Ceremonies have been held in Northern Ireland to mark the anniversary of the end of World War One.

A two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT was observed to commemorate the dead of two world wars, and every conflict since.
Later on Wednesday, Parliament Buildings will be floodlit in red for the first time to mark Armistice Day.
Lord Mayor of Belfast Arder Carson said the ceremony of remembrance at the Cenotaph at Belfast City Hall had been "poignant and emotional".
"I am here today in respect and remembrance of all those who died in the First World War, nationalist and unionist both," the Sinn Féin councillor added.
Democratic Unionist Party councillor Guy Spence, Belfast's deputy lord mayor, said the city had "united to respect the fallen".
He added: "My father was a veteran of the armed forces, so it's an emotional day for us all and certainly one we're proud to be a part of."
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers joined MLAs for a remembrance service at Stormont, led by Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin, the assembly speaker.
Lighting Stormont's Parliament Buildings red later on Wednesday would be "an important initiative", Mr McLaughlin said.
Armistice Day is one of four days the Assembly Commission has elected for Parliament Buildings to be illuminated during the year.
Earlier, Mr McLaughlin said remembrance "should be a unifying, not a divisive concept".
"My involvement in First World War commemorations over this last year has only underlined to me the importance that the assembly should remember and show respect to the fallen."
In the Republic of Ireland, a remembrance service and parade was held at Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin.
Plaques were unveiled at the cemetery to honour Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross, the highest British military honour for gallantry.
A new exhibition on unionist and nationalist soldiers from Northern Ireland who fought together in WW1 was opened at the cemetery museum after the commemoration.


Premiership leaders Saracens have signed Glasgow Warriors lock Kieran Low on loan for the rest of the season.

Low, 24, has five Scotland caps, but has only played three games for Glasgow since joining them in the summer.
The former England Under-20 international spent six years with London Irish before moving to the Scotstoun Stadium.
"He's an international quality lock who has plenty of Premiership experience," said Sarries boss Mark McCall.
"With a few injuries and the expectancy that we will lose a few second-row forwards during the Six Nations, we are very happy to be able to bring Kieran into the group."


Stealing small amounts of food to stave off hunger is not a crime, Italy's highest court of appeal has ruled.

Judges overturned a theft conviction against Roman Ostriakov after he stole cheese and sausages worth €4.07 (£3; $4.50) from a supermarket.
Mr Ostriakov, a homeless man of Ukrainian background, had taken the food "in the face of the immediate and essential need for nourishment", the court of cassation decided.
Therefore it was not a crime, it said.
A fellow customer informed the store's security in 2011, when Mr Ostriakov attempted to leave a Genoa supermarket with two pieces of cheese and a packet of sausages in his pocket but paid only for breadsticks.
In 2015, Mr Ostriakov was convicted of theft and sentenced to six months in jail and a €100 fine.
For the judges, the "right to survival prevails over property", said an op-ed in La Stampa newspaper (in Italian).
In times of economic hardship, the court of cassation's judgement "reminds everyone that in a civilised country not even the worst of men should starve".
An opinion piece in Corriere Della Sera says statistics suggest 615 people are added to the ranks of the poor in Italy every day - it was "unthinkable that the law should not take note of reality".
It criticised the fact that a case concerning the taking of goods worth under €5 went through three rounds in the courts before being thrown out.
The "historic" ruling is "right and pertinent", said Italiaglobale.it - and derives from a concept that "informed the Western world for centuries - it is called humanity".
However, his case was sent to appeal on the grounds that the conviction should be reduced to attempted theft and the sentence cut, as Mr Ostriakov had not left the shop premises when he was caught.
Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation, which reviews only the application of the law and not the facts of the case, on Monday made a final and definitive ruling overturning the conviction entirely.
Stealing small quantities of food to satisfy a vital need for food did not constitute a crime, the court wrote.
"The condition of the defendant and the circumstances in which the seizure of merchandise took place prove that he took possession of that small amount of food in the face of an immediate and essential need for nourishment, acting therefore in a state of necessity," wrote the court.


At least 48 people have been killed in Baghdad in the third blast in the Iraqi capital in three days, security and medical sources say.

A car packed with explosives blew up near car dealerships in the Shia area of Bayaa in the south of the city. More than 50 people were injured.
The Islamic State (IS) group claimed the attack, saying it targeted "a gathering of Shias".
At least 24 people were killed in other attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Baghdad saw a wave of deadly suicide attacks by IS in the first few days of 2017, but the number had dropped until recently.
An AFP reporter at the scene of Thursday's bomb reported seeing numerous burnt-out vehicles, and blood on the ground.
Security sources said the bomb was detonated in a busy street and was the deadliest attack in Baghdad for several months. A plume of smoke from the blast could be seen above the Bayaa neighbourhood for much of the day.
Medics have warned the number of fatalities and injuries could rise as they struggle to cope with scores of people wounded in the attack.
It is thought that car dealerships may present convenient targets for the militants because it is easy for them to leave vehicles laden with explosives alongside lots of other vehicles that are also parked in the same area.
As the clear-up operation gets underway, distressed relatives are reported to be at the scene desperate to find news of their loved ones.
The IS group has stepped up its attacks since the Iraqi army, aided by US-led coalition strikes, launched its campaign to dislodge the Sunni militant group from its stronghold of Mosul in the north four months ago.
The militants now control the west of the city, while the eastern part is held by Iraqi forces and their allies.
On Wednesday, an attack on used-car dealers in the Habibya area of Sadr City, a suburb in the north of the Iraqi capital, left 18 dead.
On Tuesday, a car bomb in the south of Baghdad killed four people.
On 2 January, at least 35 people were killed in a bomb blast in Sadr City, in an attack claimed by IS.


Assistant coach Paul Farbrace insists England must learn from a scare against Afghanistan for Saturday's World Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka.

England slipped to 85-7 against the minnows but eventually won by 15 runs.
"With an inexperienced team like we have at the moment we are going to make mistakes," said Farbrace, who coached Sri Lanka to the T20 title in 2014.
"We believe we can do very well in this tournament but we have got to learn quickly," he told BBC Sport.
England will return to the same Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi to face the Sri Lankans, having successfully defended a modest total of 142 there against Afghanistan.
"Sri Lanka will be thinking about how they are going to play on that surface and we have an advantage in that we have played on it," Farbrace insisted.
Asked about his former team, who lost to leaders West Indies in their second match, he added: "They are not flowing with confidence, they have gone through a fair bit of change.
"Graham Ford is back as coach and Angelo Mathews is an outstanding captain. They have some outstanding spinners but have lost a fair bit of experience."
Having won two of their three matches, England are second in Group 1, with two teams progressing to the semi-finals, but have played a game more than South Africa and Sri Lanka.
"We will take a lot of confidence from the fact we bowled really well, that's our best bowling performance," Farbrace said.
"If we can still win while making mistakes that shows we have got really good character in our side."


A report has suggested dozens of teenage boys across Dumfries and Galloway could be taking drugs "most days of the week".

The substance misuse needs assessment has recommended early intervention as the best method of tackling the issue.
It said nearly 150 boys aged between 15 to 17 may be using drugs regularly.
The figure, an estimate partly based on a 2013 survey of 700 young people in the region, will be presented to councillors next week.
Among its other key findings are:
It concluded that early intervention and family-based programmes were the most likely to succeed in improving the situation.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway said the estimates about drink and drug use had been extrapolated from the 2013 survey - and should be treated with a degree of caution.
A spokesperson said:  "Young people across Dumfries and Galloway are similar to those across the rest of Scotland in that they are more likely to drink alcohol than take drugs.
"Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership are involved in a variety of local initiatives for secondary schools such as Big World which provides information on a variety of topics such as substance misuse in the Annandale and Eskdale area.
"Similar school input is provided in Wigtownshire and Stewartry via Do the Right Thing.
"The annual Youth Beatz event in Nithsdale also provides awareness raising issues around alcohol and drug misuse."
Dumfries and Galloway Council's social services committee chairman Jim Dempster said it was important to put the figures in context with 97% of 13-year-olds never having tried drugs.
"NHS Dumfries and Galloway leads on substance misuse and it is vital that, working in partnership with a range of agencies, it has appropriate measures in place to prevent and deal with substance misuse by young people," he said.
"Early intervention is obviously the most successful and cost-effective way to prevent substance misuse problems in young people.
"Providing the best possible start in life for all our children is a priority for our council administration."
He said there were many areas where steps were being taken to highlight the dangers of substance misuse.
"Examples of good work done in our region include The World of Wonka, which is part of the annual Youth Beatz festival," he said.
"Run by the council with key partners, World of Wonka delivers a themed experience designed and delivered in collaboration with young people for young people."


If the UK leaves the European Union, British households could be on average as much as £1,700 a year worse off, a think tank has said.

