Years ago, during a visit to my village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, I heard a female relative boast that as a high-caste Brahmin, she would have no trouble getting a bride for her dog, let alone for her unemployed son.

Her confidence stemmed from the fact that women have traditionally enjoyed a very low status in India's most populous state, which has a population of more than 200 million people.
The state has consistently performed badly on UN human development indexes, and women here - especially in rural areas - still have little say in important life decisions, including when and whom to marry.
Millions of girls are married off even before they turn 18 - the legal age of marriage.
But the winds of change seem to be finally blowing in the state - in recent months, young women have turned away grooms they've found to be unfit for a variety of reasons.
We list a few unorthodox ones below:
Last month, a woman in the state's Firozabad district refused to marry her groom when he arrived at the wedding venue too drunk.
The Times of India reported that the young man was so inebriated, he couldn't even stand straight for the pre-wedding "jaimaal" ceremony when the couple exchange floral garlands.
The wedding was called off after the upset bride told her family that she would kill herself if anyone forced her to marry the drunk man.
There have been similar instances in the past too - last year, a bride in a village in Mahoba district called off her wedding when the groom turned up inebriated.
When Mohar Singh arranged for his daughter, Lovely, to get married to a young man named Ram Baran, he didn't know that the groom was illiterate.
It's not clear why, but just before the ceremony, Lovely asked the groom-to-be to solve a simple maths problem.
She asked him to add 15 and six. He said 17. She called off the wedding.
The groom's family had "kept us in the dark about his poor education", Mr Singh said and added that "even a first grader" could answer the simple question.
Just as he was reaching out to garland his bride-to-be, one excited groom had a seizure and collapsed in front of the wedding guests.
As he was rushed to a hospital, the bride's family alleged that his family had not disclosed the fact that he was epileptic.
The angry bride decided to switch husbands - she asked a member of her brother-in-law's family, who was a guest, to step in and marry her instead. He agreed.
On his return from the hospital, the original groom-to-be pleaded with the young lady to change her mind, telling her that he would be ridiculed if he went home without a bride, but she was unmoved.
A "spoon war" broke out and a police complaint was lodged, only to be withdrawn later since, as a police official said, "the bride is already married now, what can anyone do"?
This couple met on a social networking site and after a brief courtship, decided to get married.
But things didn't go according to plan at the glitzy wedding in the city of Aligarh, attended by 500 guests, including the city Mayor Shakuntala Bharati.
And it could all be blamed on a kiss - the groom's sister-in-law was so excited "that she leapt up and kissed him even as the bride and her family looked on in deep disapproval", reports said.
To make matters worse, she "pulled him on to the dance floor and shook a leg".
A brawl ensued.
Reports said the bride's family assaulted the wedding party and held the groom captive - he was freed only after the mayor intervened.
Last year north-east of the city of Kanpur, the family of one groom demanded better lights at the wedding. The bride's family said no.
More sharp words were exchanged and the bride's family accused the groom's family of being "uncultured and ill-mannered".
Police said they'd never heard of a wedding being cancelled "just over lighting arrangements".
Consumption of tobacco can be injurious to health.
And this groom in Deoria district ignored the health warning at his peril.
He arrived at the wedding chewing tobacco and half-way through the ceremony, he stepped out to spit.
The bride was furious and called off the wedding, saying she didn't want a husband who was an addict.


A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a man who was found semi-conscious by a roadside in Gateshead.

The 41-year-old man was found by Sunderland Road at about 15:00 BST on 2 May.
He was taken to hospital with a head injury in a critical condition and died on Sunday.
Northumbria Police said a 22-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.
A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent remains on bail.


The parents of a 15-year-old girl who went missing four days ago have made an emotional appeal in the hope it will help find her.

Kayleigh Haywood, from Measham in Leicestershire, was last seen when she was dropped off outside her former school at about 18:00 GMT on Friday.
Appealing directly to her, parents Stephanie Haywood and Martin Whitby said: "We just want our KJ home."
Two men, aged 27 and 28, arrested on Monday remain in police custody.
Kayleigh's parents described her as a bubbly, loving, and caring girl.
"We all miss you so much especially Mertle, your little sister. Please come home, you're not in any trouble, we just want you back safe and sound," they said.
Kayleigh is a student at Ashby School but previously attended Ibstock Community College, where she was dropped off outside on Friday.
A mobile phone believed to be Kayleigh's was found by a member of the public in the Sence Valley Forest Park area of Ibstock, and police believe she may have been there on Saturday afternoon.
Residents are being encouraged to search their back gardens and outbuildings, leaving specially trained officers to undertake the coordinated searches.
Cadets and volunteers distributed leaflets across Ibstock on Tuesday evening in the hope it will prompt new information.
Kayleigh's parents added: "If anyone knows anything or has any information please contact the police. We just want our KJ home."
Detectives have trawled CCTV to try to find her, carried out house to house enquiries and spoken to her friends, family and school.
Det Ch Supt David Sandall said: "The longer Kayleigh is missing, the more concerned we are becoming for her safety."


England failed to capitalise on batting first on the opening day of the third Test against India in Mohali.

On a blameless surface, the tourists played a string of reckless strokes to be reduced to 87-4 and 144-5.
They were rescued in part by Jonny Bairstow, who made 89 in partnerships of 69 with the recalled Jos Buttler (43) and 57 with Ben Stokes.
England closed on 268-8, with India set to take control if they can wrap up the innings and bat long on the second day.
The home side, 1-0 up in the five-match series after a big win in the second Test, were accurate rather than brilliant with the ball, and could have been in an even better position if they had held their catches.
England, so often blighted by top-order failures, are once again relying on their lower order and bowling attack to remain in the match, and will be hoping that a dry pitch deteriorates to make batting last difficult for India.
"A high-class team would have made 450 or 500 on here," said former England captain Michael Vaughan on Test Match Special.
"Some of the dismissals have been poor and England will know that. They also know India will have to bat last on a pitch that, by day three and four, will be much more difficult."
Bairstow, the world's leading Test run-scorer in 2016, showed the patience that almost all of the rest of England's batsmen lacked to spare them from a complete calamity.
Promoted to number five after Ben Duckett was dropped, he showed solid defence against the pace bowlers and accumulated with pushes, punches, sweeps and rapid running - he scored only six fours in his 177-ball stay.
On 54, he could have been caught or stumped by Parthiv Patel off Ravichandran Ashwin, with the wicketkeeper also dropping another edge off Jayant Yadav when Bairstow was on 89.
But, from the next ball, Bairstow was given out lbw on the front foot, failed to overturn the decision on review and departed along with England's hopes of a first-innings score anywhere near par on this pitch.
"Bairstow is playing on a different planet," said Vaughan. "He made batting look so, so easy - balanced on front and back foot, and with options on both sides of the wicket against spin.
"Some of the other England batsman should be sitting next to him in the dressing room and hoping it rubs off on them."
At the end of play, Stokes was handed an official reprimand by the ICC for using "obscene, offensive or insulting'' language.
It related to his reaction to Indian players' celebrations of his dismissal when he was stumped after playing a rash shot off Jadeja's bowling.
In addition to the reprimand, one demerit point has been added to Stokes's disciplinary record. If Stokes reaches four points within a 24-month period, they will be converted into suspension points and he will be banned.
Two suspension points would result in a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first. Stokes admitted the offence and accepted the sanction.
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The poor form of Duckett and Gary Ballance in India and Bangladesh respectively forced England to recall reserve wicketkeeper Buttler as a specialist batsman for his first Test in 13 months, despite the right-hander playing only one first-class match in that time.
His footwork was initially tentative, but time at the crease built enough confidence for Buttler to play trademark reverse-sweeps and handsome square drives.
He eventually joined the list of England batsmen to fall in sloppy fashion, tamely pushing left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to Virat Kohli at extra cover.
Chris Woakes arrived to add 45 with Bairstow but was bowled by the pacey Umesh Yadav in the penultimate over to leave the tail exposed on Sunday morning.
With batting likely to become harder as the match progresses, England had the advantage of winning the toss, only to throw away wickets to some disciplined India bowling.
Haseeb Hameed was powerless in the face of some extra bounce extracted by Umesh, but Joe Root played an awful swipe across the line to Jayant, and captain Alastair Cook, who was dropped twice, edged a loose cut shot off Ashwin to depart for 27.
Moeen Ali, promoted to number four, was caught hooking the excellent Mohammed Shami, and Stokes, after battling hard with Bairstow, was frustrated into running past a Jadeja delivery to be stumped.
Bairstow showed his team-mates what could be achieved with the necessary application but, even after his effort, England are likely to need something special to get back in this match and possibly even the series.
England batsman Jos Buttler on TMS: "It was great to be out there in the middle and playing again. There are times when you question if you will get another chance.
"The day could have gone better for the team. There were a few dismissals that we could have been avoided, but at the end of the day a few started to spin and keep low.
"You're always in the game with runs on the board. We need as many as we can tomorrow."
England team-mate Jonny Bairstow: "Having won the toss, it was disappointing to lose the wickets that we have as the pitch will be its best today and tomorrow. It could have been a disastrous day if we didn't knuckle down and work hard. We could have been bowling tonight.''
India bowler Umesh Yadav: "England should have scored more runs - 260 is only a decent total because the pitch is not turning too much yet.''
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Teenager Lydia Ko held off Park In-bee and Lexi Thompson to win the $1m Race to the CME Globe title for the second year in a row.

