin and other tonic delicacies has soared - in January the New York Times reported that a shortage of donkey gelatin had encouraged a boom in imitation products.


As opponents of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro take to the streets in their campaign to hold a recall referendum against him, and President Maduro denounces "imperialist" moves to topple him, political tensions in the Latin American nation are at boiling point.

Here are brief thumbnail sketches of key players in the Venezuelan crisis.
The 53-year-old former vice-president took over the leadership of Venezuela's leftist "Bolivarian Revolution" after the death in 2013 of its figurehead, Hugo Chavez.
He is now fighting for his political survival as Venezuela, Latin America's major oil producer, suffers an economic meltdown.
A former bus driver and trade union leader, he is mocked by critics as politically inept.
He is also widely blamed for corruption and policy failures that have caused chronic shortages of food and medicines, increased crime and collapsed public services.
Mr Maduro has failed to maintain the tight control over the country that the charismatic Mr Chavez wielded.
He is following his predecessor's tactics of loudly denouncing an "imperialist" plot to unseat him.
Mr Ramos Allup is the Speaker of Venezuela's National Assembly and a long-standing leader of the opposition party, Democratic Action (AD).
The 72-year-old lawyer was elected head of the Assembly in January 2016, following a resounding victory by the opposition coalition in parliamentary elections.
He is widely viewed as an experienced and pragmatic politician who is determined to remove the Socialist "Chavista" movement from power.
His decision to remove pictures of the late President Hugo Chavez from parliament angered the government, and fuelled their mistrust of him.
Mr Isturiz, 69, was appointed the country's vice-president by President Maduro in January 2016.
The veteran politician has occupied various posts, including minister of education, and has been an active figure in the fight for social and trade union rights.
He could potentially become president should a referendum to remove President Maduro be successful.
The former TV presenter is seen as a firm ally of Mr Maduro and the opposition therefore fears he would continue his policies.
Mr Cabello, 53, is a former military comrade of Hugo Chavez and the number 2 in Venezuela's governing Socialist Party (PSUV).
He is one of the most hard-line opponents of the opposition movement's bid for a recall referendum aimed at removing President Maduro from power.
He is widely seen by critics and supporters alike as a strongman in the Chavista movement and even as a potential political rival to President Maduro.
He has dismissed the recall referendum as a "coup attempt" and vowed to resist it.
He filed a libel lawsuit this year in the United States to counter media reports there alleging his involvement in drug-trafficking and money-laundering.
Mr Capriles is the 43-year-old opposition governor of Miranda State and a former two-time presidential candidate.
He narrowly lost the 2013 presidential election
He is a prominent and vocal critic of the Maduro government and a standard-bearer for the opposition's campaign to unseat him through a recall vote.
Mr Capriles has dismissed the president's recent decree declaring a state of emergency, saying the government will have to "bring out the tanks" to enforce it.
Mr Lopez, 45, is a jailed political opponent of both Mr Chavez and Mr Maduro.
He remains an important rallying figure in the opposition campaign to end the leftist "Bolivarian Revolution" in Venezuela.
He was sentenced in 2015 to nearly 14 years in prison for inciting violent anti-government protests, but his supporters insist he is innocent.
They say he was jailed on trumped-up, politically motivated charges.
He is serving his sentence in Ramo Verde military prison outside Caracas, and his wife, Lilian Tintori, has been waging an international campaign for his release.
Ms Lucena, 57, is the president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE).
The CNE has the task of overseeing elections in the country, including the possible recall vote being promoted by Mr Maduro's opponents.
Reviled by the opposition as an obedient political tool of the Chavista government, she is facing heavy pressure from inside and outside the country to guarantee the constitutional procedures are followed.
Ms Lucena, who has headed the CNE for the past nine years, has previously described Venezuela's electoral system as the "most secure and verifiable in the world".
The 52-year-old Gen Padrino is Venezuela's defence minister.
As the operational head of the country's armed forces, he is in the hot seat after President Maduro decreed a state of emergency.
General Padrino has declared that the armed forces will support Mr Maduro against "interventionism, the coup and the economic war".
But reports of discontent in the military ranks are becoming increasingly common, putting Gen Padrino into a difficult position.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.