In the longer term, the average cost to households could be up to £6,400, according to the Centre for Economic Performance.
It says a decline in trade would cost the economy "far more" than would be gained from lower EU contributions.
But Vote Leave described the claims as "ridiculous" and lacking "credibility".
The Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) is a think tank based at the London School of Economics.
In reaching its conclusions, the CEP starts from the standpoint that about half of the UK's trade is with the EU and that as a member of the EU the UK benefits from there being fewer barriers to trade.
It says post-Brexit the UK would do less trade with the EU because there would be higher tariffs on goods. But also there would be other non-tariff barriers to trade, such as British exporters to the EU having to prove their goods were made in the UK.
Also in the longer term the UK would get less benefit from future market integration within the EU.
According to the researchers, in the best case scenario the UK negotiates a deal with the EU similar to Norway's.
Norway is a member of the European Economic Area and has a free trade agreement with the EU, so there are no tariffs on trade between the two.
However, there are some non-tariff barriers to trade. After deducting the savings that would be made by the UK no longer having to make contributions to the EU budget, the researchers say there would be a fall in UK income of 1.3% - which equates to £850 a year per household.
Analysis: Anthony Reuben, BBC Reality Check
The problem is that any such predictions involve making big assumptions about what would happen in the event of the UK leaving the EU.
The conclusions are extremely sensitive to such assumptions. For example, the losses double if you move from the "optimistic" to "pessimistic" conclusions about what sort of trade deal a post-Brexit UK would reach with the EU.
Read more here: Would Brexit cost every household £850?
In the worst case - the researchers assume that the UK cannot negotiate a new trade agreement with the EU and all trade between the UK and EU is governed by World Trade Organization rules. This they say would mean bigger increases in trade costs.
It would mean a fall in UK income of 2.6% - or £1,700 per household, according to the CEP.
"In the optimistic scenario where incomes shrink by only 1.3% we would - like Norway and Switzerland - have to pay into the EU budget and accept EU regulations that we had no say in deciding," says Thomas Sampson, one of the report's authors.
"What's more there would still be free migration of labour.
"Given the politics, this makes the pessimistic outcome more likely," he adds.
Longer term the report says the fall in trade experienced by the UK outside the EU would lower productivity. That would translate into a fall in GDP of between 6.3%, or £4,200 per household, and 9.5% or £6,400 per household.
However, the CEP's findings have been strenuously rebutted by Leave campaigners.
"These ridiculous claims lack credibility as they come from the same economic sages who said we would be better off scrapping the pound," said the chief executive of Vote Leave, Matthew Elliott.
Among the points Vote Leave takes issue with is the report's assumption that trade would be reduced as a result of leaving the EU. This it says is wrong.
"It's principal claims are based on leaving the EU 'reducing trade'. Even pro-EU campaigners admit that the UK would have little difficulty striking a free trade agreement with the EU following withdrawal," it goes on.
It says the assumptions about non-tariff barriers to trade in the report were "extremely pessimistic".
It also attacks the CEP for having received funding form the European Commission. The CEP says less than a 10th of its income comes from that source.
Earlier on Friday, the co-founder of stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown told the BBC the "unknown" of leaving the EU could help stimulate Britain".
Peter Hargreaves, who backs the UK's withdrawal from the union, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a fresh start could help Britain innovate.
Demand for UK fashion and cars, as well as the attractiveness of the UK as a market for the EU, would ensure good trade deals, he said.


Homeless children with the most complex problems are having to stay in bed and breakfasts due to a lack of suitable accommodation in Wales, a charity has claimed.

Solas Cymru said the lack of provision means these young people are not getting the help they need.
It stressed there was an "urgent" need for suitable accommodation.
The Welsh Government said it was working towards ending the use of B&Bs for 16 and 17 year olds.
Eight children living at a special homeless accommodation in Newport all have complex needs such as mental health issues or a drug dependency.
Some will be considered a danger to themselves or others and will be extremely violent, or have exhibited inappropriate sexual behaviour. All will have experienced traumatic events in their childhood.
Lily, 17, who lives in the accommodation, said some of her previous placements have been difficult.
"I've been in all different foster carers' homes, people I did like and people I didn't like," she said.
"They took me out of a foster placement and put me into a residential children's home. When I was in the foster placements, I was seeing other families being happy but me being the one left out.
"I'd sit there and think, 'you're calling her mum, but where's my mum?'"
Lily said she had to move out of her main foster home after an incident with another resident.
She tracked her mother down via social media when she was 12, and said they have since been able to form a mother-daughter relationship.
Official figures show there are 5,660 looked-after children in Wales and Solas believes about 5% - some 280 children - will have complex needs.
The eight beds at the centre serve seven councils, but the charity said it has to turn away about 90% of young people referred to them, meaning some of those children will then be housed in inappropriate accommodation, including bed and breakfasts, even though they could exhibit "risky or dangerous behaviour".
The most recent official figures - based on data from the Welsh councils - show there are 45 young people aged 16-17 and 66 care leavers aged 18-21 living in B&Bs. Only six councils had figures large enough to publish.
Charlotte Waite, director of Young People, Children and Families at Solas Cymru, said: "It's really not appropriate when you've run out of options for these young people to put them in an adult scheme or bed and breakfast.
"Some of these young people are risky yes, because of the way they've been traumatised perhaps in their early life, it makes them a risk to themselves or others."
However, the charity does recognise the number of children being housed in B&Bs is falling.
A Welsh Local Government Association spokesman said: "As the corporate parent for looked-after children in their care, local authorities aim to take a holistic view of their needs and to commission and provide services, including accommodation, accordingly."
A Welsh Government spokesman said in "exceptional circumstances" councils could use B&B accommodation "for very short periods while more suitable accommodation is found".
"Ensuring all teenagers have a safe place to stay is of upmost importance to us and we are working towards ending the use of B&Bs for 16 and 17 year olds," he added.


Coach Vern Cotter insisted Scotland can still secure a top-half finish in this year's Six Nations despite a record points defeat by England.

The Scots hoped for a first Twickenham win since 1983 but conceded a record points tally in a 61-21 loss, equalling the margin of the 43-3 defeat in 2001.
Stuart Hogg, Mark Bennett, Tommy Seymour and Ryan Wilson were all forced off injured, three with head knocks.
"We have had two away games and eight concussions," Cotter told BBC Scotland.
"It isn't the only reason but we certainly had to make early replacements. We finished with (scrum-half) Ali [Price] on the wing and (replacement fly-half) Duncy [Weir] at full-back so there were a few changes.
"We take it on the chin. Credit to England. I thought they played well. We didn't play particularly well, although we scored three tries. We would have liked to have scored four so we could have come away with something [a losing bonus point].
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"My priority at the moment is to check out the casualties and see how many we have got to prepare for Italy at home next week."
Cotter conceded that Scotland gave their hosts a helping hand, with Fraser Brown's yellow card after just two minutes immediately putting the visitors on the back foot.
"We wanted to start well, against a good team, but we did everything to help them in a lot of ways," he said.
"There are some things there we need to deal with if we want to put on a better performance next week. We will sit down and have a good look at those.
"We scored three tries when we had possession but we just couldn't get fast possession in that first half. As soon as we got good tempo and speed we managed to get over the advantage line.
"But we couldn't string things together. Our defence from set-pieces, especially from line-outs, wasn't good. There is a lot to work on and improve. We will analyse it and work hard to get a couple of good training sessions in.
"We can still finish in the top end of the table and that will be our objective. If our feet weren't on the ground, they definitely are now. We will work hard to put on a good performance next week."
The fifth-placed Scots, who are level on points with Wales but a point behind Ireland and France, host Italy in next Saturday's early match with France hosting Wales in the afternoon and England away to Ireland in the evening.
At Twickenham, Gordon Reid's score was added to by two tries from Huw Jones, with all converted by Finn Russell.
John Barclay again captained Scotland in Greig Laidlaw's absence and said afterwards: "It certainly wasn't a good day.
"It wasn't through lack of trying, just too much error. We didn't play well. Credit to England. They played well, they executed plays under pressure - maybe not under enough pressure."


On Monday the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac), the court which deals with national security deportations, will deliver one of its most important judgements in recent years: can Abu Qatada be deported to Jordan?