New Zealander Ko, 18, finished joint seventh in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples.
South Korean Park and American Thompson missed birdie putts on the 17th which would have put them ahead of Ko in the season's standings.
American Cristie Kerr won the $500,000 tournament on 17 under par.
Ko carded a final-round level-par 72, missing a putt for birdie on the 18th and did not know she had topped the rankings until she had walked off the green.
"It was kind of a tough day. The hole is smaller than the ball today," said Ko, who in September became the youngest winner of a major by lifting the Evian Championship.
"Every emotion went through me. I'm happy that the season is over and I can relax now."
South Korea's Ha Na Jang and American Gerina Piller shared second place at the Tiburon course, one shot behind Kerr.
Thompson went round in 68 to finish fourth on 14 under, while world number two Park was sixth, two shots back.


A union leader has accused ScotRail of "dragging its heels" in negotiations ahead of planned strike action.

The RMT said the train operator had turned down an offer to resume talks on Friday and offered to meet on Monday - hours before the strikes begins.
In a letter to the head of the ScotRail Alliance, RMT general secretary Mick Cash warned that rail bosses were "giving no priority" to the dispute.
ScotRail said it was making plans to meet the union as soon as possible.
In his letter to ScotRail's managing director Phil Verster, Mr Cash said union negotiators were on stand-by to discuss the dispute over the weekend.
The train operator's offer to attend Acas talks at 10:00 on Monday did not appear to be a "genuine offer to avert strike action at all", he added.
He said: "It is imperative that not only is your company seen to be making steps to resolve this dispute but that you are actually taking steps to listen to the concerns of your staff and the travelling public on such a safety critical matter that we are in dispute over."
However, in a statement ScotRail said: "Talks not strikes is the way forward. We're making arrangements to meet the RMT again as soon as possible."
The RMT announced the dates of a series of six planned strikes after saying a majority of its members had voted for strike action in a ballot with a 75% turnout.
The union said it had not received direct reassurances from the Abellio ScotRail franchise that driver-only services would not be extended.
The RMT said the planned strikes will be held between 00:01 and 23:59 on:


Hampshire captain James Vince is being considered for a place in Australia's T20 Big Bash competition this winter.

The county confirmed Adelaide Strikers are looking for a second overseas player after a knee injury ruled out West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard.
Vince, 24, is one of a number of English players "under consideration".
"A tournament like that would be great exposure for him ahead of the T20 World Cup," Hampshire's director of cricket Giles White told BBC Radio Solent.
Vince, who was the leading run-scorer in the T20 Blast domestic competition last season, scored 41 off 36 balls on his England T20 debut against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday.
India is set to host the World Twenty20 in March.
"The Big Bash would be a wonderful opportunity if that were to come through for him," White added. "Adelaide Strikers have shown an initial interest in James.
"Others have also been touted, but James is certainly on their list of people they're looking at.
"If they're looking for a top-order player who's a very good fielder and also a leader, with a good cricketing brain, then he fits the bill."
Hampshire's links with the South Australia franchise have been forged through their former Australia coach Tim Nielsen.
A number of players have been attached to the Elite International Cricket Academy at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl, playing club cricket around England.


When an Islamic State affiliate in Egypt claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian airliner on Saturday, analysts were initially sceptical about the group's ability to bring down a passenger jet.

Neither IS nor its Egyptian affiliate, which calls itself Sinai Province, is thought to possess missiles capable of hitting an airliner at cruising altitude, and neither has a track record of aviation attacks.
But five days on from the crash, which killed all 224 people on board shortly after take-off from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, David Cameron has said it is "more likely than not a terrorist bomb" brought down the plane, and the UK has grounded flights from the resort.
British military officials are now on their way to Egypt and security at Sharm el-Sheikh airport is under intense scrutiny. Julian Bray, an aviation security analyst, told the BBC it is "highly probable" that even a relatively unsophisticated terror group could get a bomb on to a jet leaving the resort.
"It is unlikely a passenger would be able to carry it on board the aircraft, but it is quite likely it could have been taken into somewhere like the cargo shed and then into a container in the plane," he said.
"All passenger aircraft nowadays carry cargo as well, which often comes as a complete sealed unit, and the concern is that at airports like Sharm security is lax around cargo.
"A lot of the airports in the Far East and Middle East are running on a shoestring and they have to turn round aircraft and cargo as fast as possible.
"That leads to skimping on security procedures."
Sinai plane crash: Four theories
Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous group
Egypt has criticised suggestions that a bomb was involved in the crash. Civil Aviation Minister Hossam Kamal said the country's airports all comply with international security standards.
Investigators are yet to reveal any information from the aircraft's black box recorders and there is no concrete evidence of a bomb attack.
US media reported on Tuesday that a military satellite detected a "heat flash" over Sinai at the time of the crash, suggesting an explosion, but officials said they have not ruled out a technical malfunction.
On Wednesday, Sinai Province, which first emerged as jihadist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis - or Champions of Jerusalem - in 2011, reiterated its claim of responsibility in an audio recording circulated on social media, but refused to give any details about the method used.
"We brought it down by God's help, but we are under no obligation to reveal the mechanism we used," the statement said. "So search the wreckage of the plane, and find your black box and analyse it."
The data retrieved from the black boxes may reveal whether a bomb was involved. If Sinai Province's claim is corroborated, it will be the first IS attack against a passenger aircraft - a grisly milestone for the terror organisation.
Spectacular attacks against civilian targets - especially planes - have so far been the preserve of IS's much older rival, al-Qaeda, which was behind 9/11.
AQAP, al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen, claimed responsibility for two bombs discovered unexploded on cargo planes in 2010 - one in London and one in Dubai. The 300-400g devices - large enough to bring down a plane - were hidden in printer cartridges aboard cargo flights from Yemen.
Both packages were destined for Chicago and timed using mobile phones to detonate over the US mainland.
And in 2010, the CIA said it had foiled a plot by AQAP to smuggle a technically advanced bomb on board an airliner bound for the United States.
By contrast, IS has so far focused on taking land and hostages, and inspiring lone wolf attacks in other parts of the world rather than planning its own sophisticated operations.
Many analysts have been waiting for a high-profile terror attack by IS, according to Dr HA Hellyer, a Middle East expert with the Royal United Services Institute. But the scale of the Metrojet attack would nonetheless be a surprise, he said.
"I don't think anybody expected an attack on a plane, maybe on a hotel or a kidnapping ... but nobody expected something this large," he said.
"I don't think it will surprise anyone such a radical and extremist group has targeted civilians, but certainly the nature of this attack is very dramatic."
If the attack is confirmed it would be a significant propaganda coup for IS, according to Dr Hellyer. "It would mean that they've taken out a huge number of civilians at once, and struck a blow against two of their enemies at once, Russia and Egypt."
And it will remain a success of sorts for IS even if investigators rule that the plane was brought down by a technical fault, he said.
"If it turns out that they didn't do it, that is still a victory in a sense. We are having this conversation now. They have managed to dominate the discussion, and that in itself is a communications victory."


More than 2.5 million people have signed a petition calling for a second EU referendum, after the vote to leave.

It has more signatures than any other on the parliamentary website and as it has passed 100,000, Parliament will consider it for a debate.
Editor's note: The following day, the House of Commons petitions committee said it was investigating allegations of fraud in connection with the petition and had already removed 77,000 signatories - and was monitoring it for further suspicious activity.
The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in Thursday's referendum but the majority of voters in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed Remain.
David Cameron has previously said there will be no second referendum.
On Friday he said he would stand down as prime minister by October following the leave result.
A House of Commons spokeswoman said the petition was created on 24 May. There were 22 signatures on it at the time the referendum result was announced.
She said the petition site had temporarily gone down at one point following "exceptionally high volumes of simultaneous users on a single petition, significantly higher than on any previous occasion".
The petition's website states it was set up by an individual called William Oliver Healey, and says: "We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60%, based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum."
Thursday saw a 72.2% turnout, significantly higher than the 66.1% turnout at last year's general election, but below the 75% mark suggested by Mr Healey as a threshold.
The Scottish independence referendum in 2014 had a turnout of 84.6% - but there has not been a turnout above 75% at any general election since 1992.
A debate in Parliament is a good way to raise the profile of an issue with law makers but it does not automatically follow that there will be a change in the law.
By Iain Watson, political correspondent
The fact that more than one and a half million people have signed a petition calling for a second EU referendum has attracted a lot of attention - but it has zero chance of being enacted.
The main reason is that it is asking for retrospective legislation. It suggests another referendum is required because the winning side got less than 60% of the vote, and there was less than a 75% turnout.
You can have thresholds in referendums.
The 1979 referendum to set up a Scottish parliament failed because a clause was inserted in to the legislation requiring more than 40% of all eligible voters - not just those taking part - to agree to devolution before it took place.
But that clause came in advance - everyone was clear about the rules. You can't simply invent new hurdles if you are on the losing side.
The other reason is that if a petition gets more than 100,000 signatures it can then - with the agreement of a committee of MPs - be debated in Parliament, but there is no legal obligation to act on it.
However, there is talk around Westminster- in the wake of a plunging currency and falling share prices - of whether any deal on Brexit negotiated with the EU should then be put to a referendum further down the line.
The UK will remain an EU member for the next two years at least - so it's not over until it's over.
Some would greet this with horror and cries of 'foul' - others with relief.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has campaigned for the UK to leave the EU throughout his political career, said in May that a narrow win for Remain could cause unstoppable demand for a rerun of the referendum.
He said at the time that a result that saw Remain win by 52% to 48% would mean "unfinished business by a long way".
But Mr Cameron has said the referendum was a "once in a generation, once in a lifetime" decision, saying the UK had "referendums not neverendums".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also rejected the idea of a second referendum, saying: "We have got to accept that decision."
Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy later tweeted that people could "stop this madness through a vote in Parliament".
He said there should be a vote in the Commons next week on whether the UK goes forward with Brexit.
The parliamentary petitions system is overseen by the Petitions Committee, which considers whether petitions that receive more than 100,000 signatures should be raised in the House of Commons and debated.
The committee is due to sit again on Tuesday.
In a separate petition more than 100,000 people have called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to declare the English capital independent from the UK and apply to join the EU.
Across all 33 boroughs in London 59.9% of people voted to stay in the EU, with the Remain vote more than 70% in some boroughs.
The page, set up by James O'Malley, states: "London is an international city, and we want to remain at the heart of Europe. Let's face it - the rest of the country disagrees... let's make the divorce official and move in with our friends on the continent."
Mr Khan has said he has no doubt London will "continue to be the successful city" but called for the UK to remain part of the single market.
Former London Mayor Boris Johnson, one of the leading Leave campaigners and the bookmakers' odds-on favourite to succeed Mr Cameron, has insisted the UK is not "turning its back" on Europe.
He said the decision would not make the UK any less tolerant or outward looking and would not reduce opportunities for young people.


