MK Dons' hopes of Championship survival appear increasingly remote despite ending a four-game losing run in a dramatic draw with Preston at Deepdale.

Jermaine Beckford lifted the ball over Cody Cropper to put Preston ahead before Eoin Doyle's header was cleared off the line by MK Dons' Darren Potter.
After Nicky Maynard levelled, keeper Cropper was sent off for fouling Doyle.
Striker and makeshift keeper Alex Revell saved Joe Garner's penalty and both sides went close to a late winner.
A point leaves MK Dons nine points adrift of safety with four games remaining.
Beckford, making his first start since returning from knee surgery, netted his first goal since scoring a hat-trick in last May's League One play-off at Wembley to help Preston win promotion.
The hosts looked increasingly menacing as the first half continued, Greg Cunningham testing Cropper and Doyle going close after Maynard called Preston keeper Andres Lindegaard into action at his near post.
Karl Robinson's Dons came out brightly after the interval and levelled when Maynard turned in Josh Murphy's cross at the far post.
Doyle and Maynard had chances in quick succession, while a fine save from Lindegaard denied Kyle McFadzean.
Cropper's challenge on Doyle, however, gave Preston their best chance to win the game, only for Revell to take the gloves and keep Garner out.
Despite needing treatment after the save, Revell remained solid under pressure late on.
Preston North End manager Simon Grayson:
"It's probably the angriest I've been after a game for a long time. I'm not accepting that second half performance from certain individuals. I do not want this season to peter out.
"The penalty miss probably summed up the second half performance. I had a feeling that Joe was going to go and miss it. Some of our players have to look at themselves in the mirror. They've had a lot of praise this season and rightly so.
"There's few occasions where I've had to have a go at the players. But they have to look at themselves to see what they can do just to be in the team. They are still playing for places next year."
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson:
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"I think we have to appeal the red card because what do you lose? We still believe that we can turn this around and it would be phenomenal. I'm a believer.
"Whilst you have belief you still have hope, but you don't have any hope without belief and we need to keep believing in some way. And if we don't achieve it then we put some pride back in the shirt.
"These kids are honest kids and they deserve some luck. I don't know where I get it from but I believe in them as people. We just got to keep going. We go again, off to Hillsborough and our backs are certainly against the wall."


The age puberty starts can be a factor in developing a range of diseases from cancer to diabetes, suggests a study.

Starting early or late could alter the risk of nearly 48 separate conditions, including the age of menopause.
The analysis of half a million people, published in Scientific Reports, showed early puberty increased the odds of type 2 diabetes by 50%.
The researchers said it was "astonishing" that puberty was having an impact on health in mid-life.
The team at the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge used data from a huge study of the health of British people - the UK Biobank.
The project recorded the age of girls' first period, but a measure of the start of puberty is harder to define in men, so they were asked if they were earlier or later compared to the rest of their peer group.
In girls an early puberty was defined as starting between eight and 11, while a late puberty started between 15 and 19. A normal puberty was between nine and 14 in boys.
The study showed that early and late puberty was linked to a wide range of health conditions, such as:
Hormones have been implicated in some of the conditions, such as cancer, although the researchers admit that they have "very little idea" what might contribute to diseases such as asthma.
Dr Felix Day told the BBC News website: "From a biological point of view, it's actually quite fascinating that something that happens when you're a teenager can have an effect on diseases that you wouldn't encounter until middle age. I find that quite astonishing."
The age of puberty is changing around the world. In the UK it is currently starting about one month earlier every decade. In China it is more than four months earlier every decade.
Dr Day said this was "something people involved in public health should be aware of".
"The move towards earlier puberty is an added risk factor in terms of development of particularly metabolic diseases."
However, as the study showed an increased risk for both early and late puberty, there could be a decrease in the incidence of some conditions.
He added that because someone had an early or late puberty did not mean they would develop these conditions - it just altered the odds.
Dr John Perry, from the MRC Epidemiology Unit, added: "We are continuing to work to understand how puberty timing impacts later health and how this information may be used alongside efforts to support healthy lifestyle changes and prevent disease.
"It is important to note that the increase in disease risk attributable to puberty timing is still relatively modest and represents one of many factors that contribute to the overall risk of developing disease."


England kit man Dave Tennison is under investigation by the Rugby Football Union over claims he urged players to buy shares which fell in value.

The players in question are believed to include Sam Burgess and Danny Care.
Reports suggest they invested in an oil-drilling firm and lost a combined total in excess of £100,000.
An RFU spokesperson said: "The RFU takes the allegations extremely seriously. It is an internal matter and we are taking the appropriate action."
England boss Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team are understood to have had no knowledge of Tennison's alleged shares advice.
Lancaster's side endured a poor World Cup on home soil as they were eliminated at the group stages.
Their performance - and Lancaster's position - are being reviewed by the RFU and chief executive Ian Ritchie will report to a management board meeting on 17 November.
Burgess has since returned to rugby league, having left Bath to move back to Australia to join South Sydney Rabbitohs.


A major search has been launched in Inverness after reports of a man falling into the River Ness at Friars' Bridge.

Police Scotland said the incident was reported at about 17:30.
Members of the coastguard are involved in the search.


Proposals to move services from a hospital that has already seen its maternity unit downgraded have been set out by Oxfordshire health bosses.

A consultation has been launched to tackle a predicted funding gap in the county's NHS of Â£200m by 2020-21.
Options include moving stroke services and some critical care patients from the Horton General Hospital to the John Radcliffe in Oxford.
But the Banbury hospital could also see investment in other areas.
The Horton has been redesignated as a midwife-led unit due to a shortage of doctors until March, and the consultation suggests making the change permanent.
It could also become a centre for diagnostics and outpatient appointments with the trust claiming it would mean patients can be seen and treated closer to home.
Critics of the changes said 146 acute hospital beds have already been closed temporarily across Oxford and Banbury with another 48 earmarked for closure.
Eddie Duller, chairman of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, said: "Is this really consultation? If there's a big swell of public opinion against it, is it actually going to make any difference?
"They've already closed down beds in the John Radcliffe and they've closed down beds in the Horton, they've done that before the consultation starts and I think that's wrong."
The second phase of the consultation is expected to start in May and will look at accident and emergency, children's services and community hospitals.
Chair of Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Dr Joe McManners said: "Some of our buildings and equipment are old, expensive to maintain safely and do not provide good quality care for patients.
"It is a struggle to recruit and keep the NHS staff we need to ensure our services are safe and high quality.
"We also know that the current budgets for NHS services will not cover the demand for them without changes over the next few years."


Singer Meilyr Jones has been crowned the winner of the sixth Welsh Music Prize for his debut solo album 2013.

The former frontman of Race Horses came top of a shortlist of 12 albums ranging from folk to metal, and alternative Welsh language to pop.
The 29-year-old went to Rome in 2013 following the break up of the band and the visit inspired the album.
"Winning was a big shock, I really had no idea - I am nervous but overall, it is great to have won," he said.
"I made the record on my own, away from the industry with the help of my family and my good friends. It meant I got to really explore and experiment."
From ballads to art house pop, the album captured the judges' attention with its 30-strong orchestra, sounds of three trombonists in a cemetery and recordings of birds.
Jones, who divides his time between his home town Aberystwyth and London, said of making the album: "I had no expectations, all I wanted to was experiment and explore the length of my imagination and all my interests from Renaissance music, to pop music, to art, Duke Ellington and dance.
"I didn't think of it as an album, I wasn't expecting to make an album.
"I wanted to make a record like Frank Sinatra with an orchestra, but they were all people I knew and friends of friends, so it wasn't like hiring an orchestra.
"From video to stage, I always wanted to feel different."
Jones joined an impressive line-up of successors including Gwenno Saunders, Future of the Left and Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys, after all being given the chance to showcase their original music on a national level.
Organiser John Rostron said: "It's been a terrific year for Meilyr Jones, and it's great that what felt like many peoples' favourite to scoop the accolade did indeed manage to impress the 12 judges and claim the Welsh Music Prize.
"It wasn't an easy win though - the strength of this year's shortlist made for a very long discussion and it could have been one of several records written inside the winner's envelope."
Co-founder of the prize, Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, described Jones as a "one off", adding: "It's an ambitious, bold, beautiful album. Meilyr has been making music for 10 years now and I'm very happy for him, he's worked very hard and made a real statement."
As well as debut albums and first solo records for established artists, there was a strong presence for Welsh language music in the shortlist for the awards which were held in Cardiff.
This included the return of alternative duo Datblygu, favourites of the late John Peel and revered for their role in the emergence of the new wave of Welsh music more than 30 years ago.
Others already known beyond Wales included 9Bach, whose previous album was a BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winner, the critically acclaimed Cate Le Bon and Jones, attracting his fair share of BBC 6 Music airplay this year.
THE OTHER NOMINEES


Cyclist Lewis Oliva, who spent seven years with British Cycling, says Olympic medals are proof its "brutal" training programme is justified.