A former Soviet republic, Tajikistan plunged into civil war almost as soon as it became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.

A rugged, mountainous country, with lush valleys to the south and north, it is Central Asia's poorest nation.
Tajiks are the country's largest ethnic group, with Uzbeks making up a quarter of the population, over half of which is employed in agriculture and just one-fifth in industry. A third of Tajikistan's population is under 14 years of age.
The Tajik language is very close to Persian, spoken in Iran, and to Dari, spoken in Afghanistan.
Tajikistan profile - home
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The five-year civil war between the Moscow-backed government and the Islamist-led opposition, in which up to 50,000 people were killed and over one-tenth of the population fled the country, ended in 1997 with a United Nations-brokered peace agreement.
Tajikistan's economy has never really recovered from the civil war, and poverty is widespread. Almost half of GDP is earned by migrants working abroad, especially in Russia, but the recession in 2009 threatened that income. The country is also dependent on oil and gas imports.
Economic hardship is seen as a contributing to a renewed interest in Islam - including more radical forms - among young Tajiks.
Tajikistan has been accused by its neighbours of tolerating the presence of training camps for Islamist rebels on its territory, an accusation which it has strongly denied.
Tajikistan has relied heavily on Russian assistance to counter continuing security problems and cope with the dire economic situation. Skirmishes with drug smugglers crossing illegally from Afghanistan occur regularly, as Tajikistan is the first stop on the drugs route from there to Russia and the West.
Russia maintains military garrisons in Tajikistan and in 2004 took back control over a former Soviet space monitoring centre. These developments were widely seen as a sign of Russia's wish to counter increased US influence in Central Asia.
Economic ties with neighbouring China are extensive. China has extended credits and has helped to build roads, tunnels and power infrastructure. Chinese firms are investing in oil and gas exploration and in gold mining.


Two Norwegian teams have contested what is thought to be the longest game in ice hockey history - spanning eight and a half hours, with eight overtimes.

The Storhamar Dragons finally beat Sparta Warriors in the Norwegian League play-offs at 02:32 local time.
After 217 minutes and 14 seconds of play, Joakim Jensen broke through to give the Dragons a 2-1 victory.
In the longest NHL game, the Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons in the sixth overtime in 1936.
Baseball's famous "Longest Game" between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Sox lasted a record 33 innings and took more than eight hours over two different days to complete in 1981.
The longest NBA game was in January 1951 when the Indianapolis Olympians beat hosts Rochester Royals after six overtime sessions.
And the longest top-level tennis match took place at Wimbledon in 2010 when John Isner beat Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the final set of a contest lasting 11 hours, five minutes over three days.
Isner tweeted Mahut when he saw the Norwegian ice hockey story, quipping that it was nothing compared with their meeting.


Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray has departed the Championship club after three years at the Riverside.

The 49-year-old's assistant, Mark Venus, will take temporary charge for Friday's league game against Doncaster.
In the Championship:
Middlesbrough said they "would like to place on record their sincere thanks to Tony Mowbray for all of his substantial efforts, dedication and integrity".
Boro have won only one of their last 10 league games and Saturday's defeat at Barnsley leaves them 16th in the table.
Their solitary win in the last 10 was a 4-1 home victory over bottom club Yeovil and Middlesbrough lie only four points above the relegation zone, and 10 points away from the play-offs.
They went out of the Capital One Cup in the first round in August after a 2-1 home defeat by League Two side Accrington Stanley.
Mowbray started his playing career with Boro in 1982 and was named captain aged 23.
He led them back to the top flight in 1988 via consecutive promotions and in total amassed 348 league appearances in a nine-year spell.
He retired as a player in 2000 and, after stints managing Hibernian, West Bromwich Albion and Celtic, returned to Teesside almost three years ago.
In his first full season he led the club to seventh in the Championship and last term they were well placed for a promotion push before a dramatic loss of form meant they finished in 16th place.