Norwich City chief executive David McNally has quit the club following a tweet on Saturday in which he seemingly announced his resignation.

David McNally's Twitter account said he had left following his club's defeat against Manchester United. The tweet was later deleted and the club did not comment.
Norwich City Football Club confirmed on Monday that McNally had resigned.
"Everyone at Carrow Road wishes him all the very best for the future," it said.
McNally resignation: 'Norwich City top brass under increasing scrutiny'
The statement on the club's website said: "The board of directors had unanimously agreed to accept McNally's resignation and would like to place on record their sincere gratitude for David's game-changing contribution to the football club since he joined in the summer of 2009.
"David played a leading role as the club erased crippling debts and rose from the lower reaches of League One to the Barclays Premier League.
"Director of finance Steve Stone has been appointed interim chief executive and the board and everybody at the club is totally focused on supporting Alex and the players, as we head in to Wednesday night's vital Premier League game against Watford at Carrow Road."
On Saturday, McNally replied to a fan on Twitter who called on him to leave the club after the defeat by Manchester United.
The fan blamed a lack of investment for the Canaries current plight - facing relegation from the lucrative Premier League.
In a tweet, he said: "I understand your view. I've resigned tonight and I hope the club can now progress."
David McNally's departure is a hugely significant moment for Norwich City. This was the man who ran the club on a day-to-day basis and had the final say on most things, from player transfers to what was on sale in the club shop.
He arrived in 2009 with the club at its lowest point in 50 years following relegation to League One.
He oversaw successive promotions, four of the past five seasons in the Premier League and the club clearing all external debt - all of which will count in his favour in the eyes of Norwich City supporters.
But with the prospect of a second relegation from the top flight in three seasons looming, the club's top brass was coming under increasing scrutiny.
Then, hours later, Mr McNally seemingly retracted his resignation, insisting he remains fully committed to the club.
The tweet said: "I take back what was said earlier. I remain fully committed to NCFC and to Delia and Michael and I've not resigned. My apologies."
Both tweets were then deleted.
The Canaries' current predicament sees the club four points from safety with two games to play. On Wednesday, they face Watford at home and then Everton away on the last day of the season.
Both Newcastle United and Norwich City will be relegated to the Championship if Sunderland win on Wednesday.
A strong ally of co-owner Delia Smith, Mr McNally arrived at Carrow Road in 2009 from Fulham having previously spent four years as sales and marketing director at Celtic.
Norwich City fans on Twitter have praised McNally and thanked him for his work at the club, while others have questioned the timing of his departure.
MrTomParsley said: "The loss of @davidmcnally62  just made the inevitable relegation a lot more worrying, he deserves only respect & thanks from all #ncfc fans."
Dan Brigham of the Little Yellow Bird Project, which produces podcasts on Norwich City, told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I interviewed him earlier this year and he said he wanted to leave a legacy, leave Norwich City with a 35,000-capacity stadium, and a first class training facility.
"He will see this [Norwich City facing relegation] as a real failure, as not part of the plan.
"We're not relegated yet, so the timing is weird."


Hackers have revealed private medical information about some US Olympic athletes.

They include gymnastics star Simone Biles and tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.
The information says which medicines these athletes have been given permission to take because of their health needs.
The medicines can be used because of a rule called Therapeutic Use Exemption, which allows some drugs - which would otherwise be banned - to be used if an athlete needs them for medical reasons that have been checked out by the authorities.
According to the leaked files, Serena Williams was allowed to use medication to treat muscle injuries and gold medal gymnast Simone Biles responded to claims she had taken Ritalin by saying said she had been taking medicine for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for a long time.
The athletes affected by the hacking haven't broken any sporting rules, as they were given special permission to use the medication.
A group of hackers in Russia, who call themselves "Fancy Bears", managed to access the private files from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) database and made them public.
WADA say that was against the law and condemned the Russian hackers for leaking the confidential files and breaching the athletes' privacy.


Ireland pair Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw have been ruled out of Saturday's game against Australia in Dublin because of injury.

Fly-half Sexton picked up a 'minor' hamstring injury in the bruising weekend defeat by New Zealand while centre Henshaw suffered concussion.
Rob Kearney and CJ Stander also sustained concussion and are doubtful.
Ireland have added Ulster centre Stuart Olding and Munster's Rory Scannell to the squad as cover.
Henshaw "was knocked unconscious by a shoulder contact to his jaw" following a tackle by New Zealand flanker Sam Cane and had to be carried off with his neck in a brace after only 10 minutes.
Cane, and team-mate Malakai Fekitoa, were cited after the game and face disciplinary hearings on Tuesday for "allegedly dangerous tackles".
Sexton was forced off soon after Henshaw as Ireland suffered a 21-9 loss two weeks after they beat the All Blacks for the first time in 111 years.
Full-back Kearney developed concussive symptoms after the match and he will follow the return to play protocols along with Stander with a view to deciding their involvement against the Wallabies.
Simon Zebo (cramp) and Tadhg Furlong (dead leg) are expected to recover in time to face Michael Cheika's side.
Ireland team manager Mick Kearney described the number of "tackles and bangs around the head" to the side's players during the game as "disappointing".
An edict issued by World Rugby immediately before the Autumn Internationals called on referees to be strict against tackles and strikes above the shoulders, and to punish offenders severely.
"World Rugby had said if these incidents occur then you are liable to a red card, possibly. So that obviously didn't happen at the weekend," added Kearney.
Australia have won all three matches on their northern hemisphere tour, edging out Scotland and France following a comfortable victory over Wales.


An Indian doctor has held a press conference to declare he is alive and that reports of his death in the country's cash crisis were exaggerated.

"My reputation was in tatters," RB Sinha told the BBC, saying rumours he died of a heart attack spread after an incorrect report of a tax raid on him.
India's recent ban of old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes was a move against illegal cash holdings, but it sparked chaos.
Most reports of deaths and suicides have been all but impossible to verify.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked people to remain calm and give the government 50 days to fully replace the banned notes with new ones.
The government says the move was to crack down on corruption and illegal cash holdings known as "black money" - and this has included tax raids to unearth undeclared cash.
On Tuesday local media said an income tax raid on 65-year-old Dr Sinha's home in the district of Chhapra in Bihar state yielded 60 million rupees ($888,890; Â£714,290) in illegal cash.
"This was entirely incorrect. A local channel even sent their reporter and cameraman outside my house and shot some footage. Then the news spread like wildfire on social media and WhatsApp," he said.
"Things became worse when rumours started floating in the district that I had died of a heart attack following the raid.
"So I held a press conference at my clinic on Tuesday to declare that I am healthy and alive and there was no income tax raid on my residence."
Dr Sinha said he had sent legal warnings to two local channels and a news site for carrying the false news.
There have been media reports that up to 33 people have died  "due to demonetisation" since last Tuesday when the old high denomination notes were scrapped.
The victims include people who have reportedly suffered from heart attacks while standing in queues outside banks, and other unable to pay for treatment at hospitals for lack of cash.


Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov is critically ill, the Uzbek government has said in a statement carried by local media.

He is reported to have been taken to hospital on Saturday after suffering a stroke. His health has sharply deteriorated over the past 24 hours, the government said on Friday.
Opposition news reports have suggested that Mr Karimov, 78, has died.
He has led the former Soviet republic since before independence in 1991.
On Sunday, the Uzbek government said Mr Karimov was receiving treatment but did not give details.
The next day, the president's daughter said he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.
In the past, the president's health has been treated like a state secret, the BBC's Abdujalil Abdurasulov says, and this week's statements are the first time the government has provided information on the subject.
Uzbekistan: Authoritarian state with an unchallenged leader
Intrigue and power games as Uzbek leader ails
Five ways to stay in power in Central Asia
Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan's unchallenged leader
Uzbekistan opens up on president's health
Uzbekistan country profile


The wife of a convicted terrorist has lost a major challenge against the British police's power to stop and question people at airports.

