Ambulance crews who gave a cardiac arrest patient 17 high-energy electric shocks say he is lucky to be alive.

Patrick Ewing, 66, collapsed at his home in Oakham, Rutland, and was given resuscitation by his partner, Yvonne Ainsworth.
Paramedics used a defibrillator to shock Mr Ewing to restore his normal heart rhythm for almost an hour.
East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) said only about 8% of patients survived a cardiac arrest outside hospital.
Andy Swinburn, of EMAS, said: "Patrick's case is extremely rare. His heart muscle was very unstable, which lead to a repeated cardiac arrest meaning the crew had to shock him 17 times."
Mr Ewing said: "It's an astonishing thing to tip over the edge and be hauled back again.
"What they did for me might of just been part of their day job but they worked so hard to keep me going. I will forever be grateful."


Falkirk came from a goal down to beat Queen of the South to maintain their promotion push from the Championship.

The visitors went ahead when Chris Higgins headed in from a free-kick by Ryan Conroy.
Falkirk were level when Myles Hippolyte's cross was head in by John Biard from close range.
Queen of the South defender Andy Dowie headed a cross into his own net, before Blair Alston drove low into the bottom corner of the goal.


A strike, which forced the suspension of Channel Tunnel services and led hundreds of migrants to try to board UK-bound lorries, is now over, but some travel delays continue.

Here is the latest situation on the roads, trains and ferries.
M20 in Kent is closed coast-bound between Junction 8 (A20 Maidstone Services) and Junction 9 (A20, Ashford North) because of Operation Stack Phase 2. Non-commercial traffic is being diverted on to the A20 and lorries will be directed back on to the M20 to be parked. The Highways Agency says the M20 is expected to reopen from 08:00 BST on Wednesday.
For more details, click here.
Eurotunnel: Services are operating to schedule from both the UK and France, with up to one departure per hour. Call +44 (0) 8444 63 00 00.
Eurostar: A full and normal service is expected to resume on Wednesday.
If you booked on www.eurostar.com or on its mobile application, you can exchange your ticket free of charge online. For further details on exchanging your ticket, click here.
DFDS Seaways:
Call UK 0871 574 7235 or international +44 208 127 8303.
P&O Ferries
Services from Calais have resumed.
All services are operating on the Dover to Calais route with space available.
MyFerryLink
Ships are returning to service now the industrial action is over.
The next departure from Calais will be at 05:50 local time and the next departures from Dover will be at 05:00 BST for freight only and then 07:00 BST.
Call 0844 2482 100 between 09:00 and 17:30 for further details.


A man who "smashed" his way into the home of a bed-ridden pensioner in Denbighshire has been jailed for nine years.

Ynyr Ial Lewis, of St Asaph, admitted aggravated burglary in Rhyl and a separate burglary at a Kinmel Bay pub.
He implicated two other men in the case but they were later cleared.
Mold Crown Court heard the victim, a 72-year-old man with cancer, is now fearful of living in his home of 36 years.
One of the three men was said to have links to the victim and believed a large amount of money was in his home.
There was a struggle in the house and a neighbour who attempted to intervene was hit on the head, requiring 12 stitches.
The court heard the three men, who had been carrying poles and a knife, got away with Â£3,000 which had never been recovered.
Judge Niclas Parry told Lewis, 36, he had taken part in a burglary which had "every conceivable aggravating feature to it".
He said he accepted Lewis had mental health issues but added that much of his issues related to his drug taking.
Lewis was jailed for eight years for the aggravated burglary and 12 months for the pub burglary, to run consecutively.
DC Dave Smith, of North Wales Police, said: "Those who commit domestic burglaries must realise there is consequence to their actions and if found guilty can expect a significant period of imprisonment."


A High Court ruling on abortion law could mean every girl under the age of 16 who becomes pregnant in Northern Ireland has a right to a termination, the human rights commissioner has said.

A judge ruled on Monday that Northern Ireland's legislation on the issue is in breach of human rights law.
He said grounds for abortion should be extended to include pregnancies resulting from sexual crime.
The legal age of sexual consent in Northern Ireland is 16.
The current law in Northern Ireland only allows an abortion in cases where 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 a legal challenge of the abortion law, seeking its extension to cases involving serious foetal malformation and pregnancies caused by rape or incest.
Les Allamby, the NIHRC's chief commissioner, said girls under 16 who become pregnant are victims of sexual crime "regardless if the father of the child is subsequently prosecuted or not".
He said the judge's ruling was a recognition of that, and added that if the ruling was enacted it would give girls the choice of an abortion.
"In human rights law terms, children and young people have the right to be heard and listened to," Mr Allamby said.
"I think it's very important that a 14 or 15-year-old has a chance to outline her own mind and be taken seriously every bit as much as somebody who is 17, 18 or much older.
"The matter would be for the woman or the girl to choose whether she wished to access a termination."
Brice Dickson, a professor of law at Queen's University in Belfast, said the Northern Ireland Assembly "may choose to restrict what the judge said" when putting the judgement into law.
"It may confine these cases to rape and not to sexual activity with a child," Prof Dickson said.
"It will all come down to what the legislation, which ultimately is required to be put in place, says and how it defines a sexual crime."
Anti-abortion campaigners were critical of the judge's ruling, with Bernadette Smyth, of the Precious Life group, said it had been an "undemocratic decision".
She added: "It will clearly see, long term, the opening of the floodgates."
The ruling left a "a very grey area" on the issue of allowing abortions for girls under 16, according to Marion Woods, of the anti-abortion group LIFE Northern Ireland.
"We would be concerned that a blanket ruling that covers everybody causes too much confusion, which is why we would be saying the law should not be changed at all because it does cause too much confusion," Ms Woods said.
"As we unpick the difficulties, we are seeing that this will eventually dig down to abortion on demand."


Since almost five decades of rule by a military junta came to an end in Myanmar (also known as Burma) in 2011, a growing number of tourists are choosing to visit the South East Asian nation.

From ancient cities, to dazzling Buddhist temples, and unspoilt beaches and countryside, it is easy to see the attraction of the country to international visitors.
This year an estimated three million travellers will visit Myanmar, according to the government's Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
This is a 50% rise on the two million who entered the country in 2013, and triple the one million who visited in 2012.
After 49 years of international isolation, Myanmar's tourism sector is having to work hard - and quickly - to meet the wants and needs of all the new overseas visitors.
With the country's tourism industry still in such a nascent state, it means tremendous opportunities for young Burmese entrepreneurs.
And despite continuing problems in the country - such as sectarian violence between majority Rakhine Buddhists and minority Rohingya Muslims - most young businessmen and women in the tourism sector are very optimistic about the future.
Min Than Htut is keen to explain why he called his tour company Pro Niti Travel.
"Professionalism is something many people in Myanmar have not yet had the chance to develop," the 24-year-old says.
"So the 'Pro' part of the name comes from that. Niti is a Pali [a Buddhist language] word meaning 'ethics'."
Min first started to work in the tourism sector when, while studying for a qualification in chemistry, he got a job as a hotel bellboy.
He then went on to become an assistant at a travel agency, before deciding to set up on his own in Yangon (also known as Rangoon) a year ago.
To establish his own travel business Min first had to save up for, and then complete, a government accreditation course, which costs about $200 (Â£120).
Source: World Tourism Association
He says: "I learned that to work [legitimately] I needed the tourist licence. It takes only two months, but it's very competitive."
Min successfully passed the course, and now has four staff, an on-call driver, and a network of tour guides around the country, most of whom are former classmates.
From day one, Min says he realised how crucial it would be for him to use the internet to attract potential customers from around the world.
Yet this is no easy feat when you are based in Myanmar, a country that holds the dubious honour of having one of the lowest rates of internet penetration in the world.
In 2012 only 1% of the Burmese population had access to the internet, according to a study by one global think tank.
Until recently, Min did not have his own internet connection, and instead had to go to a local internet cafe.
"It used to be so slow," he says. "It used to take me almost one hour to reply to one email sometimes!"
Despite the slow speeds, Min persevered and set about familiarising himself with the online landscape. He started by providing advice about Myanmar for free on travel website forums, which eventually led to some of his first clients.
Today, Min is able to go online on his mobile, and Pro Niti Travel has its own website. Despite this, Min says he gets many of his clients via word of mouth, and thanks to positive reviews on travel review sites such as TripAdvisor.
"People forget tourism is mostly a referral market. You need the reference."
While internet connectivity in Myanmar is set to improve substantially - after major contracts to roll out new mobile phone networks were recently won by Norwegian telecoms firm Tenenor and Qatari-based Ooredoo - other young Burmese entrepreneurs also complain about connection woes.
Ye Man Thu, who manages his family's mid-range hotel in the ancient city of Bagan, says the internet going down can mean that last-minute bookings don't come through.
However, the 25-year-old's main concern is to get local licensing laws relaxed, to allow his bar and restaurant to stay open beyond the current limit of 10pm.
But the idea has ruffled some feathers with locals in a city with more than 2,000 Buddhist temples. "We have a bit of a problem with the beer stations because we are in the archaeological zone surrounded by religion and culture," he says.
"Police and authorities cannot allow people to drink beer past 10pm. [Yet] for other countries, this is not their culture, they want to relax.
"Also, it would mean a lot of jobs for young people. Business people also welcome that."
In Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, the continuing influx of foreign investment into the country following the removal of sanctions by Western nations, has led to a construction boom and a big rise in property prices.
For 28-year-old Bo, this meant she greatly struggled to find an affordable location in which to open a Thai restaurant.
Bo, who is originally from Mon State in the south of Myanmar, had spent 14 years living in Thailand, before she returned to her homeland in 2013 to set up her restaurant.
She estimates she viewed 100 "overpriced" properties before finding a suitable place, but still found it expensive.
"I had no idea how much it was going to cost me for the rent, I had no idea you had to pay a year up front," she says. "I thought it would be a deposit then month-by-month.
"I also had to read up on how to make a contract."
Bo eventually borrowed money from her family for her first rent payment, and eight months on her Green Gallery draws a crowd of expats and tourists, and some locals.
Despite the challenges faced by budding entrepreneurs in Myanmar, Min Than Htut is confident that the country's tourism sector will enjoy long-term success.
"Too many people think about tourism in the short term," he says. "People need to think about what will happen in many years. This is the start of a transition."


