An Iranian opposition leader held under house arrest since 2011 has been admitted to hospital a day after he began a hunger strike, his family says.

Mehdi Karroubi stopped eating and drinking to press the authorities to give him a public trial and remove security agents from his house.
The 70-year-old cleric was taken to a hospital in Tehran in the early hours of Thursday due to high blood pressure.
He suffers from heart disease and has required hospital treatment before.
Mr Karroubi and fellow reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi, 75, were candidates in Iran's disputed presidential election in 2009, which was won by the hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Millions of opposition supporters took to the streets to demand a re-run of the vote amid allegations of widespread fraud.
But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted the result was valid and ordered a crackdown on dissent that saw dozens of opposition supporters killed and thousands detained.
Mr Karroubi and Mr Mousavi were placed under house arrest six years ago after the Arab Spring sparked fresh protests. They have never been formally charged.
Mr Karroubi's wife, Fatemeh, told the Saham News website on Wednesday that her husband would end his hunger strike only if the authorities met two demands.
The first was the removal of intelligence ministry agents inside their home as well as recently-installed security cameras, which she said had "no precedent before or after the [1979 Islamic] Revolution in any house arrest".
The second demand was for a date for a public trial to be set in accordance with the constitution. Mrs Karroubi said her husband would respect the verdict even though he "does not expect a fair trial".
But early on Thursday, his son Mohammad Taghi tweeted: "At 01:00, father was sent to hospital due to the hunger strike. Pray a lot."
He later told BBC Persian that his father was in intensive care and was still not accepting food or water.
In response, the doctors had put him on an intravenous drip, he added.
His father had a pacemaker fitted earlier this month and is prescribed heart medication, which he continued to take after starting the hunger strike.
Mohammad Karroubi also said former President Mohammad Khatami had told the Karroubi family that the intelligence ministry should be able to withdraw its 12 agents from their home.
Supporters of Mr Karroubi and Mr Mousavi repeatedly urged current President Hassan Rouhani to release the two men during his re-election campaign this year.
In March, a court sentenced Mr Karroubi's eldest son, Hossein, to six months in prison after convicting him of circulating "propaganda against the regime". He published a letter his father wrote to Mr Rouhani calling for a trial.


Soft growth in North America, Europe and Brazil hurt sales at Unilever and Nestle, two of the world's major consumer companies.

But both firms said they expected to meet sales goals stated previously.
Nestle reported organic growth of 2.3% in the first three months of the year, boosted by Asia and Africa.
At Unilever, owner of Dove, Ben & Jerry's and other household brands, underlying sales increased 2.9%, lifted by higher prices.
Unilever's total sales, which include the effects of mergers, sales and currency, were 13.3bn euros (Â£11.1bn), up 6% year-on-year in part on exchange rate factors.
The Anglo-Dutch firm, which rebuffed a takeover by US rival Kraft Heinz in February, said the quarterly growth vindicated its long-term strategy.
Unilever stung into action by Kraft
Unilever: Profile of a consumer goods giant
Chief executive Paul Polman said: "The first quarter shows growth once more ahead of our markets."
"This reflects our continued investment in both innovations and brand support and reconfirms the strength of our long-term sustainable compounding growth model."
After spurning Kraft, Unilever announced a plan to cut costs and sell or spin off its struggling spreads business, which includes Flora and Stork. Excluding that unit, underlying sales were 3.4%, Unilever said.
The consumer goods giant also highlighted appetite for products such as air purification brand Blue Air in China and new products, such as chocolate-topped pints of Ben & Jerry's. The firm also raised its prices, a move that led to a row with supermarket Tesco in the UK last year.
Analysts said Thursday's report pointed to a positive future for Unilever.  The firm said it expects to deliver sales growth of 3% to 5% for the year.
"Unilever have been pushed by the Kraft Heinz approach into a more radical pace and scale of change than they had originally chosen for themselves," Steve Clayton, fund manager of the HL Select equity funds, wrote in an analyst note.
"We think the group has enormous potential to steadily boost returns whilst compounding sales over time."
Nestle, known for its KitKat chocolate bars, Purina pet food and Nescafe coffee, reported total sales of 21bn Swiss francs (Â£16.44bn), growth of less than 1% from the first quarter of 2016.
That number was hurt by the impact of currency fluctuation and sale of an ice cream business.
KitKat maker Nestle misses forecasts as profit falls
Nestle says will cut sugar in chocolate by 40%
Nestle said it still expects to meet its 2% to 4% organic sales growth target for the year. The Swiss company highlighted the strength of its skin care products and of Nespresso, which is gaining traction in North America.
The firm also said Nescafe pricing was up in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
"The leap year comparison and other seasonal effects made the start of this year particularly challenging," said Nestle chief executive Mark Schneider. "We were encouraged by the growth in Asia and the resilience of consumer spending in Europe."


A three-day lockdown announced by Sierra Leone to combat Ebola will not help contain the virus, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says.

The charity said a lockdown would force people underground, destroy trust between doctors and the public and ultimately help spread the disease.
Sierra Leone officials say the measure, due to begin on 19 September, will let health workers isolate new cases.
About 2,100 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea have so far died.
MSF, whose staff are helping to tackle the outbreak, said in a statement that quarantines and lockdowns "end up driving people underground and jeopardising the trust between people and health providers".
"This leads to the concealment of potential cases and ends up spreading the disease further," the group  said.
10,314
Deaths - probable, confirmed and suspected
(Includes one in the US and six in Mali)
4,296 Liberia
3,742 Sierra Leone
2,261 Guinea
8 Nigeria
Information Minister Alpha Kanu admits the lockdown is an extraordinary measure that will cause huge inconvenience, but he says it is needed to stem the spread of a disease which has killed over about 500 of his people.
Despite criticism from MSF, Mr Kanu insists that the measure "will minimise the spread of the virus", and he is urging people to stock up on food, telling them: "We did it during the war."
Never since the rebel invasion of Freetown in 1999 have I seen fear on the faces of people like in recent times. Even so, many people feel three days is too long to be asked to stay indoors. Many others feel three days is too short to achieve the government's aim of restricting the virus.
Sierra Leonean officials earlier said more than 20,000 people would be deployed to make sure residents stayed indoors.
Health ministry spokesman Sidie Yahya Tunis told the BBC he did not expect the public to object.
"You follow or else you'll be breaking the law. If you disobey then you are disobeying the president," he said.
The BBC's West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says the Sierra Leone population's willingness to obey will be key for the plan to succeed.
A forcible implementation is likely to raise human rights issues and could potentially spark violent demonstrations, he says.
Last month, Liberia sealed off a large slum in the capital, Monrovia, for more than a week in an attempt to contain the virus.
The disease infects humans through close contact with infected animals, including chimpanzees, fruit bats and forest antelope.
It then spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments.
Officials in Nigeria have meanwhile decided to reopen schools in the country from 22 September. They were closed as a precaution to prevent the spread of the virus.
Separately, a US doctor infected with Ebola is being treated in a Nebraska hospital after evacuation from Liberia.
Rick Sacra, 51, was described as sick but stable. He is the third American aid worker infected. The other two recovered after treatment in Atlanta.
On Friday, the WHO announced that the blood of patients who recovered from Ebola should be used to treat others.
People produce antibodies in the blood in an attempt to fight off an Ebola infection. The antibodies may be able to help a sick patient's immune system if they are transferred.
However, large scale data on the effectiveness of the therapy is lacking.


Siddhartha Dhar, also known as Abu Rumaysah, is thought to be the new man behind the mask fronting threats to the UK from inside Syria.

Unlike the man he appears to have replaced - Briton Mohammed Emwazi, dubbed "Jihadi John" - Mr Rumaysah was a well-known and prolific figure among radical Islamists in London.
He disappeared in September 2014, shortly after being released on bail while under investigation for allegedly encouraging terrorism.
Police banned him from travelling and ordered him to hand in his passport. However, he boarded a coach for Paris at London's Victoria Station, along with his wife and children.
Weeks later, he announced his arrival in Syria by posting an image online of himself holding a rifle, and his newborn and fourth child.
"What a shoddy security system Britain must have to allow me to breeze through Europe to [IS]," he tweeted.
Mr Rumaysah, who is in his early 30s, was born and raised in the UK in a Hindu family - his original name is Siddhartha Dhar.
Following his conversion in his late teens, he took the name Saiful Islam (Abu Rumaysah is a "kunya", or nickname, which means "Father of Rumaysah"). He became a leading member and speaker for the al-Muhajiroun network, a group banned under terrorism legislation which has frequently organised and operated under different names.
When not providing bouncy castles for parties, he would regularly attend demonstrations against the US, Israel, Arab regimes or any other cause the group believed to be un-Islamic.
He would stand outside mosques on Friday afternoons, seeking to find new followers to the radical network's way of thinking. He would post videos online and rarely turned down an opportunity to speak to the media.
And when he spoke he barely hid his radical views.
When so-called Islamic State claimed to have destroyed the border between Iraq and Syria in 2014, he believed it was the moment a new Islamic regime worthy of global support had been born.
"The caliphate [a state governed in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia] is a dream for all Muslims worldwide," he said in one of his YouTube videos.
"We can finally have a sanctuary where we can practice our religion and live under the Sharia. It is a big, big thing."
In an appearance on the BBC's Sunday Morning Live programme, he expanded on these views.
"Now that we have this caliphate I think you'll see many Muslims globally seeing it as an opportunity for the Koran to be realised," he said.
"As a Muslim I would like to see the UK governed by the Sharia. It is far superior to democracy. I don't really identify myself with British values. I am Muslim first, second and last."
In 2014, Mr Rumaysah was asked by a TV journalist whether he would condemn the killing of US journalist James Foley by IS.
He refused to answer the question - saying only that he condemned US airstrikes killing Muslims in the "caliphate".
In May 2015, he "published" a sort of travel guide for would-be fellow travellers.
The 40-page document, which opens with an image of a fictional battle on the edge of Jerusalem, is designed to encourage Muslims to stop procrastinating and join what Mr Rumaysah claims are the swelling ranks of Islamic State.
Most of the rest of the booklet is devoted to the kind of  information that features in a standard travel guide: food, weather and transport.
"If you thought London or New York was cosmopolitan, then wait until you step foot in the Islamic State because it screams diversity," he wrote.
"In my short time here I have met people from absolutely every walk of life, proof that the caliphate's pulling power is strong and tenacious."
He glossed over public executions, rape of women held as slaves and other punishments meted out to anyone who does not adhere to the fighting group's ideology.