Sylvie Beghal was held at East Midlands Airport under anti-terrorism laws.
The High Court ruled that schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 did not breach human rights.
It comes weeks after the partner of a Guardian journalist was stopped under the same power, prompting a legal battle with the government.
In his judgement on Wednesday, Lord Justice Gross said the stops were "neither arbitrary nor disproportionate".
Lawyers for Mrs Beghal are expected to appeal and try to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Mrs Beghal, a French citizen who lives in the UK, was stopped in January 2011 after arriving at East Midlands Airport on a flight from Paris.
Police officers told her she was being held under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, a power that allows them to hold someone for up to nine hours and question them about whether they are involved in terrorism.
Mrs Beghal's husband is an Algerian man who was convicted and jailed in France on terrorism charges.
Djemal Beghal claims he was tortured and that his conviction is unfair.
Following the stop, Mrs Beghal refused to answer police questions without the presence of a solicitor.
She was allowed to speak to a lawyer on the phone before police asked her about her movements. When she refused to answer the questions, she was charged and later convicted of failing to comply with the order.
In her challenge, lawyers argued that the powers under schedule 7 were so widely drawn that they meant that anyone could be stopped without reasonable suspicion.
They said that those questioned at airports under the legislation were denied the right not to answer questions, unlike criminal suspects who were arrested and interviewed in a police station.
Mrs Beghal also said that her detention at the airport breached her right to privacy and family life and restricted her freedom of movement between two EU countries.
But dismissing the challenge, Lord Justice Gross said: "The schedule 7 powers of examination survive the challenges advanced before us.
"In short, the balance struck between individual rights and the public interest in protection against terrorism does not violate the fundamental human rights in question."
This latest challenge to the powers is wider than that launched by David Miranda, the partner of a Guardian journalist who was stopped at Heathrow Airport earlier this month.
Mr Miranda alleges that the stop was unlawful because police wanted to seize his computer equipment rather than establish whether he was involved in terrorism.
In the Beghal judgement, the court stressed that schedule 7 should only be used for its specific purpose.


Two brothers who were led to safety from their grandparents' home during floods in Cumbria have been given a Christmas gift by their rescuers.

Sebastian and Jacob Holmes, aged five and three, and their family were stranded for 12 hours, on 6 December.
To coax the "terrified" boys to safety, from the bungalow in Levens, the RNLI volunteer rescuers promised them their helmets.
Their father Alan said the gifts delivery was a "fantastic" gesture.
The brothers were among six members of their family and two dogs, carried out of the bungalow after they used flash lights to signal for help while standing on kitchen worktops and bunk beds to escape the rising water.
Mr Holmes said: "The boys were sitting on the top bunk but they were scared and crying that they wanted their daddy to come and help. We felt so helpless.
"When we heard the RNLI team had managed to get them out safely we were just so relieved. We are both just so grateful.
"To take the effort to come up here and meet the boys in person and deliver them in time for Christmas is a fantastic gesture."
The RNLI volunteers visited the family at their home in Lytham St Annes on Wednesday to give them rescue helmets to the boys as a Christmas present.
The team, along with other emergency services, evacuated hundreds of people from their homes across Cumbria as "unprecedented" levels of flooding hit the county.
Cumbria is still recovering after some areas were hit by flooding three times in less than a month - many flood-hit areas are braced for further problems with more heavy rain forecast for Christmas night and Boxing Day.


Carrick Rangers manager Kieran Harding has resigned following Saturday's 3-0 Irish Premiership home defeat by Dungannon Swifts.

The defeat - Carrick's seventh in their opening nine games - left them 11th in the table with only Portadown behind them because of their points deduction.
Carrick also bowed out of the County Antrim Shield in midweek when they were shocked 4-1 by the PSNI.
Harding was only appointed the Carrick job in May after Gary Haveron resigned.
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A Carrick Rangers statement shortly after Saturday's game said that Harding has resigned "with immediate effect".
The club thanked the former Portadown assistant boss for his "hard work and effort", adding that "we wish him well for the future".
Carrick had a turbulent 2015-16 season with pitch problems meaning that a series of games had to be played at away venues which was followed by controversy over a touchline ban handed to Haveron.
Rangers said after Haveron's departure that they were "unable to establish a mutual agreement on the best way forward for the club".
Carrick's only Premiership win of the season came in the victory over Glentoran on 13 August.


Keaton Jennings struck his fifth first-class century of the season as Durham declared on 421-9, 51 runs behind, on day three against Hampshire.

Jennings, who has now scored 867 runs this summer, batted for almost six hours for his 129 off 261 balls.
Ben Stokes (51) earlier scored a run-a-ball half-century as he continued to prove his fitness in front of watching England selector James Whitaker.
Hampshire safely negotiated six overs to close on 9-0, 60 runs in front.
Left-hander Jennings, began on 36 and he and overnight partner Jack Burnham went on to add 158 for the third wicket.
Burnham fell to Ryan McLaren for 74, but Stokes soon picked up the momentum, striking eight boundaries and sharing a further 90 runs with Jennings.
The all-rounder, hoping to make England's squad for the first Test against Pakistan at Lord's on 14 July, fell three balls after reaching fifty when Hampshire captain Will Smith breached his defence.
Hampshire took three lower-order Durham wickets for just seven runs, but after McLaren was forced off with a hamstring injury which is expected to rule him out for two weeks, Barry McCarthy produced some lusty blows in an unbeaten 51 to push the Durham total beyond 400.
The Irishman brought up his maiden first-class half-century off just 47 balls as he and Graham Onions added an unbroken 72 for the last wicket.


Germany reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals after winning a thrilling penalty shootout against Italy in Bordeaux.

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Joachim Low's World Cup holders looked on course for victory in normal time - against a country they had never beaten at a major tournament - when Mesut Ozil rounded off a slick build-up with Mario Gomez and Jonas Hector to score at the near post in the 65th minute.
Italy did not flinch but were grateful for a moment of madness from Germany defender Jerome Boateng when he needlessly handled, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to score the first penalty of his career with 12 minutes left.
Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their history - three - but were once again the winners on penalties.
They have still never lost a shootout since the 1976 final of this competition when they lost to Czechoslovakia - some 40 years and 13 days ago.
It was settled when Hector drove low under Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon after Manchester United's Matteo Darmian saw his side's ninth penalty saved by Manuel Neuer.
Germany will now play either hosts France or England's conquerors Iceland in the last four.
This was a meeting between two of European football's superpowers - a last-eight match-up that would have graced the final itself in Paris next weekend.
Instead it was a fight for a place in the last four and Low's Germany did what they do best. They found a way to win, however it was achieved.
Ozil's goal crowned a spell of second-half pressure which meant their lead was deserved, but they then creaked as two of the staples of Germany's football psyche folded under pressure.
With Italy struggling to get back on terms, they were guilty of desperate defending when Jerome Boateng's 'hands-up star jump' conceded the penalty that Bonucci put away with such assurance.
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And then in the shootout itself, a team renowned for cool heads in this situation suddenly seemed to find itself gripped by nerves.
When Thomas Muller saw his spot-kick saved by Buffon, it was the first time they had missed a spot-kick since Uli Stielike at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and Ozil also hit the post.
Indeed, Germany had only missed two penalties - Uli Hoeness the other culprit in that 1976 final with Czechoslovakia - but it was catching, Bastian Schweinsteiger firing wildly over with a chance to clinch it.
However, this was all forgotten in the celebrations as Germany close in on another major title.
The great goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was winning his 161st cap for Italy here, putting him 10th on the international all-time list - but were we seeing the farewell to this 38-year-old legend of the game when Hector's penalty slipped under his body to give Germany victory?
Buffon's passion and ability still make him an outstanding keeper, as proved by a magnificent save from a close-range combination of Mario Gomez and Giorgio Chiellini in the second half.
He has no reason to step aside but this was a tearful, and perhaps significant, farewell on the big stage for this emotional, patriotic Italian as he congratulated his German opponents before breaking down as he walked off.
This is the man who has seen it all, from winning the World Cup against France in Berlin in 2006 to being a losing finalist to Spain in this competition in Kiev four years ago.
Buffon's status and standing will never diminish, but will he feel that this will be his final fling at a major tournament and it is time to make way for Italy's younger goalkeeping generation?
Departing Italy coach Antonio Conte has been one of the most charismatic figures at Euro 2016, with his animated touchline demeanour a powerful ally to the team he set up so brilliantly to beat Belgium and then holders Spain in the last 16.
He has whetted the appetite of Chelsea's fans, who will now eagerly await his arrival at Stamford Bridge now Italy are out of the tournament, his reputation as one of Europe's premier coaches greatly enhanced.
Here in Bordeaux, however, his final ploy did not pay off.
With seconds left in extra time he decided to take off the experienced Chiellini to send on Zaza, who barely had time to get on before Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai blew the final whistle.
It was clearly a move to utilise Zaza's penalty expertise - and so it proved as he took Italy's second penalty, but it backfired horribly as he indulged in some form of Morris dance before blazing his spot-kick hopelessly off target.
This was a rare miss-step by Conte, who will bring real quality and excitement when he takes charge of Chelsea in the Premier League next season.
The Germany goalkeeper was an assured presence throughout and was also superb on the ball, before saving twice in the decisive shootout.
Italy manager Antonio Conte: "I want to thank the boys. They were extraordinary for two years for me. They topped it off with this special experience. I'm sorry because they deserved to go though.
"We made the fans proud of us. And we made the players truly aware that it's a privilege to wear the shirt."
Germany manager Joachim Low: "It was a drama - extra time and with two sides on the highest tactical level. The penalties missed were even more dramatic. We were lucky.
"There is nothing I could blame the team for. We were the better team in the 120 minutes. We'll recover now and on Thursday we'll continue. The experienced players missed and the young players scored."
Match ends, Germany 1(6), Italy 1(5).
Penalty Shootout ends, Germany 1(6), Italy 1(5).
Goal!  Germany 1(6), Italy 1(5). Jonas Hector (Germany) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty saved! Matteo Darmian (Italy) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity,  right footed shot saved  in the bottom right corner.
Goal!  Germany 1(5), Italy 1(5). Jérôme Boateng (Germany) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!  Germany 1(4), Italy 1(5). Mattia De Sciglio (Italy) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Goal!  Germany 1(4), Italy 1(4). Joshua Kimmich (Germany) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!  Germany 1(3), Italy 1(4). Marco Parolo (Italy) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Goal!  Germany 1(3), Italy 1(3). Mats Hummels (Germany) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Goal!  Germany 1(2), Italy 1(3). Emanuele Giaccherini (Italy) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) right footed shot is too high. Bastian Schweinsteiger should be disappointed.
Penalty saved! Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity,  right footed shot saved  in the bottom left corner.
Goal!  Germany 1(2), Italy 1(2). Julian Draxler (Germany) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Graziano Pellè (Italy) right footed shot is close, but misses to the left. Graziano Pellè should be disappointed.
Penalty missed! Still  Germany 1(1), Italy 1(2). Mesut Özil (Germany) hits the right post with a left footed shot.
Goal!  Germany 1(1), Italy 1(2). Andrea Barzagli (Italy) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Penalty saved! Thomas Müller (Germany) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity,  right footed shot saved  in the bottom right corner.
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Simone Zaza (Italy) left footed shot is too high. Simone Zaza should be disappointed.
Goal!  Germany 1(1), Italy 1(1). Toni Kroos (Germany) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!  Germany 1, Italy 1(1). Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty Shootout begins Germany 1, Italy 1.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Germany 1, Italy 1.
Substitution, Italy. Simone Zaza replaces Giorgio Chiellini.
Attempt saved. Mesut Özil (Germany) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Benedikt Höwedes (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Graziano Pellè (Italy).
Thomas Müller (Germany) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Giorgio Chiellini (Italy).
Manuel Neuer (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Graziano Pellè (Italy).
Attempt saved. Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Graziano Pellè.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany).
Stefano Sturaro (Italy) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Thomas Müller.
Attempt blocked. Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) right footed shot from long range on the left is blocked. Assisted by Emanuele Giaccherini.
Substitution, Italy. Lorenzo Insigne replaces Éder because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Julian Draxler (Germany) right footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high.
Second Half Extra Time begins Germany 1, Italy 1.
First Half Extra Time ends, Germany 1, Italy 1.