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Oliva, 24, now with Welsh Cycling, said medals are "the bottom line" and any athlete unhappy in the British set-up should leave.
British Cycling recently admitted it had not paid "sufficient care and attention" to riders' wellbeing.
"It's a performance programme, not a day care centre," Oliva said.
"You're not taking people in off the streets and giving them something to do. It's performance-based so it's about medals and that's the bottom line."
Team GB won a total of 12 cycling medals at Rio 2016, including six golds.
An investigation into the culture at British Cycling was launched last year after ex-riders complained about their treatment.
In March, British Cycling apologised for any "failings" in its performance programme and promised to be more caring to riders following accusations of sexism and bullying.
Jonathan Browning, incoming chairman of British Cycling, apologised for "failings" in response to a leaked draft report of an investigation into the organisation's culture.
Oliva left the Manchester-based British Cycling set-up last summer to begin a medicine degree at Cardiff University and train at the Wales National Velodrome in Newport.
"We had some pretty grim training camps in eastern Germany. Everyone's suffering but nobody wants to give an inch. It works really well," Oliva told BBC Wales Sport.
"I left not because of things being bad but because things ran their course. I thought I'd had the most out of the programme I was going to get."
Despite leaving the programme, Oliva has been selected to compete for Great Britain at the Track World Championships in Hong Kong in April.
"You've got a lot of athletes from British Cycling who've been and are still in the top 10 British Olympians of all time and that should be the only proof you need," Oliva added.
"If athletes really are not happy with how the programme is and if you're not convinced with how things are being run, you've always got the opportunity to leave."


A childminder has been telling the Liam Fee murder trial that she had concerns about the toddler.

Heather Farmer told the jury that in the five years she had been a registered childminder, Liam was the only child she had concerns about.
Rachel Fee, 31, and her partner Nyomi Fee, 28, deny murdering Liam in March 2014 at a house in Glenrothes, Fife and ill-treating two other boys.
Ms Farmer said she had looked after Liam since the summer of 2012.
The jury heard Ms Farmer kept a diary during the time she looked after him, noting he had bruises on a number of occasions.
She said by Christmas 2012 she had begun to have doubts and contacted the Scottish Childminding Association for advice because she thought " somebody was hurting Liam."
Rachel Fee and Nyomi Fee, who are originally from Ryton, Tyne and Wear, are accused of murdering Liam in March 2014 and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by blaming the killing on a young boy.
The couple are also charged with a catalogue of allegations that they neglected Liam and abused two other children, one of whom they blame for killing Liam, in their care over a two-year period.
They deny all the charges against them.
The trial at the High Court in Livingston continues.


Carl Froch knocked George Groves out with a huge right hand in the eighth round of their rematch, in front of a British-record 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

In doing so, Nottingham's Froch retained his IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles and erased the controversy of their first encounter.
Froch, 36, won in Manchester last November via a controversial ninth-round stoppage - but there was no room for debate this time.
Having built a lead in an often cagey fight, Froch floored the challenger towards the end of the eighth, rendering Groves unconscious.
Referee Charlie Fitch started his count but soon called it off. And while Groves initially protested, there were no further complaints. Two judges had Froch ahead at the time of the stoppage, one Groves.
Froch, taking part in his 12th straight world title fight, could now face former Olympic champion James DeGale in another huge domestic dust-up.
If George Groves wanted to be forgiven for his mistakes he should have taken up tennis. Miscalculate on Centre Court and you might just lose a point. Miscalculate between the ropes and you're unconscious on the canvas
Read nore from Ben Dirs: One great punch, one mistake, one wild night
DeGale put in a fine performance on the undercard, demolishing American Brandon Gonzales in four rounds in a final IBF eliminator.
Groves entered the stadium atop a double-decker London bus and appeared totally unfazed by the heaving throng that greeted him. The champion, looking the tenser of the two, arrived by more conventional means.
The first round was a cagey affair, with both men reluctant to engage, but the challenger probably nicked it courtesy of some sharp jabs.
Froch promised to box more correctly than he did in the first fight, and there was evidence of that in the early rounds, the champion employing his jab to keep Groves at range.
Londoner Groves, 26, was shoved to the floor midway through the second but he did throw Froch off balance with a snappy left-right combination. However, it was already clear that the return bout was destined to be far more cautious than the first, as is often the case with rematches.
Frustrated by the lack of action, the crowd started to boo a minute into the third, which spurred both men into action. In one meaty exchange, Groves landed with a big right hand, only for Froch to hit back with a big left.
Groves had more success with his right early in the fourth and Froch was stunned by a concussive combination midway through the round. But with Groves wanting to remain sharp down the stretch, he was reluctant to overload his attacks.
"It was one of the great knockout punches of all time."
The fight, which had burned slowly for the first third, opened up in the fifth, Groves peppering Froch with more right hands and Froch getting the better of some muscular inside exchanges, opening up a cut under his rival's left eye.
Round six was more measured but Froch won it, taking advantage of an unusually small ring, hunting Groves down and drilling him into the ropes, although he did have to take some more chopping rights up close.
Before the fight, Groves vowed to knock Froch out with a left hook, and he landed with a beauty early in the seventh, although Froch probably stole the round again with some rugged work late on, including a clunking right.
"Groves did not move for two or three seconds when he went down and the referee called it off. Carl was looking for a single punch finish. I tipped Carl but I did not think there was any chance of a knock down like that. Under no circumstances."
And it was all over two minutes and 34 seconds into the eighth, Froch flooring Groves with an enormous right cross as the challenger looked to get a shot off.
Froch has now won 33 of his 35 professional fights, with two defeats, while Groves slips to 19 wins and two defeats in the paid ranks.
Another option for Froch is American Andre Ward, who beat the Englishman in 2011. But DeGale is likely to be first, followed by a rematch against Ward in Las Vegas next year, which would probably be his last fight.
Saturday's bill was the first at the new Wembley Stadium since it opened in 2007, and the attendance set a new post-World War II record for a boxing event in Britain.
The last fight at the old Wembley Stadium took place in 1995, when Frank Bruno beat Oliver McCall to win the WBC heavyweight title.


Balloons are being pushed through open windows and left inside unlocked homes by police warning people about burglaries over Christmas.

Officers are targeting villages in south Cambridgeshire and leaving the balloons, branded with their crest, and a message for the homeowners.
A spokesman said: "If we can fit a balloon through a window there may be enough space for a burglar."
There have been 160 burglaries from homes in the area since September.
Cambridgeshire Police said they had also received reports of 139 thefts from vehicles and 119 shed burglaries in the south of the county in the past three months.
As well as the balloons - which are attached to a postcard containing crime prevention tips and a security survey - officers are also putting cards inside unlocked cars.
Insp James Sutherland said: "Already, 70 cars were found to have been left unlocked in one village, one containing a family's Christmas presents.
"This is not about traditional crime prevention. We are trying to make communities safer and raise awareness about the risks.
"As well as shed stickers, balloons and postcards, we'll also be selling shed alarms and completing security surveys to send a strong, clear message to burglars - 'get stuffed'."


The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall has joined Scotland's first minister, veterans and serving soldiers at a service to commemorate one of the biggest battles of the First World War.

An estimated 21,000 British soldiers died in the Battle of Loos in 1915, about 7,000 of whom were Scottish.
A large number of casualties were from the Dundee-based 4th Black Watch.
Prince Charles and Camilla joined about 1,000 people at a service in the city to pay their respects.
The prince is the Royal Colonel of the 3rd Battalion (The Black Watch), The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
His great uncle, Captain Fergus Bowes-Lyon, died on the third day of fighting in the battle, which took place in north of France.
About 8,000 lives were lost within the first four hours of fighting on 25 September 1915, the first day of the battle.
Events to mark the centenary of the battle started on Friday with the lighting of a beacon at dawn at the top of Dundee war memorial.
Saturday's service started with a parade of about 250 current service personnel and 300 veterans.
The City Square was then transformed into a "cathedral", with four ministers from Dundee representing the Scottish Episcopal, Roman Catholic Church of Scotland, Church of Scotland and the Chaplain General to the Armed Forces.
Charles, known as the Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland, laid wreath against a specially-commissioned memorial stone along with the first minister and Lord Provost of Dundee.
Unveiling a commemorative plaque at the reception, he said: "The units involved at the Battle of Loos form a roll-call of Scotlands finest regiments. They left the farms, factories and fishing villages of their native country and fought ferociously for our freedom in a foreign land.
"Their example is deeply humbling and is something in which the people of Scotland can take enormous and justifiable pride."
Ahead of the event, Ms Sturgeon said: "With around 30,000 Scots serving at Loos, its effect was felt throughout every village and town in Scotland.
"The weekend of national commemorations will be a fitting tribute to those that fought, those that died and those that were left at home."
Lord Provost Bob Duncan said: "The battle affected every Scottish regiment and was also Dundee's darkest hour.
"The terrible losses, particularly among local Black Watch battalions, had a profound effect on the city.
"This weekend presents an opportunity to remember their heroic sacrifice and to honour their memory."
Charles and Camilla will later attend a reception for forces personnel and veterans and view an exhibition on the Battle of Loos by pupils from Dundee schools.


A new £1.2m bandstand on Aberystwyth's seafront is due to open later than originally planned.

The original landmark, built in 1935, was demolished in January 2015 with an initial date of August given for the completion of the replacement.
The delay was blamed on bad weather, high tides and difficulties with underground cables.
It survived storms that hit the promenade unlike some businesses and a Grade II-listed seafront shelter.
The bandstand will be opened on Thursday by Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant and Ceredigion council chairman Dai Mason.


When it comes to Formula 1, you lot know your onions.

We've asked BBC Sport readers to predict the top three before every race this season and, after the British Grand Prix, we got our calculators out and had a look at how many people got the top three bang on.
The vast majority of you were on the money when it came to predicting the top two. Lewis Hamilton was top of the pile for 24% of BBC Sport's predictor users with Valtteri Bottas picked to finish second more than any other driver.
However, third place caught a few of you by surprise.
Sebastian Vettel was picked more times to finish third (7.5%) than any other driver but it was his Ferrari team-mate who snatched the final place on the podium. Seven percent of BBC Sport predictor users correctly predicted Kimi Raikkonen's third-place finish.
Clearly there are some optimistic - or mischievous - McLaren fans out there as well.
Fernando Alonso, who has not won a race in four years, was backed to win the British Grand Prix by 0.3% of predictor users.
Keep fighting the good fight, McLaren fans.
Fancy channelling you inner Nostradamus? Then head here to predict the qualifying top 10 for the Hungarian Grand Prix.


