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Patrice Edouard Ngaissona was the self-declared political co-ordinator of the anti-Balaka militias.

In 2015 he was barred from running for CAR president because of his alleged role in atrocities, which he denies.

Mr Ngaissona was elected to the board of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) at a meeting in Morocco.

He is also a former head of the CAR’s football federation and briefly served as sports minister.

Mr Ngaissona has denied claims by human rights groups that he was involved in atrocities in the CAR.

“If the allegations were true, I wouldn’t be here today,” he told AFP news agency on Friday.

He said he didn’t want to “mix politics and sport”, adding: “Everything I’ve done has been for the good of my country.”

Caf delegates, meeting in Casablanca, elected Mr Ngaissona to represent the Central Zone over his Gabonese rival, Pierre Alain Mounguengui.

His candidacy was approved in January.

The CAR, a former French colony, was plunged into turmoil in 2013 when Muslim rebels from the Seleka group seized power in the majority Christian country.

A band of mostly Christian militias, called the anti-Balaka, rose up to counter the Seleka.

He died in Chicago, his family told CBS News. They did not disclose the cause of death.

Edwards joined the Temptations in 1968 and had a number of hits including two Grammy award-winning songs, Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone and Cloud Nine.

He pursued a solo career in the 1980s, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Edwards, who would have turned 75 on Saturday, had solo hits such as Don’t Look Any Further and Coolin’ Out.

Fans have paid their respects on social media, and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson described Edwards as “so talented.

The Temptations was one of the leading male vocal groups of the 1960s and early 1970s, and helped define the signature Motown sound.

The group went through various line-ups and tackled a wide range of musical styles.

Members of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Committee voted to submit an application for the status on Friday.

The International Dark Sky Association makes the award to areas where the night sky is “outstanding” and light pollution is minimised.

There are 11 dark sky reserves across the world.

If granted, it would follow the Brecon Beaconsand Snowdonia in having the designation.

The move is a result of two years of researchinto the criteria, with consultations held with local businesses and communities.

A report to the committee from David Shiel, of Denbighshire’s countryside service, said although there are a few areas of concern, like Llangollen, in general the sky quality “would meet the standards required”.

In large parts of the area, including tourist hotspots Horseshoe Pass and Moel Famau, the night skies are already of excellent quality, he added.

Apart from the tourism benefits, it is hoped the status would bring benefits in public health, biodiversity and energy efficiency.

The report said that “sleep is often disturbed by a lack of proper darkness at night” and that this brings “adverse impacts on health”.

Light “spillage” from towns, as well as Deeside, Chester and Merseyside, can have “a significant effect upon tranquillity”, the report said.

The range has been working with Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham councils, which have different lighting policies to resolve the issue.

The lighting along the A5, A55 and A494 crossing the range is also controlled by the Welsh Government.

The cost of making an application and drawing up a lighting management plan is estimated at £20,000, half of which has been provided by the Welsh Government.

The incident began at HMYOI Polmont at about 18:00. Male offenders from a block in Iona hall were evacuated while firefighters tackled the blaze.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. There were no casualties.

Six fire appliances were deployed and fire service personnel remained at the scene for several hours.

A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said: “There was a fire at Polmont which they think was caused by an electrical fault.

“It was in one of the blocks in Iona Hall. The fire is out now and everyone is safe.”

A fire service spokesman said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 6.01pm on Friday to reports of a fire at Polmont Young Offenders Institution.

“Operations Control immediately mobilised six appliances to the scene, where firefighters extinguished the fire.

“There are no casualties. Crews will remain on scene until the area is made safe.”

Fred Scappaticci, 72, was arrested on Tuesday morning and was being held at a secret location.

He was being questioned about allegations that he was involved in dozens of murders.

Police said the 72-year-old “is on bail to return to police custody at a date in the near future”.

West Belfast man Mr Scappaticci has been named as the agent codenamed Stakeknife.

The investigation into the alleged activities of the man believed to have been the Army’s highest-ranking agent in the IRA is known as Operation Kenova and is being led by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, from Bedfordshire Police.

It is examining the activities of current and former police officers, members of the Army and MI5 and former members of the IRA.

The operation involves a team of 48 detectives from police forces in Britain because some of the allegations being investigated involve current and former police officers in Northern Ireland.

The inquiry is being funded by the PSNI, but Chief Constable George Hamilton has said it he does not have any direct control or input.

Mr Boutcher said on Friday that the 72-year-old’s arrest “was a significant step in what continues to be an incredibly complex and wide-ranging investigation”.

“My team is continuing to speak with witnesses and victims’ families and we are exploring a huge number of lines of enquiry,” he added.

“I cannot stress enough how important it has been for people to come forward to speak to the investigation team.

“It is very clear to me that there are many who see now as the right time to speak and help us get to the truth for the victims’ families.

“They deserve to know what happened to their loved ones.”

Elisha Burkill, 16, knifed Joy Simon, 61, in the face and chest at Winterton Community Academy, Scunthorpe.

Mrs Simon was “thrown about” by the force of the attack, Hull Crown Court heard, which had to be stopped by a teacher and dinner lady.

Burkill admitted wounding with intent and possessing a bladed article.

She was initially charged with attempted murder after the attack in September but admitted the lesser charge in December.

The court heard that Mrs Simon had worked at the school for 24 years and was an Inclusion Support Officer, looking after the welfare of students.