Northern Ireland Water is putting up charges to its 80,000 non-domestic customers from April - the first price rise in three years.

The company said the increase would average out at 2.4%.
The main factor "dictating this increase" is a £14m rise, or doubling, of its rates bill, following a revaluation carried out of all local businesses last year.
In the previous two financial years, Northern Ireland Water cut its tariffs.
Businesses and farms pay bills, with the majority, around 70,000, being metered for their water use and sewerage services.
"We are conscious that economic conditions continue to be difficult for our customers and we have worked hard to minimise any increase," said Ronan Larkin, its finance director.
"It is worth noting business customers will still be paying 5.6% less, on average, for their water and sewerage services than they were in 2012."
He said that while the average increase would be 2.4%, some businesses that do not have water meters would face a higher rise.
"If we look at the typical unmetered bill that should increase annually by approximately £16," he said.
"That's probably an increase of about 4.5%."
The company gave examples of what the financial impact of the increase might be.
It said a medium factory which paid £3,282 last year would see the bill rise by 1.4%, or £45.
But customers without a meter, whose bills are partly based on the rateable value of the business, would face steeper increases.
It quoted a 6.4% increase for a small shop or office without a meter, taking the bill it quoted from £250 a year to £266.
Northern Ireland Water also said it was committed to making £22m of savings over the next six years.
But with the company already having cut its workforce by a third from 2007, it said this will not involve further redundancies.
Stormont pays the company a subsidy of around £270m annually to off-set charging domestic customers.


Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena, has pardoned a former Tamil Tiger militant convicted of trying to assassinate him more than a decade ago.

Mr Sirisena set free Sivaraja Jenivan at a ceremony to mark his first year in power. The men shook hands on stage.
Jenivan was arrested in 2006, but was only convicted - and given a 10-year prison sentence - last year.
The Tamil Tigers' 25-year fight for an independent state in the north of the country ended in their defeat in 2009.
Jenivan, now aged 36, was taken into custody in April 2006, accused of being part of an attempt a year earlier to kill Mr Sirisena, who was then a senior cabinet minister.
He was sentenced by the Polonnaruwa High Court only in July last year.
In pardoning him, Jenivan's lawyer said the president had taken into account the fact that the former militant had already been detained for 10 years.
At his anniversary celebration, President Sirisena pardoned and blessed Jenivan, touching him on the head and shaking his hand in front of a crowd.
He later tweeted a photo of himself on stage with Jenivan, with a caption reading: "Ordered Presidential Pardon to a prisoner who was serving time for attempting to assassinate me in 2005".
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was a separatist rebel group led by Velupillai Prabhakaran who, to his followers, was a freedom fighter struggling for emancipation for the minority Tamils.
The group used suicide bombings to attack Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, in the 1990s, killing high-profile figures including former Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
In the closing stages of the war in 2009, both sides were accused of committing atrocities.
Upon taking power, Mr Sirisena pledged a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate the claims of abuses.
In October a government-led inquiry found that there were "credible" allegations that the army had committed war crimes during the conflict.
In the same month, 223 Tamil prisoners went on hunger strike demanding to be freed. Some have been released but most remain in prison.


England's bowlers again made light of losing the toss as the tourists had the better of the first day of the third Test against India in Kolkata.