Hearts have placed Jon Daly in interim charge as they search for Ian Cathro's successor as head coach.

The Premiership club sacked Cathro on Tuesday after seven months in charge.
The Tynecastle outfit said Daly would be "supported by the current coaching team of assistant head coach Austin MacPhee and first-team coach Liam Fox".
The interim team will be in charge for the Scottish Premiership opener against Celtic on Saturday and until an appointment is made.
In a statement on Wednesday, Hearts said: "Following on from yesterday's announcement, the club can confirm that the recruitment process is already under way to identify and appoint a new permanent head coach.
"This interim setup will take charge of the first-team's Ladbrokes Premiership match at Celtic on Saturday, and until a new head coach has been appointed."
Cathro, 31, who was in his first managerial role, was sacked following the club's League Cup exit.
Hearts said they "reluctantly" made the decision regarding "an extremely talented young coach with a very bright future".
Daly joined Hearts' coaching staff in January 2016, becoming the club's new U20s coach.
At the time of his appointment, Hearts' director of football Craig Levein described Daly as someone who the club believed possessed the attributes to "develop into a great coach".


Scotland's food watchdog is advising people not to drink the Macb brand of water as a "precaution".

Customers had raised concerns over the smell and taste of the water, which is manufactured in Macduff, Aberdeenshire.
The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) said it was aware of an incident involving bottled water and an investigation was under way.
The FSS advised people not to drink the brand in the meantime. The owners of Macb have not yet commented.


Newport County boss Mike Flynn says achieving survival in League Two is "not impossible" after their 1-1 draw against Luton Town on Tuesday.

The Exiles were 11 points adrift at the bottom of the EFL when Flynn replaced Graham Westley on 9 March.
Flynn's side have taken seven points from his first four matches in charge and are now six points from safety.
"We're two wins behind them [Cheltenham Town] and it could come down to goal difference," he told BBC Radio Wales.
"It's not impossible [to stay up] but it's some mountain to climb. We've got some tough games coming up. I'm confident and believe in the players.
"The fight they are showing and the chances they are creating now is very encouraging. Cut out the silly mistakes and we're going to win a few games."
Newport came from behind to seal a point against Luton after conceding an early penalty, but were reduced to 10 men when Mark O'Brien received two yellow cards.
The Exiles travel to promotion-chasing Portsmouth on Saturday and will hope to record a third win in five league games.
"I can understand why Mark got the second booking but the boys actually recovered really well so it's a bit disappointing he's out for Saturday," Flynn said.
"There's competition for places, we've taken seven out of 12 points. Would I have taken that before I came in? I probably would.
"It closes the gap to two games. Let's hope it puts the pressure on the other teams and they start feeling it.
"We'll never stop fighting as long as I'm here, that's for sure."


When Boris Nemtsov was shot dead on a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin, it soon emerged that he had been preparing a report aiming to expose Russia's military involvement in eastern Ukraine.

That report was never written, but the murdered opposition politician's colleagues, led by his close associate Ilya Yashin, have since worked to finish it.
Most of the Russian-language report, entitled Putin. War, is based on facts that have already appeared in Russian and foreign media since Crimea was annexed in March 2014 and conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine.
But its authors say putting the facts together and describing the human and economic cost of the conflict makes a very compelling case for accusing President Vladimir Putin of waging war in Ukraine for his own ends.
Russia has consistently denied accusations that it has sent regular troops and armour to help rebels in eastern Ukraine, arguing that any Russians serving there are "volunteers".
But Mr Yashin, who presented the report, said Russian soldiers and equipment were decisive to securing all major victories claimed by the pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk.
"All the separatists' key successes were secured by Russian army units," he said.
"The soldiers directly admit they were directed on to Ukraine territory, admit that they were brought there to take part in a war operation. There is no doubt they did not end up there by accident."
The dossier presents evidence of volunteer soldiers who admit that it was Russian generals, not separatists, who directed the main battles in eastern Ukraine.
A Russian army veteran, described as helping to enlist volunteers, says they are not doing it for nothing: salaries can reach $2,000-3,000 (Â£1,250-1,900) a month.
Russian spending on the conflict is calculated at 53bn roubles (Â£665m; $1bn):
Boris Nemtsov began work on the report early this year, after hearing that the relatives of dead Russian soldiers had not been given promised compensation.
But those relatives never went public and, after his assassination, have become even more scared.
Names and numbers of military units are documented, along with photos of weaponry, although activists point out these are harder to verify without knowing where they were taken.
How many Russians are fighting in Ukraine?
BBC team attacked while investigating soldiers' deaths
Russian families look for soldier sons
Mr Yashin said the opposition would seek donations to extend the initial print run of only 2,000 copies.
But publishing and distributing this kind of dossier is hard work. Many publishers were afraid to work with this material, he said.
And above all, the question remains: How many people are keen to learn the facts which for months have been available on the internet and the few liberal media that remain in Russia?
There are plenty of Russians aware of their country's involvement in eastern Ukraine, who nevertheless find it acceptable, because they believe Moscow is supporting those who wish to be independent of the government in Kiev.
But the opposition does not see it as support. It accuses President Putin of masterminding and directing the war to boost his failing popularity.
In this, they admit he was successful.
And it is entirely possible their report may well see the same fate as earlier works published by the late Boris Nemtsov.
Critics of Mr Putin praised Mr Nemtsov's reports on corruption in the president's entourage and on the true cost of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
But they failed to galvanise protests against him.


Scotland's Russell Knox has decided to join the European Tour with a view to qualifying for the 2016 Ryder Cup.

US-based Knox, 30, has seen his ranking rise to 29 after winning the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai. He also just missed out on another victory at the OHL Classic in Mexico.
"I am excited about taking up European Tour membership in 2016," said Knox.
"I look forward to trying to make Darren Clarke's team for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine."
This decision by Knox, originally from Inverness, was confirmed to BBC Scotland by his agent John Wiler, who added that Knox's breakthrough had just been "a matter of time".
The 2016 European Tour season begins on 26 November with the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, but Knox is not expected to make his first appearance until the Nedbank Golf Challenge event - also in South Africa - on 3 December.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley recently announced changes to membership regulations, with players now only required to compete in a minimum of five European Tour sanctioned tournaments outside the Major Championships and World Golf Championships.
Europe won the 40th Ryder Cup in 2014 at Gleneagles and there will be nine automatic spots available in captain Clarke's 12-man team for the duel against USA on 30 September to 2 October 2016.
But Knox's WGC triumph in Shanghai cannot help him in the points race to secure one of those places, as he was not a European Tour member at the time of that victory.


Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has said it is "difficult" for Jeremy Corbyn to continue as party leader after a vote of no confidence.

Labour MPs voted against Mr Corbyn by 172 to 40 in the motion, after a series of shadow cabinet resignations.
Ms Dugdale said that "if I lost the confidence of 80% of my parliamentary colleagues, I could not do my job".
Mr Corbyn said he would not "betray" the members who voted for him by resigning as leader.
More than 20 members of Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet and a similar number of junior ministers have quit, including sole Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray.
Lourd Foulkes, chairman of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party, said no Scottish politicians would fill the shadow Scottish secretary position vacated by Mr Murray while Mr Corbyn is leader.
The former Scottish Office minister said Mr Corbyn would struggle to find "decent people" to fill shadow cabinet posts.
Ms Dugdale said that she had an "excellent" relationship with Mr Corbyn, and said she had spoken with him on the phone on Monday evening.
However, she noted that she had been elected to her position with a similar mandate, and underlined that she could not do her job if she "lost the confidence of 80% of my parliamentary colleagues".
The Scottish Labour leader said it was "difficult" for Mr Corbyn to now continue in his job.
The no-confidence vote held by Labour on Tuesday is not binding.
Lord Foulkes, who chairs the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party at Westminster, claimed that far-left and new members would soon constitute the front bench under Mr Corbyn's leadership.
He also suggested that Labour could lose its last seat north of the border if Mr Corbyn remained in his post.
Mr Corbyn faced calls to resign at a meeting in the House of Commons on Monday after more than 20 members of his shadow cabinet and a similar number of junior ministers walked out, questioning his performance during the EU referendum and ability to lead the party.
Labour's only MP in Scotland, Mr Murray, resigned from his position as shadow Scottish Secretary on Sunday.
He confirmed during a live interview on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme that he had written to his leader informing him he was stepping down.
Mr Murray said matters had been brought to a head by the result of the EU referendum.
I'm sitting here on College Green looking at the Houses of Parliament and at times you think we are in a Westminster soap opera.
Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn went into a meeting of his MPs after more than 40 said he could no longer work with him.
He got a right royal kicking.
Then he went out to be cheered on by more than 5,000 supporters holding a rally in Parliament Square.
It was like he was in political intensive care, and received a political blood transfusion.
Today's vote doesn't force anything, but Labour MPs will have to make a decision about whether to stand against him."


Occasionally stories break through that give a graphic sense of the enormous educational struggle faced by children, particularly girls, in many parts of the world.