A tractor driver was fatally injured after his vehicle became stuck on an overhead cable, media reports said.

The Sleaford Standard said according to police it appeared the 18-year-old was electrocuted after getting out of his cab to try and resolve the matter.
Lincolnshire Police said inquiries into the incident, which happened on Monday, were ongoing.
The force said it was liaising with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and would prepare a report in due course.
The HSE confirmed it is investigating.
More on this and other stories from across Lincolnshire


Oscar-winning actor Sir Daniel Day-Lewis has recited seven of Wilfred Owen's most famous works to help relaunch Edinburgh Napier University's War Poets Collection.

Books and other items are housed within the university's Craiglockhart campus.
The space has been revamped to mark 100 years since Craiglockhart Hydropathic was used as a hospital to treat shell-shocked officers during World War One.
A new bronze sculpture of Wilfred Owen has also been put on display.
As part of the relaunch, a light projection, paying tribute to the building's history during the Great War, will illuminate the facade of the campus building from Wednesday to Friday.
Sir Daniel is among five famous faces who have lent their voices to the poets collection.
The works of Owen's friend and mentor Siegfried Sassoon have been captured by actor Nathaniel Parker.Circumstances brought Owen and Sassoon together at Craiglockhart in the summer of 1917.
Poet, broadcaster and comedian Ian McMillan, journalist and broadcaster Allan Little and the award-winning author Dr Pat Barker have also recited works for a special recorded playlist.
Sir Daniel's association with Wilfred Owen's work stems back to his father, Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis, who edited Owen's poetry in the 1960s. Sir Daniel's mother, Jill Balcon, was a vice-president of the Wilfred Owen Association.
Catherine Walker, collection curator, said: "Sir Daniel, Nathaniel, Allan, Ian and Pat have all given their time and expertise to support this project.
"Their distinctive voices have really brought the poems to life, giving our visitors an opportunity to hear and fully appreciate the poetry. We are extremely grateful to them."


A man was abducted from his home and assaulted by a masked gang in Liverpool.

The victim, aged in his 30s, was assaulted after a group of four or five men entered his home in Montrose Road, Tuebrook, through a rear patio door at about 20:30 GMT on Wednesday.
He was forced into a Range Rover before he was later dumped at Bootle Docks, Merseyside Police said.
The victim was treated for injuries to his leg and face.
The vehicle was later found in Church Walk, Bootle, and recovered for analysis.
Det Insp Richie Jones said the incident "would have been shocking to witness" and urged anyone who may have seen a man being bundled into a vehicle to contact them.


Carlisle United have extended the loan of defender Mark Ellis from League One side Shrewsbury Town until 2 January.

Ellis, 27, signed on a one-month loan deal in October and has made six appearances so far for the Cumbrians.
"Mark has settled well here and he's a player who looks like he's enjoying his football," manager Keith Curle told the club's website.
"He got promoted out of this division last season and he has a good amount of experience in a key position."


A crash which led to the death of a father and his baby son was "utter carnage", a trial jury has heard.

Simon Lewis, 33, died when Kyle Kennedy, 29, of Cardiff, hit his car head-on in a crash in the Tremorfa area of the city.
His son was delivered three days after the crash, but later died.
Mr Kennedy denies two counts of causing death by dangerous driving at Cardiff Crown Court. He admits causing death by careless driving.
The court previously heard he was driving at "motorway speeds" of up to 70mph when the crash on Lamby Way happened.
Amanda Lewis, Mr Lewis's widow who was pregnant at the time of the crash, said in a statement her husband had shouted and sworn before she saw lights coming towards the car.
The next thing she was aware of was her opening her eyes and hearing herself making a noise and her daughter screaming in the rear of the car.
She said Mr Lewis who had been driving was lying flat on his back and not responding or moving when she told him to wake up.
The court heard she screamed when she was told he had not survived.
Three days later, Amanda Lewis underwent an emergency Caesarean section, but her son did not survive.
Stephen Leadbeater, who was travelling in a vehicle directly behind the Lewises, described seeing a second set of lights appear in front of him for a split second.
"I immediately thought that's not right and tried to slow down," he said in a statement read to the court.
"I saw the collision in front of me. I had horrible thoughts and saw the overtaking car spin around and end in the grass verge.
"I saw smoke and two engines slide across the road in front of me. One of them hit my van. I grabbed a small torch. It was utter carnage and horrible.
"I heard a baby screaming and saw a lady shouting, 'help - get me out of here'. I was shaken by what I saw. It was over in a matter of seconds."
Mr Kennedy had told investigators he did not remember the crash.
The trial continues.


There is something wonderfully mad about the idea that if Greece's creditors can agree on a bailout, which they have done, that represents important progress.

Because, as won't have escaped your notice, the biggest problem all along has been that the youngish Syriza government of the debtor, Greece itself, hates the conditions imposed by the creditors for the mooted rescue.
The fundamental disagreement between Greece and its lenders - eurozone nations, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - is over the degree of further austerity to which Greece must commit in order to receive 7.2bn euros of additional credit.
But although for the pride of the creditors, the question of whether Greece is obliged to generate a surplus on its budget, excluding interest payments, of a bit more than zero or 3%, feels like a world of difference - it is a rounding error compared with the money Greece owes them, which is equivalent to 180% of Greek GDP.
In the highly unlikely event that Greece could generate a 2% or 3% surplus year-in and year-out without its economy shrinking further (which few economists would anticipate), it would take around half a century for Greek public sector debt to fall to a level regarded as sustainable.
A half century of austerity? In what modern democracy would that be regarded as a realistic option?
So all these fraught talks about a release of the last 7.2bn of cash from the current rescue facility can probably be seen as displacement activity.
And if there is agreement in the next day or so on a framework to release that cash, this should be seen as no more than a short-term temporary fix.
The hard talks are yet to come.
The point is that Greece desperately needs those few billions of euros to pay its maturing debts to... the IMF and the European Central Bank.
With 300m due to the IMF on Friday, and a further 1.3bn euros later this month, this has always been a row about book-keeping entries and the accounting treatment of debts.
It is a dispute about whether the eurozone's creditors will release funds so that they can pay themselves and avoid having to call Greece in default.
Or to put it another way, it is all about whether the IMF and eurozone can keep up the pretence that Greece is a sound and solvent debtor.
But doesn't it normally tell you something pretty important about those who owe you money when you have to lend to them so that they can keep up the payments to you?
History suggests that at some point the IMF, ECB and eurozone will have to recognise that Greece's 320bn euros of sovereign debts is a lot of spilled milk that will have to be cleaned up.
Whatever the human temptation to say to the Greeks they shouldn't have borrowed the money and have to pay it back, it also defies precedent to argue that a country with such a relatively small and weak private sector will ever have the capacity to pay it back.
Which implies that the only rational conversation for Greece's creditors to have with Greece is the one they refuse to have - which is on the scale of a write-off necessary to take the country off an inevitable road to dangerous penury.
So even if Greece and its creditors do achieve some kind of pact that allows it to meet its immediate bills, all that would mean is that the big conversation - about whether Greek debts need to be forgiven - has been deferred.


European football's governing body Uefa will elect its new president on Wednesday, with two candidates standing to succeed the banned Michel Platini.