It is a case where the need for national security rubs up against the UK's legal duties to protect the human rights of suspects.
So what brought us to this point - and what are the issues?
Eight years ago, a Siac judge ruled Omar Othman, to use his real name, was a "truly dangerous individual... at the centre in the United Kingdom of terrorist activities associated with Al Qa'ida".
Abu Qatada has never been charged with a criminal offence in the UK. That may strike people as odd - but the case against him is largely based on secret material gathered by MI5 which cannot be used in criminal trials. The government, instead, sought to deport the preacher.
Someone who is deemed dangerous to the UK does not need to be convicted of a crime to be deported. The Home Secretary Theresa May eventually convinced the courts that the preacher's presence was not conducive to the public good and judges said he could, in principle, be removed.
But the question remained whether he could be deported to Jordan given its much criticised record on human rights.
The preacher had already been convicted in absentia in relation to two terror plots - and he would be retried for the same offences if returned.
His lawyers said he could be tortured. Secondly, the retrial would be unfair because the key evidence came from men who only pointed the finger at the cleric while Jordan's secret police were torturing them.
The government solved the first problem by convincing judges, including the European Court of Human Rights, that a Memorandum of Understanding from Jordan guaranteed Abu Qatada would be treated properly.
But in January this year, the government lost on the second critical complaint that he would not get a fair trial because Strasbourg decided (largely echoing the UK's own Court of Appeal) that the original torture evidence would be used against the cleric.
Strasbourg said it was unconvinced Jordan's legal guarantees against torture evidence would have "any real practical value".
And so, in the absence of any assurance from Jordan on this point, the deportation was off. Cue a media firestorm and weeks of frantic talks between the UK and Jordan over how to solve the situation.
Once Mrs May thought she had a deal with Jordan guaranteeing a fair trial for the preacher, she had to present it to Siac to see if deportation could now be approved, in line with Strasbourg's conditions.
And that is basically what this case is now about. It's not Abu Qatada on trial - but Jordan's legal system.
So has the UK got what it needs?
During two weeks of hearings last month, Mrs May's lawyers told Siac there was now ample documentary evidence proving Qatada would get a fair trial.
The home secretary's lawyers emphasised the Jordanians have enshrined into their constitution an "express prohibition on the admissibility of evidence obtained as a result of torture". They stressed the judges at the State Security Court would be civilian, not military.
The men said to have been tortured into implicating Abu Qatada would be expected to give fresh evidence at retrial - in which they could explain how they were tortured - putting their original tainted statements in context.
But Abu Qatada's lawyers say nothing has changed. In tense questioning of the lead British diplomat, Anthony Layden, it emerged Jordanian ministers would not give a specific assurance on what exactly would happen to the original torture-tainted statements.
Jordan's ministers kept saying that would be a matter for the trial judges. These judges would be able to call the witnesses afresh and dismiss the original statements.
Edward Fitzgerald QC, counsel for the cleric, repeatedly said the UK had achieved nothing new to satisfy Strasbourg's expectations. There was not a single piece of paper declaring the original evidence would be banned from trial, he argued.
So on the one hand there is the government saying it has gone to exhaustive lengths to prove Abu Qatada will be treated justly. It says Jordan is a country that will stick to its word because it has a reform-minded pro-West King and it doesn't want to be part of the international club of states that abuse human rights.
But on the other hand, there is the long-standing opposition of judges to any whiff of torture and questions over whether the UK has got anywhere near to the assurances European judges want.
That judicial opposition to torture evidence didn't just spring from the European Convention of Human Rights.
The Strasbourg judges pointed out in their January judgement that the British courts historically opposed torture evidence long before the convention was written.
They quoted the late Lord Bingham, who said in a 2005 judgement that such evidence was "unreliable, unfair, offensive to ordinary standards of humanity and decency and incompatible with the principles which should animate a tribunal seeking to administer justice".
It was a very deliberate reference. They were arguing it is the British rule of law, not just Europe's, that expects Abu Qatada to remain in the UK - and he shouldn't be deported until we are sure that Jordan has cleaned up its act, no matter how politically painful that may be.
Make no mistake. Monday's decision on whether the radical cleric can be deported to Jordan is an extremely difficult one for any judge.


The Jesuits have elected a Latin American as their new leader, breaking a tradition of European heads dating back to their foundation in 1540.

The Society of Jesus chose Arturo Sosa Abascal, 67, of Venezuela in a ballot on Friday to replace Adolfo Nicolas of Spain, who is retiring.
It is the largest order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church.
Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Jesuit and Latin American Pope in 2013, taking the name Francis.
The Catholic Church specialises in coming up with intricate ways of picking its leaders - and then giving those leaders memorable titles.
More than 200 Jesuit electors gathered here in Rome for four days of conversations known as "murmuratio" - or whispering.
These conversations ended in a vote - during which Arturo Sosa Abascal from Venezuela was picked as the new Superior General. The Jesuits' leader wears the simple black vestments of a regular priest. The clothes give the leader the unofficial title of the "Black Pope".
His election is a sign that the Catholic Church continues to look outside this continent for its leadership. His election will be welcomed by his fellow Latin American, Pope Francis, who spent many years himself as a Jesuit priest.
Father Sosa entered the Society of Jesus in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1977, according to Catholic News Agency. It said he was appointed Superior of the Jesuits in Venezuela in 1996, guiding the nation through "the stormy waters" of Hugo Chavez's leadership.
The Jesuits were founded in 1540 by St Ignatius of Loyola.
The highly influential order now numbers about 17,000 and its members have strong roles in education and on human rights issues.


Three men who rescued a six-month-old girl from the River Severn in Shrewsbury have been honoured by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS).

The rescue took place on 13 February when the baby's pram fell into the water near Victoria Street.
James Williams and Andy Hill jumped in the river while Mickey Bramall fetched a lifebuoy before giving the youngster first aid.
The men were presented with RLSS certificates of recognition.
Di Steer, the chief executive of RLSS, said they were pleased to hear about the safe rescue of the baby and felt the three men involved deserved to be recognised in some way.
"It just goes to show how quickly a normal activity around water can turn into an awful incident and thankfully James, Mickey and Andrew's quick thinking prevented this accident turning into a tragedy. Well done to the three of them," he said.
The baby was being pushed by her grandmother at the time of the accident.
Mr Williams said: "We heard an almighty scream and shriek, turned around and saw the pram had gone over the edge.
"We instantly turned around and myself and Andy jumped straight into the river and Mickey went to get the lifebuoy."
Mr Williams said it was a struggle to remove the baby from the pushchair because she was strapped in but they managed to get her to safety.
The girl was taken by ambulance to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and has since made a full recovery.


The owner of a building which collapsed in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, in April has been charged with 52 counts of manslaughter.

Samuel Karanja Kamau denied the charges at Nairobi's High Court and is due to appear at a bail hearing on Wednesday.
A total of 52 people died when the six-storey building came down in heavy rain in the city's poor Huruma district.
The government said 100 rooms had been rented out, even though the building had been declared unfit to live in.
Mr Kamau has not yet commented on the allegation.
Three officials from Nairobi City County and the National Construction Authority (NCA) were taken into police custody after the collapse.
However, it is unclear whether they have been charged.
The six-storey building collapsed on 29 April, at the height of Kenya's rainy season.
A local MP said it was built less than 5m (15 feet) from a river, when it should have been at least 30m away.
The NCA said it had marked the building as unfit for habitation, but that the local government had failed to follow up.
Many of Nairobi's four million people live in low-income areas or slums.
Housing is in high demand, and unscrupulous developers often bypass regulations.
How long can survivors last under rubble?


Teenager Katie Swan has been selected as one of Great Britain's singles representatives for this week's Fed Cup tie in Israel.

Australian Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta pulled out of the team earlier this week because of illness.
Captain Judy Murray's team face South Africa and Georgia from Thursday in their bid to win promotion from Euro/Africa Zone Group 1.
Swann, 16, was a beaten finalist in the 2015 Australian Open junior final.
British number two Heather Watson will also play in the singles, while Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith compete in the doubles.
Great Britain meet South Africa and Georgia in a three-team group, with the winners advancing to a play-off tie on Saturday.
Another play-off awaits the winners in April, when one more victory finally clinches promotion to World Group Two.


Bob and Mike Bryan added an Olympic gold medal to their 11 Grand Slam titles with a 6-4 7-6 win over France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra in the men's doubles at Wimbledon.

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It was a second tennis gold for the United States on Saturday, after
France's Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet won the bronze medal.
The pair beat Spaniards David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.
After a closely fought first set, Benneteau and Gasquet broke twice in a row to take a comfortable lead in the second, before securing the win.


Leicester extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points as Rafael Benitez's first match in charge of Newcastle ended in defeat.

Shinji Okazaki's spectacular overhead kick earned the Foxes a win which, with just eight games left, moved them closer to their first league title.
An improved Newcastle went close through Ayoze Perez and Moussa Sissoko.
But ultimately Leicester's pressing foiled them and the defeat leaves the Magpies second from bottom.
Before the match, Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri refused to accept his team were favourites to win the title, insisting that qualifying for the Europa League was the target.
But as Ranieri gesticulated on the sidelines in the closing minutes, urging the home fans to increase the volume, his actions suggested that he and his team are chasing more than a chance to compete in Europe's second-tier competition.
With every passing week, the prospect of the Foxes achieving what their former striker Gary Lineker describes as possibly the most "unlikely triumph in the history of team sport" becomes more likely.
A team which at the start of the season were among the bookies' favourites to be relegated are on the home straight, unbeaten in four matches and closing in on history.
Ranieri's men are 12 points clear of Manchester City and 11 ahead of Arsenal, leaving many to believe the title is a two-way fight between the leaders and second-placed Tottenham.
This match perhaps came too soon for Benitez to whip Newcastle into shape, having only taken over from the sacked Steve McClaren on Friday.
The Magpies started like a team buoyed by the Spaniard's appointment, engineering two chances early on - an iffy Wes Morgan nearly put Sissoko through, while Perez went close moments later.
Newcastle's deep defensive line initially caused the hosts problems, but once Okazaki struck, the Foxes took control, attacking with pace and defending in packs.
There were hints that Benitez can revive a team which has struggled all season, but the former Liverpool boss - who nine weeks ago was in charge of Real Madrid, coaching Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale - has just nine games to save Newcastle from relegation.
Had Sissoko possessed the poise to find a team-mate when the visitors had a three-on-two advantage they could have equalised, while the Frenchman also sweetly struck a volley only to be denied late on by Morgan's block.
Benitez had said he had "done the maths" and that he was positive of survival, but for that optimism to remain, the Magpies - who have now lost 17 of their 29 league matches - must beat fellow strugglers Sunderland on Sunday.
For Newcastle, the next two games are central to their survival hopes. They will host Sunderland in what should be a tasty derby as the Magpies are a point adrift of the Black Cats, who are clear of the relegation zone on goal difference only.
On 2 April, Benitez's men will then travel to Norwich, another team who are a point ahead of them in the league, albeit having played a game more.
Leicester travel to Crystal Palace to face a side who have not won in the league in 2016 but have progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri: "It wasn't the best performance from us but we showed fantastic spirit. We defended very well. It wasn't nervy in the second half, the team was so close and compact.
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"I feel now that I am just concentrating on the next game against Crystal Palace. We are so strong, we think only one game at a time. Step by step, that is our philosophy.
"Their players showed Rafa their attitude and the Newcastle players are very good. I am sure that they will be safe."
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez: "I wasn't happy with the goal because there were too many balls bouncing in the box. I would like to think about the positives. We reacted well and were pushing well.
"I thought that we could get a result and I was convinced we could do it. But they worked really hard and are pushing and their tempo is not easy for any team.
Media playback is not supported on this device
"We know our next game against Sunderland is a derby and it will be important for everyone but I have a feeling the fans are really good and they are the number 12 for the next game. We have plenty of things to do and they need to rest and work hard."
Match ends, Leicester City 1, Newcastle United 0.
Second Half ends, Leicester City 1, Newcastle United 0.
Corner,  Leicester City. Conceded by Jack Colback.
Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Corner,  Leicester City. Conceded by Moussa Sissoko.
Corner,  Leicester City. Conceded by Andros Townsend.
Foul by Jack Colback (Newcastle United).
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Vardy with a headed pass.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Seydou Doumbia replaces Jonjo Shelvey.
Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Daniel Drinkwater (Leicester City).
Attempt missed. Siem de Jong (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Foul by Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United).
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andros Townsend with a cross.
Attempt missed. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jonjo Shelvey with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Newcastle United. Conceded by Robert Huth.
Attempt blocked. Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Danny Simpson (Leicester City).
Substitution, Leicester City. Leonardo Ulloa replaces Marc Albrighton.
Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United).
Danny Simpson (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Siem de Jong replaces Ayoze Pérez.
Corner,  Leicester City. Conceded by Daryl Janmaat.
Attempt blocked. Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
Substitution, Leicester City. Jeffrey Schlupp replaces Shinji Okazaki.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United).
Corner,  Newcastle United. Conceded by N'Golo Kanté.
Attempt blocked. Ayoze Pérez (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Corner,  Newcastle United. Conceded by Marc Albrighton.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Andros Townsend replaces Vurnon Anita.
Attempt saved. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United) header from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Daryl Janmaat.
Attempt blocked. Christian Fuchs (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Drinkwater.
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Daryl Janmaat (Newcastle United).
Attempt blocked. Wes Morgan (Leicester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Fuchs.
Corner,  Leicester City. Conceded by Jack Colback.