Two men have been charged with the murder of a man in Salford.

Karl Harrison, 19,  died on 20 June after being stabbed on Bradley Avenue, Lower Kersal.
Anton Farrell, 22, of Oaklands Road, Kersal and Jack Modlinsky, 20, of Marlborough Road, Cheetham Hill have both been accused of murder, Greater Manchester Police said.
They were remanded in custody and are due to appear later at Manchester and Salford City Magistrates' Court.
A 45-year-old man arrested for assisting an offender has been bailed.


A judge in Peru has granted an order expelling Scottish drugs mule Melissa Reid from the country.

The 22-year-old, from Lenzie, near Glasgow, and Michaella McCollum, from Co Tyrone, were jailed in 2013 for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Spain.
The Foreign Office confirmed Reid's expulsion.
It is understood she may not be able to go home until later this week as the Peruvian prosecutor has three working days to contest the judge's ruling.
Reid has served about a third of her sentence of six years and eight months.
As a result, under Peruvian law she is eligible to be deported. She has also paid a fine of 10,000 Peruvian soles, just over Â£2,000.
A statement from the judge, Ana Zapata Huertas, said Reid had repented of the crime she had committed and declared her intention never to commit such a crime again.
A Foreign Office spokesman person said: "We can confirm that Melissa Reid has been granted expulsion from Peru. We remain in contact with Melissa, her family and local authorities."
McCollum, 23, was freed last month after serving two years and three months in prison.
However, it is anticipated she will have to remain in Peru for a considerable period as part of her parole conditions.
McCollum and Reid were caught with an estimated Â£1.5m of cocaine at Lima airport on 6 August 2013 while attempting to board a flight to Madrid, in Spain.
The pair were caught with 24lb (11kg) of cocaine in food packets hidden inside their luggage.
They had claimed they were forced to carry the drugs, but pleaded guilty to charges later that year.
They had faced the prospect of a maximum 15-year prison term but struck a behind-closed-doors plea bargain to secure a shorter sentence.
Following her release, McCollum told Irish state broadcaster RTE she had been "very naive, so young and very insecure".
"A lot of times I didn't know how to say no to somebody," she said.
"I kind of just followed along with it and I guess a part of me kind of wanted to be something I'm not.
"But, simply, I made a decision in my moment of madness."
Reid's father Billy has previously said the impact of his daughter's imprisonment on his family had been "horrendous".
He said: "It's horrendous to see your daughter in handcuffs and the living conditions that she has to put up with.
"Melissa has spent her own 20th and 21st birthdays in prison in Peru."


A "wonderful young lady" has died after being involved in a two-car crash on a main road.

Rhiannon Smith, 21, was involved in a collision between a black Range Rover and a grey Toyota Yaris on the A48 between Newport and Chepstow, Monmouthshire, on 16 March.
The trainee teacher, from Llandevaud, has since died.
Her family said she was "the life and soul of a party" and had ambitions to work as a teacher in London.
The Cardiff University graduate was finishing her PGCE at the University of Gloucestershire and had been applying for jobs in England's capital when she died.
In a tribute, her family said: "Her enthusiasm for teaching was difficult to match. She had recently said that she was having the happiest time of her life and thanked her family for enabling her to achieve these wonderful goals.
"Rhiannon was the life and soul of a party and left a mark on everyone she met. She was such an integral part of the Smith household and will be sorely missed, never forgotten and impossible to replace."


Planning permission has been granted for a £10m Medway secondary school specialising in construction and engineering.

The Medway University Technical College will be open to students in Gravesham, Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge and Mailling and Swale in September 2015.
Students at the school will have access to the Medway campus of the University of Greenwich Mid Kent college.
The school is part of a regeneration project at Chatham Docks.
Dr Karon Buck, principal of the new school, said: "This learning environment will reflect industry standards, and provide our students with the opportunity to work with and learn from leading professionals in their field of expertise."


A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of teenager Jamar Walker.

Jamar, 15, died after suffering stab injuries in Smethwick, West Midlands, during what police at the time described as a street "fracas".
He was found in Raglan Road early in the morning of 20 December and died later in hospital. A 17-year-old also suffered stab wounds.
The charged boy, who is from Smethwick, will appear at Wolverhampton Youth Court later.
Police say they would still like anyone with information about the incident to contact them.


Online bike retailer Chain Reaction Cycles, which sells to customers across the world from NI, is to merge with the Portsmouth-based company, Wiggle.

The move is dependent on clearance by the Competition and Markets Authority.
According to its last accounts, the Ballyclare-based business employs around 450 staff. It has a turnover in excess of Â£150m. The company says the merger is an "exciting new chapter".
Wiggle is owned by the investment firm Bridgeport Capital.
Wiggle and Chain Reaction have been fighting head-to-head for sales for years.
Chain Reaction sells bicycles, parts and accessories to more than 180 countries.
It began as a small bike shop more than 20 years ago, launching a website in 1999.
It has previously been described as Royal Mail's largest customer in Northern Ireland.
Chris Watson, managing director of Chain Reaction Cycles, said: "This is an exciting new chapter for the Chain Reaction Cycles brand.
"Since the business started in 1984, we've grown strongly from our mountain bike origins in Northern Ireland to meet the needs of more MTB, BMX and road cyclists across more countries."
Stefan Barden, chief executive officer of Wiggle, said: "In the global online retailing market in which we operate, there is a compelling industrial logic for our two businesses to come together to become a stronger force.
"We have long respected Chain Reaction Cycles as a business and share its values and commitment to delivering the best possible price and first class service for its customers.
"Like us they have a deep seated love of cycling."


Tens of thousands of people, including former pit workers, have attended the Durham Miners' Gala.

The event, now in its 131st year, celebrates the region's heritage, more than 20 years after the closure of the last local pit.
Banners from the former colliery villages were paraded through the city, as brass bands played.
Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn and trade unionists addressed a rally at the racecourse.
Liz Kendall, another candidate for the Labour leadership, and artist Grayson Perry were also among those taking part in the parade.


Talks to prevent further strikes by Southern rail conductors have collapsed, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has said.

General secretary Mick Cash said the rail operator had "walked out of talks" in a dispute over driver-only trains and the role of conductors.
A 24-hour walkout by union members took place this week and two further strikes have also been announced in May.
The rail operator has confirmed that talks have ended without resolution.
The union has said the dispute is about safety, with the company prepared to axe guards on "some of the most overcrowded and potentially-dangerous services".
Mr Cash said Southern management had also "dished out forms" asking members not to take part in any further industrial action during this dispute.
He said the union had issued guidance to members that they are under no obligation to sign the form, with a recommendation they "bin it".
"Southern know that our members are determined to see justice is won in this dispute. Southern management also know that the public are on our side," he said.
A spokesman for Southern said the operator had hoped to have "serious constructive talks" but the RMT was "not prepared" to discuss details of the new role.
He said the firm tabled principles on which to move forward but the union "dismissed them out of hand".
"This is a snub to every commuter on the Southern network who now seem condemned to more days of strikes early next month," he said.
"All we are doing is shifting responsibility for closing a train's doors from the conductor to the driver, so the conductor, in their new role of onboard supervisor, can focus on customer service on the train."