A court in China has sparked online debate after it sentenced a university student to 10 years in jail for selling rare birds he found near his home.

The student, surnamed Yan, was jailed for selling Eurasian hobbies, a type of protected falcon, to friends.
Many Chinese social media users have expressed shock that he was given a longer sentence than some convicted of rape or drunk driving.
However, others argued that he had "to take responsibility".
Yan had discovered a bird's nest by the gate of his residential complex in July 2014 containing 16 Eurasian hobbies, Zhengzhou Evening News reported.
Yan  raised 12 of the birds for a short while, and then uploaded photos online to his circle of friends to find buyers. He sold 10 of the birds, but was arrested after returning for the remaining birds in the litter.
On Wednesday, a Zhengzhou court sentenced Yan to a 10-year prison term.
An accomplice, identified only by his surname Wang, was also sentenced to 10 years and fined 10,000 yuan ($1,560; Â£1,000), and another man, surnamed Yun, was jailed for a year and fined 5,000 yuan ($781; Â£520).
The case has attracted considerable interest online, with people shocked by Yan's sentence.
#Stole16BirdsJailedFor10.5Years has been trending on Sina Weibo, with more than 15,000 users actively using the hashtag.
More than 60% voted in an online poll that they thought the sentence was "too strong".
User 'Uncle Tan' said, "Drunk-driving kills people, you can be penalised and serve three years... this unfortunate child poached a few birds, didn't kill anyone, and receives 10 years."
Meanwhile, 'Dulexin' said, "human trafficking or a fatal car accident mean a few years, and fights, theft and robbery get a few years. Poaching a bird means you're sentenced to more than 10 years; these days human life is not as important as a bird."
However, others stressed that criminal punishment was appropriate, as China has recently been addressing environmental issues at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
'Xuefeng Chuanshuo' said Yan was selling a "protected species, which in itself is a criminal offence, and so he should take responsibility for his own behaviour". His comment received over 1,000 likes.
'Pusa Baoyou Yiding Yaohao' said: "He obviously knew the bird was special, or else he wouldn't have been trading it!"
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.


Imagine you work for a company that has been engulfed in a bitter power struggle for weeks.

Your chairman was unceremoniously sacked. The management feud has divided directors.
Meanwhile your customers just don't know what to think.
And to cap it all off, despite the spat being played out in the world's media with a to-and-fro of insult and insinuation, the dumped boss is still very much part of the company.
Sounds pretty horrendous, but that's the reality for 660,000 staff employed by India's Tata Group.
It is the country's largest conglomerate, with stakes in more than 100 independent companies, many of which bear the Tata brand.
And still at the helm or on the board of some of the most high-profile Tata businesses is Cyrus Mistry, the ousted chairman.
The saga, which saw Mr Mistry unexpectedly replaced by his predecessor and company patriarch Ratan Tata, has been a sorry chapter in a usually proud 148-year history of the Tata Group.
So with the fallout of this ugly public ousting still swirling, how do you go to work each day, keeping your chin up and your head down?
Not easily, some say.
"There's a great sense of pride in being a staff member of a Tata company and that follows from the ethical standards that the senior leaders have held themselves to," says Prof Kulwant Singh from the NUS Business School in Singapore.
"All these events have tarnished Tata's reputation and that must affect morale and belief in the Tata Group."
And while it is human instinct to pick sides, that is difficult for employees - not least because it's not entirely clear yet who'll come out on top.
"The staff are caught in the middle and they're watching how this plays out but they won't want to interfere," says Nitish Jain, president of the SP Jain School of Management.
"I think it's obvious that the staff are quite rattled, they want clarity sooner rather than later but they have no choice but to be patient."
Patience will be crucial.
Wrestling control away from Cyrus Mistry may not be so straightforward. His family has been a major investor since the 1930s, and controls companies holding 18% of Tata Sons. And crucially Mr Mistry still has plenty of support.
That explains why, despite everything that has gone on, he is still chairman of Tata Chemicals as well as Indian Hotels, owner of the world famous Taj brand.
Tata Group may own a stake in each of those businesses, but they are separate legal entities, meaning Mr Mistry can only be removed by each company's board.
That's exactly what happened at Tata Global Beverages, for example, the business that runs the Starbucks franchise in India where he was chairman, and at another huge operation Tata Consultancy Services.
But directors at Tata Steel and Tata Motors still can't decide whether to carry out the wishes from Tata headquarters and cut ties.
"There appear to be factions that have emerged within the boards of Tata companies," says Prof Singh.
"At least some of these board members seem somewhat reluctant to follow through on Tata Sons' attempt to oust him."
Under Indian law, Mr Mistry can attend shareholder meetings of any Tata company while he remains a board member of that company. He can also attend those meetings on behalf of a shareholder.
Showing too much loyalty to Mr Mistry could be a dangerous game.
For each of these businesses, the Tata brand is vital. Being able to use that famous name often helps win customers and, when they need it, get financing too.
And so Tata Sons - with its power to take away permission to use the Tata name - could hold a trump card, believes Prof Singh.
"This access to the Tata brand is critical to these companies, so they are likely to comply with the overall wishes of the Tata Group," he says.
With the risk of more damage to morale, reputation and productivity, Prof Singh predicts a resolution soon, especially with Ratan Tata on the hunt for Mr Mistry's permanent replacement.
"I don't see this dragging out for months," says Prof Singh.
"I believe the Tata Group board will want to hand over a settled company to the new chief executive and will therefore try to resolve all of these issues relatively quickly."
You get the impression though that Cyrus Mistry will make this as difficult as possible.
This is someone whose opening salvo was a no-holds-barred nine-page email slamming the Tata business that was leaked to the media.
"If he just exits without putting up a show, his colleagues may consider him too weak. If he puts up a show they might think he's too much of a fighter," says Mr Jain.
"But if he represents his case as he's doing currently, he may negotiate better terms than a lame duck exit, which is what he'd be doing if he just gave up now."
For Prof Singh, the fact that Tata is in this predicament at all seems unnecessary.
"I wonder why they didn't come to an agreement that would have given him a graceful exit to avoid this public humiliation.
"That would have been much smoother because this really is against the Tata way."
Of course it takes two parties to agree, and who knows if they had tried to achieve an amicable split but failed.
But even if Tata eventually manages to oust Cyrus Mistry from all its companies, the group may never be able to silence him.


A defendant had to wait 45 minutes to learn his fate after a judge got stuck in a lift at the Old Bailey.

Judge Anthony Morris QC had attended a ceremony to mark his departure from the court prior to Ridwaan Shaikh's hearing.
Shaikh, 22, was cleared of murdering 21-year-old Bradley Cresswell but found guilty of manslaughter.
He had to wait for the verdict after the trial judge was "unavoidably delayed", court staff said.
The court heard that Shaikh, of Ilford, London, punched Mr Cresswell after they had been to Hydeout Nightclub, Watford, on 17 September.
Mr Cresswell, of South Oxhey, never regained consciousness.
Shaikh will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday.
Prosecutor Benn Maguire said the defendant attacked Mr Cresswell in the street "without warning" in revenge for an earlier incident in the club.
Following his arrest, Shaikh told police he acted in self-defence and hit Mr Cresswell with an open hand.
He denied both murder and manslaughter.
The jury deliberated for nearly 14 hours before clearing Shaikh of murder but convicting him of manslaughter.
The defendant wept in the dock while a member of the Cresswell family shouted "yes" as the verdict was read.


Police said they are investigating reports of sexual threats directed at Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy's one-year-old daughter.

The tweets were made after a picture of the forward's child, Sofia, was posted on his Twitter page.
Vardy, who has scored 19 league goals for the Premier League leaders this season, called the posts "shocking and vile".
Leicestershire Police said they are liaising with the club over the tweets.
Updates on this story and more from Leicestershire
A number of tweeters reacted angrily to the threats after Vardy took screenshots of the tweets and, on Sunday, posted them to his 240,000 followers.
The 29-year-old's fiancÃ©e, Rebekah Nicholson, who originally tweeted the shots of her daughter wearing a Foxes shirt, said the social media users in question needed "locking up".
Former Leicester and Blackpool striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher called those responsible "disgraceful and sick", while another tweeter labelled them "pigs".
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "Leicestershire Police is investigating a report of a malicious communication being sent via social media.
"A report was made today [4 April] of an abusive message being received yesterday evening [3 April] by a woman on Twitter. Enquiries remain ongoing."
A Leicester City Football Club spokesman said: "We have offered our full support to Jamie and his family in dealing with this shocking abuse and referred the matter to the police."


The Flying Scotsman will be allowed to run on the Borders Railway and Forth Bridge on Sunday after a climbdown by Network Rail.