For example, the shooting in the head of Malala Yousafzai - an advocate for girls' education -  in 2012; the Taliban murder of 132 schoolchildren in an attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 2014; and the abduction by Boko Haram of some 200 Nigerian schoolgirls in the same year.
Behind the headlines, the outlook, in terms of educational opportunities for children in some of the poorest parts of the world, appears to be worsening, in spite of international efforts to reverse the trend.
Norway's capital, Oslo, played host this week to an education and development conference, led by the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg.
On the agenda was the issue of what to do about the education of children, particularly girls, worldwide.
Malala, now a Nobel Peace Prize winner for her campaigning on education, attended, as did former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Malala, writing in the Daily Telegraph, quoted a figure of 60 million girls worldwide being denied an education.
In the Guardian newspaper, Mr Brown described the challenge as nothing less than "the civil rights struggle of our time".
New figures from Unesco appear to back up that argument, revealing that the global number of children and young adolescents not enrolled in school has been rising in recent years.
In the school year ending in 2013, some 124 million children between the ages of six and 15 either dropped out of school or did not enrol in the first place.
That was up on the figure of 122 million in 2011.
The majority of those children who have never enrolled are girls, so that means some 62 million girls are out of school worldwide.
The global number of out-of-school children of primary school age is also rising. It now stands at 59 million.
Of those, 30 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 10 million in South and West Asia.
Girls' primary school completion rates are below 50% in most poor countries, according to Unesco.
Other statistics pertaining to the situation of girls - and the impact on their life chances - are just as troubling.
According to Unicef, every year 15 million girls are forced or coerced into marriage, and one in every three girls in the developing world is married by the age of 18.
Many of those who have studied the issue believe that women and girls face particular obstacles that keep them out of education, including violence, early pregnancy, discrimination, and the costs of going to school.
Wars, big and small, are also taking their toll.
Some 30 million children are believed to have been displaced worldwide as a result of the growing conflict and chaos in different parts of the globe.
Figures are hard to pinpoint but according to the UNHCR, the number of refugees has risen to 59 million in 2014, an increase of more than eight million in just one year.
That was largely due to the conflict in Syria, which saw an average of 42,500 people become refugees every day last year.
The majority of Syrian children lack basic necessities and are unable to go to school.
As of December 2013, of the 4.8 million school-age Syrian children, some two million inside the country were out of school, as were half a million Syrian refugee children in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.
It is hard to believe that as recently as 2000, Syria had achieved universal primary enrolment.
According to Unesco, Syria is not the only country with a large number of out-of-school children and adolescents.
At least one million children were denied the right to education in each of the following countries: India, Indonesia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan and the United Republic of Tanzania.
To pick out just one country in that list - Pakistan - there has been some progress in literacy rates but the situation for young girls, particularly in rural communities, remains a huge challenge.
The paragraphs below in the latest Unesco report sum up the scale of the challenge worldwide.
"Despite [some] gains [in literacy rates], 781 million adults still could not read or write - two-thirds of them (496 million) were women. In more than a dozen countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, fewer than half of all adults had basic literacy skills," says the report.
It goes on: "Among youths, 126 million were illiterate, of which 77 million were female. Even though the size of the global illiterate population is shrinking, the female proportion has remained virtually steady at 63% to 64%."
Study after study appears to suggest that education helps girls increase their potential wages with each extra year, and the financial independence gained helps them take control of their lives.
The participants at the conference in Oslo recognised the scale of the challenge.
But it is not obvious that just agreeing on aims and goals is enough to bring about much change.


A professor in China has invented a taxing new way of preventing students from turning up late for his classes.

Wang Sijun, who teaches at a university in Sichuan province, has been giving tardy students a complex character to write out on paper 1,000 times.
The Chinese character for "biang", is made up of 56 pen strokes.
The word holds no meaning but local media said Mr Wang drew inspiration for it from the name of a noodle dish he had while visiting Shaanxi province.
The Chengdu Economic Daily newspaper reported that two unfortunate students had received the penalty so far.
The first student said she could not continue writing the word after the 200th time as it became "so tiring".
In the end, she had asked Prof Wang to commute the punishment, and promised that she would never be late for class again.
The second latecomer volunteered instead, to draw one hundred Terracotta Warriors, also a specialty from Shaanxi. He took more than four hours to finish his drawings.
Chinese characters are often rated among the most difficult languages in the world to write and master.
They are made up of simple strokes, variations of eight basic ones, which are combined into characters. Those in turn, are used to form words and sentences.
Experts often say that the only effective way to master the art of writing Chinese is by repetition.
So students frequently practise handwriting exercises, writing out multiple lines of Chinese characters by hand.
Following news of the professor's punishment, the "biang" character has spread widely online.
On Chinese social media, many netizens exchanged praise for the professor's "creative" form of punishment.
"One look at that and I won't ever be late for class again," commented one user on popular micro-blogging platform Weibo.
"This sounds like an interesting and refreshing mode of punishment," said Luying Yang, a teacher on Weibo.
Another said: "The professor was not asking for too much from his students to not arrive late for class - so I think this was actually quite a reasonable penalty. The word looks painful to write but it was not an outrageous punishment overall."
Mei Wei Zhu said the punishment could have been worse: "Imagine if he made them write out their punishment in traditional calligraphy."


A second UK military healthcare worker has been flown to England following "likely exposure" to the Ebola virus via a needle-stick injury in Sierra Leone.

The patient is being monitored at London's Royal Free Hospital and does not currently have a diagnosis or symptoms of the virus.
Public Health England says there is no risk to the general public.
The patient will be watched for 21 days to see if they develop Ebola.
Another military health worker was sent to the UK on Saturday following a similar incident and is also being observed at the hospital.
Prof Paul Cosford of Public Health England said: "We can confirm that all the appropriate support is being offered to this individual and that strict protocols have been followed to transfer them back to the UK.
"We would like to emphasise that there is no risk to the general public's health.
"Our thoughts are with both of the healthcare workers, and their families, affected at this time."
Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Francois said: "This is entirely a precautionary measure and our priority is the wellbeing of the individual involved.
"Their family has been informed and will receive all possible support from the government."
He said although the two similar incidents had occurred within a short space of time, they appeared to be unrelated.
"Our personnel receive the highest standard of training and briefing prior to deployment," he said.
Needle-stick injuries involve a piercing of the skin by a sharp instrument or object, typically a needle.
Experts have said such injuries are one of the most dangerous risks for infection as the virus could be delivered directly into the bloodstream.


Eight civilians have been killed and five others wounded in a suicide bomb attack in a town south-west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, officials say.

Six suicide bombers entered Ain Tamr from the western province of Anbar early on Monday, but they were confronted by security forces.
The jihadist group Islamic State (IS) said it was behind the attack.
In a separate incident, two bomb attacks in the Iraqi city of Falluja have killed at least eight people.
The bombers targeted government soldiers at two checkpoints in the centre of the city.
The attacks in Falluja are the first since government forces recaptured the city from IS militants in June.
On Sunday, IS carried out a series of bombings in and around Baghdad that killed at least 23 people and wounded 70 others.
In the bombing in Ain Tamr on Monday, five of the bombers were shot dead, but the sixth broke into a house where he blew himself up, killing eight civilians.
Officials said the bombers had been attempting to infiltrate the Shia Muslim holy city of Karbala, about 50km (30 miles) to the east.
Millions of Shia pilgrims are travelling to Karbala to commemorate Arbaeen, the end of the 40-day mourning period for the third Shia Imam, Hussein. This year, it will take place on Sunday.
Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed in battle at Karbala in the 7th Century on a day that is known as Ashura. His martyrdom is considered a defining event in the Sunni-Shia schism.
The Sunni extremists of IS consider Shia to be apostates worthy of punishment by death for their veneration of the Prophet's family and other beliefs and practices.
IS has launched a series of attacks in Iraq since government forces launched a major offensive to recapture the northern city of Mosul, the jihadists' last major urban stronghold in the country.
On Monday, the Iraqi military said security forces were now 3km (1.9 miles) from the village of Albu Saif, which lies just to the south of Mosul's international airport, a key objective.


The North West 200 international road races will retain their mid-May slot for 2017, with the week-long festival taking place from 7-13 May.

Practicing will take place on Tuesday 9 May and Thursday 11 May, with racing on Thursday evening and Saturday 13 May.
In May, Alastair Seeley broke Robert Dunlop's record for the most wins at the event when he made it 17 wins over the Triangle circuit.
The meeting was overshadowed by the death of Malachi Mitchell-Thomas.


A burst water main has caused flooding outside a south-west London station.

Commuters posted pictures of themselves wading through water outside New Malden station on Thursday evening.
Thames Water said the flooding was caused by a burst water main on Coombe Road. It apologised to customers but said it could not estimate how many people were affected.
Police and London Fire Brigade attended the scene, while trains were not stopping at the station.
A Thames Water spokesman said: "We are sorry to anyone affected by the flooding in the New Malden area and to any customers who may be experiencing low pressure or no water.
"Our engineers are on site and are working to isolate the burst pipe and stop the leak."


Scientists are calling for urgent action to halt the spread of a pest that is destroying maize crops and spreading rapidly across Africa.

The fall armyworm poses a major threat to food security and agricultural trade, warns the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (Cabi).
It says farmers' livelihoods are at risk as the non-native insect threatens to reach Asia and the Mediterranean.
The Food and Agriculture Organization plans emergency talks on the issue.
The fall armyworm, so called because it eats its way through most of the vegetation in its way as it marches through crops, is native to North and South America but was identified for the first time in Africa last year.
Cabi chief scientist Dr Matthew Cock said: "This invasive species is now a serious pest spreading quickly in tropical Africa and with the potential to spread to Asia.
"Urgent action will be needed to prevent devastating losses to crops and farmers' livelihoods."
Scientists think the caterpillar or its eggs may have reached the continent through imported produce.
Once established in an area, the adult moths can fly large distances and spread rapidly.
Dr Jayne Crozier, of Cabi, said the fall armyworm's presence had now been confirmed in west Africa and was thought to be present in the south and east of the continent, many parts of which rely on maize for their staple diet.
"It's possibly been there for some time and it's causing a lot of damage now," she told BBC News.
"The recent discovery of fall armyworm in Africa will be a huge threat to food security and also to trade in the region."
The FAO is to hold an emergency meeting in Harare between 14 and 16 February to decide emergency responses to the fall armyworm threat.
It says the pest has been confirmed in Zimbabwe and preliminary reports suggest it may also be present in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.
An investigation by Cabi has found that the fall armyworm is established in Ghana.
Experts at Cabi say it could take several years to develop effective methods to control the pest.
And they say there is confusion over the identity of the fall armyworm as it is similar to other types of armyworm, which are already present in Africa.
Zambia has used army planes to spray affected areas with insecticides.
Follow Helen on Twitter.