The family of an Inverness mother and her young son have said they are heartbroken that their disappearance remains unexplained 40 years on.

Renee and Andrew MacRae, who was three, vanished on 12 November 1976.
Mrs MacRae's burned-out BMW was discovered that night in a lay-by on the A9 south of Inverness.
In statement, the family said it was "collectively heartbroken" the pair remained missing 40 years on but were still hopeful of finding answers.
Police Scotland said an investigation into their disappearance remained ongoing.
On the evening of her disappearance Mrs MacRae, 36, had set off to meet her lover Bill McDowell in Perth but he insisted they never met.
There has been speculation that Renee MacRae and her son were murdered and their bodies buried at either a quarry or at construction works for the A9.
In 2004, police searched nearby Dalmagarry quarry but no bodies were found.
Two years later a report naming a suspect who may have killed the pair was sent to prosecutors but they decided there was insufficient evidence to take action.
It has been reported recently that "an anomaly" has been detected by ground penetrating radar in the foundations of a bridge near the lay-by where the car was found.
However, Police Scotland said its inquiries indicated construction work did not start in this area until some time after Mrs MacRae's disappearance.
The force said it would nonetheless liaise with contractors involved in the current A9 upgrade in an effort to explain the radar anomaly.
In their newly released statement, the family said: "Forty years have passed since the disappearance of Renee and Andrew and as a family we remain collectively heartbroken to have lost a much loved and cherished mother, sister, brother and friend to many.
"We cannot give up hope that somebody holds information which could help lead us to the answers as to what happened to our beloved Renee and Andrew.
"Our message is it is never too late. We are confident these answers will come from the local community and as a family we urge that person to come forward - until such time the person who caused harm to Renee and Andrew will continue to escape justice and we will be without closure."
Det Supt Jim Smith, of Police Scotland's Major Investigations Team North, said: "As in all cases such as these, there is a family quite rightly seeking answers and closure.
"We are determined to do all we can to find those answers, and to that end continue to maintain contact with the family of Christine MacRae and Andrew MacRae as the years go on.
"The passage of time is no barrier and we continue to urge anyone who may have information that could assist the investigation to come forward."


Government drugs advisers have said "poppers" - used by many gay men to enhance sexual experience - will not be covered by a ban on "legal highs".

The Psychoactive Substances Act, which comes into force in the UK next month, makes it illegal to supply drugs which have a direct effect on mental processes, unless the drug is exempted.
Ministers had indicated that poppers would be included in the ban.
But advisers say poppers have only a "peripheral" effect on the brain.
As a result, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs said poppers - the name given to a group of chemicals called alkyl nitrites - "do not fall within the scope of the current definition of a psychoactive substance".
The council's guidance is contained in a letter which also sets out the harms linked to the use of poppers.
It says there were 11 deaths related to poppers in England and Wales from 1993 to 2013.
In January, Conservative MP Crispin Blunt said he used poppers and said banning supply would be "fantastically stupid".


More successful animal welfare prosecutions were secured by RSPCA Cymru in 2016 than either of the two previous years the charity has said.

Cases included a drugged and mutilated Staffordshire bull terrier and a rabbit left to starve in a cupboard.
Last year, 120 convictions were secured in magistrates' courts - compared with 89 in 2015 and 116 in 2014.
The charity wants an offender register for those convicted of animal abuse and disqualified from keeping them.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been asked for a comment.
RSPCA Cymru said the 120 convictions related to 61 defendants - the highest number in Wales for the three-year period.
It said a further 67 offenders were also cautioned by the charity in 2016.
Last year, it investigated a total of 10,540 complaints of cruelty in Wales, compared with 9,895 in 2015 and 11,740 in 2014.
Cases in 2016 included:
RSPCA Cymru superintendent Martyn Hubbard, said: "This doesn't suggest more cruelty is necessarily taking place - but that people in Wales are potentially more likely to report it and tools like social media becoming more adept in bringing incidences to light.
"Clearly, however, big challenges remain in protecting the nation's animals."
The charity said a register of offenders would help deter cruelty offences and better protect animals from falling victim to someone who had already been disqualified from keeping them.
Since 2013 in Wales, the RSPCA has prosecuted 11 people for breaching their disqualification from owning and keeping animals.
Claire Lawson, RSPCA Cymru's assistant director of external relations, said: "Animals are now better protected in Wales than ever before - but more still needs to be done to ensure a framework is in place offering them better protection."


Mirjana Lucic-Baroni upset third seed Simona Halep for the second time in three Grand Slams at the French Open.

The 33-year-old Croat, ranked 70th, repeated her shock victory over Romania's Halep at the US Open, winning 7-5 6-1.
Lucic-Baroni made her Roland Garros debut in 1999 and is through to round three for the first time since 2001.
Halep, 23, reached her first Grand Slam final in Paris last year, finishing runner-up to Maria Sharapova.
She had high hopes of going one step further this year but ran into a blizzard of aggressive shot-making from Lucic-Baroni.
"She started to hit the ball very strong at the beginning of the match," said Halep.
"So she was better than me today and I just have to take this situation, handle it, and just go forward."
A final count of 27 winners to five in the Croat's favour told just how she was able to dominate on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
She goes on to face French 29th seed Alize Cornet, 14 years after she lost to the American Jennifer Capriati at the same stage.
"When I saw the draw and I saw who I was playing second round, I knew it was going to be really tough," said Lucic-Baroni.
"I was going to have to play a great match again and sort of back up what I did at the US Open. I know I played really well. I have been working really hard, and I knew today I had to play some great tennis. I was ready for it."
The win over Halep in New York last September took Lucic-Baroni into the last 16 of a Slam for the first time since she reached the Wimbledon semi-finals as a 17-year-old in 1999, eventually losing to Germany's Steffi Graf.
"At the US Open was the first time in a really long time that I've had a really good result like that, so I was extremely emotional," she added.
Her life changed dramatically when alleged physical and verbal abuse by her father, Marinko, led to her fleeing Croatia for the US with her mother and siblings.
She played just three matches between 2004 and 2006, and did not appear at the French Open between 2003 and 2010.
"The day I left Croatia was 24th of July, 1998," said Lucic-Baroni.
"I was able to have peace and love. I was able to live with my family really happy, and I think that was when everything went good for me."


The Prince of Wales has said climate change may have been a factor in the emergence of civil war in Syria.

Prince Charles said he was one of those who warned many years ago that there would be rising conflict over scarce resources if the issue was not tackled.
In Syria, the prince said, a drought lasting several years meant that many people were forced off the land.
His comments come in a television interview to be shown on Monday evening but recorded before the Paris attacks.
Prince Charles told Sky News: "We're seeing a classic case of not dealing with the problem because, it sounds awful to say, but some of us were saying 20 something years ago that if we didn't tackle these issues you would see ever greater conflict over scarce resources and ever greater difficulties over drought, and the accumulating effect of climate change, which means that people have to move.
"And there's very good evidence indeed that one of the major reasons for this horror in Syria, funnily enough, was a drought that lasted for about five or six years, which meant that huge numbers of people in the end had to leave the land."
Asked if there was a direct link between climate change, conflict and terrorism, he added: "It's only in the last few years that the Pentagon have actually started to pay attention to this. It has a huge impact on what is happening.
"The difficulty is sometimes to get this point across - that if we just leave it and say, well there are obviously lots of, there are endless problems arising all over the place therefore we deal with them in a short-term way, we never deal with the underlying root cause which regrettably is what we're doing to our natural environment."
Prince Charles will travel to Paris next week to deliver a keynote speech at the opening of the COP21 United Nations climate change conference.
The summit will attempt to reach a new international agreement to help limit global warming to no more than two degrees.
Asked in the interview whether the world could afford to deal with climate change at a time of austerity, the prince said: "The trouble is if we don't, this is the awful thing, if we don't it's going to get so much worse, then life will become very, very complicated indeed, and what we're experiencing now will be as nothing to the problems.
"I mean the difficulties in 2008 with the financial crash - that was a banking crisis.
"But we're now facing a real possibility of nature's bank going bust. If you see it like that, we've been putting so much pressure on the natural systems and all those aspects of nature that we take for granted."


A vulnerable 91-year-old pensioner drowned in her Denbighshire home after she refused to leave despite flood warnings, a coroner has said.

Margaret Hughes wanted to remain in "the warmth of her bungalow" to "finish her breakfast" on the morning of the floods in St Asaph in November 2012.
The Ruthin hearing was told that her decision to stay probably did not reach emergency flood teams.
By the time her home was searched later in the morning, she had already died.
Recording a narrative verdict, Coroner John Gittins said: "Although Margaret Hughes was warned of these dangers by a member of the public and a Red Cross worker, she firmly declined the offer of help to leave.
"[She] preferred to remain in the warmth of her bungalow to finish her breakfast.
"It is likely at that time that she could have had no anticipation of the eventual extent of the flooding as no water had yet reached her door.
"In any event no powers existed by which she could forcibly removed from her home."
The coroner said he was certain that "action would have been taken" if flood response teams in the city had known Mrs Hughes had refused to leave her home.
He also added that any lessons from the incident appeared to have been learned and Mrs Hughes's legacy was that she had left the city a safer place than before.
During the hearing, the inquest  was told how Mrs Hughes was registered to received flood alert warnings, but her family did not receive them.
When she failed to show up at a rescue centre for affected residents, a search was launched.
The inquest heard how rescue teams had to swim to homes submerged by the River Elwy deluge.
Speaking after the inquest, family members criticised "poor communication" during the floods.
"We believe Nain would have come out of her property had someone with authority asked her," Mrs Hughes's grandson David Clayton said in a statement.
"Communications throughout the two days of the flooding were poor, in some situations mainly from the police due to information not getting passed on about my Nain.
"I think many lessons have been learnt throughout this inquest but this will never bring back my Nain."
The floods of November 2012 had a devastating affect on homes and businesses in Denbighshire.
Following days of heavy rain the Glasdir estate in Ruthin was flooded by the River Clwyd.
And on the same day, 420 homes in St Asaph were also flooded leaving many families displaced for several months.
A Big Lottery Fund grant of Â£140,000 was awarded last year to help flood victims settle back into their homes.