Excursion operators were told on Friday the trip must be cancelled because it could not be sure the engine was suitable for the line.
Scottish Transport Minister Derek Mackay said Network Rail had now reversed the decision.
He had earlier branded the cancellation a "debacle" and called for an inquiry.
Hundreds of steam enthusiasts are planning to turn out to watch the newly-restored locomotive run on the Borders line, which re-opened last September.
Late on Friday afternoon, however, Network Rail said it it did not have the right data to "gauge" the Flying Scotsman - a process which involves checking if it fits within structures such as platforms and bridges on the line.
Built in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in 1923, the Flying Scotsman pulled the first train to break the 100mph barrier in 1934.
The National Railway Museum in York bought the locomotive for Â£2.3m in 2004 before work got under way on its decade-long restoration two years later.
In February Network Rail was forced to pay out almost Â£60,000 in compensation when dozens of train services were delayed by people encroaching on the track during the refurbished train's inaugural run from London to York.


An ex-Royal Navy officer, thought to have been run over by his own car, was a "special, kind and exceptionally talented man", his family have said.

Mike Samwell, 35, was fatally injured as he tried to prevent thieves from stealing his car from outside his home in Greater Manchester on Sunday.
"Mike's death has made a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled", his family said.
A man, 21, who was held on suspicion of murder has been released on bail.
Mr Samwell's family said he "was devoted to his family above anything" and his wife, Jess, "was his one great love above all things".
He was "always smiling and sharing his amazing sense of humour" and was "a loyal and treasured friend" who "will be sorely missed", his relatives said.
"We are so proud of all that Mike was and had achieved" and "want to remember Mike as the special, kind and exceptionally talented man he was and not dwell on a senseless crime which has left us all so bereft".
The family appealed for information and said "the light he shone will continue to travel with us always."
Mr Samwell's black Audi S3 sports coupe was later found damaged, about three miles away from the house in Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has appealed for more information from the public about a number of suspects it believes may still be outstanding.
Det Supt Jon Chadwick from GMP has urged anyone who saw a blue BMW 1 Series 5-door being "driven erratically" in the area to contact the force.
It is believed the car was also used by offenders.
He said: "We have set up a DropBox link for anyone who may have caught anything on CCTV or dashcams to send us their footage.
"You may not think what you know is important, but it could be vital to our investigation."
Mr Samwell was asleep with his wife Jessica in their Cranbourne Road home when the intruders struck.
The former submarine officer who was a programme manager for engineering firm Atkins in Warrington, Cheshire went downstairs to investigate noises and ended up in a parking area at the rear of the house.
Police believe he was run over at least once as he tried to prevent the theft of his car.


Olly Murs has offered his support to ex-One Direction star Zayn Malik, after the singer pulled out of several concerts with "extreme anxiety".

"It is definitely one of my worst fears and my heart goes out to Zayn," Murs told BBC News.
The star befriended One Direction through the X Factor, where they were runners-up in consecutive years.
He said Malik's anxiety had only surfaced since he had become a solo artist earlier this year.
"I feel for him, because he did seven or eight worldwide tours and he always had friends around him," said Murs.
"Now, he has that daunting anxiety [of] having to come out on stage without those other guys around."
So far this year, Malik has cancelled appearances at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai and the Summertime Ball in Wembley Stadium.
"Unfortunately my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me," Malik told fans after pulling out of the latter gig.
"I know those who suffer anxiety will understand and I hope those who don't can empathise with my situation."
Murs said that the sheer scale of the concerts could be the root of Malik's fears.
"He's got to start at theatres or smaller shows where he can build that confidence again. Once Zayn gets out there and starts performing, he'll be great," he said.
"It's just that initial thing of getting over the line. But fingers crossed he does get to perform that album at some point."
Malik is not the only pop star to suffer anxiety. Selena Gomez recently cancelled the remaining dates of her world tour, citing the anxiety and depression that are side effects of Lupus, the auto-immune disease from which she suffers.
Justin Bieber also said his touring schedule was leaving him "mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression". He subsequently cancelled "meet and greet" sessions with fans before and after his shows.
"You have to put your heart out to those guys for coming out and being honest," said Murs. "You've got to remember they're young and the pressure is massive.
"People have paid for their tickets and they want you to entertain them. It can take its weight on you."
The singer admitted he had also experienced "difficult" nights on tour, but they paled in significance compared to Malik and Gomez.
"I'm not going to moan about it because these are our jobs. That's what we get paid to do," he said, indicating a poster in his management company's office that reads: "No whining".
"Whining and whinging... you shouldn't," he added, discussing his own shows. "You should just get on with it."
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


The Department of Health is giving £10m to a fast-track scheme training graduates to become social workers in community mental health teams.

The scheme run by charity Think Ahead aims to recruit 300 graduates by 2018 to work with nurses and psychiatrists.
They will receive specialist training on supporting individuals and families with mental health problems.
Graduates are paid while training on the job and qualify as social workers a year earlier than normal.
Those who secure a place on the scheme become mental health social workers, working with psychologists, nurses and doctors to support the everyday needs of those with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia.
The scheme, which opened last year, attracted more than 2,300 applicants for 100 places that start in July.
The government funding will provide money for 200 more places by 2018.
Sarah Carr, who chairs the National Service User Network, said: "Support from a social worker with the right skills and expertise can be transformational for people living with mental health problems.
"The programme gives graduates the skills to empower the individuals they work with - so that they can manage their mental health, stand up for their rights, and find their own paths towards personal recovery."
David Niven, a former chairman of the British Association of Social Workers, said the profession had struggled with too many vacancies and caps to local government funding in recent years, while social workers themselves had faced heavy workloads.
He told BBC Radio 5 live he hoped this scheme would strengthen the profession and that it showed recognition from the government of the value of social work.
Mental health minister Alistair Burt said mental health social work was highly skilled, complex work and the funding would mean thousands of people would be helped to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.
"This is a great initiative to attract the brightest and best into the profession," he said.
Think Ahead says one in three families include someone with mental health problems, deeply affecting their lives and their communities.
Lee Brookes, 39, is a business adviser who has had mental health problems for 10 years, including bipolar disorder and an eating disorder.
He says a good, understanding social worker who listens well is invaluable in coping with his illness.
"My current social worker has been fantastic," he says.
"She can tell from my tone of voice whether the conversation needs to carry on or whether she needs to call back later.
"That works so well for me."
Mr Brookes believes developing mental health social workers will help lots of people in the long run because of the support they provide.
"Social workers have been the most important point of contact during my illness," he says.


It used to be rather difficult to actually buy a book at one of the UK's oldest and best-known bookshops - Foyles.

Run by the indomitable Christina Foyle for 54 years until her death in 1999, she had an eccentric way of doing things.
Firstly, books were not ordered alphabetically at Foyles' vast, but ramshackle store on London's Charing Cross Road. Instead they were grouped together by publisher.
If you eventually found what you were looking for on its 30 miles of shelving, then your problems were far from over. Because instead of simply going to pay at a till, you were required to queue three times.
To begin with, you had to collect a paper invoice for the book in question, which you were required to take to a different part of the shop to pay. Then you had to go somewhere else in the building to finally be given the book.
And the staff were often not particularly happy, no doubt due to Ms Foyle's rule of sacking everyone after they had been there for one year.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the family-owned business, which started in 1903, struggled to make a profit under Ms Foyle.
When she died, control passed to her nephew Christopher Foyle, a grandson of one of the two founders.
He immediately started to modernise the business, but, with the company continuing to make a loss, in 2007 he decided to bring in the firm's first boss from outside the family.
The person he appointed as the new chief executive was an accountant-turned-business leader called Sam Husain.
Despite not having previously worked in the retail sector, let alone sold books, Mr Husain was tasked with transforming Foyles' fortunes.
With a diverse background working and running London-based businesses in the energy and broadcast sectors, where he had a track record of successfully turning around companies, Mr Husain, whose niece is BBC presenter Mishal Husain, says he was brought in as "a fresh pair of eyes".
Now 67, Mr Husain immediately realised that with Foyles he was going to have "his hands full".
Although Mr Foyle had ended the need to queue three times, and started to order the books alphabetically, many other aspects of the business needed to be fixed and modernised.
One problem was the thousands of old books clogging up the shelves. Nobody ever bought them so Mr Husain says he made the "brutal" decision to simply bin them.
"We cleared out £1m of stock," he says. "And when you realise that the average price of a book is about £7, that is a lot of books.
"The older stock was just cleared out, and more or less dumped. That was a write-off... but we had to face that to transform the business."
With space now available on the shelves, Foyles could instead bring in newer, more popular books which would actually sell.
And to motivate section managers, they were given much more autonomy.
They were told to view their section of the store as their own bookshop, and use their expert knowledge of, say cookery books or science fiction novels, to pick which titles they wanted to stock. This helped to increase staff morale greatly.
Also keeping a close eye on the finances, such as securing better terms with some publishers, Mr Husain says that as the months progressed he was slowly able to turn things around.
"It took the best part of a year to actually transform the business, to bring in business practices one would normally have in a well-run company.
"But I had a lot of help. The management team were excellent, the ingredients were already there."
So despite the growth of online booksellers such as Amazon, the rise of the e-book, and the collapse of bricks-and-mortar store rivals such as Borders, Mr Husain was able to return Foyles to profitability in little over a year, and it has remained there ever since.
The Boss is a series profiling entrepreneurs from around the world.
Mr Husain has also expanded the business, as he said he didn't want it to be too reliant upon its main store.
When he took over Foyles it had a second smaller outlet in London, and now it has five branches - four in the capital, and one in Bristol. A sixth outlet is due to open in Birmingham later this year.
And last year Foyles moved its flagship store a few yards down London's Charing Cross Road, swapping its old, dark scruffy building for a shiny new bright and airy temple to books.
Foyles also has its own website, but this only accounts for 3% of its sales.
Mr Husain firmly believes bricks-and-mortar bookshops can still be successful, but only if they remember that they have to offer customers excellent service and a pleasurable overall experience, to compensate for the fact that they cannot compete on price.
"Books are without question offered cheaper online," he says. "But visiting a bookshop offers the chance to browse, to discover books... to have human contact.
"At our main store and the Bristol branch we have auditoriums where we hold events [such as book readings], and we have cafes. They are bookshops you can enjoy to spend all day in."
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Looking to the future of physical bookshops, Mr Husain says that despite the continuing challenges, the future will ultimately be a bright one.
"It is going to be a challenging world for a while, but my personal view is that the worst is behind us," he says.
Yet leading that challenge at Foyles will soon be for someone else, as Mr Husain is retiring as chief executive at the end of April.
Set to have the first substantial spare time on his hands since he moved to the UK from Pakistan in 1964 to train as an accountant, he says he is looking forward to catching up on some reading.