Platini resigned in May and will be replaced by either Slovenian FA president Aleksander Ceferin or Dutch FA boss Michael van Praag.
The 55 national association members of Uefa are meeting in Athens to vote.
The pair will address the Extraordinary Uefa Congress, laying out their vision of the future of European football.
BBC Sport looks ahead to the election and the issues facing the winner.
The president is in charge of the body that implements reforms and rules in football in Europe.
Ceferin or Van Praag will likely begin the job by making clear a stance on the potential breakaway of the continent's top teams.
In March it was reported that an elite invitation-only club competition breakaway - that would see the biggest English clubs partner with their continental counterparts - could be formed in a move that would mean huge change in the structure of European football.
Ceferin last month warned it might lead to "war" between Uefa and clubs.
Among other responsibilities, the Uefa president is also accountable for relations with world governing body Fifa and its president Gianni Infantino.
Van Praag, 68, has headed the Dutch FA since 2008, and is also a Uefa vice-president.
Ceferin, 48, has a background in law and has been in charge of the Slovenian FA since 2011. Sources close to him have told the BBC he has nearly 40 pledges of support from the 55 Uefa member nations.
A simple majority of 28 votes is required to win the election.
Spain's Angel Maria Villar, who has been Uefa's acting president since Platini's resignation, withdrew his candidacy last week.
Proposed reforms
In his manifesto, Van Praag says he wants to "unify" football and make the sport "better, more simple and attractive" by reviewing rules and working closely with what he calls "innovative, independent thinkers" and fans.
The Dutchman is also pledging to make the game safer and more secure for fans, offer more support to the women's game and to make the organisation more "efficient and mean and lean".
Slovenia's Ceferin, who operates his own law firm, wants to introduce term limits for presidents and lobby for greater transparency in the game at all levels.
Ceferin told ESPN he wants to battle match-fixing and is also keen to change the bidding process for the Champions League, European Championship and other major events.
Like Van Praag, he is keen to support the growth of the women's game.
European Super League
Van Praag says that if elected, he will "reopen the negotiations" on the Champions League after complaints that England, Germany, Italy and Spain have been guaranteed four group-stage places from the 2018-19 season.
Ceferin's stance is much the same, with the Slovenian wanting to consider the interests of the whole continent, rather than just the most powerful and wealthy nations.
European Championship
The next European Championship in 2020 will not be hosted in one country, nor co-hosted by neighbouring nations. Instead, matches will be spread between 13 cities across the continent.
The new president will face re-election before the next Euros; but the selection of a host for 2024 is anticipated in 2018 and so a decision on whether to continue with the format implemented by Platini will likely need to be made by the new president and his committee.
The Football Association (FA) declared its support for Van Praag last week.
"Mr Van Praag would provide the strong leadership European football requires," FA vice-chairman David Gill said.
"In all, he has a proven track record across domestic and international matters that can only help Uefa go forward."
The Scottish FA will vote for Ceferin, while the Welsh FA and Irish FA have not disclosed their preferred candidate.
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England romped to a crushing 169-run victory over Australia in the first Ashes Test to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Chasing an unlikely 412 to win, Australia lost four wickets for nine runs in 35 balls either side of lunch and were bowled out for 242 one hour after tea in Cardiff.
Stuart Broad was England's inspiration, taking the wickets of three of Australia's top four batsmen.
And, following a brief lower order rally, Joe Root showed his golden touch to take two of the last three wickets, including Mitchell Johnson for a spirited 77.
The win is a huge fillip for England, who lost the last Ashes series 5-0 down under and have only won one of their last five Test series.
Having been reduced to 43-3 on the first morning, they rebounded to produce four days of high-class, aggressive cricket in their first match under Australian coach Trevor Bayliss.
Australia, strong favourites to retain the Ashes before the series, now have only five days to recover and reassess their tactics before the second Test starts at Lord's on Thursday.
After a relatively frustrating morning in which the ball flew repeatedly past the edge, England were contemplating going to lunch with only the wicket of Chris Rogers to show for their efforts.
But Alastair Cook's decision to toss the ball to Moeen Ali for the final over before the interval proved to be a masterstroke.
David Warner, who had dismissively launched Moeen for six over mid-wicket in his previous spell, played around a ball that slid straight on and was out lbw for 52.
The wicket brought palpable relief to a jittery home crowd and dampened the growing optimism among the Aussie-supporting contingent.
Worse was to come for those in green and gold.
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In the first over after lunch, Broad drew Steve Smith into an ugly poke away from his body, and for the second time in the match the world's number one Test batsman was out for 33.
As England's relentless accuracy dried up Australia's scoring, captain Michael Clarke succumbed to temptation. Aiming an airy drive at Broad, he picked out Ben Stokes at backward point.
And on it went. Adam Voges nicked his fellow Ashes debutant Mark Wood to Jos Buttler before Cook took a brilliant catch at the second attempt to complete Brad Haddin's miserable match.
When Shane Watson fell lbw to Mark Wood, and once again tossed away a review, Australia were 151-7.
To their credit, Australia launched a mini-recovery as Johnson showed his abilities with the bat in hand.
His partnership of 72 with Mitchell Starc briefly threatened to push the game into a fifth day, only for part-time off-spinner Root to provide the crucial impetus for England.
Having just been smashed for 14 runs in three balls by Johnson, he stayed on to have Starc and Johnson caught at slip by Adam Lyth in successive overs to leave Australia nine down.
And when Josh Hazlewood lofted Moeen to long-on, England and their fans launched into celebrations.
Broad showed himself to be England's man for the big occasion with another influential Ashes performance.
He set the tone with an exceptional opening burst, which started with three consecutive maidens and featured the breakthrough wicket of Rogers, caught at slip to end a run of seven consecutive Test fifties.
Returning after lunch for another probing spell of full, fast seam bowling, Broad gestured to the crowd to raise the noise levels.
And as they roared his run-up from the Cathedral Road End, he responded to remove Smith and Clarke to rip the heart out of Australia's batting.
Seeing Broad in such inspired form carried echoes of 2009 at The Oval, when he took 5-37 on the second afternoon to set up England's Ashes series-winning victory. Then, two years ago, he was England's match-winner in Durham, with a spell of 6-20 in 45 balls as England sealed the series.
Australia, who had won 11 of their previous 16 Tests, suddenly have issues to address as they look to wrestle back the initiative and get back on course for a first Ashes win in the UK since 2001.
The 29th lbw of Watson's Test career must surely raise questions over the all-rounder's place in the team, especially given that his understudy Mitchell Marsh scored hundreds in both of Australia's warm-up games.
Haddin is another player under scrutiny, following his pivotal drop to reprieve England's first-innings centurion Root on nought on the opening morning. The 37-year-old also conceded 24 byes in the match and looked a shadow of the counter-punching batsmen who tormented England in the 2013-14 whitewash.
There are also concerns over the fitness of Starc, who required treatment for an ankle injury after day one, and was visibly limping during England's second innings.
Given Ryan Harris's injury-forced retirement on the eve of the first Test, the Aussies can ill afford another casualty in their bowling ranks.
England captain Alastair Cook: "It was a brilliant performance. This Test couldn't have gone any better and we'll enjoy tonight.
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"Joe Root was fantastic and the bowlers were superb.
"Everyone was talking about what's gone on in the past, but this is a different side. We had to look forward. We always took the attacking option in this game."
Australia captain Michael Clarke: "We were outplayed in all three facets. England batted well on day one, we didn't take our catches and our batting let us down in both innings.
"We look forward to making amends in the second Test. I'm sure the selectors will look at everyone's performance and make a decision."
Listen to Geoffrey Boycott and Jonathan Agnew review each day's play on the TMS podcast, and watch a summary of each day with our Pint-sized Ashes videos.


A worker at The Gambia's main ferry crossing has told the BBC that thousands of people are fleeing every day as they are "afraid of war".

"People are in chaos, people are leaving" as they don't know what is going to happen, he said.
The Gambia's Chief Justice has declined to rule on an application by President Yahya Jammeh to ban the inauguration of Adama Barrow as his successor.
Mr Barrow won the election and an inauguration is planned for Thursday.
But Mr Jammeh rejected the result and is refusing to step down until the Supreme Court hears his challenge, in May.
His legal team had asked for an injunction to block Mr Barrow's inauguration.
The BBC's Umaru Fofana reports from Banjul that Chief Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle said he could not rule on the issues as he is a subject of it.
The motion sought to stop him from swearing in Mr Barrow.
Parliament has also reconvened for an emergency session. While the reasons for the meeting are unclear, our correspondent says that parliament may be asked to extend Mr Jammeh's term of office.
Mr Barrow will stay in Senegal until his inauguration, state media in Senegal say.
The Gambia, a tiny country of less than two million people, is surrounded on three sides by Senegal and regional bloc Ecowas has said it is considering military intervention to force Mr Jammeh to relinquish power.
One woman boarding the boat with her three children told our correspondent that the political uncertainty made it hard to ensure she could look after her children.
"We don't know what to expect with electricity outage, water shortage, food supplies," she said.
Another said she was going "because things are not safe".
"I'm going because I am afraid. I'm going until we have peace and then we can come back."
The UN refugee agency said last week that several thousand people, mainly children, have crossed into Senegal from The Gambia since 3 January.
"UNHCR teams report seeing buses filled with children, accompanied by women, cross the border," said Liz Ahua, the regional representative for UNHCR.
Mr Jammeh's attempt to overturn the election result has been delayed because of a shortage of judges.
The African Union has said it will no longer recognise Mr Jammeh's authority after his term ends.
The 51-year-old leader seized power in the country in 1994 and has been accused of human rights abuses, although he has held regular elections.


Seventeen Northern Ireland businesses - including a recruitment agency - have been "named and shamed" for underpaying workers.

They are among hundreds of employers recently fined by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The government said the list of 360 employers from across the UK "is the largest ever" record of companies that broke regulations on the national minimum or living wage.
It includes the retail giant Debenhams.
According to HMRC, the hairdressing, hospitality and retail sectors are "the most prolific offenders".
As well as recovering the arrears for workers, HMRC issues penalties to the offending businesses.
A firm based in Portadown - WH Recruitment Limited - topped the list of Northern Ireland businesses which were fined. It failed to pay 143 workers a combined total of £26,418.
A spokesman for WH Recruitment told the BBC: "We are a registered agency and put our hands up. This was to do with the accommodation offset regulation."
BC Plant Limited, another of the companies fined by HMRC, told the BBC the discrepancy in payments was due to the difference in the overtime rates for apprentices and other employees: "The oversight concerned overtime payments to apprentices which were paid at a rate of time and a half of the minimum apprentice rate as opposed to time and a half of national minimum wage. This was an oversight and all employees involved were reimbursed immediately once the error came to light."
The National Living Wage rate is currently £7.20 for workers aged 25 and over.
The full list of Northern Ireland employers fined by HMRC is:


Scottish pig farmers have warned they are facing an uncertain future after the price of pig meat hit an eight- year low.