An Australian family fighting deportation from the UK have accused the Home Office of "a rather extraordinary breach of trust".

They said the government changed immigration rules after they were granted entry to the UK.
Kathryn and Gregg Brain moved to Dingwall in the Highlands with their son Lachlan, now seven, in 2011.
They have been giving evidence to Westminster's Home Affairs Select Committee.
The couple moved to the Highlands on Ms Brain's student visa, but the post-study visa scheme was later withdrawn. The couple now face deportation.
The Scottish government initiative, formerly supported by the Home Office, was designed to attract people to live and work in the Highlands and Islands.
The announcement of the discontinuation of the post-study work visa scheme came in March 2011, just three months before the Brain family arrived in Scotland.
However, they had been accepted for the scheme in 2010 and were unaware of the changes until 2012.
The couple have since had temporary extensions to their stay in the UK.
In May, they were told they could stay until 1 August, but that they would not be allowed to work.
Mr Brain told the MPs: "In a country that prides itself on being the birthplace of the rule of law, to assume you will be dealt with ethically and honestly by the UK government should simply be beyond question.
"They [the Home Office] had to envisage that people would have to plan this far ahead to be able to successfully execute the programme that they provided.
"That is why I felt it was a rather extraordinary breach of trust when we had a letter from Mr Brokenshire [Home Office minister] which said... 'applicants should never assume that provisions that are in place at the time of their entry to the UK will continue to be viable options in future years'."
Home Office Minister James Brokenshire also gave evidence to the committee.
Ahead of the meeting, SNP MP Ian Blackford urged Mr Brokenshire to honour the original terms of the family's visa.
Earlier this month, the Brains gave evidence on their situation to Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee.
The committee was holding a session at Sabhal MÃ²r Ostaig, the national centre for Gaelic language in Sleat in Skye.
The MPs also took evidence on the challenges faced by rural communities and population trends in the Highlands and Islands.
Skye has been successful in increasing its populations, but other areas, such as the Western Isles, have experienced depopulation.


At least two senior commanders from the Islamist militant group al-Shabab have been killed in a drone strike in south-west Somalia, residents say.

Several loud blasts were heard in the town of Bardere at dawn and the bodies were found later, they said.
A Kenyan official has withdrawn his statement that one of those killed was the mastermind of April's deadly attack on Garissa university.
Bardere is one of the few Somali towns still controlled by al-Shabab.
The al-Qaeda-linked group has not yet commented, but a source in the group told a BBC reporter that those killed were al-Shabab commanders.
Al-Shabab carried out the attack on Kenya's Garissa university which killed 148 people.
Kenyan Interior ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka has tweeted that he was mistaken when saying a "mastermind" of that attack was among four al-Shabab commanders killed.
He said he had mixed up the mastermind, known as Gamadheere, with the al-Shabab commander, named Jamaa Adhere.
African Union and Somali government troops are reported to be advancing on the area in Gedo region.
The US has killed several senior members of al-Shabab in drone strikes in the past.
The BBC's Moalimu Mohamed in the capital, Mogadishu, says the telecommunications network to Bardere has been cut off since the attack, but residents in the village nearest the town have been contactable.
They said that after the blasts, well-armed al-Shabab fighters rushed to the scene in Bardere, near the Juba River about 460km (285 miles) west of Mogadishu, where the dead men were found.
The names of the commanders believed to have been killed are Ismael Jamhad and Jama Dere, a Somali military officer travelling with the African Union troops in the area has told the BBC.
Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battle for control since the fall of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991.
African Union troops have been in the country since 2007 helping various UN-backed governments fight al-Shabab.
Over the last four years, the militants have been driven from most of the key towns they once held but they still control rural areas in the south.


Ever broken down near the Black Sea and had an engine part shipped 2,400 miles to you overnight?

No, us neither.
But those are the lengths Mercedes went to in order to get Lewis Hamilton on the grid for Sunday's Russian Grand Prix.
After an engine failure saw Hamilton, 31, finish 10th in Saturday's qualifying, Mercedes bosses acted quickly.
Here, in the words of team boss Toto Wolff, is how Mercedes made sure the world champion had a new fuel system delivered from the team's base in Brixworth to Sochi in Russia.
"It was a team effort from many people," said Wolff.
"Niki tried to organise the plane and the slot, and we had various options - we had to choose which one would get in earliest."
"Someone on our team, her assistant, who happens to be Russian, sorted out the airport."
"We got the bit and guy on the plane and Bernie sorted the customs. The detail was that the plane landed with the box and within 90 seconds the box was in the car on the way. I don't want to know how he sorted that."
Hamilton was unable to catch race winner and team-mate Nico Rosberg, after a separate engine issue meant he had to hold back.
But his rise from 10th on the grid to the podium capped a remarkable 24 hours.
He said: "I'm really happy and grateful for the guys who flew over last night with new parts and worked hard so hard from 2am to 9am.
"And then my guys who took over from 9-10am. To get this finish, even though we've had the problems we've had, is kind of a blessing."
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Swiss scientists have confirmed that tests show the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body.

However, they could not say whether polonium poisoning had caused his death in 2004.
Their report concluded that Arafat's remains showed levels of polonium 18 times higher than normal.
Arafat's widow, Suha, has reaffirmed to the BBC her belief that their report proves he was assassinated.
But she said she could not directly accuse anyone, saying that he had many enemies around the world.
By Rebecca MorelleScience reporter, BBC World Service
The Swiss scientists were extremely cautious about their findings.
Testing for polonium 210 so many years after Yasser Arafat's death is fraught with difficulties.
It is a very unstable element, with a half-life of 138 days.
That means after four months, the amount of polonium in a sample would have halved; after a year there would be just one eighth of the original amount; and after the eight years since Mr Arafat died, there would be a vanishingly small fraction remaining.
This adds huge levels of uncertainty to any findings - as does the fact that polonium is also found naturally in the soil and air.
Many Palestinians have long believed that Israel poisoned Arafat. There have also been allegations that he had Aids or cancer. Israel has consistently denied any involvement.
The scientists - from the Vaudois University Hospital Centre (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland - had carried out a detailed examination of Arafat's medical records, samples taken from his remains and items he had taken into the hospital in Paris where he died in 2004.
The biological materials included pieces of Mr Arafat's bones and soil samples from around his corpse.
Professor Francois Bochud told a news conference on Thursday that the high level of polonium detected "by definition... indicates third party involvement... Our results offer moderate backing for the theory of poisoning."
But he went on to say: "Was polonium the cause of the death for certain? The answer is no, we cannot show categorically that hypothesis that the poisoning caused was this or that."
Q&A: Exhumation of Yasser Arafat
In their report, the scientists had stressed that they had been unable to reach a more definitive conclusion because of the time that had lapsed since Arafat's death, the limited samples available and the confused "chain of custody" of some of the specimens.
Polonium-210 is a highly radioactive substance. It is found naturally in low doses in food and in the body, but can be fatal if ingested in high doses.
Arafat, who led the Palestine Liberation Organisation for 35 years and became the first president of the Palestinian Authority in 1996, fell violently ill in October 2004 at his compound in the West Bank.
Two weeks later he was flown to a French military hospital in Paris, where he died on 11 November 2004, aged 75.
His official medical records say he died from a stroke resulting from a blood disorder.
France began a murder inquiry in August 2012 after the preliminary findings of polonium by the Lausanne scientists, who have been working with an al-Jazeera documentary crew.
What is polonium-210?
Parallel investigations are being carried out by French and Russian experts - one Russian official said last month that no traces of polonium had been found.
Suha Arafat, who had objected to a post-mortem at the time of his death, agreed for his body to be exhumed a year ago "to reveal the truth".
Welcoming the Swiss report, Mrs Arafat said she had no doubt that her husband had been assassinated but refused to point the finger at Israel.
"I can't accuse anybody. Everybody wants to accuse Israel - I can't accuse - I can't jump into conclusion," she told the BBC.
"Now the case is in the French jurisdiction, I wanted to document this crime - this crime I want it documented for history, actually."