In the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima, Venezuelan small business owner William Camero is emptying a rucksack decorated with the yellow, blue and red colours of the Venezuelan flag.

He pulls out big wads of Venezuelan currency - like rabbits out of a magician's hat. Each wad of 50,000 bolivares is worth less than $6 (£4.60) on the black market.
He piles the cash up on the counter until there are 25 bundles, a jenga tower of bolivares.
With the value of the bolivar at a record low, his 1.25m bolivares will get him just 14 sacks of sugar here in Brazil.
Mr Camero runs an ice-cream shop in Ciudad Bolívar, a 12-hour drive from Pacaraima.
He travels to Pacaraima, on Venezuela's southern border, every three days to get the supplies he needs and cannot get in Venezuela.
With inflation spiralling higher and higher on an almost daily basis in Venezuela, spacing his trips out more would mean carrying even more cash, and robberies on the road are common.
"In Venezuela, you don't live, you survive," says Mr Camero. "Everyone knows that."
"In order to live you have to go to another country," he says, referring to the severe shortages of staple goods.
Three hours' drive south from Pacaraima, in the Brazilian city of Boa Vista, queues start building outside the federal police station from six o'clock in the morning.
Newly arrived Venezuelans wait in line to get registered so they can work in Brazil.
According to the Brazilian federal police, in the first half of this year, 6,438 Venezuelans asked for asylum in the state of Roraima.
In 2016 as a whole, the number was 2,312, and in 2015 just 280.
There are a couple of little stands outside where people are charging $1.50 to help new arrivals fill in their forms.
Jorge, 21, is explaining on his form that he wants to stay in Brazil because there is no food or work in Venezuela.
"You can't make ends meet," he says. "They [the government] say the opposition is killing people but they are doing it."
His plan is to find a job, settle down and start a family here in Brazil. He does not want to return to Venezuela any time soon.
Avenida Venezuela is the road which connects Boa Vista with the Venezuelan border. At each crossing, there are Venezuelans trying to earn money.
One man has a sign around his neck which simply reads: "I'm looking for work."
Delia Farías is a mother of two with a degree in education. She washes car windscreens.
"I was thinking of my kids' future, how to provide them food, so they wouldn't die of malnutrition," she says, squeegee in hand.
Watch: Venezuela's child malnutrition crisis
"To pay for their medicine, if they're ill. In Venezuela, they don't give you anything," she says of the difficulties of getting hold of even basic medication and food in Venezuela.
In the centre of Boa Vista, by the town's food market, Claudia (not her real name) is waiting on the street corner, laughing and joking with female friends.
She is wearing a vest top with the words: "Don't Look Back". It could almost be a mantra for what she is going through.
The 22-year-old was a stay-at-home mum in the city of Maturín, in Venezuela. She came to Boa Vista a year ago and her mother and children recently joined her.
She is one of a growing number of Venezuelans working in the area of town locals call Ochenta (Spanish for 80). It refers to the price in the Brazilian currency that people pay for sex. It is about $25 (£19).
But with Brazil's economy in the doldrums, Claudia often has to accept less. Still, being a sex worker in Boa Vista offers her a better life here than the one she had back home in Venezuela, she says.
"We have more access to food because in Venezuela, there isn't any," she says.
Her mother knows what she does. "She accepts it because it's how we can make a living."
Brazilian state authorities are under pressure. In December, they provided a gymnasium to house incoming Venezuelans.
With their belongings in plastic bags, entire families are perched on the concrete stands along the wall. At night, more than 300 people sleep on the floor.
Óscar Rodríguez is from Venezuela's Warao indigenous community. With his four children and his wife, he sleeps under a piece of black tarpaulin in the shelter's yard.
He, too, wants to find work in Boa Vista, but in this town of 300,000 people, and with few Venezuelans speaking Portuguese, opportunities are hard to come by.
"We can't see an end to this crisis in Venezuela in the near future," says Doriedson Ribeiro from Roraima Civil Defence.
"We're afraid more and more people will keep coming and it will get to a point where we won't be able to help anymore."
The number of Venezuelans arriving is showing no sign of easing.
And while for the hundreds of people in this shelter the future is unclear, they say that it still beats the alternative back home in Venezuela.


Two boys have been taken to hospital following a crash between a car and a bicycle on Tuesday morning.

An ambulance was called to Golftyn Lane in Connahs Quay, Flintshire, shortly before 08.30 BST.
The pair were taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester.
One of the boys had minor injuries, and the other had injuries which were not thought to be life-threatening, a spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said.


Britain's leading badminton players hope a crowdfunding campaign will help support their Tokyo 2020 Olympic bid after UK Sport's funding cut.

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The sport received £5.5m in the build-up to Rio 2016, where GB's Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge won bronze.
However, UK Sport felt GB players - who claimed four European medals last week - were not "credible" Tokyo 2020 medal prospects and cut all support.
"A little public support could make a big difference," said Rajiv Ouseph.
UK Sport's funding cut - announced in late 2016 - came into effect on 1 April.
The crowdfunding campaign has been launched by Badminton England - from which the majority of the British squad are drawn.
The cut resulted in half of the 24-strong England Badminton player squad leaving, while 13 staff members - including physiotherapists and doctors - lost their jobs.
"Personally, there aren't as many players around for me to play with now and most of the support staff we've had in place have left, so any help would be massive," European singles champion Ouseph told BBC Sport.
The team's performance director Jon Austin admits delivering the news to the squad was one of the most difficult moments of his career.
"It was a decision which could potentially end people's dreams and careers and I broke down in front of the players and staff having to do that," he said.
"I still feel the decision [by UK Sport] was unjust, but we are trying to move forwards and the crowdfunding is designed to best support those that remain in the programme going forwards."
Commonwealth champions Chris and Gabby Adcock - who claimed a maiden European gold medal last week - believe the British results at the event in Denmark prove the potential in the squad.
"It's been a tough time for the team, no-one is denying that, but everyone has been really resilient and stuck together throughout," Gabby Adcock told BBC Sport.
"Being an athlete is a rollercoaster and UK Sport is just another bump in the road so we won't let it distract from our goals and the big things that we want to achieve."
Chris Adcock added: "Everyone is fighting and we will find a way to succeed."


Elephants have performed for the last time at one of the top circuses in the United States.

The 11 Asian females from the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus are being retired amid changing attitudes to animals used as performance acts.
The animals took to the ring in Providence, Rhode Island, and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, ending nearly a century and a half of tradition.
They will be housed at a conservation centre in Florida run by the company.
Some animal rights activists have criticised the facility, describing it as little more than a breeding centre, with inadequate space for the elephants.
This is disputed by the circus's Center for Elephant Conservation, which says the focus is on animal care, conservation and health.  The centre also carries out studies into the apparent ability of elephants to suppress cancer more easily than humans.
At the show in Rhode Island, where six elephants were displayed, ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson described it as an emotional time.
"That's history tonight there, ladies and gentlemen, true American icons,'' he told the crowd.
Elephants have been used in American circuses for 200 years.
Circus pioneer Hachaliah Bailey bought an African elephant, Old Bet, in 1808, said to be the first elephant to perform in the US.
They are still used in other circuses in the US, but in recent years animal rights campaigners have thrown a spotlight on the welfare of these and other animals in the entertainment industry.
In increasing numbers of US cities, it has become harder for circus elephants to perform, with some outlawing the use of the bullhook  - a sharp instrument used in training.


The Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS) could only make half of its scheduled bailout loan repayments to the Department of Enterprise (DETI) in 2013 and 2014.

The PMS went into administration in November 2008.
The department bailed out the insolvent society with £225m of loans in 2010.
Annual instalments are due to repay £175m over 10 years with the £50m balance being paid when the society is wound up.
The reduced annual payments for the last two years mean that is possible a bigger lump sum will have to be found at the winding up stage.
The most recent PMS accounts, for the year ended March 2014, state that in 2013 just under £9.7m was repaid. That consisted of £6.5m capital with the remainder in interest.
The accounts state that this was "50% less than the original capital repayment schedule agreed by DETI".
The PMS is largely repaying the loans from the rental income earned on its investment properties.
The society was forced into administration in 2008 after a run on withdrawals when members realised it was not covered by new government deposit guarantees.
Nearly 10,000 Presbyterians lost access to their savings.
The bailout allowed for smaller savers, who invested less than £20,000, to get all of their money back in 2011.
Larger investors got 85% with the remaining 15% dependent on the disposal of PMS properties and other assets.
A DETI spokeswoman said: "When the £175m loan was provided to the Presbyterian Mutual Society in 2011, the forecast repayment schedule was dependent upon a number of assumptions and variables, including market conditions and the future prospects for the recovery of the property market.
"The joint supervisors for the PMS sought the agreement of the department to reschedule 50% of the capital repayments forecast for 2013/14 and 2014/15 as noted in the PMS accounts for 2013/14.
"Having reviewed the position, the department accepted the request. This does not alter the requirement on the society for the full repayment of the loan."
In a statement, the joint supervisors of the PMS said: "The original schedule of repayments was based on an assessment of future cash flow which was made at the time the scheme was drawn up.
"The deferral is due to changes to the assumptions used at the start of the scheme including variations in market conditions, timing of events and the recovery of the property market.
"It is still the intention of the joint supervisors to repay the loan over the period of the scheme."