Ben Reynolds could be a late addition to the Ireland team for the World Indoor Championships alongside Mark English and Rose-Anne Galligan.

Letterkenny 800m runner English's championship pedigree has earned him selection although he has not run the qualifying standard of 1:46.50.
Galligan booked her spot by achieving the Portland 1500m standard last month.
Reynolds was 0.01 seconds outside the Portland 60m hurdles mark recently but may qualify under the IAAF list system.
Last year, the IAAF introduced a new system for their championships which saw some athletes narrowly outside qualifying marks having their entries accepted.
After announcing the selection of English and Galligan on Wednesday, an Athletics Ireland statement said that there was "still potential for more names to be added to the squad" for the 17-20 March championships.
Athletics Ireland confirmed to BBC Sport Northern Ireland that Holywood man Reynolds was the leading possible squad addition that they had in mind.
Reynolds ran his new personal best of 7.73 when winning the Irish Indoor title in Athlone on 28 February, cutting 0.01 off his previous fastest time.
However, his new best was still a frustrating 0.01 outside the world indoor standard so he is depending on good news from the IAAF in order to travel to Oregon.
UCD medical student English added a European Indoor silver last March to the European outdoor bronze he won in 2014.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland trio Kevin Seaward, Paul Pollock and Thomas Frazer will be among a five-strong Irish challenge at the World Half Marathon Championship in Cardiff on 26 March.
Seaward has probably done enough to secure a place in the Olympic Marathon in Rio as he is the fastest of several Irish qualifiers, with only three to make the trip.
Pollock is currently fourth fastest of Ireland's Rio qualifiers, with Mick Clohisey and Sergiu Ciobanu also quicker on the clock than the Northern Ireland man.
Medical doctor Pollock is using the Cardiff race as preparation for his London Marathon challenge on 17 April.
Ciobanu and Sean Hehir will also race in the Welsh capital while Olympic qualifier Lizzie Lee will be sole Irish female hopeful.
Fionnuala McCormack, meanwhile, will run the New York Half Marathon on 20 March before racing over 10,000m at Stanford on 2 April.


Oxford United have signed winger Jonny Giles after the 21-year-old impressed during a two-week trial with the club.

Giles graduated in physics at Durham University in the summer before turning his attention to a career in football.
He posted a highlights video of his time playing in the north east online and eventually an agent secured him a trial with the club.
"I'm hoping to learn a lot while I'm here from a really talented bunch of players," he told BBC Radio Oxford.
Giles played for National League South Maidenhead United as a youngster and while at university, played for Durham and Ashington, who are now managed by former England cricketer Steve Harmison.
After arriving at Oxford, he played in development matches against Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Southampton, who included internationals Juanmi and Jay Rodriguez in their side, and showed enough to earn a professional contract.
"This is a new chapter for me. I've never played football professionally before so I'm going to try and develop for the first couple of months," he added.
"I think I'll improve coming back from training every day and hopefully eventually reach new heights at this club."


Young Scots from disadvantaged areas are four times less likely to go to university than those from wealthy backgrounds, researchers have found.

Their study showed 90% of growth in higher education places for disadvantaged students came from colleges, not universities.
The Sutton Trust said its findings showed a "shocking access gap".
The Scottish government said university access for students from poorer areas was up by 29% since it came to power.
In England, those from the poorest neighbourhoods are 2.4 times less likely to attend university than people in the richest areas.
Those in Northern Ireland and Wales are three times less likely to do so.
The Sutton Trust is now calling for the urgent appointment of a new independent commissioner for fair access to tackle the problem.
Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said: "Scotland faces a shocking access gap and it is vital that the government appoints a strong independent commissioner without delay.
"There is good practice in Scottish universities on access, but we need a really strong push if talent is not to be wasted."
Analysts found, over the past decade, Scots were more likely than their English counterparts to enter higher education.
But they are less likely to go straight to university, and half who go via college repeat at least one year.
In 2013-14, 55% of Scots entered higher education by the age of 30, 34.1% straight from school and 20.9% going to college first.
In England, 46.6% entered higher education, with just 6% starting at colleges and other non-university providers.
It was, said Alex Salmond, as he unveiled a stone monument at Heriot-Watt University, his administration's "biggest achievement".
The abolition of tuition fees certainly set Scotland on a different path, and the monument has locked the SNP into its flagship policy.
There's no doubt it has saved hundreds of thousands of students from repaying debts out of their graduate salaries.
But, as a detailed analysis published today shows, there is little evidence it has propelled many more working class Scottish students into university.
Read more from Branwen here.
Prof Sheila Riddell, who led the study, said it highlighted the "over-reliance on the Scottish college sector to increase participation rates overall" and the failure of Scottish university places to keep up with increasing demand.
She said: "Despite free tuition, the Scottish university sector has much work to do in order to realise the goal of fair access."
Education Secretary John Swinney told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What's happened over the last nine years is that there has been a 29% increase in people from the most deprived areas in Scotland going into higher education.
"The report does talk, of course, about the gap in participation from young people from the most and least deprived areas accessing higher education, but it also makes the point that the gap in Scotland has closed more quickly than it has in other parts of the United Kingdom.
"I would be the first to acknowledge that there is more that we have to do to improve access to higher education in Scotland and that is exactly what the government is committed to do, but we have made important progress in the last nine years."
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A Scottish government spokesman said some of the findings in the report were "based on misconceptions that do not accurately reflect the position" north of the border.
He said the report failed to take account of the fact that a significant proportion of higher education in Scotland takes place in colleges.
"When participation in college is factored in, the Scottish higher education participation rate is significantly higher than in England," he added.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said the "limited progress" in Scotland partly reflected lower bursaries.
She said: "These are matters for the SNP to address urgently, most especially in light of its policy to force universities to take 20% of their intake from disadvantaged communities by 2030, and because of recent reports which shine a light on the dangers of Scottish universities lagging behind in the finance that needs to underpin cutting edge research and innovation."
Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said the report "shows definitively that Scotland lags behind the rest of the UK when it comes to university access for students from poorer families".
He added: "The SNP record on colleges - 152,000 fewer college students, poor student support and botched mergers which staff say has done nothing to improve teaching - is letting down many of the poorest students who can get into higher education."
Susan Stewart, the director of the Open University in Scotland, said discussions about access to higher education should not be limited to school-leavers.
"Part-time study is ideal for people who have families or other caring responsibilities, who are in work but on lower incomes, or who have a disability, and means that they don't miss on the benefits that higher education has to offer. We can't widen access with a narrow focus," she said.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: "Scotland has a strong education system at school, college and university level but it is a sad truth that the greatest barriers to young people maximising their educational potential continue to be poverty and low family income.
"Whilst a significant amount of access to higher education is provided by colleges, which is a positive, Scottish universities need to do more to widen access to young people of all backgrounds."


The half year results of one of Northern Ireland's few publicly listed companies, First Derivatives, show profit before tax up 27% at £4.6m.

That compares to £3.7m for the same period last year.
The Newry-based financial technology firm saw revenue rise 44% to £53.8m for the six months to the end of August
First Derivatives has bought a number of other firms over the last year, including ActivateClients and Affinity systems.
They employ more than 1,500 people around the world.


A trial date has been set for a restaurant owner accused of killing a customer who died from an allergic reaction to peanuts served in a curry.

Paul Wilson, 38, suffered a severe anaphylactic shock in January 2014 after eating a takeaway from the Indian Garden in Easingwold, North Yorkshire.
Mohammed Zaman, 52, of Aylesham Court, Huntington, appeared at Teesside Crown Court earlier accused of manslaughter.
A trial date was set for 25 April and he was granted bail.
Mr Zaman, who has not entered a plea, also faces a charge of forging a food safety training certificate, an immigration offence relating to the employee who served the contaminated meal, and food safety offences.


Kent's lower order struck valuable runs to frustrate Gloucestershire's bowlers on an even opening day at Canterbury.

James Tredwell (26) and James Harris (33 not out) helped Kent recover from 154-5 to reach 298 all out.
Earlier, batsmen Joe Denly (62) and Darren Stevens (50) hit half-centuries, but both were guilty of poor shots to give away their wickets.
Liam Norwell (3-46) was the pick of Gloucestershire's bowlers, who reached 9-1 at the close.
Harris, making his debut following a loan move from Middlesex, was particularly impressive with the bat, striking five fours in his 54-ball knock.
His 10th-wicket partnership of 36 with Mitch Claydon delayed Gloucestershire's reply with the bat but in the five overs they faced before stumps, Stevens struck for the home side when he bowled Cameron Bancroft with his fifth delivery.