James Anderson took three wickets and Monty Panesar two to restrict the home side to 273-7.
England were outstanding in reducing India to 273-7. They bowled tightly on a pitch that was giving them nothing, building pressure and relying on Indian mistakes, of which there were plenty.
Read more of Aggers' analysis
Gautam Gambhir made 60 before Sachin Tendulkar led the India fightback with a battling 76.
But Anderson had Tendulkar caught behind and bowled Ravichandran Ashwin late on to put England on top.
A day that had echoes of the opening of the second Test - India reached 266-6 after winning the toss in Mumbai on the way to a 10-wicket defeat - might have been even better for England had Steven Finn not fumbled a chance to run out Ashwin.
But that was one of the few mistakes by the tourists, who were rewarded for patient, skilful bowling and sharp fielding.
By contrast, India were often masters of their own downfall, with the comical run-out of Virender Sehwag setting the tone for the soft dismissals that followed.
As a result, the hosts' chances of making best use of a benign pitch showing no great pace look to rest on the shoulders of Dhoni, a skipper under pressure after the thrashing in Mumbai and the pre-match controversy surrounding the pitch at Eden Gardens.
James Anderson has now dismissed Sachin Tendulkar eight times in Tests to equal Muttiah Muralitharan as the most successful bowler against the Little Master.
Dhoni would have faced further criticism had his first-ball swipe at Graeme Swann not bounced just in front of Samit Patel at mid-wicket but, after that, he showed the same determined application of Tendulkar before him to move to 22 not out.
Tendulkar had made only 29 runs in the first two matches of the series and again looked scratchy in the early part of his innings, regularly playing and missing as Anderson and Finn - recalled to the side after injury in place of Stuart Broad - found some reverse swing.
With Panesar also tying the veteran down, he was restricted almost exclusively to nudges behind square on both sides of the wicket, but a fifth-wicket partnership of 79 with Yuvraj Singh looked to be tipping the balance towards India.
Tendulkar hit his first two balls after tea for four to move to a half-century and, with Yuvraj planting Panesar for a straight six, India seemed intent on attacking in the final session.
Even after Yuvraj tamely offered a simple catch to Alastair Cook at short extra cover off Swann, Tendulkar was looking more fluent as he moved towards what would have been a first Test hundred since January 2011.
"In the last five matches here India have won four of them and have made at least 400 in their first innings every time. Everyone has been telling me what a good pitch it is but India didn't make use of winning the toss. They weren't allowed to by the England bowlers who formed an excellent unit. Anderson and Panesar in particular were excellent, but several of the Indian batsmen are not in good form."
But, from the first ball after drinks, the impressive Anderson got a deserved second wicket as Tendulkar nibbled at an away-swinger, with wicketkeeper Matt Prior taking a diving, one-handed catch.
If Tendulkar was got out, almost all that went before him aided the tourists, with Gambhir, who rarely looked comfortable, culpable not once, but twice.
The left-hander inexplicably turned down an easy three to leave Sehwag stranded by Finn's throw and, after Cheteshwar Pujara was bowled playing back to Panesar, Gambhir flashed a cut at the same bowler and was well held at slip by Jonathan Trott.
Virat Kohli's poor form continued as he guided Anderson to Swann at second slip, at which point England were in the ascendancy.
Despite the resilience of Tendulkar and Dhoni, Anderson returned in the penultimate over of the day to remove Ashwin's middle stump, leaving England three wickets to mop up on day two with a new ball that is only four overs old.
Listen to Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott's analysis of the day's play on the Test Match Special podcast.
We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.


A Dublin man accused of stabbing his friend in a County Antrim hotel has been granted bail.

John Morley, 29, of Deanstown, Finglas West, is alleged to have carried out a sustained weekend attack at the Chimney Corner Hotel in Mallusk.
The victim, Derek White, was said to have been stabbed in the chest and leg.
Mr Morley, is charged with the attempted wounding of Mr White and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an offence.
He is further accused of disorderly behaviour and possession of Class B drugs, namely cannabis.
He will not be released from custody until all conditions are met - including the lodgement of a Â£2,000 cash surety.
Police detained him after being called to the hotel just outside north Belfast in the early hours of Sunday.
Paramedics were already on the scene treating Mr White, who is believed to be aged in his 30s.
At the defendant's first appearance before Belfast Magistrates' Court it was alleged that he chased the victim through the hotel with a flick knife.
A police officer revealed the two men had travelled to Northern Ireland with their children for a football match.


Police have released photographs of the bomb-making equipment found in Carnfunnock Country Park, County Antrim, on Saturday.

Items include circuit boards, partially constructed timer power units and a small quantity of explosives.
Police have not said which paramilitary group they believe hid the bomb materials.
The find was made a day after a dissident republican attempt to kill a prison officer.