Twenty passengers and three crew members have been rescued from a ferry after it collided with a pier near Southampton, coastguards have said.

The ferry struck the Hythe Pier, in Hampshire, damaging its wheelhouse, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
Coastguards were called at around 21:20 BST on Friday and sent rescue teams from Southampton and Lymington.
Three people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been notified.
Passenger Olivia Pearce said she heard somebody shouting "brace, brace" before the ferry "ploughed into the pier".
She said: "The wheelhouse completely collapsed and bits of it fell into itself. That's when we realised that actually not only had we overshot the jetty but we'd crashed into the pier and we were underneath it."
The incident involved the Hythe ferry, which runs a twice hourly shuttle service between Town Quay, in Southampton, and Hythe Pier.
According to the ferry's owners, White Horse Ferries, the vessel became wedged beneath the pier and the wheelhouse on top of the ferry was severely damaged.
Those treated at the scene received minor neck and back injuries.
Southampton Vessel Traffic Services, Hampshire Police, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, and South Central Ambulance Service were also involved in the rescue.


The security services could remotely take over children's toys and use them to spy on suspects, MPs have been told.

The draft Investigatory Powers Bill would place a legal duty on internet providers to assist in hacking devices.
But it would not be restricted to phones and PCs, a tech industry chief told the Commons science and technology committee.
Antony Walker, of techUK, said anything that connected to the internet could "in theory" be hacked into.
In the future, this could include driverless cars or household appliances connected to the internet - the so-called Internet of Things - said Mr Walker.
He said the Home Office needed to spell out more clearly where it draws the line over what it calls "equipment interference", highlighting recent concerns about "smart toys" that connect to the internet and have microphones and cameras built-in.
"A range of devices that have been in the news recently, in relation to a hack, are children's toys, that children can interact with," he told the committee.
"These are devices that may sit in a child's bedroom but are accessible.
"In theory, the manufacturer of those products could be the subject of a warrant to enable equipment interference with those devices.
"So the potential extent, I think, is something that needs to be carefully considered."
In November, electronic toy company Vtech had its app store database hacked, allegedly resulting in the appearance online of personal data including children's names, dates of birth and gender.
Talking dolls, such as Hello Barbie and My Friend Cayla, have also been put under scrutiny by security experts in recent months.
Barbie manufacturer Mattel reportedly made modifications to Hello Barbie, which allows children to talk to the doll over a cloud server connection, after concerns were raised about cyber attackers potentially stealing data through it.
The police, security services, HM Revenue and Customs and other law enforcement agencies can already hack into devices provided they get a warrant.
This allows them to download the contents of computers or smartphones, track locations, listen to calls, or even switch on microphones and cameras, allowing officers to listen in to conversations or take pictures of those standing nearby.
The Home Office says these powers, the existence of which were revealed earlier this year following a court case, have "made a vital contribution to counter the increased threat to the UK from Islamist terrorism and have also enabled the disruption of paedophile-related crime", according to a Home Office fact sheet.
The draft Investigatory Powers Bill would put "equipment interference" warrants on a firmer legal footing and make sure they are "only used when necessary and proportionate for a legitimate purpose".
A revised bill will be introduced to Parliament in the New Year, following consultation and scrutiny by the industry and other interested parties.
Mr Walker, whose organisation represents 850 UK technology firms, told MPs it needed to be more forward-looking and less vague about the limits of surveillance.
"When we start to think, not just about the world today, but the world in five, 10 years' time as the Internet of Things becomes more real, and more pervasive.
"I think it requires careful thought in terms of where the limits should be."


Two teenage boys have been arrested in Thailand for allegedly killing a transgender woman and hiding her body inside a bed frame in a hotel room in the seaside town of Pattaya.

The body was found after a hotel maid noticed blood near the bed.
Two hotel guests had complained of a smell in their room the previous day but continued to stay the night.
Police said that the victim, identified as 28-year-old Amphon Kongsong, had been dead for three or four days.
"The hotel's cleaner found a very strong smell in the room and tried to find the source. Then the hotel staff searched the room and found the body under the mattress," Pattaya police chief Col Apichai Kropphet told the BBC.
"But it wasn't until after a Thai couple had checked in and slept on the bed."
The teenagers will be charged with murder and concealing the body, but will be tried in a juvenile court.
The 17-year-old boy knew Ms Amphon through Facebook and thought she could help him find a job in Pattaya, according to Col Apichai.
They stayed in a hotel room together, but began fighting after she asked the teenager to have sex with her, Col Apichai said.
The 17-year-old killed Ms Amphon with help from a friend, aged 14, police say.
The killing took place on Thursday night and hotel management notified the police on Saturday.


Nick Clegg has set out Lib Dem plans to eliminate the deficit by 2017/18, insisting there is "light at the end of the tunnel" .

His party would cut less than the Tories and borrow less than Labour, he said.
Lib Dem economic plans have "a heart as well as a brain", he added.
It comes as the Tories announced plans to cut inheritance tax on family homes and Labour said it would ramp up fines on tax avoiders.
The Lib Dems say they would get rid of the deficit through raising taxes by an additional £12bn, cutting public spending by £12bn, and cutting welfare by £3bn.
The Conservatives described the announcement as "further evidence that a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote for higher taxes".
Mr Clegg challenged the other parties to spell out in similar detail how they would balance the nation's books.
He acknowledged that the two years following 7 May's general election would not be easy.
But he claimed that the Lib Dems were the only party offering a "balanced" programme to pay down the remaining deficit, while still finding money to raise income tax thresholds to £11,000 and invest in the NHS.
"We are going to spread the burden of finishing the job of fixing the economy fairly across society," he said.
"Yes that means more cuts, but it also means asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share too."
The Lib Dem plans involve finding £3bn savings from the welfare budget, including "savings which ask wealthy pensioners to make a small sacrifice", he said.
Universal credit will be adjusted, and the rate of increase of benefits will be "restrained", he added.
The Lib Dem deficit-reduction plans include:
Mr Clegg said: "We have a plan to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, which means we will cut less than the Conservatives and borrow less than Labour.
"It's a plan to protect our economy and invest in our schools, hospitals and public services... a plan with a heart as well as a brain."
He added: "I can't promise you the next two years will be easy. Your hard work and sacrifice has turned our economy around, but there is still a job to finish.
"But, with the Liberal Democrats, there is light at the end of the tunnel and the only way to continue the balanced approach that the coalition has taken is to put Liberal Democrats in government again."
A Conservative spokesman said: "Today just serves as further evidence that a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote for higher taxes - which is exactly what Labour want too.
"Only the Conservative Party are committed to cutting taxes so people keep more of the money they earn."


The principal of a Glasgow college suspended on full pay nine months ago is set to  return to her job.

The new board of  Glasgow Clyde College has reversed a decision to take disciplinary action against Susan Walsh.
No reason was given for Ms Walsh's suspension in February.
Last week the Scottish government removed the chairman and board of the college, citing governance failures.
Glasgow Clyde College was formed following the merger of Anniesland, Langside and Cardonald colleges.


A total of six people were arrested after the Aberdeen v Celtic game at Pittodrie on Friday.

A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with an outstanding warrant and is expected to appear at Glasgow Sherriff Court on Monday.
A 15-year-old male was arrested for offensive behaviour and resisting arrest and a 16-year-old male was arrested for offensive behaviour.
Three men were arrested outside the stadium in connection with assault.
The men, aged 29, 28 and 27, and all from Glasgow, are expected to appear at Aberdeen Sherriff Court on Monday.
Police said the two teenagers will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Match Commander Supt Innes Walker said: "The vast majority of fans from both football clubs followed the advice given and conducted themselves appropriately.
"The policing operation was assisted by specialist resources including the horses, the dog unit and roads policing and we appreciate the support of the overwhelming majority of fans and members of the public in allowing the Friday night game to be enjoyed and pass safely."
Celtic won the match 3-1.


Singapore plans to take "firm regulatory actions" against four major banks over their dealings with scandal-ridden Malaysian state fund 1MDB.