Polls have closed across Coventry and Warwickshire for local authority and European elections.

Council seats in Coventry, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby and Stratford-upon-Avon will all be decided.
Voters also took part in European Parliamentary elections which will select seven West Midlands MEPs.
Polls closed at 22:00 BST, with the first of the councils expected to declare on Thursday night.
The results of European Parliament elections are due to be declared in the early hours of Monday.


Passengers are being warned of a 24-hour Tube strike from Tuesday evening.

Rail and Maritime Transport (RMT) union members plan to walk out from 21:00 GMT on 21 February in a row about staffing.
Central, Waterloo and City lines will be affected.
Both sides claim they have tried hard to resolve the dispute through negotiations. A spokesman for London Underground's Central line operations said he apologised to customers for the disruption.
The issue in contention is believed to be the transfer of drivers from their home depot at the eastern end of the line to other depots in central London, requiring them to travel further.
Peter McNaught, Central line operations director, said: "We have minimised the number of employees affected from over 30 to eight.
"All of these moves are within the long-standing agreements we have made with the unions."
He urged the union to call off the strike.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT negotiators have made strenuous efforts through the Acas machinery to resolve this dispute but the door has been slammed in our faces.
"To up the ante, LU have now written to us confirming that they will be bulldozing through the displacements regardless."
He said displacements referred to the movement of drivers to fill gaps left by staffing shortages.


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A pay rise "significantly higher than 1%" will be required in future to ensure an "adequate supply of good teachers" in England and Wales, the School Teachers' Review Body warns.

It says increases will be needed if current trends in teacher recruitment and retention continue.
Nevertheless, the STRB has recommended a pay rise of just 1% for teachers in England and Wales from this September.
The rise applies to all leadership and teacher pay ranges and to allowances.
Teachers' unions expressed disappointment at the 1% rise, saying it would do nothing to ease recruitment and retention issues.
The STRB report said: "For September 2016 we [...] recommend a 1% uplift to the minima and maxima of all classroom teacher pay ranges and leadership pay  ranges in the national pay framework, and to classroom teacher allowances."
But it went on to warn of a need for higher teacher salaries in the future.
"However, if current recruitment and retention trends continue, we expect an uplift to the pay framework significantly higher than 1% will be required in the course of this Parliament, to ensure an adequate supply of good teachers for schools in England and Wales," it said.
"Accordingly, we recommend the department and our consultees take steps to help schools prepare for such an eventuality.
"Given the budgetary context, this will require school leaders and governing bodies to be confident in both managing their workforce and in setting pay policies which enable differentiated performance-based awards to individuals, such that teachers and leaders can be appropriately rewarded within the available budget."
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: "The STRB is clear this is subject to the recruitment and retention evidence that the government is able to produce in relation to a future remit.
"At a national level we are retaining and recruiting the teachers we need with 15,000 more teachers in our classrooms than in 2010, and the number joining the profession outnumbering those who retire or leave.
"We recognised the recruitment challenges provided by a growing economy and regional demands and are investing over Â£1.3bn up to 2020 to attract new teachers into the profession."
But teachers' unions expressed dismay at the recommended 1% increase and accused the government of limiting teachers' pay.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT union, accused a "hostile government" of "unnecessary and unjust pay restraint".
"Had the review body not been constrained by the arbitrary pay cap imposed by the government, there is no doubt that it would have been recommending a pay uplift higher than 1% for teachers," said Ms Keates.
Malcolm Trobe, interim general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "The publication of this report and the Secretary of State's response are extremely late, having been delayed by government 'purdah' periods for the London mayoral election and the EU referendum.
"This has left schools and teachers uncertain for far too long about the critical issue of pay awards.
"Even more disappointing, however, is that these pay awards are once again limited to an uplift of 1% when we are in the midst of a teacher recruitment crisis.
"Furthermore, schools are expected to fund these awards without any additional funding from the government at a time when budgets are under severe strain because of real-terms reductions."
Kevin Courtney, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers said: "The STRB, unlike the government, has recognised the mounting crisis in recruitment and retention.
"The NUT is hugely disappointed that the STRB decided to accept the 1% pay limit this year but strongly supports the STRB's view that the government must urgently find more money for schools to allow them to employ more and better-paid teachers."
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "ATL welcomes the STRB's report which couldn't be clearer: there are increasing challenges in teacher recruitment and retention, and the Chancellor's imposed public sector pay limit of 1% is contributing to this.
"The next Prime Minister, their Chancellor and Secretary of State for Education must take heed of the review body's call for a future uplift 'significantly higher' than 1% to address teacher recruitment and retention, improve teachers' working lives, and save the next generation's education."
The STRB provides independent advice to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education on school teachers' pay and conditions in England and Wales.
Its latest recommendations come a day after thousands of lessons were cancelled across England because of a one-day strike by the National Union of Teachers.


A couple and son who admitted conspiring to supply cannabis from their Denbighshire guest house have been given suspended jail terms.

Chemistry teacher Susan McKay decided to grow the drug to help solve family money problems and her son Michael agreed to help, Mold Crown Court heard.
Three "growing zones" were set up in the seven-bed Tall Trees in Llandyrnog and the yield was worth up to Â£96,000.
Her husband Owen, 73, pleaded guilty on the basis he turned a blind eye.
Susan McKay, 58, a senior teacher at a Wrexham high school, and Michael McKay, 27, from Huntington, Cheshire, were both given a 20-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months.
Owen McKay was given a five-month term, suspended for 12 months.
Prosecutor Matthew Curtis said Michael McKay had been stopped by police near Ruthin in April last year for driving without lights, and when they detected the smell of cannabis they searched his car and found 162g of cannabis worth about Â£1,620.
The Olympic boxing hopeful was on his way to his parents' house, which officers then searched.
Inside they found three bedrooms which were devoted to growing cannabis with a black growing tent, silver foil and ventilation tubes.
One bathroom was being used as a drying room and a total of 115 cannabis plants were being grown.
Mrs McKay's defence barrister, Duncan Bould, told the court the guest house owner had a seriously ill son, Christopher, and another son, Daniel, had killed himself last year.
The court was also told she discovered her husband had been having an affair for 10 years and had a child with his business partner.
Because of the family difficulties, and financial struggles, she came up with the idea to grow cannabis.
Mr Bould said: "None of these she uses as excuses for her behaviour but perhaps it provides some explanation why a person like her behaves in this bizarre and frankly ridiculous way.
"We are dealing with an intelligent, dignified and mature woman who has been in responsible employment all her adult life and is still in a job."
The court heard Michael McKay is a personal trainer who hopes to compete in this weekend's GB Elite Three Nations boxing competition, and hopes to represent England at next year's Olympics.
He got involved in growing drugs "in support of his mother", Mr Bould told the court.
Michael Jones, for Owen McKay, said he was working hard six days a week at his Warrington garage and there was no forensic evidence to link him to the cannabis in the house.
Although the crop - grown between December 2013 and April 2014 - was significant, it was never actually sold, the court heard.


Male MPs do not need to wear ties in the House of Commons chamber, Speaker John Bercow has said.

In a break with tradition, Mr Bercow said MPs should wear "businesslike attire" but that it was not essential for this to include ties.
Parliamentary custom is for male MPs to wear jackets and ties in the chamber.
Mr Bercow was speaking after Tory backbencher Peter Bone said he had spotted an MP - who was Lib Dem Tom Brake - asking a question tieless.
Mr Bone - who is well known for wearing rather flamboyant ties in the Commons - said he was "not really one to talk about dress sense" but asked whether the rules had changed.
"I think the general expectation is that members should dress in businesslike attire," Mr Bercow replied.
"So far as the chair is concerned... it seems to me that as long as a member arrives in the House in what might be thought to be businesslike attire, the question of whether that member is wearing a tie is not absolutely front and centre stage."
MPs should not be disrespectful towards their colleagues or the House of Commons, he said, but added: "Do I think it's essential that a member wears a tie? No."
To laughter from MPs, Mr Bercow clarified that there was "absolutely no obligation on female members not to wear ties, if they so choose".
Parliament's official rule book Erskine May only has a limited set of rules on members' dress; namely that military insignia or uniforms should not be worn in the Commons and that the custom is "for gentlemen members to wear jackets and ties".
As a parliamentary factsheet notes, the Speaker has "on a number of occasions, taken exception to informal clothing, including the non-wearing of jackets and ties by men".
In 2009, Labour MP Graham Allen was told by the former deputy speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst he was not "properly attired" when he tried to ask a question when not wearing a tie.
Two years later, Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi apologised after a novelty tie he was wearing started playing a tune while he was making a Commons speech.