Police have raided a house in Leicester as part of a German investigation into two people suspected of providing supporting for a Syrian jihadist group.

The unidentified pair are accused of supporting Syria's Fateh al-Sham over several years, sending them  medical and food supplies and collecting donations.
The property was searched on Wednesday morning in tandem with raids in western Germany.
Leicestershire Police did not say whether any arrests were made.
Federal prosecutors in Germany said the Leicester raid was meant to gain evidence against the two people.
It comes after German authorities carried out multiple raids on flats. businesses and mosques in raids on jihadist suspects on 1 Feb, arresting 16 people suspected of helping a foreign terrorist group or planning an attack.
They are accused of working for Jabhat Fateh al-Sham - or the Front for the Conquest of Syria - by organising aid convoys, sending ambulances, medical equipment and food.
The Syria-based jihadist group, which changed its name from al-Nusra Front last July, has claimed responsibility for a number of suicide bombings including attacks on civilian targets.


A schoolgirl from Wales has taken a skydiving test as part of her GCSEs.

Sian, who's 15 and goes to school in Aberystwyth, passed the indoor skydiving exam as part of her physical education course.
It's believed Sian is the first person ever in the UK to take the exam as part of her GCSEs.
She needed special permission from her teachers before she was allowed to take it. Sian passed her exam with 'flying' colours, achieving a mark of 93%!
Indoor skydiving allows people to experience freefall without having to leap out of an aircraft with a parachute.
Sian says she "loves the feeling of weightlessness".
Both of Sian's parents are skydivers and her 83-year-old grandmother performed an indoor sky dive for her 80th birthday.
There are only three skydiving tunnels in the UK, at Manchester, Milton Keynes and Bedford.


As a row between Turkey and the EU deepened, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused both the Germans and the Dutch of using Nazi tactics.

Bringing up Hitler or Nazi Germany in an argument is hardly new.
But recently, it has appeared as part of political discussion on an international scale.
Similar comparisons plagued the US presidential election, and they can be found in every medium, from Twitter to national parliaments.
So why is it so widespread?
The answer, according to America's Anti-Defamation League (ADL), is simply that it is the "most available historical event illustrating right versus wrong."
When an argument descends to such fundamentals, the comparison inevitably turns up.
But "misplaced comparisons trivialise this unique tragedy in human history," the ADL's national director Jonathan Greenblatt says, "particularly when public figures invoke the Holocaust in an effort to score political points."
Mr Greenblatt made those comments during the US presidential election, at a time when Donald Trump's policy announcements had led to comparisons to Adolf Hitler.
Yet Trump has done the exact same thing himself - comparing the US intelligence agencies to "Nazi Germany".
The UK's Boris Johnson compared the EU to the Nazis during the Brexit campaign; a UN investigator used the comparison for Israeli actions in Gaza; Russian television has applied the label to the West over the Aleppo crisis.
In fact, comparing someone to Hitler to invalidate their point is so popular it's been given its own fake Latin name, the reductio ad Hitlerum - a play on the very real logic term reductio ad absurdum. It's mostly used to point out the fallacy of comparing almost anyone to Hitler.
Even the German man who posted a viral image comparing Mr Trump to Hitler during the election acknowledged the comparison was "pretty crude".
Of course, nowhere are Nazi slurs more numerous than on the internet - and it's always been that way.
In 1990, an American lawyer named Mike Godwin noticed that arguments on early internet forums would constantly resort to calling the other side a Nazi.
And so Godwin's Law - that if an online discussion goes on long enough sooner or later someone will make a comparison to Hitler - was born, and became a "rule of the internet".
But Godwin originally coined the phrase to point out how ridiculous the comparison always is.
"I wanted to hint that most people who brought Nazis into a debate... weren't being thoughtful and independent. Instead, they were acting just as predictably, and unconsciously, as a log rolling down a hill," he wrote in an opinion column for the Washington Post.
In some parts of the internet, the appearance of Godwin's law was seen as a sign the discussion is over.
But the recent spate of high-profile spats proves that it hasn't reduced spurious Hitler references in real life.
When Turkey's President Erdogan levelled accusations of Nazi practices against Germany, it made international headlines.
But for Germans, it's treading old ground in a country which has strong laws against Holocaust denial or glorifying Nazi activity.
"I don't think that most Germans are too fazed about this type of comparison," said Professor Christoph Mick, a historian from the University of Warwick.
"They are used to it, and find it just bizarre that the most democratic and most liberal state in German history is compared to the Third Reich. These comparisons say more about those making [them] than about today's Germany and its politicians."
So - if a Nazi reference trivialises the Holocaust, is widely acknowledged as a logical fallacy, is ridiculed online, and ignored by the Germans - it must have some persuasive power to have stayed around so long - right?
Not so, according to the English Speaking Union, an educational charity that promotes clear communication and critical thinking.
"Wielding accusations of fascism as an insult doesn't help to get your audience on side - instead, you raise the stakes of the debate, forcing a polarisation between 'good' and 'evil' into a discussion that may have reasonable positions on both sides," says Amanda Moorghen, the group's senior research and resources officer.
"Most of the time, people call others 'Nazis' because they think it will grab the attention of the audience.
"This is a big mistake, because any attention they do get will be drawn to the use of that word, rather than to the nitty gritty of the topic at hand."
And the secret to real success?
"It's far better to save strong words for the argument itself, rather than attacking the people you're arguing with," Amanda Moorghen says.