A photograph of a boy and his dog on the Solway Coast has been chosen from thousands of images on Instagram as "encapsulating Scotland".

It was shortlisted by renowned Scots photographer Harry Benson before being voted overall winner in the Scottish Parliament's #SeeingScotland contest.
The picture was taken by Lorna Young, from Dumfries, of her son Alexander and dog Neo at Mersehead nature reserve.
It will now be added to the parliament's art collection.
More than 5,000 people took part in the competition, which asked people to share the photos they thought encapsulated life in Scotland, what Scotland meant to them or that celebrated Scotland.
Ms Young, who will be presented with a signed Harry Benson book at the Scottish Parliament and be given a guided tour of the building, said she was "gobsmacked".
She said: "I'm thrilled and genuinely gobsmacked to have won.
"Harry Benson's work is iconic, so to know that he's seen my photo, never mind selected it as one of his favourites from this competition, is incredible."
Harry Benson CBE said he preferred photographs that "cannot happen again, that would be difficult to set up and do it over again, a good picture is basically a glimpse and gone forever."
He added: "The photograph of the boy and his dog on the Solway Coast is very interesting and evokes the loneliness of a boy and his dog alone. The quietness of the early morning light casts its glow on the water and sand. The photographer has a regard for beauty."
Ms Young said the image was taken at the end of February and was the family puppy's first day at the beach.
She said: "I snapped the photo while neither of them were aware, so while the rest of our photos that day are full of action and posing and nonsense, this quiet moment, when they were simply enjoying each other's company, is my favourite."
Also singled out for recognition was a photograph of three-year-old Skyla Trick, taken by her mother, Kristina.
The image shows the youngster on the beach at Rhu, near Helensburgh wearing a tartan coat.
A photograph by Glasgow-based artist Natalya Vahey featuring a pub crowd watching the football in a Byres Road bar in the city's west end came third in the contest.


Former Nottinghamshire and Hampshire seam bowler Andy Carter has come out of retirement to sign for Northants.

The 28-year-old quit the game at the end of last season, having taken 170 wickets across all formats.
But he played for Northants' second XI last week and was included in their squad for the Division Two match against Worcestershire.
Carter took three wickets in 10 balls - including England's Moeen Ali - during the first day's play.


A Paralympic champion is backing a new initiative to get both disabled and non-disabled children competing together in school sports.

The 4 All Games aims to introduce tournaments featuring fencing, archery, visually impaired football and goalball to PE lessons and sports clubs.
Danielle Brown, two-time Paralympic archery gold winner, said the format creates a "level playing field".
The scheme will initially focus on schools in South and West Yorkshire.
Those behind the 4 All Games want to find coaches to help the tournaments spread across the country.
Competitions will be held at local, regional and national level for primary and secondary schools, with a variant of the games for colleges and universities.
The four sports
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Ms Brown, from Lothersdale in North Yorkshire, said: "Disability sport is something that's very close to my heart, I was very lucky as an athlete to compete on the able-bodied team too so I know the barriers that are there for people with disabilities.
"We're hoping to deliver through schools and community groups to start with and we're wanting it to grow organically."
Organisers said the four sports were selected because of their "mentally challenging nature" and are easily adapted for all skill levels and abilities.


Five people have been found guilty over the biggest car insurance fraud investigation in the UK.

They were convicted of making six insurance claims worth £144,000 between 2009 and 2011. Two were found not guilty.
It brings the total number of convictions in the scam - which involved the deliberate damaging of vehicles - to 81.
The case involved 28 separate claims and 57 cars, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
The fraud ring cost the insurance industry £763,068.
It operated out of a garage based in Pengam, Blackwood, which was known as both St David's Crash Repair and Easifix and owned by the Yandell family.
They were the masterminds of the scam, Gwent Police said, and they provided the insurance fraud service for scores of friends and relatives.
But they were eventually caught by their own CCTV, driving a Land Rover into a forklift truck to make it look like the car had been in an accident.
Byron Yandell, 32, his father Peter Yandell, 53 and wife Rachel Yandell, 31, along with Gavin Yandell, 31, and Michelle Yandell, 52, were all jailed for between six and two years.
Following the verdicts, Catrin Evans, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Wales complex casework unit, said the operation was "a highly-organised, calculated and extensive conspiracy to defraud".
"It involved defendants participating in the arrangement of fake road traffic accidents and insurance fraud," she said.
"The vast majority of cars supposedly involved in these fake accidents were recovered to a single garage that was at the centre of the criminal operation."
Ben Fletcher, director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, said "Crash for cash scams, such as Operation Dino, have a real impact on society, putting the lives of innocent people at risk and costing honest policy holders almost £350m each year.
"These investigations and convictions send a powerful message to the public that if you are committing insurance fraud then the risk of being caught and prosecuted is very real. The IFB works alongside insurers and police forces up and down the country to detect fraudsters and bring them to justice."
Bethan Palmer, 26, from Newport, guilty of conspiracy to defraud and perverting the course of justice
Stephen Pegram, 49, from Blackwood, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
Nicola Cook, 41, from Hengoed, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
Nicola Rees, 48, from Bargoed, Caerphilly County, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
Stephen Brooks, 45, from Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, guilty of conspiracy to defraud
Adam Fear, 27, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, not guilty of conspiracy to defraud
Matthew Davies, 33, from Pontypridd, not guilty of conspiracy to defraud


Watford defender Joel Ekstrand is expected to be out until December with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The 26-year-old Swede, who has played 25 times for the Championship promotion chasers, will undergo surgery on his left knee.
He suffered the injury in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Ipswich.
"The feeling for this type of injury is around the nine months mark to get back," said Hornets head of medical Richard Collinge.


The team behind the UK's largest international visual art prize has released dates for its seventh event.

Established in 2003, Artes Mundi is a biennial exhibition that aims to highlight the best in international contemporary art.
The shortlist of seven international artists includes Bedwyr Williams from Caernarfon, Gwynedd.
The exhibition will run at the National Museum Cardiff and Chapter Arts Centre on 21 October 2016- 26 February 2017.
On 25 January 2017 an international panel of judges will award one of the artists the Â£40,000 Artes Mundi Prize, the UK's largest cash prize for contemporary art.
The shortlist of seven artists was selected from more than 700 nominations submitted from 90 countries.
It also includes Ghanaian-born British director, writer and theorist John Akomfrah OBE, award winning French-Algerian artist NeÃ¯l Beloufa, California-based artist Amy Franceschini and her collective FutureFarmers, performance artist NÃ¡stio Mosquito from Angola, Lebanese artist and filmmaker Lamia Joreige and Berlin-based artist and writer Hito Steyerl.
In 2015 the winner, Theaster Gates, chose to split the prize fund equally between the whole shortlist.


Two men accused of shooting five black people, three fatally, in the Oklahoma city of Tulsa on Friday have had their bail set at $9m (£5.6m) each.

Jake England, 19, and Alvin Watts, 32, appeared in court via video link from jail and will be formally charged at a later date.
The roommates are expected to face three counts of first-degree murder and two of shooting with intent to kill.
They were arrested at home near Tulsa on Sunday after a tip-off.
Their next court appearance is scheduled for 16 April.
The three dead have been identified as Dannaer Fields, 49, Bobby Clark, 54, and William Allen, 31.
Two men wounded in the attacks, David Hall, 46, and Deon Tucker, 44, have since been released from hospital.
None of the victims are thought to have known each other and all of them were out walking when they were shot within a 3-mile (4.8-km) radius early on Friday.
Although the north Tulsa area where the shootings took place is a predominantly black area, law enforcement officials said it was too early to assume a racial motivation.
However, police spokesman Jason Willingham said that Mr England may have had an "axe to grind" because of his father's death two years ago.
Carl England was shot in the chest in April 2010 during a fight with Pernell Demond Jefferson, a black man who allegedly tried to break into the apartment of Mr England's daughter's boyfriend.
Jefferson is serving six years in jail on a weapons charge.
In January, Jake England also witnessed the death of his fiancee, Sheran Hart Wilde, 24, who according to reports shot herself in front of him.
Police said that on Thursday Mr England had posted a Facebook update, using a racial slur, expressing anger at his father's death.
"Today is two years that my dad has been gone shot by a [expletive] [racial epithet]," Mr England wrote on Thursday. "It's hard not to go off between that and sheran I'm gone in the head."
Shortly after Friday's shootings, Mr England reportedly posted again on Facebook: "People talking [expletive] on me for some [expletive] I didn't do it just mite be the time to call it quits... I hate to say it like that but I'm done if something does happen tonight be ready for another funeral later."
His Facebook page was taken offline as of Sunday.
Alvin Watts' brother, Gene, toldthe Tulsa World newspaperthat Alvin Watts had moved in with Mr England to help him after his father's death.
Susan Sevenstar, a family friend, told the Associated Press that Mr England was "a good kid" who "was not in his right mind" since his father's death and fiancee's suicide.
Police could not confirm whether the suspects were armed when they were taken into custody.
Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan had earlier described the shootings as "vicious and cowardly".
The attacks come at a fraught time for African-Americans, amid continued protests over the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager who was killed by a neighbourhood watch volunteer in Florida in February.
Tulsa City Council's only black member, Jack Henderson, said he believed the two suspects simply had a grudge against black people.
Mr Henderson, who represents the district where the shootings took place, said he hoped prosecutors would pursue hate crime charges if the evidence pointed in that direction.
During weekend memorials for the victims, the city's religious leaders called for the community to come together.
Warren Blakney, a church minister and local president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, thanked police and the FBI,according to the Tulsa World.
"I should say to those that may be listening across the country, we are one America," Rev Blakney said.