An increase in sponsored events in Snowdonia is driving up the number of call-outs, says rescue groups.

MountainSafe, a partnership of mountain rescue organisations and the emergency services, is urging walkers to make more effort to ensure their safety.
Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team chairman John Grisdale  said: "If there is a lack of knowledge by walkers, there's an increased risk of accidents."
Stone pillars are being put on Snowdon to help people keep to the paths.
MountainSafe has issued a five-point guide for people to follow to maximise their chances of completing their event without having to rely on the rescue services.
Mr Grisdale said that most groups using the mountain enjoy a successful day out the lack of knowledge by some meant an accident was more likely in unfavourable conditions.
He added: "My concern about these groups is based on their lack of understanding of the mountains and the environment.
"For example, last week, we were called out to rescue three young men who decided not to follow the normal path.
"They weren't wearing appropriate clothing or shoes, they didn't have any directions, no leader and the gully they got stuck on was precarious for the rescue helicopter."
MountainSafe is funded by the Welsh government via Sport Wales.


North Ferriby ended a run of 11 games without a win by beating Sutton 2-1 at Grange Lane.

Sam Topliss' looping header gave North Ferriby, whose last win was at Gateshead in mid-September, a dream start after 11 minutes.
Reece Thompson doubled their lead just after the break, profiting from confusion in Sutton's box as Jamie Collins' blocked clearance fell kindly for him to slot home.
Maxime Biamou set up a tense finale by racing clear and slotting home through Rory Watson's legs, but there was not enough time for Sutton to get a second and clinch their fifth draw in a row.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, North Ferriby United 2, Sutton United 1.
Second Half ends, North Ferriby United 2, Sutton United 1.
Substitution, North Ferriby United. Curtis Bateson replaces Danny Emerton.
Jamie Collins (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ben Middleton (North Ferriby United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!  North Ferriby United 2, Sutton United 1. Maxime Biamou (Sutton United).
Substitution, North Ferriby United. Connor Robinson replaces Reece Thompson.
Substitution, Sutton United. Chris Dickson replaces Ryan Burge.
Substitution, Sutton United. Craig Dundas replaces Gomis.
Substitution, Sutton United. Craig McAllister replaces Dan Fitchett.
Goal!  North Ferriby United 2, Sutton United 0. Reece Thompson (North Ferriby United).
Second Half begins North Ferriby United 1, Sutton United 0.
First Half ends, North Ferriby United 1, Sutton United 0.
Mark Gray (North Ferriby United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ryan Fallowfield (North Ferriby United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Dean Beckwith (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Reece Thompson (North Ferriby United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!  North Ferriby United 1, Sutton United 0. Sam Topliss (North Ferriby United).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


The owner of a Staffordshire bull terrier walked off after it attacked a four-year-old boy leaving him needing plastic surgery.

The boy, who will be scarred for life, was walking with his mother, brother and sister in Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, when the dog bit his face.
The owner then called for the dog and left the scene, something police have described as "staggering".
The boy's mother Gemma said it happened very fast and found her son crying.
"All I saw was my son sitting on the floor crying," she told BBC News.
More updates on this and other stories in Staffordshire
"We were just walking across what we call the Black Path and my son fell and my daughter started screaming."
She said the plastic surgeon confirmed a facial muscle had been damaged and that her son may also have speech problems.
Sgt Andrew Bryan said they wanted to trace the owner following the incident on Sunday afternoon.
"The fact the owner walked off without offering to help the boy and his mother is staggering," he said.
"We need to find this dog quickly so we can prevent it biting other innocent people."
Gemma, who did not want the family's full identity to be revealed, added: "All people at some point have some human level of decency and in this day and age you'd expect them to stop."
The dog is described as a brown Staffordshire Bull Terrier which was off its lead and being walked by a white male in his late teens or early 20s. He was wearing black trainers, grey tracksuit bottoms and a black hoody or coat.


A 24-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy have admitted killing swans in Pembrokeshire.

Three swans were shot dead at Withybush Woods in Haverfordwest last October and another was seriously injured.
Benjamin Phillips, 24, and the teenager were given non-custodial sentences after admitting possession of a loaded air rifle in public and intentionally killing and injuring a wild bird.
Gareth Mattson, 32, denied the offences before Haverfordwest Magistrates.
He will stand trial on 19 April and was released on conditional bail.
A third man, 19-year-old Joseph Lawson, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued.
Phillips was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and 150 hours of community work and the 13-year-old boy received a 12-month referral order.
Defending Phillips, David Williams told the court his client felt "genuine remorse" for what happened.
The court heard Phillips said he "immediately felt disgusted at what had happened".
Mr Williams told the court the incident had a serious effect on Phillips' mental health and "swan killer" had been scratched on his family's car.
The presiding magistrate Martin Jones said: "The community still feel very strongly about this case and that's something you're going to have to live with".


A 27-year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with the death of a Kilmarnock man.

Robert Fleming, 21, was found dead at his home on Lammermuir Road in the East Ayrshire town on Sunday, February 7.
Police said he had earlier been involved in an altercation outside Bakers nightclub.
Scott Morrison appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court charged with culpable homicide. He made no plea or declaration and the case was continued.


The system Scotland uses for the testing of pupils in the classroom will be re-examined, the country's first minister has pledged.

Nicola Sturgeon said there needed to be a "national improvement framework" as councils had different approaches.
She believed an improved system would help lead to better pupil attainment.
Ahead of Ms Sturgeon's speech in Wester Hailes, Scottish Labour said there needed to be "bold changes" to improve education for the poorest children.
The first minister promised that her government would "close completely" the attainment gap between poor and rich pupils.
She believed every young person should receive the "same advantages" that she did when growing up in Ayrshire.
Ms Sturgeon said: "If they [pupils] have the talent and work hard enough, they can achieve their dreams.
"This is a challenge for local government, the Scottish government and society as a whole, and I am determined that my government will show leadership."
However, Labour's Iain Gray said that despite eight years of an SNP government the "reality" was that pupils from richer backgrounds still performed "much better" than those from deprived areas.
He added: "It's just not right that three quarters of S2 pupils from the poorest backgrounds don't have the counting skills they need.
"A child starting high school this week will have spent every year of their education under the SNP government.
"Instead of yet another speech from the first minister, it's time the SNP government actually did something to close the gap between rich and poor in Scotland's schools."
On the subject of standardised assessments, Ms Sturgeon said that local authorities recognised their importance but because they used different systems it made it "much more difficult to get a clear and consistent picture of progress".
She added that she would provide greater detail in her legislative address to the Scottish Parliament in two weeks' time.
However, Ms Sturgeon said the basic purpose of the review was to:
Responding to the speech, the Scottish Conservative's Liz Smith said the SNP's record in education "was a miserable failure".
She added: "When they [the Scottish government] see falling rates of literacy and numeracy, a widening attainment gap between rich and poor, cuts to teacher number and 140,000 fewer college places, they know something is very badly wrong and the blame lies entirely at the door of a Scottish government which has become obsessed with the wrong priorities."
The leader of Scotland's biggest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), welcomed Ms Sturgeon's comments.
Larry Flanagan, said: "This was a very positive speech from the first minister, in which she spent a good deal of time praising the work of Scotland's schools and teachers.
"Ms Sturgeon also highlighted the progress that has been made in the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence, and gave very welcome recognition to the improvements that have been delivered for pupils across Scotland."


Ireland captain Rory Best said his side's "monumental effort" denied England a second successive Grand Slam and world record run of victories.

Iain Henderson's first-half try helped Ireland win 13-9 as the champions had to be content with matching New Zealand's run of 18 straight Test wins.
"It's days like this that you have to be very proud of the boys," said 34-year-old hooker Best.
"That was a lot more like we showed in the autumn."
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After the historic first Ireland win over the All Blacks in November and a further autumn win over Australia, Ireland were many people's Six Nations favourites.
However, a surprise opening defeat by Scotland and a further loss in Cardiff left Ireland in danger of finishing in the bottom half of the table, only for Saturday's gutsy win to move Joe Schmidt's side up to second place.
The win also secured Ireland's place as one of the top seeds for the 2019 World Cup draw.
"We'll look back on another day at aspects of the campaign that we let slip by," added Best, who came back on to the field at the Aviva Stadium after going off for a head injury assessment in the first half.
"They are lifting the trophy now and they are deserved champions with the way they played throughout the championship. But we are very happy with that win."
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt picked out the individual displays of try-scorer Henderson and centre Garry Ringrose as his team built on a strong start to hold off England's second-half rally.
Henderson vindicated his selection in place of Devin Toner with a dynamic display in the loose, which included his dive and stretch to score Ireland's 24th-minute try.
"I thought we played really well in the first 20 minutes and deserved the lead [10-3 at half-time]," added the New Zealander.
"We went really close in their right corner twice with Keith Earls.
"Garry Ringrose was unbelievable again. He keeps taking steps forward and he was a real threat out there tonight.
"Iain Henderson was massive tonight. He has been a player who has been coming for a long time and I think he arrived a bit tonight."
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Flanker O'Mahony was named man of the match after being drafted in minutes before the kick-off following a hamstring injury suffered by Jamie Heaslip in the warm-up.
"It wasn't a day to try and put someone out there who was maybe 85 or 90% fit," added Schmidt.
Schmidt's decision not to select O'Mahony on Thursday did led to some debate and the Munster back row's physicality at the breakdown and line-out work was a feature of Ireland's display, including a crucial 74th-minute steal off a Jamie George throw.