A woman is in a serious condition in hospital after being hit by a car in Neath.

The pedestrian was struck by a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Dyffryn Road, Bryncoch, at about 16:05 GMT on Saturday.
She suffered serious injuries and is being treated at Swansea's Morriston Hospital.
Her family have been informed and South Wales Police are investigating the crash.


Ronny Deila insists he never doubted his Celtic players' mettle as they trounced Greenock Morton.

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Deila's side scored three first-half goals in the quarter-final and were later drawn with Rangers in the semis.
"We had a rough period," Deila said. "We haven't lost so much but we haven't played well, we've had some draws and in cups, you have to win.
"We're in the semi-final again, four times in two years, and will do everything to get the trophy."
Deila added he paid little attention to the criticism directed towards him and his team in the wake of a disappointing run of form that has helped Aberdeen maintain a credible challenge to the Premiership leaders.
"Everybody knows what's in it - there's winners sitting in that dressing room," said Deila. "They hate losing and they hate performing badly. It's about getting the right mentalit,, and that people are calm and focus on the right things.
"I don't think so much about the criticism. I'm as disappointed as everyone else and I'm maybe more critical than people around.
"You get sleepless nights and you have to believe in people around you - I believe in my players and I know what they can do and today they showed a good performance.
"If we continue building on that we will get back to the level we were at before."
Greenock Morton manager Jim Duffy meanwhile bemoaned his side's defensive mistakes in the lead-up to Celtic's early goals, with Leigh Griffiths and Gary Mackay-Steven capitalising to score and Callum McGregor adding a third.
"The work ethic was fantastic but we made errors for the first two goals in particular," said Duffy. "That gave Celtic all the incentive they needed to win the game comfortably.
"I thought we started reasonably well but the first couple of goals were basic errors. Celtic are good enough to create chances without us handing them those opportunities."


A teenager killed in Birmingham died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, a post-mortem examination has revealed.

Connor Smith, 19, was shot in Forde Way Gardens, Hawkesley, at about 21:30 BST on Thursday and was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived. He died a short time later.
West Midlands Police have said it was "a targeted attack" and have opened a murder investigation.
Mr Smith was a student from the Hawkesley area.
Det Insp Warren Hines said: "We are continuing today to make enquiries to locate the person or persons responsible for Connor's death.
"It is horrific that such a young man has lost his life and I would urge anyone who has information about Connor's death or who is responsible to do the right thing and come forward and speak to me as soon as possible."


McDonald's has won a case that could stop another company using the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix on its food and drink.

A European court upheld a 2013 ruling that said the MacCoffee trademark of a Singaporean company, Future Enterprises, was invalid.
It said that MacCoffee unfairly benefited from the branding of the US burger giant.
The move could make it tricky for any other company to use the "Mac" or "Mc" prefix for food or beverages.
The court agreed with McDonald's that MacCoffee's branding would be wrongly linked to that of the US burger giant.
It said the use of the "Mac" by Future Enterprises in its products would "associate that trademark with the McDonald's "Mc" family of trade marks and mentally establish a link between the trade marks at issue".
"It is highly probable that MacCoffee rides on the coat-tails of McDonald's in order to benefit from its power of attraction, its reputation and its prestige, and exploits, without paying any financial compensation," the judgement said.
The judgement said that members of the public could establish a link between the trademarks of the two businesses "and could transfer the image of the McDonald's trademarks to the goods covered by MacCoffee".
The ruling was regarded as positive for McDonald's.
"The court's judgement is very favourable to McDonald's as it's saying that the Singapore company is gaining from its reflected glory," said Chris McLeod, director at the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys.
The MacCoffee trademark was registered in 2010 by the European Union Intellectual Property Office, but McDonald's applied to have the trademark named invalid on the basis of the similarity to its main EU trademark and 12 other trademarks that McDonald's uses in the jurisdiction.
MacCoffee still sells its products in some EU cities, and the judgement does not prevent it from doing so, but the US burger giant may take steps to prevent it doing so, McLeod said.
"They've [successfully] applied to knock it off the register and that opens the door for a claim or request to cease the use of the prefixes."


A new Co-op store at Charing Cross in Jersey needs to be smaller for it to go ahead, according to the planning department.

The Channel Islands Co-Operative society wants to build a new food store, offices and an artists' studio on the site of its existing store.
In the process it would demolish two listed buildings and create a new five-storey building.
Planning officers have recommended rejecting the current proposals.
Colin Macleod, head of the Co-Op in Jersey, said it was "utterly unbelievable" that the planning department was unhappy with proposals for the new St Helier store.
He said he had spent Â£250,000 on plans for the site after positive early meetings with the department.
The development has been described as a major new gateway into the town centre.
Mr Macleod wants planning minister Deputy Rob Duhamel to reconsider after what he described as an "unexplained and unprofessional U-turn".
Andrew Scaite, from the planning department, said officials agreed in principle with redevelopment but were concerned about its size.
The minister will consider the plans at a public meeting on Friday.


Roma legend Francesco Totti is to retire from playing at the end of the season, the club's new sporting director Monchi has revealed.

The 40-year-old forward and club captain has scored 307 goals in 783 appearances since making his Roma debut 24 years ago.
He will become a director at the club he has served all his career.
"There is an agreement with the club that this will be his last year," Monchi said.
"Then he will continue as a director. I want him on my side because he is Roma and can teach me what Roma is," the Spaniard added.
Roma's final game of the season at home to Genoa on 28 May will be his last.
Totti, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, has won one Serie A title and two Coppa Italias at Roma.
He was widely expected to quit playing last summer but signed a one-year extension to his contract.
He has made 25 appearances this season, mostly as a substitute.


Private landlords of high-rise buildings in Wales have been urged to take up an offer of cladding safety checks after the Grenfell Tower fire.

The Welsh Government has contacted Rent Smart Wales landlords to inform them they can access the same tests given to the social housing sector.
There is no legal requirement for private landlords to carry out tests.
But Wales' Residential Landlords Association has urged them to "make no assumptions" and "take action".
The Welsh Government has asked social landlords that have cladding with aluminium composite material (ACM) - similar to that used in Grenfell Tower - to have it tested at the same centre which is conducting testing in England.
Cladding on almost 150 high-rise buildings in England have failed the tests.
In an email to Rent Smart Wales landlords, the Welsh Government said it was trying to contact private landlords of all residential blocks which were seven storeys or higher.
"We are now working with local government with a view to ensuring those living in private sector high rises are equally protected from any unnecessary risk," it said.
"Please be assured that as an owner of a unit or units within such a building no direct action in relation to the cladding is necessary on your part. You may of course wish to reassure yourself and your tenants of other general fire safety."
Douglas Haig, vice chairman and director of the Residential Landlords Association for Wales, said it was rare for private landlords to own an entire block of flats.
He said: "The fire at Grenfell Tower is a stark reminder of how important fire safety is.
"We have been very proactive in looking at fire safety and highlighting guidance to our members, to make it clear to landlords exactly what their responsibility is.
"They should pass any information on to tenants and liaise with building owners and block managers.
"Make no assumptions, take action. Even if you are a private landlord that has just one flat in a building, ask your block managers what action they are taking.
"Even though it's not a legal requirement, we should be holding them to account."


The Africa Cup of Nations could be moved to June or July as part of changes being discussed by the continent's ruling body.

The Nations Cup's timing in January and February has long angered clubs in Europe, where many Africans play.
The biennial finals could also be increased from 16 teams to 24.
"That is the first thing to talk about - we can't get away from it," said Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Ahmad Ahmad.
We are here for a historic chapter and to effect great changes. These are decisions that will determine the future of our game
"We have already had a lot of suggestions," he added in his opening address at a two-day symposium on the continental game's future in Morocco.
An unprecedented number of players turned down call-ups for this year's tournament in Gabon to stay with their clubs.
This included seven Cameroonians who refused to turn out for the team that eventually won the title.
Every two years, a club-versus-country row breaks out as European clubs complain about losing players during a crucial stage of the season to the Nations Cup.
Compounding the clubs' concerns is the fact that their players often come back fatigued from Africa's flagship sporting event.
For this year's tournament, 12 English Premier League clubs were impacted as more than 20 players left their teams mid-season.
Leicester, Stoke City and Sunderland were the worst affected as they lost three players apiece for a competition which ran from 14 January to 5 February.
Under previous president Issa Hayatou, Caf argued that the weather in many parts of Africa meant the tournament had to be staged at the start of the year.
Hayatou consistently rejected suggestions of a move to June, saying the weather then was too hot in northern Africa, too wet in the west and centre and  too cold in the south.
Many believed his view was as much about climatic conditions as not bowing to pressure from Europe because African national teams and clubs play regularly during June without adverse effects.
A move to a tournament in June and July is also set to be discussed in the Moroccan capital Rabat - as is the less likely possibility of staging the final every four, rather than two, years.
Ahmad also wants to review rules on hosting the finals, which are proving increasingly prohibitive and reducing the number of potential candidates.
He has already suggested that co-hosting would allow Caf to consider proposals to increase the number of teams at the finals to 24.
Africa's leading club competitions - the Caf Champions League and the Confederation Cup - will also be scrutinised.
There is the potential for a radical date change for the competitions, which traditionally run from early in the calendar year through to the respective finals in November.
"Africa has its particularities, like the great distances our clubs have to travel," added Ahmad, who goes by only one name.
"Clubs having to travel via Europe to play games is folly. We need solutions."
1- Africa Cup of Nations
2- Interclub Competition
3- Football Development
4- Youth Football
5- International partnerships
6- Communication and Media
7- Marketing and TV
8- Players: role and perspectives
Ahmad promised a blanket review of the African game when he successfully stood for the Caf presidency in March.
"Never before has something like this been organised in Africa," he told the assembled 200 delegates prior to the start of a series of workshops.
"We are here for a historic chapter and to effect great changes. These are decisions that will determine the future of our game.
"My ambition is to effect profound transformation of Caf and I'm personally determined to see it through with all the members," Ahmad said in his opening address.
In addition to the FA presidents, secretary generals and coaches of each African nation, a host of former stars have also been invited to give their views - as per Ahmad's election manifesto.
The invited include Jay-Jay Okocha of Nigeria, Cameroonians Samuel Eto'o, Geremi and Joseph-Antoine Bell, Hossam Hassan of Egypt, Rabah Madjer of Algeria and Morocco's Badou Zaki.
Leading national coaches, DR Congo's Florent Ibenge, Herve Renard of Morocco and African veteran Claude LeRoy, the Frenchman who currently leads Togo, have also been asked.
"I feel this could be a crucial day for African football," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who is also in attendance.
"All the stakeholders interested in this beautiful game have to work to develop African football and bring it to where it belongs, at the top of world football."