A bomb alert in Coatbridge which resulted in some homes being evacuated was caused by a toy grenade.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the North Lanarkshire town's Burnbank Street after workmen discovered a suspected explosive device on Friday.
Homes in the street were evacuated and nearby roads closed off as a precaution while the incident was dealt with.
Police said the item found by workmen was a toy grenade and local roads had re-opened and residents returned home.


Fifa's newly elected female representative for Asian football has been criticised for struggling to name the current women's world champions.

Bangladeshi Mahfuza Akhter Kiron overcame Australia's prominent women's football campaigner Moya Dodd 27-17 in Monday's vote to secure the win.
Asked by BBC World Service to name the current Women's World Cup holders, Kiron named USA at the third attempt.
"This is very disappointing," said two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd.
Kiron answered "Korea" and "Japan" before settling on USA.
Lyon forward Alex Morgan joined American compatriot Lloyd in being critical on social media.
Fifa's council is made up of six confederations - representing Asia, Europe, Africa, North and Central America, South America and Oceania - and each must have one female representative.
Dodd was expected to sit on the Asian confederation, which voted at its 27th Congress in Bahrain.
The former Australia international - now a practising lawyer - had even served on world football's executive body as an appointed member between 2013 and 2016 and was a leading voice promoting women's football.
"Naturally it is disappointing," said Dodd, 52. "I'd hoped I had done enough in the few years I was part of Fifa to persuade people that I should have another shot at it."
Kiron told the BBC the women's game in Asia does not have enough sponsors and she hopes to deliver more coaches and education.
"This is like a dream come true," said Kiron. "I want to do something for Asian women's football. I am a sports organiser. For the last 10 years I worked with football and business."
Kiron's victory came through a head-to-head vote when other candidates withdrew.


A website illegally selling valium has been shut down by the government following a BBC investigation.

An undercover BBC Kent reporter was sold the Class C drug, also known as diazepam, via a Surrey-registered site.
He was sent capsules, said to have been imported from India, through the post by a man calling himself Conan.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency [MHRA] said it worked with the internet service provider to have the site removed.
The BBC reporter, posing as a man seeking valium for his wife, paid Â£60 for capsules of valium - a strong and addictive sedative in the benzodiazepine family.
When they arrived they were analysed by scientists in Cambridgeshire who found them to contain the active substance diazepam and an "unknown impurity".
Simon Hudson, of LGC testing laboratory in Fordham, said drugs bought online were "potentially dangerous" as the product could contain impurities or other drugs.
When Conan was confronted by BBC Kent, he claimed he was doing nothing illegal and said the BBC's time "would be better spent covering proper crimes".
He also told the BBC the police "had better things to do with crack cocaine and all sorts".
A spokesman for MHRA said: "Prescription medicines are, by their very nature, potent and should be prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional who can make informed choices about the appropriate medicine for a particular patient and monitor their effects."
Those convicted of selling prescription-only drugs without proper permission face a maximum penalty of two years in jail and an unlimited fine.
However the Home Office said the matter had not been referred to Surrey Police after the website was closed down.


Four men have been arrested and charged after an operation aimed at tackling human trafficking and serious organised crime in West Lothian.

Addresses were searched in Livingston, Bathgate, Blackburn and Salford, with a reception centre set up to support potential victims.
Police Scotland said 25 people were interviewed as part of the operation.
The men are due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Monday. Two of them are aged 28 and the others 35 and 26.
Police Scotland was supported in the operation - which took place on Friday - by the National Crime Agency, Greater Manchester Police and West Lothian Council.
The men were detained at addresses in Livingston, Bathgate and Salford in Greater Manchester and have been charged in connection with human trafficking offences, involvement in serious and organised crime, and a sexual offence.
Six further addresses were searched in Livingston, Bathgate and Blackburn.
Det Ch Insp Stephen Healy said: "In total, twenty-five people have been interviewed as part of this operation and enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding their travel to and from Scotland.
"In the meantime, they are being offered support and assistance in terms of health and welfare, housing and victim support.
"This operation is the result of a complex and lengthy investigation into serious and organised crime involving foreign nationals centred on West Lothian."
Ch Insp Barry Blair, West Lothian local area commander for Police Scotland said: "The activity under Operation Heathyard has been centred on the Latvian communities in West Lothian and we will continue to support all those affected going forward.
"We will have additional officers on patrol in these neighbourhoods over the weekend to provide reassurance and to speak to anyone who may have any further information or who needs any more advice and assistance.
"I would urge anyone with information or concerns about human trafficking or exploitation in their community to speak to police on 101. We will do all we can with our partners to keep people safe."
West Lothian executive councillor for services for the community, George Paul, added: "Along with other public sector partners, West Lothian Council will provide social care support to the victims."


Leicester captain Wes Morgan says his side's shock opening-day defeat at Hull was the "reality check" they needed at the start of their title defence.

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The Foxes, who lost only three out of 38 Premier League games in 2015-16, were beaten 2-1 by the newly promoted and managerless Tigers at KCOM Stadium.
"We tried, but we were second-best," Morgan told Sky. "Hull deserved to win.
"We need to learn from the negatives to put it right. We will work in training and cut out the little mistakes."
Leicester looked vulnerable defensively against a makeshift Hull side and also struggled up front, with Jamie Vardy missing three good chances.
"It was the first game so there was always going to be a bit of rust on the players," Morgan added. "We need to dust that off and come back better.
"At the top everyone looks for you to fall - we need to show it's a blip, and that we can bounce back."
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Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri felt his side, which featured two summer signings in Ahmed Musa and Luis Hernandez, failed to gel.
"Our effort was amazing but it was individual, not as a team and that is the key of the match," Ranieri explained.
"We tried to win but sometimes it's impossible - they defended very well. We made some mistakes and we have to think where we made them."
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Hull caretaker boss Mike Phelan revealed after the game that he will stay in charge until the ownership of the club is resolved.
Steve Bruce left his role as manager on 22 July - a breakdown in his relationship with vice-chairman Ehab Allam contributing to his departure.
Tigers fans protested before the game, calling for owner Assam Allam to sell the club.
"All I'm aware of is that a takeover is happening," Phelan said. "It's not a finalised deal yet. I'm in charge up to that point - I agreed to that.
"There's a week to the next game [against Swansea next Saturday] and a lot will happen in that time I'm sure."
Hull have not made any significant signings since they were promoted via the play-offs and injuries meant Phelan only had a wafer-thin squad to pick from against the defending champions.
"We set our stall out to make sure we had a foothold in the game," Phelan said. "It was great to see everyone pulled together and we got a result that surprised a few people.
"It's a difficult situation for players but they are professionals. They've earned the right to be here and they enjoyed themselves.
"The players bonded well together and all put that extra bit in. The icing on the cake is when you get a result.
"We're working hard. I'm sure Steve [Bruce] will have enjoyed that result as well."


Sorting out your family's technical problems has become as much of a Christmas tradition as pulling a cracker.

Whether it's a phone that "is not working properly" or a laptop that's "crashed again" - you're the one they call.
But there's nothing like a cross-generational tech-support session to strain even the strongest family bonds.
So here's some guidance on dealing with a few of the more common problems.
"How does it work?" "Do I need to be in the same room as the box?" "What happens when it runs out?"
Ok we're exaggerating maybe slightly but the magic of wireless internet can be baffling for some, especially when it comes to actually using it.
Finding the network and entering the password is often the first stumbling block.
To avoid your folks falling at the first hurdle, log on to their ISP account (whether it's BT, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk or another) and change the password.
Keep it secure with a mixture of letters and numbers, but make it something they're likely to remember. Maybe use the lyrics to their favourite song?
You can also change the name of the wi-fi network by putting the router's IP address into a browser and logging in. You might have to ask the ISP for that information.
To boost the wi-fi signal, make sure the router is off the ground (on a shelf perhaps) and somewhere in the centre of the house, not tucked away in a corner.
Video calling is a great way to keep in touch with your family, and remind them what you look like.
But sometimes it can feel like it's more hassle than it's worth; "I can see you but I can't hear you" etc.
Whilst you're at home, open Skype or FaceTime and make sure the laptop, tablet or phone's internal camera is selected in the settings.
Also test the internal microphone to check it's working as this is what they'll be using to talk to you, all being well.
Add your contact details to the 'favourites' to make sure they can dial you any time they like quickly and easily.
A rehearsal might help, go upstairs and ask them to call you from the living room.
It might sound like overkill but at least you're not far away if there are problems to iron out.
It happens to us all at least once, so spare a thought for the poor family member that calls you in a panic saying they've "lost everything".
Holiday photos, the spreadsheet of metal-detecting finds and gardening club accounts going back 25 years. Everything.
In this case, prevention is better than cure. Get your folks to invest in an external hard drive and use it to back-up their computer.
Both Windows and OSX have built in services which make it easy to ensure those precious files will not be lost for ever if something terrible happens.
On a PC, access Backup and Restore through the control panel or make sure Time Machine is activated if they're using a Mac.
If they have an iPhone or iPad, make sure they're signed up to iCloud and it's set to back-up their data. Just head to the iCloud menu in Settings.
Syncing contacts through Gmail, Hotmail or another web-based email service is the best way to ensure they're safe even if a phone goes missing.
If you've tried all this and you're still stuck for advice - you could try telling them to switch it off and switch it on again.
Whatever happens, stay calm.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube


A man has filed a complaint against six Metropolitan Police officers on the grounds of racism following his arrest in Harrow, north London.