Police have renewed their appeal for information on the fifth anniversary of a fatal hit-and-run collision in County Monaghan.

Fintan Treanor, 20, was walking home in the early hours of Sunday, 26 June 2011, when he was struck by a vehicle at Lemgare, Clontibret.
He had been walking home after a night out in Castleblaney.
Police appeals have centred on an Audi A4 1995 to 2001 model missing its front lower air-vent grille.
"Five years have passed and the driver of the car involved has not been located," a gardai (Irish police) spokesperson said.
"Perhaps now after five years some person knows a person who disposed of an Audi A4 around that time.
"In five years, loyalties, friendships and relationships change and perhaps someone that felt unable to come forward before is now in a position to provide the investigation team with the vital information that would locate the driver."


Four people have been arrested over a wedding video which showed Israeli revellers apparently celebrating a deadly arson attack on a Palestinian family, Israeli police say.

Reports say one of those arrested is the groom. The footage showed guests singing and dancing with weapons.
One stabbed a picture of a Palestinian baby who died in the attack in July.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "shocking" scenes, aired on Israeli television.
Wedding-goers could also be heard singing about taking revenge on Palestinians in the video.
Police opened an investigation into the events on suspicion of incitement to violence.
Israeli media identified one of the suspects as a resident of the Jewish settlement of Kfar Tapuach in the occupied West Bank. The four were arrested on Tuesday, a week after the footage was broadcast.
It was filmed at a Jewish wedding in Jerusalem earlier this month.
In the clip, young Orthodox Jewish men are seen dancing with knives, guns and fire bombs while singing about revenge.
One of the revellers stabs a picture of 18-month-old Ali Dawabsha, who was killed in an arson attack on his home in the Palestinian village of Duma.
His parents, Saad and Riham, were also killed, while his five-year-old brother, Ali, was injured in the attack.
Several youths, whom the authorities suspect of belonging to a "Jewish terror organisation", have been arrested in connection with the attack.


Dozens of drivers performing illegal U-turns to avoid a traffic jam on the M1 have been described as "behaving ridiculously" by police.

Northamptonshire Police released CCTV footage showing the vehicles, including a Cumbrian coach, making illegal U-turns at Junction 18 near Crick.
It shows them heading the wrong way down a slip road to get off the M1.
The drivers had been approaching a queue caused by a serious accident at Junction 19 on Sunday 5 July.
It was recorded just before 21:00 BST.
PC Dave Lee, of the force's tactical roads policing unit, said: "These people were behaving ridiculously.
"People joining the motorway aren't expecting other vehicles to be coming towards them.
"These drivers were not only putting their own lives at risk, they were risking the lives of everyone heading down that slip road."
Officers are now investigating the footage so action can be taken against the drivers who performed the illegal U-turns.
Wigton-based coach company Reays confirmed the driver who performed the U-turn has resigned.


The EU says it will continue aid for exporters of dairy produce, fruit and vegetables into next year to ease the impact of a Russian ban on those goods.

The EU Commission says the "safety net" for Europe's dairy sector will remain in place until March 2016 and for fruit and vegetable growers until July 2016.
Russia has extended a year-old ban on most imports of EU food and drink until August 2016. Western sanctions are hurting Russia's economy.
The Ukraine crisis sparked the dispute.
Many European farmers are in financial difficulties because the Russian market is blocked and Chinese imports of European dairy produce have slackened.
There have been daily road blockades by French farmers - and on Thursday similar protests erupted in Belgium. They want higher prices for their produce, saying they are struggling to stay in business.
In 2013 Poland and Lithuania were the biggest European exporters of fruit and vegetables to Russia.
The West has restricted credit for Russian state banks, defence firms and energy industries, and slapped visa bans and asset freezes on many top Russian officials because of Moscow's actions in Ukraine.
The sanctions were triggered by Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014, and were later ratcheted up, as Russia was accused of arming separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia has denied helping the separatists with troops and heavy weapons.
"We need to continue to provide a safety net in order to give security to producers who continue to face difficulties in relation to the [Russian] ban," EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said.
The EU support for fruit and vegetable growers has cost €155m (£110m; $170m) so far. It takes the form of withdrawing produce from the market - it is then distributed free in schools and hospitals, or used for compost or animal feed. Restricting the supply helps to prevent prices crashing.
In the dairy sector, the Commission is buying up butter and skimmed milk powder and paying farmers to store their produce.


The appetite for people to take their pension savings as cash waned at the end of the year, according to the City watchdog.

Between October and December 65,610 people made full cash withdrawals, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said, a 42% fall from the previous quarter.
Rules allow those aged 55 and over to have full access to their pension pots with the first 25% tax free.
The FCA collects data from providers covering about 95% of the sector.
A total of 127,094 of pensions were accessed for the first time - either partially drawn down as an income or taken totally in cash in the final three months of 2015. This was a 36% decrease from the previous quarter.
The figures also showed customers aged 55 to 59 had the highest rate of withdrawals as a percentage of their pension pot. Some 11% of this age group took an income of 10% or more of their pot.
A Panorama investigation earlier this week found that some companies are exploiting new pension freedom rules to get access to pension savings.
Undercover footage showed one unregulated consultant giving advice and suggesting high risk investments.


As part of Safer Internet Day, Newsround's been looking at ways you can keep yourself safe online.

8 February 2016 Last updated at 12:09 GMT
Jonathan Baggaley, from The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), has given Newsround his top five tips when you're using social networks.


Cruise company Carnival has reported another big fall in profits, as it continues to be affected by January's capsizing of its Costa Concordia ship off the coast of Italy.

Carnival made a net profit of $93m (Â£57m) in the three months to 30 November, down from $217m last year.
Revenues at the British-American group fell to $2.7bn from $2.8bn.
Carnival has seen a fall in bookings since the capsizing, despite offering substantial price cuts.
A total of 32 people died when the Costa Concordia hit rocks off the coast of Italy on 13 January.
Carnival said it was also being affected by the weak European economy and high fuel prices.
Looking ahead, the company said its bookings for 2013 "continue to be behind" this year's levels.
Carnival chief executive Micky Arison said: "As a result of the Costa Concordia tragedy in January, the past year has been the most challenging in our company's history."
The company's shares are listed in both New York and London. Its US shares were down 5.4% in late morning trading.


Brazilian football star Neymar has appeared in court in connection with allegations of corruption and fraud surrounding his transfer to FC Barcelona.

Barcelona said it paid €57m (£43m) for Neymar in 2013 but investigators say the fee was closer to €83m and Barcelona concealed part of the deal.
Neymar spent an hour and a half before the judge.
He has previously denied wrongdoing, in an interview with Brazilian media.
Leaving court, the football star signed autographs for fans.
Barcelona FC says his parents, Neymar da Silva Santos and Nadine Goncalves da Silva Santos, received €40m and his former club, Santos, was paid €17m.
Neymar's father, who arrived at court with him on Tuesday evening, acts as his agent.
The case was brought by Brazilian third-party investment fund DIS, which owned 40% of the Brazilian player's sports rights.
DIS alleges it was financially harmed by the transfer when it received €6.8m of Santos's €17m fee and argues it was deprived of its full share.
Barcelona FC President Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell, were called to give evidence at the court in Madrid on Monday, but they refused to testify. They insisted instead on the version of events they had given at a previous hearing.
In a statement on Monday, the club said: "They are not worried and said they have confidence in justice."
The pair are also accused in a separate case of defrauding the Spanish tax office of an estimated €13m. They deny the allegations.
Neymar's move to Barcelona FC has been a big success on the pitch. The striker became part of a goal-scoring trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
In 2015, Neymar helped the club win five trophies and came third in the Fifa Ballon d'Or competition. He also scored in the Uefa Champions League final against Juventus.
But the 23-year-old has also encountered legal difficulties in Brazil, where a court has frozen $47m (£33m) of his assets in connection with suspected tax evasion between 2011 and 2013.


Four Belfast Giants players have been included in the Great Britain squad for next month's Olympic pre-qualification tournament in Cortina, Italy.

Three Giants' forwards Jonathan Boxill, Craig Peacock and Colin Shields make the 22-man squad while netminder Stephen Murphy returns after injury.
GB take on hosts Italy, Netherlands and Serbia between 11-14 February.
The winners will progress to final qualifying for the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang in Korea.
Seventeen of the squad who won a silver medal at the 2015 World Championship (Division 1B) in Netherlands are named on the roster.
While the tournament is taking place, host club Cortina will travel to Belfast to play at the SSE Arena on Friday 12 February and Saturday 13 February.
The Serie A side will contest the 'Olympic Series' against the Belfast Giants in the first ever meeting between the teams.


Peterborough boss Graham Westley says poor discipline is costing them dear.

