Sponsor's Last Minute Warning Over Evans Deal

A major sponsor has threatened to withdraw its support from Oldham Athletic Football Club if they complete the signing of convicted rapist Ched Evans.

ZenOffice made the threat amid reports the 26-year-old has already agreed personal terms and could be in the squad for Saturday's game against Doncaster.

The company said in a statement it had sponsored League One Oldham for five years and the relationship was based on "mutual respect" and the fact they shared the same "family and community" values.

But it warned: "ZenOffice do not agree that the current path OAFC are embarking on espouses these values.

"Therefore it is with much regret that ZenOffice would like to confirm that we will end our association with Oldham if the move goes ahead to sign Ched Evans."

Video: 5 Jan - No Decision From Oldham

According to Sky sources Oldham are on the verge of signing Evans after canvassing opinion among fans and sponsors including ZenOffice.

Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper said: "There has been a split among fans and sponsors but one of the major sponsors have assured them they will remain a key part of the club.

"If Evans completes the switch he'll be attending a medical and the staff will be ready to carry that out. It looks like three days of waiting for a resolution is almost over."

Video: 4 Jan - What Do Fans Think?

Secondary shirt sponsors Carter Moore Solicitors have apparently told Oldham they will continue to back them whatever they decide.

But the club has come under increasing pressure to turn its back on Evans with tens of thousands of people signing an online petition and local police and politicians voicing their concerns.

The Wales international has been unable to find a team since being released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence for rape.

Video: Evans Has 'Served His Time'

He had trained with his previous employers Sheffield United after leaving jail but any hopes of him rejoining them were dashed by fierce opposition from influential figures including Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Reports that Evans had been offered a contract by a leading Maltese club were denied by his spokesman.

Oldham are currently 14th in League One.

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Fry's Fiance Banned For Speeding At 101mph

Stephen Fry's fiancé has been banned from driving after being caught speeding at 101mph to get the star to a literary festival on time, a court heard.

The actor had told his writer boyfriend Elliott Spencer to "get a move on" as he test drove an Aston Martin to the Hay on Wye festival.

Fry was in court in South Wales to support his husband-to-be as he was handed his sentence – a seven-day driving ban and a £205 fine.

Cwmbran Magistrates' Court was told Fry assumed "all responsibility" for the speeding offence because "it was his decision that made Spencer put his foot down".

Elliott Spencer with Stephen Fry last year

Mark Wyeth QC explained Fry had been due to make an address at the festival as its new president on May Bank Holiday.

Mr Wyeth said: "They hit a large backlog of traffic and in a moment of indiscretion Mr Fry suggested to Mr Spencer that he might like to get a move on."

Fry confirmed his engagement on Twitter on Tuesday after it emerged he had given formal notice to wed the 27-year-old writer at the register office in Dereham, Norfolk, close to where he grew up.

The register officer in Dereham, Norfolk

The 57-year-old comedian, who has battled depression, said he was "very, very happy".

Writing on Twitter, he said: "Oh. It looks as though a certain cat is out of a certain bag.

"I'm very very happy of course but had hoped for a private wedding. Fat chance!"

Spencer's parents, who live in Hampshire, have said they are delighted for the couple.

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Four Young Friends Killed In 'Horrific' Crash

Four young female friends returning to college after the Christmas break have been killed after the car they were travelling in collided with a van.

Gardai said the fatal crash happened near Athy, Co Kildare, Ireland at about 9.45pm on Tuesday.

Three of the four female passengers who died were aged 19, and the other was 20.

The accident happened on the N78 close to Burtown crossroads

They have been named as Aisling Middleton, from Rathcoole, Dublin, and Chermaine Carroll, Gemma Nolan and Niamh Doyle, all from Carlow.

The driver of the car, a 20-year-old woman, survived but is in a critical condition in hospital.

Two men in the van, which burst into flames in the collision, suffered serious injuries.

The scene of the accident on the N78, about three miles from junction three the M9 motorway, remained closed overnight and for several hours on Wednesday morning.

It is understood the women had been travelling towards Athy after leaving the motorway, when their vehicle collided with a VW Transporter travelling in the opposite direction.

County Councillor Aoife Breslin, based in Athy, told the Irish Independent she had been returning from a funeral when she was diverted due to the collision.

"It's absolutely horrific," she said.