Edric Kennedy-Macfoy, 28, claims police arrested and used a Taser on him because he is black.
Both the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission are investigating.
The Met said the man had "not alleged any racist comments were made".
The complainant said he had approached officers as they dealt with a party and that his treatment by them was "motivated by factors relating to race".
Mr Kennedy-Macfoy, a fireman, claims he was driving through Harrow last September when he saw a youth throw a rock at a police van.
He then approached officers at the scene to give a description of the youth, his lawyer said.
Mr Kennedy-Macfoy was later charged with obstructing police during the incident but was cleared by a court.
In the early hours of 4 September police were called to reports of a noisy party in Harrow View where more than 200 people were present.
When police decided to shut the party, "bottles and bricks" were thrown at officers, four of whom received minor injuries, the Met said.
Mr Kennedy-Macfoy arrived at the scene in a car and approached officers.
Police used a Taser on him, arrested him and later charged him with obstructing police. But in February he was found not guilty at Brent Magistrates' Court.
Shamik Dutta, Mr Kennedy-Macfoy's solicitor, said: "The situation that my client has had to suffer has been horrific, not just in terms of the force that was used upon him during his arrest and subsequently being locked up in a police cell for many hours, but then having to face a prosecution, where if he had been found guilty he could have lost his job and it would have ruined his life.
"People who have suffered discrimination can sometimes find it difficult to prove if racist language has not been used against them.
"However, in this case, the inspector who gave evidence at our client's trial in the magistrates [court] was very clear; race was a significant factor in why Mr Kennedy-Macfoy was treated in this way."
In a statement, the Met said: "A complaint regarding the conduct of six officers was received on 21 September alleging that officers arrested and detained a 28-year old man without good cause, assaulted him during the arrest, that the officers were insulting and the way in which he was treated was motivated by factors relating to race.
"The misconduct investigation did not proceed whilst criminal proceedings were ongoing. The complaint letter was received from the complainant's solicitors outlining the precise details on 12 April."
The Met said: "Such allegations are taken extremely seriously and the investigation will explore all the circumstances and evidence.
"The complainant has not alleged any racist comments were made."
The complaint is against an inspector, a sergeant, a detective constable, two PCs from Harrow borough and one PC from the Diplomatic Protection Group.
"Two officers are from a BME (black minority ethnic) background and the rest are white," the Met added.


Meet Shona and her huskies Quill, Alaska and Kiowa - they're practising husky dog racing.

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3 August 2015 Last updated at 06:56 BST
Shona is the musher, which means she directs the huskies and gets pulled along in the rig up to 18 miles per hour.
Just two years ago Shona had major heart surgery but working with the dogs helped her recover and get fit and active again.
Now Shona is getting ready to compete in one of the main husky dog racing competitions in Scotland later this year.
Watch Hayley's report to see Shona and the huskies in action...


Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis has retired from international football following his country's elimination from the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

The 37-year-old midfielder announced his decision after playing the whole match as Greece lost on penalties in the last-16 tie against Costa Rica.
"This was my last game for Greece," said Karagounis.
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"We wanted to stay in Brazil another week or even longer but you can't change it now."
Karagounis made his international debut in 1999 and amassed a record 139 caps for his country, scoring 10 goals in the process.
He helped Greece win Euro 2004 and their progress in Brazil meant they reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Karagounis, who was released by Fulham at the end of last season, said he was making way for Greece's next generation of players.
"The national team has grown up, younger players have won invaluable experiences," he added.
"This is no small thing and as we helped the team come of age we hope it will continue to be as successful in the future."
Greece coach Fernando Santos will also leave his post after his contract expired on Monday.
Santos was sent to the stands before the penalty shootout took place against Costa Rica and had to watch on television as his side made their exit from the World Cup.
For the best of BBC Sport's in-depth content and analysis, go to our features and video page.


Wrexham have signed Notts County defender Taylor McKenzie and Wigan winger Danny O'Brien on loan until January.

McKenzie, 21, made seven appearances for Notts County last season but has yet to feature this term.
O'Brien, 19, is a former England Under-17 international and started his career at Aston Villa.
Wrexham, who are sixth in the National League, have also offered trialist John Cofie non-contract terms.


A man has been charged in connection with the death of a man in Aberdeenshire almost a year ago.

Brian McKandie, 67, was found dead at his cottage at Badenscoth, near Rothienorman, on Saturday 12 March last year.
Police said a 23-year-old man had been charged. He is due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday.
Det Ch Insp Iain Smith said: "Our inquiries are ongoing and police activity will continue in the area."
He added: "This has been a lengthy and complex investigation.
"There has been considerable work carried out in the area over the last 11 months and I know this has impacted greatly on the local community.
"I would like to sincerely thank all those who have contacted police or been spoken to by officers while extensive inquiries have been carried out."
There has been an increased level of police activity in recent days.
Police were in attendance at another property on Friday as part of their investigation.
A police pod is situated in Rothienorman where anyone with information can speak to officers.
The investigation has featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.


Hull City full-back Moses Odubajo has been ruled out for up to six months with a knee ligament injury.

The 22-year-old made 42 Championship appearances last season as the Tigers won promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs.
The ex-Leyton Orient and Brentford defender suffered the injury in a pre-season friendly against Grimsby Town.
Meanwhile, the club have confirmed they have taken former Stoke City forward Peter Odemwingie, 35, on trial.
The Nigeria international, who could feature for Steve Bruce's side in a friendly with Mansfield on Tuesday, is a free agent after being released by the Potters at the end of last season.
He ended the campaign on loan at Championship side Bristol City after recovering from a long-term knee injury.
Odubajo's injury has reduced Hull to just 14 fit senior players with less than four weeks until they host Premier League champions Leicester City on the opening day of the season.


The London stock market joined its European counterparts in closing behind on Wednesday.

The benchmark FTSE 100 share index shed 30.86 points, or 0.45%, to 6,752.93.
The value of the pound had earlier jumped 1.1% after Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK would consider making payments to the EU to get access to the single market.
Sterling later slid to 0.63% up against the dollar, at $1.2586, and was 0.24% higher against the euro at €1.1839.
Mr Davis told MPs the "major criterion" was getting the best access for goods and services to the European market.
"And if that is included... then of course we would consider it."
Shares in oil companies were higher, as they continued to benefit from Opec's decision on Wednesday to cut output.
BP shares rose 2.31% while Royal Dutch Shell was up by about 2.8%.
After jumping about 10% on Wednesday in the wake of Opec's decision, oil prices continued to rise, with Brent crude up 4.3% at $54.05 a barrel.
Elsewhere on the stock market, shares in Daily Mail and General Trust rose 2.95% after it reported a 14% increase in full-year profits to £247m, with revenues up 4% to £1.9bn.


Watch the moment Angelina Jolie Pitt reacts to being asked why she is "less selfish than other celebrities" by Newsround viewer Faisal.

17 May 2016 Last updated at 11:51 BST
The Hollywood actress was questioned on what makes her focus "more time on refugees" than herself.
Angelina works with the United Nations, campaigning about the growing refugee and migrant crisis caused by war in places like Syria.
"When you can be a part of something in the world, it's a happier life," the star responded.


Midfielder Myles Weston hopes to make his Southend comeback in Wednesday's home League One game against Sheffield United.

The 28-year-old has been troubled by plantar fasciitis, an injury affecting the heel and foot, and has not played for the first team since November.
"When I get my chance I just want to grab it with both hands," Weston told the club website.
"It's a tricky injury. You can't rush it. I had to wait until it was right."
Weston's last appearance came against the Blades in a 2-2 draw five months ago, but having made several appearances for the club's under-21 side, he hopes he can make a contribution as the season draws to a close.
"I didn't think I could just be fit and go straight back into the team," he continued. "It doesn't work like that.
"You have to work your way into the team and earn your spot, so I've been patient. I've been on the bench for two games.
"We've done great this season, and I still feel we can get in the play-offs. I don't think we're out of that."


A 19-year-old man has appeared in court charged with making an explosive substance after a suspect device was found on a London Underground train.

Damon Smith is accused of unlawfully and maliciously making or having in his possession an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
North Greenwich station was evacuated last Thursday during the alert.
Mr Smith, from south east London, was remanded in custody until 17 November.
The station was closed until 18:50, with disruption caused to the Jubilee line throughout the day.


Guinea-Bissau's new president has dismissed the head of the armed forces, Gen Antonio Indjai.

He rose to prominence during the civil war in the 1990s and led a coup in the West African country in 2012.
No reason was given for his sacking, although President Jose Mario Vaz is under pressure to reform the military.
Last year, the army chief was indicted in the US, accused of plotting to traffic cocaine and sell weapons to Colombian rebels.
Many senior military officers have been accused of turning the country into a narco state as it a major hub for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe.
Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest countries in the world, has a history of coups and no elected leader has served a full term since independence from Portugal in 1974.
Gen Indjai became head of the army after staging an army mutiny in 2010 - and led a coup two years later.
The decree announcing his dismissal was read out on state radio on Monday night.
Weeks before he was indicted in the US, his former colleague, Rear Adm Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, appeared in a New York court on similar charges linked to cocaine trafficking.
Labelled by the US as "drug kingpin", the former chief of the Guinea-Bissau's navy was arrested in international waters in a sting operation by US agents.
Mr Vaz, a former finance minister, won a run-off vote in May to become president and has promised to fight poverty and end the country's instability.
Reuters news agency reports that although a replacement has not been named as the new army chief, it is expected to be a member of Gen Indjai's Balanta ethnic group, which dominates the military.


Syria has handed in a plan for the destruction of its chemical weapons to the watchdog monitoring the process.