Prosecutor Richard Wright QC said Mrs Simon was in her office when she was stabbed with a three inch knife on the morning of 24 September, suffering wounds to her chest, arm and face.

Mr Wright said she was “thrown about by the force and ferocity of the attack upon her” which was only stopped when a dinner lady and a teacher intervened and restrained Burkill.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Simon, whose husband died three years ago, said the “trauma and shock” of what happened to her has changed her life “forever”.

The prosecution said that during an interview with a psychiatrist Burkill had said she wanted to hurt Mrs Simon because “she had done nothing” to help her with her problems.

The court was told Burkill had no contact with mental health services but had a long history of a depressive illness.

Sentencing Burkhill, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told her: “You have a chameleon-like temperament which can fill with fury and anger on occasions.

“That is self-evidence from your vicious, brutal and determined conduct with a knife towards Mrs Simon.”

He added: “I harbour real and present fears that you pose a significant risk to other people of inflicting serious violence upon them if you saw the need.”

Burkill, who can be named after Mr Richardson lifted an anonymity order, will spend five years on licence following her release.

Bolton Council has urged mourners to abide by crematorium rules and not “slip” items into coffins.

Donna Ball, Assistant Director of Community Services, said a “hell of an explosion can sometimes occur”.

Other items of concern include mobile phones, TV remotes, e-cigarettes and bottles of alcohol.

Ms Ball told the BBC: “We are asking people to be considerate regarding the items they place into coffins before the cremation process.

“We have seen a rise in things like e-cigarettes, bottles of whisky and vodka, golf balls, sometimes golf clubs, and mobile phones. Mobile phones in particular are a real issue for us”.

Ms Ball said: “Usually the funeral director will pick them up but sometimes things are slid inside peoples’ pockets and they are just not picked up during the process, then when they go through the cremation process a hell of an explosion can sometimes occur”.

She added that electrical items with batteries also push crematorium emissions up to “unacceptable levels”.

Louise Walch-Grognet, of Fred Hamer Funeral Services, said they check the coffins to make sure contraband items are not slipped in.

“They’ve asked can they put love letters in, cigarettes, ashes of their pets,” she said.

“I’ve had a biker whose family wanted him to wear his leathers. Obviously we couldn’t do that”.

The funeral director said on one occasion she was even asked if an extra set of underwear could be placed with the deceased.

Ms Walch-Grognet said it was her procedure to “look under the lining of the coffin” after the service due to mourners trying to sneak items in.

Alando Bolt, 45, left Andrew Thompson, 30, to die after attacking him in Brixton, south London, on 18 August 2017.

Mr Thompson was unarmed and defenceless, police said.

Bolt said he knifed his victim in self-defence because he thought he was going to be attacked – a claim rejected by the Old Bailey jury.

The pair met on Atlantic Road and were seen talking before Bolt launched at Mr Thompson with a blade at about 12:50 BST.

Mr Thompson, from Kennington, south London, suffered various injuries including a fatal wound which pierced his heart.

He was pronounced dead the same afternoon.

The jury also found Bolt, from nearby Stockwell, guilty of possession of an offensive weapon, according to the Met Police.

Det Insp Garry Moncrieff said the “unprovoked, vicious and protracted assault” would “haunt” those who saw it, and that he was glad the jury had “seen through Bolt’s spurious claim of self-defence.”

He will be sentenced on 12 March.

The woman was dragged from her bed at around 06:30 GMT on Monday by her attacker at the house in Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands.

Police said the man, who is aged between 18 and 25, had disconnected the woman’s phone line.

The battered victim finally got help after crawling to a neighbour’s.

The woman, who does not wish to be identified, suffered extensive bruising as her attacker took her around the house demanding money.

The man, who speaks with a local accent, is described as white, around 5ft 8ins [1.73m] tall, aged between 18 and 25 and slim.

He was wearing dark clothing and baseball hat with an orange rim.

Det Con Laura Halpin, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was a brutal and heartless attack on this lady and we are absolutely determined to catch the person responsible.

“I’d urge people who may know who is responsible to look at the injuries of this lady and do the right thing – get in touch with us.”

Tom Evans and Kate James, both 20 and from Bootle, want to take their son Alfie abroad for treatment.

A sitting of the High Court in Liverpool is to decide if life support should be withdrawn from the 20-month-old, who has a mystery illness.

Mr Justice Anthony Hayden, hearing the case, said he was deciding on a “matter of life and death” and it was “vital” he had the most up-to-date information.

Alfie is in a “semi-vegetative state” and has a degenerative neurological condition that has not been precisely diagnosed.

Despite mediation between the parents and specialists caring for the toddler at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, the court will decide the child’s fate.

Hearing evidence for the second day, the court was told by one consultant that conditions like Alfie’s were what doctors feared most.

“When we see disease like this, this is one of the reasons people don’t want to become paediatric neurologists, because they are awful and it is not a word I choose lightly,” the consultant said.

“This is one of the most difficult of all things… for parents, but also for professionals.”

The medic said withdrawing life support would only happen “if I’m convinced, and this is as close to 100% as I possibly can, to accept that there’s no hope”.

“We have to consider the best interests of the child before you consider anything else.”

The court was also told that while it was understandable Alfie’s family were “leaving no stone unturned”, a cohort of experts had come to the same conclusion: that his disease was incurable.

Mr Justice Hayden said the new MRI scans must take place within the next 24 hours.

The hearing continues.