"There was a lot of activity on the road, the guards had just arrived and they were trying to get people off the road and trying to block the road. But by the amount of sirens and amount of people milling about I knew it was something serious."

The bodies of the dead women, all passengers in the car, were removed overnight from the crash site close to a junction known as Burtown crossroads.

A 1km cordon was put in place around the scene for forensic investigators to try and determine the exact cause of the accident.

All three casualties are being treated at Naas General Hospital.

Gardaí said road conditions at the time of the accident were good.

Ben Finnegan, president of Maynooth University Students' Union, said: "I am extremely concerned of the immediate effects this tragic accident could have on fellow students right in the middle of exams when stress levels are already at a serious high."

Ireland's road death toll last year increased for the second year in a row after reaching record lows. Road Safety Authority statistics show 196 people lost their lives in 2014, compared with 190 in 2013.

:: Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to contact Athy Garda Station on 059 8634210, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

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Paris Gunmen Are Skilful Professional Killers

By Sam Kiley, Foreign Affairs Editor

Shouting but not hysterical, the gunmen emerged from their black Citroen simultaneously.

They took careful aim and opened fire with double-tap shots.

A policeman went down on the pavement about 20 yards away.

The gunmen advanced with their rifles still on their shoulders, one a little in front of the other to provide mutual support.

One jogged towards the downed policeman and murdered him with a single shot to the head – he did not even pause to take the shot.

Video: Paris: Gunfire In The Streets

These are professionals.

They cried out "we have avenged the prophet, we have killed Charlie Hebdo" as they conducted their murder spree against the French satirical magazine.

Their use of weapons – close groups of bullet strikes in the windscreen of a police car – was skilful.

An AK-47 kicks up. It takes practice to keep it under control, and skill to hit moving targets in the way they have.

They apparently struck when the magazine was having its morning news agenda conference.

They called out names of people they intended to kill in revenge for their publications of cartoons lampooning Islamic extremism.

They made their escape calmly, in a family saloon car and - so far - seem to have vanished.

This was not a lone wolf-style terror attack of the sort that we have seen with the murder of Lee Rigby in London, or more recently in Canada and Australia.

This was an infantry operation using classic techniques and tactics of the sort that only battle-hardened operators could have conducted.

Video: Hollande Vows To Catch Terrorists

They may have got their training and experience within the ranks of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

But they may equally be veterans of the insurgency against the US led occupation in Iraq, of the battlefields of Afghanistan, fighters from Maghreb and elsewhere in north west Africa.

They may be jihadists from Libya who have fought in Sinai against the Egyptian government – possibly even members of a Hezbollah death squad from the Lebanon.

French intelligence officials will be anxious to establish, though, whether for now they were operating alone or whether this was an operation that began at Charlie Hebdo but may not end there – modelled on the multiple attacks in which Pakistani militants struck three locations in the Indian business capital.

France has troops in action against Islamist extremists in north west Africa, it is also part of the coalition bombing campaign against IS in the Middle East, and its forces fought hard in Afghanistan.

Some 10% of France is Muslim. Among that population's young, 40% are unemployed.

Disenfranchisement both politically and economically has made it relatively easy for extremist groups to recruit among French Muslims and it is back into the fringe elements of those communities that the gunmen may be hiding.

Their intent, in addition to attacking the magazine in revenge, will be to increase racial and religious tensions in France because a toxic atmosphere is oxygen to terror.

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Paris Office Attack: What We Know So Far

A manhunt is under way for armed men who left 12 dead in Paris.

:: Police said twelve people have been shot dead at the headquarters of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris

:: Up to 20 people were injured in the attack, four of them are in critical condition

Map shows routes out of the city which the gunmen could have taken: Google

:: Masked gunmen stormed the offices of the publication. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that three attackers were involved in the assault

:: The men were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade

Video: Paris Gunmen Kill Police Officer

:: There was a gun fight with police outside the building

:: The gunmen have since abandoned their getaway car and have stolen another one 

::  A manhunt is currently underway for the men who are still at large. Three thousand police officers have been deployed in Paris

:: Police said two police officers were killed in the attack

Video: Paris: Gunfire In The Streets

:: According to Charlie Hebdo's lawyer four well-known French cartoonists, including the editor Stephane Charbonnier, were killed by the gunmen. The others are reported to be Cabu, Georges Wolinski and Bernard Verlhac, known as Tignous