Welsh Labour should consider a split from its UK party if further differences emerge between them on Brexit, a former senior minister has said.

Leighton Andrews said UK Labour's position on Brexit over the last week had been "all over the place".
He spoke as Labour's debate on Brexit continued.
Mr Andrews described an article by a party frontbencher rejecting membership of the single market as "idiotic".
First Minister Carwyn Jones has advocated a Norway-style relationship with the EU, where the UK agrees to a number of pillars of membership of the EU including the free movement of people, allowing it to maintain its access to the single market.
But Barry Gardiner, shadow trade secretary, wrote in the Guardian that a Norway-style relationship would leave Britain a vassal state and argued Britain should leave the single market and the customs union.
Last weekend, Jeremy Corbyn also said Britain should leave the single market.
Later John McDonnell, shadow chancellor, said Mr Jones and Mr Corbyn were saying the same thing on Brexit.
"Well, I honestly think that if the UK Labour Party cannot get itself together, on this most fundamental of all issues, then I think Labour at a UK level will be in a very dire position," Mr Andrews told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme.
"In that case, given the success of Welsh Labour, particularly at the most recent general election, in assembly elections and the fact that Welsh Labour remains in government, I think there was a very strong case at the beginning of the week for taking steps to protect Welsh Labour, its identity and its role."
Mr Andrews, who previously served as local government minister until he lost his seat in the 2016 election, said over the course of the week UK Labour had been seen to be "moving back towards the Welsh Labour position", which he said was "good news".
But asked if Welsh Labour should consider a divorce should that position change again, he added: "Absolutely. No question.
"The reality, I think, is that there is a difference we're now seeing by those parts of the Labour Party who have experience of government and of experience of running things, and that's clearly the case with the Welsh Labour Welsh Government, and those in opposition who have not only no experience of government but also little experience in practice of shadow ministry.
"It's very clear that the vast bulk of Labour voters and Labour members do not favour a hard Brexit," said Mr Andrews, saying it was "absurd for Labour to be looking like it supported the hardest of all Brexits".


The father of a Scottish woman jailed in Peru after being caught with £1.5m of cocaine is helping a campaign to stop young people becoming drug mules.

Billy Reid's daughter Melissa, 21, and Michaella McCollum, 20, from Northern Ireland, were jailed for six years and eight months last year.
The pair were caught 11kg (24lb) of cocaine at Lima airport in August 2013.
Mr Reid tells of his family's anguish in the Foreign Office campaign: "Mules are fools, Don't be an ass".
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and charity Prisoners Abroad, said they were tackling the issue by "highlighting the consequences of the use, possession and smuggling of drugs in countries around the world".
Mr Reid features in a campaign video in which he describes how his daughter's imprisonment has affected her whole family.
"It's had a tremendous impact on us both emotionally and financially," he said.
"It's horrendous to see your daughter in handcuffs and the living conditions that she has to put up with. Melissa has spent her own 20th and 21st birthdays in prison in Peru.
"She missed the significant event of her only brother's wedding. Events such as Christmas are non-existent for us. There'll be no celebrations in our house, there'll be no Christmas tree until we get her back home."
Reid, from Lenzie in East Dunbartonshire, and McCollum, from Dungannon in Northern Ireland, had originally protested their innocence after being caught with the drug haul.
They said they had been kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to smuggle food packets filled with cocaine from Peru to Ibiza - the Spanish island where they had been working.
The pair later admitted they had been paid by a criminal gang to carry the drug in their luggage.
Both women are expected to be transferred to prisons in the UK, where they will serve the remainder of their sentences.
At the launch of the campaign, the FCO said 717 British nationals had been arrested abroad for drug-related offences in the year 2013-2014.
The number of arrests rose last year with significant increases in Spain, Turkey and Australia.
James Duddridge, minister for consular affairs, said: When it comes to drugs our message is clear - don't take risks, it is never worth it. You only have one life so don't waste it.
"The consequences can be devastating for both you and your family and so it is important to be familiar with the local laws. Penalties and sentences vary considerably around the world and the FCO cannot interfere in another country's legal system. So stay safe and do not break the law."
Pauline Crowe, chief executive of Prisoners Abroad, said: "We urge people to consider the severe consequences of overseas imprisonment; from unsanitary conditions that breed disease and infection, to a severe shortage of food, clean water and the most basic of medical care.
"Overseas laws can be far harsher than in the UK and committing a drugs crime, whether intentionally or not, could result in a lengthy sentence in life-threatening conditions."


Grown men were brought to tears as news broke that the Pompey Supporters' Trust (PST) had cleared the last hurdle in its bid to own its beloved Portsmouth Football Club.

Tense fans had been monitoring Twitter all afternoon until it was finally confirmed a High Court judge had signed the order paving the way for a fans' takeover.
The south coast club has been on a seemingly never-ending rollercoaster ride since Harry Redknapp became manager in 2002.
There were the highs of getting promotion to the Premier League, winning the FA Cup and entertaining the likes of AC Milan at Fratton Park in the Uefa Cup.
But with a spiralling wage bill, and problems in the background, the lows soon arrived.
Two spells in administration and two relegations later the club was faced with the threat of expulsion from the Football League within weeks if a deal could not be agreed.
Season ticket-holder Tom Dearie, 40, runs the Pompey's 12th Man website.
Holding back tears, he said: "It's been 17 months of hard work by a lot of people to get to this point. I don't think it'll sink in for a few days.
"There are so many people involved who have put so much into this - I'm almost speechless, to be honest.
"I've cried twice. The fact this is now a community-owned club and they have got rid of all those people who've caused so much damage, it's amazing."
Mr Dearie now hopes more people will come forward to pledge £1,000 each to become a shareholder in the club, with about £2m already raised.
He added: "£1,000 is a lot of money, and, quite rightly, some people were waiting and seeing what would happen before they paid up - but there's no reason to now."
Olly Birch, 22, who is a season ticket and shareholder along with father Mike, 51, said: "I'm probably the happiest I've ever been.
"I'm so happy for everyone involved as well. Everyone has come together and not only saved the club, but brought it back to the fans - it's unbelievable."
Carl Paddon, 29, from SOS Pompey, said: "Words can't describe it. We've wanted this for such a long time. I find it hard to comprehend.
"People don't understand the sacrifices people have had to make for this."
Mr Paddon also paid tribute to lifelong Pompey fan Tony Goodall, who died following a stroke in March last year.
"[He] was instrumental in setting up the trust. Hopefully he's up there watching," Mr Paddon added.
The city council has also played its part after agreeing to give club a bridging loan of £1.45m to be repaid at a rate of 5%.
Gerald Vernon-Jackson, council leader, said: "I'm really, really pleased for the trust.
"Hopefully this gives an indication around the country that to be actually owned by the community, to be owned by the fans, gives long-term stability."
A party is to be held at Fratton Park from 12:00 BST on Thursday with members of the the public welcome.


Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood is concerned about the "implications for the game" if Denny Solomona's expected move to rugby union side Sale from Castleford goes ahead.

The winger, 23, has been registered in Sale's Champions Cup squad despite his signing not having been confirmed.
Cas are taking legal action after Solomona did not report for pre-season having "resigned" from rugby league.
"Clearly the sanctity of contracts has to be respected," said Wood.
New Zealand-born Solomona, who made his Samoa debut in a rugby league international against Fiji in October, was contracted to Castleford until 2018.
Tigers chairman Steve Gill denied they had sold Solomona at the end of last season, but confirmed that two rugby union clubs and one from rugby league had made approaches.
Director of rugby Steve Diamond confirmed Sale's interest in Solomona last month, and he is set to join fellow winger Josh Charnley in making the cross-code switch to the Sharks this season.
However, Castleford are prepared to take the matter to the High Court and have appointed London barrister Nick Randall QC and Leeds-based sports lawyer Richard Cramer to fight their case.
"It's bigger than just rugby league or rugby union, it's almost like a law of the land issue really," added Wood.
"Unilaterally walking away from things is not something you would condone.
"We've been in contact with both the RFU and Premier Rugby to express our concerns. They are aware of our position."
Solomona broke Lesley Vainikolo's record for the most tries in a Super League season as he crossed 40 times in 2016.


Clarus, a London-based financial technology firm, is to establish a research and development centre in Belfast.

The centre will employ 15 people, including software engineers and business analysts.
It will be led by Gary Kennedy, the company co-founder, who began his career at Newry-based First Derivatives.
The project is supported with an Invest NI grant of Â£75,000.
Mr Kennedy said the company had considered other locations but "the strength of the talent pool, the proximity to Queen's University and the support from Invest NI" made Belfast the best option.
Clarus operates in international capital markets and provides data, analytics and research services to its customers, who include investment bankers, hedge fund managers and regulators from the the UK, the US and Europe.