1MDB is at the centre of a global corruption investigation.
The local units of Standard Chartered and UBS, Southeast Asia's biggest lender DBS and Falcon Bank were all found to have "lapses and weaknesses in anti-money laundering controls".
Standard Chartered, DBS and UBS said they were cooperating with authorities.
Falcon Bank was not immediately available for comment.
Malaysia 'to co-operate' with 1MDB probe
The US v The Wolf of Wall Street
The case that's riveted Malaysia
Singapore prosecutors have also seized $177m (Â£134m) in assets linked to 1MDB, half of which belong to a Malaysian financier facing many of the fraud allegations.
The US government said on Wednesday that $3.5bn was "misappropriated" from 1MDB and that "the Malaysian people were defrauded on an enormous scale".
US prosecutors are now looking to seize $1bn in assets linked to 1MDB, which includes plush properties in New York and Los Angeles and a private jet.
Mr Najib and 1MDB have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Singapore is one of several global authorities investigating alleged fraud at 1MDB, which was set up by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009.
The country's financial regulator said in a statement on Thursday investigations into 1MDB began in March 2015.
"They revealed extensive layering of transactions and subterfuge aimed at disguising the nature of certain activities and fund flows," the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said.
"In some instances, shell or unauthorised companies domiciled in various jurisdictions were used to conceal the true beneficiaries of the funds."
"Standard Chartered takes financial crime compliance very seriously," a spokesperson told the BBC.
"We have strengthened our anti-money laundering controls and processes and will continue to play an active role in the fight against financial crime."
"Egregious financial crime is highly sophisticated and intentionally designed to evade systems and controls," a DBS spokesperson said. "We take our anti-money laundering obligations seriously".
UBS also said it was constantly enhancing its anti-money laundering processes.
"In this case, UBS self-reported the suspicious transactions and is working closely with regulators to address this matter," a spokesperson for the bank told the BBC.
Singapore is trying to maintain its reputation as a corruption-free international finance and banking hub and is taking a stern stance towards any illicit fund flows.
Swiss bank BSI was kicked out of the city in May for "serious breaches" of Singapore's anti-money laundering rules in its business dealings with 1MDB.
Switzerland has since launched a criminal investigation into the private bank.
Certain financial institutions were "used as conduits" for a "complex international web of transactions," MAS said on Thursday.
A local money changer and remittance agent that had "weak management oversight" is also facing potential penalties.
Out of the four banks identified, MAS said Falcon Private Bank had "substantial breaches" of its anti-money laundering laws, including a failure to report suspicious transactions.
However, MAS said the oversight and management of certain key client relationships were done out of the bank's head office in Switzerland.


Aberdeen could become a world-class centre for cancer research if top academics can be attracted to the city, it has been claimed.

The University of Aberdeen is attempting to raise Â£4.5m in five years to establish an oncology research unit.
The Friends of Anchor (Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Radiotherapy) charity has pledged Â£1m.
It is hoped having a dedicated team could attract funding and trials.
Prof Steve Heys, head of the School of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen, said: "The support of Friends of Anchor is second to none and will be pivotal in helping us achieve our goal of establishing Aberdeen as a centre for world-class cancer research.
"Such a centre will enable the university and NHS Grampian to attract and retain first-class academic and clinical staff and so contribute to clinical excellence through patient care and participation in clinical trials."
Friends of Anchor trustee Prof Henry Watson said: "This ambitious plan will identify oncology research as a top priority for Aberdeen.
"The appointment of an outstanding oncology research team will bring many benefits."


Newcastle United dropped into the Premier League's bottom three as relegated Aston Villa ended a run of 11 defeats amid more fan protests.

Villa supporters, angry at the running of their club, halted the match briefly in the 74th minute by throwing beach balls on to the pitch.
Aleksandar Mitrovic headed wide two good second-half chances for Newcastle.
Sunderland, who beat Chelsea, would relegate Rafael Benitez's side with victory over Everton on Wednesday.
Relive Aston Villa v Newcastle as it happened
Saturday's Premier League drama and reaction
Newcastle's last relegation from the Premier League, seven years ago, was confirmed with a soporific final-day defeat at Aston Villa.
Against opponents in turmoil off the pitch, and without a Premier League point since 6 February on it, Newcastle once again paid a heavy price for lacking adventure at Villa Park.
Benitez's side managed just one shot on target in a dreadful first half, as Papiss Cisse mis-hit a volley into the ground from Vurnon Anita's cross.
They showed a little more urgency in the second half, with Jack Colback firing over a good chance seconds after the the restart, but still not enough to merit a victory.
Mitrovic's introduction as a substitute for the ineffective Cisse saw the visitors begin to create more chances.
Having lobbed over when put through by Cheick Tiote's hooked pass, the Serbia striker headed wide when well placed, before missing the target again from Chancel Mbemba's delivery, while Georginio Wijnaldum's shot was beaten away by keeper Mark Bunn.
The result did extend Newcastle's unbeaten run to five matches, but they now need help from elsewhere to stand any chance of survival.
Aston Villa fans have become increasingly enraged during an embarrassing season, which has featured a series of protests at recent games.
Supporters registered their frustration this time by bringing hundreds of beach balls into Villa Park, and throwing them on to the field to disrupt play.
One first-half Newcastle attack took place with a giant inflatable football inside the six-yard box, but the main protest took place in the 74th minute, a time picked by fans because Villa were founded in 1874.
Amid the chaos, Villa did at least manage to avoid a 12th successive league defeat, which would have beaten the club record set in 1963, and equalled at Watford last weekend.
That they earned a point was thanks in part to Villa defender Ciaran Clark, who threw himself in the way of a late Wijnaldum shot to block.
The Premier League relegation battle is set for a fascinating finale over the next eight days, with former Liverpool manager Benitez now needing a huge favour from Everton.
Roberto Martinez's side can keep alive Newcastle's survival hopes on Wednesday by avoiding defeat at Sunderland, who will relish the opportunity to relegate their great rivals.
Sam Allardyce's team came from a goal down twice to beat Chelsea 3-2 and climb out of the bottom three - and, like relegation rivals Norwich, they have a game in hand on Newcastle.
It leaves the prospect of Benitez, a manager who began this season in charge of Real Madrid, starting next season in the Championship.
Aston Villa caretaker-manager Eric Black: "Last week, the performance at Watford merited more, but we built on that, worked tirelessly all afternoon and the supporters came with us. I thought the reaction was brilliant. The Villa fans have got a big part to play in getting this club back to the Premier League.
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"It has been difficult to play in a relegation battle, but we have got some outstanding footballers and I thought we coped with them today."
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez: "We are disappointed. Sunderland won, so all we can do now is wait for the score of their game on Wednesday and try to win our game.
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"We were a little bit anxious in the first half. We were not comfortable in possession. You have to take your chances and we didn't do that.
"We had to change things in the second half. We did that, but it was not enough.."
Newcastle end their season at home to Tottenham on 15 May, the same day that Villa bow out of the Premier League at Arsenal.
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A leading think tank has backed Scottish government plans to cut and eventually scrap Air Passenger Duty.

Reform Scotland said the move would boost jobs, productivity and tourism as well as making travel cheaper for Scots.
It also highlighted the fact that only four other EU countries now have a similar tax.
Environmental groups have criticised the proposals, which they say will lead to an increase in greenhouse gasses.
The Scottish Greens said cutting Air Passenger Duty (APD) was a "bizarre priority", while Labour said it would not make Scotland "greener or fairer".
Air passenger duty is charged on all passenger flights from UK airports, with the rate of tax varying according to where the passenger is going, and the class of travel, starting at about Â£13 for short-haul flights to Europe.
It brings in about Â£3bn a year for the UK government.
The Scottish government wants to use new powers being devolved to Holyrood to reduce APD from Scottish airports by 50% from April 2018 before eventually abolishing the tax altogether.
It believes the move will help to boost Scotland's international connectivity and contribute to sustainable growth, and has pledged to give "due consideration" to environmental issues.
A consultation on the proposals met with a mixed response when it closed last month.
In a briefing paper, Reform Scotland said that the loss of revenue from the move could be at least matched by increases in revenue from other sources such as job and productivity growth and tourism expenditure.
It said the proposals had been backed by the business community due to the "positive impact it would have on economic growth".
And it said the tourism sector believed it would lower costs for Scottish families going on holiday, as well as attracting more visitors to Scotland.
The think tank's chairman, Alan McFarlane, said the Scottish government should proceed with its plans to cut APD.
He added: "Countries across Europe, including Ireland, Belgium, Holland and Denmark, have scrapped their air passenger tax in recent years. By retaining ours, we are out of step with the rest of the EU.
"This is not an ideological issue. It is an obvious and simple economic case. The economic benefits of cutting or scrapping the tax will outweigh the cost of doing so, which will benefit everyone."
Edinburgh Airport published a report last year that claimed a 50% reduction in APD would create 3,800 jobs by 2020 and stimulate Â£200m of economic benefits for Scotland each year.
Mr McFarlane called on all political parties at Holyrood to support the move, which he said was in the best interests of Scotland's economy and people.
He said: "If they fail to do so it will be up to them to justify why they oppose a measure which a wide range of voices argue will help promote economic growth."
But Scottish Greens climate change spokesman Mark Ruskell said: "It's a bizarre priority given the state of public finances for the Scottish government to want to subsidise the airline industry so frequent flyers can leave Scotland more cheaply.
"The costs to the public purse and the environment are too great for an economic benefit which may be marginal at best and at worst could undermine domestic tourism and rail."
And Scottish Labour's transport spokesman, Neil Bibby, said attempting to "make a business class flight cheaper" was the "wrong move at the wrong time".
He added: "With record passenger numbers at Scottish airports it would be the wrong move to offer a huge tax break to airlines who simply don't need it, and kick off a race to the bottom with other parts of the UK.
"The SNP need to scrap their plans to cut Air Passenger Duty."
A Scottish government spokesman said: "Our plan to initially cut APD and then abolish it when public finances permit is a fundamental component to improving Scotland's international connectivity.
"UK APD has been the most expensive tax of its kind in Europe and continues to act as a barrier to Scotland's ability to secure new direct international services and maintain existing ones.
"Devolution of APD to the Scottish Parliament will provide the opportunity to put in place new arrangements which better support the Scottish government's objective to help generate new direct routes - benefiting passengers, businesses and the wider economy."