Posh have amassed 100 yellow cards and seven reds in league games this season - the most in the top four divisions.
"A lot of our cards are sloppy cards, situations where players will stick out a leg rather than work a little bit harder," said Westley.
"The discipline of a group of young players is something that often needs managing. There's no question our discipline is short of the mark."
Westley replaced Dave Robertson as Posh boss in September with the club 18th in the table and lifted them into the play-off places before a run of one win in 11 league matches saw them drop off the pace.
They are now 14th in the League One table, and he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "You don't win titles or promotions with poor discipline.
"It costs you too often in games, you can't afford to be down to 10 men however many times we've been down to 10 men and win games consistently. You can't afford the suspensions.
"But more than that you need the work ethic, focus and concentration that goes with discipline. So we've been nipping it in the bud on the training ground and next year the level of discipline has to be a strength of ours rather than a weakness."
The ex-Stevenage boss is confident that a summer of change will bring positive results next campaign.
"My learning as a manager is that when you go in and stamp your authority things can go one way or the other for you," he said.
"If you take things a little more slowly, you've probably got a better chance of making sure you succeed in the long term. I've come in here and changed very slowly and tried to let things run and observe, and gradually make changes.
"The summer time is the perfect opportunity to get things sorted out. I know what I think needs changing here and I think if we make some big changes over the summer we'll see a much different performance level next year."


Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger has become a father again at age of 73, his publicist has confirmed.

The singer already has seven children whose ages range from 17 to 45 and he became a great-grandfather in 2014.
His 29-year-old girlfriend, American ballerina Melanie Hamrick, gave birth to a boy in New York on Thursday, the singer's publicist Bernard Doherty said.
A statement said Hamrick and Sir Mick were "both delighted" at the birth.
It added: "Mick was at the hospital for the arrival.
"Mother and baby are doing well and we request that the media respect their privacy at this time."
Sir Mick began dating Hamrick after the suicide of L'Wren Scott in 2014, his partner of 13 years.
The music star had his other children with Marsha Hunt, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall and Luciana Gimenez Morad.
He has five grandchildren and became a great-grandfather in May 2014 when his granddaughter Assisi, daughter of Jade Jagger, gave birth to a baby girl.
The Rolling Stones recently released a new blues album called Blue & Lonesome.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Scientists believe mysterious "fur covered' remains washed up on a Scottish island could be those of dead sea mammals such as whales or dolphins.

Residents on Colonsay have been intrigued by the three carcasses with some suggesting they could be polar bears washed down from the Arctic.
But scientists at the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme said they were more likely to be marine animals.
They said decomposing blubber has a fur-like appearance.
The Friends of Colonsay Facebook page has carried a series of photographs of the remains, which look like they are covered in dirty white fur.
The group speculated on the possibility of the remains being those of bears, but has since acknowledged the scientists' explanation.
Inverness-based SMAS carries out examinations of whales, dolphins and other large marine animals found washed up on Scottish beaches.
On the Colonsay discoveries, it said: "We have had a number of these sort of cases over the years, and are confident that these are highly autolysed cetacean carcases.
"The 'fur' referred to is decomposing blubber, which becomes stringy in appearance as the lipids from the blubber are drained into the sand.
"Once the bones are exposed we may be able to identify these animals to a species level with help from the experts at the National Museum of Scotland."
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which has three polar bears at its Highland Wildlife Park, has also said it did not believe the remains to be those of bears.
Six years ago, RSPB Scotland did an April Fool's Day joke about a polar bear being washed up on the Isle of Mull to highlight concerns about climate change.
Though not reaching as far as Scotland, polar bears are known to stray far from their usual range.
Earlier this year, a polar bear was shot dead in northern Iceland, the first such incident of its kind since 2010.
The female bear came within 500 metres of an inhabited farm before it was shot by a marksman.


Plans to privatise three prisons have been cancelled because of an ongoing investigation into the leading bidder.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the prison service would remain in charge at Hatfield, Lindholme and Moorland, all in South Yorkshire.
Serco was named as the leading bidder in July but the company has been accused of over-charging the government for electronically tagging criminals.
Mr Grayling said the privatisation was cancelled for "operational reasons".
"The investigations remain ongoing," he said in a statement.
"The impact of the delay and the uncertainty this has created mean that for operational reasons we cannot postpone the outcome of the competition process any further.
"I have therefore decided that the competition for these prisons will cease and that all three prisons will be managed by HM Prison Service."
Labour's shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan called the decision a "humiliating climbdown".
By Iain WatsonPolitical correspondent, BBC News
Despite some uncomfortable headlines, the government remains committed to giving private companies more responsibility for running public services.
Ministers argue that the procurement process has been improved in recent years,  with better services being delivered at lower cost.
So halting the privatisation of three south Yorkshire prisons is something of an embarrassing setback.
But the political logic was clear - you really can't put a company which is under criminal investigation itself in charge of the nation's jails.
The bigger problem for the government is that the decision has raised questions about the whole process of contracting out services to the private sector.
The justice secretary Chris Grayling said today that the government is still fully committed to what he called "a mixed market for public services".
Yet he also admitted that the publicly-run Prison Service has significantly reduced costs -  and is currently delivering value for money.
So the Prison Governors Association has declared there is no need for further contracting out.
And there's political pressure from Labour - and some Lib Dems - to suspend the privatisation of the probation service, too.
The government has the political will to go ahead, but may yet face practical difficulties if some of the potential bidders remain under the cloud of a fraud investigation.
"David Cameron and Chris Grayling's plans for the prison system are in tatters," he said.
"Their talk of a rehabilitation revolution is nothing but a pipe-dream. The severe shortage of prison places combined with cuts in staff is causing huge problems and is putting public safety at risk."
Serco and G4S are both subject to an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
An audit suggested they took money for tagging criminals who were dead, in jail, or never existed.
Both firms have been excluded from new government contracts while a review of their operations is carried out.
Serco said it understood that, given "the urgent need for change" at the prisons, the privatisation plans as they stood were not in the institutions' best interests.
Acting group chief executive Ed Casey said: "From meetings with the UK government, it is clear that the operational needs of the prisons will be best served by the necessary changes being implemented without further delay.
Mr Casey took over when Christopher Hyman resigned last month after almost 20 years with the company.
The move was greeted as "great news" by the Prison Governors Association union.
"It should be seen as recognition of the recent hard work completed in order to modernise and streamline the public sector prison service," president Eoin McClennan said.
Prison reform campaigners welcomed what they described as a ministerial "U-turn" but called for the government to go further.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the justice secretary should "reverse the justice privatisation tide currently being witnessed across the country".
She added: "Something as important as taking away someone's freedom should only be done by the state, answerable to voters.
But the Ministry of Justice insisted it "remained fully committed to a mixed market in public services".


Plans for the proposed south Bristol link road have been approved by the city council, by eight votes to two.

Councillors voted in favour of the 3.1-mile (5km) road linking the A370, near Long Ashton, to the Cater Road roundabout in Hartcliffe.
Earlier this month the plan was approved by councillors in North Somerset, the other authority involved with the Â£43m scheme.
The new road is due to be completed by 2017.
Campaigners had claimed the road would cause air pollution and destroy greenbelt land between the A370 and the A38.
Supporters said it would combat congestion and improve the local economy.
The combined road and bus route will also includes new cycle and pedestrian paths.
Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council will contribute about Â£15m towards the cost of the road, with other funding coming from the Department for Transport.


MSPs have unanimously backed the general principles of a bill to scrap the time bar on survivors of childhood sexual abuse suing for damages.

The Scottish government wants to end the three-year limit on bringing a civil actions in such cases.
The Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill has passed its first legislative hurdle at Holyrood.
The justice committee previously heard that the cost of compensation could total at least £200m.
An independent Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry looking into historical abuse in care settings is currently under way, led by judge Lady Smith.
All of Holyrood's parties backed the legislation during the stage one debate in the chamber.
However, some members pointed out the financial and practical concerns which surround the number of survivors who may come forward and what the cost of compensation might be.
Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing said it was important to "remove barriers to survivors pursuing civil damages".
She said: "This bill is about access to justice. It is about acknowledging the unique position of survivors of childhood abuse as children who were betrayed by those they should have been able to trust - recognising the abhorrent nature of the abuse, the vulnerability of the child at the time, and the profound impact of abuse; an impact which lasts well into adulthood and which, itself, prevents people from coming forward.
"We will continue to do all that we can, to listen to survivors of childhood abuse, to provide the support they tell us they need and to right the wrongs done to them."


One of Scotland's biggest private landowners, Buccleuch Group, has cut its debt but seen profits fall.

The figures are revealed in its annual results for the period to 31 October last year.
Pre-tax profit fell to just over £1.1m from a total of £1.72m for the previous 12 months.
Net debt has also been cut by about £10.7m to £126.7m, which the group said was in line with its long term strategy.
It also highlighted a number of key investments.
They include energy projects and a major redevelopment at Dalkeith Country Park.
Chief Executive Officer John Glen said: "As a business, we are committed to playing a leading role in stimulating economic development in the rural economies in which we live and work.
"A number of major initiatives and investments have been made in the hospitality, leisure and energy elements of the business.
"A new multi-million pound food, drink, retail and wellness space, named the Restoration Yard is being created within Dalkeith Country Park's former stable yard, alongside a spectacular new adventure playground."
He said more than £7m of private money would be invested in the project, which was due to open this summer and should create more than 40 new jobs.
He said "significant steps" had also been taken to convert the opencast coal site at Glenmuckloch near Kirkconnel in Dumfries and Galloway into an energy park.
He claimed plans for a pumped storage hydro scheme on the site could create 270 construction posts for a period of five to seven years.
The group has also announced scoping for two further potential wind farms in the North Lowther Hills and at Hopsrig, both in Dumfries and Galloway.