NFU Scotland said producers were losing about Â£10 for every pig that is sold.
Prices have been driven down from a record high in 2013 after a Russian import ban led to an oversupply of the meat in Europe.
Farming leaders now plan to meet retailers to discuss the promotion of Scottish pork over cheaper rivals.
Midlothian pig farmer Robin Traquair said the dramatic price drop could lead to some producers going out of business.
"Farmers are losing money, they are in a cash negative situation, their bank balances are going backwards," he said.
"Investment won't be done, they won't become more efficient, people will start to go out of business."
At its peak, he said he received Â£120 for each pig he produced. Now he sells them for about Â£85.
"We sell 10,000 pigs a year so it's a big lump of cash," he said.
"Now the commodity prices, the cereal prices have come down but it's not come down far enough to cover that."
Mr Traquair, who owns Wellington Farm, said he was unable to invest in sheds or equipment which would make the business more efficient.
He said their choice was either to "pack in or knuckle down".
"At the moment there's some things we should do with spending money on - but we're just going to batten down the hatches and ride it out. It's tough," he added.
NFU Scotland said that a new processing plant is now operating in Brechin, which could halt the price decline.
It plans to meet retailers to discuss "positioning and publicity" of Specially Selected Pork, which guarantees high welfare standards as part of Quality Meat Scotland.
Kevin Gilbert, NFU Scotland's pigs committee chairman said pig prices had fallen by 18% in the last year.
"Production simply cannot be sustainable at these prices," he added.
"It is clear that a lot of cheaper European meat is being substituted for UK product, especially in processed meat products.
"Retailers could really help UK producers at this time by showing greater loyalty to Scottish and UK product.
"This should be a time of positivity for the Scottish pig industry as the new abattoir at Brechin is set to double its processing capacity, allowing more Scottish pigs to be processed in Scotland, which will reduce haulage costs and allow wider stocking of Scottish labelled Specially Selected Pork across the major supermarkets in Scotland."


Mobile courts in Bangladesh have been empowered to prosecute people accused of sexually harassing women, or "Eve teasing", officials have said.

Anyone convicted of sexual harassment or stalking of women will face a year in jail or a fine of about $70 or both.
The government's move follows increasing incidents of sexual harassment and stalking of women.
Until now mobile courts dealt with less serious crimes, such as traffic violations and hoarding.
"For the first time a social crime has been brought under the jurisdiction of mobile courts," Abdus Sobhan Sikder, the Bangladesh home secretary, told the BBC.
"The idea behind the move is for a speedy trial in cases of sexual harassment and stalking."
Young women often face verbal abuse and taunts in Bangladesh, and sometimes stalked by colleagues at school or other young men.
Some young women, unable to bear the repeated insults, have even gone so far as to commit suicide.
Usually, it takes weeks before these cases can be heard in a normal criminal court and the conviction rate is said to be very low.
Now the government hopes mobile courts can dispose of the cases quickly - and that the punishments they hand out will act as a deterrent to others.
"Mobile courts all across the country will be trying these cases. District officials can form mobile courts whenever they think it is necessary," Mr Sikder said.
The High Court last week asked the government to take measures to stop sexual harassment and stalking of women after a number of suicides and killings related to the issue in recent weeks.
Activists say more than 24 people, most of them young girls, have died because of bullying and harassment since the beginning of this year.
In recent weeks, some of those who spoke out against sexual harassment have been murdered, causing public outrage.
A 50-year-old woman died after a motorcycle was driven over her when she protested against the bullying of her daughter last week.
A college teacher who spoke against bullying was also murdered. The killings led to a series of protests across the country.
Campaigners have been urging the government to enact tougher laws to punish those responsible for sexual harassment and bullying.


League One club Swindon Town have signed unattached former Notts County defender Rhys Sharpe on a short-term contract.

The 22-year-old ex-Derby County trainee has also previously had a spell at Shrewsbury Town.
Meanwhile, the Robins have recalled striker Jermaine Hylton early from his loan spell at non-league Guiseley.
Both players could feature in Swindon's EFL Trophy second-round match at home to Luton Town on Tuesday.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Callum Harriott scored twice as Charlton won at Brentford to move within seven points of safety at the wrong end of the Championship table.

Harriott scored after just 19 seconds, then got his second in the 69th minute, to earn Jose Riga's Addicks their first win in six games.
In between, Brentford rarely looked like adding to centre-back Joann Barbet's debut goal in the 26th minute.
Dean Smith's side were booed off after their fifth defeat in six matches.
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The day started badly for the Bees, almost straight from the kick-off, when Morgan Fox's left-wing cross was only half cleared by Harlee Dean and the ball fell kindly for midfielder Harriott to coolly side foot home from 12 yards.
Brentford's only real attacking threat came from Alan Judge, who stung Charlton keeper Nick Pope's fingertips with a dipping drive midway through the first half - and it was from the Irishman's corner that Brentford equalised midway through the first half, when Barbet headed in close range at the far post.
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But Charlton were back in front when home keeper David Button dropped a speculative cross and it fell for Harriott, who fired past two defenders on the line.
Charlton might even have stretched their lead in the dying minutes as Brentford pushed forward for the equaliser, on-loan Arsenal youngster Yaya Sanogo looking a constant threat.
But the visitors saw it through for only their second win in 19 games. And they Addicks are now unbeaten in their last three visits to Griffin Park - the first time they have done that since the 1920s.
Brentford boss Dean Smith: "We tried to get one in on loan this week but got knocked back but we will keep looking to get something done in the loan market, but it is a difficult time to get things done.
"We didn't create enough but when we did we didn't finish it off. Balls were flashing into the box with no one taking responsibility to get across the keeper and get a touch.
"We had chances but Sergi Canos pulled one wide and John Swift stays on his feet when he could have gone down and that showed a little bit of naivety."
Charlton boss Jose Riga: "We were very organised defensively and in attack and we deserved the win.
"It's good to be off the bottom even though we didn't make up ground, but all we can do is our job and I saw my team, players and staff keeping the same mindset - next time other results may be in our favour."


League One side Colchester United have re-signed West Ham striker Elliot Lee on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old has made seven appearances for the Hammers in all competitions, scoring one goal.
Lee, son of former England player Rob, is in his second stint with the U's, having featured in four games during a loan spell in 2013.
He also played four times for Blackpool after joining on a one-month loan in November, but failed to score a goal.
Meanwhile, midfielder Byron Lawrence, 19, has left the U's after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
Lawrence made only one appearance for Colchester after signing following his release by Ipswich in September 2014.


Scotland lock Richie Gray will join Toulouse from French Top 14 rivals Castres at the end of the season.

The British and Irish Lion has agreed a four-year deal with the four-times European champions.
With his current deal due to expire next summer, Gray had received several offers from clubs around Europe.
Gray began his professional career with Glasgow Warriors and joined Castres from Sale Sharks in 2013.
The Rutherglen-born forward has 51 Scotland caps and has was selected for the Lions tour of Australia in 2013.
Castres finished 12th last season, one place above the relegation spots, in the French top flight, and presently sit 10th.
Toulouse, who finished third in the Top 14 last season, are currently lying second, two points behind Clermont.


BMW and its Mini offshoot have caved in to demands to let dealers put their cars on a price comparison site.

The U-turn comes as the competition regulator was threatening an inquiry.
The pressure is being seen as a clear signal to firms that they must not stop the public taking advantage of the power of the internet to find bargains.
BMW had put a ban on its dealers using Carwow, which connects car sellers across the country with buyers hunting for the best price.
The website appealed to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), accusing BMW of putting a road block in the way of legal competition.
Carwow argued that dealers with cars at competitive prices were clamouring to be given permission to use the site and speed up their sales.
After months of wrangling, BMW reversed its original decision, as it became clear that the CMA was on the brink of launching a formal investigation.
Car sales - new and old - are moving increasingly online, with other websites, such as Webuyanycar, Tootle and Wizzle, also making inroads.
James Hind, Carwow's founder, said: "It shows this is a consumer trend which is not going to abate."
He believes 90% of car buyers do their research online, though even Carwow's users then complete their purchase direct with the dealer.
The CMA has made no secret of its enthusiasm for promoting the potential of price comparison sites to strengthen the hand of consumers.
A spokesman for BMW said: "The time is now right to enable our UK retailers to explore the additional sales opportunities that are becoming available through internet-based new car portals.
"Over the coming months we will be working with our retailers and learning from their experience to ensure we continue to provide a consistent premium buying experience for those customers who choose to purchase a BMW or Mini product through these new channels."


Abortion legislation in Northern Ireland is in breach of human rights law, the Belfast High Court has ruled.