:: One of the two policemen killed in the attack was assigned Charbonnier as part of his personal security detail, after many death threats, France 24 reported

:: A witness told France Info media outlet that the assailants said "We will avenge the Prophet"

:: The government raised France's security level to the highest level

Video: Paris Shooting: Wounded Helped

:: Security services said they thwarted several attacks over the last few weeks

:: "There is possibility of other attacks and other sites are being secured," Police union official Rocco Contento said

:: Children have been evacuated from schools in 11th arrondissement, where the attack took place, while police have been deployed to guard newspaper offices, shopping centres, museums and railway stations

::  David Cameron said: "The murders in Paris are sickening. We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press"

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1. Gallery: Gunmen Attack Paris Magazine Office

   Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris

An attack on the offices of the newspaper left eleven dead, including two police officers, according to sources close to the investigation

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Je Suis Charlie: Online Solidarity After Attack

Social-media users have responded to the attack on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo with the hashtag #jesuischarlie in an outpouring of solidarity with the victims.

Users on Twitter have replaced their profile avatars with a white-on-black image of the phrase - which translates as "I am Charlie" in English - in sympathy with those killed.

Twitter users have changed their avatars in support with the victims

User @LibyaLiberty tweeted: "As a Muslim, I absolutely refuse to apologise for this terrorist act. But as a Muslim,I demand justice for the victims& say: #JeSuisCharlie".

Guy Verhofstadt, the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe tweeted: "A tragic day for the freedom of speech #jesuischarlie."

Video: Paris: Gunfire In The Streets

The Twitter account for the US Embassy in France also changed its avatar picture. It has tweeted there are no plans to close the the embassy in Paris or other diplomatic facilities in France,  despite misleading reports.

At least 12 people have been shot dead and four others critically injured after three masked gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles stormed the offices of the satirical magazine in Paris.

A hostage siege in Sydney in December, where a lone gunmen took over a café before it was stormed by armed police, also sparked an outpouring of solidarity on social media with the hashtag #illridewithyou trending worldwide.

Amid uncertainty about the hostage-taker's motives and fears of reprisals a Twitter user started the hashtag to reassure Muslims who might feel threatened on public transport in the coming days.

@SirTessa wrote: "If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don't feel safe alone: I'll ride with you. @ me for schedule."

Twitter users responded to this in their thousands with many offering to accompany people in Sydney and other Australian cities.

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Be Prepared: Fierce Storms Heading For UK

Gale-force winds are predicted to batter Britain by the end of the week as a 250mph jet stream from the Atlantic hits UK shores.

The Met Office has upgraded its strong wind warning for Thursday night into Friday from yellow to amber as gusts of up to 100mph are expected.

The amber alert means Be Prepared and is a warning to expect disruption to transport as well as power supplies and possible damage to homes and buildings.

The change in weather is set to start within hours, with winds of up to 60mph in the north and up to three inches of rain predicted to fall over western parts of the country, with the Pennines expected to see the largest deluge.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The next few days look set to be wet and very windy for most, especially so across the northwest of the UK and Ireland.

Video: Latest UK Weather Forecast

"The winds will begin to strengthen through Thursday night across Northern Ireland, the Republic and Scotland as the first depression approaches from the west.

"Severe gales are expected in northwest Scotland with gusts potentially reaching 100mph over exposed parts there by the early hours of Friday morning. As well as that, heavy rain will also spread into these areas and into most of Britain through the night."

Forecasters say conditions towards the end of the week could rival the weather that battered parts of southern England at the end of 2013, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power and huge swathes of the UK left crippled as the storms hit the south coast.

There are fears of uprooted trees, power cuts and transport chaos from the latest storms. Large waves may also lead to dangerous conditions along coastal areas. 

Video: US Grinds To A Halt In Big Freeze

The Met Office had earlier issued yellow warnings going into the weekend amid predictions that two areas of low pressure would bring more extreme weather.

The extra-fast jet stream has been triggered by plunging temperatures in the US which has hit warmer air south, stirring up potent winds.

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Live Updates: Charlie Hebdo Terror Attack

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1. Breaking News: Paris Attack: Manhunt As Armed Killers Flee
2. Breaking News: Officer Shot In Head As He Pleads For Life
3. Breaking News: Gunmen Are Skilful Professional Killers
4. Breaking News: Paris Office Attack: What We Know So Far
5. Breaking News: Social Media Solidarity After Paris Attack

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Paris Policeman Shot In Head As He Pleads For Life

Footage of a deadly gun battle in Paris shows one of the attackers shoot a policeman in the head at point-blank range.