In a statement, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical weapons (OPCW) said the declaration was submitted three days ahead of schedule.
OPCW inspectors are also due to complete visiting the last four of 23 weapons sites declared by Syria.
The OPCW's mission was set up following outrage at a chemical weapons attack near the Syrian capital in August.
Sixty inspectors have been in Syria since 1 October. The OPCW, which is based in The Hague, said on Friday that its  team in Syria had visited 19 of the 23 sites disclosed by Syria.
Chemical stockpile
How to destroy chemical arsenal
Q&A: Disarmament deal
21 August attack: What we know
Under the UN resolution which set up the mission, Syria's chemical weapons production equipment must be destroyed by 1 November and stockpiles must be disposed of by mid-2014.
The organisation's work in Syria marks the first time the international chemical weapons watchdog - which won this year's Nobel Peace Prize - has been asked to oversee the destruction of a weapons armoury during a conflict.
More than 100,000 people have been killed in the fighting that has ravaged Syria for two-and-a-half years, according to the UN.
More than two million people have fled Syria and some 4.5 million have been forced from their homes within the country.
Casualty figures vary for the chemical weapons attack on the Ghouta agricultural belt around Syria's capital, Damascus, on 21 August.
It was estimated to have killed hundreds of people. The United States and other Western powers blamed the attack on President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
But Mr Assad accuses Syrian rebels of being behind it.


Sutton United's players will "go down in history" despite missing out on a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, said manager Paul Doswell.

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The National League side were beaten 2-0 by Premier League visitors Arsenal, who are 105 places above Sutton on English football's ladder.
The home side had several chances, with Adam May wasting a chance and Roarie Deacon hitting the crossbar.
"This was our cup final," said Doswell. "I'm very, very proud."
The 50-year-old said it was "a dream" to watch his side play Arsenal, who will face another non-league team - Lincoln City - in the last eight.
"We were disappointed not to get a goal for the supporters here but the overriding emotion is pride," he added.
Sutton, who famously beat Coventry in the FA Cup in 1989, had overcome league sides AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United on their way to the fifth round.
But they could not get the better of an Arsenal team who had lost three of their previous four games.
FA Cup fairytale over for Sutton United - 5 live podcast
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Sutton held their own against 12-time FA Cup winners Arsenal, who are fourth in the Premier League, before Lucas Perez's 26th-minute cross-shot gave Arsene Wenger's side the lead.
Theo Walcott's 100th goal for the club sealed victory at Gander Green Lane.
Wenger, who made seven changes to the team beaten 5-1 by Bayern Munich last week, said Sutton's performance surprised him.
"I don't really enjoy tonight because we absolutely had to do the job and it is tricky," he said.
"They played very well. It is basically division five and when I arrived here in England 20 years ago, in division five they were not as fit physically as they were today.
"They were organised and had a huge desire. If we were not mentally prepared, we would not have gone through."
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was surprised to see Deacon, who came through the Gunners' youth system, playing at non-league level.
"You wonder, looking at Roarie Deacon, if the game has failed him," he said.
"He should be playing at a higher level. He has great quality with both feet and he was really unlucky with that shot that hit the bar."
Former England striker Alan Shearer said the Sutton players can be very proud of their performance throughout the competition.
"It has been one heck of a run," he said. "There were some very, very positive performances out there."


Aston Villa are close to agreeing a deal to sign teenage defender Jacob Bedeau from League One side Bury, reports BBC Radio Manchester.

The fee for the 17-year-old is understood to be around £750,000.
Bedeau moved to the Shakers last summer after he was released by Leyton Orient and has made seven appearances since his debut in November.
Bury boss Chris Brass said youngsters George Miller, Callum Styles and Scott Burgess were also attracting interest.
"I'd be surprised if we managed to keep hold of them all, I genuinely would," Brass told BBC Radio Manchester.
"The interest that has been shown is on a major level, it is not just paper talk."


Wildlife experts in the Isle of Man have issued a seal pup warning ahead of the annual breeding season.

Officials from the Manx Wildlife Trust said the pups may look harmless but can be aggressive if approached.
The first pup to be born this season was recently spotted by wardens on the Calf of Mann.
A spokesman from the trust said mothers have been known to abandon their pups if they are unduly disturbed by members of the public.
He added: "It's important to keep dogs away from them too.
"It is usual for the mothers to leave them alone for a while on the beach, so there is no need to be alarmed if they appear to be on their own, their mum is probably not far away."
The Wildlife Trust is currently carrying out a monitoring programme to gain more insight into the Grey Seal population around the Manx coastline.
Anyone concerned about a pup is asked to contact the Manx Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).


Posting on Facebook has become an everyday matter for over 1.8 billion users.

And while a political rant or tribute to your beloved may draw a flurry of "likes", few people would call them literature.
But now Delhi University (DU) begs to differ - and hopes to add "Facebook post writing" to its English curriculum.
Students could also be taught how to write an engaging blog or cover-letter.
DU is among India's premier universities, with alumni including the country's prime minister Narendra Modi, and Burmese Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
The draft English syllabus containing the proposal is currently being reviewed by DU professors.
Professor Christel Devadawson, head of the university's English department, told the BBC that Facebook updates would be part of a Skill Enhancement Course - a non-academic module designed to teach vocational skills.
The Hindustan Times notes that in India, social media can catapult an aspiring writer or artist to fame, helping them reach a wider audience or even find a publisher.
So is the art of going viral really a core skill for literature students nowadays?
A senior DU official told the Press Trust of India: "Writing does not necessarily mean [...] heavyweight non-fiction books or highly-dramatised fiction.
"It also includes writing generic but important content properly, such as that for blog posts, cover letters - or, for that matter, Facebook posts."
DU is not the first university to approach Facebook with an academic eye.
The UK's University of Salford was offering a master's degree in social media as far back as 2009. Course leaders said it was designed to produce the next generation of strategic thinkers and PR professionals.


EBay has been compromised so that people who clicked on some of its links were automatically diverted to a site designed to steal their credentials.

The spoof site had been set up to look like the online marketplace's welcome page.
The US firm was alerted to the hack on Wednesday night but removed the listings only after a follow-up call from the BBC more than 12 hours later.
One security expert said he was surprised by the length of time taken.
"EBay is a large company and it should have a 24/7 response team to deal with this - and this case is unambiguously bad," said Dr Steven Murdoch from University College London's Information Security Research Group.
The security researcher was able to analyse the listing involved before eBay removed it.
He said that the technique used was known as a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack.
It involved the attackers placing malicious Javascript code within product listing pages. This code in turn automatically redirected affected users through a series of other websites, so that they ended up at the page asking for their eBay log-in and password.
Users only had to click the original listing to have their browser hijacked.
"The websites the user is being redirected to are almost certainly compromised by the attacker to hide his or her traces," Dr Murdoch explained.
He added that the fake page the users were ultimately delivered to contained code that had the potential to carry out further malicious actions.
"EBay is pretty competent, but obviously it has been caught out here," he said.
"Cross-site scripting is well within the top 10 vulnerabilities that website owners should be concerned about."
A spokesman for eBay played down the scope of the attack.
"This report relates only to a 'single item listing' on eBay.co.uk whereby the user has included a link which redirects users away from the listing page," he said.
"We take the safety of our marketplace very seriously and are removing the listing as it is in violation of our policy on third-party links."
However, the BBC identified that a total of three listings had been posted by the same account involved.
At least two of them produced the same redirect behaviour. The third was removed by eBay, along with the other two, before it could be checked.
The issue was originally identified by Paul Kerr, an IT worker from Alloa in Clackmannanshire who is also an "eBay PowerSeller".
He called the firm shortly after he had clicked on a listing for an iPhone and been redirected.
"The advert had been up for 35 minutes," he told the BBC.
"When I spoke to the lassie on the phone, she said: 'I'm going to report that to the highest level of security to get it looked into.' And she did emphasise that.
"They should have nailed that straight away, and they didn't."
Mr Kerr identified the problem because the web address of the page he was sent to was unusual. He screen-grabbed a video of the attack, which he uploaded to YouTube as evidence.
He added that other less tech-aware users might not have realised the danger they were in.
"It's guaranteed - you can bet your bottom dollar that somebody's going to click on that and be redirected to a third-party site and they're going to enter their details and be compromised," he said.
"You don't know how many of the hundreds of thousands of people who use eBay will have done that."
This is not the first technical setback eBay has suffered in recent months.
The site has experienced several periods when members have been unable to sign into their accounts and have received incorrect password alerts.
In May, the firm made users change their passwords after revealing that a database containing encrypted passwords and other non-financial data had been compromised.
In addition, it announced in July that 1,600 accounts on its StubHub ticket resale site had been broken into resulting in a scam that defrauded the service of about $1m (Â£600,000).


Sunderland have appointed Manchester City's director of football services Simon Wilson as chief football officer.

Wilson, who has been with City for 10 years, will work along manager David Moyes and chief executive Martin Bain from 1 January.
Bain said Wilson will have input into "scouting, recruitment, medical services, player pathways and youth development" in the new role.
He previously worked with Moyes at Preston North End.
"My role will be to ensure that we have the best practices, systems and people in place in order to give the club the best platform to achieve its goals," said Wilson.


A man has been arrested by anti-terror officers investigating a bomb threat received by a mosque.

A letter reading, "Next time it will be a bomb you Muslim scum" was sent to the Jamia Masjid Abu Bakr mosque in Eastwood, Rotherham, on 1 August.
It was signed with a number code believed to be used by neo-Nazi groups.
A 43-year-old man from Plymouth was arrested on Friday morning under the Malicious Communications Act, the North East Counter Terrorism Unit said .
He has been detained for questioning and inquiries are continuing.
The letter sent to the mosque is believed to be one of a number sent to locations around England.
These include religious establishments, police stations and residential addresses in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and Avon and Somerset.ã€€