Currently, termination of pregnancy is only allowed if a woman's life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her mental or physical health.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) brought the case to extend abortion to cases of serious foetal malformation, rape or incest.
The 1967 Abortion Act does not apply to Northern Ireland.
A judicial review found the grounds for abortion should be extended in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland's Attorney General John Larkin said in a brief statement that he was "profoundly disappointed" by the decision and was "considering the grounds for appeal".
In his ruling on Monday, Mr Justice Horner said women who were the victims of sexual crime and cases of fatal foetal abnormality were entitled to exemptions in the law.
He said given that the issue was unlikely to be addressed by the Northern Ireland Executive in the foreseeable future, and that Northern Ireland citizens were entitled to "have their [European Convention on Human] rights protected by the courts", the current legislation was in breach of their human rights.
Analysis: BBC Ireland correspondent Chris Buckler
Northern Ireland has been a place apart within the United Kingdom since the 1967 Abortion Act.
It allowed terminations in England, Scotland and Wales at up to 24 weeks of the pregnancy on a variety of grounds, including having abnormalities that could lead to a child being "seriously handicapped".
Even if  this judgement is put into effect - and it is likely to be appealed - the law would still be stricter in Northern Ireland.
The judge made a point of distinguishing between fatal foetal abnormalities, which he ruled should be an exemption to the law and cases where the foetus was "seriously malformed", which he said should not be exempted.
In effect he was marking a difference between babies who could not survive birth and those who could.
However, this may mean that the Stormont Executive has to consider new legislation and the political divide at the assembly over abortion is deep.
That is not a surprise in a place where politics and religion are often seen as intertwined.
Ahead of this judgement Northern Ireland's justice minister had ruled out changes to the law in cases where rape or incest led to pregnancy. That will now have to be reconsidered.
The issue came to prominence in 2013 when Northern Ireland woman Sarah Ewart shared her personal story of how, at 20 weeks pregnant, she travelled to England for an abortion after her baby had been diagnosed with anencephaly, a condition in which the brain has not developed.
Under the abortion law in Northern Ireland, she was advised that as her health was not at risk she would have to carry the baby full term.
After she told her story to the BBC, then health minister Edwin Poots asked his officials to consider the case.
Sarah's mother, Jane Christie, welcomed the ruling.
"It's not excitement or delight, but just sheer relief that Sarah and women like her are now going to get the medical treatment that they should have been getting from the outset," she said.
"Sarah herself, it will enable her to move on with her family.
"She is only 25 years of age and Sarah wants more family so unfortunately with medical things that she's going through at the moment, her body isn't functioning right and we're up against it before we even have to think about pregnancy, so it is a major issue for us.
"When Sarah was putting together her submission and all the casework that had to go in and the ups and the downs, it was very evident that it gave the judge an insight into what we had actually been through."
Last year, Northern Ireland's Department of Justice carried out a public consultation on changing the law to allow abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.
However, the NIHRC claimed the consultation paper did not go far enough and said it had brought the legal proceedings as a last resort.
After Monday's ruling, NIHRC chief commissioner Les Allamby said: "Today's result is historic, and will be welcomed by many of the vulnerable women and girls who have been faced with these situations.
"It was important for the commission to take this challenge in its own name, in order to protect women and girls in Northern Ireland and we are delighted with the result."
Justice Minister David Ford said Monday's ruling was complex and would need careful consideration.
"However, I note that one of the conclusions reached by the court appears to align with my policy proposal to amend the law to provide for abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality," he said.
Amnesty International said the decision was a "hugely significant step".
"It's shameful that the courts have had to step in because politicians have repeatedly failed Northern Ireland's women," said Grainne Teggart, from Amnesty.
Anti-abortion campaigner Bernadette Smyth, of Precious Life, said: "This is an undemocratic decision today - it will clearly see, long term, the opening of the floodgates."
In a joint statement, the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland described the ruling as  "profoundly disquieting".
"To deliberately and intentionally take the life of an innocent person continues to be gravely morally wrong in all circumstances," the bishops said.
A judicial review hearing was held over three days in June, but the court waited until now to deliver its verdict.
The Department of Justice has six weeks to decide whether to appeal the judgement.


Warrington Wolves will face Hull FC in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on 27 August after they thrashed Wakefield in their semi-final at Leigh.

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The Wildcats crossed first through Craig Hall, but Warrington responded with 52 unanswered points.
Jack Hughes, Daryl Clark, Rhys Evans and Kurt Gidley, who also kicked seven goals, touched down before the break.
Toby King went over twice, while Chris Sandow, Stefan Ratchford, Ben Currie and Ben Westwood also scored tries.
Max Jowitt's late reply was little consolation for a Wakefield side which had been aiming to reach their first Challenge Cup final since 1979.
Warrington's progress, following Hull's victory over Wigan on Friday, means the current top two in the Super League table will contest the Challenge Cup final.
Tony Smith's men last won the Challenge Cup in 2012 and will return to Wembley after three consecutive semi-final defeats in the past three years.
Memories of the Wolves being upset by unfancied Hull KR in 2015 resurfaced when winger Hall strolled over in the corner, but Warrington were exceptional from then on.
They led 24-6 at half-time and two of their six second-half tries came while Wildcats prop David Fifita was in the sin-bin for a high shot on Sandow.
Relive Warrington's semi-final win
Warrington head coach Tony Smith: "It's been a while for our club to get to one of the big finals, so it's a nice feeling.
"The game was pretty one-sided. While Wakefield didn't give in, my team did a good job from the outset.
"The momentum of the game was one way but Chris Chester should be proud of Wakefield's efforts."
Wakefield head coach Chris Chester: "It was tough but I'm proud of these guys. We've come a long way in this short space of time. They never give in and the fans have been great today.
"Warrington were far too good for us and far too quick, and good luck to them in the final.
"I think my side will learn a lot from today and I think we tried to hard in certain areas. We'll be ok for the rest of the season."
Warrington: Ratchford; Russell, T. King, Atkins, Evans; Gidley, Sandow; Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Hughes, Westerman.
Replacements: Dwyer, G. King, Westwood, Bailey.
Wakefield: Jowitt; Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Arundel, Hall; Miller, Finn; Scruton, Moore, Fifita, Walton, Tupou, Sio.
Replacements: Crowther, Kirmond, Arona, Yates.
Referee: Gareth Hewer


Press commentators in the Middle East are largely pessimistic about the outcome of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which began in Washington on Monday at a dinner hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attracts some praise from the left-wing daily Ha'aretz for his release of Palestinian prisoners prior to the talks, and a Palestinian paper expresses "hope" for peace and stability, but many fear that "nothing good" will come out of the talks.
JEFF BARAK in English-language JERUSALEM POST
It's hard to get excited about yesterday's start of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Washington. First of all, we've been there, done that numerous times - to little positive effect - since the signing of the Oslo Accords in the White House Rose Garden two decades ago. And secondly, yet again, neither side seems particularly anxious to reach an agreement.
EITAN HABER in centrist Israeli daily YEDIOT AHARONOT
The basic assumption is that nothing good will come out of the talks. But Israeli history has already proved to us more than once that a lack of hope and despair sometimes lead to desirable solutions.
KALMAN LIEBSKIND in centre-right Israeli newspaper MA'ARIV
I am worried about the negotiations that start today... because I know who is conducting them... There is a big difficulty in relying on a prime minister who lies to the public and the Knesset without any problem.
EDITORIAL in left-of-centre Israeli broadsheet HA'ARETZ
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lately shown the first signs of statesmanship. His decision to enter into negotiations with the Palestinians, like his decision to free 104 prisoners, can testify to this: that the prime minister has finally internalized the need to extract Israel from the diplomatic stalemate he decreed on it in the years of his first and second terms.
EDITORIAL in pro-Fatah Palestinian newspaper AL-QUDS
The success or failure of this phase of negotiations will show in the first round, and more quickly than many people imagine. Although we hope they will succeed in achieving peace and stability, hope is one thing and the expected reality is another.
HANI AL-MASRI in pro-Fatah Palestinian newspaper AL-AYYAM
If the advocates of negotiations do not manage to exert pressure on Israel, they hope the world and the United States will understand the Palestinians' endorsement of new options, including turning to the UN.
ADNAN ABU-AMIR in Hamas-run Palestinian newspaper FILASTIN
United States and 'Israeli' efforts to treat Gaza as an excommunicated entity in an attempt to increase its isolation... are backfiring. Isolating Gaza is only strengthening Hamas's grip.
EDITORIAL in Qatar's daily with close ties to ruling family AL-RAYAH
The side the US is asking to make difficult concessions must not be the Palestinian side because it has nothing to offer after accepting the establishment of a Palestinian State on 22 per cent of the historical area of Palestine. This is a fact the administration of US President Obama must keep its eyes on.
EDITORIAL in UAE's privately-owned, pro-government AL-BAYAN
The path towards Palestinian rights agreed by the majority of Palestinians and their legitimate representatives is now clear: it is a Palestinian state within the borders of lands occupied in 1967. This is the minimum for Palestinians to accept a political solution and to sit at the negotiating table.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. For more reports from BBC Monitoring, click here. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.


The winners of this year's Masters, US Open and Open will play together for the first two rounds of the final major of 2016, the US PGA Championship.

Masters champion Danny Willett, US Open winner Dustin Johnson and Open victor Henrik Stenson tee off at 18:45 BST on 28 July at Baltusrol, New Jersey.
Rory McIlroy is in a trio featuring Australia's world number one and defending champion Jason Day and Open runner-up Phil Mickelson (13:30).
Injury again rules out Tiger Woods.
It means the 40-year-old American, who won the last of his 14 majors in 2008, will not have played in any of this year's four majors.
Americans Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson will play alongside Sergio Garcia of Spain.
England's Andrew 'Beef' Johnston, who became a cult figure at The Open, is out at 17:35, while Justin Rose begins at 18:35.
The final major of the year has been brought forward from its traditional slot in August to the last weekend in July to avoid a clash with the Olympic golf tournament in Rio.
Selected tee times (all BST)
Thursday, 28 July
Hole one
12:00: Mark Brown (US), Patton Kizzire (US), Bradley Dredge (Wal)
17:35: Scott Piercy (US), Alex Noren (Swe), Andrew Johnston (Eng)
18:25: Sergio Garcia (Spa), Jordan Spieth (US), Bubba Watson (US)
18:35: Justin Rose (Eng), Patrick Reed (US), Charl Schwartzel (SA)
18:45: Danny Willett (Eng), Dustin Johnson (US), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
18:55: Graeme McDowell (NI), Webb Simpson US), Louis Oosthuizen (SA)
Hole 10
13:10: Brandt Snedeker (US), Brooks Koepka (US), Lee Westwood (Eng)
13:20: Keegan Bradley (US), Adam Scott (Aus), Jamie Donaldson (Wal)
13:30: Phil Mickelson (US), Rory McIlroy (NI), Jason Day (Aus)
A full list of tee-times are available on the US PGA Championship website.
The BBC Sport website will have live text commentary on each round of the tournament.
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Work has begun to safeguard two ancient trees thought to be from the forest immortalised in Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Tree surgeons warned The Birnam Oak could split in two because its trunk is rotten but its heavy branches are still growing and pulling it apart.
Branches will be shortened to reduce the strain on the tree trunks, with dead branches also being removed.
The work is expected to take about ten days to complete.
The Birnam Oak and Sycamore, near Dunkeld, were damaged when Storm Desmond struck last December.
Nearby trees, which are beginning to encroach on the oak and dim its light, will also be trimmed back.
New supports for the oak and improvements to the surrounding path will begin later this year.
Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust outlined the work at a public meeting in April.
The trees are thought to be the sole survivors from the medieval forest made famous by Shakespeare and still attract thousands of visitors a year.
In Macbeth, the witches consulted by the Scottish king over his future tell him he shall "never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him".