Warren Buffett's investment firm Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to buy aircraft components manufacturer Precision Castparts Corp (PCC) in a deal worth $37.2bn (Â£24bn).

Mr Buffett said he had "admired PCC's operation for a long time".
Berkshire Hathaway said it expected the deal, which is subject to PCC shareholder approval, to close during the first three months of next year.
If the deal goes through, it would be the biggest buy-out Berkshire has made.
"For good reasons, [PCC] is the supplier of choice for the world's aerospace industry, one of the largest sources of American exports," Mr Buffett said.
"Berkshire's board is proud that PCC will be joining [us]."
Talking to US media, he added: "When you get a chance to buy a wonderful company, there is usually some reason why you are getting that chance and perhaps a slump in oil and gas helps us in this case".
The oil price has fallen by more than 50% in the past 12 months, reducing demand for components in some industries, not least oil and gas exploration.
The price being paid represents $235 a share, and the announcement of the deal sent shares in PCC sharply higher in early trading, to $230, up almost 20% on Friday's closing price.
Mark Donegan, PCC chief executive, said the deal offered "compelling and immediate value for our shareholders".
Analysts said the deal was likely to go ahead.
"Although the takeout price looks a little low to us, we doubt if PCC's shareholders will say no to Warren Buffett, especially given the year-to-date performance in a tough equity market," said Robert Stallard from RBC Capital Markets.
In the past 12 months, shares in PCC have fallen almost 30%.
The company makes complex metal components for the aerospace, power and industrial sectors.


MSPs are to be given a 1.8% pay rise next year - taking the first minister's entitlement to more than £150,000.

The increase means Nicola Sturgeon's salary entitlement would rise to £151,269. The UK prime minister is currently paid £149,440 a year.
Scottish cabinet secretaries will get £108,203, and backbench MSPs £61,777.
The Scottish government confirmed Ms Sturgeon and her ministers will continue with a voluntary pay freeze tying salaries to their 2008/09 level.
The extra cash will be put into a public spending fund.
The Scottish Parliamentary salaries scheme now directly links MSPs' salaries to public-sector pay rises in Scotland using the annual survey of hours and earnings published by the Office for National Statistics.
Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw, a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, told the Finance and Constitution Committee on Wednesday: "Using this index, I can confirm that an increase of 1.8% will be applied in April 2017."
The committee was told that non-MSP staff working directly for the parliament would get "about the same" as the 1.8% rise.
The corporate body's submission to the committee said the pay boost for MSPs is expected to cost a total of £200,000 as not all members are expected to claim the full entitlement.
Historically, MSPs were paid 87.5% of an MP's wage but Holyrood voted to scrap this scheme in 2015 in favour of the new system after agreeing it would be "politically unthinkable" to accept the 9% increase then on the table.
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said party leader Ruth Davidson would increase her private charitable donations commensurately with the increase, as she did last year.


More than 2,300 road bridge structures in Britain are inadequate, according to a new study.

An RAC Foundation investigation found that 2,375 bridges spanning over 1.5m (5ft) were not fit to carry the heaviest vehicles, such as lorries of up to 44 tonnes.
It would cost about Â£328m to refurbish all affected bridges, the charity said.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said it was providing up to Â£1bn funding to English councils this year.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said it was important for councils to keep their highway bridges up to scratch, and urged Chancellor George Osborne to provide more money for bridge maintenance.
"Councils are doing their utmost to keep their structures inspected, but where they find fault the price of repair can bust the hard-pressed maintenance budget," he said.
"We hope the chancellor has this in mind as he completes his spending review calculations this month."
The bridges deemed inadequate by the study represent 3% of the estimated 71,000 local bridges in Britain.
According to the research, which was carried out using Freedom of Information requests to 193 of Britain's 207 highways authorities and a survey of 50 councils, some of the bridges are substandard because they were built to less modern specifications.
It found others have deteriorated through age and use.
Mr Gooding cited the closure of London's Hammersmith Flyover, which was shut in 2011 for emergency repairs, as a "graphic illustration" of what could happen if national infrastructure is not maintained.
The flyover was closed following damage to cables in the structure, leading to major congestion.
A DfT spokesperson said funding due to be provided to local councils this financial year would "help repair local roads, including bridges and other structures."
Councils could focus on roads and infrastructure in need of urgent attention, they added.
However, a spokesman for the Local Government Association said councils are "stuck between a rock and a hard place", with traffic set to increase while local budgets are reduced.


Two Vietnamese men have been beheaded by Philippine Islamist group Abu Sayyaf, the country's military said.

Their bodies were found on Basilan island in the country's south, a stronghold of the group.
The two victims were part of six Vietnamese sailors kidnapped by the militants last year.
The southern Philippines have seen a surge in Islamist militancy with recent fighting in the city of Marawi claiming more than 400 lives since May.
"Our troops found the headless bodies after local residents alerted us," the Philippine military told the AFP news agency.
Three of the hostages are thought to still be held while one was freed last month.
Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest and most violent jihadist groups in the southern Philippines, known for its kidnap-for-ransom activity and its brutality, including beheadings.
It has pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State and has carried out kidnappings of both foreigners and Filipinos.
In February, the group beheaded a German hostage after their for demand ransom had not been met. In 2016, a Canadian hostage was beheaded.
According to the police, Abu Sayyaf is thought to be holding a total of 22 hostages, including 16 foreigners.
Abu Sayyaf was set up in the 1990s and is one of several groups that in recent years have declared allegiance to so-called Islamic State.
The southern Philippines is home to the largely Catholic country's main Muslim enclave and has a long history of separatist violence.
In the city of Marawi, fighting between a different Islamist group, the Maute group, and the military has been going on since May with the army still struggling to defeat the militants.


Theresa May has defended her trip to Saudi Arabia, saying its ties with the UK are important for security and prosperity.

The prime minister is facing questions about the UK's support for the Saudi-led coalition which is fighting rebels in neighbouring Yemen.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said UK-made weapons were contributing to a "humanitarian catastrophe".
But the PM said the UK was also a "significant donor" of aid.
Speaking to journalists as she travelled to Jordan, which she is visiting before travelling to Saudi Arabia, Mrs May said humanitarian aid was one of the issues she would be discussing on her trip.
She also defended the drive to strike new trade links, saying the UK had "long-term and historic relationships" with Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
The countries, she said, were "important for us in terms of security, they are importance for us in terms of defence and yes, in terms of trade.
"But as I said when I came to the Gulf at the end of last year, Gulf security is our security and Gulf prosperity is our prosperity."
Asked about women's rights in Saudi Arabia, where - among other restrictions - women are not allowed to drive, she pointed to the changes promised as part of its Vision 2030 programme, adding: "I hope also that people see me as a woman leader will see what women can achieve and how women can be in significant positions."
Vision 2030's goals included increasing women's participation in the workforce from 22% to 30%.
She added: "I've talked to the Saudis on a number of occasions and raised issues of this sort. We have already seen some changes.
"One of the meetings I'm going to be having when I'm in Saudi will be with a female minister.  I'll be meeting with her and talking to her about the role that she plays. And generally we do encourage people to look at women's role in society."
Mr Corbyn called for the immediate suspension of UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia.
He criticised the "dictatorial Saudi monarchy's shocking human rights record" and said the PM should focus on human rights and international law at the centre of her talks.
"The Saudi-led coalition bombing in Yemen, backed by the British government, has left thousands dead, 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and three million refugees uprooted from their homes," he said.
"Yemen urgently needs a ceasefire, a political settlement, and food aid, not more bombing.
"British-made weapons are being used in a war which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe."
As part of her visit, Mrs May is also setting out details of how a Â£1bn package to support victims of the fighting in Syria will be spent.
Downing Street said Â£840m announced last year and an extra Â£160m of new money would provide support for refugees and countries hosting them, including Jordan.
The investment will ensure refugees do not "feel forced to make the perilous and potentially life-threatening journey to Europe", Number 10 said.
It includes investment in education, skills and jobs.
Mrs May also announced that the UK will send military trainers to Jordan to help the country's air force in the fight against so-called Islamic State.


A re-think is needed on the waiting time target for routine operations as 18 weeks is too long for some patients, the new leader of UK surgeons says.

Royal College of Surgeons president Clare Marx says the "one size fits all" approach needs reviewing.
The Patients Association has backed the call for a debate, saying it is unfair to apply waiting times rigidly.
But health officials say the 18-week target will not be changed and that fewer patients face very long waits.
Latest figures show that the NHS is hitting the target, but the number of people on the waiting list has broken the 3m barrier for the first time since 2008.
The target measures the period between a patient being referred by their GP and beginning their treatment.
In most cases that should be no more than 18 weeks. A similar target is in place in Scotland, while in Wales it is 26 weeks.
But in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Ms Marx says there are people, such as those needing a gall bladder operation, for whom the current waiting times are too long.
She argues delaying surgery can sometimes cost the health service money, and after many years of efforts to reduce waiting times it is now time to look again at how the target is working.
"I would like to think it would be sustainable - people don't like to wait. But we need to think is 18 weeks too long for some, and possibly could other people wait longer than 18 weeks?"
The first woman to lead the surgeons' professional body accepts that for many politicians the 18-week waiting target is a "line in the sand" that they believe should be defended.
"We actually think that having a target has been useful. However, just simply using it as a blunt instrument is not the way forward.
"The service as a whole could deliver care in a much better way throughout the whole week.
"That would enable us to actually ensure that we have more capacity for waiting time."
Her call for a debate over waiting comes as the health service faces intense financial pressures.
She wants doctors to become more aware of the costs of their decisions.
"One of the really good things is we've worked in a system that didn't ask us to think about money and that was probably a mistake. I don't think we have been good enough - we need to be educated in what things cost."
The Patients Association says its evidence suggests the current 18-week waiting time is unacceptable for some patients.
Chief executive Katherine Murphy said the time had come to open up the debate.
"Whilst we do believe a gold standard waiting time needs to be established, it is unfair and unjust for it to be applied to all patients. Clinicians must have the authority to treat patients quicker if their condition requires it."
Pressure on waiting times is growing as the number of people on the list has reached almost three million in England.
The Department of Health recently announced an additional Â£250m for the NHS to reduce backlogs.
Health officials say there is no plan to change the 18-week target, and point to a falling number of patients in recent years facing the very longest waits.
Labour also defended the target, describing its achievement as a historic moment for the NHS.
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "Treating people in a timely manner makes good healthcare sense as well as good economic sense."
Professor John Appleby, chief economist at The King's Fund, said: "The 18-week target has played a key role in reducing waiting times for hospital treatment to the historically low levels now experienced by patients.
"But it should not be a one-size fits all target. It is designed to enable urgent cases to be treated quickly, while allowing doctors flexibility to make appropriate clinical decisions."