The black-clad gunmen are seen walking from their vehicle, automatic rifles raised, before a number of shots are fired.

The camera pans to the right to show a stricken police officer lying on the pavement before rolling over to face the approaching attackers.

He is seen raising his hand, apparently pleading for his life.

One of the two men quickens pace as he reaches the injured officer and, without pausing, shoots him in the head.

Video: Paris: Gunfire In The Streets

In another piece of footage shot following the attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's offices, gunshots ring out and onlookers run for cover on a rooftop just yards from the scene.

The pair of suspected terrorists are seen below opening fire.

As some on the rooftop run for cover, panicked voices are heard urging others to "get down".

"Did you see that?" a voice can be heard asking the person filming the scene.

Video: Paris Shooting: Wounded Helped

More shots are fired before a witness on the rooftop tells another to "budge up".

The gunshots stop and the two men below are seen calmly returning to their black Citroen hatchback before the video ends.

Witness Benoit Bringer told French TV channel iTELE: "About a half an hour ago two black-hooded men entered the building with Kalashnikovs (rifles).

"A few minutes later we heard lots of shots."

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1. Gallery: Gunmen Attack Paris Magazine Office

   Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris

An attack on the offices of the newspaper left eleven dead, including two police officers, according to sources close to the investigation

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Paris Attack: Manhunt As Armed Killers Flee

A manhunt is under way after 12 people were shot dead at the headquarters of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

Three masked gunmen stormed the offices of the controversial publication, which has previously been attacked over its portrayal of the Prophet Mohammed.

The paper's editor and a cartoonist, Charb (L) and Cabu, were both killed

They were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and are also thought to have had a rocket-propelled grenade during the attack on Wednesday morning.

The attackers are believed to have called out their victims by name before shooting them. In one video clip, one of them is heard to shout: "We have avenged the prophet."

Video: Paris Shooting: Wounded Helped

A spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor said the editor and a cartoonist for the satirical newspaper, who went by the pen names Charb and Cabu, were among those killed.

Radio France chief executive Mathieu Gilet announced on Twitter that a contributor, Bernard Maris, was another of the victims.

Two police officers were also among the dead, including one assigned as Charb's bodyguard after death threats were made against him.

Another 20 people have also been injured, at least four seriously. Reports said ambulances were still arriving at the scene of the shooting at 5pm local time.

Footage showed police officer officers helping distressed people away from the scene of the shooting.

After the attack, the gunmen returned to their black Citroen getaway car and shouted: "We have avenged the Prophet Mohammed, we have killed Charlie Hebdo."

Video: Attack Will Only Strengthen Freedom

The vehicle was later found abandoned, and is being examined by forensics teams.

A police official said the gunmen fled towards the eastern Paris suburbs after carjacking another vehicle.

Emmanuel Quemener, a police union representative, said officers were using video technology to try and track the gunmen.

He said: "Those men are our most wanted, so that stays a priority, they're armed and extremely dangerous - and things will certainly evolve behind the scenes."

Shocking footage has emerged of a wounded police officer being shot in the head at point-blank range as he lies on the ground, holding his hands up.

Another video taken from the top of a building near the magazine's offices, shows a firefight in the street below.

Video: Hollande Vows To Catch Terrorists

One of the gunmen can be heard screaming "Allah", as they level their weapons and a series of gunshots ring out.

A dramatic image has also been published of two men dressed in black standing either side of a vehicle, pointing their weapons at a police car.

Click here for live updates

Benoit Bringer, a journalist with Agence Premiere Ligne who saw the attack, told the iTele network he saw several masked men armed with machine guns.

Henry Samuel, the Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent, told Sky News: "According to people on the ground, two masked gunmen burst into the offices very heavily armed, (with) Kalashnikovs, apparently even with a rocket-propelled grenade, and opened fire, leaving several minutes later."

He added: "Then the gunmen escaped and are currently on the run, being pursued.

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1. Gallery: Gunmen Attack Paris Magazine Office

   Armed gunmen face police officers near the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris

An attack on the offices of the newspaper left eleven dead, including two police officers, according to sources close to the investigation

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