The financially troubled Sauber team is to miss the first in-season test in Spain later this month.

The Swiss outfit said they did not have a car update at the Spanish Grand Prix - which precedes the test - nor a young driver who meets the requirements.
Teams must use a driver who has raced in no more than two grands prix in two of the four days of in-season testing.
Sauber have lost two senior technicians since March and have admitted salaries have been paid late twice this year.
The team lost technical director Mark Smith in March and head of track engineering Tim Malyon in April.
Both had been in their jobs only for a matter of months and statements from Sauber cited personal reasons for their departure.
Last month, Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn denied speculation within F1 that the outfit might not make it to the end of the season.
At the Russian Grand Prix last weekend, sporting director Beat Zehnder admitted Sauber faced a "really difficult time" as a result of the costs inherent in designing a new car to meet major rule changes for 2017.
"The financial impact is a massive one and for a small team like Sauber it's really difficult," Zehnder said.
"It's not only the cars and not being able to carry over parts from one year to the other, it's the list of investments you have to make.
"We're talking about millions and millions here, so for a smaller team it's really a difficult time."


The top US commander for the Middle East secretly visited Syria on Saturday, officials said.

General Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, spent about 11 hours in northern Syria.
He met US military advisers and the leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), made up of Kurdish and Arab rebel forces.
The US wants local forces to defeat the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, which holds territory in the country.
Speaking after the visit, Gen Votel said training local forces to fight IS was the right approach.
"I left with increased confidence in their capabilities and our ability to support them. I think that model is working and working well," he said.
The SDF comprises about 25,000 Kurdish fighters and about 5,000 Arab fighters. The US is hoping to increase the number of Arabs in the force.
Arab commanders who spoke to journalists during the visit said their forces needed more help.
SDF Deputy Commander Qarhaman Hasan said he wanted armoured vehicles, machine guns, rocket launchers and mortars.
The SDF currently had to rely on smuggling to get weapons, he said.
"You can't run an army on smuggling," he added.
Tribal leaders also called on the US to do more, both militarily and with humanitarian aid.
The US has about 200 military advisers in Syria, where 270,000 people have died in five years of civil war.


Emma Watson, who played Hermione in 'Harry Potter', says that she will take a year off from acting.

The actress became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations in 2014, to promote equality and help improve opportunities for women and girls around the world.
As part of her work for the organisation, she made a speech about how important it is to make boys and girls more equal.
Now, she's hoping that a break from acting will give her more time to focus on that role.


Labour has described its election manifesto for Wales as offering voters a choice between hope and despair.

Media playback is unsupported on your device
16 April 2015 Last updated at 17:25 BST
Launching the document in Llandudno, the party promised Wales an extra £375m a year - the proceeds of tax rises including a so-called "mansion tax" and a 50p tax rate on incomes above £150,000.
Labour also confirmed it would devolve control of Severn Bridge tolls to Wales when the crossings pass into public ownership in 2018.
Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith said Labour would make spending cuts if it wins the general election, but they would be more than offset by the extra money the Welsh government would receive.


Paris St-Germain conceded a 90th-minute equaliser and will go into next week's Champions League game with Arsenal without a win in two Ligue 1 games.

Saint-Etienne fell behind when Lucas Moura's penalty put the hosts ahead after a foul on Blaise Matuidi.
French champions PSG, who lost their previous league game 3-1 at Monaco, were denied victory when Robert Beric equalised with a scrambled volley.
Arsenal open their European group stage campaign at PSG next Tuesday.
PSG, who are chasing a fifth successive league title, have seven points from Unai Emery's first four league games in charge.
Match ends, Paris Saint Germain 1, St Etienne 1.
Second Half ends, Paris Saint Germain 1, St Etienne 1.
Foul by Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint Germain).
Kevin Malcuit (St Etienne) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!  Paris Saint Germain 1, St Etienne 1. Robert Beric (St Etienne) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Kevin Malcuit with a cross.
Foul by Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain).
Loic Perrin (St Etienne) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner,  Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Kevin Malcuit.
Attempt blocked. Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Corner,  Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Loic Perrin.
Attempt blocked. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Corner,  Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Leo Lacroix.
Attempt blocked. Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Blaise Matuidi.
Foul by Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain).
Kevin Malcuit (St Etienne) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Nolan Roux (St Etienne).
Attempt missed. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Thomas Meunier following a set piece situation.
Attempt missed. Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Attempt saved. Ángel Di María (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Leo Lacroix (St Etienne).
Offside, Paris Saint Germain. Blaise Matuidi tries a through ball, but Ángel Di María is caught offside.
Corner,  Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Florentin Pogba.
Substitution, St Etienne. Robert Beric replaces Jordan Veretout.
Hand ball by Ángel Di María (Paris Saint Germain).
Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Florentin Pogba (St Etienne).
Attempt missed. Ángel Di María (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Presnel Kimpembe.
Foul by Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain).
Nolan Roux (St Etienne) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, St Etienne. Romain Hamouma replaces Henri Saivet.
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Paris Saint Germain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Grzegorz Krychowiak (Paris Saint Germain).
Ole Selnaes (St Etienne) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Florentin Pogba (St Etienne) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Florentin Pogba (St Etienne).
Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Edinson Cavani replaces Hatem Ben Arfa.
Kevin Malcuit (St Etienne) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.


Lloyd Blankfein, the head of giant investment bank Goldman Sachs, has said the UK must stick with its austerity plan or face a negative reaction from global investors.

In an interview with the BBC, he said he would like it if the UK could ease the pace of the squeeze on spending.
But Mr Blankfein, Goldman's chairman and chief executive, said if you have a deficit that choice is taken away from you because markets will react.
He said the UK must stay the course.
"You would like at this part of the cycle not to cut, to push out austerity and not to shrink the economy," he said.
"But if you have a big deficit you lose that optionality. The choices get taken away from you."
Mr Blankfein's comments come a week after the IMF's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, urged the UK to rethink its austerity policy in the face of continuing weakness in the economy.
The IMF also cut its UK growth forecast for this year to 0.7%, after saying in January that the economy could expect growth of 1%.
Failure to re-boot growth has led two ratings agencies to strip the UK of its AAA top credit rating. A lower rating can lead to higher borrowing costs.
On Tuesday, official UK figures showed government borrowing for the 2012-13 financial year fell slightly to Â£120.6bn, down from Â£120.9bn the year before.
Mr Blankfein made his remarks while on a visit to the UK, which also included a meeting with small businesses.
Goldman Sachs is an investment bank that does not lend directly to small businesses.
However, it began a scheme three years ago whose aim was to give owners of small and medium-sized businesses new skills.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said that his motivation for the project was to create jobs and "reach out on a different scale to that at which we are used to operating".
The credit crisis of the past five years has left small businesses short of bank funding as institutions have built up their reserves and have raised their lending standards.
Mr Blankfein said that banks were "afraid, for want of a better word".
"Businesses are starving for cash and banks have cash idle," he said.
But he added: "Lending money to business is one of the riskiest things you can do. What you do is send money out the door and you hope it comes back."


A school in east London has been accused of trying to remove the identity of a Bangladeshi general over plans to change its name.

Osmani Primary School in Tower Hamlets was named in 1986 after General Muhammad Osmani - one of the leaders in Bangladesh's war of independence.
But the state school wants to alter it to the more "neutral" Vallance Primary to reflect changes in the population.
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition against the move.
The petition was set up by parent Kalam Choudhury who told BBC Asian Network it was "an issue of our history and out heritage and culture".
Doros Ullah, a former Tower Hamlets councillor, accused the school of "trying to take away the identity of the Bangladeshi community".
The 2011 census showed the Bangladeshi community was the largest ethnic group in Tower Hamlets.
But rising house prices and the growth of London's financial centre has led to sharp rises of other ethnic groups in the area.
The school has said the name change would reflect these changes to the local community.
"We thought Vallance Primary is a neutral profile that doesn't deter potential parents from coming into the school and stopping this perception that it's a faith school," chair of governors Mike Tylor said.
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs, who wants the school to remain Osmani Primary School, has successfully lobbied governors to consult parents before a final decision is made. A date has not yet been set.
"Until very recently the East End was a place where people would make their arrival in the UK. It had cheap housing, and it had plenty of jobs in relatively low skilled industries," he said.
"Now the jobs have gone. The cheap housing has gone but it still has very strong communities who attract people. But the role of the East End as the traditional first point of call - the sort of Ellis Island of London if you like -  is now substantially over. And it's quite wrenching."


Three-quarters of people are unaware being overweight increases the risk of developing 10 different types of cancer, Cancer Research UK has said.