Hull City twice came from behind to rescue a point as Steve Bruce's side got their Championship play-off push back on track at Huddersfield.

Jamie Paterson fired home a left-foot shot to give Town a half-time lead.
Abel Hernandez levelled with a left-foot volley on 76 minutes, only for Harry Maguire to then head into his own net in the final minute of normal time.
But Adama Diomande headed the Tigers level again at the John Smith's Stadium with a 93rd-minute equaliser.
The result still leaves Bruce's men with only one win in nine matches, but it was still a positive response to Tuesday night's 4-0 defeat at Derby.
Huddersfield were well worth their lead fashioned from a fine sweeping move down the left which finally saw on-loan Middlesbrough defender James Husband square for Paterson to find the bottom corner for 12 yards to mark his 200th career appearance.
After visiting manager's son Alex Bruce fired over from six yards on the stroke of half time, it looked as if the Tigers' poor run of results was set to continue.
It took some fine saves from Allan McGregor to keep the score level before Hernandez equalised.
It looked as if Huddersfield had then won it when Harry Bunn's left-wing cross was turned into his own goal by Maguire, but substitute Diomande headed home a deflected header at the far post to secure a draw.
Hull remain fourth, nine points behind second-placed Middlesbrough while Huddersfield, who came into the game on the back of successive defeats by Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, are now nine points clear of trouble.
Huddersfield boss David Wagner told BBC Radio Leeds:
"I am long enough in this business to know it is only over when the final whistle comes, but this is a very strong side.
"We were a little bit unlucky that there was a touch and we were not unable to avoid the header, but mistakes happen. It is part of the game.
"The timing was not the best today, but I am satisfied with the performance, with the reaction after the last game on Tuesday, when we criticised ourselves.
"We asked ourselves to show the right reaction against another very strong side and this is what we did."
Hull City manager Steve Bruce told BBC Radio Humberside:
Media playback is not supported on this device
"I have to say (automatic promotion) looks a bit remote at the minute because just at the wrong time we've stumbled.
"However, if we have to go through the play-offs, we have to cement our position in the play-offs first.
"There's six games to go and we can still get 18 points, which would take us to 88 points.
"Hopefully the goal from Abel Hernandez will kick-charge him in, but we've shot ourselves in the foot by missing big opportunities."


Uganda's top court has ruled that "bride price", when a man pays his future wife's family for her hand in marriage, is legal.

But the judges have banned the practice of refunding the bride price on the dissolution of a marriage.
The custom of paying bride prices is widely practiced in Africa, but traditions vary, as some BBC Africa colleagues explain.
A bride price here is known as "lobola", where the groom's family presents either money or cows or both to the bride's family as a gesture of his willingness to marry her.
The payment of lobola is a sign of the man's commitment to take care of his wife and is seen as a symbolic act and a necessary part of upholding culture, rather than a purchase.
The term "lobola" is also used in southern Zimbabwe, but in Shona communities it is known as "roora" and while the tradition is to give cattle, this is now often replaced by cash - the amount is subject to negotiation.
There are several stages to the tradition and it is seen as a way of thanking the bride's family for bringing her up, but there is no sense that the bride is being bought.
The payment of bride price is customary in Senegal but largely symbolic.
A small amount of money and a kola nut is given to the bride's family at the mosque, after that the sum handed over can be any where from less than $100 to tens of thousands.
The Kenyan constitution outlaws the obligation to pay a bride price but it is widely understood that it will be paid.
Pastoral communities insist that it is paid in cattle and it has been cited as a cause of cattle rustling, whereas families in other communities will accept cash.
There is a sense that a transaction has taken place over the bride.
The bride price is commonly paid in Burkinabe culture and is largely a symbolic act.
There is no set amount and a little money is given, but it is mainly in goods such as kola nuts, drinks, cigarettes - and some ethnic groups may give a goat.
However, a bride's family is not normally too demanding.
In Niger there is an official maximum rate for a bride price of 50,000 CFA francs ($83, Â£54) but many pay much more than this.
The price is agreed between the families, but it is seen as a symbolic act rather than about buying the wife as Nigeriens say not matter how much is paid you cannot buy a human being.


The widow of a man murdered by a gang vandalising his car has been appointed the new victims' commissioner.

Baroness Newlove has campaigned against violence since her husband Garry was attacked and killed by youths outside their Warrington home in 2007.
In her three-year post, she will advise ministers on aspects of the criminal justice system in England and Wales affecting victims and witnesses.
She said she understood how it feels to "reach out for support" as a victim.
Baroness Newlove, who has worked as the UK government's champion for active, safer communities, was made a peer by Prime Minister David Cameron in July 2010.
The victims' commissioner job has remained unfilled since Louise Casey, the first person to take on the role, moved to a new post in October 2011 to helping deal with social problems following the riots in England.
Baroness Newlove said: "I know, as a victim of crime, how it feels to be alone, having to reach out for support at the most traumatic of times and facing a criminal justice system both daunting and difficult to understand.
"Sadly, I am not alone in feeling like this, and have been contacted by victims of crime throughout the country who feel the same."
As victims' commissioner she will take on the task of championing victims' views and advising the government on good practice.
She will also contribute to the government's revision of the code of practice for victims of crime. which is followed by the Crown Prosecution Service, police forces and the courts.
Victims' minister Helen Grant said: "I am greatly looking forward to working with Helen to make sure we better support victims traumatised by crime.
"We have already undertaken an ambitious package of reform to the way support services are provided so they will be more responsive to individual communities' needs."
Reforms outlined by the government in July 2012, included making criminals pay more towards victims' services and increasing the the victim surcharge - a levy added on top of fines for criminal offences. But its later decision to reform the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme has been questioned by victims' groups.
Garry Newlove died three days after he was kicked and punched by a group of youths, who he had spent months trying to stop from vandalising his neighbourhood. Three teenagers were jailed for life in January 2008 for his murder.


Sussex's Stiaan van Zyl scored an unbeaten 166 as Leicestershire ended day three 36-0 chasing 425 to win.

The South African struck 24 boundaries, sharing century partnerships with Luke Wright (60) and Ben Brown (67), as Sussex moved their score on from 74-1.
Jofra Archer then smashed four sixes and three fours to score 42 off 14 balls as Sussex declared on 443-6.
Leicestershire openers Paul Horton and Arun Harinath reached stumps unbeaten, leaving 389 runs to score on day four.


Almost 150,000 cruise ship passengers are scheduled to visit the Bailiwick of Guernsey during 2013.

Between April and October 103 liner visits are scheduled to Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm.
In 2011 there were 91 scheduled visits, with 29 being cancelled due to bad weather and itinerary changes.
Capt Peter Gill, Guernsey's harbour master, said: "It was a very poor year in weather terms and affected virtually every aspect of our activities."
He said: "It wasn't just the cruise liners, visiting yachts as well were significantly down on previous years, in fact last year was the worst since 1987."
Investigations into plans for a cruise liner berth off Guernsey, estimated to cost between Â£60m and Â£80m, are due to form part of the harbour master plan, which is due to be released this year.
Currently passengers are ferried between the cruise liners and Guernsey on tenders carried by the ships.
Capt Gill said: "In terms of a destination port in the UK, Guernsey is the most visited, it is the most popular... the cruise liner operators have made it quite clear to us they are very keen to come here."


The Prince of Wales has visited Poundbury to meet some of the people involved in creating it two decades ago.

The town, on the outskirts of Dorchester, was built on Duchy of Cornwall land and designed to put the needs of people before cars.
A reception for about 180 guests was held at the Jubilee Hall to mark the 20th anniversary of the development.
Architects, planners and engineers were among those who attended.
Poundbury was designed by Leon Krier in the late-1980s and building began in 1993.
The development was intended to reduce car dependency and promote greener living while using designs and materials relevant to Dorset.
It is already home to about 2,000 people and 140 businesses, employing about 1,600 people.
The town is expected to be fully completed in 2025 when it is intended to house about 5,000 people and provide 2,000 jobs.
During his visit, Prince Charles also toured Poundbury and met a family who bought their home through a shared ownership scheme.
Before arriving in Poundbury, the prince visited the Dorset Archives Service at Dorset History Centre in Dorchester, which holds archives relating to 1,000 years of the county's history.
At the centre, he helped staff complete conservation work on legal archives, gluing protective linings on to rare 18th Century jury lists.
Conservation officer Rebecca Donnan said: "He's so used to working with paint brushes he was able to follow my directions easily.
"I said to him, 'this is a nice hogs hair brush' and he agreed."
Charles also saw some of the treasures of Dorset's written history, including the Women's Institute War Record book from after World War Two, and was shown the Fordington Tithe Map from 1840, which featured the site on which Poundbury was built.