Catalans Dragons moved up to second in Super League table with a stylish victory over St Helens.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's early try helped Saints establish a 6-2 lead but Fouad Yaha and Lucas Albert both went over as the hosts began to get on top.
The 13-6 half-time advantage was cut thanks to winger Adam Swift's score.
But Dragons made sure of the points in emphatic fashion with two Jodie Broughton scores in the corner and tries by Morgan Escare and Tony Gigot.
Shannon McDonnell went over for Saints late on, but the French side still held a significant lead and the victory - which puts them two points behind leaders Hull FC - was assured.
Catalans Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous:
"I'm very pleased with the two points. I've said it a lot this year but I'm not interested in the ladder [league table], if we keep improving every week, then we will keep winning games. That is our objective for the season."
"Lucas Albert is playing very well. There is still a lot of improvement in his game but if he keeps improving like he is doing then we have a very special player.
"Todd Carney settled us down out there late in the game. His game management is outstanding and you could see that out there. I was very pleased with our halves."
St Helens assistant coach Jamahl Lolesi:
"We're doing a bit tough at the moment. We're missing a few key players and the players are down on confidence a little.
"We're missing our half-back and he is a big loss for us so we're having to reshuffle our team.
"Losing Theo Fages at half-time [to a knee injury] didn't help us - that is why Keiron Cunningham isn't here at the moment. He's with Theo.
"We also lost Jonny Lomax before the game as he suffered a tight adductor and that really hurt our attack. It's just not happening for us at the moment."
Catalans Dragons: Escare, Broughton, Gigot, Richards, Yaha, Carney, Albert, Taylor, Pelissier, Casty, Stewart, Horo, Baitieri.
Replacements: Bousquet, Bosc, Maria, Navarrete.
St Helens: Lomax, Owens, Dawson, Percival, Swift, Fages, Turner, Tasi, Roby, Amor, Greenwood, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Replacements: Walmsley, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.
Referee: Chris Campbell (RFL).
Attendance: 10,789.


Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will join Ducati following the 2016 season.

The 28-year-old Spaniard has won three World Championship titles during an eight-year spell with Movistar Yamaha, clinching 41 wins in 141 races.
Yamaha, who gave Valentino Rossi a two-year extension in March, said Lorenzo has the "team's full support in his campaign to achieve a fourth title".
Lorenzo has signed a deal with Ducati for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Yamaha added: "Yamaha is extremely grateful for Jorge's contributions to its racing successes and looks forward to sharing more memorable moments during the remaining 15 MotoGP rounds of 2016."
Lorenzo claimed victory in the opening MotoGP of the campaign in Qatar, but Honda's Marc Marquez has won the two races since.