It said the lack of understanding was "concerning" and criticised the government for its failed attempt to tackle childhood obesity.
Bowel, kidney, breast and womb cancer are most commonly linked to obesity.
Public Health England said it was working with the food industry to reduce sugar in its products.
There is evidence to show that carrying too much weight increases the risk of developing cancers, contributing to more than 18,000 cases of cancer each year in the UK.
Cancer Research UK said its online survey of more than 3,000 people across the UK indicated the message about the health risks of being overweight had not got through to the general public.
Fewer than one-third knew of the link between obesity and breast or womb cancer, and more than half did not know pancreatic cancer was linked to obesity.
Research suggests 40% of womb cancers are linked to obesity.
However, there was better awareness of the link with bowel cancer and kidney cancer.
But the survey found men were less likely than women to be aware of the increased risk of cancer caused by obesity and people from poorer backgrounds were less likely to know about the link.
With a quarter of adults in the UK being obese - defined as a BMI or body mass index of over 30 - and about 60% classified as overweight or obese - a BMI over 25 - eating a healthy balanced diet and taking regular exercise is key to helping people lose weight.
CRUK has 10 top tips for a healthy weight, which include eating smaller portions of food and choosing water to drink instead of sweetened juices or alcohol.
But Dr Helen Croker, a clinical research dietician at University College London, said losing weight was particularly hard when obese people faced stigma.
"Many experience weight discrimination, which is unhelpful and can lead to a lack of respect and poorer healthcare," she said.
Cancer Research UK said making the public more aware of the link between obesity and cancer was the government's responsibility and it should start by focusing on the health of the nation's children.
Alison Cox, director of prevention at CRUK, said: "The government acknowledges that marketing junk food to kids is a problem and has removed these adverts during children's programming.
"We also need to see these restrictions during family viewing time before 21:00 if we want to make a difference to children's health."
The latest figures show that one in five children starts primary school overweight or obese, and, at the age of 11, one in three are in this category.
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said it had launched a programme to get the food industry to remove at least 20% of the sugar in their products by 2020.
"The link between obesity and cancer shows just how important it is to cut back on calories, sugar and saturated fat to maintain a healthy weight," she said.
There are many possible factors that contribute to cancer risk include family history, age and lifestyle.
The link between obesity and cancer is still not completely clear, but there are three main theories:


The animator of much-loved cartoons Roobarb and Henry's Cat has died aged 91, his family has confirmed.

Bob Godfrey won an Oscar for his short film Great, a biography of the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, but remains best known for his TV work.
The British animator - whose career spanned 50 years - was also responsible for Noah and Nelly in... Skylark and the risque cartoon series Henry 9 to 5.
He was awarded three Baftas and received an MBE in June 1986.
Godfrey was born in Australia, on 27 May 1921, but was educated in east London.
He began his professional career as a graphic artist working in advertising, before joining the innovative Larkin Studio in the early 1950s where he made his earliest cartoons.
In the mid-1950s, Godfrey joined up with Jeff Hale and Keith Learner, and later Nancy Hanna and Vera Linnecar, to form Biographic Films, making some of the first commercials for ITV.
But he sought to work outside the American tradition, characterised by Disney -  and typically took a more unorthodox view, producing work such as The Do It Yourself Cartoon Kit (1961).
Kama Sutra
Working as Bob Godfrey Films, he cornered the market with his "adult animation" such as Henry 9 to 5 and Kama Sutra Rides Again, which earned him his first Oscar nomination - after it was entered for the awards by an American who bought the cartoon from him for Â£150.
It was closely followed by the Oscar-winning short Great, which satirised Victorian attitudes and the decline of the British Empire, won him the Academy Award and a Bafta in 1976.
"I'd been reading a book about Brunel so I asked British Lion, who backed Kama Sutra, if I could have some money to make a half-hour cartoon about a Victorian engineer," he told the Guardian in 2001.
"Yes, they said, here's Â£20,000. They'd have given me money to animate a toilet if I'd asked them."
It was during this period of his life that he animated the children's classic Roobarb, created by Grange Calveley and narrated by Richard Briers, who died earlier this week.
The anarchic cartoon about a warring cat and dog, with its memorable theme tune and wobbly dog animation won a cult following, which continues today.
He collaborated once again with Calveley and Briers on 1976's Noah and Nelly in.... Skylark, returning successfully to children's TV with Henry's Cat in the early 1980s.
But he was at his happiest when he was pushing the boundaries of conventional animation, working alongside avant-garde stars such as Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine, hob-nobbing with the Beatles and, later, becoming an inspiration for a young Terry Gilliam.
Aardman Animations founder Peter Lord tweeted: "Ah! Dear old Bob Godfrey is no more. A great influence and inspiration to me and my generation of animators. Also a lovely bloke."
Godfrey continued to work on commercials and TV commissions into his early 80s, producing his last work, Channel 4's Millennium: The Musical, in 1999.
As a teacher of animation, he told the Guardian in 2001:  "I teach the basics of animation, then it's up to the individual.
"Great illustrators don't always make great animators. I've known people who couldn't draw at all who were great animators. You can always spot the ones with real talent. They don't listen to you."


Britain's Chris Froome finished sixth on stage one of the Herald Sun Tour in Australia to move fifth overall.

The Team Sky rider, 31, is looking to retain his title in the five-day race.
The three-time Tour de France winner, who came 26th in Wednesday's prologue, was one minute and 11 seconds behind stage winner Damien Howson on Thursday.
Australia's Howson, of Orica-Scott, broke away to win the 172.4km stage from Wangaratta to Falls Creek by 32 seconds from second-placed Jai Hindley.
1. Damien Howson (Aus/Orica-Scott) 4 hours 33 minutes 54 seconds
2. Jai Hindley (Aus/Australian National Team) +32secs
3. Kenny Elissonde (Fra/Team Sky) +47secs
4. Michael Storer (Aus/Australian National Team) +1min 3secs
5. Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col/Orica-Scott) +1min 10secs
6. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +1min 11secs
1. Damien Howson (Aus/Orica-Scott) 4hrs 36mins 32secs
2. Jai Hindley (Aus/Australian National Team) +38secs
3. Kenny Elissonde (Fra/Team Sky) +53secs
4. Michael Storer (Aus/Australian National Team) +1min 10secs
5. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +1min 12secs
6. Cameron Meyer (Aus/Australian National Team) +1min 13secs


Saturday's Irish Cup semi-final between Coleraine and Glenavon will be live on Facebook and the BBC Sport NI website.

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The broadcast from the Ballymena Showgrounds will be presented by Stephen Watson, who will be joined on the sideline by David Jeffrey.
Commentary team will be Thomas Kane and Chris Morgan.
The broadcast, which begins at 17:15 BST, will include highlights of the opening semi-final between Linfield and Dungannon Swifts.
Both games will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio Ulster.


Dozens of "Ladies in White" opposition activists say they were detained during a protest march in Cuba.

The women, who were freed after several hours, were marking the deaths of 37 people who drowned while fleeing the island 20 years ago.
The government has always denied the group's allegation that the authorities deliberately sunk a tugboat in 1994.
For 10 years, its members have defied a protest ban on the Communist island by marching every week, dressed in white.
The "Ladies in White" say they were rounded-up by police on Sunday, as they tried to divert from their normal protest route in the capital, Havana.
More than 90 of them were bundled into buses off the city's smart 5th Avenue as they headed towards the seafront, they say.
The women were planning to lay flowers in memory of the adults and children who died when the tugboat they had hijacked sank as it was pursued by the Cuban authorities in Caribbean waters.
Dissident groups allege the vessel was rammed and flooded with water cannon, but the government has always maintained the sinking was an accident.
The women are routinely detained and their protests broken up, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Havana reports, but these days their march attracts minimal public interest.
However, the group's members say their protests have produced results, with all 75 political prisoners they have campaigned for now free.
The Cuban authorities say the "Ladies in White" are in the pay of the United States and form part of Washington's "decades-old effort to undermine Cuba's socialist revolution".


Scotland's Ross Murdoch stunned Glasgow 2014 poster-boy Michael Jamieson by claiming 200m breaststroke gold.

The 20-year-old was reduced to tears during the medal ceremony as the scale of his achievement became apparent.
Murdoch had never beaten Jamieson, 25, over 200m in a major final but produced a British and Commonwealth record of two minutes 7.30 seconds to win gold.
The Olympic silver medallist finished in 2:08:40, whilst England's Andrew Willis took bronze.
"There is no way that just happened. I can't believe it. That was amazing," Murdoch, who posted the fastest time in the heats, told BBC Sport.
"Coming down that last 100m with the crowd it was just incredible and it was a massive PB [personal best] - I'm so surprised."
"I felt great in the heats this morning but I didn't expect that."
Murdoch's time of 2:08:78 in the heats was more than five seconds quicker than his previous best and he shaved just over another second off that time in the final.
That was even more remarkable given the University of Stirling student's only senior international experience was finishing 11th in the 100m breaststroke and 30th in the 50m event in the 2013 World Championships.
He did, however, edge out Jamieson in the 100m to qualify for that first senior world meet.
The reality of what he had done only began to hit home once he stepped on to the podium and heard the roar of the Scottish crowd. Murdoch's tears then flowed during an emotional airing of Flower of Scotland.
Beside him, with a silver medal around his neck, stood a despondent Jamieson.
The Glaswegian had admitted to feeling "some nerves" in the build up to the Games and sought help from a psychologist to help deal with the pressure of being a gold-medal favourite.
The Bath-based athlete is renowned for responding strongly after a disappointing swim and, having finished behind Balfron swimmer Murdoch in the heats, he was expected to deliver when it really mattered.
The Olympian - who grew up training in the Tollcross pool and had told the BBC he was targeting a world record at the Commonwealths - saluted the crowd after they gave him an incredible pre-race reception.
Australian 100m world champion Christian Spenger dominated the opening 100m, but Jamieson's trademark power in the closing stages simply did not materialise, leaving Murdoch to claim victory.
"Ross has been on great form all season and has dropped huge chunks off his best today and deserves to win," said Jamieson, who was holding back tears.
"I wasn't good enough tonight."
A third place finish for Bracknell's Willis was his first major international medal, although he was also hoping for more.
"It was really tough and I was aiming for a faster time like Michael, but I'm on the podium and it's a step in the right direction," he told BBC Sport.