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Incendiary device 'ignites' at Preston Fishergate Shopping Centre

A "small incendiary device" has "ignited" at a shopping centre, causing it to be evacuated, police have said.

The "deliberately planted" device was found in a bin at Preston's Fishergate Shopping Centre at about 09:10 GMT.

Lancashire Police said an evacuation was ordered "as a precaution" because the incendiary had "gone off, causing very minor damage and no injuries".

Ch Supt James Lee said the centre remained closed due to concerns there may be more devices.

He said the incendiary was found by a member of the public in the men's toilets.

"Something happened to it to cause a very small fire, but it was put out immediately," he said.

An Army bomb disposal unit has gone to the centre to aid investigations.

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Eagles of Death Metal confirm new tour dates following Paris attacks

Eagles of Death Metal have announced their rescheduled European tour dates following last month's Paris attacks.

The band were playing a gig at the Bataclan concert hall when gunmen stormed the building killing 90 people.

The band returned to Paris last week to play a song with U2 and will play the city's Olympia Theatre in February.

Singer Jesse Hughes said: "The people of Paris have always been incredible to us... not returning to finish our set was never an option."

Fans who were at the Bataclan show on 13 November will be entitled to a free ticket for the rescheduled date at the Olympia on 16 February.

The Bataclan will not be open again in time for the band's return.

In his statement, Hughes - who paid his respects outside the venue on his return to Paris earlier this month - said: "Our feeling of love towards this beautiful city and its people has been reinforced a million times over this past month.

"Hearing the stories of the survivors, the injured and those who have lost loved ones has been overwhelming. Not returning to finish our set was never an option.

"We look forward to coming back in February and continuing our mission to bring rock 'n' roll to the world."

Eagles Of Death Metal also announced they will return to the UK to play the Reading and Leeds festivals next year.

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Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej makes rare appearance

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has made a rare public appearance, amid concerns for his ailing health.

In television footage released on Monday by the palace he is seen swearing in judges at a Bangkok hospital where he has been staying.

He has received treatment for a number of ailments including a lung infection.

The health of the 88-year-old monarch is of public concern as he is widely revered and seen as an arbiter in the country's divided political arena.

The king, who is the world's longest serving monarch, was last seen in September in a video released by the palace.

He missed his birthday celebrations for the second consecutive year on 5 December. The event was marked by a cycling event last week in Bangkok led by his son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Palace officials did not give any further details of the king's health on Monday.

King Bhumibol has been in and out of hospitals for the past few years and has had operations to remove his gallbladder and to treat hydrocephalus - an excessive build-up of fluid on the brain.

He was re-admitted to Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok in June, shortly after he was discharged.

The king's popularity stems partly from his long reign, but he is also seen as a pillar of stability in Thailand which has been wracked by political strife in recent years and is currently governed by a military-led government.

Strict lese majeste laws ban any criticism of him or the royal family.

News

Le Pen acquitted of inciting hatred

French National Front leader Marine le Pen has been acquitted of charges of inciting hatred on the December 2010 campaign trail in Lyon, France.

The charges relate to her comments comparing Muslims praying in the streets to the Nazi occupation of France in World War Two.

In October Ms Le Pen told a court in Lyon she did not commit any offence.

She was charged in July 2014 after her immunity as a member of the European Parliament was lifted following a vote.

In her 2010 speech to National Front supporters, broadcast by French media, she said that France had initially seen "more and more veils", then "more and more burkhas" and "after that came prayers in the streets".

She said: "I'm sorry, but some people are very fond of talking about World War Two and about the occupation, so let's talk about occupation, because that is what is happening here...

"There are no tanks, no soldiers, but it is still an occupation, and it weighs on people."

The case was originally dropped last year by the Lyon court of appeal but was revived by anti-racism groups who made a civil complaint.

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Quarter of Queensferry Crossing bridge deck in place

More than a quarter of the bridge deck is now in place on the Queensferry Crossing, with a year to go before opening.

Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown visited the bridge earlier.

Lifting the 750 tonne deck sections into place began in September and 36 are now installed out of 122.

The £1.4bn crossing was ordered by ministers because of corrosion of the main suspension cable on the Forth Road Bridge.

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Girl, 14, reported after woman tripped up at Edinburgh Waverley station

A 14-year-old girl has been reported to the Children's Panel after a woman was deliberately tripped as she ran in to Edinburgh Waverley station.

British Transport Police said the incident happened at about 22:30 on Friday.

CCTV shows the 45-year-old being tripped up at the top of the escalators as she entered the station at Waverley Steps.

She spent a night in hospital with "substantial" cuts to her head and lip.

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Serena Williams is Sportsperson of the Year. Not everyone agrees

The choice to give Serena Williams the Sports Illustrated magazine Sportsperson of the Year award has prompted both celebration and contention, with some arguing that the prize had a more deserving victor: racehorse American Pharaoh.

Williams posted the cover on her Instagram, writing, "This year was spectacular for me. For Sports Illustrated to recognize my hard work, my dedication, and my sheer determination gives me hope to continue on and do better."

The award was seen by many as a welcome celebration of both Williams' impressive career, and as an achievement for women and people of colour in the sport.

"#Serena won 53 of 56 matches this year, was ranked no. 1 every week. Grand Slam run aside, best year of her career at 34," wrote one user.

It is the first time an individual woman has been given the title since Mary Decker in 1983. Since its creation in 1954, Williams is the third woman to win it alone, and the only black woman to gain the title.

However, not everyone was happy with the results. Horse racing fans pointed to a readers' poll created by Sports Illustrated, where the racehorse American Pharaoh, who was the first American Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, had taken first place.

Brian Zipse, editor of Horse Racing Nation tweeted, "Very disappointed to see Sports Illustrated editors ignored the fans vote, and chose Serena Williams over American Pharaoh".

Another twitter user wrote "American Pharaoh overwhelmingly won online poll and yet you pick someone else? What a joke."

These claims were met with confusion by many others on social media. One userwrote: "My bad. Since when did the definition of a 'person' constitute having four legs and cannot talk? #Serena."

Another said: "Only a black woman could achieve a 53-3 record in a calendar year at the highest level of sports and have her greatness doubted."

The award has been given jointly and to entire teams, and has occasionally been awarded to coaches or to athletes to honour their achievements off the pitch - but it has never been given to a horse or any other animal. Courtney Nguyen, former Sports Illustrated writer and journalist for the Women's Tennis Association, says the decision has to be a subjective one.

"There's a knee jerk reaction to look at stats. People try to compare apples and oranges, how does she compare to a horse? How does she compare to a basketball player? Or even [current top-ranked male tennis player Novak] Djokovic? There are just so many things that speak to her as an athlete that numbers don't necessarily capture."

Journalist Jessica Luther says the controversy is part of the racism and sexism that has shadowed Williams' career.

"She's a black woman comfortable in her own body that is playing a sport that is famously white," Luther told BBC Trending. Williams was able to defy her critics not only by winning the title, but by choosing the way she appeared on the cover.

"She chooses to sit on a throne, looking directly at us, and you can see the definition and power of her body. But she's also a woman, and specifically a black woman. She controlled the shoot, and knowing the history of the criticism of her and her body, I think that's really powerful."